Diamond Within - Vi x OC

Chapter 1

Two months had passed since her return, yet the once familiar lanes now lay in utter chaos. As she wandered through the streets, the vibrant energy of her hometown had been replaced by a dizzying whirlwind of conflict. People clashed with one another, their voices rising in anger and desperation as they fought for something she could not comprehend. 

With each step, a sense of unease settled in her stomach; she felt lost in a world that had transformed between her absence and now. The familiar sights and sounds felt distant, overshadowed by an ominous tension that hung thick in the air. The thought of finding Mama flickered in her mind, but doubt gnawed at her—what if she was no longer alive?

Everywhere she looked, people were getting brutally beaten up, and children ran for their lives

 Geo scoffed. God, how she did not miss this place.

She walked through the carnage keeping her head low. She stumbled upon a bar and sighed as she opened the door. Foul odor came from all sides and she stepped over bodies. 

She went straight for the bar and took a seat before taking down her hood. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders. A bitter reminder of how messed up she was. 

She downed bottle after bottle until she felt numb. 

All of a sudden, a woman around Geo's age sank heavily onto the barstool beside her. Her hair was a chaotic explosion of messy black dye, strands sticking to her forehead, while her heavily applied makeup had begun to run, leaving dark streaks down her cheeks. Without hesitation, she seized a bottle from the bartender and tilted it back, gulping down its contents with a fervor that suggested she was desperate for relief. As she wiped her mouth hastily with her forearm, Geo couldn't help but notice the grimy hand wrap that encased it, looking as if it hadn't seen a wash in years.

"Vi?" Geo's voice slipped out, her gaze drawn to the distinctive tattoo etched onto the woman's cheek.

The woman turned to look at her, skepticism flickering in her eyes as she scrutinized Geo. "How do you know my name?" she demanded, her tone sharp.

With a playful smile, Geo replied, "It's kinda written on your face."

Vi sighed heavily, the sound escaping her lips like the air from a deflated balloon, as she tipped the last of her drink back, letting the warmth of the liquid wash over her. 

"Tough night?" Geo asked, glancing sideways at her while absentmindedly toying with an intricately designed bottle cap.

Vi shrugged her expression a mixture of irritation and resignation. "Tough life." She shook her bottle, the sound of the emptiness echoing her sentiments, but it yielded no results. 

With an amused glint in her eyes, Geo reached out and offered her a fresh bottle. "It's Geo, by the way. Sorry, I don't have my name tattooed on my face." 

Vi snatched the bottle from her grasp, the cool surface giving her a momentary sense of relief. She took a long swig, the refreshingly crisp flavor lingering on her tongue. "Well, not everyone's cool like me," she quipped lightly, setting the bottle down with a hint of bravado.

Geo let out a genuine laugh, and Vi turned to her with a look of mild surprise, her guarded demeanor softening for just a moment.

"So, why are you here?" She tilted her head, her curious gaze locked onto Geo.

"Like you said, life is tough." With a swift motion, she reached across the bar and grabbed two bottles, their glass slick and glistening under the dim lights. She handed one to Vi, a moment of camaraderie amidst the chaos. "I mean, I stepped away from the lanes for what, five years? And now everything is in ruins."

Vi took the bottle, her fingers brushing the cool surface as she fell silent, visibly lost in thought. "Well, with Silco dead," she finally broke the silence, her voice low and serious, "People are desperate for power."

Geo raised the bottle to her lips and took a long, hearty swig. The alcohol burned slightly as it slid down her throat, its warmth a comforting embrace against the chill of their surroundings. "Well, enough about the stupid lanes," she muttered, dismissing the topic with a wave of her hand.

Vi nodded, her bottle already half empty, the amber liquid catching the light as she took another sip, a reflective look in her eyes. 

Vi leaned heavily against the dimly lit bar countertop, her words slurring together as she spoke. "S-so why are you all alone? I mean, I thought a girl like you wouldn't be alone," she mumbled, her eyes glassy and unfocused, a telltale sign of her drunkness.

She felt Vi's eyes rake over her body as Geo raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes. "I could ask you the same thing," she replied, a hint of skepticism in her tone.

With a dismissive scoff, Vi tossed her hair back, clearly frustrated. "Well, I always mess things up, so no one wants to be my friend anymore," she confessed, her voice trailing off as her eyelids fluttered, heavy with the weight of the alcohol coursing through her veins.

A soft laugh escaped Geo's lips, warm and inviting. "Well, you don't have to be alone tonight," she said, leaning in closer, the distance between them shrinking. The glow from the bar lights danced in Geo's eyes as she whispered. "I could keep you company." She got up and struggled to walk to the door.

Vi raised her drink to her lips one last time, savoring the taste, before she pushed off from the countertop and stumbled after Geo.