Snippet #2716670

The brothers were just beginning to crack open the automaton when they heard the front door slam. Theo flinched and almost dropped the screwdriver in his hand, hoping the shaking wouldn't make the small chandelier in the foyer fall. Then came the footsteps pounding up the stairs that made Jenka turn pale, and the door to their workspace flew open.

A girl stood in the doorway with a furious look on her face, managing to look absolutely menacing despite her oh-so-tiny stature. She ripped off her leather gloves and tossed them to the floor, along with the goggles that had been pressed against her forehead. "Which one of you jackasses thought it would be funny to tear up the name of my last job? How am I supposed to shoot people if I don't know who I'm supposed to shoot?"

Jenka had his hands in the air as if in surrender. "I blame the cat. Ricardo chews up everything, you know that." As much as he loved his sister, and despite being a good foot taller than her, Genevieve scared the living daylights out of him when she was angry. Now, he just gestured to the corner where there sat the kitten, gnawing on one of the gloves Gen had dropped.

Her expression softened a bit as she scooped up the cat and the glove that now resembled Swiss cheese. "You're lucky you're cute," she said to the tiny grey ball of fluff. "And you two are lucky you're knee-deep in mechanical girl parts. I sincerely hope you're enjoying not having any real customers right now, by the way."

Theo just dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. "They'll come around. They always do."