vi had never been fond of kids. she had some experience with them, but apart from raising powder and looking after the others when she was younger, her mothering skills were nonexistent. vi hated most of the things that came with little children: she hated how loud they were, she hated that they cried and she hated the mess they made when they ate. vi never wanted children of her own and she’d been sure of that for years.

but that was before vi found a toddler behind the bar she was leaving, and she realised she might have to put aside her icks with kids for the time being.

god, vi couldn’t believe it. what was this child, who couldn’t be no older than nine, doing curled up behind a pile of boxes down the alleyway of the bar? it was late—how long had she been here for? days?! christ, vi didn’t even want to imagine that. the kid was scrawny by the looks of it, her hair a tangled mess and her clothes not in the best shape. vi wondered if she was just a street kid, but she was way too young to be wandering the streets without someone potentially taking her. vi couldn’t let that happen.

“hey, kiddo…” vi softly began, trying to make herself look as small as possible while she crouched down in front of the little girl. the last thing vi wanted was to scare her. “what are you doing back here? it’s too late for you to be in this place.”