Arcane: I have Plasmids F*** YEAAAAAAH!!!

Lukas moved slowly.

His boots barely made a sound as he descended the wooden steps into the Last Drop's basement.

The air was thick. Heavy.

The room was dark, save for the faint flickering of an oil lantern in the corner.

Empty.

But Lukas knew better.

Vander had told him to stay the night. But the moment he stepped through the door—

CRASH.

A weight slammed into him from above.

Something small. Something fast.

Something blue.

Lukas barely had time to react before he hit the ground, a mess of tangled limbs and soft curls.

And then—

Arms.

Tight around him.

Shaking.

Powder.

---

She didn't speak.

Didn't move.

Just clung to him.

Like if she let go, he'd disappear.

Like if she let go, everything would fall apart.

Lukas exhaled, ignoring the slight ache in his back.

"…Hey, Powder."

She didn't answer.

Her face was buried in his chest.

But he could feel it.

The way her fingers curled into his vest.

The way her tiny frame trembled.

She was terrified.

And she had been for hours.

"…It's okay."

His voice was quiet. Steady.

"I'm here."

She let out a shaky breath.

And then, slowly—

The others began to emerge.

---

One by one, they dropped down from the ceiling.

Milo. Claggor.

Silent. Cautious.

They had been hiding.

They saw the alarm.

They knew what it meant.

But they hadn't heard what happened upstairs.

Hadn't known if Vander was still talking his way out of things—

Or if the Enforcers had started shooting.

Claggor rubbed the back of his neck.

"…What happened?"

His voice was careful. Guarded.

Milo was already scanning Lukas. Looking for injuries.

Lukas shook his head.

"They're gone."

A pause.

"But they'll be back."

His voice dropped.

"And next time, they'll bring more."

---

Silence.

Claggor tensed.

Milo muttered a curse under his breath.

And Powder—

Powder still wouldn't let go.

Lukas exhaled softly, running a hand through her hair.

And then—

His eyes flickered up.

To her.

Vi.

She was standing slightly apart from the others.

Silent.

Watching.

Her expression unreadable.

But Lukas could see it.

The weight. The exhaustion.

And the guilt.

---

Vi wasn't looking at Lukas.

She was looking at Powder.

At the bruise on her cheek.

At the way she clung to Lukas like a lifeline.

And then—

Vi thought about everything that had happened.

The robbery. The explosion.

The moment Powder fell from the roof, barely missing the Enforcer's sight.

The moment she realized that Powder was this close to being taken from her.

She clenched her fists.

This was her fault.

She knew it was her fault.

But hearing it from Lukas had been one thing.

Seeing it?

Seeing Powder's shaking hands—that was something else.

They shouldn't have to suffer because of her decision...

Lukas exhaled slowly.

He could see it. The storm behind her eyes.

He lifted a hand—subtle, careful—

And motioned for her to come closer.

---

Vi hesitated.

Her throat was dry.

Her body was heavy.

But Lukas didn't stop looking at her.

Didn't say a word.

Didn't push.

He just waited.

Silent. Patient.

Like he always did.

And for a second—

Just a second—

Vi almost took a step forward.

But then—

She stopped herself.

Her fingers twitched at her sides.

Her breath was uneven.

No.

She didn't deserve this.

Didn't deserve to be comforted.

Not after what she did.

Not after what almost happened.

---

And then—

Something shifted.

A small, subtle force.

Something barely noticeable.

Like a pull.

A nudge.

Vi's body moved.

Not by her own will.

But by Lukas's.

Her eyes widened slightly.

A soft, gentle tug pulled her forward.

Like something unseen was guiding her.

And before she could even process it—

She was there.

Right in front of him.

---

Powder looked up.

Lukas let out a small breath.

And then—

He wrapped an arm around Vi's shoulders.

Pulled her in.

And held them both.

A quiet, tired group hug.

Vi didn't fight it.

Didn't question it.

Didn't say a word.

She just closed her eyes.

And breathed.

For the first time all night—

She let herself breathe.

---

Milo and Claggor watched.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them moved.

They just watched.

And then—

Milo sighed.

"…Fuck it."

He walked over.

And pulled them all into a hug.

Claggor followed a second later.

And just like that—

For the first time in days—

They weren't fighting.

They weren't arguing.

They were together.

---

The basement door cracked open.

A sliver of light spilled into the room.

Vander stood there.

Watching.

His expression unreadable.

He didn't say anything.

Didn't interrupt.

He just let them be.

For now.

Because this, this is why they fight.

And everything felt right.

Even if it wouldn't last.