Disclaimer: I own nothing except Aurelia and any OCs.


Vulpes adjusts the brown tie that matches his Pre-War suit for the thousandth time. After the third time in two minutes, Aurelia's annoyance reaches its peak. "What's bothering you so?" She asks, breaking the silence. The sun has disappeared from the sky completely, the bright round moon taking its place. In the distance, the woman can make out a bright glow in the darkness. Excitedly, she assumes it's New Vegas.

The Fox says nothing for a moment, eyes scanning the barren landscape around them for danger. "We are approaching Novac."

"And?" The golden-haired girl questions, not understanding why the small town is causing her friend so much distress.

He sighs. "It has two ex-First Recon snipers guarding it. We recently took the wife of the night sniper."

Aurelia is not surprised by the information. "Why did you do that?" She asks curiously anyways.

"I personally hand no hand in it. A woman in the town wanted the wife gone and contacted us."

"Must've held a grudge or something," Aurelia shrugs. "What happened to the wife? Have I met her?"

"No. She was shot and killed while being sold. I suspect the sniper was the cause of her demise."

Aurelia stops and stares at Vulpes in shock. "He killed his own wife? Why?" She asks in astonishment.

"She was pregnant," he answers offhandedly, like he's discussing the weather. "I do not think a former NCR sniper would want his wife and unborn child being in the hands of his enemy." He shrugs. "She was very pretty. I'd imagine you would have been well acquainted— an officer would have surely snatched her up."

The young woman trails after her companion. "That's awful," she murmurs sadly. Poor sniper, Aurelia thinks before she can stop herself. His conscience must be slowly killing him.

"Come along, little wolf," Vulpes says when she falls too far behind. "Do not trouble yourself with the lives of NCR dogs." He spits the last part and Aurelia quickly changes the subject so her friend will calm down.

"Isn't it more dangerous to travel at night?"

The Frumentarii leader tips his head from side to side. "Yes and no. There's a smaller chance of enemies seeing you, yet the same goes for you seeing them. Stealth is critical while traveling in the Mohave at night." He looks down at her with a smirk. "You should have no problems with that."

She giggles a little. "You know me so well. But Vulpes, when will we see action?"

Said man takes a moment to study the woman, whose bright smile hasn't faded once since leaving the Cove. There's a slight bounce in her step and she looks… beautiful. Shaking his head quickly, Vulpes responds easily. "A little eager, are we?" He smirks. Aurelia rolls her eyes and he continues. "We may run into an occasional mole rat or junkie. But for the most part, our path keeps us out of danger."

The blonde juts out her lower lip in a pout, making Vulpes chuckle. The sound is welcoming to her ears and another smile graces her lips. The duo pass Novac without incident, thanks to Vulpes' careful instruction to make no sudden movements, act casual, and speak quietly. As she stares in awe at the dinosaur, she even catches a glimpse of the nighttime sniper they had talked about. A pang of guilt wells up in her chest but quickly evaporates when she decides to address something that has been bothering her and, she suspects, her companion as well.

"Vulpes?" She asks almost shyly. Her tone catches him off-guard and he peers at her, trying to read her expression. When he raises a brow, she steadies her breathing and continues. "You saw me with… with the centurion." It isn't a question. She knew as soon as he handed her her boots that he had seen it all.

"I did," he says in confirmation.

The woman looks off to the side, taking in the new land around her. Her whole life she'd been stuck at Cottonwood Cove, Fortification Hill and Flagstaff— brief as the latter was. She's never left once, and now, with the whole world to explore, she decides to talk about what happened at Fortification Hill. A frustrated growl escapes her lips and she chews relentlessly on her lip. "You must think so poorly of me," she says, barely above a whisper.

A cold hand appears on her shoulder, stopping her. "Aurelia," Vulpes says in a soft yet firm tone. "I could never think poorly of you. Not even when you make terrible decisions." He hesitates for half a moment and her bright eyes flicker to his. "What you did to that man, he deserved it. And I'm glad you were the one to inflict his punishment."

"You're not mad at me?" She asks cautiously, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Mad?" He asks with a laugh. "Hardly."

Aurelia frowns. "But it was far from appropriate. What would Father have said?"

