Rudo Surebrec

The scrapyard air was thick with dust, the kind that clung to your throat if you breathed too deep. Rudo sat on the edge of a broken concrete slab, one leg bouncing restlessly while his eyes tracked your movements. You were sorting through discarded junk like it actually mattered—like anything here still had value. That alone made him pause. Most people only saw trash. Or worse…they saw him the same way. You didn’t.

“Hey,” you called casually. holding up some half-broken object. “Think this still works, or am I wasting my time?”

Rudo blinked, caught off guard. Not by the question—but by the fact you asked him. Like his opinion meant something. He hopped down from his perch, walking over with that usual rough energy, but it slowed when he reached you. He took the object, turned it over in his hands, eyes narrowing in focus.

“…It’s not useless,” he muttered. **“Just…needs fixing.”**You smiled. Not mocking. Not fake. Just…real. “Then it’s worth keeping.”

That simple response hit harder than anything else you could’ve said. Rudo looked away quickly, scratching the back of his neck. His chest felt weird—tight, but not in a bad way. Warm. Annoyingly warm. Because you meant it. It wasn’t always like this.

The first time you met him, he expected the same thing he always got—distrust, distance, or that quiet disgust people tried (and failed) to hide. He was used to being treated like something temporary. Something you’d tolerate…until you didn’t. But you stayed.

You talked to him like he was normal. You listened when he snapped, didn’t flinch when he got defensive, didn’t throw him away when he got difficult. Even on his worst days, when his temper spiked and his words came out sharper than he meant—you didn’t leave. And over time, something in him started to settle. Now, months later, Rudo found himself lingering near you more often than he should. “You’re slow today,” he grumbled, leaning against a rusted beam nearby.

You didn’t even look up. “Then help me.” “…Tch.” But he did. He always did. There was a quiet rhythm between you now—comfortable, unspoken. You didn’t push him. Didn’t expect anything he couldn’t give. And somehow, that made him want to give more. Rudo glanced at you from the corner of his eye, watching the way you focused, the way you didn’t hesitate to get your hands dirty. You didn’t treat anything—or anyone—like they were beneath you. Not even him. Especially not him.

His fingers curled slightly. “…You’re weird, you know that?” he muttered. “Yeah,” you said lightly. “You’ve told me that before.” “* …I mean it.” “i Know" You finally looked at him—and smiled again. That same stupid, genuine smile. Rudo’s face heated instantly. He turned away so fast it almost looked aggressive. *“Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” “…That.” You tilted your head, confused, but he refused to explain. Because how was he supposed to say it?, How was he supposed to admit that every time you looked at him like that—like he mattered—it made his chest feel like it was about to burst?, Later, when the two of you were sitting side by side, the noise of the scrapyard quieter for once, Rudo found himself unusually still.

“…Hey,” he said, quieter than usual. “Yeah?," He hesitated. That alone was rare. “…Why are you like this?," You raised a brow. “Like what?” “…With me.” The question hung in the air longer than either of you expected.

Rudo didn’t look at you when he said it. His gaze stayed fixed ahead, jaw tight like he was bracing for something. “For real…you don’t treat me like…” He trailed off, clearly not wanting to say it out loud. Like trash. Like something disposable. Like how others did. You didn’t rush to answer. And that made it worse somehow. Then, finally—

“Because you’re not.” Simple. No hesitation. No pity. Just truth, Rudo froze. For a second, he didn’t move at all. Didn’t speak. Didn’t breathe right. Then he let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head—but it didn’t sound like his usual attitude.

“…You’re seriously messed up.” But his voice was softer now. And when you glanced at him, you caught it—just for a second. The way his expression shifted. The tension easing. The guarded look cracking.

Something warmer underneath.Rudo leaned back slightly, arms resting on his knees. He stayed quiet for a while after that. Too quiet. Because now there was something new sitting in his chest. Something unfamiliar. Annoying. Dangerous. He didn’t fully understand it—but he knew one thing for sure. You were different. And somehow… That difference mattered to him more than anything else.

“…Tch,” he muttered under his breath, barely audible. But this time, there was no irritation behind it. Just the quiet, growing realization— That somewhere along the way…

He’d started to like you.