Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

My combat knife slammed into the super mutants head, twisting it left then right, the super mutant began to fall forward, his life drained. Jerking my knife free, shifting my stance, crouching, the momentum allowing me to ride the super mutant body as it fell to the ground with a thud. Casually, as though I didn’t just take down a big mass of green radioactive ugly, I stepped off the super mutant’s body, slid my combat knife back into my boot, pulled my pack of cigarettes out, sliding one between my lips, and lit it up just as the mines I’d planted went off, more super mutant screams echoing behind me. An arm flew past me, the strands of my waist length jet black hair that wasn’t held back in my braid, blowing forward. Sliding my lighter and pack of cigarettes back into the pouch I wear on my belt, I exhaled a puff of smoke, a clap of palms meeting drawing my attention.

Casually turning, I saw a ghoulette, the remains of red hair shifting back into place from the now dying down current the explosion had caused. She had her own cigarette in her mouth, the smoke puffing past what remained of her lips as she talked, “That was pretty impressive tourist.” I grin, sweeping my arm out in a bow that matched the old world movies my father and I used to watch together before he left the vault, I forced to follow him into this unknown world alone.

See my father was a doctor, a researcher, my mother a brilliant mind in her own right, and together with another doctor named Doctor Madison Li, they started a project, Project Purity, twenty years back. The project was abandoned when I was born, my mother dying due to complications, which I later learned occurred because he had altered my genes so I’d be stronger, faster, heal more quickly and since coming out here radiation has altered me slightly further so now I’m like a ghoul the way that radiation can heal me. Just luckier cause my skin didn’t fall off like it did for them. I don’t share these lovely little advantages. Especially the one obtained through the courtesy of the wastes. No one, except Doc Church in Megaton and Moira, crazy lady sending me on her little missions, but it was for a good cause, with those, “How to Survive the Wasteland” books she made because of my “research” as she dubbed it, knows about my radiation adaptation. Things I did for Moira included, but weren’t limited to, broken limbs, radiation poisoning on the upper levels (just over 600), slumping through a store, trying not to get blown up in a mine field and so many other things.

I finally tracked my dad down then ended up helping him finish Project Purity only for him to die protecting it. In the end the Brotherhood, Dr. Li and I finished what he set out to do, the Enclave was destroyed and I “died” making it all happen. See, I was caught in a high radiation chamber and the Brotherhood and Dr. Li thought I died. It only hit 570 rads and it healed all of my injuries before I managed to get out. Last I heard they didn’t bother to actually check it I survived or not and declared me some stupid Brotherhood hero or some shit. I care little for that and the radio broadcasts about me stopped, the last one a false sorrow filled thing about heroes always dying for the cause. I wore a mask and cloak for the first four months just in case. It’s been just over a year and a half since I left the vault now and though some whisper that I look like the famous lone wanderer, none out right ask so I don’t answer.

Lifting back up from my bow I puffed out the last bits of smoke from my cigarette, dropped and stepped on it snuffing it out, then headed over. Once I reached her I lifted my right hand, a friendly smile curving my lips up, “You can call me V.” She eyed me for a second before gripping my hand, her gaze still on my face, a smile forming at the corner of her mouth, “Willow. Pleasure to meet ya smooth skin.” Our hands slipped from each other’s, lifting her Chinese assault rifle to settle it into the crook of her arm, I spoke, leaning on one leg, my hip jutted out some, “So, this Underworld, cause if it is, thank fuck, if not then damn it to hell!?” She chuckled, nodding, “Sure is tourist. Right through them doors and past the mammoth statue.”

My eyes widened, “Mammoth!” I’d read about the large furry creatures in dad’s old world books and always wished I could see one, or at least a replica of one like the books said museum’s in the past had. She nodded, “You know what a mammoth is?” I nodded happily, “My dad had these old world books…I used to read them over and over and one of them was about creatures that lived a looooooong time ago, like mammoths. He told me museums from the old days would display fake ones for tourists….” My eyes widened slightly when I realized why she’d been calling me tourist and I found myself laughing, speaking between gasping giggles, “So…that’s why…you called me…tourist!” She watched, amusement shining in her dark eyes, a grin coming to her again.

Once I caught my breath I straightened myself up and motioned toward the doors, “Is there a woman named Carol here then?” Willow eyed me, all mirth gone, “Why?”

“No worries. I’m not here to hurt her or anyone else. Her son, I mean I know ghouls don’t have children and all, but he told me she was basically his mom, Gob, anyway, he asked me to deliver a letter to her, so here I am. He’s my best friend actually!” I leaned forward then, a smirk pulling the side of my mouth up, “I’m just dying to hear some stories about him from Carol, if she’ll oblige me anyway!” Willow chuckled, “Oh, she will. Her place is on the second floor, right side.” I grinned and turned, skipping up to the door, tugging it open then skipped through it, her laugh following me until the door shut behind me. Stopping, I gaped at the big furry creature before me for all of a few seconds before squealing in delight, my pack hitting the floor, my feet carrying me toward and around it, hands combing across the massive beasts fur with another squeal of excitement escaping me. It wasn’t until I came around it for the second time that I realized a cluster of ghouls, mostly male, now stood to the side, near a door with a large skull above it, some eyeing me with distrust, others with laughter in their dark gazes, and still others as though I were the craziest thing they’d ever seen.

I skidded to a stop smiling sheepishly, my hand rising up to scratch the back of my head awkwardly, “Uh….hi!” One of the ghouls cleared his throat and stepped forward but before he could say anything the door behind them opened and the tallest ghoul, or man for that matter, I’ve ever seen stepping through. A combat shotgun rested comfortably in his hands, a frown on his face, his voice raspy as all ghoul voices are, yet still maintaining the baritone he likely had before becoming a ghoul, “Move.” He said as he walked past the ghoul man that had stepped forward. Stopping in front of me, he looked down, towering over me by almost two feet.

I stood firm, my eyes locking with his hazy blue, which did admittedly catch me off guard because every ghoul I’ve ever met, which honestly isn’t many but still, have had that dark almost black glazed over look or the foamy white look, to their eyes. Still, despite that slip of momentary shock, I straightened up to my full 5’ 1” height and stared up at the well over 6 feet, probably nearing 7 feet, of muscled male before me. Arching my brow, grin still covering my face, he eyed me up and down, appearing as though he wasn’t even breathing before speaking, “Azrukhaul sent me to see what’s going on.”

The ghouls behind him began to mumble all at the same time, a single glance back at them from him immediately shut them up. I tilted my head, curiosity building in me, “Who’s Azrukhaul?” The crowd shuddered, clearly afraid. The big guy in front of me smirked as though enjoying a private joke. He bent over, his face stopping right in front of mine, eyes locking, “Frail smooth skins like you don’t often come here. Best to avoid Azrukhaul as much as possible.” I gazed at him, an underlying shadow of worry shining through then vanishing so quickly I wasn’t completely sure it was even there to begin with. Lifting back up to his full height, eyes still on me for a few more seconds, and then he turned and motioned for everyone to go back through the door before following them in.

I stared for a few more moments, the ghoul that had stepped forward before still standing there finally stepped toward me with an uncertain smile, “It’s unusual for a smooth skin to show up here.”

“So I’ve heard.” I reached my hand out; he stared in shock and then grasped my hand shaking it, I introducing myself pleasantly, “I’m V.” He smiled, his shock and hesitation slipping away, “My name’s Winthrop. A pleasure. So what brought you here and why were you running around squealing like that?” I laughed, motioning toward the mammoth, “I was so excited to finally see one of these big furry beasts, even if it is just a stuffed one, and couldn’t contain myself.” I grinned, he chuckled and before he could say anything else I leaned forward, my head about chest height to him now, and whispered, “Who was that big ghoul? Who’s Azrukhaul? And why did that big guy tell me to avoid this Azrukhaul guy as much as possible?” Winthrop’s eyes widened in surprise, “Charon said that?” I nodded.

His eyes slanted down, his arms crossing as he gazed at me before finally whispering to himself, “Strange…” his arms dropped to his sides and he spoke louder, “The big ghoul is Charon. He’s employed by Azrukhaul, the not so well liked owner and operator of The Ninth Circle, a bar, here. I’m not sure why Charon warned you away since that’s not really a normal thing for him to do, but he’s not wrong. Azrukhaul is not someone to mess with and Charon always does whatever he says whenever he says, no questions asked. Gotta be careful around them both.” He scratched the side of his face, glancing over his shoulder, “Look smooth skin…” I eyeballed the door behind him for a minute, turning to heft my pack up, gaze turning back to his face waiting for him to continue, “…just remember this is a city of ghouls and most aren’t too fond of smooth skins because they don’t tend to treat us ghouls very well.”

Shrugging my pack onto my shoulder I moved past him, hand on the door ready to open it, “I know. That’s alright. People are people, doesn’t matter to me if they’ve been scarred or have smooth skin, and as long as they do right by me, they have no reason to fear me. But…” I turned, my eyes losing their carefree look, hardening to hold a stern unmoving expression, “…they come at me with ill intent, I WILL put them down!” My tone and look changed so instantly I could see the look of uncertainty cloud Winthrop as I grinned innocently, “Great to meet you. Hope to see you around.” Then pulled the door open and stepped inside.

A week later, I was still in Underworld and had met every single one of the citizens here, trading with Tulip, giving Winthrop some scrap metal for stimpacks, hearing stories about Gob from Carol and her dominant partner Greta (Who I liked despite her always sneering angry look because she was loyal to Carol and clearly they were head over heels for each other. I would never tell anyone but I secretly longed for a bond even stronger than what they had, filled with a depth of real and true love that made this wasteland seem worth every miserable day.) But out here, I would be lucky to just find a loyal friend let alone more. I’d also met Azrukhaul and Charon’s words ran through my mind, the reality of Charon’s situation causing me to look on Azrukhaul with even more disdain than I felt from his grimy caresses and eyes straying down my body like I was a hunk of mole rat meat. I ignored Charon’s warning, even though I could easily see why he’d issued it, and would go into The Ninth Circle every night, pay slightly more for a drink, which I learned caps spoke heavily to Azrukhaul after that first encounter, and would sit at the table beside where Charon stood, unmoving aside from the occasional scan of the bar, then back to facing the wall opposite him, never saying a word.

Of course I tried to speak with him the first day I came in here but all he did was tell me to “Talk to Azrukhaul.” With this stone cold, emotionless expression as though he had took clay and reshaped his own features in the matter of the few hours since he’d leaned over me just outside the main doors. That was odd enough of course, but I did what he said, even asking Azrukhaul about him and learned then that Charon was not any ordinary mercenary. Ugly old Azrukhaul didn't divulge much in the way of details beyond mentioning that Charon was raised around some unusual people. Still, it was enough that I decided to stick around, watch, learn, and wait patiently. If this was what I suspected it was, there was no way in hell I was going to leave Underworld without Charon in tow.

See, during the like six or so months I searched for my dad before finally catching up to him, I visited a lot of places, some pre-war, some post, all with some form of handy dandy something. One in particular, a vault, which made little to no sense to me back then, seemed to click in my brain now. It was some form of conditioning; regular everyday people put through various forms of mental and physical torture until they would follow any order given or receive punishment for disobeying or ignoring the orders until their minds essentially rewired itself to instinctively follow the orders no matter what. The overseer’s terminal talked about soldiers, back before the war, that were put through the same, though much more grueling, to try and create super soldiers and that the most successful was a male soldier stationed locally. There wasn’t much about that soldier’s description but it did show the designation they’d granted him due to his hellish size and masterful skills in combat: Charon.
I had followed most of what was being written about well enough, but figured that particular soldier likely died a few hundred years ago, until a week ago. I’m not much for coincidences and for a military man that stood at a hellish size and had masterful combat skills to receive the designation of Charon and then I find a hellishly tall ghoul male who, from the way he carries himself and holds his combat shotgun, seems to have damn good combat skills, and to have the name Charon…no way in hell that’s just some random thing. If that was the case then perhaps his conditioning included some form of stabilizer.

As I sat, sipping my drink, watching, listening, Charon threw out one of the regulars for the third time that week, placing the bottle he’d tried to steal when Azrukhaul stepped away back on the counter with a quiet thud before resuming his place in the corner, his eyes on me until he’d turned, his back once more at the wall. Azrukhaul came back out, saw the bottle and looked at Charon who ignored him until he spoke up, “He try and steal from me again Charon?” Charon glanced at him, a simple nod, than looked back at the wall again. Azrukhaul gazed over at me as I tilted my glass back, gulping down the rest of my drink in one go, rose to my feet and headed his way. This was the first time I would be doing this, which I knew would at least make Azrukhaul curious if nothing else.

Leaning against the bar, I asked for another whiskey, again paying slightly more than it actually was, and then leaned forward a bit. Azrukhaul eyed me with interest, I keeping my voice low after taking the first sip, “I’m curious, do you pay Charon like monthly for his services or something?” I feigned ignorance easily, twisting my words to suit my own needs in the moment, letting him believe I really had no idea what was going on where Charon was concerned. He smiled, leering at me, leaning forward himself, “Doll, that’s the great thing about Charon, I don’t have to pay him for his loyalty to me.” My eyes widened, false shock covering my features, my thoughts on a rampage of vicious curses all directed at the sleazy ass fucker in front of me, my voice indicating none of those darker thoughts with how innocently sweet I sounded, “What does that mean?”

Azrukhaul smirked, his fingers brushing across mine that rested around my glass. I cringed inwardly, my face remaining gentle on the outside, “Charon has no choice but to do whatever I tell him because I hold his contract.” I smiled, lifting my glass to slowly sip some down, letting my neck stretch some for him to see, the glass lightly tapping the counter as I lowered it again, “Contract?” Azrukhaul never took his eyes from me as he reached into his coat pocket to pull a small square of what looked like sturdy, but old, parchment paper, holding it up for me to see, but not showing any indication that I’d be able to freely touch it. I glanced at it as though it barely registered, my mind actually going into overdrive at the prospect that a step in the direction of being able to help Charon was right in front of me.
I lifted my glass, swallowing more of my drink, “It would be nice to have someone that could watch my back that I wouldn’t have to worry about trying to do anything…” I paused, swallowing the last of my drink, acting the part of the innocent young thing, voice wispy as I continued, “…sordid while I am out there.” I glanced down, his fingers grazing mine again, my mind clenching tightly, envisioning me stabbing my combat knife through his fucking eye socket.

Looking up through my lashes I asked quietly, “Would you be willing to, maybe, sell his contract to me?” Azrukhaul eyed me, his fingers still grazing mine as he thought, his words coming out in a quiet but assured tone, “2000 caps.” I gasped, mock shock compelling me to think more dark and devious thoughts about this asshole, voice modestly whispering, “1000?” We bargained back and forth, him self-assured of the supposed dominate position he thought he found himself in and me staying the timid little thing too scared to function in the big bad scary world outside of Underworld.

Eventually he agreed on a 1500 cap payout which I immediately sat on the counter, the bag thunking as it landed on the surface, the parchment being handed over, his fingers grazing mine again cause an internal shutter of disgust. Pulling back I opened the paper and looked at it, the words in old and faded enough that I couldn’t read it well enough to decipher. Azrukhaul motioned toward the bottom of it, “Sign it or if you can’t write, use a mark of some kind that you identify with and that will seal the contract to you.” I pulled my combat knife from my boot while he counted his caps, him never noticing as I cut my finger and used my very blood to write a “V’ on the parchment. Sliding my combat knife back into my boot, I slowly lifted my hand, the cut healed before I even had it above the counter again, Azrukhaul finally looking up, “I’ll let you tell Charon the good news yourself.”