Her companion silences her with a slim finger over her lips. "No worrying about the 'what-ifs', remember? What you did would have pleased Caesar, had he been there. You have undoubtedly pleased Mars as well." And also me, he wants to add, but holds his tongue.

The woman sighs happily and pulls away from him, the weight on her shoulders lifted. "What a relief. Here I was worrying that you'd hate me for stepping out of line."

Vulpes smirks. "Never."


They reach Freeside by dawn, and Aurelia is practically dead on her feet. "I'm so tired, Vulpes," she moans.

He gives her a sideways glance and sees that she's having trouble standing. Her eyes droop shut and her hair is tousled. There are even patches of dirt on her legs from the few times she's fallen over. "I'm sorry, Lupa," he murmurs sincerely. Vulpes, on the other hand, is wide awake. He's gone far longer without sleep and has made trips three times the distance, so his body is used to the strain. "We'll stay in the Atomic Wrangler, much as I hate to do it," he voices his thoughts aloud to his exhausted companion.

When they enter Freeside, their ears are filled with gunshots and chaos. A high-pitched scream fills the air, followed by wild cackling. It makes Aurelia straighten immediately. "Don't worry," he says to the woman as she inches closer to his side. "As long as we avoid alleys and stick to the main streets we'll be fine. Just stay awake and stay close, alright?"

Aurelia nods and he can see her shake a little. Whether from fear or excitement, he isn't sure. They pass Old Mormon Fort without problems, though they were approached a few times. A deathly glance from Vulpes sends them running for the hills. When they make it to the 'fun part of town', he has to stop and tug Aurelia along a few times because the curious girl keeps stopping to take in the sights. He has to remind himself that she's never seen so many Pre-War buildings before. "Just down this way," he instructs, pointing at the unlit sign hanging off the side of the Atomic Wrangler.

"Hey honey!" A hooker shouts at Aurelia as she passes. "Are ya hungry? Thirsty? Horny?" She continues without waiting for a response. "The Atomic Wrangler's got you covered!"

Vulpes pulls on her arm with a little more force than necessary, but she doesn't notice. On the other side of the street, a man in tattered clothes is advertising Energy Weapons. "Can we sleep now?" Aurelia asks in a whiny tone when they enter the smoke-filled casino, bar and hotel. The woman coughs for a minute before her lungs adjust to the toxic air.

The man in the brown suit has to make a conscious effort to keep his composure cool and collected. On the inside, however, he's livid. Such a mistake! Polluting her pure and innocent soul with this profligate filth! Still, he forces himself forward. Stick to the mission.

"A room, please?" Vulpes asks politely, speaking like the locals. Aurelia plays along effortlessly, even yawning a little to sell it.

"Third door," the man behind the counter, James Garret, informs. He points at their room and Vulpes hands over the caps. "No tabs up front. The hookers and games are in the other room and I can help you with any drinking needs you may have. My sister, Francine, handles the food."

Aurelia bats her eyelashes at the man. "Thanks," she purrs, taking the key. Vulpes glowers silently at the bartender as he checks out Aurelia. Biting his tongue, he heads upstairs with his companion and they vanish into their room. "This is wonderful!" Aurelia exclaims, jumping on the bed after dumping her pack by the door.

Vulpes, no longer irritated, smirks at her childish antics. "You're entertained by the littlest things," he comments as he takes off his hat, jacket and shoes. Aurelia says nothing, looking quite dead on the Pre-War mattress.

"Turn off the light please," she commands tiredly as he locks the door. He complies and the dingy and foul-smelling room is plunged into blackness. "It's too hot without the wind," Aurelia complains a moment later, making the man roll his eyes. He strips down to shorts and lies silently on the bed, listening as Aurelia peels her dress off.

When she's done, she climbs onto the bed beside him, accidentally elbowing his stomach. A groan escapes his lips at the unexpected action and Aurelia apologizes profusely. After a moment, she begins to laugh hysterically. "Alright, that's enough," Vulpes frowns half-heartedly. "Go to sleep; you're overtired."

"Am not," she protests when her laughter dies down. She goes to argue further, but a yawn interrupts her speech. "Fine. Goodnight."

