Chapter 7: Sump Rats

Entering the main road, it was more of the same Undercity layout but more condensed. Cobwebs reached endless into the sky of pedestrian bridges and hanging apartments. You could see and almost taste the toxic smog descending. At times it was hard to keep up with Vi weaving through the crowds, experienced to say the least at scurrying through crowds. Her pink hair, in start contrast, stood out like a beacon though.

Exiting closer to Promenade, Orion tried breaking the ice. "So what was the fight about?"

"I don't know, he just kept bothering me," She answered agitated, glancing over her shoulder. "And you're his replacement." He figured it would be like this. She's still a kid, and he knew some of her character.

"Why did he keep bothering you? Is it the pink hair?" Orion prodded, amused, testing her patience.

Vi rolled her eyes, quickening her steps. "Maybe. Or maybe he just didn't know when to quit- like you."

"At least I don't pick fights I can't finish." Orion shot back, smirking and continuing to press. "Aren't Sump rats supposed to stick together?"

For a moment, her shoulders tensed, and though he couldn't see her face, the brief irritation in her posture hinted effectiveness. Her impulsiveness throws him off though as she abruptly veered into an alleyway.

"What do you know about me, huh? Let's take a shortcut. Less time together, the better."

Shaking his head, the barrier was back up, and she was unaware of him raising his hands in frustration. As they entered the alley, the bustling street noise faded, like someone turning down the volume dial. He could hear only footsteps through the sludge and an occasional whistle of steam.

"Where is the jinx?" He thought sarcastically, then more seriously. "There it is."

A gang of Entresol kids hanging out near the exit. How could he tell the difference? Their clothes, less damaged and worn. It made his nice jacket seem out of place to his dirty and worn underlayers.

Vi's posture relaxed, and Orion caught on quickly. Walk past, no eye contact or acknowledgement. It didn't work. As they approached, the gang spread out, blocking their path.

"Hey Vi, long time no see? Here to apologize?" The leader stepping forward, smirking. He waved his arms out wide, showing off his shirtless, malnourished and scarred body. 

"Not really, just passing through." Vi replied, slowing to a halt a few feet away with Orion a step behind. 

Orion's thoughts were split between the two personas still merging. Street-hardened instincts of the boy and his own cautious calm. This meld left him eerily collected, even as the situation screamed tension.

Outside of the leader who looked Vi's age, the other three looked a little older. Their postures attempt to signal dominance with two staring Orion down. The third kept his attention on Vi, as if he knew what she was capable of.

"Yeah, I don't think so." the leader spat, his smirk fading as he motioned to a stitched scar on his forehead. "See, after last time, you owe me. Drop what you're carrying, or my friends here might have to teach you a lesson."

Just like in the alleyway scene of the first Arcane episode, Vi stepped toward the gang leader with an apologetic expression. Her eyes softened, one hand raised in submission, and the other slowly dipping toward her pocket.

"I don't have much..." she murmured, her voice meek.

CRACK!

The leader crumpled instantly, Vi landing her signature uppercut. Immediately she rolls into her boxing stance, ducking under a wild straight punch from the wary gangster. She comes up fast for a right hook on the outside. It impacted, rocking her opponent, but he wasn't as unprepared as their leader.

"It's her go-to Trojan horse violence strategy!" Orion had the stunning realization, a split second before a gangster charged him. 

The first approached aggressively, throwing a overhanded hook. Orion watched carefully, treating it like needing to discipline someone, and smoothly sidestepping. He reached under the thug's chin, and swept his legs from beneath him, slamming the first gangster to the floor. The gangster's head bounced off the floor with a sickening thud, his body flipping awkwardly before going still. Orion winced, maybe he'd overdone it.

The second thug was more reckless as he went in trying to tackle him at the waist. Orion stepped back twice, positioning better before landing a sharp knee to the attacker's nose. It stopped the gangster cold, his hands weakly grabbing at Orion's waist before being stiff-armed off. He fell forward into the alleyway sludge, groaning, and just like the other, didn't rise again.

Orion bore witness to the finale of Vi's opponent bleeding heavily from the nose, clutching his left side as he staggered. She was breathing heavily with some blood dripping from her brow but her expression remained fierce. She had danced a few rounds with him, her fists finding their mark several times, before landing a clean hook to his ribs.

Vi ended it with a a kick to the midsection. The gangster caved forward, coughing and wheezing as he fell to his knees.

She wasn't done. Vi grabbed his head and gave him a vengeful final hook, knocking him out. She stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, in her unbroken defiant stance before snapping out of it to look back at Orion.

Orion had time to catch his breath, so he stood composed over two beaten thugs with an almost bored expression. He wasn't bored at all- more like a casual audience member enjoying the show.

She frowned, wiping blood from her brow. "Seriously? You just stood there?"

Orion shrugged, hands slipping into his pockets. "What? I handled my part. Besides, it was impressive watching you fight."

"Where did you learn to fight?" Clearly intrigued despite the bruises and blood, her curiosity began to surface. All it took was a fight for her to warm up, huh?

"Here, mostly. Had more common ground with the others when I was younger, before we moved up here." Orion casually rattled off, recalling the boy's memories.

Vi studied him for a moment, her expression softening with mixed mild admiration. He could see her eyes flickering between curiosity and caution, clearing wanting to ask more but holding back. Orion sensed it, but chose not to press, instead gently following up with, "Let's get going. We're almost there, right?"

"Yeah..." Vi replied, curiosity still lingering in the air. With that, they stepped out from the alley, the noise dialing back up like the opening of a cutscene. The Last Drop stood there, a firm presence in the distance.