The bazaar sprawled out before them like a labyrinth of sound and color. Stalls leaned precariously into one another, their canvas roofs stitched together with mismatched patches that flapped lazily in the dry breeze. The scent of spiced meats, oil-soaked machinery, and the faint tang of rust clung to the air, mingling with the incessant chatter of merchants hawking their wares and the clinking of metals exchanging hands.
Snow and Rain moved through the narrow pathways together, the weight of their newly won fortune in metals jingling in Snow's pouch. Rain kept glancing sideways at her companion, a grin tugging at her lips.
"I still don't get how you did it," she said, her tone half-admiring, half-incredulous. "You're telling me rolling dice is like pulling a trigger?"
Snow smirked, her eyes scanning the stalls for ammunition. "It's all about control," she replied. "A longshooter's trigger isn't just something you pull; it's something you finesse. Same with dice. A little nudge, a little feel for the weight—"
Rain interrupted her with a laugh. "Oh, come on. There's no way you can control how dice land! It's pure luck."
Snow shrugged, nonchalant as ever. "Think what you want. It worked, didn't it?"
Rain rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her grin. "Two hundred metals. You're dangerous, Snow."
"Only when I need to be," Snow replied, her smirk deepening as they split up to tackle their errands. "Don't go spending all your share on books or something useless."
Rain stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Don't worry, I'll find something practical."
The two girls went their separate ways, Snow navigating the denser, grittier part of the bazaar where traders hawked munitions, tools, and provisions. She stopped at a stall overflowing with crates of ammo and stacks of dried meats, each package wrapped in oily paper that reeked of salt and smoke.
"How much for the lot?" Snow asked, pointing to a bundle of repeater cartridges and a roll of dried meat.
The trader, a squat man with a face like a weathered anvil, sized her up before naming a price that made her scoff. "You must think I've got 'gullible' written across my forehead," Snow shot back.
The two went back and forth, their voices rising above the market's din as they haggled. Eventually, Snow walked away with what she needed, her pouch of metals noticeably lighter but still heavy enough for comfort. She slung the supplies into her pack and started weaving through the crowds, looking for Rain.
The bazaar's atmosphere changed as Snow moved deeper into the maze. The stalls thinned, replaced by shadowy alleys where deals were made with whispers instead of shouts. She turned a corner and froze.
Voices. Familiar ones.
"You're telling me you spent all the metals already?" one of them snarled.
Snow's hand instinctively went to the longshooter slung across her back. She crept closer, keeping to the shadows, her sharp eyes locking onto the scene unfolding in the narrow alley ahead.
Rain stood with her back to the wall, clutching the map tube tightly in her hands. Three men surrounded her, their postures threatening, their voices dripping with anger. Snow recognized them from the gambling den.
"Your friend cheated," one of them growled, his face twisted with indignation. "No way she landed thirteen every time. Give us back our metals."
Rain didn't flinch. Her grip on the map tube tightened, her knuckles white. "We used the metals already," she said, her voice steady but edged with defiance. "They're gone."
"That's convenient," sneered another thug. "If you don't have the metals, we'll take that fancy tube instead. Bet it's worth something."
Snow's jaw tightened. The scene brought back memories of the Crowe's trading station, of the way people always seemed to think Rain was an easy target. She almost stepped forward, but something stopped her.
Rain didn't look afraid.
"No," Rain said firmly, holding the map tube like a makeshift club. Her eyes blazed with determination. "You're not taking this. I'm tired of people thinking they can take what's mine just because they're bigger or louder. Or just because they think they know better."
The first thug lunged forward, reaching for the tube. Rain moved faster. She swung the tube with surprising force, the heavy metal casing cracking against the man's temple. He staggered back with a howl, clutching his head.
The second thug barely had time to react before Rain turned on him, driving the tube into his face. He yelped and crumpled to the ground, groaning.
The third man, clearly the least brave of the group, stumbled backward, fumbling for the slugger tucked into his waistband. He pulled it free, his hands shaking as he tried to aim at Rain.
But Snow was already there.
The cold barrel of her longshooter pressed against the back of his head, and the thug froze. "Drop it," Snow commanded, her voice low and deadly.
The slugger clattered to the ground as the man raised his hands, trembling. "I—I didn't mean—"
"Scram," Snow cut him off. "And take your friends with you."
The thug didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his groaning companions and dragged them away, casting one last terrified glance at Snow and her weapon before disappearing around the corner.
Snow lowered her longshooter and turned to Rain. "You good?"
Rain was breathing hard, but she smiled, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "I'm fine," she said, her voice steady. "Thanks for showing up, though."
Snow's lips twitched into a rare smile. "You didn't need me."
Rain laughed softly. "Maybe not, but it's nice to know you've got my back."
Snow extended a hand, and Rain took it without hesitation. They walked out of the alley together, their fingers intertwined, the weight of the map tube secure in Rain's other hand.
"I like this side of you," Snow said after a moment.
"What side?" Rain asked, glancing at her.
"The side that's not afraid to fight back," Snow replied, her voice tinged with admiration.
Rain's grin widened. "And I like this side of you," she said, her tone teasing.
"What side is that?"
"The overprotective side. It's cute."
Snow groaned, a faint blush creeping up her neck. "Don't push it."
Rain laughed, the sound light and genuine, as they made their way back toward the bazaar's main thoroughfare. They had what they needed, and the road ahead—however uncertain—was one they'd face together.
