Chapter 28: Do you belive in me?
Lukas adjusted the straps on his bag, mentally preparing for the long-ass walk back to his… well, home was a strong word. It was more of a glorified tarp with ambition.
Vander, ever the observant one, spoke up. "Kid, it's late. You sure you're good heading back alone?"
Lukas forced a grin. "Pfft. 'Course. Not my first time."
Vander studied him for a second before sighing. "Come back with us. You can stay the night."
Lukas blinked. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah!" Powder bounced on her heels. "C'mon, Lukas! Sleepover!"
Lukas hesitated, but the alternative was trekking back through the dark, possibly getting mugged or being forced to use his 'UNLIMITED POUWAAAAH' to kill someone.
"...Alright, yeah. That sounds good."
"Awesome!" Powder cheered.
Before they left, Lukas patted the modified telegraph. "Actually, I think we should bring one of these to the Last Drop."
Ekko, still wired with excitement, nodded. "Smart. We'll have one here at the shop and one at the bar. That way, we can test the range."
Benzo, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "You sure you don't just wanna show off your fancy new toy?"
Lukas grinned. "Oh, absolutely, old man. That too."
Vander chuckled. "Alright, grab it and let's move. It's been a long day."
Lukas and Ekko carefully carried the telegraph out, Powder skipping ahead, already giddy about the sleepover.
Vi, walking beside Lukas, nudged him. "Just so you know, if you snore, I'm kicking your ass."
Lukas smirked. "Bold of you to assume you can."
Vi rolled her eyes.
Milo groaned. "Oh, this is gonna be a disaster."
Lukas only grinned.
He had no idea how much of a disaster it was actually going to be.
---
By the time they reached the Last Drop, the streets were quieter. Most folks had either settled into their homes or drowned themselves in drink to escape the weight of the Undercity.
Lukas walked in alongside Vander, the gang trailing behind.
As Lukas set the telegraph down on the counter, he felt an all-too-familiar notification ping in his mind.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Your actions have pleased the System.]
[+2,000 points earned.]
Lukas barely managed to keep his expression neutral.
Holy shit. That's a lot of points.
Trying not to look like a man who just won the lottery, he casually cracked his neck and muttered, "Heh. Neat."
Powder, who had been standing next to him, blinked. "Huh?"
Lukas hesitated.
"Uh—Nothing ! just admiring the scenery."
Vi squinted. "…You being weird again?"
Lukas sighed. "I live to be weird."
Vander chuckled from behind the bar.
"Alright, alright. You lot look dead on your feet. Get to bed."
Vander then gestured toward Powder.
"Powder, you and Vi take the top bunk tonight. Lukas, take the bottom."
Lukas blinked.
"Wait, what?"
Powder snapped her head toward Vander.
"Wait, WHAT?!"
Vi groaned. "Oh, c'mon, Powder. Just Like old times."
"But—But that's my bed!"
Vander raised an eyebrow.
"You got a problem with sharin' with your sister?"
Powder huffed dramatically.
"Uuuuuuugh. Fine. But if he drools on my pillow—."
Lukas smirked.
"I don't drool."
"Yeah? Well, I bite."
Lukas deadpanned.
"Good to know."
Milo, already halfway down the stairs, yawned loudly.
"Y'all can keep bickering. I'm going to bed."
Claggor was already passed out on the couch.
---
Lukas had been expecting some run-down storage room.
Instead?
It was surprisingly homey.
Yeah, it was rough around the edges—crates stacked against the walls, flickering lights, some old blankets tossed in a corner—but it was lived-in.
It was theirs.
His eyes scanned the room as Powder climbed onto the top bunk, still muttering curses.
Vi was already lying down, arms behind her head.
Milo flopped onto his makeshift bed in the corner, kicking his boots off.
Claggor? Still out cold on the couch.
And Lukas?
He hesitated for just a second.
Then walked over and sat down on the bottom bunk.
Powder's bed.
And that's when he noticed them.
Her gadgets.
Hanging from the bed frame above him, scattered across the floor—little machines, half-finished contraptions, failed prototypes.
Above them, pinned to the wooden frame, was a single, crumpled drawing.
A little girl. A taller girl beside her. Two other figures, barely sketched in.
Lukas swallowed.
He didn't need to ask who they were.
---
Lukas lay down, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
Minutes passed.
The room slowly fell into a comfortable silence.
Until—
A small weight dropped onto the bed beside him.
Lukas turned his head.
Powder had climbed down, sitting cross-legged next to him, fiddling with something in her hands.
She glanced at him.
"You awake?"
Lukas smirked. "I am now."
Powder hesitated.
Then, without looking at him, she held up a small, mechanical Monkey.
"I, uh… I was messing with it earlier. But it's not working right."
Lukas took it, turning it over in his hands.
It was rough, clunky. But… clever.
Powder watched him carefully.
Then, quietly, she asked,
"…Hey, Lukas?"
Lukas looked up.
Powder bit her lip.
"Do you think—" She hesitated. "Do you think I can be an inventor?"
Lukas blinked.
The way she said it—
This wasn't just about being smart.
This was a kid who had spent her whole life being treated like the weakest link.
A kid who had watched everyone else get stronger, faster, more reliable.
A kid who wanted—needed—to prove she belonged here, too.
Lukas felt something tighten in his chest.
He sat up, twirling the tiny monkey in his hands.
Then, finally, he grinned.
"Powder…"
He handed it back to her.
"You already are one."
Powder's eyes widened.
"You mean it?"
Lukas nodded.
"One hundred percent."
Her face lit up.
For a split second, she looked like she didn't believe it.
Like nobody had ever told her that before.
Then, as if trying to play it cool, she shrugged.
"…Good. 'Cause I'm gonna be the best!"
Lukas smirked. "Damn right you are."
Powder held the monkey close, her grip tightening slightly.
Then, as exhaustion caught up with her, she stretched, climbed back up, and flopped onto the top bunk.
"G'night, Mr.Nudes."
Lukas leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"G'night, Powder."
---
Everyone was asleep now.
But Lukas?
…
Yeah. Sleep wasn't happening.
With a sigh, he sat up, rubbing his face.
Maybe a drink would help.
Quietly, he slipped out of bed and made his way up the stairs.
Unbeknownst to him—
He wasn't the only one still awake.
Because as he reached the top, he saw a familiar figure sitting alone at the bar.
A broad-shoulded man, pipe in hand, staring into the dark.
Lukas exhaled.
"…Vander."
The man didn't turn around.
But he didn't need to.
"I was wonderin' when you'd come up here, kid..."
Lukas stepped forward.
"…We need to talk."