I pulled the contract from the counter, carefully folding it, tucking it into one of the pouches at my waist, deciding then that I’d need to figure out a more permanent place for it later to be safe, then turned and headed for Charon. Stopping in front of him he started to speak but I beat him to it, “I have your contract.” He gaped at me, my fingers reaching into the pouch to pull it free enough to show him before stowing it away again. I spoke gently yet with a firm confidence, “I’ll wait for you by the door. Do what you have to.” Turning I took a step before stopping again and looking at him over my shoulder, “Grab the bag of caps as well please.” Turning back, finishing my short trek, I turned, leaned back against the wall beside the door, my arms crossing under my breast, leg lifting to press my foot against the wall, eyes on Charon.

He gazed at me, a look of, maybe awe, flickering across his gaze. Finally, he turned and walked over to Azrukhaul, who made a show of speaking up, “Ah, Charon, come to say goodbye to your old employer?”

“Yes.” Charon spoke and in the same instant pulled his combat shotgun around, the strap holding it to his back shifting with the movement, finger squeezing the trigger, the bullet slamming through Azrukhaul’s face, his brains painting the shelves behind him, his body slumping down to the floor behind the bar. Charon walked around, pumping one more shot into Azrukhaul’s body as the bar patron’s screamed rushing past me and out the door or further into the other room away from Charon. I barely spared them a glance before watching Charon swing his combat shotgun back around to rest on his back again, then scoop the caps from the bar and into the very bag I had sat on it only minutes before. Looping around the bar he headed toward me, hand held out to give me the bag of caps back. A bloody print from his boot was left behind and some brain matter and blood was splattered across his chest and arms, neither of which he seemed to care about.

The splatters of blood on him created a rather fearsome look.
I smiled, “Hold onto those for me would you. If you’re ready, let's go. Gotta go by Carol’s to grab my things, then get you a pack before we head out. Tulip put one aside for me.”

Turning I pushed the door open, his hand lowering, the bag of caps still held firmly, as he followed me out the door. After getting my things from my room at Carol’s and saying my goodbyes to her and Greta, both of them nodding a silent, slightly worried, hello to Charon while eyeing the blood splatters, we headed for Tulip’s shop. She turned to greet me happily, her smile vanishing when Charon stepped through the doorway, returning immediately when I greeted her with a hug, “You got that pack for me lovely lady?” Tulip laughed, “I sure do, V. I wondered how you were going to carry a second one but…” her gaze darted to Charon quickly coming back to me, “Does that mean it’s for…” She eyed Charon again. I smiled and she continued, “So when you asked me about a large pack a few days ago and to hold it for you, you’d already intended it for him then, huh?” I grinned, “Sure did.” Leaning forward on her counter, my smile slipped away, “The way he was being treated by that gut rot asshole, I couldn’t just do nothing.” Pulling away, my grin coming back into place I turned to Charon now, “Could I have the bag of caps for a moment please.”

He handed them over, eyes watching me carefully, coming across as emotionless, but I felt like there was a hidden question or two for me in them and told myself we’d have a nice talk once we were alone. Opening the bag, I turned, pulling out the caps I’d promised her for the pack handing them over. “You have any shotgun shells I can get too?” with a nod she turned pulling a couple boxes down and sliding them to me. Once I paid for them as well, I pulled the pack over, unloaded half of my food, water, and stimpacks from my own bag and put them in Charon’s as well as the bag of caps, which as far as I was concerned, the remainder of them were his to use as he wishes, (roughly 1400 left now). I stepped back motioning at the bag, “That one is for you, big guy. Wasn’t sure where you’d prefer the shotgun shells so I’ll leave that for you to decide yourself.”
He eyed me for a moment before stepping forward, lifting the shotgun shells and placing them in a side pocket of the pack, then moved his shotgun around so it rested against his chest before tugging the cover of the pack over, securing it closed, and hefting it onto his shoulders with ease. I waved over my shoulder at Tulip, “It’s been a pleasure my lovely, but alas, we must part ways for now!” She chuckled and waved at me, “Take care.”

Stepping through the door we headed out of Underworld then out of the museum’s main door, Willow greeting us from her place against the wall, “Hey tourist. I see you have some company this time.” I nodded, “Sure do. I’m gonna be the envy of all the ladies with this big ol’ hunk at my side!” I grinned, Charon eyeing me even more than before as though he were trying to figure me out. Willow grinned, “Charon has always been a looker! Glad he’s getting out of that damn bar finally.” She looked past me to Charon, “Take good care of her. She’s a rare one out here.” Charon nodded but still said nothing. I skipped over to Willow, my voice coming out in a sing-song way, “I almost forgot!!!”

Reaching back I pulled a couple packs of cigarettes from my pack’s side pocket and handed them over, “These are for you! Call it a gift among beautiful people! Friend to friend!” Willow laughed, her hand gripping the packs, other hand rising to pat my shoulder, “You’re truly a gem, V!” I swung around, my braid shifting slightly under my bag from the motion, “I know. It’s a good goal at least!” My eyes landed on Charon, and I motioned for him to follow me, “Shall we head out for an adventure Charon! Let’s follow that trail!” I spoke happily, pointing toward the metro stairs before heading toward them.

Willow laughed waving goodbye and wishing us a safe trip as we disappeared down the stairs. Once we reached the bottom, I scanned the area, my hand on my pistol, Charon holding his shotgun at the ready. Once we established it was all clear I walked over and hopped onto the turn style, crossed one leg over the other, pulled my own pack of cigarettes free and lit one up, holding the pack out toward Charon, “Would you like one?” He eyed me, I shook the pack, inhaling on my own cigarette, his hand reaching out to take it and tug one free, accepting the offered flame from my lighter, inhaling, and then letting the smoke trail out of his nasal cavity. Pocketing the cigarettes and lighter again, I leaned back a little, eyeing him, “So…” I spoke evenly, his eyes never leaving me, “I wanted to make something clear before we go any further.” He watched, quietly, waiting for me to continue, “I detest slavers, very much so, which I suppose makes it seem odd that I literally bought a contract that binds you to me. So to be clear, despite the contract, which correct me if I’m wrong, you were conditioned to obey the holder of, I will not be ordering you around like some sort of play thing or weapon to be used or whatever. You’re a person. Period. I will not treat you as less just because you got scarred to hell from something you couldn’t control. Or because of some bullshit conditioning you were put through.”

Exhaling, smoke filtered out around my face, I stubbed the cigarette out next to me, dropping it on the floor, continuing, “You are my partner, Charon. I know you won’t, and have no reason, to trust me yet and that’s alright because I’m willing to work to earn your trust. Give and take evenly here, so that said, this will be the only orders…” I cringed at the word, forcing the bile down my throat, “…the only ones I will give. Doesn’t matter what any others told you to do, your life matters. I need you to tell me what your contract states as far as how it works for us so I can properly give you my one permanent order.”

His eyes had widened several times during my long winded speech, clearly not used to any of what I said. He gazed at me, dropping his own cigarette and stepping on it before speaking, “You are entitled to my service in combat, to carrying your things, to medical treatment. Intentional violence from either of us invalidates the contract. Attempted forced sexual acts from either of us invalidates the contract.”

“Invalidates meaning what exactly?”

“Termination of the aggressor.”

My eyes shifted, taking him in fully. I would never consider forcing myself on him or intentionally try to hurt him but the thought that someone might have tried in the past was pretty shocking considering his size, both in height and obvious muscle mass. I would be shocked if he wasn't sporting at least a six pack under his leather armor, something not really all that common unless you were a mercenary. Or I suppose, in his case, a prewar soldier, if my theory about his identity was accurate anyway.

Eventually I nodded, forcing my eyes to snap back up to his face. He didn't look uncomfortable with me openly eyeballing his body but the suspicious look shining in his gaze was certainly interesting to say the least. Eventually a sad smile tugged at my lips and I finally spoke, “I thought it might be something like that. Okay, so my one and only order, you will act accordingly to the situations based on your own choices. If you see me making a mistake, I need you to tell me. If I do or say anything that makes you uncomfortable, you need to tell me. If you know something that can help and want to share your knowledge, speak up. You can speak for yourself as you choose to or remain quiet if that’s your choice. If you have need of something or just want something, tell me. If you want to know something about me, you can ask. I will not keep secrets from you, nor will I do that bullshit half-truth shit. I will be real with you and I ask that you be real with me in return. I will not demand you tell me things if you don’t wish to, so don’t worry about that.”

I slid from the turn style, my eyes locking with his, “I can see it in your eyes, Charon. You’re no fool, but the foolishness of people like Azrukhaul has left you restricted. I want to break through those restrictions, help you if possible.” He stared at me, unblinking for several minutes, my own gaze never wavering, though I did lean against the turn style while I waited. Finally he spoke, his own confidence that he’d left hidden away coming through, “You already know more about my contract than any other employer before. How?” I smiled sadly, “I’ve been a lot of places in the Capital Wastes. Some of those places were vaults. One of them had information about a project vault tech was doing on the people in the vault and referenced a military program that was similar. The code name Charon was mentioned in the computer logs. I figured the man that log spoke of was likely dead…” I tilted my head some, “Until I got to Underworld and learned about you. A ghoul, compelled to follow orders, matching the height and codename I read about..." I shifted, pushing away from the turn style, “I can take you to that vault if you want to go, even show you what the records there showed.” Pulling my bag off my shoulders, shifting it around, I pulled my Pipboy out, holding it up for him to see, “I copied the files over to my Pipboy. I can show those to you now if you'd like and then we can head for the vault as well if you want. It’s your call.”

His eyes were glued on my Pipboy, his voice quieter, “Are you…” he started, pausing, eyes assessing, “Are you the vault dweller that Three Dog used to go on about on the radio?” I smiled sadly, “That’s right. I am.”

“The radio said you died.”

“Yep. My death may have been vastly exaggerated or a just plain premature announcement, but it is something I’d rather everyone keep thinking is true. Only a handful of people even know for sure who I am and that I'm actually still kicking it, but I trust them and they know not to say anything. I’d appreciate if you’d keep it to yourself too. That’s why I don’t wear my Pipboy anymore either. It’s handy to have for logging information, keeping track of stock and even has a map, radio and light! So I keep it. Just, you know, in my pack. Away from eyes that don't need to see it.” He nodded at me.

His mouth opening, eyes closing for a moment before opening again to stare at me, “May I have some time to think over all you have said?” I nodded, smiling at him, “Of course. I figured we could scavenge some from here in the metro, than make our way out toward Rivet City. I’d like to check their market to see if we can find some better gear for you, cause, oh man big guy, as much as I love leather armor, yours is falling apart. You alright with that plan?” Charon nodded, I grinned, swinging around after stowing my Pipboy and securing my pack on my back again, “Let’s do it!”

We spent the next couple of hours clearing out mole rats, raiders and ghouls, snatching up scrap metal, weapons, ammo, food, water, nuka-cola and various alcoholic beverages and packs of cigarettes before hefting our loaded down bags and heading out of the metro so we could begin our trip to Rivet City. Things of course never go as planned and we ended up falling right into a huge raider ambush, Talon Company reinforcing them for some reason. We took out the raiders, but the Talons managed to disarm and capture us.

We were hauled into a bunker, thrown into a cell together after they searched us both for any weapons we might have hidden. Once in the cell, I made sure they were gone before checking Charon, who had put up a fight to protect me, and ended up all bloodied, his face and arms a mix of cuts and newly forming bruises. I touched his cheek gently, him flinching away almost naturally from my touch. I let my hand drop to my own lap, “I’m sorry.” His eyes found mine, “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“Yes I do. The Talon Company had a bounty out for me before I…well before I “died” and I've gone months without them coming after me so I thought…” I clenched my fists tightly, “I thought they really believed I was…” He interrupted me, “They could be after me as well. I’ve had past confrontations with them when doing work for Azrukhaul.” I sighed, “Okay. Let’s agree that it’s on both of us unless proven otherwise. Then the appropriate person can kick themselves as needed later. If needed. After all, partners share, even in the bad things.” He gazed at me, as he has since that first time I stepped into the bar just over a week ago. I smiled, “We’ll get out of here together too. But first…” I lowered my voice more, leaning closer to him, “Your contract…do I have to always have it with me or only have my name signed to it for it to hold?”

“It would be best kept on your person, but is not required.” realization dawned in his eyes and he shifted some, “Did they take it?”

I smirked shaking my head, “Nope. Before they were able to take me down, I moved it. My leather jacket has a hidden water proof pocket I sewed into it after a rather unexpected dive into some water months ago. The letter I was supposed to deliver ended up so water logged it was illegible. Worked with a friend, Moira, to make some lining which I used to water proof this one pocket. Big enough to hold a few things, small enough to not be easily seen right away.”

Shifting again, I tugged his contract out, “Can you hold it for me for now. I have a feeling they won't strip search you…” an annoyed grumble slipped from me then, “Bigoted assholes like them seem to think their damn hands will rot off if they so much as touch a ghouls flesh! Dumb fucks!” he eyed me, mouth tugging up into a mirthful smile which caused a quiet chuckle to escape me before I got serious again. “Charon, I refuse to let them or anyone else get that contract and abuse you like Azrukhaul! I have a gut feeling they're going to strip search me later and I don't want to risk them finding it. So…”
He reached out, fingers grazing mine lightly as he took his contract as I held it out to him. “I can, though if you were to die I'd have to give it to whoever I see first and if you live it must be returned to you as soon as possible. I cannot hold my own contract permanently.”

“Of course not. That would mean freedom rather than a forced servitude through conditioning. Stupid ass old world assholes!” He chuckled, it so quiet and unexpected I eyed him just to make sure I wasn't hearing things. When I determined I wasn't, I grinned at him and continued speaking quietly, “I'll just be sure not to die. These dickless bastards wouldn't be much better toward you than fugly Az-boy was.” He grinned out right at with that same mirth tugging at his mouth before the frown took over again and he quickly slid the contract into an inner pocket of his own leather coat. He was suddenly on his feet blocking me with his body. “Someone’s coming.” I quickly got to my own feet moving to stand beside him.

I felt his body shift, arm pressing against me lightly, the sound of the door being unlocked coming through right after that. A large man, more in muscle mass than height, stepped into the room, eyes shifting between us, arms coming across his chest and a few others flanking him with guns raised and pointed at us, “You are both high priority targets. Preferably alive, at least in your case sweetheart.” he eyed me up and down before continuing. “Before we collect our caps, we’ve been offered a nice generous bonus to gather some information from you.” His eyes shifted to Charon, “We’re aware that you can withstand physical torture, however, she cannot. A little doe eyed, innocent girl like you will squeal quickly. I hope you’re looking forward to our time together as much as I am, doll!”

He motioned to his men to come in and get me. Charon moved immediately, stepping in their way. He took two of them out, a third rushing through the door nearly getting taken down too before the muscled man sighed and shot Charon with something. I gasped, springing forward to try to catch Charon, slumping down with him in my arms, my name escaping past his lips in a quiet breathe as he fell unconscious, “Charon!!” My eyes snapped up to the man, fury burning in me, “What did you do to him!!?” He arched a brow at me, motioning for his men to pull me up. I struggled, pulling free of them both, the muscled man sighing again, mumbling to himself, “Damn bloody freaks!” a jab to my neck making me feel faint, body giving way, I collapsed, the last thing I saw and whispered was, “Charon.”
I woke up, could’ve been minutes, hours or even days later, strapped naked to a slab in a cold stone room. Movement in the corner caught my attention, muscles walking out from the shadow of a doorway, it clicking shut behind him, “Welcome back…” his hands trailed up my leg, I forced a shudder out, reminding myself to keep up the act of the innocent little girl, which always causes people to not only let their guard down, but also to never once assume I might be the lone wanderer Three Dog went all crazy about before.

