Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A/N: this will be a VERY slow burn,updating as i play the game, also the first thing i've written since high school so feedback is appreciated :)
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Chapter one

Lou’s mouth hung agape, the brain matter splattered over the bar and the smell of gunpowder had stunned her beyond belief. “Ok, let’s go.” the giant of a ghoul spoke as if he hadn't just blown his last employer's head into a thousand pieces in front of everyone. She barely heard him over the chatter of the rest of Underworld’s shocked masses.

She made a few unintelligible hand gestures and opened her mouth to speak, but it took a moment to actually find any words for this situation “what the fuck was that?” she squeaked out in a voice a few octaves higher than usual, eyes wide and fixed on the man she had just spent every cap she had to hire.

“Azrukahl was an evil bastard. So long as he held my contract I was honor bound to do as he commanded."He spoke nearly matter of factly “ but now you are my employer and I was freed to rid the world of that disgusting rat. And now, for good or ill, I serve you.”

Lou felt her stomach churn at the sight of the dead bartender, she knew he was a monster- he even tried to convince her to kill poor Greta but the sudden gore was something she hadn't become accustomed to. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her vault suit, posture stiff, nodding slowly. “Well then,” she paused for a moment. “My name is Lucielle- you can call me Lou.” she pondered if she really wanted to be alone with this man for a moment, but hey, if he hated Ahzrukhal so much he could've killed him at any point but didn't, right? She guessed he was safe to be around. Better than any merc she'd run into so far at least.

She held out her hand for him to shake, awkward and with a nervous smile. He shook her hand, with mild confusion on his own face, or at least what she thought was confusion. She was still learning to read ghouls expressions with all the muscles showing. The vault dweller clapped her gloved palms together and rocked back and forth on her heels. “So here's the deal-” she turned her back to him and rifled through the duffle bag she’d picked up in the metro tunnels “i have zero combat experience and was lucky to make it into DC with my pieces still attached. I need to get into the science museum and the place is crawling with mutants. Here-” she handed him what few stimpacks she scavved. “ i will get us into trouble and i apologize in advance but im kinda desperate.”

She slung the duffle bag over her shoulder “As you can probably tell by the suit I'm from a vault and long story short I was forced out and I'm looking for my dad who left a few hours before me. The radio host,uh, Three Dog? Yea he knows where he went but wont tell me until i get the satellite dish from inside the lunar exploration exhibit.” She crossed her arms over her chest and feigned some sort of confidence “ and I have no idea what I'm doing or where I am in general, so,” she gestured to him “I needed someone who does.”

Charon nodded “I can fulfill that need”

“Great” she adjusted the strap of her bag and started off out of the bar. His shadow casted over her, which unnerved her. He was unnaturally tall, and made of pure, visible muscle. All traits that made him a good bodyguard but also nervous to be alone with.Although she was mostly certain he was safe to be around. There were more stares on her now from underworlds residence now that she had the red headed giant in tow, though they were more intrigued than suspicious this time.

Willow even looked surprised as they exited the building, but merely laughed to herself before mumbling something about “the tourist buying a souvenir” that Lou ignored. She kept her head down and behind any cover she could on her way across the mall. Unsurprisingly, Charon had no problem keeping up with her and they made it to the museum quicker than she’d thought they would.

Lou hugged her assault rifle to her chest as she entered, firing at the mutant just within the doors, shotgun blasts ringing from behind her. With Charon with her they cleared the entrance rather quickly. The quick fight helped bolster her confidence a bit and she felt slightly better while scavenging the room.

Lou wandered over to the stealth boy exhibit and picked one of the devices from the display up. She turned it around in her hands, examining it and reading the display plate before stashing them away in her bag. She spotted Charon walking the perimeter of the room from the corner of her eye and stared at him for a moment. He looked massive even next to super mutant corpses littering the floor, and was making the whole bodyguard thing look easy. “Hey charon?” she walked towards him, “you’ll tell me if you dont wanna do something right?”

“If that's what you wish” he answered in that odd speech pattern that confused Lou, he almost sounded like a knight from a fairytale or something. It paired with his overall grumbly-ness made him hard to read, something she hoped she’d get the hang of soon.

“And if im doing anything wrong or you think is stupid, right? Any input out here would be helpful.” Charon stared blankly at her for a moment

“Anything I think is ‘stupid’?” he repeated

“Yea, I know I'm naive about the wastes.”

“Scavenging a mutant-ridden building for a satellite dish would be something i’d consider ‘stupid’”
Lou narrowed her eyes at him, unamused “I suppose that's what I asked for.” she sighed, “I gotta find my dad, he wouldn’t take off without a good reason.”

“If you say so,” Charon responded blankly.

She lingered at the entrance to the display vault, staring down the corridor, the announcers words falling on deaf ears. She looked around for another way through the building, but to her dismay all had been blocked by the rubble that collected over the years.

She breathed deeply and pushed through, the familiar lights now feeling harsh on her eyes. She turned her head to the display living quarters and felt her heart ache. God what she’d do to be in her room, showered, safe and gossiping with Amata.

Amata?

She hadn't thought about Amata since she left and that had been, what? A week? She raised her pipboy to her view. No. Ten days. She mentally kicked herself for ‘wasting’ so much time in megaton, she should’ve just extorted Silver. Maybe then she would've found Dad by now. No, she felt awful doing that to that poor girl. Moirarty was obviously a bastard from how he treated Nova and Gob he definitely didn't treat Silver any better.

But here she was now, a week behind with someone who might as well be a slave. She winced at the thought. Was she a slave owner? Her stomach turned, but she couldn't just go in here blind. She needed Charon’s help. He’d help her get to a point where she could help herself, surely? Then she’d tear that stupid contact to pieces. She hadn’t lost her morals. She wouldn’t.

Lou pushed deeper into the building, taking out mutants along the way, snaking around corners, she was rather light footed-as was Charon to her surprise. She slipped around to the terminal controlling the turret down the hall and disabled it “you are good with machines?” Charon whispered, sending a jolt up the smaller framed girl’s spine, he was leaning over her and was entirely too close.

“Wha- yea, yea i was technician in my vault” she answered, shrinking away from him

“This is a useful skill.”

“Thank..you?”

She scurried onward, shaking off the sudden jitters he brought on.The assault rifle strapped to her was beginning to burn against her middle with its constant use. She crept her way into the planetarium, peering up at the projection. Her eyes were fixed above nearly, hypnotized. She wondered if this was really how the stars looked before the war? She wondered a lot about what everything looked like before the war, come to think of it. The wastes looked nothing like the pictures and drawings she had seen in the books she grew up with.

She had been staring for a few minutes before Charon spoke, “This place is not safe,” in his raspy voice that pulled her pack to reality. She cleared her throat and shuffled past him, mumbling to herself.

They had finally made it to the Lunar explorer. Lou’s shoulders felt lighter as they approached. She threw her bag to the floor and began climbing the structure with a wrench in her mouth to free the dish, Charon patrolling the area with his shotgun ready as she worked.

“Aaand got it!” she sighed, exasperated. She hopped from the structure with the dish in hand, stumbling as she landed. “Let’s get out of here.”

Getting around the Mall with a satellite dish in hand was harder than she had expected, manageable with Charon keeping her covered. She knew she couldn’t have done this alone. She shuffled quickly to the speaker and requested entry. The doors opened and she scurried inside and inside the memorial.

The doors to the elevators opened, and she set the dish on the floor, before tilting her head at the controls and cautiously pressing the button. The platform shuttered and she squeaked in response, gripping the rails like her life depended on it. The more it raised the more panicked she became “Oh, no, no, no-” she muttered in terror.

Charon fought back a laugh but a small but a half suppressed chuckle escaped him, she looked up at him with angry, teary eyes that made him feel a little guilty. She mistakenly glanced out of the holes in the back of the cage and her stomach flip-flopped and she squeezed her eyes shut. “I hate this” she muttered

The doors opened once again, and the girl carried the dish with wobbly legs to the console. She felt her heart sink seeing where the dish was supposed to be installed. She breathed deeply and tried to look at the opening before heaving over with a retch. Charon's steely grip caught her before she could hit the floor. Bile flowed from her nose and throat leaving both exits burning like hellfire. He helped her sit safely before sighing and picking up the dish from the floor.

“Tell me what to do,” he said, sounding a little annoyed. Lou hugged her knees to herself and rested her head against her thighs.

“God, I'm useless.” she muttered pathetically. She rested her head against the wall behind her before explaining. “Remove the bolts in a star pattern a little at a time, then disconnect the green wire” she sounded defeated, coming so far just to have him do this for her. Charon completed the task quickly. Lou’s glassy green eyes wander to the sunset outside as the signal came in, clear as day. “We should rest here for the night,”

She pulled her bag to herself and rustled around in it, removing two cans of purified water and some molerat steaks she had prepared before setting off from Megaton. She handed half the supplies to Charon, who eyed it for a moment before seating himself opposite her. “Thank you, for your help today.” She avoided his gaze as she opened her water

“Im am only performing my duties according to my contract,” He opened his own can and drank nearly half of it in one drink. Lou grabbed another can from her bag, mentally thanking Wodsworth and slid it over to him.

“What does your contract say, anyway?” she queried, pulling the folded paper from her pocket and unfurling it, squinting at the faded text “Can’t really read it.”

“The contract entitles you to my services in combat, and it is voided if there is physical violence on your part.”

Charon spoke while carving pieces of mole into bite sized chunks. Lou’s face twisted,”That’s pretty vague.” She sighed “I don't like how little protections there are for you in this contract. Seems….unfavorable.” she folded the paper back up, hoping he understood he knew what she meant, she tried to speak in the formal, legal-ish terms he used. “Is there a way out of it, other than me being violent or dying?” she looked up at him. He looked puzzled.

“Excuse my casual language, but why would you want to let me out of the contact?”

“Because it feels wrong to have you do things you don't want to because of this contract.” she took a deep breath “I'm gonna level with you, I'm desperate-Like I said earlier-I NEED help but this..” she waved the paper around “Feels like diet slavery.” Charon looked a little shocked at her words and paused, blinking a few times.

