Aunt. {3}

Evangeline let out a long, exasperated sigh while her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Never mind. You know I can't say no to you when you use those eyes on me. Fine, she can stay... but she'll have to sleep in the workers restroom."

Her tone was clipped, and her displeasure was evident. The thought of the "Cheeto girl" staying anywhere near her precious nephew was clearly grating on her nerves.

Alexius, however, wasn't having it. "Mmm, that won't do, Aunt. The bar's open at night, and she'll be working until early morning. And during the day, when the restaurant's open, the workers' restroom will be busy 24/7. I doubt she's used to sleeping with all that noise. Let her sleep in my room instead. I'll take the workers restroom; I'm used to loud noises anyway."

Evangeline's eye twitched while her thoughts spiraled into chaos.

{W-what?! Why is my cute nephew letting that Cheeto bitch sleep in his bed?! What if she starts sniffing his pillow and blankets?! Even I haven't done that yet!}

Outwardly, though, she maintained her composure, albeit with visible strain. "Fine. She can stay in your room, but I won't let you sleep in the workers restroom!" she declared while pointing a finger at Alexius in a classic nagging posture.

Alexius blinked, confused. "W-what? Where else am I supposed to sleep? Oh… right. I can always sleep in the garage. I forgot I put a hammock there a few months ago."

Before he could finish, Evangeline's hand shot out, smacking him upside the head with a loud smack sound.

"Ouch! Why did you hit me?!" Alexius yelled while rubbing the spot where she'd struck him.

"Because you're so dumb!" Evangeline snapped while her voice began to rise. "You'll sleep with me. I still have the long sofa in my room; you can sleep there." She turned to Natalia while her expression shifted from exasperation to something far more intimidating. "Well then, Cheeto."

"Y-yes?!" Natalia squeaked while standing at attention like a soldier caught off guard.

"Go with Amanda. She's the girl behind the bar. She'll show you around and give you your uniform." Evangeline's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

{Leave already! I want to be with my nephew! I didn't see him all day yesterday!}

Evangeline's inner voice screamed, though her face remained eerily calm.

The evening rolled around, and the bar came alive with its usual hustle and bustle. The atmosphere that was usually calm and elegant was slightly different tonight. Amanda was busy teaching Natalia the ropes, showing her how to navigate the chaos of a busy bar.

By nightfall, the place was packed with coal miners, off-duty soldiers, and even policemen filled the seats, all drawn by the allure of Evangeline's charm and the promise of a good drink.

"Hey, Cheeto girl!" one of the workers called out to Natalia as he rushed past her with a tray of drinks. "The boss is looking for you! She's in the kitchen!"

Natalia nodded while weaving her way through the crowd toward the kitchen. When she arrived, she found Evangeline standing over a stove, her hands moving with practiced precision as she finished plating two meals. "You were looking for me, boss?" Natalia asked while standing nervously by the doorway.

"Yes," Evangeline said without looking up. "Take this food to Alexius. He's in the garage. Once he gets in there, he always forgets to eat." She handed Natalia a tray with two plates, one noticeably larger than the other. "And this one's for you. Take a break and eat."

Natalia's eyes widened in surprise. "O-oh, okay! Thank you, boss!" Her face lit up with gratitude. She hadn't expected to be fed; after all, she'd only asked for a place to stay while she contacted her parents.

But Evangeline, despite her obvious dislike for the "Cheeto girl," had gone out of her way to prepare a meal for her. It was a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes.

As Natalia hurried off to deliver the food, Evangeline watched her go; her expression was unreadable.

{I still don't like her}

She thought while crossing her arms.

{But if my nephew asks me to take care of her, I'll do my best. Even if it kills me.}

Natalia made her way to the garage while carefully balancing the tray of food in her hands. When she pushed open the creaky door, she found Alexius hunched over a steam bike, his hands covered in oil and his old clothes stained with grease.

His focus was razor-sharp, with his eyes fixed on the intricate machinery in front of him. The faint glow of a lantern illuminated his face, casting shadows that danced across the garage walls.

"Alexius," Natalia called out softly, not wanting to startle him. "Your aunt sent me with food for us."

