Gene's gaze flickered over Renee. She reached up to lightly brush her fingertips over the woman's freckles, along her nose and down her jaw. Like many nights, she'd been largely unable to sleep; but she bided her time by knowing Renee was safe in her arms.
The redhead shifted, pulling the blankets close.
"He can send some Minutemen, short stack. We don't have to do this."
"You don't have to do this. But I do. I want to. I want to help. I found Lawrence in the first place so I might as well see it out to the end."
She couldn't help a bitter smile. Renee always wanted to spring into action and help everyone else but herself. For the most part she didn't cause trouble that way, but sometimes she got wrapped up in things she had no business being in. Like volunteering to go into the Glowing Sea.
Gene sighed and brushed back some copper hair from Renee's forehead. In only a few hours, they five—meaning herself, Renee, Nate, Piper, and Lawrence—would hike to the edge of the Glowing Sea. Nate and Piper wouldn't be joining them for the journey to Dr. Virgil's cave; no, Renee said she wanted to tackle that part.
"What kinda girlfriend would I be if I just let you go alone?!"
"I know you have that whole thing with Deathclaws, Gene, you don't have to come!"
"I want to be theah for you!"
As the sun continued to rise, a niggling thought in the back of Gene's mind grew louder. She kept cursing the fact Lawrence wasn't lying. Rather, that Nate didn't think Lawrence was lying. "Even if they aren't preparing for attack, the fact there's at least one talking Deathclaw is enough for me to take action to either prevent or destroy others," he'd said. "Who knows what they're truly capable of."
She wrapped an arm around Renee and pulled her close, burying her nose in the woman's soft hair. Life was so much simpler before. Before Lawrence, before she befriended Nate and Piper, before Renee… Before her parents died. Before the store. Before Z0E and Becky and everything else.
Renee stirred in her arms and lifted her head. She yawned and blinked her eyes. "Mm, good morning…" She smiled.
Gene cupped her cheek. "Good morning, babe." She pressed a kiss to Renee's lips.
Life was simpler then. But it was worth it to see the light in her eyes.