“There is no way to void the contract outside of what i’ve already told you.” he finally responded. Lou sighed and slumped, taking bites out of the full piece of meat in her hand. He continued to eat, a now awkward air in the room. She finished her food and eyes around the room, spotting the single mattress on the floor.

“I'm gonna crawl into the bed over there. Wake me up when you want to sleep.” she got on all fours and began crawling to the dusty old ‘bed’ if you could call it that.

“I do not require sleep,” charon answered

Lou sat on the mattress and looked back at him, puzzled one again. “You don't need to sleep? Like ever?”

“I do not”

“Do…you want to?”

Silence stood over them for a second, Charon's hazy eyes, squinting at her, puzzled right back at her. “No. I do not.”

Lou curled up in a ball on the mattress, staring at him one last time,yawning. This man was going to take awhile to get used to.

“Whatever you say,Charon.”

Chapter Text

Lou’s heavy green eyes fluttered open with the bright daylight, harsh on her eyes that had been shielded by the vault's walls for her youth and once again met Charon’s hazy blue. Blinking a few times, she pulled herself up into a sitting position, groaning at her aching muscles. Charon looked as if he hadn't moved the entire night, sitting in the exact position he was when she closed her eyes.

“Did you sit there all night?” she yawned, voice harsh and dry from the waste’s air.

“Yes”

Lou narrowed her still sleepy eyes at him for a moment and tilted her head, “Why?”

“..to guard you.” he sounded just as confused as she was. This was becoming a habit that neither liked.

“We’re at a brotherhood outpost,” she rubbed the back of her neck and yanked the hair tie out of her knotted hair, finger combing the messy long mop on top her head and scratching her now growing out undercut. “Though, I dunno what else you could’ve done up here.” she wrangled the slightly tamed mess back into a top knot.

Standing, she heard every joint snap and pop as she stretched. Dingy floor mattresses were definitely not good on the body. “Whatever,” she sighed, “we should start heading to GNR, I'm behind enough already.”

The way back wasn't as difficult as it was in, she had cleared the majority of the threats from the metro and no one had taken their place. Not yet anyway. The metro was maze-like, even with the signs about. The caved in tunnels didn't help either. The brotherhood did a good job of keeping the area around the station clear, too- and she was glad not to waste any more ammo. Charon hadn't spoken the entire walk aside from the occasional grumble or saying to be careful. It didn't sit well with her. She was used to being alone in cramped spaces back in the vault but she never really sat in silence with someone, it made her feel suffocated by tension she was too nervous to break.

Charon eyed the corpse of the behemoth laying out front the GNR building, expression twisted in….concern? Loun wasn't sure if she was bad at reading ghoul expressions or if this was just Charon. Her chat with Three Dog was short, but let a weight off her mind- dad was in a city. Safe. With a scientist colleague. She didn’t feel as bad about taking her time scavving in Underworld now.

Her feet still felt heavy from all this travel and anxiety. Plopping down on the stairs to the building she wrestled the pack of cigarettes she’d taken off a raider a few days ago and pulled it out, put it to her lips and lit it with a match.

It tasted putrid. Cancer in gaseous form. Two hundred years of rotting in a metro tunnel had to have made it even worse for her body but it calmed her shakes and let her untense for a moment. She popped a second one from the pack and offered it to Charon. She was half surprised when he sat next to her and actually took it.

The smoke mixed with the smell of gunpowder and sweat stung her nose, leaving her wanting the cycled air of her vault. She tapped it in her fingers a few times. She'd be in her vault right now if it wasn't for dad. She’d be listening to her holotape collection with Amata or working on some repair project but no. She was out here fighting to stay alive and it was all because dad had to take off. Couldn’t even give her a heads up, was just going to leave without a word. Without talking to her.Leave her heartbroken to pick up the pieces.

She watched the ember fall with half the cigarette in her finger, snapped from her tightening grip. Vision blurry with angry tears threatening to fall.

“you..uh..''Charon begane, unsure of what to do. He’d never had an employer cry in front of him and he wasn't the comforting sort. “You doing ok? I recall you wanted to know where dad went?”

Lou scrunched her expression as tears escaped her. “Him leaving’s why I'm out here to begin with.” she hissed “ They tossed me out at gunpoint because of him. He…” she choked “he abandoned me…”

She felt terrible for voicing it out loud. “I want him to be safe- i- i just-” she buried her face in her hands “ he couldn’t even fucking tell me goodbye!” she wiped her tears and tossed what was left of the smoke. “He’d better have a good fucking reason for throwing me to wolves like this….I love him. He’s my dad. I shouldn't be bad mouthing him like this. I dunno if i'm ready to find him yet.”

Charon lowered his brow at her, which she assumed was once again confusion. “He’s in Rivet City. He’s safe at least,” she stood “Let’s head to Megaton. I have a place there and I wanna shower.”

“People are paying to have me killed now!?” Lou exclaimed, exasperatedly reading the note she’d taken off one of the three mercs laying peppered with buckshot in front of her. To the ground she went, rambling about how ‘bullshit’ everything had been today and ripping the armor from the corpses and swiftly disassembling it. Charon watched her, intrigued. She has said she was ‘incapable’ yet here she was. Making herself armor from scraps like it was as simple as eating. He’s watched her do this to various equipment a handful of times now. Her skill was impressive, but armor alone couldn't keep her alive. Her skills were nearly exactly opposite his.

He kneeled next to her watching as she worked, she was too entranced in her own ranting to have noticed. “You fix things very quickly” he remarked, only to see her nearly jump out of her own skin at his voice and flinch away.

“Oh- thank you charon.” she said timidly. “Uh, did you need anything worked on? I have plenty of material to work with now thanks to these goons.”

“Perhaps when we are in a secure location.”

She looked around, and yeah, out in the open of an abandoned parking lot was probably the worst place to do this. She hopped up, new armor fitted over her vault suit. “The supply place at megaton’s clerk asked me to check out this super duper mart, might as well hit it now.” she felt around her new gear, happy with her work.

The pair slipped inside the building, unseen by the raiders within. Clinging to shadow, she entered the food store and scurried about and put anything she found in pockets like a giant pack rat. There was a surprising amount of ammo about, which she was grateful for. Peeking from behind the counter she counted raiders…three…no, four? “You think it's worth it to get to the pharmacy?” she whispered to the ghoul next to her. He peered around as she had. He nodded back at her. He strafed through the aisle, and she ran above, standing tall on the makeshift walkway the raiders constructed, firing at those hiding below. Stealth had gone out the window, she had been sure they could handle a full on assault.

She was confident in her strategy until she watched Charon be flanked by three of them. Her heart stopped for a moment and she fumbled around her bandelier. She ripped the pin from her grenade without even thinking and threw it- shit!

She didn't throw it hard enough and before her eyes the blast threw charon to the floor. Blood rushed to her ears and all she could hear was her heart as she screamed his name and scrambled down from her position to the floor. She wrapped her arms around his, desperately dragging him to cover. “Shit! Shit! Im so sorry!” she struggled to steady herself and pull the stim from her bag. She watched his tissue knit back together as she inserted the device. Bullets zipped past her head. She grabbed her riffle and blind fired above her head. Charon groaned and grabbed around for his shotgun.

“Where…?” he managed
Shit. she didn't grab it. She thrust her assault rifle into his hands and pulled her hunting rifle from her back. She grit her teeth and fired, the bullet shredding straight through the raiders eye socket and out the back of his head. She breathed heavily, three left. Charon pulled himself to his knees, growling in pain. He sprayed, pieces of the raiders armor went flying with every bullet, blood leaking from countless wounds. Lou fired again, the last raider screaming out in agony and falling on her now shredded kneecap, leaving her torso unguarded from Charoned merciless tirade of shots.

The air cleared and silence fell, the only sound left being the both of them huffing, their adrenaline finally falling. Lou turned to Charon, panic renewed, remembering his wounds. “Holy- oh you're filled with metal. Oh my god i'm sorry” she covered her mouth with her gloved fingers for only a moment, then scuttering back further into the pharmacy for the medkit.

Once received she kneeled next to him, splaying out the supplies. “Let me see-” she started.” My dad taught me basic stitching, I can fix anything the stim couldn't.” Charon grumbled and turned his back to her, littered with shrapnel. Her carefully inserted the needle in to his muscle “A little medex should make it more bearable” she gingerly removed as much as she could in her pipboy’s glow,

“I need you to remove your jacket and shirt to stitch the open wounds.”

CHaron huffed “I'm all open wounds”

Lou scowled, knowing he couldn't see her expression but hoping he could feel her contempt for the remark. “You're losing blood, Charon.”

He did as told, torn garments and shoulder pauldrons removed so she could work. She made quick work of the bleeding, her stitching was efficient- whether armor or anatomy. She sighed with relief applying the bandage around his chest and back. “Got it, all explosives go to you from now on.” he exhaled at her remark. Her heart beating as normal again he scooted to his side

“Was that a laugh-wait! Did you make a joke earlier?” she tilted her head at him, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

He looked at her blankly before re-equipping his armor “if that's how you wish to interpret my statement”

She felt that awkward air return to them. “I am really sorry, Charon. I’ll be more careful from now on.'' She sheepishly stood and gathered the medical supplies back up.

Charon began to open his mouth but was interrupted by the supermarket speakers. More had arrived. Both ducked behind the counter, Lou unhooked her bandolier and picked her hunting rifle up once more, aiming just over the counter. Charon Took the explosives from her, and headed for the pharmacy door, staying just out of sight.

“Look out!” he announced as the bomb went flying. The two riders approaching went to scramble but were not fast enough to escape, limbs went flying. Gore and Visera left in their place. The vault dweller stood tall and hitched her breath, her shot ripping through the air and piercing the last raider's neck, he gasped and gargled, grabbing at the wound. The life fluid falling from his mouth as he struggled, falling to the ground and after a moment ceasing to move.

