Vander didn't speak right away.
Instead, he walked behind the counter, grabbed a cup, and poured some water.
Then he set it in front of me.
"Drink," he said.
Not an order.
Just… simple.
I hesitated for a second—
Then took it.
"…Thanks." the water was cold,colder than I expected.
Vander leaned against the counter, arms resting casually, watching me—but not in a harsh way this time.
"…You look like you've had a rough day," he said.
I let out a small breath.
"…You could say that."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"…Yeah. I figured."
He didn't push immediately.
Didn't question me right away.
Just gave me a moment.
Behind him, Powder edged a little closer, curiosity winning over her earlier caution.
"…So," Vander said after a bit, "you got a name?"
"Lloyd."
"Lloyd," he repeated, nodding. "Alright."
A short pause.
"…You got somewhere to stay, Lloyd?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Didn't really need to.
He already knew.
"…No," I muttered.
Vander sighed softly—not annoyed.
More like… expected.
"Mm."
He rubbed the back of his neck for a second, thinking.
"…Zaun's not kind to kids on their own," he said. "Especially ones who don't know their way around yet."
My fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
"…I can handle myself."
It came out a bit defensive.
Vander didn't argue.
Didn't shut me down either.
He just nodded slowly.
"I'm sure you think you can."
That hit a little harder than if he'd just said I was wrong.
Silence settled for a moment.
Then—
"…You hungry?" he asked.
I blinked.
"…What?"
"You heard me."
I hesitated.
Because yeah I was.
"…Maybe," I admitted.
Powder perked up slightly at that.
Vander noticed, a faint smile crossing his face.
"Powder," he said, glancing at her, "think we've got anything left?"
She nodded quickly. "Yeah! I mean—probably—yeah, I can check!"
And just like that, she hurried off.
I watched her go for a second before looking back at him.
"…You're just letting me stay?" I asked.
Vander shrugged slightly.
"Not 'just' anything," he said. "I'm keeping an eye on you."
Fair.
"…But," he added, his tone softer now, "you're a kid. And kids don't get tossed out on the street if I can help it."
Something in my chest shifted slightly.
Unfamiliar.
Vander didn't speak right away.
Instead, he walked behind the counter, grabbed a cup, and poured some water.
Then he set it in front of me.
"Drink," he said.
Not an order.
Just… simple.
I hesitated for a second—
Then took it.
"…Thanks." the water was cold,colder than I expected.
Vander leaned against the counter, arms resting casually, watching me—but not in a harsh way this time.
"…You look like you've had a rough day," he said.
I let out a small breath.
"…You could say that."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"…Yeah. I figured."
He didn't push immediately.
Didn't question me right away.
Just gave me a moment.
Behind him, Powder edged a little closer, curiosity winning over her earlier caution.
"…So," Vander said after a bit, "you got a name?"
"Lloyd."
"Lloyd," he repeated, nodding. "Alright."
A short pause.
"…You got somewhere to stay, Lloyd?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Didn't really need to.
He already knew.
"…No," I muttered.
Vander sighed softly—not annoyed.
More like… expected.
"Mm."
He rubbed the back of his neck for a second, thinking.
"…Zaun's not kind to kids on their own," he said. "Especially ones who don't know their way around yet."
My fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
"…I can handle myself."
It came out a bit defensive.
Vander didn't argue.
Didn't shut me down either.
He just nodded slowly.
"I'm sure you think you can."
That hit a little harder than if he'd just said I was wrong.
Silence settled for a moment.
Then—
"…You hungry?" he asked.
I blinked.
"…What?"
"You heard me."
I hesitated.
Because yeah—
I was.
"…Maybe," I admitted.
Powder perked up slightly at that.
Vander noticed, a faint smile crossing his face.
"Powder," he said, glancing at her, "think we've got anything left?"
She nodded quickly. "Yeah! I mean—probably—yeah, I can check!"
And just like that, she hurried off.
I watched her go for a second before looking back at him.
"…You're just letting me stay?" I asked.
Vander shrugged slightly.
"Not 'just' anything," he said. "I'm keeping an eye on you."
Fair.
"…But," he added, his tone softer now, "you're a kid. And kids don't get tossed out on the street if I can help it."
Something in my chest shifted slightly.
Unfamiliar.