RIVER

Since the five kids accidentally blew up an apartment building, the undercity was filled to the brim with enforcers on the search for the culprit's who did it. They were all currently at the arcade since Vander had ordered for them to stay low for a while until it all blew over.

Vi was fighting the boxing machine, Powder was fixing the gun range while Mylo impatiently waited after he had broken the machine by hitting the main power source just because he couldn't hit one shot. River and Claggor sparred for a while until Claggor was sick of it because River kept on beating him.

River tried begging him to continue with her but was met with a 'no.' once again. "Come on Claggor, i'm bored!" River whined, trying to convince the older boy "no! I don't know when it happened but you've gotten really good and it's embarrassing for me to get my ass kicked by a twelve year old" Claggor crossed his arms.

River rolled her eyes and huffed, standing up and sitting next to Powder and watched as Powder fixed the machine. River was flattered and annoyed at Claggor, flattered because he said she was good, but annoyed because he was being a pussy.

"Remind me why we bother with this dump" Mylo said as he picked a booger out of his nose, flicking it away. River grimaced in disgust "you're disgusting" River told him, Mylo rolled his eyes. "Vander said to lay low. And enforcers never come down here, so this is as good as place as any." Vi told Mylo.

"Oh, what's the matter, Mylo? you worried Powder's gonna' beat you again?" Claggor snarked "hey, if she didn't keep fixing these things, I wouldn't keep missing" Mylo defended himself. River sorted in amusement "yeah. suree" River dragged out. Powder suddenly shot up holding the two plugs making Mylo jump in fright.

Powder plugged them together making the metal figures light up and start to move. Powder smirked at Mylo before she went and stood next to River, leaning into her side with her head resting on River's shoulder.

Mylo started to shoot the rubber balls at the targets but was missing every shot. "You guys know that I wouldn't take you on a job you couldn't handle right?" Vi asked as she looked back at them "are you kidding? that was the best job we've.  ever done! ... maybe just, don't take Powder next time" Mylo said as he continued to miss his shots.

Powder glared at Mylo while holding the gun, she held it up and squinted one eye. She then began shooting the rubber balls at the targets, she hit everyone making the metal plates spin with each hit. River raised her eyebrows in shock. She already knew that Powder was amazing but every time she saw Powder do it she was still left amazed.

Powder turned to Mylo and screwed her face up at him before putting the gun down. Powder walked away and started to play on the old arcane machine until some noise caught her eye. She peaked her eyes through the hole of the wall to see multiple enforcers asking citizens of the lanes question's, only to be met with attitude and unanswered questions.

Powder turned away "hey guys! you should see this" right after Powder had said that someone went crashing through the glass wall. River's eyes widened in shock, the enforcers took notice of the group of kids "search them." one of them ordered. River chewed on her lip and looked at Vi then to Powder.

The enforcers walked through the broken glass wall, Powder backed away from them nervously and accidentally backed into River, River grabbed the back of Powders shirt and gently moved her so that she was slightly behind her instead of in front.

"Go ahead idiots, we've got nothing" Mylo teased, Powders eyes were wide in fear, she put her hand over the pouch on her shorts that contained the mysterious blue gems. Powder looked at Vi nervously, Vi came to the realisation that she was about to be caught and looked around to try and think of something to do.

Vi gave Claggor a look and he instantly turned off the lights, River pushed Powder away from her, to Vi and kicked the enforcer in the stomach making him stumble back. Mylo started to shoot the rubber balls at them which bounced off of there armour.

River's face scrunched up at his stupidity before she grabbed the metal plate and through it at the enforcers head giving Mylo an opening to run away from the two enforcer's. Powder was running through the metal figures and tried to hide behind one but one of the enforcer's grabbed her braid and yanked her back. Powder shrieked in surprise, she looked back at him in panic and hit the metal shark making it close on the enforcer's arm.

River ran over to Powder do make sure she was ok, Vi ran up to them and grabbed both there arms and ran away with Mylo and Claggor. Then Vi slammed the back door open and they all ran out of it and started to run through the alley way. They all abruptly stopped when the saw enforcers at the end of the alley way, River looked around nervously, the enforcers started to close in on them.

They suddenly all heard a whistle coming from above them, they all looked up to see little man "come on", he put down a ladder and they all quickly climbed up it, Powder was the last to climb up it but was stopped when an enforcer grabbed her leg, Powder looked down in panic and kicked him in the face, Vi helped Powder up then kicked the ladder down.