“Fuck, lets get out of here. This place was NOT worth it.” she complained, slinging her rifle over her shoulder. Charon nodded, collecting his shotgun from the ground.

Moira was chipper as always and roped Lou into studying radiation for her.

Lou looked above at the sky, it was maybe a couple hours until sundown. Her eyes fell to the pool around the bomb. Fuck it. Two chapters in one day. Charon watched her, curious yet concerned as she flopped onto her back in the irradiated puddle.

“That's not sanitary,”

“I need a shower anyway.”

“That's not healthy, either.”

“I know. Tell me when I start glowing so I can go back to Moira's.”

“I really advise against this”

Lou opened her mouth and sank below the water gargling the horrid liquid. It tasted like salt and metal. She quickly felt ill, she could hear that adam wacko preaching something above her but the water in hears prevented her from making anything out. She felt weaker, and heavy. The world around her began to sway and spin. Her stomach twisted and head began to ache.

She was ripped from the water by her collar, Charon's iron grip holding her weakened body straight. “That’s enough. I hope you know what you're doing.”

She stood, wobbly and dizzy. “I never know what i'm doing,” she grumbled and started her slow pace up to Craterside supply again.

“I can hear my genes crying” she moaned as moira poked and prodded around her ill form

“I didn't expect you to be back so soon, here drink this”

Charon watched from the side, most of the conversation going over his head. All of it was very scientific and he had no mind for the sort. He suddenly had his attention returned when the crazy red haired woman mentioned a minefield. He wanted to roll his eyes when his employer agreed. He needed another explosive injury that's for sure. “This is unwise, '' he interrupted, not something he'd normally risk but she did order him to give his opinions.

“I know.” Lou responded “but it’s for research”

“yea! that's the spirit!” Moira shook her at her shoulders and sent them on their way.

Lou was ecstatic to be home, Wodsworth greeted them at the door.

“Good Evening madam! I see you’ve brought…i, uh..a guest?”

“Not a quest.” she corrected “He’s going to be staying here, he's my bodyguard.”

“Oh,well..isn't that…lovely.”

Lou dropped her things sloppily next to the couch and slumped down on it. “Upstairs there are two rooms. Mines at the end of the hallway, you can have the one next to it.”

“I still do not require-”

“I don't care if you sleep in it, or store stuff, or whatever. It’s yours. Do what you want with it.”

Charon paused and stared at her “you are certain of this?”

“Yes. I am certain.” she began pulling loot from her bag and splaying out onto the floor, “Anything you need worked on, hand over. Imma do some maintenance then head to the showers in town.

Charon looked at himself for a moment before removing his armor and tentatively handing over his gun, he knew she knew what she was doing but still- that gun was his only ‘friend’ he’d really had in the past. She worked, her pipboy on the table playing the radio. He watched, which made her sweat a bit.

“You wanna hit the noodle place just down the hill when i'm done here? I'm starving.” she asked, not making eye contact.

“Do you like noodles?”

“I have no opinion.”

She tilted her head towards him with an unamused expression “yes you do, dont lie to me.”
Charon raised his brow “ i am not lying-”

“You have to have an option on food, dude. Everyone does.”

“I do not-”

“Bullshit.” she laughed “the robot has more opinions than you! Have you ever had noodles?”

“No.”

“Oh,” she exclaimed, “you should’ve led with that.”

She had finally finished working on their gear.

“Moira gave me some clothes for you,”

“For what purpose?”

“Because you need a shower. You're covered in blood. I also need to fix those leathers and wash them, we’ll chill here tomorrow while they dry. I think both of us could use a rest.”

He grumbled, but took the neatly folded clothes she handed him; a black tank top and gray sweatpants. He couldn't remember the last time he had a real shower, most of underworld didn't do so regularly due to their condition. It felt odd to be clean, but he didn't dislike the feeling. Lou had stored their soiled clothes in a sling bag to wash later and led him down to the noodle bar.

He really couldn't remember his last proper meal either, or if he had ever had one. This girl who held his contract was strange. Naive, reckless, and blind to dangers.

But she was kind, and overall a good person from what he had observed.

She;s still fresh out of the vault. The wasteland will turn her just as jaded as the rest of us.

Chapter Text

Lou was glad to sleep in her own bed again. The safety of Megaton actually let her rest without jumping at every bump in the night. She sat up in her bed, hair a radrat’s nest. With her eyes closed, still needing shielding from the harsh sun. she’d have to adapt to that soon. She could hear Wodswords downstairs but not her bodyguard. He was probably still sitting on the couch where she’d last seen him. She stood and stretched, not as many joints crying today as yesterday. She shambled over to her desk, rifling through a pile of laundered clothes piled atop. She settled on a RobCo tank and a pair of green canvas cargo pants she’d gotten from moira. Her hair was a pain to brush straight again, keeping it tied up did little to keep it tidy while traveling. Opening her door she ran directly into a wall of muscle and stumbled back onto the rusty floor, looking up to misty blue eyes belonging to said wall.

“Oof- ah- Charon?” she picked herself up from the floor “Why’re you standing outside my door?”

“Awaiting your command”

“We’re in a town, man.” she put her hands on her hips and gave him a look “I don’t need to be guarded here. You can do anything you want until we need to leave.”

He looked out over the ledge and back to her “You are certain of this?” he questioned

She nodded, pressing her lips into a line. “ yea bud. Uh.. there's a bar in town. Carol’s son works there- oh but don't tell her about the situation going on there. He asked me not to tell her. oh - here.”

She pulled a tin from her shelves ,caps rattling within “this is half of what moira gave me for all the stuff we hauled back. Take it.” she jutted the small metal box out

“And purchase what?”

“I dunno. Whatever you want. Buy ammo or a drink or something. I don't care, it’s yours. And don't ask me if I'm certain. I wouldn’t tell you anything if I wasn't.”

He took the tin and looked at it curiously, then back at her, eyebrow cocked. “ This is not usual for my previous employers.”

Lou shoved her hands into her pockets and shrugged “ I guess I'm not like your previous employers then. I don't plan on selling your contract, so as long as I'm breathing just act the same as any other merc or bodyguard would. Consider today your day off.”

“Day off?”

“Yes. You needn't check on me all day. I'm pretty comfortable here and won’t need any assistance. You're welcome to come and go as you please until we leave tomorrow morning.”

She slipped past him and started down the stairs and trotted to the kitchen. He stood at her door staring at the tin in his hands. He’d never had a day off, and wasn't exactly sure how to process it. His head was starting to hurt, she had told him not to protect her but that's the only thing he wanted to do. His job. He looked over the railing again, she was just out of sight in the kitchen and he could hear the tap running. She must be washing their clothes like she’d said she would.

She’d already bought ammo yesterday. Fixed his gun too. He hadn’t drank in decades, maybe the bar was the only place he could want to go. He didn't know if he wanted to. He hadn't wanted for anything recreational since he was a child.

People of megaton whispered among themselves as he walked, no one dared say anything to him directly. He was massive, armed, and on top of that he arrived with everyone's favorite vault dweller. He had to duck to not hit his head when he entered the bar. All eyes were on him for a moment then quickly averted, except for Gob, who was making eye contact.

“Charon?” he questioned, “Is that you? Why aren’t you in Underworld?”

Charon approached the bar and sat. Even sitting he was eye level with Gob. “ Someone bought out my Contract.”

“No shit? Bet Azruhkals regretting that.” he joked

“He’s dead.”

“Oh- i uh…my condolences?” Gob was struggling to differ if that was a good or bad thing from Charon’s deadpan delivery.

“I shot him.” Charon clarified

“Oh, then, congratulations? Who bought you out anyway?”

“Vault girl.”

“Lou!? No way. I bet she’s a good boss, she seems like a sweet girl. She was nice when she met me, even fresh out of that hole she crawled out of. Not many humans out here are like her. She even disarmed that bomb down in the crater.”

“She disarmed that bomb?” Charon looked up, he’s noticed when they first arrived and was uneasy about it, knowing his employer was the one to disarm the thing was a shock

“Yea, Lucas let her move in because of it. She fixed a bunch of leaks in the pipes too- she's pretty handy I guess.”

Charon grunted and leaned forward on the bar. “Whiskey.” He didn't really know what to order but whiskey had always been a popular spirit at the Ninth. Gob fixed his order and resumed cleaning. Most of the chatter in the bar had stopped, people watching him from over their shoulders. Moirarty had an eye on him while walking about, Charon’s size kept him from opening his mouth. He wasn't happy about his presence. Charon sat in silence and drank the brown liquid he’d ordered. It wasn’t terrible. Not good either. He stayed for a few drinks and bought a cigar. A couple hours had passed and he actually felt a little…relaxed?

The longer he lingered the more irritated Moiriarty seemed. Gob was looking over and getting antsy “Hey,” he whispered “Moiriarty’s bigot. I wouldn’t stay too long.”

Charon looked over at the bar’s owner which seemed to send him over the edge. “The fuck ‘re you looking at, ye’ fucking corpse?” Charon stood, towering over the smaller irishman
“Dont think you can intimidate me, stinking up me fuckin bar-”

The old man hit the floor, blood pouring from his nose and pain searing through his skull. Charon shook off his fist, and scoffed down at him. He placed his caps on the bar and turned around and walked out, Moriarty screaming expletives behind him. He continued to smoke his cigar on the way home. He hadn’t dealt with Human bigotry in awhile, most people bite their tongues when faced by him and it felt a little good to hit someone who deserved it instead of some poor sod who wouldn’t pay their tab to Azrukhal.

He returned home to Lou curled into a ball on the couch, nose in a comic book she’d found. “Oh hey, you’re back?” she looked up at him, a smile on her face. He nodded in acknowledgement and walked upstairs to the room she’d told him was his. It was undecorated, with a pull out couch and some shelves. He sat on the couch, groaning and finished his cigar. He let a deep sigh out, he felt strange. Not a bad feeling, just unfamiliar. He didn’t know what to do with himself.