Vulpes lays unmoving as Aurelia fumbles around with the sheets. He feels a brush of her soft smooth skin and instantly wonders if she took everything off. He banishes the thought and frowns at the peeling wallpaper.

Not a moment later, the silence is broken. "Vulpes."

"What?" He groans, rolling onto his side, exposing his scarred back to her. He feels her fingertips trace over the countless lines and has to suppress a shiver.

"It's weird not being in a tent."

"I know," he responds. "It's something you get used to. Now go to sleep, you'll need to be at your best for tomorrow night."

She hums in response and Vulpes makes the mistake of assuming she's finally gone to sleep. After about three minutes, her long arms wrap around him and she mumbles something he can't quite make out. It eats away at him until he falls into a dreamless sleep.


Almost 14 hours later, Aurelia awakens. The hotel room is still completely dark, but her eyes quickly adjust. She doesn't bother calling for her companion; she knows he isn't there, if the empty spot beside her is anything to go by. Standing up, the woman stretches her incredibly sore and stiff muscles. A sigh of contentment escapes her lips when there are multiple cracks! and pops!

Though the Legion woman wants to explore the hotel, she decides it would be best to freshen up first. Wandering into the small and dirty bathroom, Aurelia wrinkles her nose and ignores the mysterious stains, taking advantage of the shower. Even if the water is freezing, it's much quicker than bathing in a tub or the Lake. When she's done, she pulls on a clean white cotton dress, her favorite. Slightly revealing, it gives off the impression of being coy, while still remaining elegant with the lacy that decorates it. After tugging on her boots and fixing her long damp hair, she emerges into the smelly and clouded hotel. A raspy voice comes on over the speakers and the woman realizes the man standing in front of the microphone is a ghoul.

Roaming around the casino, Aurelia settles on remaining inside the Atomic Wrangler while she waits for Vulpes to reappear. "Hello beautiful, can I get ya anything?" A waiter comes over and asks when she sits on a plushy Pre-War chair near the stage.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any money with me," she responds sadly, looking down.

The waiter, a cute boy who looks to be a few years younger than her, shrugs it off. "Hey, for a pretty girl like you, it's on the house. What'll it be?"

"You're too kind!" She smiles sweetly. "Water would be lovely." The kid nods and gives her a wink before disappearing into the crowd of people dressed in suits and dresses. A woman wearing a pink dress with a red bow tied around the waist catches Aurelia's eye, and she covets it immediately. All the dresses she's forced to wear are simple cotton and not flashy whatsoever, plain and one color. She makes a mental note to request a pretty dress from Vulpes later. The boy returns and hands her the glass of clean fresh water and she thanks him with a seductive smile.

As she sits in the comfy chair, Aurelia watches the profligates around her with vivid interest. Everything about them is fascinating and gleefully different. Their ways may be a tad gross at times, but there's something about the way they live without purpose that catches the woman's attention. They don't live by thousands of rules, they don't have to worry about packing up and leaving their homes at any given moment, they don't have to wear specific things. She sighs, realizing that she's envying the lives of profligates. What would Father and Caesar think? Or worse, what would Mars think? A shudder ripples down her spine at the thought of the god of war reading her thoughts.

"Having fun?" A familiar and silvery voice inquires in her ear.

Nodding immediately, Aurelia grins. "Oh, Vulpes, I've learned so much in the past hour!"

Her companion widens his eyes at the mention of his name and Aurelia blushes profusely when she realizes her mistake. "I'm sorry," she mutters as she drops her head. "Clearly I'm no good at this."

Vulpes gives her a small smile. "It's understandable. Luckily, this filthy place is crowded enough that we should have some privacy."

Glancing around, she sees that he's right. Besides the guards, most of the customers in the Wrangler are either intoxicated or high. She cringes as a man falls down the stairs face first. Or both. "Let's go to the room," Vulpes suggests without really suggesting it. He grabs her hand and pulls her up with him a moment later.

"Eager, are we?" Aurelia mocks, throwing in a suggestive tone as well. The Fox rolls his eyes, yet doesn't comment. She grins at the small victory.

Once inside the room, Vulpes locks the door and dumps out his pack. "Here, I will let you present this to the Courier." He tosses something light to Aurelia, who's lounging on the Pre-War couch.