————————————————————————————————————————————
The plains stretched out endlessly before them, a sea of yellow grass rippling in the night breeze. Unlike the barren wastes of the west or the jagged rocks of the eastern badlands, this land felt strangely alive. Crickets chirped faintly in the distance, and small, winged insects flitted around the soft glow of the lantern hanging from the saddle. Above, the stars pierced the dark canopy with cold, silver light, while on the horizon, a faint glow marked the presence of a far-off city—a reminder that even out here, civilization had not yet entirely faded.
Snow gripped the reins of their horse, Shimmer, her eyes scanning the landscape with a hunter's focus. She sat rigid in the saddle, her longshooter strapped across her back, her instincts sharp and ready. Behind her, Rain rested with her arms lightly wrapped around Snow's waist, her head tilted back to take in the sky, her face lit with quiet wonder.
"This is a bad idea," Snow muttered, breaking the silence.
Rain shifted slightly, leaning closer so her chin brushed Snow's shoulder. "You've said that at least three times now," she replied with a teasing smile.
"That's because it is a bad idea," Snow shot back, her tone flat. "Traveling at night is dangerous. Predators are out, and so are bandits. And we can't see what's ahead until it's too late."
Rain only hummed in response, her gaze drifting over the dark plains. "It's dangerous during the day, too," she said lightly. "At least now it's cooler. And look at all this." She gestured to the horizon, where the distant city's lights shimmered like tiny, wavering stars. "We're always too busy running or hiding to see what the world looks like at night. Isn't it beautiful?"
Snow's grip on the reins tightened. "Beautiful doesn't mean safe," she replied.
"You're always so cautious," Rain said, her voice softening. "But sometimes, don't you want to just… stop and look? To see what's still out here?"
Snow glanced back at her, catching the glimmer of Rain's eyes in the lantern light. There was a brightness there, a kind of joy Snow couldn't quite bring herself to dampen, no matter how much her instincts screamed at her to keep moving, to find cover, to stay alive.
With a sigh, Snow shook her head. "Fine. But we're not going any farther tonight. We'll set up camp and rest. Deal?"
Rain beamed, her excitement practically glowing in the dark. "Deal," she said. Then, pointing ahead, she added, "How about over there? That cliffside looks like a good spot."
Snow followed her gaze to a rocky outcrop rising above the plains. It wasn't a bad suggestion—the height would give them a clear vantage point, and the rocky face would offer some protection from the wind. She clicked her tongue, urging Shimmer toward it.
The camp came together quickly. Snow handled the practicalities: tying Shimmer to a sturdy bush, arranging their bedrolls near the cliff's edge, and setting up the small fire. Rain, as always, was the one to make things feel less bleak—placing a piece of scrap metal as a windbreak for the fire, setting the lamp to cast its warm glow outward, and chattering about how the plains must've looked before the Collapse.
By the time they sat down to eat, the fire crackled steadily, and the night had settled into a tranquil rhythm. Snow handed Rain a strip of dried meat, watching as her companion chewed on it with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
"You're enjoying that a little too much," Snow remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Rain grinned mid-bite, the corners of her mouth lifting despite the stringy texture of the meat. "I'm just… happy, I guess," she said, her words slightly muffled. "Back when I was with the others—before I met you—I didn't get to enjoy things. Food was just something to get through, you know? But now…" She trailed off, her smile softening. "Now it feels different."
Snow frowned slightly, not quite understanding. "It's still the same dried meat," she pointed out.
Rain laughed, her voice carrying lightly over the plains. "You don't get it, do you? It's not the meat. It's…" She paused, searching for the right words. "It's knowing I can sit here, with you, and eat this. And there's no one telling me I can't."
Snow didn't reply right away. She stared at the fire, the flickering flames casting shadows across her face. Rain's words sat heavily in the air, stirring something inside her she couldn't quite name.
After their meal, they moved to the edge of the cliff, sitting side by side with their legs dangling over the edge. Below, the plains stretched out like a vast, sleeping beast, its yellow grasses glinting faintly in the moonlight. The city's lights shimmered far off in the distance, a tiny constellation against the dark horizon.
Rain hugged her knees to her chest, her gaze faraway. "What do you think Paradise will make the world be like?" she asked softly.
Snow shrugged, leaning back on her hands. "I don't know," she admitted. "What do you think?"
Rain tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "I think it'll be… peaceful. A place where people don't have to fight all the time. Where we can live without looking over our shoulders."
Snow glanced at her, the flicker of a frown crossing her face. "And what will you do once you find it? Make it happen?"
Rain blinked, startled by the question. "I… I don't know," she said slowly. "I've been so focused on getting there, I haven't thought about what comes after." She turned to Snow. "What about you?"
Snow hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I'm not sure I have a place in a peaceful world," she said quietly. "All I know how to do is fight. If there's nothing to fight for, then… what am I even good for?"
Rain's brow furrowed, and without thinking, she reached out and took Snow's hand in hers. "Don't say that," she said firmly. "You're not just a fighter. You're more than that."
Snow looked at her, surprised by the conviction in her voice.
"You'll find something," Rain continued, her tone softening. "You can do whatever you want. And… I'll be there with you. Wherever you go, whatever you do."
Snow stared at her, her chest tightening. Rain's hand was warm in hers, steady and sure. For a moment, the world seemed to fade, the distant city lights and the chirping crickets all falling away, leaving just the two of them.
"Rain…" Snow began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think... I love you—"
"I love you too." Rain cut her off with a smile, her eyes shining.
And then, under the pale light of the moon, they leaned toward each other, their lips meeting in a kiss that felt like a promise. A promise of trust, of companionship, and of something that neither of them had dared to hope for until now.
The wasteland stretched out before them, vast and uncertain, but for the first time, neither of them felt alone.