He watched her, his minute interest in her not showing on his face. He was as impassive as always. But still, he watched. She had looked up at him with enormous brown eyes, but hadn't attempted to speak. Those brown eyes held little warmth. She examined him as he continued to stare through her.
She turned abruptly, walking over to the bar. The scarf that covered her lower face muffled her words, Charon couldn't hear what she was saying, but he was familiar with the look on Azrukhals face. This smoothskin must have a lot of caps.
She handed over a substantial amount of caps. Azrukhal took his time counting them out. With a vicious smirk, he handed the smoothskin a piece of paper. She nodded curtly. She turned and scanned the bar. Her eyes rested on Charon. Between the scarf and the helmet, there was little of her he could try to gauge. She stalked up to him slowly, her hips swaying from side to side.
"Charon?" She asked softly.
"No. Talk to Azrukhal." He grunted back.
"Nothing on this earth will ever get me to talk to that horrid little man ever again!" She hissed. "I've purchased your contract. Come along."
Charon froze. She was already on her way out of the door. "Mistress please wait one moment."
She halted, but didn't turn around.
With three large steps, Charon stepped up to the bar. Azrukhal grinned. Charon didn't even give the vile man a chance to speak. Two shotgun blasts later, Azrukhal had no head left. People gasped and cried out, fleeing from the carnage.
Charon swiftly gathered up all the caps the smoothskin had just paid and Azrukhals pistol. Wordlessly, he returned to his new contract holder and held out her caps. She took them after a brief pause.
"Let's go Charon." She said as she walked out of the door.
For a woman, she moved quickly, taking long strides. It was at that moment that he realized she was tall. He was used to towering over everyone and she was no exception. But this woman had to be nearing six feet tall. She slipped into Carols Place and he followed without hesitation.
"Carol dear, I need a room for the night. Do you have one to spare?" The smoothskin cooed at the woman behind the counter.
Carol smiled brightly. "Of course dearie! And I just changed the shee-" she chirped, stopping mid sentence to peer at Charon.
"Oh don't be a prude Carol! Surely you don't disapprove of the male company I keep." The smoothskin giggled. Carol peered at her in amazement.
"He's WITH you dear?" Carol whispered loudly. "Does Azrukhal know?"
"Azrukhal is dead I'm afraid. Charon was forced to defend my honor." The smoothskin lied without missing a beat. "Azrukhal was such a letch! Quite inappropriate really."
Charon didn't let any emotion cross his face. Carol looked horrified at what the smoothskin was implying.
"You poor dear!" Carol cooed. "Thank goodness Charon was there to... Help you." She drew out the words slowly.
"Charon is definitely my hero. How about that room?" The smoothskin asked sweetly.
"Oh absolutely dearie! Can Greta get you anything to eat before you go to bed?" Carol said as she lead them to the bedroom.
"Does she have any Salisbury steak? Charon needs at least three. I'll take some pork n beans. And whiskey. As much as she has." The smoothskin requested.
And then they were alone. The smoothskin quickly shed her boots and combat armor. Then her scarf, and finally her helmet. Pale blond hair cascaded down to her waist. She swiftly ran her fingers through it carelessly before pulling it into a thick braid.
She sighed and pulled at her tank-top. Everything was so damn dirty. Charon stood completely still, awaiting her orders.
"Please, have a seat. You're a big fucker you know that?" She said with a small smile.
"Yes Mistress." Charon said, devoid of emotion. She raised an eyebrow as he sat down but didn't relax at all.
"I hope you'll forgive me for ordering your food, I wanted to speak alone." She said. "I'd like to return this to you."
She held out a piece of paper. He frowned. "What is this Mistress?" He asked stiffly.
"Your contract of course." She retorted.
"I cannot hold my own contract mistress. I must have a contract holder." Charon replied stiffly, sounding rehearsed and blank.
She stepped back and examined him. "Holy shit. Azrukhal said you were brain washed but I thought he was fucking around. You're not a slave?" She asked.
"I am yours to command. I will serve you until I die or you sell my contract. I will protect you with my life. What are your orders mistress." Charon droned on.
She shook her head. "No way. I don't own slaves. You don't just own another person. Don't you understand? You're free." She all but shouted.
"Mistress-" He began.
"Stop fucking calling me that! My name is Evelyn!" She snapped.
"Evelyn," He amended, "I cannot be free. My training compels me to seek out a new contract holder once the owner dies or relinquishes the contract. So I will be owned no matter what you insist," he said, his head hanging low.