Catching it easily, the woman gasps slightly when she sees just what it is. "The Mark of Caesar? That's quite a big honor."

"Indeed. I trust you'll explain that to our new friend when the time is right." He rearranges things and goes about his business before adding, "Caesar has put a lot of effort into tracking this man."

"Why do you think that is?" She hangs upside down, putting her feet over the back of the couch. A giggle escapes her lips at the new perspective of her childhood friend.

He raises his brows at her juvenile antics while putting their clothes into piles. "He believes this Courier will help us defeat the NCR."

"Duh," Aurelia rolls her eyes, sticking her tongue out at the man. "So, what are we going to do?"

Vulpes puts a few things into his pack before tosses Aurelia hers. "We leave for the Strip tonight. The Courier is already there— he's been staying inside the Lucky 38. My men have reported that he's planning to meet with the Leader of the Chairmen tonight, so we have to be quick." He tosses her another couple things. "Your fake passport and 300 caps. Leave anything that ties you to the Legion."

After she finishes going through her pack, she has only two dresses, undergarments, her brush, the passport, Vulpes' caps, a few makeup items, her canteen, and the Mark of Caesar. "My cover name is Mister Jason Fox, but you can address me as Jason if you wish."

She opens her passport, frowning at the name. "But my name is still Aurelia!"

His eyes narrow slightly and his head tips, an action he does when trying to get inside someone's head. "And this displeases you?"

"Yes! Why don't I get a badass profligate name?"

Shaking his head, he sits on the bed. "Your name already is 'badass', you just fail to see it." He sighs when he sees her pouting. "It's beautiful, you know. Why would you want to change it?"

The young woman shrugs.

Vulpes adds, almost as an afterthought, "It's very unlikely that people outside of the Fort would know your name, so there's a minimal chance of you being found out. I, on the other hand, would be in quite the predicament were I to use my true name."

"'If you steal from the NCR, you're his bitch'," Aurelia smirks, quoting an NCR poster she'd seen with his face plastered on it. "How'd they get a picture of you, anyway?"

He chuckles a little. "That is not a question I can answer, unfortunately." He stands, fixing his suit and grabbing his hat. "Let's go," he nods to the door. They grab their bags and lock up the room. "I have already paid off the owner of this disgusting place, so our things will be safe until we return."

"When will that be?" Aurelia asks as they walk along the cracked sidewalk.

Vulpes shrugs. "A day or two, possibly. We'll book a room on the Strip if need be."

The answer makes her pause. "So… we'll be going home soon?" He instantly notices the sadness in her voice.

"Who says we have to leave right after?" The Fox inquires with a sly grin. She catches his meaning and smiles as well, slightly relieved.

"Good, because we just got here!" Aurelia links her arm with Vulpes' and they walk down the main road, heading straight for the city of lights. They pass numerous men dressed nearly identical, causing Aurelia to spew out many questions.

Vulpes resists the urge to massage his temples. "Those men are part of The Kings. They're a gang that more or less runs Freeside. They're harmless." Thankfully, they reach the gate before Aurelia can respond.

Handing his passport to the Greeter, Vulpes nudges Aurelia to do the same. Said woman is staring in awe at the Securitron before her, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. It's a comical sight, but one the robot can't appreciate. "Present your passport or pass a credit check," it demands loudly, making her hastily hand her little book over to the big machine. It scans the objects over for a moment before handing them back. "Welcome, Mr. Fox and Ms. Williams. Enjoy your stay on the Strip."

Aurelia utters a 'thanks!' before being tugged away by her companion. "Williams?" She asks curiously, receiving a shrug. Just as they're about enter the gate leading to the Strip, a man pushes them aside in his haste to get by. A moment later, half a dozen lasers hit the junkie, causing his body to instantly disintegrate. Aurelia gasps in shock and clings to Vulpes, who protectively holds her out of harms way. The Securitrons return to their posts after the threat has been eliminated, and the couple is free to continue on through.

"They don't take kindly to those in poverty," Vulpes briefly explains to the shocked woman. She nods slightly, suddenly too swept up to respond. Her neck cranes back as she looks up at the gigantic lit up buildings. The loud music pulsing throughout the Strip hurts her head a bit, but she finds it's a pleasant pain.

