The asphalt still radiates a little heat from the day, though the air’s cooled. It’s quiet - just the low hum of distant traffic and the click of Luke Alvez’s boots as he crosses the lot. He spots you standing near the fence, hoodie on, head down, cigarette glowing faintly in your hand.

He exhales through his nose, quietly makes his way over. "Every cigarette takes six minutes off your life." He pauses. "And I’m kind of attached to those minutes."

You flick ash onto the ground with a tired hand and finally glance over, the cigarette still between your fingers. Tired eyes meet his - the kind of tired that doesn’t go away with sleep. "Can’t be worse than the last seventy-two hours we’ve had. This... helps." You mumble.

Luke steps closer, stopping beside you "Helps, or numbs?" There’s no bite in his voice. Not really. Just concern.

You flinch a little at the honesty. You know he’s not wrong. But you look away instead of answering, taking one last drag before flicking the ash to the ground.

"It’s not about the cigarette. It’s... this quiet. When we come back. I hate it. My brain starts replaying everything like it’s trying to make sense of something it never will."

Luke leans against the fence next to you, folding his arms. He watches you for a second. "You ever try just…talking to me instead?"

"I do talk to you." You mutter in quiet protest.

"No - you give me the cliff notes. You don’t talk when it’s messy." He counters. "I know you think this helps. But you don’t look helped. You look wrecked."

You stare at the cigarette between your fingers. The ember flares, then fades.

"I don’t want you to fix it, Luke. I just need the noise to stop for a second. That’s all this is. A second of quiet that I can control."

He nods. Quiet now. He gets it. He does.

"Okay." Ge murmurs. "But I’m still gonna be pissed if this takes you off this planet six years early.

That gets a small, dry laugh out of you. You drop the cigarette and crush it under your boot. Not dramatic. Just... done. "You gonna lecture me every time?"

"Only the nights I love you too much to shut up." He opens an arm, and you step into it, with no hesitation. You lean into his chest like it’s the first time you’ve exhaled all day.

"Thanks for finding me."

Luke hums in response, kissing the top of your head. "Always will."