A/N: I've played through the Point Lookout DLC hundreds of times and always thought that Desmond Lockheart and the Lone Wandered would make a great companionship... if you can get past Desmond's attitude and his swearing. Contains some spoilers and adult content. Enjoy!


She must be the most idiotic person to ever walk into his mansion, Desmond Lockheart decides, as he watches the smoothskin with annoyed, half-lidded eyes. Sure, she'd helped him with the Tribal attack- like he barely needed her aid in the first place- but now she seemed like her good deeds had won her a stay in the mansion and a good-nights rest. She was wrong.

"Hey, uh, smoothskin?" Desmond says, trying to get the girl's attention, though she's busy introducing her own filthy animal to his pups, Freki and Geri. He almost shoots her mutt right then and there, but he takes a deep breath to calm his nerves and jams his finger against his temple instead.

"Aisling," She says, turning to look at him with a kind of proper smile he can't recall seeing since the Great War in 2077, "But you can call me Ash."

"Okay, smoothskin," Desmond growls and Ash rolls her eyes, "What do think you're doing here, anyways? I don't remember sending out invitations."

"Oh, ha, ha," She exaggerates, and Desmond scowls as she steps toward him, "If I hadn't have gotten here in time, the Tribals would have ripped you apart and eaten your dogs for dinner. A 'thank you' would be much more appreciated."

Desmond opens his mouth to speak- not to thank her, of course, never to thank her- but he grimaces and spins around on his heels and proceeds to walk in the opposite direction, hoping that if he ignored her, Ash, she'd just ignore him too and continue on with whatever it was she was doing.

"Hey, where are you going?" Ash asks, and Desmond's pace quickens as he hears her footsteps echoing behind him, "Oh, stop being such a baby."

"The last time I checked, babies shit themselves and cry nonstop. Have you ever thought of glasses?" Desmond calls over his shoulder, and he turns around to see Ash for a split second before slamming the doors of his room in front of her. On the other side, Ash groans as she hears the lock click into place.

Ash sighs in disappointment and runs her fingers through her dark brown hair. Coming to Point Lookout had been nothing far than a disaster. Back in the wasteland, the boat appeared to be her refuge; the sadness and grief of losing her father slowly floating away as she listened to the excited hum of the engine. Charon had begged to join her and Dogmeat, his fear of losing her had grown since James had passed, but she insisted that she needed the time to cope with what had happened. After hours of arguing, he'd agreed, and Ash wondered if he was beginning to regret his decision like she was now.

Dogmeat whined beside her, his ears drooping at her exhausted expression. She forced a tired smile and said, "Let's go, Dogmeat. I bet Tobar will take us back home.", though she had barely any bottlecaps in her backpack.

From inside his room, Desmond grumbled to himself as he listened to Ash. A part of his mind urged him to go after her, and he fought with his hand against his doorknob, hoping she'd just leave fast enough before his brain could pull an unforgiving stunt. He lost and opened the door loudly, hustling to catch up with Ash.

"Smooth- Ash!" He called, catching sight of her in the first large room of the mansion. She turned, surprised to see the Ghoul standing breathless behind her.

"Forget to tell me not to let the door hit me on the way out?" She asked.

"No," Desmond answered, though that would have been pretty funny, he'd have to remember to write that down somewhere, "You can stay. Here. But you've got to help me with a little problem of mine… Agreed?"

Ash narrowed her eyes. Was he joking; toying with her just to see her humiliated again? The look he gave her was genuine; his eyes unmoving and his expression waiting, maybe even a bit eager. She looked down at Dogmeat, whose tail was wagging, and lifted her gaze back up to Desmond.

"Agreed."