A pound at the door broke his thoughts. He stood, hearing a deep voice downstairs. He saw Lou standing in the doorway talking to a man in a cowboy hat. She looked back up at him. “Did you punch Moriarty?” She questioned, her tone surprised. He only nodded “why?”

“He called me a corpse.”

Lou returned her gaze to the sheriff and laughed. “Lucas, he was kinda asking for it. You said he paid his tab right? I don't see the issue. You know as well as I that Colin's an instigator.”

Simms sighed “You’re probably right, but I can't have fights goin’ on ‘round here. Tell your ghoul friend to keep his hands to himself.”

“Understood.” she sighed and nodded

Lucas nodded and took his leave, Charon watched Lou close the door and lean her head against it and let out an exasperated groan. “Should I have not hit him?” he asked, his mind screaming at him that he’d somehow failed his duties.

“Nah, FUCK that guy. I would've hit too if I were strong enough. He tried extorting me for money on my first day out here.” she flopped back down on the couch and resumed her comic “i’d stay away from him, though. Lucas lets me live here out of courtesy and can kick us out if he wants.”

Charon came back down the stairs and sat at her feet on the opposite side of the couch. “Do you really intend to walk into a minefield for that merchant?” he looked at her, leaning into the weak fabric of the old couch.

“Yea.” she started, closing her comic and resting it against her chest. “I'm pretty nimble despite my size. I’ve disarmed a few in the metro on the way into DC. Place is abandoned, so it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.”

“I find your willingness to involve yourself in needlessly dangerous activities in conflict with my sense of self preservation.”

“Well Lucy asked me to deliver a letter to Arefu if you’d rather do that tomorrow.”

“That would be a more… sensible course of action.”

The day came and went, allowing some much needed recovery from the wastes. She was up bright and early, and found Charon standing next to the door, already re-dressed in his usual armor. She slung her packed bag over her shoulder and hopped out the door, ghoul bodyguard in tow.

Springvale just down the way felt eerie, the childrens toys still scattered in the yards of the neighborhood made Lou’s skin crawl. She followed behind the row of what were once family homes, the chatter of raiders in the decrepit school catching her attention. She crouched, aiming her hunting rifle through the rubble, taking out the one closest to the edge. She rushed forth, and found cover with a pile of bricks. Shotgun blasts took the one charging, knife in hand. Her second shot crippled the legs of the last raider outside, stopping him from running for help. Charon rushed past her, taking the injured man in his hands and driving his combat knife through the bottom of his jaw, drowning his cries in a gurgle of hot blood. He held the raider until his gasps and silent pleas ceased and he went still.

Lou stood over the corpse Charon had just dropped and stared for a moment. Not even a month ago the sight would’ve made her sick. She was shocked how numb she felt at the scene. They had a little stash of ammo outside and she was sure more inside. She signaled for Charon to enter the building with her head, crouching in behind him. Charon tossed a grenade down the hall, where a few raiders had gathered, alerting the entire building to their presence. Lou slipped her assault rifle around to her front and strafed down the hall as she ran to further cover. There weren't as many as she had originally assumed there would be for a building this size. Creeping onward, the stretch of rot in the building began to burn her sinuses, bodies strewn about and chained to walls and ceilings.

She stopped at a…cage? A cell maybe? Why in god's name was there a cell in an elementary school? She looked closer. The skeletons inside were awfully small, the thought of their origin made her insides twist. Ah, there that familiar disgust was. She wasn’t desensitized just yet. She used the key she’d picked up to unlock the library, Charon making quick work of the woman inside. She sat at the terminal inside, rolling her eyes at the username. Suk me haha? Real mature.

Ant colony in the basement? They were trying to tunnel into the vault!? Good god. If she hadn’t left she would’ve never realized just how much danger surrounded her. She stood from the terminal and began looting what was left of the building. There was a fair bit of medical supplies and ammo within, and she was glad to have made the pit stop.

The overpasses confused her just as much as the metro, but she finally spotted the settlement in the distance. There were a few dead brahmin sitting at the end of the overpass, which were mildly concerning. Pressing on up the overpass,her heart jumped out of her chest as a grenade went off at her face, Charon yanked her backwards and raised his gun at the old man behind the pile of sandbags a few yards up.

“Hang on, you're not one of them. I nearly blasted you in two! Get over here before they spot you.” The old man called to them

Charon and Lou shared a concerned look before approaching.

“Now, what the hell are you doin' all the way out here?” The elder asked

“Lucy West sent me with a message for Ian.”

“That's great, but I have bigger problems than being the town post office right now.”

“Who did you think I was? “

“I thought you were one of the Family. They're some lowlife gangsters who've been giving us a hell of a lot of trouble lately.”

“What kind of trouble? “

“Well at first they'd do typical gang bullshit. You know, break stuff and make lots of noise, but they always kept their distance. But this last time, they went too far. They killed all of our Brahmin! I mean, that's our lifeblood out here you know!”

“Why don't you fight back? “

“Yeah sure. I'll just go and take all of them out by myself. What are you, crazy? As soon as they roll into town, I lock my doors just like everyone else. We could really use some assistance here.”

“I'd be glad to help. What do you need? “

Of course she’d volunteer to take out a gang. Charon was starting to wonder if the landmines would've been easier.

“Can you do me a favor and check on the other people's houses here? You know, make sure they're doing okay.Speak with Davis West, Karen Schenzy and Ken Ewers. “

The first house had a strange woman rambling about a catalog, and the second had a fairly normal woman. Lou’s spirits were high when she approached the West house, knocking.

No response.

“Hello?” she knocked again. No response again. She pushed the door open, the creaking metal sending shivers down her spine. Two bodies lay inside. She tentatively approached the bodies, pale and lifeless. Their necks had teeth marks going deep into the flesh. She placed a hand on the neck, and examined it closely, they appeared drained of blood. She stood stiff and turned on her heels and rushed past Charon and back into the settlement.

She speed-walked back to Evan King. “Did you know the Wests were dead?” She yelped

“The Family must have gotten to them in the last attack! Sons of bitches! Damn it! If only we had more men, we could stand up to them. I'm sick of them terrorizing this town.Wait a minute... when you searched the West's place, did you find their son Ian's body?”

“No, I only found the parents' bodies. “

This has to be the work of the Family! I've caught that weirdo leader of theirs talking to Ian down by the riverLook, I know I've asked a lot from you already, but you have to find that kid... he deserves better than all this”

She agreed, no way could she ever just walk away from a missing teenager like that. Evan gave her some information and she trotted back down the overpass. “I think we should check north seneca station, a gang is likely to be hiding in the tunnels.”

Charon grumbled in response. The metro had a few mole rats scuttering about inside and were easy to dispatch as well as providing a good bit of meat for later. Flinging open a metal door, she was face to face with an unfamiliar pale ghoul, who jumped at her presence.

“You're n..not here to try and steal my secrets are you?”

She blinked a few times “What secrets? “ she asked, raising a brow.

“The secret of making Ultrajet obviously! Oh dammit, now the cat's out of the bag. Typical me.”

She huffed, that sounded like a terrible lie. “Ultrajet? That some sort of super chem?”

“I suppose you could say that. Ultrajet is almost double the potency of Jet... perfect for Ghouls. Jet barely affects us you see.Only trouble is it's almost impossible to gather the ingredients together.Say, you might be able to help me with that! ”

There it was, she made a half smile “Yeah sure, what do you need?”

“It takes 3 things to make Ultrajet. Two of the ingredients I got plenty of. The other one is a little harder to find: Sugar Bombs. I distill it down to its base contents and add that to the formula then presto... Ultrajet. For every box of Sugar Bombs you bring me, I'll pay you 15 caps. So you in? “

“Yea, sure, why not. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the Family, would you?”

“Sure. I stay away from them and they don't bother me. It's a good relationship. They live somewhere East of here. If you're feeling foolish, I think there's an underground way through to their place deeper in the metro station here.”

She nodded, “Thanks, be back as soon as I find anything.” She shoved passed Murphy, Charon making the small ghoul step back in his presence, and earning a glare from Barret in the corner.

She squeezed herself down a manhole that was dripping with radioactive waste. Her wide hips barely fit down the small hole and she was immediately met with a MIrelurks claws. She emptied the entire mag into its carapace before charon made it down behind her. His shotgun was much more effective against the creatures and three lay dead by the end of the conflict. She disarmed mine after mine as they moved forward, tripwires and bear traps too. Even a shotgun set up to go off on its own

A man's voice echoed through the tunnel at them “Whoa, whoa. Slow down there. This area's off limits to everyone but the Family. Where the hell do you think you're going?”

“Hang on a second. I have a letter for Ian West from his sister. “ she put her hands up, letter in hand

“Oh, the new kid? Yeah, Vance said we should be expecting someone soon. You can head on in, but I would speak to Vance first if I was you. You can find him on the mezzanine overlooking the common area.” he gestured her on.

She held her bag tight as she shuffled past, Charon leering at the man. Charon stayed slightly closer than usually to her, this place made him jumpy, everyone inside felt off. LOu actually seemed suspicious of the Family to his surprise, she usually gave people the benefit of the doubt but even she was put off by the strange air down here. She approached a blonde woman, smiling and asking about the family.

The woman eyed her up and down, smirk on her face and hand on her hip. “ Well, well. I'm surprised you don't know me. I'm Brianna. I... take care of the men around here. Well, unmarried ones anyway. “ she gave her another look. “You’ve got quite a few curves. If you are looking to join, I could use a hand down here.”

Lou gasped and struggled to form words for second “Oh- oh no, no no. I'm just here with a letter for Ian and I'll be on my way.” her face was flooded with blood, and was radiating heat. The blonde turned her eye to Charon, laughed and returned her stare to her.

“I get if you’re already…preoccupied. You’re looking for the new kid? Vance has him in meditation right now. No one's supposed to be in there. Poor kid... he looks like he could use another friend.”

“I could be his friend.”

“Well, that is sweet, but Vance would kick my rather gorgeous ass right out of here if I told you how to find Ian. Sorry. “

Lou let out a defeated sigh, “Thanks anyway.” she tried to return its face to its original pale color, but couldn’t chase off the last of the pink on her checks. She didn't want to look at Charon after that conversation, in fear of the red flooding back. She made her way up the mezzanine, scoping out vance.

