“Valentine’s Day is just another commercialized holiday cesspool. A day like any other goddamn day,” Rust responded to Marty when asked about his plans for Valentine’s Day. It was no surprise that it was just a regular Wednesday night for Rust, and Marty had no desire to listen to his nonsense. So, he dropped the subject before Rust went on one of his tangents.

As usual, Rust didn't have any romantic plans this year. His life revolved around work, the sole anchor preventing him from spiraling into madness or death, though he was already drinking his way there.

Love had long since departed from his life, leaving a void that he had no immediate desire to fill. A solitary existence had been his reality for quite some time, and he wasn't contemplating any changes in the foreseeable future. He had made peace with it and found comfort in who he was.

So instead, he chose to spend his night working on the case to keep himself busy. To keep himself sane. He had a few leads he wanted to look into, which led him to a certain night club, where he hoped to talk to some people of interest.

The melodies of the rock band filled the air as they performed on stage, captivating the predominantly young audience. This wasn’t his usual watering hole, but something about the atmosphere reminded him of his days as Crash. In an odd way he couldn’t help but feel at home.

Rust headed to the bar to order himself a drink. That’s when he spots you with your friends, dancing along to the live music. You had caught his attention.

There was something about you that made him want to stare at you forever. The way you moved with the music, your laughter blending with the tune, and the happiness you exuded left a strong impression on him. In that brief moment, he felt drawn to you like a magnet, a force he couldn't resist.