Yeah, this is just a retelling of the choice I made in New Vegas regarding Benny being held captive by Caesar. Mine is an unnamed male Courier, this isn't a slash, and there's a fair bit of dialogue, ya dig?
Please review!
The courier coughed to get the attention of the bound man kneeling before him. Benny looked up from his thoughts and met his eyes. They were inside Caesar's personal tent, and the atmosphere was almost too intense to bear.
He couldn't stand being around the Legion, despite that creep Vulpes' promise that they'd do him no harm. He'd seen their slaves on the path in, he'd seen those who had been crucified and left to burn in the sun. The things the Legion had done and stood for were unforgivable, yet here the courier stood, exposed and involved.
The situation the so called Great Dictator had pulled him into was a serious one: choose Benny's death. It definitely wasn't a suggestion.
"Hey, kid. You done talkin' with your buddy?"
"He's anything but my buddy, Benny." The courier could hear that Caesar was now having a conversation with his Praetorian guards, but he kept his voice low so that only Benny could hear him anyway. You couldn't risk a thing with these people.
"Don't I know it. You looked like you were gonna keel over right there in front of his holiness." Benny stole a brief glance in Caesar's direction, before quickly returning his gaze to the courier's face. "The guards ain't too happy with eye contact," he muttered "And this is the first time I've been allowed to speak in two days."
"I doubt you've ever had anything decent to say, but this is your chance," the young man sighed, "can you explain yourself?"
"You'll think I'll be honest?"
"Yeah. You owe me that."
The courier tried to hold a determined expression and body language while the man in the chequered coat observed him. After a moment, the Chairman spoke.
"I suppose I do. But you ain't gonna get me all sobby and beggin' for your forgiveness, baby. I had my reasons for what I did."
"Reasons? What you pulled in the Tops was just cowardice, you couldn't even face a person you'd wronged?"
"You were there to kill me."
"I was there to talk. I could've put two in your head the moment I walked in, but being a fool, I thought
maybe there was still some sort of decency in the man who'd shoot someone tied up on their knees."
"Guess you're either stupid or being shot in the skull scrambled your judgement."
The courier frowned, Benny was in no position to be giving out insults. "What I'm saying is that I wanted an apology."
There was no reply.
"How about you answer some questions."
Benny looked down to one side. "Whaddo you wanna know?"
"Let's start with who you are. All I've heard is your name and that you're a rat. Betraying people seems to be your business. You think having the Great Khans against you is a good idea?"
"Tch, who says I'm thinkin' straight these days? Anyway, myself- would you believe I'm from a tribal gang? Called ourselves the Boot Riders."
"Never heard of them."
"Why would you? Mr. House sends one of his fancy securitrons to us one day and invites us to run a casino in the Strip, just like that. Gave us a box of suits and ties and renamed us the Chairmen. I've gotta say I like the look," he shifted on his knees.
"Why are you head of the Chairmen?"
"'Cause I put a knife through the throat of the guy who was chief of our gang." He chuckled at the courier's expression, until the nearest guard demanded he shut up in the presence of a friend of Caesar. He coughed, then quietly explained. "He didn't wanna leave the old ways and become a part of something big, so he challenged me. Any more questions, or can I get back to the comforts of the slave quarters, baby? The chicks there love me."
The courier raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want the Platinum Chip so much, Benny? You're head of a major casino, or are you just that gree-"
"I wanna rule New Vegas, kid. D'you have any idea of what that thing is key to? It's key to winning the dam and the independence of New Vegas. No NCR, no Legion assholes, an' no Mr House. You were just unlucky enough to be in the way, though clearly you weren't dealt such a bad hand after all, huh?"
The young man shrugged. "Apart from the whole ruling thing, that's pretty damn noble. Depending on how you look at it."
"If you say so. Lemme ask you a question, delivery boy, why are you here? Caesar gets word you're approaching and has me pulled out here for you to chat with? What digs?"
"Caesar's letting me choose your death."
Benny didn't look surprised.
Apologies for any details being wrong. I can't quite remember how much Benny tells you about himself or his plan in the Tops, or whether you learn it all from him in the tent.
Continued in the next chapter, coming...soon?