A freshly showered Reina had entered her room to find Val seated on the edge of her bed, startling her.

“Hey,” Val said. “Sorry for coming in uninvited.”

Reina returned to drying her hair. “It’s fine. Is something wrong?”

“Not exactly. Mind if I bend your ear for a bit?”

“Sure?” Reina yawned, wobbling a bit.

Val gestured for Reina to sit near her on the bed. “You look like you’re about to fall over. Sit.”

“Okay.” Reina walked over and sat. “Why’re you grinning? Do I look weird or something?”

“Am I?” Val touched her mouth. “I am? That’s a bit… I guess I can’t help it. Seeing you able to take a shower after all these years.”

“Oh. It’s still kinda surreal for me, too. Though it’s a bit embarrassing Mama had the house fitted with bars all over, including the bathroom.”

“Heh. Yeah, I might’ve helped. Sorry ‘bout that.”

“You did? You could’ve warned me, jeez.”

“Could get you a cane, instead?”

“That’d make me feel even more like a granny. You see how I move.” They shared a chuckle.

“Alright, so.” Val took a deep breath. “I’m kind of overstepping my place here. And I don’t know how you see me. Sure, we talk somewhat often, but it’s mostly work stuff. We don’t really share any interests. Then, there’s my weird relationship with Yuna. Plus, I technically have no frame of reference, even. Siblings, you know, and—.” You’re rambling. Fuck. This’ some embarrassing shit to say out loud. And now she’s giving me a funny look.

“Val?”

“Look, I don’t have any. Siblings, I mean. So I can’t know for sure. But I can’t help but see you as a little sister.”

“Oh? Uhm…”

Shit, Val thought. It’s one sided.

“I never really thought about it, but in hindsight, I’ve probably seen you as an older sister for a long time? I mean, I feel like I go to you for advice, enough. I’ve worried too often even, but you’ve never turned me away. Until Dante, you were the only one I could talk to about Yuna or Mama being well, you know. Papa to a much lesser extent, but still.”

Val exhaled deeply. Shit, I’m all tingly. My nerves. How long have I been suppressing wanting to know? Shameful gutter trash. A brief silence passed.

“Val? Was that, er, why you’re here?”

“Huh? No. Ah. I haven’t been making any weird expressions, have I?”

“Well, to be honest, you were kinda fidgeting. I usually see you as so cool. Serious yet laid back at the same time. Aloof, even. Sounds weird to say about the Val in my head, but you were cute, just now?”

Val grabbed Reina by the shoulders and locked eyes with her. “Please keep this between us?”

Reina giggled. “Sure.”

Val withdrew and returned to her usual demeanor. “That part didn’t go as I’d planned. With Celeste watching over Yuna, probably still lecturing her, this seemed like my best chance to talk privately. The sister thing was an excuse, kinda, to give you unsolicited advice. At the end of the day, you’re my boss, after all. It’s not right to approach a boss without being asked to. It was wrong of me to undermine you in front of Lawrence earlier. Sure, it’s just Lawrence, but still. That kind of behavior can’t be tolerated on the path you’ve chosen for Vyxora.”

“I’m a little lost. You were right about lecturing me?”

“It doesn’t matter if I was right. I don’t know how things are gonna play out organizationally, but my grunts are already champing at the bit for expansion. Just like how you became the leader around here in almost everything but name, it could play out the same in ‘Abyss’.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“Reina, I know you’re not that dense. It’s been years since anyone bothered to go to Leon for something.”

“I never meant for that to happen, though.”

“Oh, I know you didn’t. Your drive to better Vyxora and keep us afloat combined with Leon being how he is, it just did. The point is, you’re the boss. The boss can not have their authority questioned. That’s never really been a problem here, because our residents and grunts either worship your family or fear it.”

“Hmm. Aelfric’s going to be the ‘boss’, though.”

“And what, you’re not going to interact with anyone else? Fat chance.”

“Hmm.”

“Hear me out, Reina. I appreciate your family’s never pressured me about my past before Vyxora. That’s part of what makes this place special. I also know probably nothing would stop Yuna from seeking revenge. And I’m not trying to persuade you or anything, either. Vyxora isn’t like other syndicates. I need to know you understand that. It’s honestly so easy to forget we’re criminals with how little crime we actually do. But I know how it is for others…because I did it all. Before here.” Val realized her gaze had drifted away from Reina. She looked apprehensively at Reina’s expression. Accepting? Is that what that is? Don’t look at me like that. You don’t know what I’ve really done.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Determination flashed in Val’s eyes. “Celeste and Yuna, well, Celeste, for sure, are probably worried about you like always. But not enough. Not this time, in my eyes. You’re far too kind, Reina.” Without pausing, she continued. “I can’t remember a life before the gutter. I had no family. I pretended to be a boy and became a gofer for a gang to survive as early as I can remember.” Val locked eyes with Reina. “I bounced from one to another. They’d get swallowed up, and I’d move on. I did whatever I had to.” Disgust permeated Val’s expression and words as she described participating in robberies, assaults, drug trafficking, and more. She hinted at ‘worst’ trafficking, but then stopped mid-sentence. The pair had continued to look into one another’s eyes. Why? Why isn’t it changing? Fine. I’ll make it. Her expression twisted further.

“Stop,” Reina said. “I was trying to avoid getting Yuna in trouble, but please, I can tell it’s hurting you to remember. You did what you had to. To survive.”

“I don’t like that justification.” Val averted her gaze.

“I know that, too. It’s why Yuna told me…she wanted to understand. Understand why survival isn’t enough.”

“But you. You never acted any different, despite knowing?” Val inched her gaze back to Reina again. “How?”

“It’s okay. It’s different now.”