"Fuck. FUCK." Evelyn cursed. Her eyes rested on the man before her. "I was hoping to win you over. I'm making a long trip in two weeks and really needed someone to come with me." She explained. "I thought if I bought you your contract back you would be willing to let me hire you."
He remained silent. He wasn't sure what to say. He had no free will. So the things she was saying really had no impact on him. However, the idea that she wanted to return his contract, to free him, made him feel... Better.
"Charon I refuse to be a slave owner. It's not something I've ever believed in. What should I do?" She asked.
Charon immediately stopped feeling better. "If my presence troubles you, you are always free to give away or sell my contract." He supplied.
"Absolutely not. What happens if you end up stuck with another Azrukhal? You blew his head off for a reason right?" She asked.
"He was a very evil man that made me do very evil things. He deserved to die." Charon answered.
"Yeah well I'm not risking that happening again." Evelyn said.
"I would not harm you." Charon stated.
"I don't mean that Charon. I mean you being forced to do bad things. It's not right. Maybe I can help you." Evelyn said.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Charon rose immediately and stood defensively in front of the door.
"It is my duty to keep you safe. Please do not answer doors." He asked. She gave him a strange look but nodded.
He answered the door. Greta stood there with food and a large amount of alcohol. She didn't look surprised to see Charon. Carol must have spread the word.
"That'll be 84 caps you big idiot." She crowed when he attempted to shut the door. He growled and was startled by a small hand on his arm.
Evelyn gave Greta a smile and said, "Here's one hundred caps, thanks so much."
Greta's expression softened. "Thank you honey. I'll get Carol something nice." She gave Charon one last glare and was gone.
Charon placed the food and whiskey down onto the small bedside table. Evelyn crowded closer until his back was pressed against the table, and she pressed against him to grab her food. He was surprised to say the least.
She sat on the bed with her legs tucked under her. She wasn't repulsed by him at all. She didn't even appear fearful. Some of her hair had already escaped the braid she had tried to restrict it to. She patted the bed next to her and he just stared.
"Sit!" She ordered, blanching a moment later at the realization that she had given him a command. He obliged immediately.
"Fuck Charon!" She groaned. "I meant that as a request. Did you want to sit?"
Charon paused. "Sitting is enjoyable." He answered finally.
She sighed, placing the tip of her braid into her mouth to chew on it. She seemed deep in thought.
"Can I give you a more specific order, one that will guide the others?" She asked.
"I don't know." Charon admitted.
"Okay." She sighed. "Charon I order you to only follow my orders if I specifically say 'Charon I order you' and to take any other statements as a request that you are free to ignore."
His eyes narrowed. "Evelyn I'm not sure how well that would work. My contract-"
"FUCK THAT FUCKING CONTRACT!" She howled with rage, startling him with her vehemence. Evelyn sighed. "Could you at least try? Please?"
Charon nodded. "I will try to do what you ask of me."
"Thanks gorgeous." She smiled brightly, without a trace of venom. "Charon I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep."
"I will keep watch." Charon replied.
"Don't be silly. Do you think Carol is coming to kill us in the night? Get in bed." She scoffed.
"I do not have my own lodgings Evelyn. If you will permit me, I will sleep in front of the door." Charon said uncertainly.
She looked incredulous. "You are not sleeping in front of the door. Just get on your side of the bed. But be prepared, I'm a blanket hog." She commanded.
"I do not require a blanket." He answered blankly.
She let out an exasperated hiss. "Just get in bed. No funny business now."
He frowned. "Funny business?"
She examined him as she would a particularly interesting bug. A mixture of curiosity and disdain. "Just lay down. Sheesh."
He laid his large frame awkwardly onto the bed, trying to take up as little space as possible.
"For gods sake Charon take off your armor and boots. And relax. You're making me nervous." She snapped as she crawled into bed.
He complied shyly, feeling strange in just denim pants and a thin short sleeved shirt. He switched off the lamp and crawled onto the old mattress. It groaned with his weight. He was tense for a few minutes as he listened to her even breathing. She was sound asleep.
As he drifted off into a light slumber he felt her roll closer. A pale arm rested across his stomach and he froze. She scooted closer and nestled into him. His eyes flew open and he gently tried to extract himself from the embrace. Rather than move away, she clung to him, seeking the warmth of his body. After a few restless moments he relented and accepted his fate. He fell asleep snuggled up to a woman for the first time in over 200 years.