Maverick sat quietly at the little table, their blanket pulled tight around their shoulders. Though Mio knew the blanket had been provided by Mav’s foster family, it was already dirty and matted in several places. Mav rubbed the fur-like texture on their cheek, and stared at Mio with large, unblinking eyes.

“Hi, Maverick,” Mio said softly.

Mav didn’t say anything, simply hunched down lower in their chair. They looked away for only a brief moment, then their eyes darted right back to Mio. Like they were afraid that if they let their guard down for even a second, Mio would use it to strike. Mio made sure their eyes were on her as she approached, sitting down in the chair opposite Mav’s. Mav scooted their chair back, and Mio was uncomfortably aware of her unwilling resemblance to their parents.

Mio looked down at the table, which was scattered with several pieces of printer paper, with scribbles of half-dried markers, stubby crayons, and easily-broken colored pencils marring the white surfaces. Though most of the shapes were senseless, Mio’s eyes gravitated to a teal shape with a shock of blue hair and wide yellow eyes. She reached out, carefully pulling the paper out of the pile, while Mav watched apprehensively.

“I won’t rip it. I’m just looking,” Mio explained quietly. Mav remained tense, blanket clutched to their cheek. “..Can I look?”

Mav hesitated, but nodded. Mio rested the picture in front of her, scanning the wobbly, circular form. “This is you, right?”

Mav nodded.

“Who’s this little square guy?” Mio asked, pointing to an orange cube-looking object with a large eye floating in the blank air beside the pointy-eared, sea-blue Maverick.

Mav shrugged, pulling the blanket over their mouth.

“..Right, you don’t like to talk. Um… Hi, Mav. My name is Mio. I like to make pictures too.” Mio gave a hopeful smile, spreading her hands out on top of the table, palms up.

Mav kicked the table a few times and looked away.

Mio’s smile faltered, and she sighed, glancing toward the door, where she knew Mav’s foster family was waiting for Mio to leave already. Mio looked back at their little sibling, with their haphazard hair and grubby little fingers. They seemed so afraid, like they were trying to draw away from the entire world and hide in their little blanket. How was it that they were nine years old? How had they survived so many years?

Why couldn’t it have been Mio to take their place?

“Maverick, my name is Miorette. We were born from the same parents.” Maverick looked up, the fear in their eyes giving way to interest. “I know they hurt you, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. But I swear, you are safe now. And if anyone, anyone ever hurts you again, you tell me, okay? Because I’m your big sister, and I’m going to look after you now. Scout’s honor.”

Mav stared at Mio, eyes wide and owlish, but gave a slow nod. Mio smiled, satisfied that treating Mav like an adult seemed to comfort Mav more than treating them like they were something broken. Maverick sat forward a little, pushing a mostly-blank piece of paper toward Mio.

“You want to see me draw, huh? Well, I’ll see what I can do…”

Mio leaned over the table, picking up a blue pencil. She began to sketch out two forms- one larger, rougher, the other small and soft. The larger was hunched around the smaller protectively, holding it in the crook of its arm. With swooping curves, Mio added in the waterfall of her hair, and Mav’s bright, inquisitive eyes. Mav leaned forward, watching with interest, subconsciously gnawing on two of their fingers. Mio hatched out shading, darkened a couple lines, then pushed the drawing of her, holding Mav, keeping them safe, toward their little sibling. Mio rested the tip of her finger on the drawing.

“This is my promise.”

Mav met Mio’s eyes, and nodded.