#claggor headers

"M'kay," I turned to open the basement door and purposely stomped down the stairs, hoping it would wake them up. When I got to the bottom, I found them both still passed out on the couch and in the chair.

I looked around, spotting a metal ball on the floor. I picked it up and tossed it in my palm as I looked around. Spotting a thin metal plate on the wall, I felt a grin pull on my lips. I tossed the ball up again, but this time, when it hit my palm, I chucked it at the metal plate. It rattled loudly, making both boys jump out of their skins. Claggor shot up while Mylo tumbled onto the floor. Their groans were silenced by my laughter.

"Up and at 'em, assholes!" I said, picking the discarded ball up and placing it back where I found it. "Vander needs our help."

"With what?" Mylo groaned, rolling over on the ground. "It's so early!"

I kicked him in the side lightly, rolling him onto his back. "He didn't say. And it's not that early."

"You wake up at the crack of dawn," Claggor yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"If you don't start early in the morning, you don't get anything done," I shrugged. "Now come on. The faster we do this, the faster I'll sneak you both over to my place for some leftovers my Mom made last night."

That had both of them shooting up, instantly ready to leave now. I laughed and shook my head, beckoning them to follow me with a wave of my hand. We walked back up the stairs, returning to the bar where Vander was serving a small group of people a drink to kickstart their day. When he saw us approaching, he took a box from under the bar and dropped it onto the table. I could hear the metal inside clanging around.

"Take this over to Little Man," He said. "He's running Benzo's shop while he's out and about. Customer dropped it off and asked for it to be delivered. Get the money and bring it back here."

"Alright," I said, taking the empty bag from my shoulder and placing it on the table, opening the sinch. I took the thing from inside of the box and put them in the bag, grunting at how heavy it had become.

"Here, Claggor," I huffed, throwing it at him. "You carry it."

"Why me?" He caught it easily, pulling the strap over his left shoulder.

"Cause everyone will try and take it from me," I rolled my eyes.

"You're just a wimp," Mylo laughed. Claggor kicked him in the ass as we walked from the tavern, making the boy yelp.

"Quit being a jerk. It's still too early for it,"

By the time we'd gotten past the crowds of people starting to line the streets, it was almost time for the midday rush to happen. I expected Benzo's small shop to be filled to the door with people trying to sell the wares they'd stolen the night before, but I was wrong.

The last customer left as I opened the door, nodding politely to the boy who scurried off down the street. When we all walked in, we were greeted by the Little Man himself. Ekko jumped up from behind the counter when he saw his, his lips pulling into a wide grin.

"Hey guys!" He greeted.

"Hey, Little Man," Claggor smiled, tossing the bag onto the counter. "Got a special delivery for you."

"Is this the stuff Vander was supposed to bring over?" he asked, picking through the metal.

"Yeah, the place was getting kinda full, so he asked us," I said. "How much you reckon it's all worth?"

"Ah, not sure," He said. "Just by pickin' through...I'd say about...215?"

"Bag it up," Mylo said. "Not out coin, so we don't care how much you rip 'em off."

"Now, hold on," I raised my hand. "Vander sounded like it was personal. Don't be a bastard, Ekko."

"Alright," He sighed, placing his hand on his chin. "I'll give 250."

"Sounds like a deal," Claggor said. He leaned against the counter as we waited for Ekko to count the gold out. Mylo walked around, messing with random objects out of boredom. Ekko ended up yelling at him after he broke a piece off of something.

"Thanks, Little Man," I said, leaning over the counter to ruffle his white hair. He smiled and leaned into my hand.

"You oughtta help me out with my fighting skills, Y/n!" He said, calling after us as we left.

"Sure, bud! Come by the tavern later and I'll show you some stuff!" I called back, covering Mylo's mouth to keep him from giving a smart-ass remark.

"Ekko likes you more than anyone," Mylo said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Cause I'm not a dick to him," I said, dropping the bag of gold into the satchel. As I tightened it, I watched as Claggor began to slow his pace. He stopped, lifting his hand up. Mylo and I peered around him. When we saw the three figures, we darted to the side, pressing our backs to the wall.

I clutched the satchel to my chest as I looked back from where we'd come from. I clenched my jaw before shoving the bag against Mylo's chest. I held my dinger to my lips, making the exclamation in his throat die out. I pointed back to Benzo's shop, then to the road that led back to The Last Drop. No verbal words were needed as Claggor and Mylo nodded. We darted away from each other, rushing out of sight before the Enforcers would see us.

