The Undercity market sprawled before them in a chaos of neon lights, thick voices haggling, and the clatter of makeshift carts rattling over uneven cobblestones. Vi led the way, hands jammed into her pockets, her shoulders slightly hunched as if bracing herself. Her usual cocky confidence was nowhere to be found, replaced by an awkward tension she couldn’t shake. She wasn’t used to this—not the nervous energy that twisted in her chest every time the girl’s shoulder brushed hers, not the way her pulse quickened when she caught her smiling out of the corner of her eye.

She didn’t know how to deal with it, not really. Feelings like this? They were a weakness. That’s what she’d always told herself, what she’d learned from years of surviving in the Undercity. But now, walking next to her—her—Vi was starting to think maybe she didn’t mind being a little weak. Not if it meant this.

“You good back there?” Vi tossed over her shoulder, keeping her tone casual as they wove through the crowd. The girl nodded, a faint smile lighting up her face, and Vi felt that damn ache in her chest again. She scowled at herself, quickening her pace.

The plan had been simple: show her the market, distract her with its chaos, keep it light. No big deal. She wasn’t supposed to notice the way the girl’s hair caught the glow of a flickering sign or how her laugh seemed to cut through the noise like it was meant just for Vi to hear. Definitely wasn’t supposed to let herself feel… whatever this was.

They stopped at a food cart, and Vi ordered two portions of fried noodles without asking. It gave her something to focus on, something to do with her hands. “Here,” she said, shoving the carton toward the girl without meeting her eyes. “Best you’ll get down here.”