It had been two weeks since Andres and Arcade got together and about three weeks since the young Courier set out after the guy that shot him in the head and stole the platinum chip. He had already been around Freeside, the area that surrounded the New Vegas strip but when he thought he could just stroll into the den of iniquity without a care he was stopped by one of the many Securitrons guarding the area and was told that he would need a passport or two thousand caps to enter. There he was thinking he was getting places but once again things seemed to be falling on its ass, well apart from the fact that he had a gorgeous blond to look at whenever he pleased...
"Andres? I'm pretty sure you know the right thing to do here or do I have to help you decide?"
Arcade said to the other male with a look of concern mixed with some confusion but there was a hint of softness to his somewhat stern tone of voice, to him the decision on where to divert the power from Helios One was pretty simple.
Andres looked at the options on the screen of the terminal in front of him with his researcher friend basically standing right over him, arms folded; he could feel those brown eyes staring straight at him. He knew that New Vegas didn't really need the power and he didn't exactly want to start up some crazy war weapon but what if New Vegas did need that power for something, his brain felt like it was about to burst as his finger hovered over the key for the highlighted option for Westside, it's what Arcade wanted and Andres wanted Arcade, he was sure that choosing Westside would at least win over the object of his affection at least a little. Arcade seemed stubborn in ways but he was sure that he could move the guy's heart slightly and even if it was only by an inch, at least that was something, at least it was a start.
"It's not that hard, Andres."
"But what if they-"
He jumped a little as he felt the older man's hand on his shoulder and the other gently grabbing the hand that reluctantly hung over the terminal, his hands were rough to the touch but it wasn't like his own were as soft as a babies bottom, you could tell that he did work hard back at the fort in Freeside. Arcade knew what he was doing; he knew how to send the Courier's heart swinging and his head spinning like a ceiling fan, he had Andres wrapped around his little finger without even trying. He felt the blonds' breath in his ear, his heart felt like it had just stopped and he was pretty sure he choked on his own breath.
"You heard that scientist, they won't know any better. It's not that hard, just..."
Andres wasn't even paying attention to the terminal anymore, he had a gorgeous doctor whispering in his ear, and he felt like some giddy schoolgirl.
"Just like that."
Next thing he knew (once he escaped from his ecstasy) was that the key had been pressed and Arcade seemed to be what was like a mile away after he realised that he wasn't holding his hand anymore. The researcher just stood there looking at the courier like nothing happened, the only thing different was the triumphant smirk across his lips.
"I knew you'd pull through."
Arcade said, the smirk turning into a bigger smile.
"Well yeah, took some convincing though."
Andres responded with a slight nervous giggle.
"I won't deny that. Anyway, let's go fire this thing up before the sun sets and we have to wait another few hours for the show. Shall we?"
"Sure thing."
The Courier replied rather sheepishly.
After making their way through another few doors and walking up to pretty much the top of the tower they stood in front of a control panel.
"Holy shit this is high up."
Andres said with, not even paying attention to the panel in front of him, his heart was in his neck, he didn't like heights too much.
"Hmmm, I'm pretty sure this is it. Yup, it's the only control panel up here."
Arcade stated as he looked at the control panel more closely, fixing his glasses slightly as he did.
"Uh-huh, really, really high."
The younger male giggled, obviously very nervous, that nervous giggle attracted the researcher's attention.
"Andres?"
Arcade looked at Andres, quiet perplexed and then it hit him, the brave Courier and potential saviour of the Mojave Wasteland had a fear of heights although the fact that those blue eyes of his were pretty much popping out of their sockets gave it away pretty easily. What was he going to do when he finally got inside the Lucyk38? Arcade didn't really want to think too hard about it.
"What's the matter? You seem a tad scared about something."
Arcade asked, a teasing grin playing upon his lips.
"Oh it's nothing...So I press this button here right?"
The Courier said not even looking at the control panel, his finger just barely over a glowing green button; he was too distracted by sheer terror to pay any attention.
"Oh god no!"
