Raise

Sol arrived at Lover's Bar, stepping through the unassuming entrance and immediately feeling the weight of dozens of gazes snapping toward him. The shift in the atmosphere was palpable—curiosity, wariness, and even a touch of fear laced the air. Conversations slowed, hushed murmurs rippling through the room like a disturbance in still water.

Sol sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Guess the rumors even made it here."

He made his way toward the counter, ignoring the lingering stares. Peach, perched on his shoulder, let out a small huff, seemingly unimpressed with the tension in the room. Sol reached up to scratch the bear's head absentmindedly as he slid into his usual seat.

The raccoon-eared bartender, Lena, arched an eyebrow as she wiped down a glass. "Well, well, look who decided to show up. Didn't think we'd be seeing you again so soon."

Sol smirked. "Miss me?"

Lena snorted, setting the glass down. "Don't flatter yourself. You're just causing quite the stir."

The old man emerged from the back, his perceptive gaze locking onto him. "You got a hell of a way of keeping a low profile, kid. Didn't I tell you to keep your head down?"

Sol leaned back, exhaling through his nose. "Trust me, wasn't my intention to stir anything up. Just bad luck, I guess."

The old man stare lingered, like he was trying to peel back Sol's layers. "Bad luck, huh? And I suppose Asha's people just happened to invite you over for tea?"

A few of the patrons tensed at the name. Sol shrugged, keeping his expression relaxed. "Something like that."

Lena exchanged glances with the old man before shaking her head. "You got people spooked, Sol. Hell, even the regulars are talking about you. What the hell did you do?"

Sol traced the rim of his drink, debating how much to reveal. "Let's just say… I had a disagreement with Asha."

The old man scoffed. "A disagreement? Kid, she's been running that side of Luminara for years. Nobody walks into her den, flips the table, and walks out unscathed."

Sol took a sip, letting the warmth settle in his stomach. "Guess I'm lucky then."

The tension in the room didn't fade. If anything, the bar's regulars seemed even more on edge. The weight of their gazes remained, scrutinizing every movement he made. Some were curious, others cautious—some even wary. Sol knew how these kinds of places worked. People here survived on information. And right now, he was the biggest mystery in the district.

Sol stared at the old man, his usual laid-back expression hardening into something far more serious. The shift was immediate, and the subtle tension in the room thickened. "This job's pay isn't worth the annoying shit I had to deal with. You want me to keep running deliveries? I'll need to see more credits, or you can find yourself another delivery boy."

The weight in his voice made even the nearby patrons shift uneasily. Lena's ears twitched as she paused mid-motion, watching the exchange with interest. For a moment, the old man just looked at Sol, silent, unreadable. Then, after a deep sigh, he nodded.

"Fair enough."

Like a switch being flipped, Sol's entire demeanor changed. His sharp expression melted into an innocent, boyish grin as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter. "I knew I could count on you, boss! With me here, you won't have to worry about your packages ever again."

The sheer whiplash of the sudden personality shift left the entire bar momentarily stunned. No one spoke, but glances were exchanged, silently questioning if they had all just witnessed the same thing. Even Lena blinked a few times, processing the dramatic shift in attitude.

The old man, however, just exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples. He was used to the kid's shamelessness by now.

"So," Lena propped her elbows against the counter, "you gonna lay low for a while, or are you planning on stirring up more shit?"

Sol smirked. "Depends. Got any deliveries for me?"

The old man let out a dry chuckle. "You really don't know how to sit still, do you?"

"Never been my style."

Lena shook her head, but there was amusement in her eyes now. "Alright, troublemaker. Give it a few hours, and I'll see what needs running. But if Asha's crew comes sniffing around here looking for you, I ain't cleaning up your mess."

Sol raised his glass. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

As he took another sip, he could still feel the lingering stares from the other patrons. Whispers carried through the air, blending with the hum of the bar's usual atmosphere. The ripples of his actions hadn't settled yet. And from the way things were looking, they wouldn't for a long time.

Sol stretched, letting out a yawn. "Well, since I've got a few hours to kill, I think I'll get some rest." With that, he turned and made his way to his room, disappearing up the stairs.

As soon as the door shut behind him, the bar erupted into hushed whispers and quiet murmurs. The weight of his presence had barely lifted, and already, the patrons were abuzz with speculation. Some chuckled in disbelief, others muttered about his audacity, but all of them silently questioned the sanity of the boy who had just threatened with the old man without a hint of fear.