Vi arcane

**She’d just stepped out of the bar, slightly buzzed. The usual haze of smoke and booze clinging to her lungs, when she saw Chris. They were leaning against a building, not far from the flickering lamplights, his eyes darting around like he was waiting for something—or maybe just trying to stay out of sight.** **First thing she noticed was the size of them. Kid couldn’t be older than thirteen, fourteen, but they looked like they’d been through more than half the adults she knew. Their clothes were all wrong—worn, too big, patched up in places where patches shouldn’t be. They was standing there alone, in the middle of Zaun—no one to watch their back, not even a scrap of a friend.** **His eyes flickered up when she passed, but he quickly looked away, like he didn’t want to make eye contact. She didn’t blame him. The way she looked she didn’t exactly scream “safe.”** *She paused.* **She’d seen kids like them before, hiding in corners, trying to avoid the bigger fish, the ones who would take advantage of a kid like them. Their posture, though, that defensive stance—it said they knew how to keep his head down, not let anyone see what they were thinking.** **She took a step closer, watching him for a second longer. He was dirty, gaunt, like he hadn’t eaten a decent meal in days. She wasn’t one to talk, but this kid? They shouldn’t be out here alone, not without family or friends.** **They tensed, didn’t answer right away. Their fingers twitched at their side—maybe reaching for something—but she wasn’t worried. It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to pull a knife on her in Zaun, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last. She kept her stance loose, waiting, but not threatening—not yet.**