_“Better, better, now let’s try this again,” Ada says, grabbing Wink’s wrists and gently putting them back in position._

__

_“I don’t get the point of this,” Wink whines, shoulders slumped, “Fists are your thing, Ada. I have this.”_

__

_Wink twirls her fingers, swirling teal-colored smoke around them. She manipulates them into figures, dancing and spinning through the air until they disappear._

__

_“Your little smoke tricks will fail you, Wink,” Ada says. “They’re special, they’re yours, but that means we don’t have anyone you can teach you how to use it. It’s not reliable. What then?”_

__

_“Then I’ve got Blink,” Wink says, slinging the gun from her back. Ada sighs and gently pushes the gun aside. _

__

_“What if you don’t have that?”_

__

_“I’ll always have Blink,” Wink frowns, confused, “I’m a sneak, remember? They won’t be able to disarm me.”_

__

_“Either way, you should be able to defend yourself with these,” Ada says, tapping Wink’s gloved fists. “Come on, give it one more try, and I’ll get you a treat, yeah?”_

__

_Wink nods eagerly, immediately dropping the dramatic act. She bounces on the balls of her feet, blue-green hair swishing over her shoulders. Her arms go out in front of her, bent in a fighting stance. Just as she’s about to swing at her sister, she hears a voice._

__

_“More fighting lessons?” a boy asks, sounding skeptical. Older than Wink, closer to Ada’s age. “Come on, Fists. You know she’s no good for that.”_

__

_“Jumper!” Wink exclaims, running up to him. She frowns and crosses her arms when she understands what he said. “Hey, wait a minute—.”_

__

_“I just mean you have talents elsewhere, Wink,” Jumper assures the younger girl, finger-tapping her chin playfully. “You’re our little trickster.”_

__

_Wink smiles proudly, shoulders straightening. “You bet I am,” she says, “Wanna see the move I came up with today?”_

__

_“Oh, *you* came up with?” Jumper asks, tilting his head. “Hit me with it, kid.”_

__

_Wink gets in a fighting stance again, a devilish smirk on her face. She holds up one fist. “I call this one here ‘Think’,” she says, bouncing back and forth with it. “And this one…’Fast’.”_

__

_Wink swings at him with her other fist, stopping right before she hits him. Blue-green smoke follows her arm, the same color as her hair. She can hardly contain her proud giggles. “Get it—get it?” she asks Jumper eagerly, “Because Think rhymes with Wink and think fast…”_

__

_“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Jumper chuckles, ruffling Wink’s hair. “Good one, Wink.”_

__

_Wink beams and follows him as he walks over to Ada. “That one is definitely your sister, Fists,” Jumper says, punching Ada in the arm lightly._

__

_“Yeah, I know,” Ada sighs, smiling despite herself as she watches Wink mold the smoke into shapes. _

__

_“Oh—oh, and Jumper?” Wink exclaims, traipsing back over. “Guess what I named Blink today?” She unslings her gun and holds it up._

__

_“Let me guess, Blink?” he asks, tilting his head. _

__

_“How’d you know?”_

__

_“Because you told me, goof,” Jumper laughs. “But why did you name it Blink?” he asks, knowing she always had a reason._

__

_“Because once I pull it out, you’ll be gone in the *blink* of an eye,” Wink says, wearing a devious smile again. “And because it rhymes with wink.”_

__

_“Yeah, definitely your sister,” Jumper mumbles to Ada. _

__

_“Ada, did you like my move with my fists?” Wink asks her sister. _

__

_“Yeah, it was cool and witty,” Ada says, crouching slightly to be eye-to-eye with Wink. “Very *you*.”_

__

_“What does that mean?”_

__

_“Never you mind,” she reassures Wink quickly, “But Wink?”_

__

_“Hmm?” Wink’s mind is already on to the next conversation, the next idea in her head. Ada knows this, and she gently cups Wink’s face in her hand to get her attention. Two pairs of gray eyes locked on each other, the only similarity the sisters share._

__

_“I told you not to call me Ada anymore,” Ada says softly. “I’m Fists, just like you’re Wink.”_

__

_“But you’re my sister,” Wink replies as if she is confused as to why Ada doesn’t see her side, “You’re Ada. You’ll always be Ada to me.”_

__

_“I call you Wink,” Ada points out. “Even though you were Delaina before. And you’re still my sister.”_

__

_“I am Wink, not Delaina,” Wink says._

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_“Exactly, and I’m Fists, not Ada.”_

__

_Wink pauses, thinking it over, and then nods. “Right.”_

__

_“But you’ll always be my sister. Always.” Ada offers Wink her pinky. Wink takes it in her own, kissing her thumb. A blue mist wraps around their interlocked fingers. _

__

_“Always.”_

__

__

“Always,” Wink murmurs, brushing her thumb against her lips. The teal smoke still follows, wiping and twirling over her fingers.

In front of her, the city sprawls, even more beautiful at night. When she blurs her eyes, the lights look more like stars. People are going to sleep, winding down for the night, just as they always do. Every night, like clockwork.

They were like Wink. They had abilities. Everyone in the city, in Vecra, did. But nobody in the Slums, nobody except for Wink. That’s why they took Ada.

“The Rebels need you, Hoodwink,” Jumper says from behind her. She steps away from the ledge of the building and shoves him not so playfully.

“Don’t call me that, Jumper.”

“They need a leader. With your magic—.”

“All of them have magic, Jumper,” Wink points to the city lights. “What does it matter?”

She goes to storm off, but Jumper catches her wrist. “Hey. I know Fists didn’t raise no quitter. You might not be a fighter the way she is—but I know you’re not one to give up.”

“I’m a trickster, Jumper, not a leader,” Wink says, back still turned.

“We need somebody tricky like you. Someone to plan and…”

Wink turns and puts a hand on his shoulder, giving him a small smile. “And they need somebody as strong and valiant as you. You’re the face they need. *We* need.”

“We?” his eyes light up with hope.

“I’m only leading with you by my side, Jumper.”

Jumper smiles at Wink. “We’ll find her, I know we will. And she’s still fighting with us. Always”

“We will. Always.”__

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