I could confirm a few things based on what this big idiot said before. One, he doesn't realize I'm the Lone Wanderer. Two, whoever put the contract out on me might know who I really am. Three, this man is so going to die.

His hand slid up, fingers grazing across my body, each scar he came into contact with seeming to bring him a sick sadistic pleasure. The tips of his fingers grazing the side of my breasts, I squirmed trying to get away from his touch unsuccessfully. When I get out of this, you mother fucker, I’m gonna cut your dick off and feed it to you, I thought as his fingers grazed the scar on my collarbone where a supermutant tried to cut my upper body off.

His fingers continued up to my hair, then turning harsh as he grasped my hair, jerking it up, forcing my head up as far as it would go, leaning forward, foul breath fanning across my face, a smirk on his lips, “You have a lovely body little girl. I’d gladly have my way with you, but then we’d lose out on some damn good pay. That was one of the rules we are not allowed to breach, though anything else short of death, is fair game! This will be fun! Or as fun as I can make it without the feeling of my dick shoved into your pussy anyway.”

He laughed and I shuddered again, this time for real, disgust at even the thought of this idiot's penis anywhere near me. I had to force my eyes to water, a whimper to escape past my lips, all while my inner thoughts were fully all about every possible horrible thing I was so going to enjoy doing to this fucker in the future as soon as I was free. He began to cut me, burn me, and fondle me, all the while laughing with each whimper or cry that escaped past my lips. After some time the whimpers were more realistic due to the pain but my anger grew larger too. I focused on that anger more than the pain and the feel of his fingers when he would caress my body as though it was something he was entitled to.

Each gasp that escaped me he seemed to think was one of pleasure and while he had been forbidden from shoving his dick inside me that didn't stop his hands and mouth from fondling my breasts or teasing my clit ruthlessly while stroking himself with his other hand.

Unfortunately my body reacted to those actions because despite pretending to be afraid of him, pleasure to a body like mine that does tend to prefer a bit more aggression in bed than gentle touches, will cause said body to react from that pleasure. In other words despite knowing full well I was being raped and hated him for it, I took pleasure in the release my body was granted. I would let my mind stray to past sexual partners and at one point as the days passed by, I even found that Charon slipped into my mind as this assfuck fondled my clit. What can I say? I'm fucked up.

That's saying something too because I can take a hell of a lot more pain than everyone believes because I am literally built to be stronger, thank you for that bit of awesome, dad, but I have limits as anyone does.

Still after the first, maybe weeks, I wasn't completely sure, of torture mixed with caresses that eventually became his own version of personal foreplay, the shudders of my body became more about the needed sexual release I wanted from having a dick pushed into me, which he couldn't do or whoever hired them wouldn't pay, apparently.

Today, his fingers slipped into me, thumb sliding across my clit as his fingers pumped inside me while he was sliding his own hand across his tiny as shit dick. He worked me fast yet never allowed my own body it's needed release before he'd groan and squirt his own release all over his hand or the floor.

Finally one day he stopped caressing me and began to only abuse me, which in and of itself was a relief in its own way.
Time began to blur and the time frames of when muscles would show up to play around with me in new ways seemed to be different making it that much harder to determine the passage of time accurately. I shut my own mind down enough to find that small solace of peace each time he’d cut me up, burn me, carve flesh out, caress me with hands that infuriated me, though never below my waist any longer for whatever reason.

Often my mind would drift to thoughts of Charon and what they might be doing to him. One other solace I found was that they hadn’t mentioned or, as far as I could tell, discovered his contract.

Muscles most recent act of torture, cutting my chest with a knife, just ended, my body slumped across the slab he nearly always kept me chained to, eyes closing, I listened as I always did as he walked out, arranging his gear so he could tuck his cock away again after giving himself another damn handjob. The door shut, locking, his steps carrying him down a hall, another door opening, voices, that door shutting, locking, quiet surrounding me besides the slight dripping from my own blood from the slab I was on.

My chest burned with the new slashes and I lifted my head slightly to peer down at the mutilated portions of my chest. He took a sick sort of pleasure in carving into my breasts while stroking himself lately and frankly it pissed me off. My boobs were one of my best features, damn it! Now they'll be all scarred to hell thanks to fuck face! And there was the anger. I'd come to rely on it as much as the thoughts of Charon. My worry for him and what they might do or even make him do should they discover his contract made me feel sick to my stomach.
I fucking hate slavery and Charon is conditioned to basically not be allowed any real free will and I hate that even more!
How long has it been since I was first brought in here and stripped naked? I wasn’t sure.

I found myself praying to whoever would listen that Charon was alright. It felt like I’d know if they killed him, at least, which was a huge thing to believe since I really hadn’t known him all that long. Still, his hazy blue eyes seemed to pierce my thoughts, and brought a sense of calm to my aching body, my scrambled mind, and frayed emotions. To my surprise they also brought about an ache in my groin that caused me to try to rub my thighs together to relieve said ache while simultaneously scolding myself for it.

I wouldn't ever order Charon to have sex with me and I'd likely be so mortified to even breathe a word of these sexual desires that seem to always invade my mind with images of his fingers on me rather than the muscled baby dick asshole.

I failed miserably at pushing the thoughts away as much as my effort to bring relief to myself by rubbing my thighs together. I sighed in annoyance at it all.. That fucking muscled idiot has left me so damn pent up all while I have to pretend it's fear more than anything and that just created even worse fury in me.
When I get out of here, he is so…

My thoughts were interrupted when a scream pierced the layers of stone around me, echoing through even the two doors separating me from everyone else. Clatters, loud bangs and thumps followed by someone being slammed into the outer door drew my eyes to the inner door. I stared at it, waiting, wondering, when I heard the shuffle of feet rushing down the hall, scampering like a mole rat running in terror. Muscles burst through the door, scurrying over to me, darting around so he stood above my head, a combat knife coming out to press it against my throat as he eyed the doorway. Moments later a large shadow crowded the frame of the door and stepped through, light splaying across Charon, his hazy blue eyes landing on me, my naked body on display, the cuts, burns and bruises easy to see. His eyes flashed, darting up to muscles, hand shaking, knife shifting against my throat. He spoke, attempting to sound more brave than he clearly really felt, “Don’t even think about trying anything or I’ll slit her throat before you can even move!”

Charon’s eyes landed on my face, my eyes shifting to meet his. We stared, a silent communication seeming to pass between us. I shifted my head slightly to the side so the knife wasn’t right against my jugular and in that same instant he moved, darting forward, fist colliding with muscles, the knife grazing my throat enough that I’d definitely scar from it. My head slumped down, I could hear Charon beat the fuck out of muscles, my voice cracking when I spoke from a mix of too mamy days spent screaming and lack of actually talking, “Charon…don’t…kill him…” I coughed, my throat stinging from my newest injury.

Charon hit him one more time, appearing at my side, pulling the restraints that held me free, tugging around a bag he carelessly slung across his back. One stimpack, then another and a third, was used on me, my wounds sealing, new scars forming, his hands gently lifting me from the slab, arms securely holding me bridal style against his chest, the leather of his worn gear scraping my skin but making me feel safe and secure in the same moment. Fucking aroused as well, but that was not a line I would cross in the sand when it came to Charon. If he ever expressed an interest, but never otherwise, regardless of my own current desire to climb him and….alright thoughts away from that and onto current events.

Fucking hell, Valeri, you've only just started traveling with him and established as much freedom as you can give him, not to mention the whole contract, forced servitude thing! Fuck!
Shaking my head of the thoughts, I leaned into Charon, because it was actually necessary for now due to my wounds still closing and the weakened muscles of my legs from being strapped down for who knows how damn long. The tingles of numbness seemed to permeate my whole body.

Finally, lifting my hand up, I gently touched his cheek, his gaze already on me, “I’m alright. Sore, my legs will be shaky, but I need to try to stand on my own anyway. How long have we been here?” He set me down, hands holding my shoulders in case I stumbled, my legs wobbled as I knew they would but I tried to stay on my feet regardless, needle-like stabbing rolling up both of my legs, like a worse version of the tingly sensation you get when your limb falls asleep. I shook, Charon stayed close, answering me, “Just over a month.”

I chuckled with a furious laugh of cold humor, “Well damn. Seems like it was longer, honestly.” Once I felt my balance was alright I moved toward where the muscle head's body was now laying, unconscious in the corner and peered at him. “Think you could put him on that slab he had me tied to?” Charon moved past me, hefting the man up, dropping him none too gently onto the slab.

On shaking legs, I stepped up beside the slab, peeling his gear off his body, Charon moving to assist me. Eventually the man lay naked before us and I hooked his arms and legs into the restraints like he’d done me then looked at Charon, “I don’t suppose you have any clothes I could wear or maybe found our gear?” He shook his head, “No. My main priority was to find you and treat any injuries you might have first. I…” he paused, hesitating, one hand rising as if to touch me, it falling to his side again. I stepped forward, my own hand gently touching his wrist, “It’s alright Charon. I’m tougher than these fucking assholes thought. You did amazing. I told you we’d get out of this shit together. Though together so far has been more you than me.” My eyes scanned him from head to toe, “Are you injured at all yourself?” He shook his head, “They tried to surround me and ended up shooting a tank nearby which had radiated water in it. It soaked us all, healed my injuries enough that I was able to kill them without much difficulty despite having no weapons.”

I nodded, “How’d you get free to begin with?” He smirked at me, “Turns out one of the women had a thing for ghouls. A fetish for them. Used it to my advantage.” My face twisted, I looked up at him, “Did you and she…” I felt a spark of anger, and strangely enough? Jealousy, course through my belly at the very thought, scolding myself for it right after. He eyed me, that look in his gaze again, answering honestly, gently, “No. I convinced her that I was willing but never allowed her to touch me and only touched her when I crushed her skull. It took me longer than I liked to convince her to free my hands. She only finally caved this morning. Took me half the morning to find out where they were holding you and the last few hours to get through them all to you. He’s the only one left. The man who hired them showed up as well so I killed him too.”

I laughed, “Who was it?” Charon shrugged, “Didn’t know his name, don’t particularly care. He was a smooth skin, wore a suit like the one Azrukhaul had, dark hair, half a foot or so taller than you.” I laughed harder, bending over, hands on my knees, “That dumb fuck! I can’t believe he…I mean I guess I actually can believe it!” Charon tilted his head, crossing his arms, the muscles in them bulging from the action, “That was Burke. That dipshit tried to get me to sleep with him when we first met, then in the same conversation tried to get me to blow up Megaton using the armed bomb in the middle of town. I disarmed the bomb instead, beat the shit out of Burke and Simms, that’s the sheriff in Megaton, kicked his ass out. He hired Talon Company to get me after that. Damn. I guess he didn’t believe I was dead like most everyone else did.” I sighed, a frown slipping into place, “I’m sorry Charon. This really was all my fault. You suffered for something that I could’ve pre…” He interrupted me, his fingers gently, almost hesitantly, touching the back of my hand, “Together, good or bad. That’s what you said, remember? You said it would take time, to trust you, but…” His fingers slid across my hand, touching my wrist at my pulse point, “You have already shown that you are a person that can be trusted even though I'd only known you for hours when these assholes captured us. You have already treated me better than anyone else has, as far as I can remember.” I grinned up at him, “Are we like best friends now!?” He laughed quietly, “I’m not sure about that.”

He smiled at me. Charon moved his hands up, unbuckling his leather armor exposing a black t-shirt underneath. He pulled it off, my eyes widened at the sight before me. Exposed muscle, but hot damn muscle none the less, was revealed to me, a flush gracing my cheeks when my eyes landed on the six pack I figured he'd have and hot damn was I right! I felt my heated face grow even warmer and shivered slightly at the realization that this sort of thing never happened to me ever before. I grew up seeing body parts on people most wouldn’t see because of my dad being the vault doctor, which I was in training to become myself. Others would look at Charon and see something terrifying, ugly even, or at least be grossed out by the muscle tissue, pieces of flesh in patches covering what was nothing but toned skin, but I stared in awe at the being that stood before me, beautiful in a way that was truly unique to him and him alone.

He cleared his throat, my eyes snapping up to meet his hazy blues, a mocking smirk covering his face, laughter in his eyes as he held his shirt out to me, “I realize I'm a hell of a looker, but perhaps the ogling can wait until we're somewhere safer.”
I gaped at him now, my previous flush simmering down as I blinked up at him in shock, “Charon, did you just make a joke!?” He chuckled, shifting closer to hold his shirt out to me again, “We can find our gear or something else but for now, you can wear this.” I blinked, a grin tugging my lips up, “What, you don't think I'm appropriately dressed for combat! I think running butt ass naked into a fight would be a damn good distraction!”
He grinned, “It would, but doesn't provide very much in the way of protection.”

We chuckled and I took the shirt, slipping it on. It was so long it was more like a dress on me, the neck large enough that it slid down off one shoulder, exposing my upper arm on one side. He pulled his leather armor back on just as a groan came from muscles, his arms and legs jerking, eyes flying open when he realized he was strapped down.
The comic relief of seconds before slipped away from me quickly as I turned toward him. Casually I moved over to the wall where he kept the various blades and devices he’d used to torture me. Pulling the machete from the wall, I twirled it a few times, my fingers in good working order after the stimpacks and slight rest I got while we waited for him to wake up.
I walked over, face calm and revealing nothing, the opposite of the look I usually wore in front of unknown people. Stabbing the blade into the side of the slab, it made a ringing sound as I leaned forward to gaze at him, “Hey muscles for brains. How ya doing?” He squirmed in an attempt to free himself and I lifted the machete up, bringing it down right through his arm, severing the flesh, and muscles, stabbing into the bone, he gasped, biting his lip, refusing to scream.

I jerked it free, leaning closer to his face, whispering darkly, eyes slanted in my fury, “You fucked with me, worse you fucked with Charon, and I take that very personally.” I moved down, grabbing his dick in my hand, fingers grasping, stroking so his shaft would harden, a moan of pleasure escaping past his lips before I shifted the second it stood fully erect, swinging the machete, slicing his dick off in one stroke. He certainly screamed then, it loud and piercing, bouncing around the room, unable to contain it this time.

Shoving his dick into his mouth, dulling the scream to a muffled gasp of pain, I leaned over again and spoke, clearly, evenly, “No one…” I finished hacking his arm off, “…fucks with…” I leaned forward, using my free hand to hold myself up, my voice now a thing of pure loud fury, “Charon!!!” I lifted the machete again, this time bringing it down, slicing his head off.

It rolled, falling to the floor with a squelching sound, his dick still shoved into his mouth. Dropping the machete I turned to Charon, whispering, “Can we get the fuck out of here please and hopefully find any source of water I can use to clean off the retched stink of his dick from my hand and the disgusting feel of his fingers touching me!?” Charon started, wide eyed, fury coming to his own gaze at the mention of that pig molesting me as he'd done. Finally he shifted on his feet, nodded and stepped forward to wrap an arm around me, helping me stumble from the room, all the while alert for any danger.

Several hours later, after we had actually recovered our gear, some of our supplies were now gone, we found a pool of water and I insisted we stop. I wanted to scrub myself and let the rads in the water work on any spots we may have missed under all my blood. Fortunately once I clean my body, as much as possible, I will be fine to put it behind me. Mentally speaking I'm an even quicker healer than even physically and able to move past shit without much trouble. It just requires some physical acts first. In this case, cleaning away dickless muscle heads touch from my body.

After we made sure the area was secure enough, I stripped off my boots, leather pants and Charon’s shirt, setting them on my pack which held my leather jacket and my own black shirt. I didn't bother putting them on, with Charon’s okay to just keep wearing his shirt for now, because I wanted to just go. To just get out here and find, well exactly what we found.
I now stood butt ass naked once more and glanced back at Charon, his eyes jerking up to land on my face. I barely caught him staring at my body, but knew that's what he'd been doing just the same. Smirking, I shifted my hips some and motioned at his combat shotgun, “Will you keep an eye out while I scrub myself down some real quick?”