"Y/n?" Ekko said in surprise, clearly startled as I rushed into the shop, closing the door immediately after me. "What'd you for—"

"Get under the table," I ordered, rushing around the counter as I saw their shadows pass by the window. "Hurry, Ekko!"

He did as I told him, ducking under the table right as the door opened. I made sure he was out of sight, taking a box from beside him as I motioned for him to stay silent. I lifted it, placing it behind me on a stool.

"Afternoon, gentlemen," I greeted, looking at them in the corner of my eye. "Store's closing soon. Is there something I can help you with?"

The first man came forward, taking the mask over his mouth and nose off. "What are you doing here all alone, little girl?"

"Working," I said. "So if you've got no warrant or reason to search, I'll ask that you see your way out. You're scaring the rest of the customers away."

"My, don't you have quite a lip?" He sneered. "Someone oughtta teach you to bite your tongue. Pretty thing like you could be quite the trophy wife, don't you think boys?"

"She's one of the better looking ones," The second man inquired, tilting his head in thought.

"Might trade mine out for the newer version," The third said, causing all three of them to laugh.

I felt Ekko grab my ankle, holding it tightly. I placed my arms on the table, leaning forward as I glared at them.

"Disgusting pigs are what you are," I spat, unable to control what I said.

I hated Enforcers. For the way they treated the people of the Undercity; the women, the children, the men, the sick, the elderly, everyone. What they did was not right.

"Why don't you got back upstairs and wipe the scum off your boots?" I said, cocking my head to the side.

I grunted when I was seized by my jaw. My body jolted as a response, making Ekko hold onto my ankle tighter, as if I'd be ripped from his hands. My eyes fell into narrow slits as I looked down at the man holding my jaw.

"Why don't you do it yourself?" He grinned.

"Fuck you," I spat in his face, making him yell and step back, and for the other two to pull their weapons out at me. I rubbed my jaw, my glare never faltering.

"Why you little—"

"Are we having a problem here?"

I couldn't have been more relieved when the door opened, and Vander was stepping into the store. Ekko must have felt the same way, as his grip on my leg began to loosen. Vander looked at me, then back to the Enforcers.

"Get out."

"This bitch—"

"Out."

Just by the tone of his voice, I knew things wouldn't be pleasant if he told them once more. And they could tell as well. Filing out of the store, the first paused to look back at me. I raised my middle finger to him.

"Stop that," Vander said, pushing my hand down. "Y/n, you need to control yourself better."

"If you wouldn't have shown up when you did, they would have tried to rape me," I stated, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm not stupid to the shit that happens down here."

"I know you aren't," He said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "But it doesn't mean you need to piss them off enough for them to try it. Or sit around and twiddle your thumbs."

I raised my eyebrows to show him my point. He sighed, glancing down as Ekko emerged from under the table. I watched his face change in understanding.

"Mylo, take Ekko back to the tavern and stay there with Vi and Powder," Vander said, then looked to Claggor and me. "You two go on and deliver that coin."

"Okay."

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My Mom blamed everything on me, spouting how she wished that she would have never had me in the first place. But that was only on the really bad days. She wasn't always like that. She cared for my siblings and me, despite always screaming that we were worthless to her. My Dad wasn't much help, only coming home to sleep, take a bite of his food, and then he was off to work again. He worked for the industrial building down here.

"You should be grateful, Y/n," Mom said, her back to me as she furiously washed the phantom dirt on the plate before her. "Unlike most of the kids here, you have a roof over your head, food on the table every night, and a family. You should learn to be nicer to us."

I just nodded. I don't know how she expected me to be nicer to her when she treated her children as she did. But I suppose she was right. I fell into the category of being some of the more fortunate in the Undercity. And it was only because I had those things.

But, despite having shit parents and a crappy home life, I had a great bunch of friends. I knew I could always turn to them if I ever needed something.

I met Claggor first. We first met in an alley, where I found him getting his ass kicked by four other guys twice the size and age of him. I managed to knock over so many trashcans to redirect their attention and helped him escape away from there.

Since then, I've been introduced to his other friends. Mylo, who was a cocky and arrogant son of a bitch. He was always salty around me cause I beat him in an arm-wrestling contest when we were 13. Vi was the first to welcome me into their group. She was everyone's big sister. And Powder, Vi's actual little sister. She was a little clumsy, and a little skittish for things, but she had a pure heart.

And of course, there was Vander. He was probably the closest thing to a father anyone has ever known. Even to me and my father was still alive. Except he actually cared about me.

