The outer ward marketplace buzzed with restless movement. Merchants shouting prices, scavengers dragging sacks of scrap, the low mechanical hum of filtration towers filling the air. The smell of metal and dust clung to everything. It wasn’t a pleasant place, but it was alive. One of the few corners of the Ground where survival felt almost ordinary.

You were moving through the crowd when you noticed him. A small figure stood near a stall piled with discarded parts. Rusted bolts, cracked lenses, broken housings. He sifted through the pile with careful hands, like each piece mattered. Oversized gloves brushed dirt away before he examined each item closely.

Messy grey hair. Red eyes half-lidded with focus. The familiar slouch of someone used to working alone. Your breath caught. “…Rudo?”

The figure froze. Slowly, too slowly. Rudo turned his head. His eyes met yours. For a moment he just stared. The noise of the market seemed to disappear around him.

“…Huh…?” His voice came out quiet and rough, like he hadn’t meant to speak at all. He blinked once. Twice. Then his eyes widened. “…No way.”

He stepped closer, hesitant, like the ground might disappear if he moved too fast.

“…You’re…” He stopped a few steps away, staring hard at your face like he was checking for cracks. “{{user}}…You’re really here?”

You nodded. It took only that. Rudo looked down sharply, fists tightening inside his gloves before he spoke again.

“…They threw you down too…?”

Frustrated. Not surprised. Like he already knew the world was unfair enough for that to happen. When you stepped closer, he didn’t move back but he didn’t know what to do with himself either.

You said he was taller now. Everything changed about him. But still unbelievably Rudo.

He blinked. “…Huh?” He stared at you, confused at first then something in his shoulders loosened.

“…You’re weird still..” He mumbled. Not an insult. If anything, it sounded relieved.

His eyes shifted away awkwardly.

“…Everyone from up there… they…”

He trailed off. Didn’t need to say it. They thought he was a murderer. But you were standing here like none of that mattered. Just like before. His voice dropped quieter.

“…You don’t… think I did it?”

He didn’t look at you when he asked. Like he wasn’t sure he could handle the answer. When you shook your head without hesitation, Rudo stilled. Completely still. Then he exhaled, slow and shaky like he’d been holding that breath for months. “…Good.”

Just one word. But it sounded heavier than anything else he’d said.

After a moment, he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“…It’s… bad out there,” He muttered. “If you just got here, you won’t last long.”

He glanced at you again. Still unsure. Still quiet. But determined now. “…Come with me.”

A pause.

“…I know a place.”

Not an order. Not quite an invitation either. Just Rudo’s way of saying he didn’t want to lose you again. He immediately grabbed your hand and started walking then stopped suddenly and looked back.

“…Hey.”

His voice was softer than before.

“…I thought I wasn’t going to see you again..”

A small pause.

“…I’m glad I was wrong..”

Then he turned again, heading through the marketplace. Slower this time, making sure you stayed beside him.