///During the Timeskip///
"Nice, and push off," Orion complimented Vi as they practiced. She was polishing her ability to switch between southpaw and orthodox stances after slipping a jab or straight right.
Smirking confidently, she danced to the side and threw a fast, light hook, popping Orion lightly on the cheek. "Got ya."
Orion rubbed his cheek and smirked back, brushing it with his shoulder.
They practiced lightly without gloves, tapping and hitting each other's guard without much force. The goal was to practice form and movement but Vi stepped forward, becoming more aggressive as she got into the mood, her taps gaining more power.
Realizing she was starting to get out of hand he stepped past her jab and locked her into a weak clinch, using his body weight and slight height advantage to slow things down.
"Alright, alright. Calm down."
"'Alright, alright' my ass," Vi replied with agitated playfulness, breaking the clinch and landing a flurry of light rabbit punches into Orion's stomach until he let go.
"Agh! You win," Orion conceded, wincing and raising his hands in surrender.
Immediately, she flicked her hand up, tapping his chin. "You bet I did," she said, giggling as Orion lightly shoved her shoulder.
"What? Wanna go again?" she taunted, bouncing lightly on her feet.
"Maybe later. I've got something for you," Orion replied, sparking a curious look as she lowered her guard.
Her gaze followed him as he walked back to the corner, reaching into his slung jacket and pulling out a wrapped package in murky brown paper.
"Catch."
Vi caught it, her gaze darting between the heavy, paper-wrapped object and Orion with confusion.
"Thank you?" she said slowly, squeezing it cautiously and eyeing it suspiciously.
"It's not a bomb from Powder."
"Why would you say that? Now I think it's a bomb!"
Orion chuckled. "Don't worry, open it. You'll like it."
She squinted at him, but her curiosity outweighed her suspicion. Gingerly unwrapping it, her eyes widened at a pair of brass knuckles.
"Happy birthday!"
Her eyes filled with emotion before looking back at Orion and embracing him in an emotional hug.
"Don't kill Mylo with it... yet," Orion joked lightly, hugging her back with a gentle smile.
Vi sniffled, brushing her fingers across the brass knuckles before sliding them on. "No promises there," she giggled through some tears. Her voice wavered, still carrying the edge of a laugh, as if she was trying to hide how much the gift meant to her.
"Why didn't you wait until the evening with everyone else?"
"I need to run an errand along the docks. I didn't want to miss giving you your present on your birthday," Orion smiled.
She opened and closed her hands several times, stepping away to throw out punches to test their feel.
"You just beat the shit out of me. I don't believe those tears," Orion joked flatly.
Vi froze like a statue, as if struck by lightning. Her gaze flicked to Orion and immediately he stiffened, taking a few steps back. The brass knuckles glinted under the lights.
"I changed my mind, this was a bad birthday present. Let me take it back..."
She grinned sadistically.
"Ah, shit."
Her eyes glinted mischievously. "Sorry, what was a bad idea?" she asked, her voice playfully innocent as she started turning toward him.
"Nothing. Ah, wait, VI! WAIT!" Orion panicked, jumping the rope as Vi sprinted at him. She hopped out after him, laughing maniacally and shouting with pure delight.
"Come back!"
"NO!"