People in fancy outfits and uniforms walk around from place to place, stumbling and laughing. Aurelia wrinkles her nose as a soldier throws up against the leg of a large sign. "Not as glamorous as you thought, hm?" Vulpes asks rhetorically, unfazed by the glitz and glamour of the profligate world. His companion, however, is quite the opposite.

She watches in fascination as women who are wearing hardly anything dance for crowds of people, happily accepting caps and compliments. "That's Gomorrah," Vulpes informs with a flick of his wrist. "Of the three casinos, it's the least pleasant."

"Are you sure about that?" Aurelia asks as she watches men flood into the building after a few prostitutes.

Vulpes rolls his eyes, wanting to tell her that he could care less about any other woman, but settles for tugging her along instead. She pauses briefly to stare at the Lucky 38, filled with wonder at its height and splendor. He makes sure to keep a tight hold on her, so she doesn't get lost in the crowd. The man winces at the thought of all the consequences that would await him if he were to lose her for even a second.

Nearing their destination, Vulpes allows her to wander for a few moments. "I want to go there!" Aurelia proclaims, pointing at the Ultra Luxe. "Can we, please?" Before even getting an answer, she starts off toward the giant fountain in front of the hotel. Vulpes notices a moment too late that something is happening, something crazy enough that Securitrons are present.

"Perhaps now is not the best time—" he begins, but his warning falls on deaf ears.

"Who wants to swim? The water's fiiiine," an NCR woman shrieks, dancing in nothing but her underwear. The other two women are behaving similarly, clearly drunk out of their minds.

Aurelia takes a step forward, almost like she's about to join in, but Vulpes quickly clamps an iron grip around her wrist to prevent her. "The fountain is for wishes, ladies," a Securitron says as it attempts to get the women out of the water.

"Please remove your bra from the bottom of the fountain and gather your clothes and belongings," another commands. Meanwhile, a couple men cheer the drunken soldiers on, hooting and clapping. Vulpes frowns in disgust at the display before him.

A woman in a pink lacy nightgown laughs. "Crocker can kiss my sweet Republic ass," she shouts, continuing to dance.

Aurelia watches curiously as the Securitron tries again. "Ladies, please disperse."

"Come on big man, roll up in here," the third woman cat calls, stumbling a little.

The duo notice an NCR man in uniform approach with a pissed off expression. "Okay ladies, show's over. Get your shit and go or you'll be sitting in jail for the rest of your leave!" He barks, obviously not in the mood to deal with any bullshit.

"Uh oh," the first woman giggles, "it's the law, girls!"

The MP frowns, crossing his arms. "You wanna dance, hit Gomorrah."

Vulpes tries to pull his companion away, but she's transfixed by the scene before her. "Are you going to spank us?" The woman in the nightgown asks. "I do so love handcuffs," she announces, putting her hands to her heart and smiling seductively.

"Then you'll love jail," the MP seethes. "Let's go, now, or I'll have to use this," he pulls out a Cattle Prod, sparking it for good measure. That gets through to the drunken women. They quickly scamper away, not bothering to grab their clothes.

The MP cleans up after them and apologizes to the Securitrons before heading toward a building at the end of the Strip, which Vulpes explains to be the NCR Embassy. "There, satisfied?" He breathes in her ear. "Come on, we're going to the Tops."

Aurelia is still as a stone, silently observing everything. The incident shows her just how bad things have gotten for their enemies. "Their women don't even listen to their officers!" She exclaims, both in shock and pleasure. It's the first time she gets to witness the NCR's corruption firsthand.

Vulpes smiles a little at her fiery hatred for their rivals. "Yes, I am well aware, Lupa. But please, can we go now?"

She nods with a grin. "Let's!"

They enter through one of the many doors and Aurelia is relieved to find the building has what Vulpes called air-conditioning. As soon as they fully step into the casino, a man with dark hair and a suit smiles warmly.

"Hey there cats, I'm afraid I've got to ask ya to turn over any weapons you might be carrying."

