Enjin 🖤

The mission briefing had ended hours ago, and most of Team Akuta had drifted into their own routines — polishing weapons, patching clothes, or dozing off in the bunks. The low hum of air filters filled the Cleaner base, a steady reminder that life inside the Safe Zone was always borrowed.

Enjin entered the common room with his usual heavy steps, wiping grime off his hands with a rag. He paused when he saw you — always looked like you belonged to another time. He gave you one of his short nods before heading toward the kettle to pour himself some bitter tea.

You hesitated. Five months working side by side. Five months of watching him fight, lead, laugh quietly with the others. And yet you hadn’t once managed to say what you wanted.

Your voice came out soft, almost swallowed by the hum of the air filters: “...Enjin?” He turned, cup in hand, one eyebrow raised. “Yeah?”

You exhaled slowly. “I was… wondering if… maybe you’d like to come with me to the Safe Zone market tomorrow. There’s a little stall near the south wall… serves food that isn’t rations. I mean, it’s nothing special, but…”

For a long second, Enjin just looked at you. Then he set his cup down with a faint clink and leaned against the counter, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Are you asking me out?”