Not what I usually write, but I've been playing a lot of Fallout lately. Having recently beaten New Vegas again and rebuying 3 for PC, I felt a sudden urge to get this out. I honestly had a lot of fun writing this little piece; I can only hope you enjoy reading it as much.
Both figures sat casually across from each other, fire crackling away between them. They were perfect strangers, but both were confident in their ability to take the other if it such an occasion were to call for it; hands weren't on their weapons, but they were close enough to make a quick grab for them.
They had met in the Midwest, both following their own purposes for which neither knew the other's. The female in leather and armed with a revolver and a scoped bolt-action was already there and engaging the tribal raiders when the female in power armor and plasma rifle showed up. It was easy to see who the 'good guy' was in a situation like that. A lone woman taking on what might as well equal an army in these times, and that army is a bunch of raiders; the power armored woman immediately joined the fray, spraying liquid energy at every hostile that she could line up on before the other could bring them down.
The battle lasted for the better part of an hour and the women quickly expended all of their ammo and had to keep swapping out for enemy arms to continue the fight. When it was all over, they made eye contact, tipped their heads, and fell in step with each other. They walked far enough away from the grizzly scene to feel same for the night and set up camp, neither saying a word the entire time. They had both had a quick meal and were tossing a bottle of whiskey across the fire to pass the time. Not drinking enough to get drunk, but enough to relax and wind down.
With no preamble they both broke into giggles, and then full on laughter, Leather falling on her back and watching the sky as the sun went down and the stars came out. With an unspoken agreement, they both slid their weapons out of their reach. Both knew the other had more weapons concealed on them, but the unspoken agreement was made and acknowledged, and so their night of camaraderie and friendship began.
They spent a good amount of time telling stories of local legends from where they came from. From the Mysterious Stranger, which they both professed to seeing a more than a couple of times, to the Lone Wanderer and the Courier. They were two women who walked their paths alone, and this single night was more relief to them than any night in the years before. Finally, they both decided to call it a night and tucked themselves into their bedrolls.
They both woke at first light, near the same time as the other, ingrained habit for those used to the harsh realities of sleeping under the stars in the wasteland. They gave each other a small smile and began packing the scant few things they had left out, and then slipping into their armor, taking longer to do so than necessary. It was a sobering goodbye for both of the lonely adventurers. They only took a couple of steps from the other before they threw a final question over their shoulders.
"Where will you go?" they both asked.
"Back to the Mojave," Leather anwered.
"Back to D.C." Power Armor replied at the same time.
They stopped midstep and turned. It was Power Armor who asked first, though.
"I hear the Commonwealth is nice this time of year?"
With a blinding smile, Leather strode to stand next to Power Armor. They both turned east and with easy smiles, took their firsts steps into a new adventure.
So yeah, I hope you enjoyed. I probably could get away with turning this into its own story, if I really felt like it. Or you could, if you're feeling ambition. There really isn't enough quality Fallout fanfics out there. Especially Courier/Lone Wanderer. Sad times.