Chapter Text
Shutting the door to her office behind them, Gertie beckoned Volume over, motioning for him to sit in the open seat in front of her desk, littered with knicknacks. She swiped at her chair seat twice to clear off sandy dust that had settled on it and sunk deep into the leather with a tired sigh.
She reached under her desk and pulled out a box of cigarettes- the nice kind, with the blue box and tinfoil- from the drawer. She held them out, offering him one before lighting up herself. “So. Volume,” she started, tenting her fingers and exhaling an elegant plume of smoke. Volume fidgeted with his rings where he sat opposite. This all felt very official. He didn’t like official. It made him antsy. “Thanks for comin’ out to talk,” she continued, waving the cigarette. “This whole thing’s pretty… time sensitive, yknow.”
“Sure.” Volume nodded, but in truth, he didn’t know. All he knew was that Gertie had called him down to the orphanage because she needed something from him. To redeem the “favor” he owed her, that was all the context he’d gotten. “Whatcha need, Gertie?” He forced a casual smile. He owed her, big time, he would have to do whatever she’d ask, and she knew it. The power she had over him made his stomach turn.
She leaned forward, becoming intense. “Volume, you remember what I did for you, sí ?” She nodded as she finished her question, prompting Volume to nod back. “Need you to remember that, m’kay?”
“Yeah,” He said, firmly, trying to convince himself. “ Claro . Whatever you need.”
-
Val slammed the water jug on the kitchen counter, looking at Volume in disbelief. “The fuck do you mean, you agreed?”
“I didn’t have a choice, couldn’t say no,” Volume said, trying to defend himself. He sat on the stool, leaning on the counter. Thankfully, nobody else was home yet from their trip and he had time to get Val on his side. As much of a long shot it was going to be, having Val on his side on this would make it easier to convince the others. “Owed her a favor.”
“Like hell you couldn’t,” Val replied. “We don’t have space here. We can barely feed ourselves. Don’t Gertie know that? Didn’t you tell her?”
Volume exhaled sharply. “I didn’t tell her.” As Val started to throw his hands up again, Volume continued, holding out his hands. “Val, look, I dunno how we can do this but we gotta try. I can’t back out. There’s nothing we can do at this point.”
Val swallowed water straight from the jug before flinging open the bottom cabinet and putting their supply of water back. “Can’t fuckin’ believe you made that decision without us. Without me.” His tone was dark, bitter instead of outraged like before. “I’m the fuckin’ leader. I make decisions for us.”
“What's going on?” Vaya’s voice came from the hall, walking in with Vamos and Vinyl in tow. Back from their supply run, and before Volume could get Val on his side. Fuck.
“Go on. Tell ‘em, Vol.” Val crossed his arms, staring at Volume.
He looked between his friends, standing in the archway and took a breath. “Visited Gertie today. She's got a favor t’ ask of us,” he said, hesitating. “Needs us to take in a kid.”
“A kid?” Vaya parroted. She glanced at the others.
“Whaddya mean, take in a kid? Like, as part ‘a the crew?” Vamos asked, cocking their head.
Volume nodded, sitting taller when he wanted to shrink under the eyes staring at him. “Sort of. We jus’ need to take care of her for a bit.”
“When? How long?” Vinyl signed. He looked concerned.
Volume hesitated again, realizing just how little he wanted to reveal about the situation he had gotten them all into. “I get her in two days. ‘N I dunno for how long.”
Val threw up his hands again, turning and pacing the kitchen. “Fucking kidding me,” he muttered. The rest of the crew stood still in stunned silence, the tension in the room making Volume itch.
“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, looking at his crew. “I couldn't fucking say no. I owe Gertie a huge favor, ‘n maybe it won't be all that bad.”
Vinyl cleared his throat to gather the group’s attention and looked directly at Volume. “How old?” he signed. “Food? Clothes?”
His familiar practicality was a bit of a comfort, and Volume felt himself relax slightly. “10,” he replied. “I think. Don’t need baby food, but we’re gonna need some extra. Kid’s growing. Gertie’s sending her with extra clothes.”
Vinyl nodded, tapping Vaya’s shoulder and nodding toward the door. The two of them left, going back out to Vinyl’s truck once again to the market for food.
Avoiding eye contact with Volume, Val brushed by him, walking through the opening into the living room and fully flopping onto the tired brown couch. Any other time, Vamos probably would have laughed at his melodrama, but not today. She laid a hand on Volume’s shoulder, squeezing. “Wanna get some air?” she asked, glancing toward Val. Volume rubbed a hand over his face before nodding, getting up from the table and walking out with them.