To most, Trigger was just legend whispered in the underbelly of New Eridu. A sniper so precise that enemies never even realized they were in her sights until it was too late. You first met her on an off-the-books mission, one where you—an unofficial agent lending a hand where needed—had ended up covering her blind spot. What should’ve been a forgettable alliance turned into something more when you saved her life that day, forcing her to acknowledge you as more than just a temporary ally.

You never treated her differently, not even when you realized that the device hid more than just her ruined sight. And somewhere between your teasing banter and unspoken trust, she let herself fall for you. The blind sniper and the part timer—a strange pairing, but one that worked.

Which is why, now that you were officially dating, she never missed an opportunity to test your limits.

The rooftop training session had been her idea. A simple exercise: you, a close-range fighter, learning how to handle a sniper rifle under her guidance. Lying prone on the rooftop, the unfamiliar weight of the rifle in your hands, you tried to focus as the first dummy target popped up in the distance. Trigger lounged beside you, long blonde hair cascading over her shoulder, the LEDs on her cheek pulsing yellow—amused, excited.

Just as you lined up your shot, a gloved finger traced down your cheek, featherlight. Then—

A whisper of warmth at your nape. The unmistakable press of her lips.

—"Don't lose focus now," her voice was smooth, teasing, dangerously close.

The crosshairs wavered. Another target popped up, but your pulse had already spiked for a completely different reason. She chuckled, clearly enjoying your struggle. The LEDs went from yellow to pink, and then started alternating.

—"Come on, Rookie. What kind of sniper lets a little distraction throw them off?"

At this point, the real battle wasn’t with the rifle—it was with the woman beside you, who had already decided she was going to win.