Which was why I was skeptical about walking into The Last Drop.

I had looted some things I found—some of them were pretty valuable—but I got jumped on my way to take it to Benzo. A bunch of thugs surrounded me, and I ended up getting caught in a trap down the way. Got my ass whooped and shit stole. And it showed, too.

My eye throbbed, and I knew it had already been bruised. My lip stung where it was cut open, and my vision was blurry from the pulsating migraine in the side of my brain. I knew as soon as I would walk in, Vander would interrogate me.

But, I really didn't want to go home just yet, so I think I'd deal with him. Besides, I knew he wouldn't pester me much. Couldn't say the same about my friends, though.

Flipping my hood up, I walked into the tavern, keeping my head low in hopes that the man wouldn't spot me slinking to the basement door. But, as always, nothing slips past him. I froze when I heard him call my name, beckoning me over to the bar. I cursed under my breath and trudged over to the bar. I hopped onto the stool when he pointed to it.

I turned my gaze away when he slipped his hand under my chin, lifting my face to the light. I looked back to him to see him deeply frowning with a concerned look plastered on his face.

"It doesn't hurt," I muttered.

"You're a horrible liar," He replied, placing a cup onto the counter, pouring something inside. "What happened?"

"I just got jumped but a couple of thugs," I huffed out.

"Did you lay them on their asses?" He asked, quirking a thick, dark brow.

"After I got mine handed to me," I said, taking the cup from him. "Everyone downstairs?"

"They're out right now, but they shouldn't be long," He said, tossing a cloth over his shoulder and he collected some things. "Let me clean out your cuts."

I nodded and carried my cup with me as I followed him downstairs. I flopped down onto the couch, letting my head fall back over the back. I mostly sat still while Vander cleaned the wounds out, only squirming and hissing in pain when he touched an extra sensitive spot. He would apologize, or tell to me suck it up. Depends on how hard I yelled at him that it hurt.

After he finished, he returned upstairs with the order for me to rest for a bit. I took his word, stretching out across the couch with a satisfied groan. I knew the thing was older than dirt, but it was oddly comforting. So comforting in fact, that I found myself drifting off to sleep as I lay there.

I wasn't sure how long I was out, but it wasn't long enough. I woke up to the sound of Mylo's voice directly in my ear, shouting at me to wake up. I instantly shot up, smacking him in the nose. He fell back as Powder laughed, covering her mouth as she tried to hide it. I picked the pillow I had my head on and got up, kneeling over Mylo as I beat him with it.

"You're such a bastard!" I yelled. "I was having a damn good dream!"

"Ah, Ah, I'm sorry!" He laughed under me. I huffed and got up, smacking him one more time. I rubbed my ear with a glare at him. He paused as he sat up, his smile fading slightly.

"What happened to your face?"

"That's not nice, Mylo—oh shit. What did happen to your face?" Vi asked, lifting her eyebrows.

"Damn, it's not that bad," I muttered, rubbing my cheek.

"Y/n," Claggor said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Your eye is black."

I hung my head in defeat. "You guys know how to make someone feel bad."

"I-I mean, it'll go away," Vi said, almost wincing as she looked at me.

"In a few weeks," Mylo added, making me groan.

"I'll get some ice," Vi said, turning to go upstairs.

"What even happened to you?" Claggor asked. "Jumped again?"

"It's not like it happens every day," I said, slumping back on the couch.

"No, it's just every other day," Mylo added. "Look, I know you can kick someone's ass. Why don't you ever fight back?"

I set my forehead in my palm. "My little sister was with me. I didn't want to start a fight and have her end up getting hurt."

"Well, maybe you should start going places with us," Powder chimed in, rolling over from where she'd been in her bed. "We could help you."

"The most you'd do is run away," Mylo rolled his eyes, and I slapped him in the chest for being a jerk.

"Powder's right—" Claggor began.

"For once—" Another hit from both Claggor and myself this time.

"—maybe you should start going with us," Claggor finished. "No one really bothers us because they don't want to mess with a whole group."

"Maybe you're right," I sighed, watching Vi come back down the stairs, holding a cloth filled with ice. I set my head back on the back of the couch as she placed it over my eye.

"You don't have to keep doing stuff by yourself, Y/n," Vi said, resting her hand on my shoulder. "You can ask us for help whenever you need it."

"I know, I know," I said, rolling my hand around to emphasize that I already knew. "I just don't want to bother you guys."

"You're not a bother," Claggor smiled, placing his goggles on the top of his head.

"Alright," I huffed. "I'll trust you on that."

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