IV: Noli Me Tangere

To describe Caesar as livid is to describe sandstorms as a mild inconvenience.

The good news is Vulpes is right. The Courier has outsmarted them all - and him - once again. Who can tell if her little advances towards him is all part of the act, but one thing's for certain: the Courier makes things happen, but only the things she wants. And Caesar, despite being livid, remains vigilant that she can be persuaded to aid their cause. "One more fucking chance," he says.

The bad news is Vulpes is right. Therefore, he's now tasked to tracking her and finding answers. He feels an odd sense of responsibility for what she's done and how his kin sees her. After all, he is the one who put her forward. If he doesn't alleviate this problem for her sake, then it's for his. Despite what he may put out, Vulpes likes to keep a certain kind of image of wit and acumen. The Courier doesn't help that.

He finds her mopping up a group of Jackals alone. Three out of five have been dealt with. She shoots the Jackal charging for her, straight between the eyes. Another one from behind then bats her weaponed arm, and it sends her pistol flying ten yards away. She stumbles to her side. He swings his bat for another blow, but she shifts her weight and knees him in the flank. He descends in a clumsy fall. The Courier spares no moment to grab him by side of his head and crack his neck.

Victory is clear but she doesn't move. She falls on her knees, her shoulders rising and falling as she pants for air.

Vulpes approaches her, careful steps over severed limbs and other refuse. He sees her puncture a syringe into her thigh, and her breathing evens out. When he gets close, enough for her to hear him, she turns around, eyes hardened and jaw clenched, still high on battle.

"Oh, you gotta be kidding," she says in between ragged breaths. "Are you here to kill me?"

"Perhaps," he answers. "It depends on how well you cooperate."

"Fuck that!" She leaps to her feet and strikes, a clean swing to his jaw. He staggers but recovers not a moment too soon, as he catches her foot going straight for his abdomen. He blocks it with his forearm and, with the other arm, elbows her in the face. He thinks she stumbles to the ground until a fistful of sand greets his eyes.

He flinches. She sweeps her leg beneath him, but he manages to soften his fall by slamming his hands on the ground first, gaining enough purchase to spring himself back upright. This time, he catches her fists when they reach for a straight jab. There was a short battle of wills before her knee aims down below. He kicks it back in time before slamming his head onto hers.

She falls back, and he takes this chance to launch himself forward, palm open, and deliver a sharp blow to her chest. She lands on her back with a heavy grunt.

Gaining the upper hand, he saddles her. He twists her right arm, pins it above her, and locks his other hand on her neck in a vice grip. She grabs his wrist with her free hand but it only served to tighten his hold. She squirms and kicks the air in vain. He places his weight on her thighs to keep her from wriggling away.

"You never cease to surprise me." Vulpes heaves. "But you still can't best a Legionary in unarmed combat."

Defeated, she leans her head back and fights no more. "What do you want?"

"Why didn't you kill Benny?" he squeezes her neck.

She sputters. "I… I wanted to. I was really angry, but I changed my mind."

That's not good enough. "Why?"

"I don't know," she grimaces, choking for air. "The way he just sat there all calm about dying. Made me lose steam."

"You should have let him hang on a cross."

"I don't get off on killing needlessly," she tries for another breath. "Don't you ever get tired of it?"

"Granting the profligates what they deserve? It is what must be done." He leans in closer. "He tried to kill you."

"I know," she gives a weak, apologetic smile. "But turns out he's a smart guy. You don't get a lot of those around here. I thought he deserved another chance."

"You're a brain and a fool at the same time. The weak don't deserve another chance."

Her face softens, the look of surrender melting from her face, replaced by something else. Conviction. "Everyone deserves another chance."

His gaze falls on the scars on her forehead. The Courier is living on another chance, he realizes. He understands on a small level. He remembers being very afraid in a time before he became Vulpes Inculta. His home has been wiped, and his parents are strapped to the cross. He holds his own for a little while, but wit and acumen can only get you so far when you're a scrawny eight-year-old who has lost everything. But the Legion sees his talent, and he becomes one of them. He makes himself great, far greater than he could have been as a backwater tribesman in Utah. Because he's given the chance.

He loosens his hand, and she takes in a sharp breath but doesn't attack. She simply lies there, eyes hooded and never leaving his.

He allows his fingers to crawl to her reddened cheek and settle there. His callused thumb hovers her soft lips. She swallows and he feels the pucker as they close to gently pinch his skin, and then open again to release a warm sigh. He presses them back in an attempt to erase the sensation. She groans at the pressure, and it sends a familiar tick in his loins, one he isn't sure he wishes to associate with this woman.

Her hand, still on his wrist, twitches. She releases her own grip, her weathered fingers stroking the back of his hand, inching upwards, cupping his own hand on her face.

"It's not too late, you know. You can still come with me." She laces her fingers onto his. It was sombre, almost begging.

Vulpes swats her away. She knows nothing of him. The last thing he needs is her pity.

He leaves her.

When night falls, he sets up camp in the open waste. He takes to his routine of washing his hands before settling down. It's a practice he never missed. He likes to think the cool water relieves his hands of the filth of profligates, and the brush scrapes away their blood so that he may be clean.

But tonight, he scrubs his hands until they bleed, until he can no longer feel her lips.

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! Apologies for the slow updates. I'm in the middle of moving and it hasn't been fun. Next chapter will be the Courier's POV. :D Thanks again for reading!