He nodded, clearing his throat, moving to lower himself so he could sit on the boulder beside my pack. I slipped into the water, the radiation pulsing into me, further healing the few scrapes and bruises on my body. Dunking myself fully under the water, I scrubbed my hands across myself thoroughly before popping back up with a quiet gasp of air. Glancing over my shoulder I found Charon’s eyes on me for a split second before they turned to scan our surroundings again. That tingle of pleasure I'd felt earlier coursed through me and if it weren't for my choice to mentally slap the shit out of myself I'd either finger myself to thoughts of Charon or ask him to help me find some release!
Neither was a good idea really and with that I quickly scrubbed the rest of my body before emerging from the water letting myself drip dry, the sun aiding in my efforts, as I went to my pack.

I'm not a fan of not drying off fully before putting on my clothes but we needed to get to Rivet City. Lifting his shirt, I held it out to him, his eyes finding mine. I smiled, “Thanks again for letting me wear your shirt. I'll get dressed quickly so you can clean up and everything if you want, or at least get your shirt back on. I'll keep an eye out and everything and then we'll get going to Rivet City once you're ready. Alright?”

He nodded and flung his shirt over one shoulder before glancing around us again for any threats. True to my word I quickly tugged my leather pants, shirt, boots, jacket, and fingerless gloves on before hoisting my pack up and onto my back then lifting my sniper so I could keep watch while he washed up.
I heard the rustle of his clothes and forced myself to stay facing away only peering back once I heard the tell-tale splash of water. He stood waist deep, the water stopping right where the muscles of his stomach curved into the v-shape some guys have. My mind rushed south and those pesky dirty thoughts hit me again and I growled quietly at myself to shut the fuck up before forcing my gaze away from him to scan our surroundings instead.

Not even five minutes later I turned in time to see him on shore with his leather pants already on and he was slipping into his t-shirt, his leather armor followed quickly, along with his fingerless gloves and his pack. Picking up his shotgun, he looked at me, nodding his confirmation that he was ready. With a smile I started off toward Rivet City, he flanking me on my right side.

We finally saw Rivet City in the near distance. Half an hour later we ascended the stairs. I handed a can of purified water to Carlos with a smile, before pushing the intercom so we could have the bridge turned letting us cross. As soon as we came into view the guard raised his gun, a stern snap of his voice coming out, “You didn’t tell me you had a damn shuffler with you!” I stepped in front of Charon, a scowl covering my features, “He’s a man, not some disease ridden corpse! Try to do anything to him and Harkness will be getting a personal visit from me and trust me, that won’t end well for you!” The man scowled and started to speak again, I moved forward faster than he expected, my hand rising to grip his uniform, pressing him against the wall behind him, “Not another degrading remark about my partner or else!” At the word partner his eyes widened some, his scowl turning to one of disgust and I immediately knew where his mind had gone and could see the revulsion coursing across his face which made me even madder. “Not another word!” I released him, swinging around and storming through the door, Charon right behind me. Once we were inside his hand grazed my shoulder causing me to stop and look at him, “You didn’t have to…” I smiled at him, “I know I didn’t have to, but I will. Always.”

“I’m used to it. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Which is not really alright. Just because someone is used to something cruel doesn't mean they deserve it. If you do something deserving of their disdain through your actions then maybe they'd have some right to a level of animosity, but to carry such a thing simply because you exist, no! I won’t allow it while I’m there to stop it.” He nodded, a small smile coming to him causing me to grin. His smile quickly faded, a frown taking its place, “You called me your partner and he assumed we are…” he paused as if unsure what word to use so I chose one for him, “Fucking.” I winked, causing him to chuckle, “Yes. That will cause problems for you so perhaps you should make sure they know that is not the case.” Shrugging with a chipper spring in my step I turned to continue down the hall toward the market, “I really don’t give a fuck what they think of me. Besides, it's no one else’s business if it’s true or not but yours and mine!” I could feel his eyes on me as he followed, silence surrounding us aside from the noise of the city and other people’s whispers as we passed by them.

Gossip was already flying about my relationship with Charon which in some cases caused people to steer clear of us and in others caused them to look even more closely.
Fuck, it was like being a teenager again, gossip and rumors flying all over. We literally just got here which means that asshole guarding the entrance told someone and they told someone and here we are not even ten minutes later, the center of gossip. I found it much more annoying because a lot of these people were looking down on me only because Charon’s a ghoul. Had he been a smoothing instead, they'd be fucking praising me! It just pisses me the fuck off! Still, I can ignore it all so long as they don't try any shit!

We approached Flak ‘N’ Shrapnel’s Charon’s eyes skimming over the items on display while I spoke to Flak, “Hey old man. Any chance you might have some armor that’ll fit my partner here?” I motioned toward Charon, his eyes finding mine before turning to Flak who gaped at him, “Damn that’s a big ghoul!” My face twisted and he saw my frown, hands lifting as if to silently say sorry, “Whoa, easy there girl. I’m not meaning nothin’ bad by it.” I nodded, “Better not.” He grinned at me, glancing at Charon, “I’ve already heard you’re touchy about your big ghoul boyfriend and I certainly don’t wanna make you mad. For one you helped me out, for another you have helped keep my pockets full and my inventory stocked. We’re good, girl, and so is anyone with ya.” I grinned, looking up at Charon, “See anything you like, big guy?”
He turned eyeing the stock again, a brow rising when he turned back to me in a silent, you’ve got to be kidding me. I chuckled, “Come on, Flak, show us the damn good stuff, old man. You know I’m a serious spender and my man here needs the best, not the sub-par shit you offer the lowballers.” Flak chuckled, turning to open the lockers tucked slightly behind a torn up blanket he used as a curtain, motioning us over to him just as Shrapnel came over, food in both hands. He jerked back some in shock when he saw Charon, relaxing when he saw me, throwing Flak a questioning look. “The big guy is our girl’s partner. Be nice.” Shrapnel nodded, “Ah, so that’s what all the gossip is goin on about. He is a big guy isn’t he?” I leaned around the make shift curtain, my hand resting on Charon’s arm to keep me from falling on my face, “Yeah and like I told everyone else, don’t fuck with him. I could kick a lot of people’s asses, but he could rip them to shreds if he was so inclined. Don’t fuck with my partner and ya got nothing to worry about.” Shrapnel nodded, “You got it, V. He’s with you, that’s enough for me.”

I grinned, turning back to the lockers, Flak pulling out various pieces of armor. We held multiple ones up but in the end only the leather armor set was big enough to fit Charon’s hulking form and its condition was near perfection. I questioned it and Flak admitted that he’d repaired it over time, even adding some ballistic weave to it, which makes it more sturdy and able to take more damage, allowing it to be just about as sturdy as combat armor but with more maneuverability.

I gaped for a moment before giddily turning to him, my eyes big and round like a pleading puppy would be, “Can you put some of that in my leathers!?” He chuckled at me, nodding, “Sure can. Should have enough left for a petite little thing like you.” I bounced on the balls of my feet in excitement, “Hells yeah! We’ll take the leathers for Charon, a change of clothes for him, all the shotgun shells you have, any mods he might want, and then we’ll go check in at the Weatherly Hotel so I can change and then I’ll bring my leathers back to you to work on.” He nodded, beginning to gather everything up for me while I turned to Charon, “See any mods in his special stash that you might be able to use or want?” Charon moved past me, sorting through the items in the lockers, pulling some items free, examining them, and putting them back. He repeated this several times before finding a few he kept out and added to our purchase pile. He turned about to step out from behind the makeshift curtain when his eyes caught sight of something and he stopped.
I leaned around him looking to see a nice repair kit, specifically for maintaining the cleanliness and upkeep of guns. Leaning closer to him I whispered, “Would you like that?”

He lifted it, examining it closely before glancing down at me, “We don't need it.” He moved to put it back and I sighed, shifting to stop him. “But you want it and it's alright to want things.” That said I scooped up the repair kit adding it to the purchase pile and grinned at Flak and Shrapnel. “How much we owe you!?”
Stepping back through the door to our rented room, I sighed, flopping down onto the bed, legs hanging off the side, with a groan, “My legs are killing me with all the running around we did here. I say we relax for the rest of the evening with a nice meal and maybe some whiskey!” Turning my head to eye Charon, I smiled as he still sat at the small table where he sat just as I headed back out to give my leathers to Flak. Hiis combat shotgun sat on the table in pieces, his new repair kit beside it. My own weapons were stacked across from him, clearly already cleaned and maintained. Smiling, I angled my head to look at him, lifting my hands to carefully unbraid my hair.
“That sound good to you, big guy?” He nodded, gaze shifting to look at me temporarily before returning to his work, “I haven't had whiskey in a long time.”

“Oh yeah.” I pushed up, jet black locks now cascading over my shoulders, tickling my waist where my shirt rode up some. Palms flat on the mattress to hold myself up I leaned forward a bit, “When was the last time?”
He hummed, hands moving methodically as he lifted a piece from his gun to clean it, carefully arranging each piece as he finished, fingers more agile than his stature might suggest he could be. “About fifty-five years now. My employer before Azrukhaul liked to drink and on rare occasions would allow me some as well. He preferred Whiskey.”
“And once that gut rot got your contract I bet he even saw making sure you had proper meals as a reward or something.” My brows pinched together in anger. Even though Azrukhaul is dead already I almost wanted to go and shoot his corpse again.
Charon nodded, “Sometimes not even then. If he was in a particularly prickly mood he'd force me to go up to a week without any food.”

My fists clenched tight and I forced a smile onto my face, “Guess that explains that first night after your daring rescue of yours truly and how much of that mole rat meat you ate. Well that's not going to happen again as long as I can help it! Now then…” I stood, hands clapping together, “Time for some food and whiskey!”

Moving to our door, I locked it before swinging around, sliding my brush from my bag to get the knots out of my hair before moving to the small counter with a single cooking burner and a pot sat.

A small cooler that was actually powered by electricity sat in the corner of the counter and inside were the two brahmin I'd purchased in the market earlier. Tugging out my own home brewed seasoning and sauce from my bag I started preparing them.. As I shifted the spatula to flip the first steak, it sizzling in the pan, I glanced over my shoulder at Charon who was now piecing hjs shotgun back together, a rag going over each piece meticulously one more time as he put everything back into its proper place.

“Hey, could you grab my pip-boy from my pack as well as the holotape labeled V's Playlist. We need some music in here.”
Setting the part he just finished cleaning down, dropping the rag, he pushed to his feet to follow my request. Popping the cartridge open, he slid the holotape in, snapping it shut. It autostarted and music filtered through the speakers.
Setting it down on the nightstand, he turned to sit back down at the table, hesitating as soon as the vocals started playing. Eyes shifting from my pip-boy to me, he tilted his head, “That sounds like you.”

I grinned, sliding the first steak onto a plate before dropping the second one into the pan with a sizzle and crack of meat juices, “It is me. Only a few of the songs are mine. The rest are old world songs I scrounged from in the vault and transferred onto the holotape.”

He shifted, eyes staying on me as I cooked causing the little hairs on my arms to stand up. Frankly, I didn't want to think too hard about what I might be feeling about my companion or his piercing blue gaze. Especially not with the contract hanging over us. Closing my eyes for a moment I pushed the flutter in my stomach aside, his voice breaking through causing me to glance at him again with slightly widened eyes.
“You sing beautifully”

I blinked, once, twice, a smile tugging my lips up as a bought of happiness coursed through me. “Thank you!” My smile slipped away as the mocking jeers of voices from my past echoed in my mind, always insulting and cruel. I found myself whispering, “No one has ever said that to me before. Except my dad. Just figured that's just a dad thing to say though.”
He shifted, his feet bringing him over to stand beside me. Tilting my head back, our eyes locked, “They should have. It is the truth.”

I couldn't contain the grin that burst out of me, my hand moving to lightly graze, first his wrist and then his cheek, “That means a lot. Thank you, Charon.”

He smiled causing my eyes to widened slightly again, my heart to beat rapidly, before he turned and moved back to the table to finish putting his shotgun back together.

Taking a few quiet breaths I returned my attention to the brahmin steak, finishing it, sliding it onto a different plate before preparing to make some InstaMash to go with our steaks. The grease was good for adding flavor to the otherwise bland InstaMash and soon I was scooping up two steaming plates and heading over to set them down on the now cleared table with a smile.

Turning I lifted the whiskey I'd procured, setting it down with a quiet thud and a smile at my companion, “Time to celebrate a good meal and great company.” Hoisting the whiskey bottle I poured us both two fingers worth before handing Charon his glass and lifting my own with a grin, “To you, Charon. The best partner a girl could ask for.”

His eyes widened only slightly before his face shifted back to that nonplussed impartial look he sported most of the time. He hesitated before gulping down his glass of whiskey, mouth opening and then snapping shut. I titled my head. It was clear he wanted to say something but I'd bet a whole bag of caps he hasn't been given that sort of freedom in a long time if ever and now that he had it, he was a bit hesitant. Likely waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I smiled pouring more whiskey for us both before tugging out and lighting up a cigarette offering him the pack. He reached out pulling one free, both of us inhaling the nicotine before I finally broke the silence, “Feel free to say or ask whatever you want, big guy. Remember, I'm going to give you as much freedom as possible. That was what I said that first day and I meant it.”

He inhaled on his cigarette before lowering his free hand to wrap around his glass, eyes finding mine, cigarette lowering still between his middle and pointer finger and he spoke, confidently, a strong self assurance that I saw every time he leveled his combat shotgun and took out a target.

“I want to know why?”

“Why what exactly?”

“Why you bought my contract? Why your one order was that I'm allowed to do and say what I please when I please?” He lifted the cigarette inhaling the last of it before stabbing it out in the ashtray and wrapping his hand around his glass so it was fully encompassed by both hands now.

Leaning back in my chair I followed his example with my cigarette before tucking one arm under my breast, lifting my glass with my free hand and swallowing back the contents with a quiet hum.

My eyes locked with his hazy blues and I smiled sadly, “You're a person, Charon. I don't give a fuck what anyone tried to tell you otherwise. You read over the information I showed you from that vault. There were a lot of black marks on it but it was still enough for me to grasp just what those fuckers did to you. I don't approve but I also know enough to realize hard wired conditioning like that isn't easily broken. The fact is you may never be able to fully separate yourself from your contract so the best I can do is make sure no one can ever force you to be anything you don't choose for yourself. I hate slavery and your situation is the worst kind of slavery. If we find some way to truly free you, I will without hesitation, but until then…”

I poured more whiskey for myself, this time slightly more than before, gulping down half before continuing, “...I promise you on my life, I will never purposely order you to do a damn thing other than to make your own choices in each situation. I want to know who you are not what they tried to make you be. You've already shown me that there's a damn good man in front of me…” I smiled flirtatiously at him then, “...not to mention damn good looking. And no I'm not fucking with you. I think what I've seen of who you are makes you a very attractive man. And yes, I said man. I don't give a fuck what anyone else says or thinks about me and I consider it a damn compliment if they all think I'm lucky enough to share a bed with you. We know that's not the case and for now we have a rocky camaraderie at best, but I truly would love to be able to become friends over time and wouldn't be opposed to trying to be more if any interest arises. I like you, Charon. I'm sure I have a lot more of who you are to see and maybe some of it will be bad, but that's just a part of what makes a person who they are and I'll be damned if I miss a chance to know you, I mean really know you, because of some stupid ass misguided views everyone else has on what's good in this world. Sometimes it takes an act of brutality to make a really good change happen. This shit hole world is proof of that I think.”