A paralyzing shock reverberated throughout Val. I finally get it. I always thought she was leaving something out. But this is how, isn’t it? This…acceptance, from Reina. It’s how you ‘became’ Yuna.

Did I handle that right? Reina thought. She fidgeted in face of the frozen Val. Mama always does this. She placed her frail hand over Val’s.

Val snapped back to reality. She felt a hint of wetness in her eyes. Don’t you dare. She used every ounce of her willpower to prevent being overcome with emotion. Remember why you’re here.

“Moving on,” Val said. “The point I was trying to get at, Reina, is will you really be able to handle knowing what Abyss does? I’m talking about outside of our primary goal. Anyone that gets swallowed up is going to want to continue their businesses. And the bigger it grows, the more activity we can’t keep eyes on. I know the darker corners of this life and I worry—.”

“That I don’t have the stomach for it? You know I forced my way into assisting with Papa and Yuna’s council contracts, right?”

“Yes, but that’s different. Their targets are always someone part of the underworld. Will you really be able to turn a blind eye to Abyss grunts peddling drugs on a corner, robbing civs or worst? Credits are the underworld’s lifeblood. The org will never last if we crack down even close to how Vyxora operates. We’re closer to a neighborhood watch.”

“‘You can only control your own actions.’”

“What?”

“It’s something Papa told me when I was little. Which he later regretted when I used it to involve myself in Vyxora. But it shaped my worldview. You’re right that I wouldn’t allow drugs and such if I could, but it’s an individual’s choice to take drugs. Vast majority of the time, at least. My point is, I can accept where individuals choose to involve themselves. Human trafficking is a different beast, but I have a feeling Aelfric will not allow that type of business.” Reina paused as she observed Val in thought. “I hope I didn’t dredge up—?”

“Huh? What? About the drugs? No, you didn’t. Sure, I don’t like to remember how I came to Vyxora and especially how I met Yuna, but it was ironically that terrible choice that brought me here, too. Forgive me, Reina. I felt like with how your parent’s parenting philosophy is, and Yuna, is, Yuna, that I had to say something to you. Maybe a ‘turn back before it’s too late’, moment? I’m sorry for looking down on you. Thinking you were more naïve. Although, worrying about me being triggered or not still concerns me.”

“It’s nothing worth apologizing for, Val. If anything, thank you. Even though Mama went as far as going to the council herself, I think she might still try to convince at least me away from this path. You’ve helped organize my thoughts better for when she does. And don’t worry about my so-called ‘kindness’.” Reina grinned, to Val’s surprise. “I’ve been thinking some too, how I should interact with Aelfric and Belle, maybe others.”

“‘Hey, heal this hangnail for me?’” Reina said in a lower imitating tone.

“Uhm, what?” Val asked.

Reina giggled. She described a recent brief talk with Dante, where she had shared the concern of interacting with Abyss members should it arise. In the usual basement room, he offered his hand toward Reina-cat when saying the phrase she’d repeated to Val.

“What’re you talking about?” Reina asked.

Dante withdrew back to his screen. “You roleplay a healer in ALTR. But you don’t go around trying to heal people IRL. So, what’s another mask? Just pretend you’re an aloof, serious broker. Don’t you already do that with your current dealings? People wear all kinds of masks to fit the situation, just like switching roles in ALTR. You don’t come back to IRL as the healer. No need to change yourself, merely another role swap.”

Reina had a slight grin as she faced Val. “It was clumsy ALTR-obsessed advice as usual, but helpful nonetheless. Maybe I’ll change because of this path, but for now I’m confident the Reina you know, isn’t going to get in the way.”

“I see. Well, I’ve underestimated you again. I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough.” Val stood to leave. Reina stopped her with a weak tug at her arm.

“Wait.”

Val looked down at Reina, who trembled. “Are you okay?”

“Could I…Could I confide something in you, Val? I might regret it if I don’t take this chance.”

Val sat back down. “What do you mean? I’m listening.”

“I’ve only told Dante.”

Something she hasn’t shared with Celeste and Yuna? What could it be? Is she somehow even paler? Val thought.

“The truth is, I have blood on my hands.” Reina paused. After a little time, Val placed a hand over Reina’s.

“Start from the beginning.”

Reina nodded, her gaze affixed on her lap. “I’ve been concerned what would happen without the contracts from the council. We’ve always known the Shinobi didn’t like Papa being trusted so much and have been trying to push him out for a long time. So, I started a side hustle that’s become very lucrative. I’ve amassed quite a bit of a rainy day fund, to be honest. I couldn’t tell my family for fear they’d want to use it for a new body for me. It’s too important for that. Although, that doesn’t really matter anymore, obviously.”

“You’re right, they would have.”

“Thanks. It’s nicer to hear my justification validated for keeping it from them than I thought it’d be.” Reina took a deep breath. “Anyway. I leveraged connections while adding to my network, building a reputation for prime leads on jobs stealing from corpos exclusively. I made it very clear that I don’t want bodies. Besides not wanting civs to get hurt, it is just genuinely bad for business. Then, one job was for an actual client, instead of a score to sell after. One of my usual teams became unavailable, and I had to rush to put together a new one. They knew the rules, but I didn’t vet them enough…”

Val grabbed Reina, pulling her into a warm embrace. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Reina shook her head into Val’s chest. Her voice fluctuated. “It’s different here. I’ve assisted Papa and Yuna with the contracts, indirectly killing before. But the guards weren’t part of this life. Truthfully, it’s never really bothered me. Vyxora is all that matters. But…but.”

Val started stroking Reina’s hair. “I shouldn’t have said it wasn’t your fault. Life isn’t that simple.” Reina felt Val’s heartbeat quicken. “Some things…you just have to live with.” Reina felt a slight squeeze. “That’s why I have to ask again. Are you sure?”