The Last Drop.

  Orion's gaze lingered on it. He'd really only been here for a few months, but it was a night and day differenpared to Ionia.

  Ionia was beautiful, but outside of training in those peaceful nds, it was uful. He figured that if he really wao, he could've spent the rest of his days there pig flowers.

  As long as nature didn't kill him.

  The Uy though? The Last Drop? It was a rollercoaster of experiences.

  'Granted, not all of them were good.' he thought, sn to himself.

  Evening hadn't yet set in, so the bar lights weren't turned o. Still, he could feel the familiar lull of the streets desding before the night chaos began.

  'This feels a lot harder than it should,' Orion grimaced, locked in pce as he stared up at the sign before his gaze drifted down toward the entrance.

  Sug in air through the mask, he stepped forward, steeling himself for whatever chaos or versation they were about to have.

  Creak-Creak

  Slowly Orion stepped in, but within the first step of entering he came to an abrupt halt.

  Vander and the whole gang were huddled in a loose semi-circle in front of the bar. Their gazes slowly turoward him, silent tension gripping the atmosphere.

  Mylo and Cggor exged uain gnces with each other, their hands fidgeting nervously on chairs hem.

  Powder was hugging Vi from the side. Her wide eyes mirrored Vi's, who looked out hesitantly but also with yearning.

  And in the ter was Vander. He looked a little more skeptical. His arms were folded, brows furrowed with a serious, tightened expression as his gaze fixated on him.

  'Yeah, they told the others.' Orion groaned internally. 'Of course they did. I'm an idiot for thinking otherwise.'

  Exhaling sharply and breaking the silence, he reached up and removed his mask, pg it oable o him.

  "Hey, I'm back from the grave." Orion said, trying to sound casual and giving them a small wave.

  Outside of Vi and Powder, who sniffed happily, the others were stunned. Vander's tense posture loosened, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Orion... is that really you?"

  "Yeah, it's me." Orion firmed, his voice soft.

  "I didn't actually think..." Mylo said before his voice trailed off, genuine shock repg his usual sarcasm.

  Cggor's rge frame shifted, more reserved as he gave Orion a hesitant nod. "You look... different." he said, his voice gruff but his expression unsure.

  "You sound deeper," Orion replied with a faint smile as he teased. "Did you grow some hair?"

  It was true. Their voices were deepening, and Cggrew much taller. Mylo did too, but not as mu parison.

  Awkwardly stepping forward, Vi and Powder uhemselves at him, ing him in a tight embrace. Vi's head rested firmly against his chest as she hugged him fiercely, while Powder g to his side, her small arms gripping tightly.

  "You asshole!" Vi muttered into his chest, her voice thick with emotion. "You couldn't have said something sooner?"

  'One violent jerk away from my ...' Orion thought dryly, though warmth began to creep into his chest as he pced his hands on their heads gently.

  Vander's expression softened as he watched, but his brows remained furrowed. "You've got a lot of expining to do," he said, his voice lightening but still gruff.

  "Yeah, I do," Orion nodded, looking above the girls' heads.

  When his gaze shifted back over to Mylo and ylo raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

  "What? I'm not hugging you." Mylo said sarcastically with a grin spreading across his face.

  irked and nudged Mylo. "I'd pay to see you try."

  The tension in the room started to ease as ughter echoed through the bar. The atmosphere was still heavy, but relief was starting to take hold.

  "I bet you would. You already hugged him in the mines," Mylo shot back with a smirk and Cggor's mouth hung open.

  "That was different-" Cggan but bliilting his head. "Hey, speaking of, why didn't you show yourself back then?"

  Oriohe girls' heads shift upward along with their gazes.

  "I was trying to find my footing." Orion's gaze lowered to their curious eyes. "It's not every day you get zapped to Ionia and back."

  "Ionia?" Mylo and Cggor said in unison, both fused as they exged gnces. Vander's eyebrows furrowed again, his darting gaze making the es without words needing to be said.

  "Also..." Gently, Orion pushed Vi and Powder away. Their eyes fshed briefly with when he did.

  "There was a lot on my mind." His tone darkehe palpable tension that had left the bar returned like the toxic smog outside. "Or did all of you fet what happened?"

  Vander's expression darkened as their gazes locked. Vi and Powder stiffened, stepping anxiously to the side, leaving a direct path between Orion and Vander.

  With Vander and Orion locked in a silent, teandoff, the gang shifted nervously uhe pressure. Exging uneasy gnces, Cggor was the first to step up.

  "Hey," Cggor said slowly, raising his hands slowly. "Why don't we talk about this after-"

  "Of all people," Orion began, his voice low but sharp, "sidering the bullshit I went through for you- and my family you got killed- Silco saved me back then. Not you." His voice tightened, each word ced with raw emotion.

  "Where were you?"