I gulped down the rest of my drink, leaning forward to grin at him, “As a matter of fact…” I shifted to lean back and tug my medical box from where I'd recently sat it on the small cabinet. Opening it and pulling free a small tube that was meant to be inserted into the human body on a permanent basis.
Holding the tube up, I reached inside my bra where I'd moved his contract from my leather jacket before taking it to Flak and held the contract and bottle up for Charon to see clearly.
“It might sound crazy, but I'm going to cut myself open to hide your contract inside me. I can't think of a better place to keep something so important than close to my heart. Literally in this case.” Opening the tube, I carefully rolled his contract up and slid it inside before closing the tube again. Pushing to my feet so I could look into the mirror, I pulled a scalpel from my medical box and lifted my hand, knife pointed at my flesh just near my collar bone.

Charon was at my side in an instant, one hand grabbing my wrist, his body pressed against my back, “That's dangerous! You could nik an artery and kill yourself! I do not wish to see the best employer I've ever had die from being foolish!”
I smiled, our eyes locking in the mirror, “I was training to be a doctor before I ended up out here in the Capital Wasteland. I know how to make a proper incision without risking my life. Besides…” I paused, turning my head to look up at him, “...this isn't foolish. It's securing your contract so no one can try to use it against you and if I do die, it'll be easy for you to get to. Though my goal is to be alive for quite a long time. How else will I be able to learn more about you, Charon!?”

His eyes widened again and he found that a lump had formed in his throat. What she was willing to do, not only to accommodate him even in mundane things, but to ensure he would be as free as he could be despite the contract hanging over him. He'd never met anyone like her and certainly never had a master like her. None ever cared for what he may want or if he was safe or happy. None cared if he died, but she…his gaze softened. Closing his eyes, he lowered his head, straining his back some because of the height difference, but he found he didn't care.
His forehead pressed into the side of my head and his hand that had grabbed my wrist shifted down to wrap around me, his other arm embracing me, holding me close. My body pressed against his, he inhaled, finding that he could smell a scent that was uniquely mine.

“Charon?”

Shaking his head slightly, he spoke, eyes still closed as he held me against him, “No one has ever…I would follow you to the end of my days even if I somehow managed to become free of the contract.”

I closed my own eyes, my free hand touching his wrist lightly, “Please let me do this for you, Charon. I'll even be sure to use a stimpack on it immediately after inserting the tube. I promise.”
With a nod, he continued to hold me as I turned back to the mirror, carefully cut into my body so I could get past my skin and the layer of muscle tissue and slid the tube inside. Carefully I injected a stimpack and together we watched my skin knot itself back together leaving a small scar just above my collarbone but no sign that anything was there that wouldn't usually be. Charon finally released me, his hand lifting to lightly graze my newest scar, eyes snapping up to meet mine in the mirror when I spoke softly. “After my leathers are done we should spend a day just relaxing before we head out again. Now then…back to enjoying a good meal with good company, yes?”
He gazed at me for a moment more before a genuine smile lit up his features. Turning he sat back down in the chair at the table after kindly offering me my own chair. Lifting his glass he clicked it against mine and with mirth in his raspy voice spoke, “To you, V. A damn good and beautiful partner!” I grinned, heart pounding at his kind words and both of us tossed back our drinks after refilling mine before digging into our meals and chatting about our travel plans with the occasional question and answer revealing a bit more about each other as we ate.
The next day Flak sent word my leathers were done and with a groan from my hangover, I stumbled into our bathroom and took a quick shower. Charon followed my example after and we headed down to the market to get my gear back.

“Flak, you beautiful old man you!” I bounced like a little kid on Christmas morning as I clutched my leathers against my chest. He grinned at me, “I'm happy to help ya, kid!”

“Yeah, so long as I pay you for it!” I chuckled moving to pull my bag of caps out of my cargo pants pocket. Charon stopped me stepping forward, a bag in his own hand. “This should be enough.” Flak arched a brow, taking the bag and tugging it open to peer inside. “More than enough. I think you might have given me too much actually. Let me just count it real quick and…” Charon shook his head, “The extra is a tip for getting her leathers done so quickly.”

He blinked a few times before grinning broadly, I started to open my mouth to protest Charon paying for it to begin with. Before I could, his finger poked my cheek with a grin, “You told me I could use those caps however I wanted when you told me about them last night. This is what I want to do.”

“But…”

“Consider it a gift, V! You've done so much more for me than I could every truly repay. Let me do this for you.”

Flak chuckled, “Can't really argue that girl, if you've helped him anything like you did Shrapnel and me.”

“But…”

Charon grinned, his hand clamping down over my mouth, “We'll get out of your way now, Flak.” With a small wave of his hand, Charon nodded in return, before sliding his free arm around my waist, he hauled me up and literally carried me back to our hotel room. I mumbled a half hearted protest, some people we passed by staring in a mix of disgust and amusement.

After setting me down and pulling his hand from my mouth, I mock glared up at him, “That wasn't fair! How the fuck am I supposed to protest or even stop you from wasting your caps on me when you can literally just pick me up and move me around like I don't weigh a damn thing!?”

He grinned, leaning forward so his face was level with mine, “You're not!” I huffed, a grin plastering across my face despite my show of false annoyance. I could feel it in my gut. We were going to be a hell of a team and as I peered up at his grinning face, my heart pounding, I knew one other thing too. This man was going to become someone very important to me.
Two months later.

The pop of my gun followed by the thump of the raider before me brought about some semblance of silence. Charon walked over, his shotgun clutched in his hands, eyes scanning for more threats before smirking at me, “I just love when the idiots come out to play!” Chuckling, I crouched to dig through his pockets, Charon following my example. Once we'd gathered everything worth taking we turned continuing toward Megaton. As the gate came into view I lifted my hands to push my hood back so Stockholm could see my face. It had been about six months since I was last here but I had a good reputation here and was well known by the whole town.

Glancing back at Charon as we drew closer I smiled, “I just realized this is the first time you'll see our house. I feel like a dumbass not even thinking about that before now.”
“Our house?”

“Of course. It's yours now too after all. I'll need to get you a bed but you'll have your own room and free reign of everything inside. It's actually a pretty nice place. So have you ever been here in Megaton before?”

He nodded, the robot, Deputy Weld, that guarded the gate taking shape as we drew closer, “It's been years now but yes. When I was here it was barely a few shacks slapped together. Clearly its gotten a bit bigger since then.”

Chuckling, my fingers grazed his wrist in excitement, “Yeah, a bit! Most everyone here is pretty nice and open, especially since that bigoted asswipe, Moriarty, suddenly stopped living.”
Charon chuckled, “Suddenly stopped living. So how'd you do it?”
I grinned up at him, “Combat knife to the skull. Bastard deserved it. My friend, Gob, that I told you about before, runs the bar now with his girlfriend, Nova.”

His eyes lit up with recognition at their names, “The one that was no better than a beaten slave and the prostitute.”
I nodded, “Yeah, that's them. Or was. With Moriarty dead now that's changed. They're free now and the town is better for it. The only surly man really left is Jericho and while he can be an ass he's at least not plain cruel like Moriarty was.”

Charon hummed eyes lifting to lock on Stockholm in the watch tower above the main gate. He shouted down at us, “Hey! V! It's been a while! Wasn't sure if you would ever show your face here again or not, kid! The radio said you died!”

Tilting my head, I laughed, hollering up at Stockholm, “That was the point! I didn't want anyone to know I was alive right away. I'd appreciate it staying that way Stockholm!”

“Ya know none of us here in Megaton will tattle on ya! We do have a couple of visitors staying in the common house though. Might wanna cover up your face when you're out and about if you don't want word to spread outside Megaton! Also might wanna let Simms, the kids, Gob and Nova know you ain't dead after all! They all took it pretty hard! Especially the kids.”
I waved at him silently acknowledging his words before stepping past Deputy Weld and proceeding into Megaton, tugging my hood back into place to conceal my face in case the visitors were out and about still despite the late hour.
“We can just head straight for our house for the night. In the morning I'll go around and let the few I want to know I'm actually alive know. This place is safe enough. I do still keep a combat knife and pistol with me though but I think that's more just my own need to always have a weapon than anything else. Of course I'd welcome your company but if you'd rather explore Megaton for yourself or just stay at home, that'd be alright too. Just…”

I hopped over the large pipe bypassing the need to go down the slope only to turn around and head back up to reach our house. As I stepped onto the balcony of our house I stopped and turned to look up at Charon. “...be sure to introduce yourself to Lucas Simms. He's a friend and the Sheriff of Megaton. He's fine with people doing their own thing. Defending yourself is alright, just don't start shit. Only reason I wasn't kicked out of Megaton when Moriarty died was because there was no real proof it was me and because, even though Simms won't say it aloud, he knew it was the right thing to do. Gotta stay impartial and all that shit being the law in town and all. He will give you that side eyed look of uncertainty since you're an unknown but you can just tell him you're my partner and he'll ease up.”
I turned to head for the door, gripping the knob, key being pulled from under my shirt where it was tied off with a sturdy leather cord. After unlocking it I paused realizing he might not be comfortable saying that to Simms so I glanced back at him and spoke again, “Or you don't have to say that if it makes you uncomfortable. I know it doesn't bother me to be known as your partner but…”

Charon smiled, fingers reaching out to slide across my wrist as we were want to do since that time Talon Company captured us. “It doesn't bother me. Besides I'm used to drawing people's notice, what with my chiseled good looks and all!”
I grinned, shaking my head, loving the confidence that practically poured out of him since our talk back at Rivet City a good two months ago. True he'd say things like that, in part as a joke at his own expense, but I could still see that level of surety in his eyes in the same instant and couldn't keep from smiling about it.

Unlocking the door I stepped in, hollering for my robot butler, Wadsworth. “Hey Wady, I'm home. Don't try to hurt my partner please!”

The whirring of his engines sounded as he floated down the stairs welcoming me back as he came, “Madam, it's a pleasure to see you again.” His optical peered up at Charon before introducing himself, “I am Wadsworth and am happy to be of service. Any partner of my mistress is a welcome sight to my subroutines.”

“Wady, this is Charon. He lives here now too. Could you organize the second room and clear a spot to put a bed. I'll be buying one for him in the morning. You can power down after that.”
“Of course madam. I will have the masters room organized in a jiffy!”

With that Wadsworth floated back up the stairs and into the second bedroom to begin his work.

Meanwhile we sat on the couch together and began to unload and sort the things from our packs. One pile for items to sell and one for keep. As I pushed to my feet, my stomach grumbled causing a chuckle to slip from Charon who immediately stood and moved toward my small kitchen area, “I'll make us something to eat.”

With a grin of my own, I reached out, fingers gliding across his wrist as he passed by tugging a soft smile from him. At this point we'd only known each other for a few months but every time he'd smile at me, my heart would pound and all I could think was that I wanted to continue to make him happy. At the very least it was obvious to me that I had a massive crush on him and while I didn't tell him so, I held onto those feelings tightly.

As we sat and ate together, Wadsworth came back downstairs and slotted himself into his charging station and we continued to talk about our lives. He'd tell me what he could remember of his life before the war and I'd tell him my memories from the vault. Back and forth for hours on end. Eventually his eyes lit up and he pushed from the table to go and flick on the radio I had setting on a bookshelf. A soft love song emanated out from the speakers and without missing a beat he stood before me, a smile on his face, hand held out, slightly bowed so his eyes locked with mine, “May I have this dance?”

My eyes widened. I had just finished telling him about the few parties the vault had and how I spent my time as a wallflower at each one or just plain didn't go at all. Always an outcast even then, I found comfort in myself and accepted that aside from my dad I was likely going to always be alone. I embraced it further when dad left the vault forcing me to follow him. Befriending Gob and Nova helped but even then I still felt separated and it wasn't until Charon that I felt less alone.
I'd told him as much only moments ago and now…

My eyes trailed down to lock on his hand, my own sliding into it allowing him to tug me to my feet. We moved closer, his hand coming to rest on my hip and as we swayed I pressed my head against his chest with a contented sigh. His heart beat fast under my ear pushing a smile from me and as the song ended I felt his hand tighten causing me to look up at him.
My breath seemed to leave me at the tender affection I saw in his gaze and when one hand lifted to lightly cup my cheek, I leaned into his palm. As we inched closer, my eyes half closed, anticipation building in me, the radio suddenly sent out a distress call startling me. It was only when I heard the voice through the fog in my mind that I jerked my head around with a gasp.

“...stop looking for your dad and help stop mine….”
My eyes darted back to Charon, worry creasing his brow. I lifted one hand to cup his face, “I'm sorry. I need to go to them. That voice…it was Amata. I don't know why after almost two years she'd send out something like that but…”
He nodded his understanding, quickly piecing together who they were from the stories I'd told him.He tilted his head down to press our foreheads together, “I go where you go.” Smiling at him, I hesitated for only a second before lifting up on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek and whisper to him, “To be continued later. I hope?” He blinked before a smile tugged at him and he nodded.

We agreed to get some rest first and bunked down for the night, I asking him to sleep beside me. When we awoke we found that we'd come together in our sleep, his arms cradling me against his chest. With flushing smiles we got up, eating quickly, we moved to repack our bags and going over our weapons and armor before strapping it all back on.

We slipped out just as the sun peaked over the horizon and looped around Megaton to head for the entrance to vault 101.
“What the fuck do you mean you want me to talk to him! Fucking hell Amata! He's killed people and why the fuck did you beg me to come deal with this shit. It's been nearly two fucking years since that asshole ran me out of here after killing Jonas and trying to kill me!”

Her brows scrunched together in annoyance, a look that made her seem more like a child than the nearly 21 year old she should be now. “Oh come on Valeri! This is your dad's fault after all! If he hadn't ever left the vault…”

I stepped forward so fast everyone except Charon jumped, my hand snatching her vault suit up before literally hoisting her off her feet to dangle a few inches off the floor by her suit. “I am so fucking tired of you people! All of you! When I was here I was an outcast! I know you only pretended to be my goddamn friend, Amata! You think I'm that fucking stupid! The only person other than my father that was real with me was Butch and he was a complete asshole about it all!”

“Hey!” Butch spoke up from my left side, “I mean, it's true but still…”

I shook my head letting go of her vault suit and she dropped the few inches to the floor, glaring at me as she shifted her suit where I'd wrinkled it when I grabbed it. “I did not pretend to…”
“Bullshit! I know what was said by everyone behind my back! Everyone! The only one that said that same shit to my face was Butch! He might not be my friend but he has my respect because he was at least real with me even in his disdain for me! Now I'll ask again…why the fuck should I even bother talking to your old man!? It would be much easier to just put a damn bullet in his sorry excuse for a skull!”

Her eyes widened, fear finally coursing through her, “Valeri, please don't! He's done a lot of bad things, I know, but he doesn't deserve to die!”

Butch snorted, “Doesn't he!? Everyone keeps saying it's V's fault and the docs fault and blah, blah! Truth is it's your stupid ass dad's fault Amata!”

Amata glared at Butch, snapping, “It is not! He reacted to the situation that her father created!”

I laughed, near maniacal in my mirth, all eyes snapping to me in a mix of anger, fear and in one case, Butch in particular, a look of humor coming to him as his lips tugged up in a smirk. With a wave of my hand encompassing the entire room before motioning toward the bloody mess of an infirmary where the robot, Andy, still hovered covered in blood from his latest “patient” I spoke, my own lips lifting in a mocking sneer, “My father hasn't been in this vault in almost two fucking years! Two. Fucking. Years! Just once, once, it would be great if you fucking people would take responsibility for your own choices and the consequences of them! Yet here we are, vault princess ranting and raging acting like she's innocent and that her father is just as innocent in the very hell he's put everyone in by his own choices!”

