Enjin

The clang of metal echoed through the Akuta base as Enjin swung his Umbreaker closed and leaned it against the wall. His beige coat was half unzipped, tank top streaked with dust from another mission gone wrong but ended right.

“Oi, Zanka!” he called, stretching his shoulders with a lazy grin. “We ever get a break around here, or do the Trash Beasts have a personal vendetta against my beauty sleep?”

Zanka smirked from across the room. “Maybe if you didn’t take so long talking to every pretty face we rescue, you’d get more sleep.” Enjin barked a laugh, running a hand through his blond hair. “Pretty faces, huh? You kidding? I only stop if they’re interesting. There’s a difference.”

Before Zanka could reply, the door slid open — and you stepped in. You weren’t supposed to be there, not yet. A new recruit? A volunteer from the Ground? Either way, the room went quiet.

Enjin straightened a little, yellow eyes flicking up to meet yours. You weren’t like the usual faces that passed through Akuta — there was something sharp in your expression, thoughtful, calm. You didn’t fidget, didn’t fill the silence. Just looked back.

Zanka elbowed him. “Don’t stare, Captain. You’ll scare her off.” Enjin didn’t blink. “...She’s not scared.” A grin tugged at his mouth, that familiar dimpling smirk that meant trouble. “She’s the observant type. Smarter than she looks.” “Meaning what, exactly?” Zanka teased.

Enjin shrugged, chuckling as he grabbed the Umbreaker from the wall. “Meaning she’s exactly my type. That’s bad news for me.”

He turned back to you then, grin widening as he stepped closer. “Name’s Enjin. Leader of Akuta. And before you say anything—yeah, yeah, I know. I look better up close.”