Hey, everyone. Dawn Stone Slifer here, with the first fic I've officially posted on FanFiction for over 2 years. My other account still has all of my old fics on it, but I thought I'd start fresh.

This was originally a Yusei X Reader fic (it can be found on dA account, AlyXWheatley4Ever) but since FanFiction doesn't accept Reader Inserts, I changed it to an OC.

And don't worry; you don't know anything about her, simply because there isn't anything to know. I made her up on the spot, to change the Reader insert parts. Although, I think I came up with the idea of Ash while I was writing a post-apocalyptic AU for 5D's a while ago...yeah...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

~Dawn Stone Slifer~

She was going to do it.

Those were the only words that echoed in her head as she stood on the edge of the docks, watching silently as the waves lapped hungrily at the concrete she stood on.

She stared out at the faint figure across the water; a large, grey mass that looked absolutely disgusting even from this distance.

She watched the smoke billowing from it, the slowly darkening skies, the half-finished bridge that had held so many hopes and dreams.

All of it was disgusting.

She hated it here, in the Satellite. Everything about this place made her feel rotten. The atmosphere, the decay. Even the people made her feel like giving up.

Which was exactly what she was doing. At first, she thought of swimming out to sea and seeing how close she could get to New Domino before her body gave up from exhaustion. But, to be fair, that idea wasn't the most appealing.

Just falling into the water and letting herself drift away into nothingness sounded a lot better.

"Ash."

She flinched slightly as a familiar voice met her ears, before relaxing. She should've known he would've come to find her sooner or later. Maybe she should've swam out when she had the chance.

"Hey, Yusei. What brings you here?"

Her voice was quiet, reserved. She heard his boots scuffing at the ground as he walked closer, before his jacket-clad form slumped next to her.

Yusei Fudo - one of her closest friends in all of the Satellite - dangled his feet over the concrete dock, matching her posture, with his body slumped forwards and his eyes staring straight out towards New Domino.

"What're you doing out here?" He asked, although she knew he already knew the reason. He wouldn't have been here, otherwise.

"Thinking about giving up."

She saw no reason to lie to him. The young man could read her like a book, so trying to convince him otherwise was a fool's errand.

"Giving up doesn't solve anything," he responded almost instantly, "it's just an easy fix to the problem."

"That's right. It's an easy fix. I wouldn't have to worry about anything any more," she found herself sending him a bitter smile, her words laced with the utter exhaustion and exasperation she felt.

"...How did you find me here, anyway?" She asked after he didn't respond, and he sighed heavily, lowering his gaze to his boots.

"Crow told me. He said he was worried about you."

"...Crow...figures...little bastard..." She muttered under her breath, tapping the backs of her shoes against the wall.

"He cares, Ash. We all care. Jack, Crow, Kalin and I; we don't want to see you like this. We know it's horrible here. Trust me, we know..."

His words didn't reach her. She'd heard them too many times. He knew it, too, for in the next moment, she felt his left arm wind around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

"...Hey, Ash?"

"What?" She whispered, refusing to look at the young man who held her so tenderly in his arms.

"I love you."

It didn't surprise her. He'd told her plenty of times how much he loved her.

"I love you, and I'm going to help you."

"Why?" She found herself responding quietly, "I don't need help. There's nothing wrong with me."

"You're right," he countered, "there isn't. You're perfect. But I'm still going to help you, anyway."

She went silent, knowing better than to argue with the man. After all, he'd never lied to her before.

And as long as he was here, she would be too; clinging to whatever happiness she could find with him. Just like everyone else was in this godforsaken city.

She found herself leaning her head against his shoulder, choosing to close her eyes and instead listen to the water lapping at the concrete beneath her.

"...Hey, Yusei?"

"Hm?"

"...I love you, too."