River looked down from the building at the yelling and angry enforcers, "you need to hide those crystals" Vi told Powder as she turned away, "yeah, no shit" Powder snarked, River snickered and followed after the sisters.

"We should hit them back!" Sevika's hand slammed on the table in front of her "we've got the numbers to beat him" Sevika fought "yeah! let's teach them what it mean's to mess with us" some random guy yelled out with a raised fist. Everyone yelled 'yeah' in agreement to his statement.

Sevika stared sternly at Vander leaning forward with the support of her arms set on the table in front of her. Vander and Benzo were leant against the bar. "You sure that's what you want" Vander asked after he lit his pipe.

All five of the kids were leaning on the back wall behind Vander, staring at the scene in front of them. "We've crossed that bridge once before.. we all know how that ended" Vander reasoned to them. Some guy standing behind Sevika scoffed and rolled his eyes "you're just protecting your kids" he yelled.

Vander looked back at them, River scoffed at his stupidity, Vander was protecting everyone in the undercity. Not just one specific group of people.

Sevika scrunched her brows up, she looked at River then to the floor. Sevika had to admit, part of the reason she was pushing for the undercity to fight against the topside was for River, she wanted to know that River could achieve her dreams and goals, that she wouldn't have to dig up scraps just to survive

Vander stood up properly "i'm protecting our people. I'd do the same for any one of you" Vander told them truthfully. "We look out for each other, It's the way it's always been. This will blow over, we just need to stand together." Vander said to everyone.

"The Vander I knew, the one who built the underground. Wouldn't be afraid to fight" Sevika said sternly. Vander stared at her and walked forward "do I look afraid?" he challenged but Sevika didn't back down "no. You look weak" Sevika whistled for her group then walked away.

Sevika looked back at River who was staring at her with her lips parted and her eyes squinted, they made eyes contact and River looked away. Not being able to bare it in that moment. River truly wanted to believed that Sevika wouldn't abandon them, but she wasn't to sure anymore.

Sevika sighed to herself and walked out of the bar. River put her attention on the others "why isn't he doing anything?" Claggor asked them in confusion "we kicked the enforcers butt with just the four of us. Imagine what the whole of the Lanes could do" Powder said in frustration.

River paying attention to the blue haired girl in front of her as she spoke. "Jeez, even Powders wants to fight" Mylo smirked with wide eyes "so why aren't we" Vi said as she went to walk off but noticed that little man had a guilty expression. Vi stopped, Powder and River peeked around her to see him as well. Vi stared at him and raised a brow while Ekko tried acting as if nothing was up.

"Spill it Ekko." Vi demanded "Um... oh. Okay, well. Vander's got a deal with the enforcers" Ekko hesitantly told them. There faces all morphed into shock "what deal?" Vi instantly asked. Ekko continued to tell them all about it in the basement as they all listened closely.

River was now lying down on the couch with her arm over her arms, Powder sitting on the edge of the couch in front of River whilst showing Ekko a new bomb she made until the monkey alert Powder made went off, warning them all to hide.

They all quickly climbed up onto the beams of the roof, River watched the enforcer walk in and start to look around. River looked at Powder who was staying up by holding onto a metal pole. Powders hand slowly kept slipping as she tried her hardest not to let go. No one could go over to help because the metal would creek and alert the enforcer of their presence.

River stared at Powder with wide eyes, she chewed on her bottom lip anxiously. Praying that Powder wouldn't fall and get caught. Powders hands started to slip even more, Vi was looking between her little sister and the enforcer as he very slowly made he's way out. When he finally closed the door that's when Powders hands slipped and she fell onto the couch.

They all jumped down when Vander opened the basement door "you all ok?" he asked hurriedly. River put her hand on Powders back and exhaled a shaky breath in relief "No, we're not okay. They almost saw Powder. What if they took her!" Vi exclaimed.

"No one is taking any of you! never let that happen." Vander attempted to reassure her "it's already happening!" Vi exclaimed "you heard him, they won't stop, we need to fight back." Vi said firmly as her fist hit the door beside her. River watched the scene before her whilst playing with the bracelet on her wrist.

"And if you won't.. I will." Vi concluded, Vander sighed "i've heard this kinda talk before" he trailed off.

Vander and Vi had left leaving the rest alone together,  River was man spreaded on the couch, with her right up resting on the top of the couch. Powder was sat on the other end of the couch, her knees brought to her chest with her chin resting on her knees. River looked at Powder whose lips were pouted as she stared off into space.

