So, I came up with this idea a little bit ago and wanted to try it out. Not sure how I want to go about this, really. I have a vague plot, but.. *shrug*
Feedback is always appreciated.
Onwards.
-Edit: For some ungodly known reason, my computer keeps autocorrecting Veronica into Vanessa /stabs computer/ fixed this. Sorry for any confusion this caused. D:-
Warning: Unbeta'd.
He's a Tramp
Three months after the courier takes over New Vegas, she becomes aware of the consequences of her actions. Or rather, the consequences of sleeping with Benny.
Chapter One
Three months after the Battle at Hover Dam, Part Deux, Sally, as the new ruler of New Vegas, had done a pretty damn good job of fixing up the area. She set up slight taxes for the casinos, taking a certain percentage of their profits and putting them back into the community.
Some of the caps went to the Follows, allowing them to expand their influence and take care of the new influx of patients.
Some went to the Kings, who-with Sally's occasional assistance-became less of a gang, and more of a protect force for the people of Freeside.
The rest went into cleaning up the Strip-not that there was much to really clean up. Thanks to Yes-Man and the rest of the upgraded Securitrons, the inhabitants and visitors didn't cause too much trouble.
The NCR kept clear of New Vegas for the most part, with some of the deserters or retired of the army settling in New Vegas under the watchful eyes of the Kings or Sally herself.
As for the Legion, well, after their defeat, most of them committed honorable suicide. Those who didn't either backtracked to try to find remnants of their original tribes or vanished without a trace. (There were rumors that a surviving Frumentarii that was bringing together remnants of the Legion, but Sally wasn't too worried about that. Vulpes Inculta, for all his faults, wasn't that much of a fool and knew not to step on her toes or risk a visit from her army of Securitrons.)
Three months of hard work brought Sally one step closer to her dream of New Vegas, but three months also brought her the realization of one of her first actions in her step to independent New Vegas, might not have been the best of actions to make.
Which brought her to today, sitting at the dining table in the Luck 38's presidential suite (the penthouse, although unoccupied, still creeped her out), nose buried in a worn copy of Today's Physician, heart thudding almost painfully in her chest.
"Sally, is there any particular reason you're reading that? Is there something wrong I should know about? I am a doctor, after all."
With a tired set of eyes, Sally acknowledged Arcade's presence, her dark, sharp eyes meeting his pale ones.
"I thought you were a researcher, not a doctor." The courier-turned-ruler replied, a teasing smile spreading across her face.
"Oh no, in practice I'd be a pretty fabulous doctor. Its that whole social interaction I failed miserably at, hence why I was a researcher in the Fort. Not that I minded of course, people never really were my forte." Arcade smiled, taking a seat across from her. "What's the matter?"
Tossing the magazine onto the table, Sally rubbed her forehead. "Its been three months."
"Since?" A blond eyebrow rose, Arcade placed his hands on the dining table.
"I slept with that sneaky bastard Benny." She removed her reading glasses, placing them carefully on the table next to the tossed magazine. "And now I'm suffering from it."
"Meaning?" The blond eyebrow rose higher.
"Jesus Christ, Arcade, do I have to spell it out for you?" Sally snapped, glaring at Arcade.
"I, uhm, maybe?" Arcade paused before widening his blue-gray eyes behind his plastic framed glasses. " Oh. Oh.You... sure about this?"
Sally rubbed her forehead again and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yes."
"Really?"
"Fucking yes I am."Sally growled before taking a deep breathe and sighing. "Sorry, Arcade, and yes. I'm sure. Want to see?"
"Uhm, no-"
But Sally had already stood and was unbuttoning the suit jacket she'd taken to wearing , exposing the button up shirt underneath. And even with just the suit jacket gone, Arcade knew she was right.
Despite being made out to be some sort of superwoman, Sally was quite petite, with only a small amount of muscle. The suits and pre-war outfits she tended to wear as of late usually hung a bit baggily on her frame, but that was not the case anymore, it seemed.
Her frame was still slim, with the clothing hanging on her in some areas, but it became unusually tight around the small bump that had become her belly.
Well, this was a predicament Arcade hadn't been expecting.
Almost hesitantly, he pressed a hand against the baby bump, eyes returning to their usual size as he met the former-courier's eyes, his usual snarky attitude gone.
There was a ding and hiss as the elevator doors opened somewhere behind Arcade, and Veronica's loud perky voice interrupted his
"Hey guys, there's a man downsta-Uhm, what did I just wander into?"
Sally jerked back and grabbed her suit jacket, shrugging it on and buttoning it up with a frown, not meeting Veronica's gaze. "Nothing."
"Sally." Arcade stood, cutting the ruler off as she went to walk past the two. "Ignoring this isn't going to help. We need to figure out-"
"I've already figured out what to do. I have to find Benny."
"Checkered-coat guy? Why are we finding him? What'd I miss?"
"Sally, you can't exactly go out into the Mojave Wasteland like that. Its not safe." Arcade ignored Veronica, fearful of what would happen should Sally actually left the Strip. Just because she survived a bullet to the head once didn't mean she could survive another. And now there were two lives at the stake. "Besides we don't know where he is-"
"I'm not stupid enough to run off in the Mojave in this condition, Arcade, give me some credit. I have a friend. Member of my former tribe. Best tracker around. If Benny is still alive, he'll find him for me." Sally sighed, and looked at Veronica, "Did you say someone was waiting for me downstairs?"
"Yeah," Veronica gave Arcade a weird look but turned back to Sally. "Dark haired guy with an eyepatch and a bandanna over his mouth. He was wearing a black duster, funny symbol on the back. Said you sent a messenger to find him for something?"
"Mmm." Sally hummed to herself and smoothed down her suit jacket, leaving the room, Arcade at her heels.
"What's going on?" Veronica asked in a low voice, stalking after Arcade.
"Sally's pregnant."
"What?"