Captain Lassiter stood beside her, his hands behind his back. "You only need to hit seven out of the ten targets, Miss Jones. Any less than that and you won't be allowed to join the force." He smirked. "Don't feel bad if you can't hit that many."
Renee simply flicked the safety off her rifle. She raised the gun, positioning the stock against her shoulder. She took a breath and aimed at the ten Gwinnett Stout bottles on the fence, her eyes slightly narrowed. Her finger pulled back on the trigger.
Captain Lassiter's jaw went slack.
"So what happens if I hit ten out of ten?" Renee let the rifle droop to the ground.
The other guards that came to watch her test were staring at the fence where she'd shot down all ten bottles. She shrugged. "You know I used to do that all the time back home, right?"
"H-how did you reload so fast…" The captain shook his head. "W-well then. Welcome to the Diamond City Security Force, Miss Jones. If you'll follow me we can get you set up with a uniform."
"A uniform? Wait, you mean I'll have to wear…" Renee glanced at a nearby guard and his god-awful uniform that she and Gene always made fun of. "Uh, sir, isn't there something else I can wear instead? What's wrong with my own clothes? Can't I just have a badge?"
Lassiter arched an eyebrow and continued walking back to the security office. "I suppose there wouldn't be anything wrong with wearing your own clothes as long as you make it obvious you're part of the security detail. Maybe you could have your friend sew the Diamond City on the back of your jacket."
"Maybe…"
"Whatever the case, you don't start until next week so you have time to decide. I'll see you and your…partner bright and early Monday morning." He glanced at Noodle as the snup trotted alongside them. "You're dismissed, Officer Jones."
"Yes sir!" Renee gave him a sloppy salute before heading back to Wicked Aesthetics.
"…So that's why you got a tattoo?" Gene continued to run her hands along Renee's back.
"Yep. I figure even if I don't stay with the security guards, I still live here now so it fits." Renee winced with a grunt. "Ooh yeah, right there."
Gene began kneading at the bundle of muscles. "I can't say I evah imagined you with one."
"What do you think?" The redhead turned her head and gathered all her hair off to the side. The white ink diamond permanently etched in her neck could be plainly seen. She smirked. "Hm?"
Gene's hands stilled. Honestly, she liked it. A lot. She found it alluring, dangerous. It gave Renee a kind of…edge, almost, and damn if it didn't look good. She swallowed hard and felt heat rush into her cheeks (as well as other places). "It, uh… I like it. It…looks good on you."
"I'm glad." Renee rolled over onto her back and laced her fingers beneath her head. A smirk still curled her lips. "Well, well, well. Miss Dandridge, I do believe you're blushing."
She cleared her throat awkwardly. "You're laying on my bed half-naked, of course I'm blushing."
"Well, why don't you do something about it, then?" Renee reached one hand down to her belt, her thumb sliding along the buckle. "You've been busy at work. You're stressed. Time to let off some steam, hm?" She turned her head to show off the tattoo again.
Gene didn't need much of an invitation. She stretched out alongside the redhead, holding herself steady with one hand while the other began trailing along Renee's naked chest. She pressed a kiss to the center of the tattoo. "Convenient. It's like a target…"
Renee let slip a whimper. "Heh… Y-yeah…"
Gene continued to kiss at her throat. She could hear the soft whimpers and gasps that Renee gave. Her fingers explored a bit lower, feathering over the redhead's abdomen. "I forgot how much you like that," she murmured and nipped at the tender skin of Renee's neck.
Renee began to moan but snapped her jaw shut. Her hand scrambled for her belt buckle. "G-Gene…"
"Let me take care of that." Gene gripped Renee's hand. She pushed herself up and gazed at her girlfriend for a moment. Flushed as she was, the freckles peppered along Renee's nose and cheeks popped out, dark stars on her pale skin. "You know…"
"What?" Renee matched her gaze. Her blue eyes were wide and her lips were parted slightly.
"It kills me that you don't know what you do to me." Gene ran her thumb along Renee's bottom lip. "Sometimes, I… You make it hard to work."
Renee smiled and her eyes fell half-lidded. "I'd really appreciate it if you got back to work right about now."
"Impatient today?" Gene chuckled. She pressed a quick kiss to the redhead's lips. "Now wheah were we…"
Renee guided her hand back to her belt while Gene continued to kiss her, moving down her throat to her collar. By now Gene had become quite adept at undoing Renee's belt with one hand; she deftly flicked the buckle away and slipped the leather from the metal loop. Her fingers reached for the zipper of Renee's jeans.
"God, could you move any fucking slower?" Renee growled, reaching up to knot her hand in Gene's hair.
"Heh."
Renee's grip tightened and she let out a strangled gasp. Her hips rolled at Gene's touch. Gene smirked now. She continued to nip at Renee's throat, occasionally biting just hard enough to leave a mark but not enough to hurt—too badly. Her girlfriend mewed beneath her. "Bettah?" She whispered, pulling back for only a moment.
"Uh-huh." Renee managed a weak nod.
Gene continued to tease her. She felt Renee tense and smiled. Not a moment later Renee kissed her, hard, as she peaked. Her chest heaved. "God damn…" She breathed, pressing her forehead to the shopkeeper's. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of that."
"You always say that." Gene smiled, chuckling. "Not sure how much steam I got to let off but I'm glad you're happy."
"I didn't say we were done." Renee's eyes flashed.
Gene found herself flipped onto her back, her wrists pinned above her head by Renee. The redhead straddled her.
"Your turn."
Hours later, Gene awoke from yet another nightmare. She ran a hand through her hair and tried to focus her breathing. Why… Why is she always…
Renee shifted beside her and yawned. "It's your turn to take Noodle out," she mumbled, pulling the blankets closer.
"Renee."
At Gene's usage of her real name she sat up. "What is it? Is something wrong?" She rubbed her eyes.
Gene gazed at her in the dim light. Renee's hair was mussed from sleeping and their activities prior. Her eyes were wide. Gene grabbed her suddenly, holding her tight. "I love you."
"I love you too, but I also love to breathe!"
She let her grip slacken. "I… I don't know what I would do if you… If you nevah came home." She squeezed her eyes shut. "Promise me you'll be careful."
"I'm always careful." Renee sighed. "I know you didn't really want me to join the security guards but I'll be fine. What's the worst that could happen?"
Gene didn't want to think about the answer that she knew too well.
