Lucas Simms was the first to spot the Ghoul walking into his town. He was covered with blood and held someone in his arms. As he noted the spill of the dirty, bloody brown hair and he thought she was female. He didn't want trouble in his town and these two were spelling it all over. He HAD to do something about them before the townspeople saw the Ghoul in full battle armor and weapons strapped onto his body. They were used to the Ghoul part but the fact that he was wearing armor and weapons would break the strained line.
"Hello there, welcome to Megaton." Lucas said in a cheery voice and the Ghoul walked past the man, "Sir, sir... not another step." Lucas pulled a pistol on the Ghoul. Charon didn't move an inch and stood like a stone. A few children of Atom noticed the big man and flew around the tiny town to let the people of Megaton know that there was a monster.
"She is hurt." Charon said and turned to face Lucas fully. Lucas nodded and put the pistol away while placing his hands in his pockets, "I see that but you are causing quite a stir in your gear." he said as a few settlers murmured and gathered at the spectacle. What had happened to the girl in the monster's arms?
"Did IT attack her?" "What did IT do to her? "I wonder if IT raped her." "Why did IT come here?"
Charon stared at the Sheriff for a long time ignoring the rants and accusations behind him, "If it means you will help her, I will agree to wear civilian clothes. IF you help her." he kept his voice low and Lucas looked at him for a long time. Lucas looked up at the crowd and waved at Leo Stahl. The man walked up slowly. Not only high but also apprehensive of the monster.
"You will take this girl to Doc Church, alright?" Lucas said not taking his eyes from the Ghoul that towered over the men. Leo shakily tried to take the girl and Charon growled clutching the girl close. He knew what the red in his eyes meant. He knew what the shaky limbs meant, "I will hand her to someone reliable and not this..." Charon tried to come up with a word more insulting than smoothskin but no words came in his muddled mind. He tried to clear it but the warmth in his arms began to move.
"Charon." The word was weak and her hand came up to clutch at the broken skin of his neck. He growled and almost smiled when she hummed in response. Lucas swallowed and took a deep breath, "Leo, show them where Doc is. Make sure they get whatever they need." he said watching the Ghoul with hard eyes. His many years of watching people told him all he needed to know. The Ghoul held the woman protectively, that much was apparent to all, but he had never seen a Ghoul allow a human to grasp their broken skin. And sure as hell never saw one take the time to give them comfort, no matter how small.
Lucas watched as Leo twitched a little on his walk. Settlers gave way and looked at their sheriff for a while before mumbling again.
"He's a good man." "I trust him." "If he thinks IT can stay I won't question it."
Carly woke with a giant headache and a dry mouth. Her bottom lip hurt the worst and as she let out a soft cry in surprise a split formed just in the center of her bottom lip and bleed into her mouth. Instantly a moist cloth was placed to her lips, "The Doc went to bed an hour ago." The rough voice made Carly smile just a little. She looked up as Charon brought a bottle to her lips. The water stung her lips and made her throat coat with a soft fire. She knew it was irritated water just by the tainted smell, but the taste made it all the worse. Carly was forced to drink every drop and cough, trying to get the fire coted to her throat to let go.
Charon knew why the smoothskins reacted so. He knew of the stories that the newer Ghouls told of burning from the inside out. The fire that started from the tips of your fingers and you could never escape it. Oh no. Only the rich could afford pure water or constant radaway treatments. Wanderers found stockpiles in the wasteland of medicine but always ended up overdosing by self medicating or becoming rich by selling the stuff. Watching the skin flake away and hair fall out of poor souls used to affect him but now. Thinking of her losing the perfect brown hair and red/tan skin. His heart squeezed and he let a half smile grace his torn mouth. He forgot he had one of those.
Carly's tiny fingers wound around his wrist as she finished hacking away the radiation. She looked up at him and he watched the blood well on her bottom lip and dribble down her chin. He took the cloth and wiped it away. Then he scowled and snatched his fingers from her mouth, "I'm your guard not babysitter clean your own mouth." She felt him rip his arm away from her fingers and felt a little pain where her heart was and held the cloth to her mouth and decided to snap back.
"You'd be a better body guard if you get me purified water. I can still taste the bitter radiation." she snapped holding the cloth to her mouth. Charon held back his smirk as she glared at him. The cloth over her lip muffled her words and made it hard to stay a stone wall man, "Go back to sleep." When you wake I will be here with purified water." he growled and walked from the building into the heat of the fading day. Lucas stood from his leaning posture and watched Charon closely. After that's all he did. Watch others.
"I saw how you looked at her." he said as the Ghoul looked him in the eye, "Yeah, smoothskin how did I look at her?" Lucas brought his hands up at his tone, "Listen I let you here, Let you keep your weapons. I suggest you take a nicer tone with me Mr..." Lucas brought the 's' out and waved his hand, fishing for a name. Charon looked down at the cowboy, "Charon." he said placing his hand in Lucas's.
"I'm Lucas the mayor of this town." he waved his hand about and looked back at the Ghoul. Charon had to admit to himself that the cowboy had a good soul inside of him, "Well Lucas, I need some Purified water." the Ghoul said crossing his arms, "For the lady I presume." Lucas said and waved Charon to walk with him, "She owns you." he said and Charon nodded thought the cowboy couldn't see, "Yeah, a contract that she usually keeps in her back pocket."
Lucas turned and stopped pressing a finger on the Ghouls chest, "Not like that, In here. She owns that." Just as fast as he turned Lucas walked on and Charon ground his teeth together. He was beyond pissed with the black smoothskin in front of him. Pissed because he was right.