Vulpes relinquishes his precious machete and another Chairman comes and pats them down while the dark-haired man searches their bags. Luckily for Aurelia, she put on the Mark before leaving the Wrangler. "Now that that's all settled, what can I do to make your experience here the tops?"

"You can start with your name," Aurelia smiles sweetly, leaning over the counter to reveal a little cleavage.

The man grins. "The name's Swank, babydoll. Care to share yours?"

"Aurelia. And this is my friend Jason," she introduces, loving the displeased look on Vulpes' face. "What's there to do here, Swank?"

"Baby, you name it, we've got it! There's food, gambling, alcohol, swimming pools, the Aces Theater, and more. You'll never be bored here."

Aurelia smiles again, batting her eyelashes. "Thanks for your time. See ya round."

He grins charismatically. "In my dreams, baby." She winks before allowing herself to be dragged off by her irritated companion.

When they're out of the entrance, Aurelia sighs. "You really should lighten up, you know."

"This is not the place for that conversation, Aurelia," he spits, fully irritated.

She draws her brows together in confusion. "What's wrong?" The woman asks in concern, not understanding her companion's sudden hostility. Sure, she knows he dislikes her flirting, but that doesn't explain his anger. It's new to her, and honestly, she's a little afraid.

Vulpes takes a deep breath to try and calm down. So many things he wants to say, but most of them must remain unspoken. "Nothing. Let's go explore while we wait for the Courier to arrive."

The Legion woman lights up, Vulpes' anger momentarily pushed aside, but not forgotten. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

To pass the time, the pair eat in the restaurant, watch what little acts are available in the Aces Theater, and gamble. As it turns out, Aurelia is quite the lucky young woman. "Lady Luck is smilin' down on ya tonight, darlin'!" An older man with a neatly trimmed gray beard chuckles as Aurelia gets 21 again.

"Who knew?" She giggles, sipping a soda. While she focuses on winning more caps and entertaining herself, Vulpes keeps a sharp eye. He's a professional— it's his job to watch the people around him while remaining inconspicuous. That's why he places another bet after collecting a small amount of chips. It's also why he's the first to notice the Courier's arrival.

An hour earlier, he quietly pointed out Benny to Aurelia- a simple task, given the Chairman's ridiculous suit. He warned her that everything was up in the air as soon as the Courier entered the Tops. They had to be prepared for anything.

From what Vulpes had heard and seen, however, the Courier was not one to cause a scene. He preferred to work from the shadows, but didn't mind being in the spotlight. There was a slim chance of him outright attacking the Chairman Leader in the middle of the casino. If it did happen, though, they were prepared to come to his aid.

"Look at that, Aure, I think that's the famous Courier Six!" Vulpes exclaims in his cover voice. The other two gamblers at the table, as well as Aurelia, turn to look for themselves.

The golden-haired woman grins rapaciously. "Oh, the things I would do to that boy." Vulpes narrows his bright eyes at her as she undresses the Courier with her own.

A woman in a light green dress with a fancy hat whistles in agreement. "Amen, sister. He's mighty fine. Did you hear he went into the Lucky 38?!" She nudges Aurelia in excitement.

Though previously told the same thing by her companion, the woman pretends to be interested. "He did?" She asks in fake surprise, when really, she has no idea why it's such a big deal.

"Nobody's been in there for years," Vulpes explains, answering his companion's silent question. Aurelia nods before turning back to the Courier, who's leaning against a wall, surveying the area with faux casualness. He's tall— easily over six feet, and alluring in his own right. With a mop a dark black hair and slightly tan skin, he looks young. Most likely the same age as Vulpes and herself. He also looks very harmless, given his tall and skinny build. The woman can tell his strength is not entirely physical, but more mental.

Much like Vulpes, Aurelia thinks to herself while licking her lips. Still, from across the room she can see his muscular arms and deadly gaze. He knows his way around a fight. The Reinforced Leather Armor he wears clings to his agile yet slightly built frame, making him look more like a mercenary than an average visitor on the Strip. He's a hunter, and he's looking for his prey, which she can only assume is Benny. Casual chatter starts up at their Blackjack table again, causing the young woman to tear her eyes away from her own prey. Grinning wolfishly at Vulpes, she plans exactly how she'll get into the Courier's good graces.