He spoke in a manner that made her brain hurt. He danced around the point, and all of this grating on Charon. The words were flying over his head, which they often seemed to when Lou was working her silver tongue. He watched her as they spoke. She was very good at keeping up this happy, polite tone even with the strangest of people.

He found himself staring at her curves, thinking about what Brianna said to her. He wondered how many times he’d have to hear people talk like that to her. She looked like she had spent her whole life well fed and had curves in all the right places, looked soft. He shook his head at the thoughts. That was his employer he was thinking about! He can’t look at her like that! By the time he’d come back to reality she was turning back to the stairs, and he followed, with no clue as to what they were doing next. She sat at the terminal downstairs, chin in her hand reading something on the screen.

“Vampires…really?” she mumbled to herself

He leaned over the desk, looming over her frame. “What is a ‘Vampire’?”

“Mythical creature from European folklore. They used to be in a lot of pre-war horror movies. Drink blood. Can't go in the sun. bunch of other stuff. These people apparently think that's what they are.”

She was surprised at how little she minded Charon leaning over her, usually this would make her squirm, but she was starting to become accustomed to his presence. She leaned back in her chair, head hitting Charon's shoulder. “I'm gonna go chat around about these ‘Laws” of Vance’s. Maybe if I participate I can smooze him into letting me talk to Ian.”

Charon was taken off guard by her contact. He struggled to maintain his demeanor as she spoke, soft hair against his cheek. He straightened his back, and cleared his throat. “That is a smart course of action.” He trailed behind her as she questioned everyone in the area, a smile on her face before heading back to Vance. She tried to match Vance in conversation but his back and forths was making her head spin. She did eventually convince him to let her speak with Ian.

She quickly made her way to the “meditation” room and opened the door to the boy inside. Charon watched her squat next to him and have an emotional talk, giving her letter from Lucy to him. The boy looked heartbroken but agreed to go back to the settlement of Arefu. She looked pleased she helped the boy and headed back out to Vance for a final time.

They reached an agreement, getting blood bags from Arefu and the Family providing protection in exchange. Charon was impressed with how well she handled all this. He would’ve just shot and asked questions later but here she was with everyone happy and everything wrapped together with a proverbial bow. They walked Ian home, and made it back to maresti one last time to inform their odd leader.

She sat on a bench, sighing and letting her lead lull backwards. “I’m glad that's over.” Charon sat next to her, one leg kicked out and arms crossed over his chest.

“You handled that well.”

“Thank you,” she smiled. “That means a lot, coming from you.”

Chapter Text

Sleeping in Marasti wasn't very restful, even with Vance's regard for Lou’s “open mind” they were still on edge. Lou had wanted to head out early and spend as little time as possible with The Family, and make it back to Megaton to inform Lucy about her family.

They made it back before noon, and Lou was anxiously pacing the kitchen. She had started cooking the mirelurk they’d killed yesterday and the house smelled like the ocean. Charon stood at the edge of the kitchen, watching her pace about and mumble to herself. She had picked some wild rice up from Miora, which was all different colors and sizes. Cooking had been her toughest challenge to date, everything in the vault was pre-packaged or something of the ‘just add water’ variety. She should have taken Mrs.Palmer up on those baking lessons as a child.

The dish turned out edible, to her surprise. It was a bit bland, and the rice was overcooked but edible and a good source of protein and carbs. She had handed a bowl to Charon and sat down at her shaky kitchen table, picking at her work. He joined her and ate in silence, she was still shifty. Unable to focus.

“I think we should head to Rivet city later. Take the highway around DC.” She didn't look up as she spoke. Her stomach was in knots, the thought of finding Dad was daunting. She wanted her dad back but emotions of being left alone in the vault were still raw. She had replayed the holotape he’d left a few times, and wanted to believe he was doing something worthwhile out here. “We really need to see an actual munitions dealer, our ammo is getting low and we’ve bought out Moira twice now.”

Charon silently nodded, looking up from under his brow at her. He wondered how this emotional family reunion was going to play out, he had little frame of reference for these feelings and didn’t quite understand how to navigate. He knew Lou was a level-headed girl but he’d also seen family bonds make others act out of character more than once in his years. He’d already seen her hurt bleed out a few times even if she tried to act brave. “That would be the safest route,” he answered.

They set out, only staying in their home for about an hour. Lou was marching in silence, mind swimming with possibilities on how she’d confront Dad. She wanted to be mad. She wanted answers ...but she knew the second her eyes met his she’d crumble. She loved her dad, she had always been a daddy's girl and spent most of her freetime in either in the clinic or with Amata. God she missed Amata too. She felt bad for how little she thought about her best friend nowadays.

“Those monsters... th-they're gonna' get me.” She was knocked out of her thoughts, only now noticing the hysterical young boy that had run to her. He was disheveled, and had fearful, tear-stained eyes.

“Woah, whoa,” she hushed, kneeling to his level, “Hey, hey. Calm down. It's going to be okay. I promise.” she reached out, putting her hands on his shoulders.

“You won't leave me like all the other grown-ups? You... you can help me?” The boy's chest rose and fell rapidly. Charon watched tensely from behind Lou. He had little experience with children, especially the hysterical. Watching her calm the boy, he felt… bad? Sympathetic? He was still trying to figure out all his emotions, having buried them in Azruhkal’s employ. It was reliving to see her get him to dry his eyes and explain what had happened to his home.

The story sounded fantastical, but Lou was determined to find this boy's dad- not before bringing him to a personal shelter. Fire breathing ants were new. They were a bitch to fight, too.

The smoke inside the building Bryan had pointed them too to find he had choked the pair. They held fabric to their airways in an attempt to push in, heat burning their skin. The boy's father lay dead within, but had a key to the sketchy doctor’s shack the kid had told them about. Lou’s heart went out to Bryan seeing the corpse.

The shack had a holotape sitting on the desk with the passcode to the terminal. The terminal held information about him messing with the genetics of the ants in town, this ‘scientist’ was seeming more and more incompetent by the second. Lou's face twisted in anger, this man, with little regard to the scientific method had made an orphan of the boy she had just saved. “Are you fucking kidding me?” she growled

Charon's eyebrows raised, seeing her angry was a surprise. She buried her head in her palms and reeled her head back with an angry growl. “This fucking idiot destroyed this town because he was experimenting on the stupid fucking ants! “ she threw her hands down, turned, and marched out the shack with her assault rifle gripped tightly. Charon followed quickly, closing the distance she had made, he felt uneasy about the rage she was showing and the determination with which she marched toward the local metro station.

He was worried about her, she was plowing through ants left and right. She seemed to be throwing caution to the wind down here. Not paying mind to how close he was behind her as she usually did, leaving a large gap between them.

The mistake allowed for her to be flanked, pinned by the ants and pulled to the ground. The warrior ant pincers grasped her arm and she screeched. Fire flew next to her, her skin boiling off from the intense heat. The shotgun rang out next to her, deafening the world around her. Her eyes were clasped shut, but she felt her body be lifted from the ground and thrown over a muscular shoulder. Her arm had gone numb, she was afraid to open her eyes, but her body was propped up against cold steel and a rough hand met her cheek.

“Open your eyes,” He ordered her, which she did, straining. Her arm was a mess of red flesh, she already knew it was third degree, but did not want to admit it. She hissed through her teeth, and twitched her fingers, which thankfully were still functional. “Don't run ahead like that!” he barked, startling his employer.

She looked up at him, her down turned doe eyes wide. Blinking a few times in silence, stunned. “My medkit.” she finally broke the tension. “I need my medkit.”

He obeyed, taking it from the pack on her back and opening it. She struggled to one handedly unroll the sterile pack of gauze she had, and spread a cream onto her wound before wrapping her injury. Her left forearm was badly damaged and she couldn’t feel anything in it. She placed her glove back on, and tested her fingers for functionality before packing her medkit back together. “We have to find that Lesko kook.” she stood, resolve returning. Charon scowled at her with his arms crossed over his chest.

“You could’ve gotten yourself killed.”

“I know.” she gripped the bag tightly in her hands. “I…i won't run ahead like that again.”

Finding Lesko was a bitch, he was in a maze of tunnels. Lou was livid when she finally opened the door to his lab. She went on and on about how unethical and poor his process was, most of which was making her bodyguard’s head hurt. Charon was still on edge watching her, seeing her hurt like that had made him shaky. He hadn’t felt his heart pound like that in ages. There was a pit in his chest for snapping at her like that, it wasn’t his place to scold his employer, but he couldn’t stop himself. He was starting to like this vault girl. He couldn’t see her hurt like that again.

She had agreed to delve into the nest, even worse to leave the queen alone. She had exhausted the last of her .35 rounds skulking around in the nest, thanking taking the stealthy approach in the nest. Charon had peppered two of the guardians, and Lou had sniped the other two in a matter of minutes, this was easier work than she had assumed. At least when she actually kept Charon close. The rest of the ants were frenzied and killed each other in the chaos caused.

“I've detected some changes within the Queen's Hatchery with my equipment. What's transpired? “ the strange doctor asked. Lou’s fire was burning to embers now that this experiment was under control. She let that weirdo give her some sort of injection, which gave her some more vigor. She felt a bit stronger leaving the metro to find the boy she had set out to save.

Bryan was grateful, but sad by the loss of his father. Lou, on her knees, pulled him into a hug, rubbing his back as he cried into her shoulder. Charon felt that pit in his chest deepen at the sight. She told the kid they’d spend the night in grayditch with him, and help him bury his father.

They held a small funeral for Fred, Bryan's father. Lou poked around Bryan’s friend's house for a bit and found some information on the fathers terminal. He sounded like he was running from the Enclave.

She gave the boy some of the junk food she’d been toting around and held him on what used to be his fathers bed. Charon sat on the kid’s bed at the foot of the big bed, staring at them and cleaning his shotgun. Bryan seemed to feel better with her, talking about how he didn’t have his mother anymore, and hadn’t for a long while. Lou shared her own struggles of not having her mother either.

