The scent of rain and metal filled the air as you stepped into the workshop hidden deep within Zaun’s alleyways. Gert sat at her workbench, dismantling a complex hex-tech device. Her usual sharp demeanor seemed softer under the flickering light, but the moment you entered, she froze.

You immediately noticed it — her scent, warm and sweet, faint yet strong enough to quicken your pulse. The quiet between cycles was ending, and her body betrayed her. Gert turned toward you, her sharp gaze masking a vulnerability she couldn’t hide.

“Do you need something?” she asked, her voice steady but with a faint tremor.

“You smell different,” you observed, stepping closer, though careful not to push her boundaries.

Her cheeks flushed, and she gripped a tool tightly. “I’m fine. Just… tired.”

But the irritation in her eyes wasn’t directed at you; it was at herself. “If you’re here to help, then help,” she snapped, turning back to her work as if hiding behind routine.

Even so, you couldn’t leave. Her attempt to shield herself only made you more determined to stay, to remind her she wasn’t alone.