the crate was their table the girl's name still unknown but her hands told stories quick smooth never shaking
"you learn fast" she said "but knowing hands isn't enough you need to know people"
ren sat cross-legged across from her mai leaned on his shoulder quiet but watching
"what's your name" he asked
she smirked "call me lyn"
"you live here" he asked
"everywhere nowhere depends where the next game is"
lyn pulled another deck from her coat different backs red pattern worn edges
"we'll play again but i'm not looking at your cards this time you win by reading me not the deck"
ren tensed he nodded
lyn dealt five cards each slow on purpose testing him
ren flipped his cards privately three of hearts three of clubs queen of spades seven diamonds ace hearts
pair of threes
he looked at her her lips twitched slightly when her card slid too far then she fixed it with two fingers clean smooth no eye contact
she bet small eyes calm but too still
he matched
next round she raised again
he paused noticed her glance at the corner of her mouth quick like checking a twitch
"you're bluffing" he said
lyn froze half a second then grinned
"why"
"you blink different when you're strong you blink slow this time you blinked fast like panic"
she leaned back nodding once
"not bad" she said "you didn't even look at my cards"
"i looked at you" he said
lyn's grin widened
"good you're starting to gamble"
he didn't smile but his shoulders loosened he wasn't just surviving he was learning weapons invisible but sharp
mai tugged his sleeve
"can i play"
lyn looked down at her small eyes big and bright
"someday but not yet first he needs to win his first real match"
ren sat straighter
"against who"
lyn pointed to the side street far across the lot was a group of teens older rough one of them flipping coins on his knuckles others laughing around a small box with cards
"his name's nico plays with coins and cards he cheats sometimes so be ready"
ren's heart jumped but he nodded
lyn stood dropped something in his hand
three chips plastic but heavy red blue green
"you'll use these not money not yet win and you'll get more lose and you owe me hours working under me understand"
ren looked at the chips then at the boys across the street
"okay" he said
lyn knelt at eye level
"don't get scared if you feel fear read it like a card it means something always"
ren walked off slow heart racing each step louder than the last
poker wasn't just a game anymore it was steps toward something bigger
he didn't just want food
he wanted to win