The doctor shouted, quickly grabbing Andres' hand again in panic.
"Please don't, you might end up firing up Archimedes or something, just pull that lever. I could do it but I think I'll let you do the honours, this is your heroic tale after all, I'm just the trusty side kick."
"Hmm? Okay."
And with that, Andres finally pulled the lever.
"Oh, just for the record, you might want to clo-"
"Sorry, what?"
As soon as Andres responded there was a blinding light and a ringing in his ears and that's when he guessed that Arcade was probably trying to warn him to cover his ears and close his eyes. "Trusty Sidekick" was right. After about a minute or two the blinding light was gone and after about five minutes Andres could finally see again but not very clearly, he wouldn't have been surprised if he had lost his eyesight permanently, his eyes still stung a bit and he was squinting pretty hard, he couldn't see much in front of him.
He held his hand out like he was reaching out for his companion, he was completely froze with nerves once he remembered that he was on a very high part of a very high tower, he was afraid that if he took a step back he'd fall to his death. His heart was thumping as he held his other arm over his face, burying and hiding it, trying to hide the fact that he was pretty much terrified, his legs felt like they were just going to give out from underneath him. What the hell had he gotten himself into? He knew he was afraid of heights but he was never on something this high before, he felt like he wanted to throw up as he felt that sickening tingling sensation of adrenaline run throughout his body, to anyone that didn't share this fear would probably wonder what the big deal was and Arcade seemed to be one of those people.
That's when he felt it, a hand taking his, he knew it could only be Arcade's, the touch was gentle and the other man's fingers intertwined with his, Andres gripped on to the blonds hand for dear life, not even concerned if the grip was too tight.
"Shit man, shit!"
Andres' voice cracked with emotion, he was tired, hungry and pretty confused, so much was happening all at once and now he was having his ultimate fear tested and tried and it was having a one hundred and one percent success rate. Arcade slowly took Andres' arm away from his terrified face; the researcher knew what he was doing he dealt with a few highly emotional patients suffering from withdrawals back at the fort.
"Shush, shush. It's OK. It's alright."
Arcade said in a reassuring, soft whisper, taking a look at the younger man's face, he really was scared shitless, his tanned cheeks were tinted red and his thick eyelashes started to cling together from his watering eyes. His hand found his way to the back of Andres' head; his fingers ran through his soft, chocolate brown hair and then he carefully brought the Courier in closer to him, wrapping him into a hug, of course, Arcade would never do this to one off the druggies back in Freeside.
"Ah crap, I'm sorry Arcade."
Andres mumbled into the other man's chest.
"Its fine, you're only human."
"Yeah..."
Andres said, his voice cracked again with tiredness. Arcade's eyes widened as he felt the courier's hands slowly make their way from his chest, under his arms and eventually to his back, those shaking hands just barely gripping onto his lab coat. Once Arcade got used to the feeling of closely holding another man once again for the first time in years, he settled down and without really noticing he started to rub one of the younger man's locks of hair between his thumb and index finger. He lowered his head so that he could whisper into Andres' ear.
"Thanks for doing this by the way, it really does mean a lot to me."
"It's OK, if it makes you happy, then, well, y'know..."
Andres mumbled again, he was finally calm again, his breathing became more slow and steady.
"Yeah, I know. Anyway, let's get you back in; I'll even let you hold my hand if you like..."
Arcade said, that teasing way about his voice again as he pulled himself away from his companion.
"Sure, why not? At least I know I won't be falling to my death on my own."
Andres said with a shrug before a cheeky grin made its way across his lips holding his hand out for Arcade to take, he stared up at Arcade and that warm smile he had on his face at that moment made Andres feel almost warm and fuzzy inside. He felt safe.
"There are railings there for a reason you know."
Arcade teased as he took Andres' hand.
"Oh be quiet, you smartass."
The Courier said with a chuckle and a smile. They then made their way back into the Helios One plant hand in hand, it was a long day but really that wasn't exactly anything new for the pair and they didn't really mind.
