A/N:
A kind of short chapter I guess, woo. I don't know, it felt right to end it here so that's how it's gonna be. Next will be longer, I promise, and will also be pretty gory or at least I hope :3c Anyway, enjoy~
Dawn arrives, and between last night's events and now all I've accumilated is the memory of a short but unpleasant dream in which I'm slowly peeling of chunks of my own skin. At this time in the morning Freeside seems almost serene; there's this kind of deathly silence littered with the occasional screeches of balding, mutated birds scavenging through the evidence of last night's festivities to orange-purple sea of sunrise. None of the patients or scientists are awake yet; the courtyard of the fort seems empty as I peer out of the tent and fasten my discoloured, dirty headband. By the looks of it, I should be able to leave
without any further interaction, which of course is a good thing. I turn to grab the package, the box of supplies, but much to my irriation it's missing. After overcoming my initial frustration I come to the conclusion that that bastard doctor must have moved it so that I wasn't tempted by its contents again. I step out into the open air to find that the temperature is already quite moderate considering the sun's still coming up, so it's going to be a particularly hot day.
'Huh, I figured you'd be the kind of person that would oversleep.'
It appears this Gannon guy has a habit of appearing unannounced.
This time I don't even react to Arcade's appearance, nor do I turn to face him as I reply.
'Being on time is one of my job requirements, unfortunately.'
I don't catch his reaction, but his silence probably means he's satisfied.
'Yes, well, I'm sure you want to just get the package and get going, but...'
I clench my teeth, inwardly furious. I already know what he's going to say and I can also tell that he's just teasing me- if he was serious he would have been more blunt. Arcade takes a side-step so that he's standing in front of me, and it's only now that I see that the the supplies are resting in his arms and suddenly I feel like a child being taunted with a toy that's being held just too high for them to reach.
'You see, after what I saw last night I can't help but distrust you only islightly/i. After all, I was hoping you would deliver my medicines, not use them yourself.'
'Well then, Doctor,' I sneer, folding my arms and leaning back defensively. 'How do you suggest we resolve this issue?'
At my question, he offers me the supply box without a moments hesitation, and I'm too confused to even take it. It makes sense that he wouldn't trust me after what happened, so I doubt that he would be lying just to delay my departure by a few moments. The fact that he'd give up so easily seems out of character, so much so that I can observe this after knowing him for less than a day. It's only what comes next that secures my understanding of his actions.
'I'm coming with you.' He declares firmly, and I scoff in disbelieve.
'Yeah, sure you are.' I drone, taking the box and moving to leave. He stops me by grabbing onto my shoulder, and my spine tingles with fear like it would when I got in trouble at school.
'I seldom joke, Courier. At least, I seldom joke badly. No, I'm going to have to come with you.'
I turn back, mortified. 'Don't you think that would be a bit of a waste of my services, and your money?' I ask, already trying to find reason for Arcade not to tag along. Despite what he said, this whole situation is feeling like a bad joke that's gone way to far. I think I'd rather die than have company on my travels. Sure, maybe a dog would be nice, but only because dogs don't stare at you like they couldn't care less if you were there and make witty, enfuriating comments with their every breath.
'We're not paying you just to get there,' Gannon insists. 'I could certainly do that myself. What I can't do is fend of a hoarde of feral ghouls trying to rip me to shreds. That would be your job.'
I roll my eyes and groan. 'So what would your job be?' I sigh, indulging in his idea whilst still remaining firmly against it.
'I could try to help you out with the mindless killing. And you'll need someone to fix you up afterwards. Oh, and of course making sure the entire contents of that box gets where it needs to go.'
I glance up at him coldly but he doesn't falter, he just stares back at me with steely composure.
'And if I refuse your proposition?' I suggest, already knowing the answer deep down.
'Oh, then I'll just find someone a little more suitable. I would have done that anyway, if it weren't for the delay it would cause. That and there aren't many others brave enough to do what you do for a living.' It's as though he had the answer all planned out already.
'Stupid enough, more likely.' I mumble under my breath, but he doesn't notice.
Eventually I sigh resignedly and nod, folding my arms to express my distaste with the situation.
'Well it looks like I don't have a choice then.' I grumble, and Arcade smiles in a fashion that almost seems genuine, rather than sarcastic.
'But if you haven't worked this out already,' I continue, as though this last statement might be enough to put him off, 'I'm terrible company.'
'Me too. I think we'll get along just fine.'
I go to take the medical supplies from him but he turns quickly, snatcing them from my reach.
'We'll leave in ten minutes.'Gannon explains. 'So go do whatever it is you have to do now.
It's only with this statement that I realise the guy had known I would agree to let him go with me all along; how else would he be so prepared to leave?
A ball of white-hot anger unfurls inside me, I can feel the fury mixing in with my blood and making curling, intricate patterns as it spreads to my brain.
Only for a few days. I tell myself, and it's the only thing that keeps me from lashing out at the man right here and now. That, and the fact that of course I'm getting paid for this and more importantly ihe's/i the one paying me. Suddenly enduring the company of Arcade seems worth it just for the experience of watching him put the caps into my hand with that blank expression covering up his irritation.
'I can go right now, actually.' I counter, and the doctor turns back around, one eyebrow raised.
'Oh really? Then let's get going.'
I step out in front before he can move but he quickly matches my pace and I can tell before we've even left the fort that this journey is going to be more exhausting than I'd like it to be.
