Unconditional Love

We're ready

Y/n POV ~

As we're sitting on the roof of the Last drop I can't help but think to myself what else Vi wanted to talk about tonight? Could it be another pep talk for powder? Does it have anything to do with our interaction earlier?

I snap out of my thoughts once I hear Vi begin to speak.

"Pow, I want to remind you of a few things before the job", Vi says cautiously. She doesn't want Powder to think she doesn't believe in her abilities. I admire that.

Powder starts to slouch, but I pick up her chin and say a few words.

"Powder, you listen to me, this talk has nothing to do with your skills because we all know you're an amazing inventor and that you have an incredible spirit. This talk is just to set some ground rules in place since this is the biggest job you've been on. Hell, this is the biggest job Vi and I have been on."

Once I finish my speech she tackles me in a bear hug, and I swear if it weren't for Vi's grip on my waist we would've fell off the roof.

I sit back up and make eye contact with Vi, and I thank her with my eyes. She smiles warmly and removes her hand from my waist once she realizes she never let go. I giggle at her being a flustered mess while Powder regains her composure.

Vi clears her throat and begins her short list of rules for Powder to follow for tomorrow.

"Number one, never leave the group without me or hawk knowing where you are.
Number two, don't talk to anyone topside, even if it's an emergency.
Lastly, number three, don't give up."

"What do you mean by don't give up?" Powder questions.

"We're going to be topside which means new routes which also means new buildings to scale and new roofs to jump. We can't get scared, slow down, or give up because that will get us caught. WE'RE READY, and so are you, Pow," Vi says.

Powder and I look at Vi in absolute awe. I have never heard her talk so logically before.

I guess she answered my question from earlier about whether or not we're ready for this job.

Vi winks at Powder, and she giggles and immediately gets up. She runs down the fire escape and back inside leaving Violet and I alone, once again, on the roof.

I look back over to Vi who's already staring at me. We both blush fiercely and look away. I break the deafening silence.

"Soooo why did little blue leave so suspiciously, hm?"

"Well... there was something I wanted to tell you earlier, but I was too chicken to tell you."

Oh my fucking god. She's going to tell me she doesn't think I'm ready for this job.

It's fineeee. I'll convince her to let me go. I mean, I'm the one who got the tip in the first place for fucks sake. Why doesn't she think I'm ready?

"Y/n, are you good?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, sorry Peach."

"Anyways, I wanted to tell you uh- to tell y-you that y-you..."

"Violet spit it out already haha."

I notice her face flush and her skin turn ghostly pale.

"Never mind."

"W-what? No no you can tell me. Sorry if I was rushing you or something. You just seemed um- a little nervous."

Vi POV~
She's so beautiful under the under-city, neon lights. She's sitting there, and she smells good. Her hair is perfect and she's just sitting there. Sitting there looking perfect. How do I tell her this? I mean she definitely doesn't feel the same way. She always calls me her best friend, and she probably looks at me as her sister. I need to tell her this. I have too. But how?

Y/n POV~
I'm getting really nervous because she's zoning out, and I don't know how to snap her out of it.

"Peach? Is everything ok? You seem off ever since Powder left."

She blinks, and she snaps out of her trance.

Clearing her throat she responds, " Yeah I'm good, Hawk." She smiles, but I can tell she doesn't mean it. I can see it through her eyes. Her eyes are telling a different story.

"Cmon tell me what's up."

Vi POV~
I can't tell her this. Not now. I have to wait till after the job. When she rejects me I need time after to process. I need time to reflect on what I can do better so she'll want me.

I won't be able to deal with the reality tomorrow if she rejects me tonight.

I need to think up a lie.

Y/n POV~
"When we were talking earlier, about me not being here, I forgot to tell you what would happen if something happened to you."

"Violet, if this is what you're worried about, just know I'm not going anywhere. I'm with you always."

"And I'm with you till the end, but I just wanted to tell you."

Vi inhales deeply, "You called me the protector. Well I think of you as the heart beat. I'm the fists who protect our family from harm, and you're the heart that keeps us together. You glue us together, and you are steady and reliable. If a heart stop beating then the body stops functioning. The family is the body. If something happens to you it affects the whole family. You make shit happen. Because of you we got this job, and because of you we're going to be rich as hell."

"I protect, but you give me something worth protecting."

Her words make my heart beat faster. They make the butterflies in my stomach flutter. She really thinks this way of me? How does someone this perfect exist?

And yet she's not mine so I can't tell her how hard my head is pounding just thinking about how much I love her.

I love her.

I start to cry.

Tears are pouring down my cheeks, and they won't stop flowing.

Vi frowns and pulls me into a tight embrace. Her strong arms hold me as a sob into her chest.

I'm crying because I want her.

I'm crying because what if something were to happen to me? How would the family go on? What if something happened to Vi? How would I cope with that loss?

"Shhhh, Hawk, it's ok I'm here. We're here, together. Me and you. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you. Your brother, Mylo, Powder, and Vander will always be here. I promise."

Vi's promises calm me, and I start to slow my breathing. I'm just being anxious. Nothing is going to happen. I need to be in this moment.

I look up at Vi and she says, "I'm sorry if my words hurt you. That wasn't my intention."

"No, I'm beyond happy you said those things. You make me feel loved. You make everyone feel that way. Thank you, Violet."

She blushes from the sudden compliments, and her eyes light up with life.

Her eyes look absolutely breathtaking in the light of the moon.

"Let's go inside and get some rest for tomorrow."

"I'll come inside in a little. I want to take some time alone if that's ok."

"Of course, Hawk. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Peach."

She winks at me and walks off. I laugh to myself and turn around, and I swing my legs back over the ledge of the rusty roof.

I'm excited for tomorrow, but ever since we started planning this job I can't help but shake this feeling.

The feeling that something terrible is going to happen.

But it's probably just in my head. Right?