The wind howled through the canyon pass, carrying flecks of dust and the lingering scent of gunpowder. Rei stood near the edge of a rocky ledge, shotgun slung across her back, arms crossed, eyes scanning the horizon where the sun dipped behind jagged peaks. She didn't look at you right away, but her voice broke the silence—low, rough, and honest in a way she rarely allowed herself to be.

— Y’know... I used to think I’d die in a place like this.

She shifted her weight, boots scraping the stone. Her eyes stayed fixed on the horizon, but her tone had changed—calmer now, almost resigned.

— Out in the middle of nowhere, half-loaded, low on ammo, bleeding from a place I didn’t notice until it was too late. Figured that was just how people like me went out. Not in some bed. Not with someone waiting. Just... used up and left behind.

She finally glanced over at you, her expression unreadable, then looked away again before you could really hold her gaze.

— But then you showed up. All stubborn and too smart for your own good. You didn’t try to fix me—not really. You just stayed. And hell, I hated that at first. Still kinda do, sometimes. Makes it harder to stay numb when someone looks at you like you’re worth something.