Charon hadn’t had either of his parents as a child, and couldn’t imagine the pain of losing a parent. Something that was supposed to be such a comfort in someone's life. He supposed it was better to have not known what he didn’t have but watching Lou be that comfort for that little boy was making his heart hurt and he didn't know why. Worse, he didn’t know what to do about it. Before long Bryan had fallen asleep in her arms. Lou looked troubled as he stroked the sleeping child’s hair.

“We can’t just leave him here, Charon.” she whispered.

“Where would you suppose we relocate him?” Charon asked, propping his gun up next to him and leaning forward on his knees.

Lou looked down at the kid and sighed. “No idea.”

“It would be unwise to travel with a child.”

“I know...”

Her heart hurt at the thought of leaving the boy to fend for himself. She promised herself she’d find someone to give him the home he deserved. Charon watched Lou fall asleep with Bryan in her arms. She was so good with kids. Even the kids back in Megaton loved her, and chatted to her every chance they got. That nagging feeling of guilt returned for yelling at her. She was acting out of some sort of instinct to protect that boy, even if it led to her making poor combat choices.

The next morning, Lou tearfully left Bryan with Dr. Lesko. Bryan had promised her he’d be ok and she made a promise in turn to find him a home.

Chapter Text

The highway proved much more dangerous than she’d originally thought. She avoided DCs tunnels to not face the mutants but the highways were littered with just as many raiders. She nearly concussed herself taking cover behind a car that ignited, and one of the groups along the road had a damned missile launcher! She’d used both stealth boys she'd collected to get her and Charon past.

They came to the bank of the basin and could see the Jefferson memorial building just across the way. Lou stood at the bank, staring into the murky water. “You aren't actually thinking about swimming in that.” Charon stood adjacent, side eyeing her.

“Wouldn't be the first time.”

“You're gonna get sick again.”

“I have radaway in the med kit”

Charon let out an annoyed sigh. Lou hopped in place a few times before splashing into the water and paddling, Charon begrudgingly following her lead. Soaking wet, and smelling marginally worse than rest of the wastes they made it to the ship. Lou stared up in amazement, the aircraft carrier was massive, and damn well secured. No wonder people settled here.

She approached the speaker and waited for the bridge to extend. It made an awful sound as it did, causing her to wince. She had to stare up at the sky as she crossed, the gap below threatening to make her lose her breakfast.

The guard at the front approached. “State your business in Rivet city”

Lou cleared her throat and stepped forward “I'm looking for my father, he came to see Doctor Li.”

“Your father, huh? Well the science labs on the mid deck you can head on through. Enjoy your stay.”

She smiled, thanked him and pushed on through. She noticed a sign for a hotel in the directory. “oh hey” she grabbed Charon by the arm, “we should rent a room. Both of us reek. Oh, but we don't have anything to change into…hmm…let's try the marketplace first. We need ammo anyway.”

She dragged him along to the market, unloaded their loot on shrapnel before clearing his ammo supply. Next was the clothing store, where Lou kept trying to get Charon to pick SOMETHING of his own volition to no avail. She ended up picking out a black tee and jeans for him and a pink and red dress for herself.

They rented a room from the Mr handy manning the desk at the Weatherly Hotel to take some much needed showers. Lou spent more than her fair share of time looking in the mirror and twirling around in the dress, she'd never had anything with a skirt before. Charon leaned against the doorway watching her. She had third degree burns on her arm, and radiation poisoning and yet here she was playing in the mirror. She was surprisingly tough for a kid who hadn't been out the vault a month yet.

She stopped when she saw him staring at her in the mirror's reflection, giving a nervous laugh. “I look pretty silly I guess, huh?” She toyed with the skirt

“You look fine. I do not understand your inclination to buy clothes.”

“It’s pretty!” she swished the skirt again, “Back in the vault we all only wore those jumpsuits.”

“I’d prefer armor.”

“Well it's still drying.” she spun around to face him and started fiddling with the skirt’s fabric again. “We should head to the lab…” her voice trailed off and her eyes met the floor. Charon shifted away from the door, and approached. Placing a large hand on her shoulder he drew her attention back to his face.

“You’ve fought all the way through DC, don't get scared now.”

She smiled up at him, confidence renewed and nodded. Even with Charon’s presence she still felt nerves entering the lab. A man in a suit was arguing with a woman below and a handful of people in white coats were milling about, workin on what looked like produce. She started down the stairs, peering around for her father to no avail. Her heart sank again, all this work and he’s not even here.

“You there! What are you, some kind of lab assistant? No, you and your companion look a bit more... weathered. Are you by any chance... for hire? “ the man in the suit approached, staring through glasses intensely.

“That depends. What exactly are we talking about, here? “ Lou answered, raising her shoulders and stepping back towards Charon.

“To the point. I like that. Well, as it turns out, I've misplaced some very sensitive ‘property’.Hmmm... how do I put this in a way you'll understand? All you know of robots are those buckets of bolts those Mr. Handshakers and whatnot. Well... that's not ALL a robot can be. You see, in the Commonwealth, we've made artificial persons. Synthetic humanoids! Programmed to think and feel and do whatever we need.And... occasionally they get confused and wander off. “

Lou crossed her arms over her chest, this man had the same air about him as Ahzrukhal and Moriarty. “Sounds like slavery to me. You sure they don't "wander off" on purpose? “

“Nonsense! This is a machine we're talking about. Can you enslave a generator, or a water purifier? Of course not. The same principle applies.But let's get back to your mission. You are to find this missing android. I've tracked him to somewhere here in the Capital Wasteland.He must have done something drastic, like facial surgery and a mind wipe, or else I would have found him by now.It will be no easy task. He may not even realize he's an android. Don't upset him by talking with him. Just come get me immediately. I'll handle it. “

“Yea no thank you. This whole thing feels sketchy. Ill pass.”

“You're as ignorant as all the other rats on this boat. When you realize I have the real cheese, you'll come crawling back. They always do”

The man angrily shoved passed them, Lou crunched her face as he left, sharing a look of concern with Charon before turning back to the lab. Bringing her pip boy to her eyes she checked the photo Three Dog gave her of Doctor Li and scanned the room for her. Bingo!

“Excuse me ma’am-”

“Look, this is a restricted area. I'm tired of telling you people…” she turned to Lou, dropping her annoyed glare when their eyes met. “I... It's you. My heavens, you look so much like him... You're James' daughter, aren't you? What are you doing here?”

“You know my father? Have you seen him? ”

“Well yes, of course I do. Don't you know who I am? I suppose James never told you. Typical. I am Doctor Madison Li. I worked with your father many years ago. Your mother as well, in fact. You'll have to forgive me. This has all been very stressful, what with your father suddenly showing up here after being gone for so long.You have to understand that I... We put all of that behind us. Project Purity, our work, all of it. We've moved on, even if your father hasn't. “

Lou’s shoulders fell, she had already assumed he’d taken off but confirmation still made her deflate. She continued to chat with Madison about the abandoned project for a while. Clean drinking water for the wasteland. Sounded like a fever dream but she knew dad had to have a way to make it work if he’d risk everything he had so far. After a while she got her talk about her mom and dad back before she was born. The conversation left her feeling a little better about everything.

She tanked Madison for her help before leaving the lab. Charon watched her as they walked, she seemed more level after the chat but he was still worried about her. “Let’s hit Gary’s in the market, I'm starving. They're mirelurkcakes are supposed to be good.”

“I'm surprised you don't want to head straight to the Jefferson memorial.” Charon responded, side stepping to walk side by side instead of following her.

“In a dress? No. I’m also not putting that soaked armor back on when I just showered.”

Charon let out an amused exhale through his nose, him letting his guard down around her gave her a bit more pep as well. She was happy to actually sit at a place and eat, even if they were getting glances from the rest of the market. Gary was clearly trying not to stare nervously at Charon while taking their order, and Lou was being overly sweet as usual. Charon stared at her as he ate, she was fiddling with her pipboy between bites. Her turning down zimmer was getting him thinking again. She was so against any kind of servitude, even from robots apparently. Yet she still held his contract. He understood logically why’d she buy his contract but knowing just how gun hoe she was about free will…

That's why she paid him though, right? As if he was a mercenary. She did refer to him as her ‘bodyguard’ to others after all. Her friendliness to him also confused him. She never gave orders and always asked for his feedback. She was an odd one, definitely not like his previous employers.

“You stare at me any harder, my heads gonna explode, Char.” She said, eyes darting to him but not turning from her pipboy. “You got something on your mind?”

Charon jumped. He didn't think her attention was on anything but the tech on her arm. “No.” he answered shortly and sped up his eating.

She turned her head to him, letting her arm rest on the table. “You sure? You're acting weird.”

“There is nothing I wish to discuss.”

“If you say so, buddy.”

Back in the hotel room they had rented, She was again staring in the mirror. Fiddling with her hair and dress. She kept straightening the bow in the back. “Do you just not get tired?” She asked without looking at Charon, who had been leaning against the wall across from the bed.

“I do get tired.”

“Then why don’t you sleep?” she stopped, turning to him.

“I do not require it.”

“I know.”She sat at the edge of the mattress, “But don’t you think it would help you feel better? Being rested?”

Charon furrowed his brow. He hadn’t slept in probaby a decade or so. He didn’t know what being rested felt like anymore. “I suppose it could.”

“Do you want to try to sleep? This place is super well guarded, so you shouldn’t have anything to look out for.”

He looked at the bed then back at Lou. “Where would i?” he questioned. She looked down at the bed and shrugged her shoulders.

“You can sleep next to me. It’s not like you don't spend every other part of the day next me anyway. I mean- if you were gonna do something iffy you would’ve done it by now.”

His eyes widened, the thought felt wrong. Sleeping in the same bed as his employer, though she had a point. “You don't have to if you don’t want to-” she quickly added “If you're not comfortable with that it’s fine!”