At the sound of her voice, Alexius paused what he was doing while setting down his tools and wiping his hands on a rag. He glanced up at her, his olive eyes catching the light. "Oh? Is it that late already? I didn't even notice it was night. Thanks for bringing this over."

He gestured toward a corner of the garage where a couple of old chairs and a rickety table stood. "Come sit with me. This is the cleanest spot you'll find in here."

Natalia followed him to the corner, setting the tray down on the table. They ate in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds being the distant hum of the bar and the occasional clink of utensils. But Natalia couldn't stand the quiet any longer. "By the way," she started speaking, breaking the silence, "what were you working on all this time?"

Alexius didn't look up from his plate. "Mmm, just fixing up my bike. I call her La Bastarda."

"La Bastarda?" Natalia repeated while tilting her head. "What does that mean?"

"Beats me," Alexius said with a shrug, finally looking up. "I just thought it sounded cool." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, having already finished his meal. "So, how's work going? Were you able to contact your old man?"

Natalia sighed while setting her fork down. "Oh, well… I've never done anything like this before, so it's a new experience. I thought I was already ready, but who knew being a waitress would be more exhausting than the drills at the academy?" She let out a small, tired chuckle while lifting her feet onto the edge of the chair to give them a rest.

"And… about my parents," she continued with her voice softening. "I haven't had the chance to send them a card yet. I've been so busy all day." She forced a smile, but Alexius could see right through it since the weariness in her eyes was unmistakable.

"Mmm, well then," Alexius said while standing up abruptly. "Wait here a second." He began rummaging through the clutter in the garage, opening drawers and shifting boxes. After a few minutes, he returned with a few sheets of paper, a stick of cheap wax, and a letter envelope. "Here," he said while handing them to her. "Use this to write your card. Once you're done, I'll take it to the post office."

Natalia's eyes widened in alarm. "Are you sure? It's already so late, and we're in the lower districts. It's dangerous out there! Maybe we should wait until tomorrow?"

Alexius waved off her concerns with a dismissive hand. "Ah, don't sweat it. I was planning to take La Bastarda for a test run anyway, and the post office is just around the corner. Hurry up and write your card. I'll go clean up a bit and grab a jacket."

Before Natalia could protest further, Alexius was already halfway across the garage, moving with the kind of energy that made it seem like he'd combust if he stood still for more than a minute. She stared after him for a moment, then sighed, picking up the pen and paper.

{Well....}

{At least he's reliable. Even if he's a little… intense.}

Behind the bar, the air was thick with tension. Little Thumb, flanked by a handful of Mama's enforcers, stood across from Amanda, who leaned casually against the wall, her usual calm demeanor replaced by a sharp, icy edge. The dim light of the bar alley cast long shadows across their faces, amplifying the hostility of the situation.

"Mama has asked Evangeline to show some face and return the piston you've captured," Little Thumb said with his voice calm but firm. His words were measured, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.

Amanda's lips curled into a smirk while her eyes narrowed as she regarded him with thinly veiled disdain. "Hmph, what piston are you talking about? Since when does our group bother picking trash off the streets?" Her tone was dripping with mockery, with each word being a deliberate jab at Mama's group.

"Should I take this as the answer from Evan―"

Before he could respond, a sudden blur of motion cut through the air. A small, sharp kunai whizzed past his face, grazing his neck before embedding itself into the dirt floor with a soft thud. A thin line of blood trickled down his skin as the room fell silent.

Amanda's eyes, usually half-lidded and unreadable, were now wide open, glowing with a cold, predatory light. "It's Miss Evangeline to you, you lowlife," she spat, her voice sounding like a whip crack. "Before you come here begging for scraps, you should learn some respect."

The members of Mama's group erupted in outrage, with their voices overlapping in a cacophony of anger.

"How dare you treat our Valve like that!"

"You want to die, bitch?"

"Let's kill her!"

Handguns were drawn, the metallic clicks of safeties being switched off echoing through the bar. But before the situation could escalate further, Little Thumb raised his hand with his voice, cutting through the chaos like a blade.

"Enough! All of you, stand down!" He commanded, his eyes never leaving Amanda. "She's also a Valve, and in case you've forgotten, we're in her territory. If you keep acting like fools, you won't even see your deaths coming."