Her eyes bulged, hands clenching tightly, and as she stepped toward me aggressively I leaned back on one leg, crossing my arms, my own glare taking over, hand finally lifting to wave off Charon, who I felt tense up beside me.

As Amata approached, suddenly I was on her, arm being jerked behind her and pulled up enough her bones creaked from the action causing her to cry out in pain. Leaning forward so my body pressed against her back I whispered fiercely, “Calling me here to clean up after your daddy because you're too fucking pathetic to do it yourself. Using people must be a family trait. I came, even though I don't owe you or anyone in this hell hole a damn thing! Feel lucky, princess, because I haven't been back this way in months and it's only because I happened to be in the area that I even picked up on your damn message. I'd bet you risked someone else to even get it out there.”

Butch snorted, “Course she did. My ass. I only did it cause I trust you to deal with this shit more than anyone else.”
Jerking her arm further when she squirmed to try and break free I snarled at her, “Always the little slut getting other people to do your bidding, huh princess.” Leaning closer I whispered to her, “Probably still pissed because despite your need to whore yourself out to all the guys in our class, and even Wally Mack's old man, Butch is the one guy that refused to touch you. I bet you just can't stand that, can you!?”

She gasped, turning her head to glare up at me, “You're so full if it, Valeri. I didn't…”

“Bullshit again. I saw you. Saw you through yourself at old Allen Mack! Bet Wally never realized his dick was being shoved into the same pussy his father was getting a piece of or that it was all your fault that his mother and father argued all the time! It's amazing what a person can hear and see when everyone avoids them like they're some diseased monster yet still comes slinking back to that same monster for help, isn't it!?”
Charon shifted behind me, clearly having heard everything I said. He knew I was from this vault, that I was an outcast, even how I was bullied but he never knew the depths of just how badly I really had been treated or the exact details of my departure from here other than that I'd left to find my father.
I knew we'd end up talking about all of this at some point in the near future and I felt a sense of relief in that thought. The fact is that Charon, despite the contract that still does keep a hold on us both in its own way, is my best friend and realistically only one of a handful of them to begin with. None of which include anyone from Vault 101 save for maybe a decent acquaintance type of relationship with Butch. After all, he did help me escape the vault by distracting one of Overseer Almodovar's stupid henchmen so I could slip away after we took down the radroaches attacking his mother.

He'd given me his Tunnel Snakes leather jacket and called me the best that day, high praise coming from Butch really. He even managed to catch up with me before I slipped out the vault entrance into that old cave that led outside to the wastes, thanking me again for helping to save his mom and, to my surprise, even apologizing for all the shit he'd put me through over the years saying I really wasn't all that bad and that at least I wasn't fake like all the others.

It's clear that even now, after nearly two years, he still holds some semblance of respect for me as he's been the only one to even speak up in mine and my father's defense since I came back here.

Amata tried to jerk away from me again, her voice a low growl of irritation, “If you don't let me go right now…”
I laughed, “You'll what!? The fact is that if I really wanted to I could kill every goddamned one of you and walk out whistling a happy fucking tune and there's nothing you could do to stop me!”

I shoved her away from me causing her to slam into the locker against the wall, “Fortunately for all of you, I don't want to waste the ammo. Now, I'll handle your fuck up one last time. It's simple. Either your shit stain father steps down as Overseer or I put a bullet in his fucking skull! Either way, the problem will be solved!”

I turned, marching toward the door, Amata yelling, pleading for me not to kill her father while Butch simultaneously told her to shut the hell up declaring that at least I was solving the damn problem which wasn't even mine to deal with anyways.
I smirked at his comment, waving my hand toward him before we headed down the hall and up the stairs toward the Overseer’s office. Charon shifted closer, fingers grazing my wrist and I twisted my hand to grip his, our fingers lacing together for a short time before we let go and marched through the Overseer’s door to find the coward gazing out the window at the mess he created.

In the end he agreed to go speak with Amata and give her the position as the new Overseer. I really didn't give him much choice telling him to either do it or I'd put a bullet in his head.
Charon and I now stood outside the Infirmary, leaning against the wall, Butch following our example against one of the pillars in the middle of the hall. He spoke, hand flipping his switchblade around in graceful arcs, “They're sure taking their sweet damn time in there.”

Pausing, catching the switchblade in his hand he sealed the blade back in the handle before pocketing it, “Hey, V?”
I lifted my eyes from the floor to look at him, “What?”
“Can I head out with you both when you leave here? I'm tired of this damn place and have wanted to get the hell out almost since all that shit that happened with you and your pops, but honestly…”

Shifting nervously he eyeballed the others who also sat around in the hall waiting before shifting a bit closer to us, “I've been scared shitless. Seeing you has helped. I mean you're a badass now. Always kind of thought you were pretty strong before, with how much shit you took and just shrugged off back when we were younger…”

I jerked my hand up stalling him, “I wasn't given much choice, Butch! You should know since you led some of the shit I had to deal with. Still…”

I shifted, smirking at him, “I meant what I said before, bout having some level of respect for you since you literally never said anything behind my back that you didn't say to my face too. It's more than the others did. As long as Charon’s alright with you tagging along, I am.”

Butch glanced over at Charon who eyed him with his signature frown covering his face. “Uh…” Butch looked back at me, “...I don't think your boyfriend is a fan of me.”

Glancing up at Charon, his eyes locked with mine and a silent conversation happened quickly between us. I smiled, nodding my head toward Butch, Charon nodding slightly in agreement before we both looked at Butch again. Charon spoke, voice gruff and even, “You're not so bad, kid.”

Butch blinked before a grin lit up his face, “Holy shit, he talks! I figured he was a mute or something!”
I glared, shifting to step forward but Charon chuckled quietly causing me to stop, “Nah. Just more choosy about who I talk to than V is.”

I blinked before looking up at him and to my surprise and delight, Charon smiled at me before winking subtly. I grinned leaning back against the wall once more to continue waiting.
“Don't have to tell me twice, princess! I'm gone and don't bother asking for any help from me in the future either. You won't get it!”

I stormed toward the vault exit after Amata inevitably told me I'd have to leave. Again. I expected it this time and happily stepped toward the exit stopping only when she spoke up again, “Butch, where are you going?”

“With V and Charon of course. This shithole isn't for me.”

“You can't just…”

“I can do whatever I want to, Overseer!” He spoke the title with disdain. Butch had never been a fan of the Overseer, even when the Tunnel Snakes were Amata's father's little minions for a while in our early teen years. Amata sneered, crossing her arms, “Don't expect to be able to come back then. Maybe you can help find Valeri’s father. Keep the monsters all together that way.”
I rolled my eyes, partially happy to see her showing her true colors yet annoyed at her ignorance at the same moment. Butch snapped at her, “I might’ve called her a freak when we were younger but I never called V a monster. The only monster I see is you, Amata!”

With that he stormed over slapping his hand on the terminal outside the vault door causing it to screech shut before swinging around to look at me, “Can we go?”

I nodded, smirking at him again before heading outside, warning him about how bright the sun would be his first time out in it. He kept his head down slowly lifting his gaze to blink several times before scanning the area around us. He whistled quietly, “Damn, V! Is this how it looked your first time out here?”

I nodded before motioning that he should follow us before setting off toward Megaton.
One week later.

“Rivet City?”

“Yes, Butch. I'm sure you'd be able to find work there and it's one of the safest places you'll find out here. You're tough but you're not survive in the Capital Wasteland tough.”

Once again we found ourselves entering Rivet City. I arranged for room and board for Butch for the next week, declaring he was on his own after that. Showed him around and then Charon and I left Rivet City again the next morning.
As we walked past the Jefferson Memorial, it surrounded by walls and Brotherhood of Steel soldiers, I tilted my head back to gaze up at the clear blue sky, “Charon?”

He hummed to let me know he was listening, “We should leave.”
“Leave?”

“Yeah. Head further north maybe. I don't really have a reason to stick around here anymore and it would be pretty fun to see something beyond the Capital Wasteland! What do you think?”
He hummed again, feet shuffling as he walked on my right side, close but not so close we'd bump into each other. “Sure. Why not? I've always wanted to visit Massachusetts.”

I angled my face so I was looking at him now, “Massa-whats-its?”

He chuckled, eyes scanning around us before gazing at me again, a smile tugging his mouth up, “Mass-a-chu-setts.” He sounded it out for me before continuing, “That's what's north of us. At least part of what's north. I was one of the states before the bombs fell. It's called the Common Wealth now.”

“Ooooh! So that's the Common Wealth. I've heard of it. Helped someone out before we met that's from there. He escaped slavery. Basically.”

‘How do you basically escape slavery exactly?”

“Oh well, he's not human. He's a synthetic person. Was created, constructed and brought to life at some place called The Institute in the Common Wealth. He managed to escape and changed his appearance. Even had a memory wipe and new fake memories put in so he could remain hidden, even from himself. He was in danger because a doctor from The Institute showed up looking for him. I ended up helping him. He knows he's a synth now so he can be ready in case. I doubt anyone will come for him again though. I did pretty good at convincing that jackass doctor that he was destroyed.”

Charon eyed me, “You see some really strange shit, V.” I laughed, “Don't I know it! So…back to Megaton to say some goodbyes, resupply, rest and then off for the Common Wealth in the next few days!?”

Charon nodded, “I remain at your side.”

With a grin and a slight skip in my step, we headed back toward Megaton.

After explaining what we planned to do to our friends in Megaton we made our way to do the same in Little Lamplight, after I explained to Charon about the place and the prickly little asshole that called himself Mayor MacCready who would be leaving soon due to turning 16 as was their rule there. Our last goodbyes were at Underworld and Carol fussed over me, and surprisingly Charon some too, giving us some extra food before we parted ways.

It took us the better part of a week and a half to finally get to the Common Wealth due to rad storms, deathclaws, something that Charon looked like a giant scorpion, and damned raiders. Now here we were climbing up a hill and peering out over the area. In the distance, like a speck in the distance was the heart of Boston. Charon stepped up beside me, wiping the fresh blood from our latest encounter off his face.

Damn raiders thought we'd be easy targets since there's only two of us. Now they're very much dead and we got splattered in their blood and guts. To say the least I was sure we looked fearsome to any settlers we might come across.
Lifting my hand I pointed at the buildings in the far off distance, “That's an old world city, isn't it? Looks like there's a pretty big place lit up there too.”

Charon nodded, “Yes. If I'm remembering my history correctly, that's the Boston commons and the lights are likely where Fenway Park is. There's a lot of old world historical sights down there.”

My eyes widened with excitement and I looked up at him, “Really! Can we check them out!? Do you think any of the old world artifacts might still be intact!?”

Charon smiled, something he'd grown accustomed to doing more often, specifically when it was just the two of us. He still maintained a sterner look in the presence of others, especially strangers, but he also spoke for himself now, sometimes even with a snarky sense of humor, which I found that I loved. And once he determined if a person wasn't a threat to me, his shoulders would relax, his face growing just a tad bit softer.
We both shifted, I raised my sniper to peer through the scope just to be sure there weren't any obvious surprises waiting for us. Beside me Charon kept an eye out in our immediate area, shotgun in hand and ready.

Once we determined it was clear enough, we headed down the slope and began to make our way toward the Boston commons.
A good hour later found me crouched behind the remains of an old world car while Charon was situated across from me, tucked behind the side of a building. Raiders yelled out profanities, not so different from the raiders back in the Capital Wasteland, as they took potshots at us.

“Is it a prerequisite for raiders everywhere to be stupid drug heads in order to become part of the club!?” I hollered over at Charon before lining up a shot on a raiders head in my scope and squeezing the trigger. His skull now housed a new hole and his blood was splattered across the two flanking him who both yelled about getting me for killing him.

Charon took his own shot with his combat shotgun, it getting a wide range on the idiots before us and injuring several of them, “The drug use at least. Statistically speaking there's got to be at least a few that aren't completely stupid.”

“You know, maybe we should leave a symbol behind each time we clear a raider camp. Eventually maybe they'd learn not to fuck with us if they manage to realize it's our symbol!” Lifting up, I lined up my shot, squeezing the trigger twice, two more raiders heads being blown apart, before I ducked back down again. Charon shot one that tried to rush at me, his body propelling forward from the blast to land with a squish of organs beside me. Some of his innards and blood splattered across my leg on impact. Charon chuckled, “We could, but I'm sure we'd wipe out quite a few more of their camps before they'd realize anything.”

“And that's a bad thing how!?” he chuckled again as we systematically took out the rest of the raiders before slipping from our cover to search for any useful supplies. “It's not. Catch.” Charon spoke, tossing me a cartridge of .308 rounds for my sniper. I snatched them out of the air and tucked them into my ammo pouch attached to my leg before resuming my own search. “Hey. This definitely doesn't look like something a raider would have unless they stole it or killed for it.” I lifted a silver locket up, flipping it open to find a picture of an older couple standing with two young girls. Humming quietly to myself, my finger slid across the image.

It was clear the picture wasn't from. The old world based on their outfits. I'd guess they were probably farmers in a settlement nearby or something. The thought of having a family of my own rolled through my head and continued on out just as quickly. Charon can't have kids being a ghoul and all, and my crush on him hadn't reduced at all so the thought of a family immediately made me think of him in the role of my husband. A flush came to my cheeks and I coughed, forcing it down before lifting to show the locket to Charon, “You think these people might still be alive?”

He turned, looking up at me from where he was crouched by one of the raider bodies, his eyes straying to the locket, “A raider had it, so I doubt it.” he turned back, tugging a tin of mentats from a pocket, patting down the rest of the body, then pushing to his full height. Eyes on our surroundings he spoke again, “You want to try and find the owner, don't you?”

I sighed, nodding, “Yeah. I know it's a long shot but…” clutching the locket in my hand, the chain dangling down between my fingers, I sighed again. I'd been sentimental the last few days, thoughts of the family I'd never be able to have plaguing me. It's not that I really regret my feelings toward Charon, but knowing I feel this way for him and his contract still hangs over him despite the freedoms he's been given, has created a line in the sand, albeit one I've drawn myself, that I just won't cross. No matter how much I long to.

Out here you don't let fear stop you from taking the shot otherwise you end up dead, but it was more than a fear of Charon not returning my feelings that stopped me from just telling him straight up that I cared deeply for him. It was also the guilt of it all. That damn contract always came back into my mind each time I found myself flirting with him. And I definitely flirted several times. The first time he realized I was flirting with him, he stared in shock before smirking and throwing a snarky quip my way which left me staring in shock instead before busting up laughing.

Between the fingers grazing the wrist thing we'd been doing since that day in the bunker where he saw me naked for the first time, the vulnerability we showed each other behind closed doors and the flirting from both sides, most think we're a couple or at least fucking each other anyways. Frankly I wouldn't mind at all if both were actually true but, line in the sand.

Tugging my pip-boy from my pack, I pulled up the map. Not too far from us was a settlement. It was likely the locket belonged to someone there, if they were still alive anyway. “Here.” I turned it to show Charon, “I bet the owner of the locket is at this settlement. Or at least someone there might know who it belongs to. It would be nice to have a place to rest properly for a night too.”

Charon nodded, “If it hasn't been destroyed by these raiders that is. If they did wipe out the settlers, we can still find some shelter regardless.” Nodding in agreement, I slipped my pip-boy back into my pack and turned in the direction of the settlement, “Ready?” Charon nodded and we headed out. About an hour later we crested a hill and looked down to find a home built into the base of an old transmission tower. There was a brahmin in a small pen, and four people tending to some crops.

I lifted my sniper to peer through the scope and sure enough, the faces down there were the faces in the photo in the locket. “They're alive.” I whispered, eye still looking through my scope while I spoke, “I wonder how the locket ended up with a raider then?”

