Chapter 14
The day Powder entered your life, it felt like a storm swept through the relative calm you and Vi had managed to carve out. You'd heard Vi mention her sister in passing—always with a mixture of guilt, frustration, and deep love—but nothing could have prepared you for the whirlwind that was Powder.
It started with the sound of the front door slamming open. You were sitting in the kitchen of Vi's apartment, sipping on tea while Vi stood at the counter, fixing something that looked suspiciously like a broken toaster. She glanced up, immediately on edge, and shot you a look that told you to stay put.
Before she could say anything, a voice rang out, sharp and loud.
"Vi! Where the hell are you?!"
Vi groaned, setting down her screwdriver. "Stay here," she muttered, though you could already feel curiosity getting the better of you.
Moments later, a girl burst into the room. She was small and wiry, her blue hair styled in wild braids that seemed to defy gravity. Her eyes were electric—bright and piercing, but with a hint of something dangerous lurking beneath the surface. She wore mismatched clothes that looked like they'd been cobbled together from various street finds, and she carried herself with the kind of manic energy that made it hard to look away.
"Powder," Vi said, her voice a mix of exasperation and relief. "What are you doing here?"
Powder's eyes darted around the room before landing on you. She tilted her head, studying you like you were some kind of alien creature.
"Who's this?" she asked, pointing at you with a gloved finger.
You opened your mouth to answer, but Vi cut in before you could speak.
"She's with me," Vi said firmly, moving to stand between you and Powder.
Powder raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Ohhh, she's with you, huh? Didn't know you were into... whatever this is."
You couldn't help but feel slightly offended, but Powder's teasing tone made it hard to take her seriously.
"Powder," Vi warned, her voice low.
"What? I'm just saying!" Powder replied, throwing up her hands in mock innocence. She walked over to the counter and plopped herself down on it, ignoring the fact that Vi was still trying to repair the toaster.
Vi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "What do you want, Powder?"
"Can't a girl just visit her big sister?" Powder said, though the smirk on her face suggested she had an ulterior motive.
"Not when that girl is you," Vi shot back, though there was no real heat in her words.
Powder pouted, but her eyes darted toward you again. "So, seriously, what's her deal?"
"I'm... a friend of Vi's," you said, feeling awkward under her intense gaze.
Powder's grin widened. "Friend, huh? Sure looks like more than that to me."
"Powder," Vi said again, her tone sharp enough to make her sister finally back off—at least a little.
"Fine, fine," Powder said, hopping off the counter. "I'll behave. For now."
You exchanged a glance with Vi, who looked like she was one comment away from strangling her sister. Despite the tension, you could tell there was a deep bond between them, even if Powder's chaotic energy seemed to grate on Vi's nerves.
The rest of the day passed in a strange blur. Powder stayed longer than you expected, bouncing from room to room like a restless spirit. She peppered Vi with questions, some of which were innocent and some of which were pointed enough to make Vi glare at her.
When Powder wasn't teasing Vi, she turned her attention to you.
"So, how'd you meet my sister?" she asked at one point, flopping down on the couch beside you.
"Uh, my car broke down near her shop," you said, feeling oddly self-conscious under her scrutiny.
Powder raised an eyebrow. "That's it? No crazy meet-cute or dramatic rescue?"
You laughed nervously. "Not exactly."
"Huh," Powder said, looking slightly disappointed. "Well, at least you're not boring."
You weren't entirely sure if that was a compliment, but you decided to take it as one.
Vi, who had been leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, finally intervened. "All right, Powder, that's enough interrogation for one day."
Powder stuck out her tongue but didn't argue.
As the evening wore on, you began to see glimpses of the sisterly bond that Vi and Powder shared. Despite their bickering, there was an undeniable warmth between them—a love that was as fierce as it was complicated.
At one point, Vi disappeared into the garage to work on a project, leaving you alone with Powder.
"So," Powder said, leaning back against the couch. "What's the deal with you and Vi? You two a thing or what?"
Your cheeks flushed, and you looked down at your hands. "I... don't really know yet," you admitted.
Powder snorted. "Figures. Vi's about as good at feelings as she is at baking."
"Baking?" you asked, surprised.
"Yeah, she tried to make cookies once. Ended up with charcoal biscuits instead," Powder said, grinning.
You laughed despite yourself, and for a moment, Powder's chaotic energy didn't feel so overwhelming.
"She's a good person, though," Powder said, her tone unexpectedly serious. "A pain in the ass sometimes, but a good person."
You nodded, feeling a pang of affection for Vi. "I know."
Powder gave you a long, searching look before nodding. "Good. Because if you hurt her, I'll... well, I'll probably blow something up. Not you, though. Probably."
You couldn't tell if she was joking or not, but the sentiment was clear.
When Vi finally came back inside, she looked exhausted but determined. "Powder, it's getting late. Don't you have a... hideout or something to get back to?"
Powder rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "Fine, fine. I'll go. But only because I'm starving, and you have no food worth stealing."
Vi walked her to the door, and you followed, feeling a strange mixture of relief and reluctance. Despite the chaos she brought, there was something oddly endearing about Powder.
Before she left, Powder turned to you and smirked. "Nice meeting you, friend," she said, winking.
You smiled, unsure of what to say, but Vi's glare was enough to make Powder finally leave without another word.
Once the door closed, Vi let out a heavy sigh and leaned against the wall. "Sorry about her," she said, running a hand through her hair.
"She's... a lot," you admitted, though there was no malice in your tone.
Vi laughed softly. "Yeah. But she's my sister. And no matter how much of a pain she is, I'll always have her back."
You stepped closer to her, placing a hand on her arm. "I can see that. And I think she cares about you more than she lets on."
Vi's eyes softened, and she wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into a side hug. "Thanks for putting up with her," she said. "Not everyone can."
"Maybe I'm not like everyone else," you said, smiling up at her.
Vi looked down at you, her fierce eyes filled with something you couldn't quite name. "Yeah," she said softly. "You're not."
And in that moment, with Vi's arm around you and the chaos of the day finally settling, you felt like you'd found a place where you truly belonged.