He didn’t finish the conversation, which left Lou feeling like she’d offended him in some way. Eventually she told him goodnight and crawled into bed. He watched her sleep for a couple hours, milling over her offer in his head. She seemed to have him doing this a lot. Thinking that is. He’d never felt this unsure under previous employers and he didn't like it. He didn’t know when he started pacing, but he did the more he thought about her offer. Sleeping didn’t sound bad, from what he could recall sleeping was a good thing. He knew when he was still human it was important, and most everyone did it and that going without often made people less effective. Was he less effective than he could be because he didn’t sleep?

He stopped, staring at the bed. Maybe just sitting down could help? He got that feeling when sitting back in Megaton and at the bar. Maybe ‘relaxing’ was good for him. He sat at the edge of the bed, adjacent Lou, seeing her stir slightly when he did. When he was sure she hadn’t woken her up he fully sat next to her, putting his legs up and leaning his back against the headboard and crossing his arms. He stayed in place, eyes starting to feel heavy.

He was stopped from fully closing them by Lou, who was still asleep, rolled over to face him. She sleepily burying her face against his side, just under his arm. He was surprised just about every time she made contact with him, but now, if he were to move he’d wake her. He could feel her cheek against his arm and she sure did live up to the ‘smoothskin’ label, and hair in a mess over her face. Against his better judgment, he moved his hand to brush the hair of her face, unintentionally letting his fingers linger long enough to feel that familiar stab in his brain to tell him to stop. Even after he’d pulled his hand away the feeling lingered in his mind and it was making him feel insane. He wasn’t allowed to do that. That was his employer. It didn't matter how comfortable she was with him, his contract made it so.

‘Damn that contact.’ the second the thought hit his brain it was like a bat hit him in the back of the head. He wasn’t allowed to think that. Was he? The only person stopping him was himself. But his honor wouldn’t stand for him disobeying. He knew what he signed. If he stopped now why wouldn’t he stop when he was doing those awful things for Ahzrukhal? He made him make a mockery of his own morals more than once. If a pretty face was all it took for him to abandon his honor, what kind of a man was he?

He shut his eyes, hoping to chase the thoughts away. There in the dark, with her warmth next to him his eyes felt heavy again even with the added heaviness of his thoughts he finally slipped away to sleep.

Morning light stirred Lou, not hurting as bad as it had previously. An unfamiliar weight next to her drew her sleepy attention. In her hazy vision she recognized Charon's towering form sitting next to her, rusty red hair draped down and his eyes closed. She turned onto her back, rubbing the tiredness from her eyes and watched his chest rise and fall. Was he asleep? She smiled at the sight, happy she hadn't angered him last night.

Quiet as a mouse she crept from the bed, not wanting to wake him.

“Char…hey..Chaaaaron,” Lou’s familiar voice woke him, she was bent at the waist facing him, hand on his shoulder and only a handful of inches from his face. He inhaled, chest expanding wide and bending his shoulders back, joints cracking in the process. “Brought you coffee from Gary's galley.” she held out the cup to him, which he took absentmindedly.

She pulled back and sat at the edge of the bed by his feet, her own cup in hand. “I didn’t know if you put anything in yours. I just assumed you wanted it black.” She took a drink from her cup. “ how do you feel?”

Charon swung his legs over the edge of the bed and scratched the back of his head. “More tired than i was when i closed my eyes,”

“Oh, sorry.” she spoke into her cup. “Your armor is dry. I put it on the dresser.”

He grunted in response. The morning went slow but they eventually started off to Project Purity. Lou’s stomach twisted when they found mutants inhabiting the place. She prayed with every new room they entered she wouldn’t find him lying dead or worse. Those fears were squashed when she found a pile of recordings sitting on a console in the rotunda. She lifted herself onto the console as they played.

Dad had found a vault that originally housed a man named Braun, who apparently worked on a Garden of Eden Creation Kit or G.E.C.K. It had been the entire reason he took her to the vault to begin with, and he went seeking Brauns.

“This garage that hides the vault is all the way on the other side of the capital all the way past Megaton.

“We should hit Minefield on the way, that way Moira doesn't nag me when we get back.” she sighed leaning back against the glass,”Man, dad, you're a bitch to find.” she mumbled to herself

It took a good long while to get through DC and back out to head to Mindfield. Before they could make it to their destination the pair stumbled upon a scrap yard and could hear firing within. Taking the opportunity, they snuck around, picking off raiders one by one until the firing ceased. In the center of the scrapped cars a bloody mawed creature approcked, unusually healthy and with its tongue lolling out of the mutt's mouth. it cried at Lou.

“Hey, you're the first dog that hasn't tried to eat me,” she kneeled to the dogs level. He approached closer and sniffed her head. “You're pretty well cared for huh pup?” She glazed at a body off a ways, dressed in wanderer’s clothes. The dog cried at her, big brown and blue eyes plucking away at her heartstrings. “Aww you poor thing. Dogmeat, huh? You wanna come with us?” she asked, looking at the dog's collar. The dog wagged his tail and let out an excited bark. She stood, “welcome to the team, buddy.”

Dogmeat tilted his head looking at Charon, trotting up to him and licking at his hand. He gave the mutt a scratch behind the ear, cracking a small smirk at him. “Alright, boys, we got landmines to disarm!” she chirped before trotting onwards

She was prepared for the landmines, but not a god damned sniper. She had bought a scope for her hunting rifle back in rivet city and was trying her best to land a shot from a distance. She’d wait for a shot to zip past before rushing forward a few yards and disarming mines below before taking cover again. This repeated a few times as she made it to the deceptive building that the sniper was using as a vantage point. From her point she could tell it was an early man with a leg brace.

She popped a few mentats and took aim, perception heightened. One leg down. The man dropped his rifle as he fell leaving a gap for Lou to enter the building and Charon finally able to have him in his range. The old man wasn’t much of a fight up close and had a good stash of loot in the building.

The sun was beginning to set, and Lou took a seat on the edge of the rubble, legs dangling over the edge. “Old man had the right idea setting up here. You can see the whole wasteland. “

Charon stood next to her, looking out. “What happened to your fear of heights?”

“Guess the mentats help” she laughed, petting dogmeat as he squeezed between them. “View up here is pretty. Even with all the rubble.”

Charon groaned, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. “This was an unsafe endeavor.”

“I know.” She leaned her head into dogmeat. “But we have a ton of mines to sell now.”

He sat, letting his legs hang over the edge as well. Silence fell between them for a while. “I have a question.” Charon asked, flicking the ash off his cigarette.

“Shoot”

“You called us a ‘team’ when we found the dog.”

“I did. What about it?”

“What did you mean by that?”

She leaned back on her elbows, “That we are a team? We work together well.”

“Together?”

Lou furrowed her brow and tilted her head. “Yea, you’re the muscle. I'm the brains. And now we have a mascot.” She ruffled dogmeats fur. He fell silent again. She couldn’t make out his expression from her position but tried to figure out what he was thinking from his body language.

“Do you…view us as equals?” he questioned

She sat up straight, craning her head to look at his face. “Of course I do.why wouldn't i?”

“Because I am your employee.”

Lou sighed and silence returned.

“If something happens to the contract would you still be bound to it?” she looked at her lap, thinking. Charon turned to her, part of him hurt by the thought. The contract felt like part of him at this point.

“I am unsure.”

“Was anything ever written in it about what would happen if it was destroyed?”

“I do not believe so.”

Lou stood. “That sounds like a loophole to me.” she pulled the paper from her bag, she had kept it in the medkit for safe keeping. “Here.” she held it out to Charon. “Take it”

Charon looked at the paper then back at her, hesitantly taking it. “Why are you handing me this?” his brows were furrowed and his stare intense.

“Burn it.”

Chapter Text

Charon’s eyes went wide, looking between the paper that’s controlled him for over a century and the girl who’d given the command to destroy it. He was frozen, unable to make himself follow through with this order. His mind raced, to destroy this was forbidden but to ignore his orders was also forbidden. Lou furrowed her brow, kneeling in front of him. She let out a deep sigh, and put her hand over his, covering the binding paper.

“I don’t know how you ended up with this contract…but I think you’ve been under this agreement long enough.” she swallowed and gripped his fist tighter, looking him dead in the eye. Charon held her gaze, uncertain. For the first time she could clearly read his expression.

“Are you certain that this is what you wish? “ He asked, the hold the contract had on him was impossible for him to imagine operating without. This was somehow his greatest want and biggest fear. She pulled her hand away, leaning back in their thighs, nodding.

“I wish for you to be free of this contract.” she watched his hesitation.He held the paper in his fingers, hard-staring and heart racing. She opened a small box, removed a match and held it out to him, a nervous smile in her lips. He was fighting shaking hands as struck the match, holding the small flame to the corner of his contract. The binding slowly blackened, smoke trailing up, taking his bond leaving with it. They sat in silence watching the fire creeping toward his fingers. He dropped the last bit of parchment to the rubble below, smoke dissipating from the air beneath them.

Lou rocked back and forth on her knees, unsure of what to say or do. Amata was always the comforting one between them and her fathers way of words escaped her. “So…” she started. “What now? Do you…still want to be part of this team?”

Charon was still looking down at the rubble below, a thousand yard stare in his hazy blue eyes. Lou creeped up beside him, looking down as well. She leaned her head against his shoulder. “If you wanna leave you can… even if you do you can still go back to your room in Megaton. I want to be your friend.” He still didn’t speak, he was at a loss. Unprepared. Uncertain. “You don’t have to make a decision right now… and you can always change your mind.”

Dog meat squirmed his way between them, crying and sniffing at Charon. The dog broke Charon's thoughts and he gave the dog a scratch behind the ear. “Let’s go back to Megaton.” he finally broke his silence, making Lou smile. For a moment there she was worried she’d hurt him somehow.

He was silent for most of the walk. He seemed a million miles away, and the mood between them was very different from their normal silent walks.

“Another stray mum? You have such a…giving heart.” Wodsworth greeted them as they entered, addressing the dog. The robot floated over, and immediately started to clean him. “Mustn’t let the canine track dirt into the house.” Charon walked past in silence and took a seat on the couch, instinctually cleaning his shotgun.