Charon shifted his stance some, eyeing the surrounding area, “It's possible they worked out a deal so the raiders wouldn't kill them this time or they're raiders themselves pretending to be settlers.”

I hummed, watching each of them for a little while longer before lowering my sniper, “I don't think they're raiders. Those assholes are horrible at pretending to be regular settlers. Remember that one outside the store we found on the way here. Begging for us to help her friend while failing horribly at hiding the obvious tell that might as well have screamed "I'm a raider!?” Charon chuckled, “Or the other one that acted like they were attacked by raiders and begging for us to find their base because their son was taken all to lure us in.”

I chuckled, “Yeah. Ah good times. Raiders don't seem to realize they have a certain air about them. The way they walk, talk, hell even the way they stand in general, and it's all a dead give away to someone that knows what to look for. Here, look for yourself.” I handed him my sniper and he gave me his combat shotgun before looking through the scope.

Another thing that showcased his trust in me was handing me his combat shotgun. He'd only started doing that in the past week since we'd left the Capital Wasteland. I gaped at him openly that first time he'd asked me to hold it and after he'd shifted the beam blocking our path and turned to get it back, he found me still gaping up at him.

He'd blinked in confusion and I blurted out that he never let anyone touch his shotgun. He'd blinked again and mumbled that he hadn't even realized he'd done that before smiling down at me and telling me he still wasn't used to trusting anyone but that if he was going to pick someone to trust it would be me.
My face burned with excited embarrassment before I'd cleared my throat and we continued on.

Chapter Text

I kept my eyes open for threats as Charon and I made our way down to the settlement. A red headed man stiffened, raising his pipe pistol on us. Charon tensed his own gun lifting. I gripped the barrel of his shotgun lowering it as I spoke calmly, "We're not here to cause trouble."

The man hesitated, eyes trained on Charon in particular. I stepped in front of Charon, not that it will do much good since my shorter height barely blocks him, and raised my hands to show I mean the man no harm, "I know he's a big intimidating ghoul, but I assure you, he's much more like a teddy bear..." behind me Charon grumbled and I grinned which seemed to soften the red headed man further. He slowly lowered his gun and spoke, "Why are you here?" I shift eyes staying on the man.

"We've traveled a lot over the last ten years from The Capital Wasteland in the south to New Vegas in the Southwest and now here. Looking for an old friend I knew ten years ago now. He'd be in his early 20's now. Named Mac." The man shifted a woman around his age and a younger woman resembling him walking over to join our conversation. Several others shifted around behind the trio coming up from scrapped together but clearly sturdy houses and shops lining the slope of land down from the tato farm they had growing. I glanced at the group noting that if they did attack us, despite their numbers, we'd likely come out alive. I reach back grazing Charon's wrist, calming myself and him as the young women whispered, "Dad, isn't Mac a friend of the General?"

Not too long after we found ourselves sitting with the red head man who we learned is Blake Abernathy. He his wife Connie and their daughters, Mary and Lucy had settled here and built up the main house and tato farm, with a few melons, years ago. Then raiders came in demanding protection money, taking tatos and caps. Their daughter, Mary stood up to the raiders one day and was killed. Not long after that a woman showed up with a Mr. Handy and dog at her side and helped them. Soon after a group called The Minutemen began establishing settlements all over the Commonwealth and the Abernathy family learned that the woman that helped them was the General, leader of the Minutemen. They joined the Minutemen and now have a thriving settlement under the flag of the Minutemen. I nod and sip my dirty water before setting it aside and standing to peer down over the settlement. "So Lucy..." I turn to the young Abernathy girl and smile, "...you said Mac was the name of this Minutemen General's friend?"

We stayed the night at Abernathy Farm before following their directions to head into the Boston Commons looking for the biggest settlement called Diamond City. Apparently the last they knew The General was supposed to be headed for that particular place along with a dog and Mac. Charon shifted beside me, "Are we sure this is the way?" I turn tugging my pip-boy from my pack and check the map. They marked Diamond City here and we're here. Granted it's clear they don't travel through here themselves because all these collapsed bridges and buildings definitely don't leave it open as a clear damn shot." I sigh tucking away my pip-boy again then glance around. "Lets find a spot to hunker down for a quick bite to eat." Charon grunts eyes scanning our surroundings as we move into one of the nearby buildings checking our surroundings and listening for the sounds of any danger. We find and kill some radroaches before settling down and leaning against the wall, shoulders pressed together as we tug out two cans of cram and peel the lids off, beginning to eat. I nudge his side lightly, "Remember the first time we crested that hill and saw New Vegas for the first time and you said it was like how Vegas looked before the bombs dropped too and that some things just don't change overall?"

Charon swallowed his food, wiping his mouth and set his empty cram can aside gulping down some dirty water. "Yes. What about it?"

"I just wonder if this, Diamond City, is something like that."

"Based on the location, I'd bet it's inside Fenway Park." I pause swallowing my last bite of cram, "Fenway Park? Correct me if I'm remembering wrong, but isn't that what was once a baseball field?"
"Yes. Back before the bombs dropped and the world went to hell, people would go there to enjoy baseball games together. It was a good idea to turn it into a settlement. Those walls would be difficult to break through. The Brotherhood could likely infiltrate them with their vertibirds though." I frown and sip at my own dirty water, "Think that's something that might happen? Course the Brotherhood would need to send a squad here from the Capital Wastes..."
Charon hummed quietly as he shifts to check over his combat shotgun, "If they discover some advanced tech somewhere here they might. Remember when we learned about that group called The Institute back when we first started traveling together?" I nod and follow his example cleaning my own weapons and checking them over, "Yeah. That supposedly hidden advanced smarty pants group that was responsible for creating synths and poor Hakness having to hide who he is so they don't destroy him just because of how he came to be." I shake my head sighing again. "The Brotherhood would definitely rampage their way right through anything they had to in order to invade that sort of technological intel. Trust me on that."

Charon finishes with his combat shotgun then slides his combat knife free and cleans and sharpens it some, "You would know best, V." I snort shifting to my own combat knife, spinning it around my knuckles and back into my hand, "I do have to kind of wonder if that brat kid, Arthur grew up to be the big wig in the Brotherhood they were conditioning him to be. Maybe if they show up here we'll find out." Charon shifts sheathing his combat knife then pushes to his feet slinging his combat shotgun across his chest and shouldering his backpack. He holds his hand out to me. I sheath my own combat shotgun taking his hand. I press close to him and grin up at him whispering, "Have I told you how much I love the feel of your hand in mine?" Charon smirks and leans down, his hand gripping mine slightly tighter, "No." I inch closer, my other hand sliding up to cup his face, "I love the feel of your face too." he gasps softly. Over the course of our nearly 11 years together we've gone from uncertain traveling companions, to friends, to best friends, to something we just plainly never really defined. Only six months ago Charon was able to break fully free of his conditioning after over 200 years of it being such a huge part of his very existence. The short version is that something in his conditioning was triggered by a word someone that knew of the conditioning used to effectively take control of him despite me holding the contract, quite literally, still inside my body. He was ordered to kill me and for the first time in over 200 years he struggled to ignore a direct order that the conditioning was trying to force him to obey.

As he struggled against the order and moved toward me, his body acting to follow the order while his eyes screamed for me to run, I stood my ground. I couldn't leave him. Refused to flee no matter what might happen even as he begged me to save myself. His hands wrapped around my neck squeezing and he lifted me off the ground. Gasping for air I whispered his name, my affection for him shining through even with my own head screaming that some part of my feelings was not right because of the contract, even if that contract was currently void because of the damn old ghoul soldier that was present when Charon was first being conditioned. Tears slid down my face from a mix of being choked and from my fear for Charon. I felt terrified in that moment that I would lose him forever. His struggle against the order mixed with my single moment of desperation led to me being pressed against him, my mouth meeting his for the first time ever. That kiss triggered a reaction within him that broke through the conditioning completely effectively freeing him from it.

He released his hold on my neck returning my kiss before whispering how sorry he was while caressing my neck and cheek. A fury, unlike any I'd seen to that point was then unleashed on the old ghoul that caused it all and he slaughtered the ghoul man and then we left, he a free man for the first time since his conditioning took hold and I flushing red in embarrassment at the memory of him returning my desperate kiss.

Now we continue without really talking about the kiss or that day in general. We both have silently acknowledged his freedom, even celebrated it without saying we were doing so, but to talk about it would also mean talking about my abrupt desperate act of kissing him and his choice to return that kiss. Now it's not the contract that holds me back but uncertainty and my own sense of fear. He has yet to leave my side, and I feel it in my gut that he won't until our last breathes. A feeling I long to confirm for sure but of course once again hesitate due to my own fears. so instead, that to, simply doesn't get talked about.

I sigh, shifting fear pulling me away from him once again. he drops the cloth he was using to clean his gear and grips my hand before I can pull it away this time, leaning closer to me, he speaks in a low soft tone, "Valeri..." I gasp in shock, eyes going wide. He's never called me by my birth name, always calling me V same as everyone else. He leans closer, eyes soft, the blue haze of his gaze intense yet gentle. I inhale and lean closer to him, my hand shifting within his grasp, so his large hand grips my smaller one as we lean closer, almost kissing. Suddenly the sound of gunfire jerks us apart and we move without hesitation rushing to grip our weapons and peer outside. Supermutants were attacking some people near the ruins of a large tower nearby. I glanced at him and we silently agreed moving to head out silent in our advancement. The supermutants yelled as they charged the group of three people, clearly a trade caravan and their two guards. I peered down my scope of my sniper and took the shot, the bullet piercing the supermutants head sending him reeling to the side before he collapsed startling the three people. I slung my sniper and pulled my katana slipping forward fast, using the nearby broken-down old bus as a launching point to propel me up and over the next supermutant, my katana slashed out and across his throat before I flipped landing on the ground as the supermutant collapsed, its head hand sliced off, dangling backwards from its torso.

The caravan guards gaped for only a moment before returning to keep shooting at the remaining supermutants. Charon charged in combat shotgun blasting into them as well. I charged into the fray, sliding under the legs of one of the last remaining supermutants, this time using my combat knife to slash at its ankles causing it to stagger before scaling up its back and stabbing through it's skull sending it falling forward, I riding on its back as it falls to the ground. I stand jerking my combat knife free and the caravanner and her guards gaped with wide eyes at me as I stand on top of the supermutants back. Charon comes over smirking, shaking his head he holds his hand out to me. I grin taking his hand and stepping down beside him wiping my combat knife off and sheathing it. "Well that was fun!"

Charon chuckled as the caravanner came over, "That was incredible! I've never seen anyone take down supermutants quite like that!" She glanced at Charon, eyeing him. I crossed my arms fully expecting her to have some snide bigoted remark to make about Charon but to my surprise she just mumbled about him being the tallest ghoul she's ever seen before looking at me again. We had a quick talk and learned they'd just come from Goodneighbor, a small town around the corner, neon lights showcasing the town name above the red door used as an entrance. Charon and I decided to just go there since it's so close.

After parting ways with the caravanner and her guards and arriving at the entrance to Goodneighbor we headed inside. I paused looking around and saw a mix of humans and ghouls and grinned, nudging Charon, "Might like it here!" he smiled grunting at me and we moved further in checking out the two shops right there at the entrance, Daisy's Discounts, run by a prewar ghoullette who reminded me of a mix of Carol and Gretta back at Underworld in the Capital Wasteland. I liked her and bought a few things from her before we went next door to a place called Kill or Be Killed run by an assaultron droid of all things, named KL-E-O. With a female personality and flirty tone, she sold us some ammo for our guns telling us at one point, "Everything here is guaranteed to injure, maim, or kill at your discretion. Except me. I only kill when I want to." I tilted my head at that smirking and we headed out and around the corner, down the alley to a small courtyard type set up. The sign for a place called The Third Rail caught my attention and we headed down.

Once inside it quickly became clear it was an old subway once and now was turned into a bar. We were shocked to discover a live performance being put on by a pretty woman with dark hair in a slinky sparkling red dress. Charon and I sat at a back corner table where we could see everyone in the place and the entrance as well ordering a couple beers and some food to eat while people watching silently. I leaned close to Charon and whispered, "Kinda reminds me of Underworld a bit, but more dangerous."

Charon nodded and when our food and beers arrived, we made sure the beer was unopened, smelled the food and tasted a small amount to make sure it was alright before actually tucking into the food. A strange thing to do perhaps but one that had become a habit for us over the years. A male ghoul wearing an old-fashioned frock and tricorn hat walked in with a woman with half her head shaved, the remaining red locks falling over one side of her head. I nodded at them, "Important." Charon nodded his agreement. To our surprise the ghoul came over to lean against the bar near our table, "I felt I needed to meet the woman and abnormally tall ghoul that caused a stir of gossip among the people of my town." I tilt my head and smirk, "Your town?" He grins and eyes me, his black gaze piercing despite having the solid void like gaze several ghouls have. "That's right. MY town. I'm Hancock and this is Goodneighbor. Of the people for the people. Ya feel me. Everyone's welcome." I glance at Charon, and he eyes me, both of us sharing a private conversation before I stand holding my hand out to shake Hancock's hand, "I'm V. This is Charon. You mentioned we've caused a stir?"

Hancock grins, shaking my hand before he slides a chair over and sits at our table motioning for the Mr. Handy, Whitechapel Charlie, to bring him a drink. The woman with him leaned against the bar behind him clearly waiting in case she was needed. He leans back in his chair before speaking with a charismatic tone, "Oh yeah. The guards witnessed your take down of those supermutants just outside town. Said they've never seen anyone practically dance around, not to mention, on a supermutant like that before. Got me intrigued. When they mentioned you were traveling with a very tall ghoul, I was sold on checking you out myself. So, tell me...V... you just passing through Goodneighbor or coming here to settle down?"

I sip my beer as a glass of whiskey is set before Hancock which he lifts sipping as he gazes at me. I lean back and eye him right back and he smirks clearly pleased by my confident action. "Looking for someone actually. Heard he was with someone called the General. Leads the Minutemen from what we understand." Hancock swallows more of his whiskey then pulls a mentats case out popping some into his mouth offering us some. I wave him away, Charon simply shaking his head no, then Hancock shifts in his seat, slipping the mentats away again, "So are you looking for the General too?" I gulp down the rest of my beer, shaking my head, " Nope. She sounds, interesting, but it's her traveling companion I need to speak to. Or at least, he was her traveling companion from what we were told. Maybe you know him or heard of him. Goes by the name MacCready, Mac for short."

Hancock hums and tugs a pack of cigarettes out lighting one up offering us one. That I smile about and take two, passing one to Charon, flipping open my lighter, I inhale on my cigarette handing the lighter to Charon who copies me tucking the lighter away in his leather jacket's pocket. We inhale letting the smoke filter out of our mouths. Hancock releases a breath of smoke before speaking, "Why you looking for Mac? Wanting to hire him?" I chuckle, waving my free hand, "Nah. I know him. Knew him when he was still a brat kid. Last letter we got from him said he was here in the Commonwealth and was working as a merc, but not much else honestly. So, since we ended up here, figured we'd look for him."

