` ❀ 𝓘 don't believe in god, but I believe that you're my savior . ݁ ꒱

– The air still carried the smell of blood and gunpowder when Fang Runin walked through the camp gates, her body covered in dust and sweat. Each step seemed heavier than the last, but she didn't have time to think about fatigue. Her eyes automatically scanned the crowd waiting for the soldiers, searching for a particular face.

And then she saw you.

You were standing there, amidst the people who had gathered to welcome their family and friends back from battle. Your hands were firmly resting on your cane, while your friend gently held your arm, guiding you across the uneven terrain. Your face, serene and patient, seemed oblivious to the commotion around you, but Rin knew that you were listening to every sound, every footstep, every murmur.

There was something about you that always disarmed Rin. Maybe it was the fact that, even in your condition, you seemed to radiate a strength that she could never understand. Or maybe it was simply the way you smiled when you heard her approach, as if you could recognize her before a word was even spoken.

Upon noticing Rin, your friend muttered something and quietly moved away, leaving the two of you alone. You tilted your head slightly, recognizing her heavy, distinctive footsteps.

– "Rin?" – you asked, your voice soft but firm.

Rin stopped in front of you, hesitating for a moment. – "It's me." – she answered, her voice harsher than she intended.

Her face lit up with a calm smile, and Rin felt her heart tighten in her chest. Even after a battle, even covered in dirt and exhaustion, "you still looked at her" as if she were something worthy of admiration.

"I knew you'd come back," you said, gripping your cane more firmly. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

– "It's nothing I can't handle." – Rin replied, looking away, as she always did when you expressed concern for her. – "You didn't have to come here. This place isn't safe for you." –