Nora felt indignant and confused at Hancock's behaviour. What right did he have to comment who she chose to liaise with (regardless of the fact her and Nick were in no way romantically involved) after he left her the way he did just that morning? Besides, did he really think that she was the type just move on to the next so quickly? She supposed he did. It wasnt like she'd really given a different impression. Was this why he ditched her so quickly? She scoffed to herself. Fucking men. They'll sleep around and demonise any woman who wants to do the same. She deserved better than this.
"Nora? You alright there, kiddo?"
Nick's glowing yellow eyes were glued to her face, worry in his furrowed brows.
"Yeah, Nick, I'm fine." Nora couldn't help herself and raised her voice enough to be sure Hancock would hear her, "let's go back to the hotel."
"Slut shame this" she cackled to herself, giving in to her anger. Nick sighed and shook his head, seeing right through her.
They swiftly left the courthouse, raising each guards' eyebrows as they passed.
One night in Goodneighbor and Nora would already be talk of the town. In the coming days, stories would spread, each more elaborate than the last. People would gossip about the illustrious vault dweller from the past who captured hearts as quick as she broke them, and the love triangle that had formed around her. Everyone took an interest: who could resist their curiosity when it came to the women who was able to seduce the dangerous, charismatic mayor and the rugged detective with an iron will? When they learnt from Daisy that she had almost single-handedly wiped out the super mutants from Boston Library, Nora had become a completely idolised figure; she was an enigma, a woman who had it all.
For Deacon, the interest surpassed that of gossip and fickle curiosity. His work with the Railroad had caused him to cross paths with many characters, but none were quite as incredible or astonishing as the woman lost in time. He'd followed her actions closely from the moment he heard that someone brought the minutemen back from the brink (and bricked a deathclaw in the process) and only became more and more convinced that she was the key to bringing success to the Railroads mission.
Nora had also brought him a great deal of amusement, and he had become rather fond of the woman. How someone could go from a cryogenically frozen housewife to a killing machine in such a short space of time was amazing. Hell, she dispensed commonwealth justice far better than those who were born and raised by it. When Nora had teamed up with the one and only Nick Valentine,Deacon felt relief. She deserved a good friend; the Commonwealth could be a lonely place and she had gone through a lot as it was. Besides, her lack of judgement on Nick being a synth was a good sign that she'd be sympathetic to the cause.
Deacon had tried on several occasions to push her towards finding the Railroad- almost telling her outright to follow the freedom trail. She hadn't seemed to clock on yet but he kept his hopes up. He was absentmindedly mulling over his drink at the Third Rail, thinking of new ways to lead her to HQ when someone tapped on his shoulder. When he turned to see Nora standing behind him, he almost leapt out of his skin!
"Have I met you somewhere before?" Nora asked, a crease forming in her eyebrows.
Deacon panicked, struggling to keep his cover from being blown. How should he approach this?
"Sorry to tell you, but that pick up line went out of fashion while you were frozen. Though, probably not the worst thing that's happened in that time"
Nora's jaw clenched and Deacon regretted his words. She'd brick him like that deathclaw. It was only when he heard a gruff voice behind him that he realised he was in a far worse situation.
"Hey, nothing wrong with the classics" Hancock mused, taking a seat next to Deacon. He cursed under his breath; the last thing he needed was to be caught up in the town gossip.
Nora immediately sat down on the other side of him. She was too stubborn to let Hancock get the better of her. She leaned over, looking Hancock straight in the eyes, and said sweetly "Mayor Hancock, it's barely been a week and yet I just keep bumping into you everywhere! I'm starting to think it's not a coincidence"
Hancock stiffened, looking somewhat embarrassed. He hadn't actively searched her out around town, but he couldn't deny that he had been making the rounds about town far more often than he needed to, in the hope of seeing her.
Nora hadn't noticed the change in Hancock's demeanour. She was far too caught up in her own thoughts and worries, regretting pushing Hancock. What did his silence mean? What if he hated her? She shook the thoughts off and retreated back, giving Deacon space to breathe again. The silence formed an awkward tension between them, no one brave enough to break it.
"I wondered where you might be hiding, Nora. Looks like this old bot wasn't invited to the party"
They all sighed a breath of relief. It was always Nick, the synthetic angel, that saved the day. Deacon could barely stop himself from throwing his arms around and kissing him. Nick caught Deacon's eye and instantly recognised him. Being the detective he was, he instantly put two and two together and nodded, signalling that he knew Deacon's goal.
"Nora, when did you want to head off for the Freedom Trail? It'll be dangerous, we should stock up beforehand."
"Tomorrow. I'll meet you at the gates by noon and we can stop by at Kleo's", Nora replied, with a glint in her eyes. The prospect of danger and adventure excited her, she'd remained in the lull of a town for too long.
"Finally saved enough caps for that destroyer piece you've been eyeing, huh?" Valentine chuckled, eliciting a smirk from Nora.
"Yeah, better be worth it. I'm gonna be broke as hell. Anyway, Nick, stop loitering around and take a damn seat!"
Nick and Nora continued their conversation and it was clear to anyone they were close. Hancock found it hard to remain in their company and was ready to leave them to it when Nora stretched and stood up.
"Well, I'd better be off. I've got a date to keep." Nora announced, a smirk playing on her lips. The words stabbed at Hancock's heart and it took everything to keep his composure. He took some solace in the fact that Nick looked as shocked and confused as Hancock felt.
As Deacon shifted uncomfortably in his seat, Hancock cut through the silence that had formed. "Before you go off on your hot date, I got some reconnaissance needs. You're heading off around the Freedom Trail, right? Well, there's a lot of weird talk about a place called the Pickman Gallery. It's Raider territory up there, but they've been quiet. Like, uncomfortable post-coitus quiet? Snoop it out, and give me the word. There's good caps in it for you."
Nora felt a flush reach her cheeks as soon as Hancock said coitus. Uncomfortable post-coitus quiet. The phrase brought uncomfortable memories of the morning after their encounter yet the word coming from Hancock's mouth inspired lusty images of his beef jerky that she could not bat out of her mind. Nora stuttered on her words, and hastily accepted the job before half sprinting out of the Third Rail. Hancock felt confused at her sudden behaviour, but brushed it off as her being nervous about her.. date. He decided it was time to leave, also he was curious as to whether he could catch who she was on this date with.
"No hard feelings," he thought to himself, which of course was a blatant lie. He bade his goodbyes to Deacon and Nick and sauntered out, leaving the two in an awkward silence.
As Hancock wandered back towards the Town Hall, he spotted two figures talking shiftily in the distance, near the alleyway where Bobby was plotting her ludicrous quest to rob him. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he recognised one of the figures to be Macready. So Bobby finally decided to cough up enough coin to hire him. It was a shame; Hancock liked the sarcastic merc and was surprised that he would even be in on robbing him. There had always been a mutual respect. Hancock had decided it was probably time to sort them out for planning a heist against him, he began to walk over to Macready and Bobby, his hand gently caressing the hilt of his knife. It was only when he heard the voice of the other party that he felt his stomach drop. It wasn't Bobbi after all. Some "date". Nora hated him that much that she would rob him, and he couldn't even blame her. Hancock turned around, heart heavy and head hung low, and wandered slowly back through the dark streets of Goodneighbor.