River leant forward to her so she could reach, she poked Powder's shoulder which got her attention. "You ok?" River asked her softly, "of course" Powder tried reassuring. River knew that that wasn't true but she figured that she'd ask about it when they were alone.

Everyone looked at the door when they heard it open, they thought that maybe it was Vander and Vi, but it wasn't. "Um... you guys okay?" Emmy asked as she slowly walked in, "yeah" River gave her a tight lipped smile.

Emmy nodded her head uncertainly and walked to the lounges, River watched Emmy with a quirked brows as Emmy stood awkwardly "you gonna sit?" River gestured to the free spot between her and Powder. Emmy let out a grateful, airy laugh and sat down.

She sat a little bit closer to River, she had a feeling that Powder didn't like her and she felt a little awkward around her, but maybe that's just because she's an awkward person.

But maybe Emmy was right, Powder watched Emmy sit down in the middle then shift closer to River. Powder scrunched up her face while rolling her eyes, both Mylo and Claggor had noticed Powders reaction and smirked to each other. "So what's up with you guys, where's Vi?" Emmy asked.

"Uh, they went off somewhere" River informed vaguely, Emmy slowly nodded her head, Rover cocked her head when she noticed that Emmy had changed her hair, it was still long and dark purple put it now had magenta highlights through out it.

River flicked a strand of her hair with her index finger before retracting her hand again "when did u change your hair" River questioned "uhh, last week" Emmy nodded her head as she spoke. "it looks cool" River said as she admired the girls hair, Powder watched the two with an unknown feeling bubbling in her stomach.

Vi was standing outside the basement door as she contemplated even going in and facing her siblings faces. Vi opened the door and walked down the stairs,  "Vi! where you been?" Mylo asked "rumour is that the lanes are gonna fight!" Claggor said in excitement, both River and Emmy exchanged concerned looks when they saw her glum expression.

Vi stayed silent and walked into Powder and River's room. Powder was sat on the bottom bunk, tinkering with a new bomb. Powder smiled at her sister "look i made them for the enforcers." Powder handed Vi two bombs "these are smoke bombs, and those two are full of nails" Powder smirked.

Vi smiled at Powder "they're gonna work this time, i know it" Powder determined, Vi sat both the bombshell Powder gave her down and shifted closer to her baby sister "me too" Vi said before tucking a strand of Powders blue hair behind her ear and holding her cheek lovingly before dropping her hand.

She put her old bunny toy on Powder's lap, Powder looked down at the stuffy in surprise "you know Powder" Vi held her hand "what makes you different makes you strong. Always remember that, ok?" Vi told her softly, Powder nodded her head as she looked at the dirty bunny.

As Vi walked away Powders face shifted to something of uncertainty and sadness.

Vi walked out to her bedroom and sighed, She ran her hand through her hair and rested her face in her hand for a moment before getting up again and walking over to River who was sat in the corner of the arm chair with both Mylo and Claggor fast asleep on either big couch.

"If anything were ever to happen to me.. you'd look out for Powder right?" Vi randomly asked, River looked at Vi in confusion but nodded nonetheless "always" she quietly answered, Vi nodded her head at her answer "what would happen?" River asked the pink haired girl.

"nothing i couldn't handle" Vi gave her a tight lipped smile before it dropped, Vi looked at her hands then back at River "you know i've always got you right?" Vi asked River. River was confused to what urged Vi to say all this "yeah..." River said unsurely "and no matter what happens.. i'm always on your side ok? i'd never betray you" Vi reassured.

Vi sometimes felt as if River was neglected, and sometimes River did. Claggor and Mylo were brothers, blood or not they were. Vi's attention was always focused on Powder and River was always the one who comforted others but was never the getting comforted.

"I'm really proud of you, Vera" Vi told her sincerely, she didn't know what it was but she had a bad feeling that something was going to go down and the last thing she wanted was for River to feel alone.

At Vi's words, tears stung River's eyes. Her brother was the last person to say that he was proud of her, it was something that River very rarely heard but really needed to. Vi said it because she was proud of River... but it was also something that she really needed to hear.

"Thanks Violet" River said quietly so her voice wouldn't break. Vi chuckled and hit Rivers arm softly. Vi went to leave but before she could River stopped her "i'm proud of you too" Vi let out a shaky breath and smiled at River's words.

if only River knew what Vi was planning

(not proof read)