Lou walked along the back of the couch, patting him on his shoulder as she passed and continued to the kitchen to store the food they’d collected. She stood at the sink, trying to find the words to get Charon talking. She didn’t want to push him but this tension was unbearable. She tapped her fingers against the counter before turning her attention to the cookbook she took from Grayditch. A distraction could help. She flipped through pages, it was pre war and many of the ingredients it called for weren’t available anymore but she could find things that were similar. She settled on some ‘pork chops and mashed potatoes’ but she had molerat and tatos.

Charon could hear her shuffling about and clanking of dishes in the kitchen. She cooked a lot when she was stressed. He liked having the food she made, her active travel let her acquire better ingredients then what he had in Underworld. He wasn’t sure of a lot, but he was sure he liked being around the Vault dweller. He hadn’t met a lot of people as good as her. She actively wanted to help others, even with her own problems. She hadn’t been made bitter and cynical.

He finally decided. he didn’t want to let that happen. And he wouldn’t stand by to let it.

He wanted to stay with her. To keep her as good as she was and to make up for all the awful he’d done under his contract.

Dogmeat, now brushed, was circling Lou in the kitchen. The smell was now making Charon's stomach growl. He stood and walked over to the doorway, seeing Lou staring into some book and adding some dried plants to a bowl. There was meat sizzling in a pan next to her that dogmeat was stretching his snout to, and she repeatedly shooed him from. Charon’s large form caught her eye as she worked, “Oh, hey Charon. Try this.” she walked over with the bowl, spoon in hand.

She held the spoon up to him, what looked like a red tinted instamash on the utensil. He looked at her incredulously before opening his mouth. It tasted different from the instamash he was used to, better. She smiled up at him, “You like it? I found a cookbook while we were out. I don't have all the ingredients so I'm kinda winging it.”

“It’s good,” he said blankly. She smiled and turned back to the stove, “I'm making molerat, too. It’ll be ready in a few.”

She was happy with her work, this was actually a decent meal.Tasty and good nutritional value. They sat at the table, Dogmeat giving his best puppy eyes at their feet. “I'm heading to Createrside in the morning to unload all the junk we hauled back…are you going to come with?” Charon nodded and Lou smiled. She was afraid to have to travel alone again, having him willingly going made her feel ten times lighter.

Landmines in hand in hand they headed back to Moira the next morning. Lou gave an interview and agreed to the next research chapter- Injuries. “That’s a bad idea.” Charon interjected. “You want to travel while still injured? Don’t you have medical textbooks on injuries already?”

"I'm not so much interested in the injury itself as I am how to deal with it at the moment.” Moira responded . Charon groaned

“I still believe this is a bad idea.”

Lou put her chin in her hand and thought for a moment. “You're right, traveling while injured could worsen it and prolong the healing process…” She stood and paced. She looked out the door, and wandered onto the walkway. She got an idea. A terrible idea. An idea that was worse than traveling with a severe injury.

Before he could react she was already over the rail and careening to the ground, screaming obscenities as she landed. Her legs were twisted and pain shot through her back. Her body shook and she was unable to sit up. Moira and Charon both raced out of the store yelling her name, and rushing down the walks to her mangled body. “Oh you poor thing! That's not what I meant when I asked you to cripple a limb.”

Lou moaned and started listing off information for Moira's book, Charon was fuming, kneeling next to her and gently picking her up from the ground. “What were you thinking?” he growled as they walked back up the metal ramp. “That was the most reckless thing you’ve done.” His voice was strained through gritted teeth, he clearly wanted to yell and was holding back.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, sounding pathetic in her current condition. Luckily Moira was able to fix her up quickly. Thank the lord for stimpacks. She was back up and hopping back and forth on each foot. She was given a rod to stun molerats this time- much to charon’s relief. He was still glaring at her, she had her metaphorical tail tucked between her legs with this new intense scolding.

“Never. Do. That. Again.” He barked as they left. She sheepishly nodded

“I don't plan it.” she fiddled her fingers together, “So, um, i'm going to start heading to the garage my dad was looking for…”

Charom grumbled and crossed his arms, “Fine. Let’s go.”

She, still fidgety, nodded and trotted her way out of Megaton. The walk was long, and clouds gathered above. Thunder brought on her geiger counter’s clicking. She looked around seeking shelter from the oncoming radstorm. “There’s a building over there, looks like it’s been fixed up. Maybe people are living in it.” she pointed across the ruins.

“You need to get out of this weather. If they're friendly we should seek shelter.”

As they approached they spotted a man who was yelling at a speaker. Her jaw dropped hearing the doorman respond to him. “For the last time... Get your rotting, ugly, goddamn Ghoul ass off Mister Tenpenny's private property”

Lou covered her mouth, she knew there were people who were bigoted in the waste but this kind of hatred was alien to her. “Jesus christ…let’s find somewhere else to get out of the rain.” she turned to Charon, face twisted with a slew of emotion. The ghoul yelling at the speaker turns his head toward them, scowling. His glare made Lou’s skin crawl. She put her hand on Charon’s arm and tugged him in the opposite direction. “Let’s just go straight to the garage. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

He nodded, resting his gun over his shoulder. The rain made a constant tick on her geiger counter, and rad-x wasn’t helping much under the irradiated shower. The garage wasn’t a terrible ways away but spending this long in a rad-storm wasn’t good for her health. Once inside they cleared the handful of molerats with ease. That stick moira gave her had…unexpected effects. Their heads exploded and chunks lay all over the floor. The Vault was unguarded and opened to her pipboy’s command.

The Robobrain inside handed her a suit and guided her further into the vault. She poked around the various offices that had sat abandoned for ages, finding nothing. She moused her way around the loungers, a familiar face stopping her in her tracks.

“That's him! That's my dad!” She put her hands to the glass from below. Charon stood behind her, peering inside. The man looked smart and was unmistakably her father, she had his face, only rounder, softer. Lou shoved passed him to the computer in the center. She looked intensely at it, typing away.

“What’s wrong? Can you not open it?” Charon asked, looming over her.

“No…It says his stress level is elevated. His heart rate is high.” She stood, hand over her mouth, deep in thought. “I’ll have to go in and get him.”

“What?” Charon’s expression hardened. “And what if you get stuck in there too?”

She didn't have an answer. She put her hands on her hips, tears threatening to fall. “I don't know…but I didn't come all this way to not leave with my dad.”

“You can’t go in without a plan.”

“I have to.”

“That’s too dang-”

“Charon.” she grabbed his arm, tears escaping her. “I have to. I can't ...I won't leave without my dad.”

He held her stare, pit in his chest. “I’m breaking the glass if you're not out in 24 hours.”

A smile tugged at her lips, and she headed to the unoccupied lounger. She stripped and changed into the 112 vault suit as instructed by the robobrain. The suit felt familiar, she’d stopped wearing the 101 suit as soon as she found real armor. Climbing into the pod, she gave Charon one last look, promising she’d be back soon.

As soon as the pod shut Charon cursed himself for letting her enter it. What if breaking the glass made it malfunction and killed her? What if she ended up trapped? What is happening inside that stupid computer? All of it made him angry and scared. Worst of all he felt uncertain again. He hated the feeling and was sick of feeling it so often. Dog meat nudged his hand, calming him somewhat as he sat against the lounger.

The world had lost its color when she opened her eyes. She looked down at herself, she was small and wearing a dress like in one of the rotting advertisements she passed along the highways. A strange man dressed in clean clothes told her she should talk to ‘Betty’ on the playground. She uncomfortably nodded, looking around at the black and white cul-de-sac. This place looked like the films she’d seen in the vault, and felt like a movie set.

“Oh, someone new to play with! What good luck I have lately! I was just starting to get bored. Oh, we're going to have so much fun!” The little girl in the playground she assumed was Betty greeted her, a dog much like her own dogmeat in tow.

“Oh, um, well. I’m looking for my father. Maybe you’ve seen him? He looks like me but older.” Lou nervously asked, her voice coming out unfamiliarly child-like. The dog flattened his ears and cried at her.

“Well now, doesn't this just change everything! I should have suspected there was some reason behind my recent good fortune.Perhaps you'll get to see him, in time” The girl's voice came out different, an older man’s voice with a thick German accent.

Shit. That’s why dad’s heart rate was up, this guys insane. ‘Betty’ gave a terrible order, make the little boy in the neighborhood, Timmy, cry. Lou blood ran cold. This wasn’t a monstrous request but it was no doubt not going to be the last or worse she’d be asked she was certain.\

She wandered the constructed street for a while, people greeting her as she passed. This place was fake, but these people were still living in the loungers. She couldn’t make that boy cry, he was real. She stopped in front of a house with boarded windows. This one was different. She slipped inside, looking around the scattered furniture.

She sighed, feeling defeated and stuck. She went to lean against the radio, only to hear a chime. The noise startled her. She touched it again, same chime followed by a buzz that signaled she’d done something incorrect. She stepped back, touching various items around her. Most of them made this chime in higher and lower pitches.

If she touched them in a certain order they wouldn’t make the buzzer sound. Radio, pitcher, bottle-buzz
Radio, pitcher, gnome, pitcher, radio- buzz

Radio, pitcher, gnome, pitcher, cinderblock, gnome, bottle-

Hissing, a console materialized in the room. Yes! She rushed over initiating the ‘failsafe’ military simulation. Once back into the farce of a neighborhood she watched the simulated soldiers open fire, and a fuzzy door appeared in the playground. Betty shouted at her as she passed, “Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve triggered the Failsafe! Ruined everything! The subjects will die, and I’ll be stuck here in this hell! Alone!You've ruined everything! EVERYTHING!”

She raised a certain finger as she passed, sprinting out of the door

The pod above hissed, startling Charon and Dogmeat. He stood up in a flash as she swung her legs out of the pod and landed next to him, still dazed. He grabbed her by her elbows, steading her, but had his attention taken by a second hiss from another pod.