It started with a casual touch, a simple brushing of hands when they exchanged caps. Claire's soft pale skin against Gob's rough and dry skin.
Gob yanked his hand back and stared at the Blue haired Vault dweller, waiting for her to hit him for touching her like most smoothskins did but the strike never came.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to touch you! Honestly just please don't hit me!" He pleaded, Claire tilted her head, confused and bewildered.
"Why would I hit you?"
"I touched you, on accident of course." Gob whispered quietly, not making eye contact with the girl.
"So? I haven't hit anyone else that's touched me. You're not much different than everyone else, just a little irradiated that's all."
Gob blushed and stammered out a response.
"You're just saying that. I'm a freak, a mutant!" He huffed and turned his back to the blue haired beauty to scrub an imaginary spot on the bar.
Claire sighed sadly and reached out to touch his shoulder but pulled her hand back and turned to leave.
"I have no reason to lie to you Gob...I'll be back later tonight." Just as she opened the door a voice called out to her.
"Promise?"
It was Gob.
"Promise." Claire said turning back to wave at him, a gentle smile filling her face.
For the first time in almost 3 decades Gob felt his heart race from something other than fear, he wasn't sure what it was but he liked it.