Hancock inhales some more nicotine before letting it filter out of his nasal cavity, eyes locked on me, "Interesting. Well..." Hancock sips his whiskey then continues, "...they're not here. Haven't been by here for a few weeks now. You want to find the General, you can either find more of her settlements, or head straight for The Castle, which is Minutemen HQ. It's out on the coast, way out past the Boston Commons at that old world fort. I think it was called Fort Independence before the war." I shift glancing at Charon who nods slightly letting me know silently that he knows what place Hancock is referring to. I open my pack and turn my pip-boy on then shift closer to Hancock opening the map on my pip-boy. Hancock eyes me, "You have a pip-boy? You a vault dweller?" I nod, "I used to be. Years ago. Can you show me where the place you mentioned, The Castle, is on my pip-boy?" Hancock leans back finishing his cigarette before stubbing it out in an ashtray, "And why should I do that?" I laugh pulling my pip-boy back handing it to Charon so he can try to place the marker for The Castle instead based on what we were told. "We'll find it either way. Besides..." I lean back in my seat finishing my own cigarette stubbing it out like Hancock did, "I'm sure contacting the leader of a group like the Minutemen wouldn't be all that difficult. Multiple settlements all over the Commonwealth means somehow those settlements have to be able to communicate so she can learn when there's any issues that needs handled. So even if we didn't find The Castle, we'd get her attention one way or other. I'd wager you even have a means of getting in touch with her yourself. You talk with a certain tone, though it is well hidden, that speaks of a personal connection to the General. So..." I smirk." If you're that paranoid about who we are, feel free to contact the General, have her bring Mac with her, and he can verify I am who I say I am."

Hancock motions back and his guard turns leaving The Third Rail. He smirks at me, "And let's say I do what you've asked, would Mac know you by the name V then?" I grin, "Sure would. Only Charon..." I motion at him as he finishes his own cigarette setting my pip-boy down, "...knows my real name. Everyone else just knows me as V, including MacCready."

Hancock leans forward in his chair tugging the tin of mentats out again, popping one. Hancock sets the mentat tin on the table this time and chews for a moment before speaking, "Let's say I went along with what you want..." He tilts his head slightly, "...The General is an important person, you see, so I'm sure you'd understand that should she actually agree to anything, it would have to be on neutral ground.... " I chuckle leaning closer to Charon and speak softly so only he can hear me, "Could you get me my favorite drink?" He nods, eyes shifting to me, softening slightly before the hard look takes over and he stands walking over to place an order for a beer for himself, and a vodka mixed with mutfruit and nuka-cola for me. As he's waiting for the drinks, my eyes stay on him, a small smile tugging my lips up. I speak to Hancock despite my gaze being on Charon, "Doesn't that make here in Goodnieghbor the perfect spot then. You're clearly not actually part of the Minutemen but affiliated with them just the same." Hancock chuckles popping another mentat, "Must have a strong thing with your big ghoul companion, the way you're eyeing him now..."

My gaze shifts from Charon, who had turned to gaze at me only seconds after he'd finished our drink orders, to Hancock, "We've been through a lot of shit since we met. Makes a strong bond. Now stop changing the subject." Hancock chuckles as Charon walks back over sitting my drink before me and taking his seat beside me popping his beer open. He swigs some then leans back in a way that clearly states he's not a man to be fucked with. Hancock chuckles, "Alright, alright." His hand waves nonchalantly then he lights up another cigarette again before speaking, "I'll contact the General and see what's decided, then let ya know. If you're lucky she'll be nearby already. Never does stop traveling all over the Commonwealth." I snort then sip my drink humming in contentment as the drink slides down my throat, "I know how that is. We don't sit still for long either. Haven't for a long time. Not since I was still in the vault anyway."

Hancock puffs out some smoke from his nasal cavity before replying, "You were a vault dweller? Wouldn't have guessed honestly. You definitely don't give off that..." He paused eyeing me inhaling on his cigarette, "...vibe." I chuckle sipping more of my drink, "The lack of naivety, a jumpsuit and a pip-boy help hide it?" Hancock chuckles puffing on the last of his cigarette before stubbing it out in the ash tray on the table, "Well that's one reason anyway. Your scars and that look in your eyes is another. Vault dwellers usually have this look of fear in their gaze." I gulp down more of my drink chuckling, "I've had some time to harden myself a bit. The naive vault dweller I was, has been gone for quite a few years now." Hancock hums nodding then stands tucking his mentats tin away in his coat again, "Well, it's been a pleasure. V. Charon. I'll head to my office and contact the General now. If you need a room for the night, take the left once you head outside and you can't miss it. Hotel Rexford. Tell em I'll cover your first night." With that he nods then stands. I nod, "Thanks for that." With that Hancock heads out of the bar leaving us to enjoy the rest of our drinks. I lift my glass swallowing the rest of my drink then nudge Charon lightly in his arm, "Should we enjoy a free room for the night?" He glances at me, a smirk tugging the remains of his lips up. I flush brightly when I realize how that sounded and stammer as I quickly push to my feet, "So lets go!" my voice comes out in a bit of a squeak of embarrassment. Even after years he still makes me blush at even the thought of doing anything with him, and that thought has definitely been in my head numerous times even more so after my desperate kiss with him.

He chuckles finishing his beer and stands speaking softly to me, "You're a little red in the face, V." I swat his arm lightly, "Oh shut up!" I turn heading over and up the stairs to leave the bar. He chuckles as he follows close behind me. We turn left and sure enough to the left of the small walled off portion of the town is an old brick building with a sign that reads Hotel Rexford. We head over and step instead moving to the counter and tell the woman behind it what Hancock said. She nodded turning and tugged a key from one of the hooks on the wall behind her handing it to us, "You wanna stay more than one night you best be ready to pay though." I nod, "Won't be a problem." I take the key and we head up after she tells us which floor the room is on. Once we arrive and I unlock the door, we step in locking it again before setting out packs down then looking through the small room to be sure it's secure enough. After I sit on the couch and use the coffee table to begin taking apart my guns and cleaning them, Charon sitting beside me following my example.

"Hancock is interesting." Charon speaks quietly as he works methodically. I nod in agreement, "He is. Charismatic, clearly cares about his people, though I get the sense he doesn't get too involved in their day to day unless needed."

"That's a good thing."

"Yeah. I think so too." Charon's tone shifts some and that teasing voice he tends to only use when we're alone comes out, "So...we going to enjoy the free room tonight?" I flush brightly dropping the rag in my hand as well as the piece of my gun I was cleaning. It clangs on the edge of the coffee table before hitting the floor, the rag fluttering down to land partially covering it. My eyes wide I stare at him. Rather than joking back about it as I usually would to cover up just how much I genuinely want that to happen, I speak soft and quiet, "Is that something you would want?" Now that the contract is no longer a thing hanging over us and he can truly choose of his own accord, even despite my fear that I might feel something on a level he perhaps doesn't, I decide to take a risk. He stops cleaning the part from his combat shotgun, hands stilling as he turns his head to gaze down at me. His hazy blue eyes lock onto mine and he speaks, soft, unsure, "If I said it was, what would happen? Would it change things?"

"Yes." I turn to him more, licking my lips before continuing, "For the better I'd like to think." He sets the combat shotgun piece and rag down then turns to me more, hand lifting toward my cheek, hesitating. I raise my hand pushing his palm against my cheek, his eyes dropping to my lips then raising back up to my eyes again. He speaks quietly, "I still remember what it felt like to kiss you like it only happened yesterday." I inhale, eyes widening and I lean closer, "So do I. It wasn't how I would've wanted our first kiss to be, but I didn't know what else to do that day. I...." I lean closer my hand slipping from his on my cheek to cup his own cheek, "...I thought I was going to lose you." Charon shifts his forehead lowering to press against mine and he speaks with a softness that no one else will ever hear, "I was scared that day." I gaze at him, my eyes clearly showing that I'm listening, "I thought I wouldn't be able to stop. I was prepared to end my own life if I..." I see the deep despair in his eyes and lean closer, my lips mere centimeters from pressing against the remains of his own lips, "Thankfully it didn't end that way." We moved together, mouths meeting for our second kiss. A soft moan slips from me, he tugs my body closer, my leg lifting to go over him so I can straddle his lap.
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Author note: If you don't wish to read sexual scenes, skip the next few paragraphs. It will have a line of asterisk (*) marks to indicate the end of the sex scene so you can avoid reading it if you wish.
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A moan escapes him as I press against him on his lap and I'm able to feel the slight tenting of his pants where he's growing hard from our intense kiss. My hands slide down to push under his leather jacket, and he shrugs it off letting it hit the couch behind him, following my lead and pulling my own leather jacket off dropping it onto the couch without breaking from our kiss. My tongue slips past the remains of his lips, his own sliding across mine pulling another moan from me. I lean back gazing into his eyes, my hand sliding up his chest to caress his cheek again, "This means more to me than just sex, Charon." I press my forehead against his, finally letting the depth of my feelings come out after more than a decade of their existence, " I love you." Charon closes his eyes a smile coming to him as he speaks softly, his hand against my cheek too, "I..." he hesitates and I caress his cheek gently, "It's alright if you don't...." he kisses me to stop me from speaking further then mumbles against my lips, "I am afraid, V. I've never been in this situation, feeling this way, before." I kiss him again, "We can figure it out together." he nods, whispering to confirm, "Together." our mouths meet again, my hands sliding down to tug his shirt from his leather pants and sliding under and up across his stomach, his muscles contracting as my fingers graze his leathery skin, sliding across some of his exposed muscles, they covered with a thin membrane like layer for protection. Many people are disgusted with ghouls, but to me, Charon in particular, is beautiful. I lick his neck; he moans holding me closer as I push his shirt up leaning back enough to tug it off dropping it on the floor before I'm kissing him again.

I feel some semblance of hesitation in him and lean back cupping his face again, "I want this Charon. I want you." He inhales, the uncertainty slipping away as he gazes into my eyes. One thing I promised him long ago when I first got his contract was that I would never lie to him. It's a promise that continued even after he broke free of the contracts hold. He slides his hands under my own shirt, and I lift my arms so he can tug it off me. He inhales even despite the fact that he's seen me naked many times before. It's clear this is different. This time, we are both seeing each other in a state of undress, not to dress wounds but to show each other the depth of our feelings for the other. My shirt hits the floor, and I kiss him again as his hands shake, my own equally shaky as we slowly undress each other, our clothing being dropped around us. I grind against his cock, now fully exposed to me and he moans, panting harder as our kissing grows even more intense. He stands lifting me, my legs wind around his waist, and moves to lower me to the bed, kissing me again as he grinds against me. A moan escapes me, and he slides down kissing and licking my neck. I arch up, my breasts pressing against his chest, harden nipples sliding against him making me moan again. Lowering his head he licks my nipple, and I arch up more crying out softly, hand pressing against his head, fingers sliding through the chunks of hair still on his head and his name slips from my lips, "Charon..."

He grinds against my groin again and I spread my legs for him lifting my hips, so his cock slides across my folds, "Please Charon..." shifting himself he grazes his tip across me and we both moan. His eyes lock with mine confirming I want this and that I'm ready, one of our silent conversations occurring. I pant harder grinding against him again and he slowly pushes into me. I arch, he groans, and he fully sinks into me coming to a stop, holding me close as he stills once, he's fully inside me. I gasp, panting harder and he pulls his hips back before thrusting forward again pulling a cry of pleasure from me. I lift my hips thrusting with him and we get a steady rhythm going, our mouths meeting again. Panting hard we kiss while thrusting together faster. He groans lowering his head to lick and kiss my neck as his hips thrust faster and faster, my orgasm building rapidly. I cry out when it slams through me, my legs around his waist tightening, my hips quivering, legs trembling, as my body clamps down around him with my release. He groans and thrusts several more times before his own body shutters and his release slams through him. My body drops to the bed, breathing heavy. His body shutters a few more times before he lowers resting on his forearms over me catching his breath.
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I tug his head down to rest on my chest and he carefully evens his weight, so he doesn't crush me. My hands slide across his scalp, fingers grazed by the tufts of his remaining hair. He sighs, shifting to kiss my chest over my heart before settling against me again. I can't keep the smile from my face as I kiss his forehead lovingly whispering, "We're gonna do that again right!?" He chuckles lifting to roll off me, pulling me against him to hold me, "Definitely." I chuckle happily, kissing his chest like he did mine before settling against him with a quiet yawn. "Sleep first..." I mumble and he chuckles again holding me close as sleep tugs me under.

The next morning, we come together again before rising to clean up and get dressed for the day. We finish the cleaning and maintenance on our guns before stowing our bags so they won't be easily found, a pouch of caps tucked into each of our leather jackets inner pockets before we step out of the room, locking the door, then head downstairs to pay for another night for the room then head over, after getting directions, to see Hancock in his office.

As we step inside, a few Goodneighbor guards are standing at the base of a spiral staircase. "We're here to see Hancock." They nod motioning at the stairs, "Just head up, wide hallway to the left. He'll likely be sitting on one of his couches." I nod thanking them and we head up, their whispers about us faint behind us as we head upstairs. I chuckle lightly elbowing Charon, "Guess we're still the talk of the town for now." His hand grazes mine, "That's not abnormal when you show up somewhere." I grin and Hancock's voice interrupts our small moment, "V. Charon. I hope you had a pleasant night." I blush lightly cursing quietly at Charon when he smirks mumbling about it being very pleasant. I grumble about damn ghouls and how they don't fucking blush, and he grins more. Hancock chuckles eyeing us, "So, I take it the night was definitely one to remember. Good." I grumble again and Charon chuckles, his fingers grazing my hand, more open with his affections than usual. I lace my fingers with his then tug him forward and we sit on the couch across from Hancock. He inhales on some jet offering us some and we decline before I lean back, "So, did you get ahold of the General?"

"Sure did." he inhales a little more jet then sets it down on the coffee table with a variety of other chems, leaning back before speaking, "She said she's actually in Diamond City and that you can either head that way to meet her today or she'll be here tomorrow since her and Mac planned to come through here anyways to speak to Daisy." I grin, "We'll wait here. Already paid for another night at Hotel Rexford anyways." Hancock smirks, leering at us both, "I'll bet you did!" I blush but laugh, Charon chuckling quietly. Hancock eyes him, "More open to actually making a sound today I see. Guess getting laid can do that to a man." I cough, and laugh, though still blush just the same. Charon throws his head back laughing. I smile at the sight, it not one that happens often even after our years together. I'm highly considering making sure we visit Hancock more often in the future if this is the result since it's so great to see Charon more carefree like this.

Hancock tosses a pack of cigarettes toward me; I catch it easily and grin thanking him. I tug out two handing one to Charon and we sit back smoking and continue to chat with Hancock for a while. We eventually head down to the bar and enjoy some lunch together before Hancock leaves to handle some paperwork he has to finish up. We decide to relax for the rest of the day in the bar, having dinner and some drinks, before we head back to our room at Hotel Rexford. We barely reach the top step of the floor our room is on before we move, kissing and stumbling. He lifts me in his arms, and I fumble with unlocking our room door. Kicking it shut behind him we fall onto the bed together.

Several hours later I lie on his bare chest speaking softly, "It's officially an obsession!" he chuckles, fingers gently sliding through my hair, occasionally my hair gets snagged on his skin, but he always gently frees the strands before resuming the gentle movement of his fingers, "Obsession is one word for it." he speaks softly. I get up to use our bathroom, locking the room door before rolling back into the bed with him again laughing when he rolls me so I'm straddling him. We come together again and again before falling asleep holding each other.

The next day we gather our gear up and heft our bags onto our backs heading outside after turning in our room key. When we walk around the corner, we hear Hancock's voice before we see him and continue toward the main area to find him standing in front of a woman in her twenties, short brown hair pulled back into a small ponytail, armor with the Minutemen insignia on it covering her chest and matching blue armor pieces on her arms and legs. Beside her, despite the years since I last saw him, is the unmistakable face of Robert Joseph MacCready.

Chapter Text

V crosses her arms leaning against the side of the building beside her that houses K-L-E-O's shop, speaking in the same tone she once used when she first met Mac, "Hey brat! At least you're actually tall enough to reach my head this time if you decide to try to hit me again."