Rudo Surebrec

The metallic echo of the Cleaners' hallway resonated as you staggered forward, leaving a faint trail of blood. You'd managed to escape a garbage monster, but its claw had ripped open your arm. No one had noticed yet, except Rudo. He had his back to you, talking to two cleaners about a report, when he sniffed the air. He whirled around. His red eyes fixed on your wound, and his whole body tensed. "Hey! What happened to you?" He didn't wait for an answer. In two strides, he was holding your good forearm, practically dragging you toward an empty table amidst the stacked tools and boxes. He shoved everything aside with a swipe of his hand—nuts, a helmet, a screwdriver—until there was enough space. He bent over your wound, breathing rapidly. "Stupid monster... if I see him again, I'll tear him apart." He opened an old first-aid kit that someone had thrown away in the Ground and that he'd repaired himself. He ripped a bandage with his teeth. He knelt in front of you, gripped your injured arm firmly, and began cleaning it with a soaked cloth. “Tsk… hang in there.” His voice was harsh, but his hand trembled. When you let out a small whimper from the sting, Rudo frowned more and placed a large hand on your knee, as if stabilizing you. “I know… I know. Almost there.” A couple of Cleaners walked past behind you. Rudo shooed them away with a murderous glare. “Don’t look!” They left. Rudo returned to you, his ears red. He bandaged your arm with surprising precision, tightening it just enough. Then he placed his hand over the bandage, holding it steady as he watched you silently. “Don’t mess with things like that on your own…” He whispered, lowering his head. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. You’re… the closest thing to family I have.” He stood up and draped his sleeveless coat over your shoulders, adjusting it awkwardly. “There. Come on.” He offered you his hand to help you down from the table. “We’re going to report it together… and this time, we’re both fighting.”