The journey to Diamond City was swift and relatively uneventful. When the days turned into night and she unrolled her grubby sleeping bag, Luna found herself looking forward to being able to bunk down in an actual cot, or a mattress on a frame. Anything would be better than sleeping in the cold mud or the rocky, hard packed earth.
Having reached the ruins of Boston, Luna's mood plummeted with each passing city block. Every sign, rusted out vehicle, and torched store-front dredged up memories of times before the Great War. When things were better; at least to her. Despite resource shortages, an insanely inflated economy, civil conflicts, and fears of contracting the New Plague, Luna had lived a relatively sheltered childhood. It was only after being awoken from cryo, did Luna learn of the truth behind the war.
She had finally pieced together why her father always tinkered with the car, did his own home repairs, and why her mother tried starting her own backyard garden, though it failed miserably. They were trying to save money and grow some food for the coming rainy days.
"What's with the long face?" MacCready queried. A lit cigarette bobbed from his mouth. His voice had startled her from her reverie.
Luna restrained herself when the urge to kick a crushed tin can arose. "Nothing." She hesitated, unsure if she should tell him the truth. Would he understand? Would he call her crazy? What if he decided she was indeed crazy, a danger to him, and decided to put her out of both their misery?
Shaking her head, as if to clear it, and taking a leap of faith, Luna decided to tell him.
"I was just thinking, well, actually seeing all this," she waved her arm at the buildings and cars around them, "I was reminded of how things were before the war."
Luna stopped to pick up a twisted plastic Nuka Cola cup. "Nuka Cola used to taste so different." She said, almost to herself.
MacCready stared at her in silence, his expression unfathomable.
"I think my dad was trying to get away from all the bullshit that we had to deal with every day, that's probably why he would try to take me out every other weekend, to see a movie, or go camping. We'd always get snacks and a couple Nuka Colas. Mom usually didn't want me having too many sweets, she was worried it would make my teeth rot, and that I would get fat." Luna gave a dry laugh, her amusement was more so due to the irony of the situation.
"End of the world and here I am, quite thick, wouldn't you agree?"
MacCready smirked, his eyes crinkling in the corners, and said "I like it."
Luna nearly tripped over her feet and felt a blush crawling up her neck. Never in all her days did she think someone would actually admit that. Hell, she didn't even think anyone would actually be attracted to her, in general. Especially since her mother had really drove home the whole 'fat is ugly' concept.
Yet here she was, with a hired gun, and he had just complimented her.
Maybe he was lying, though. Did he think that he might get more money, and favors, out of her if he blew smoke up her ass? People in the wasteland sure did get around, and who could blame them? If the mutated creatures or raiders didn't get you, then a sip of some bad water would. Death was around every corner and everyone just wanted to enjoy living while they could.
Luna decided to ignore his comment, unsure of how to respond, or even how to take it. Yet it pleased her, deep down, either way.
They walked, in silence, for another hour before they reached the the gates of Diamond City.
The Great Green Jewel of the Commonwealth. More like Great Green Target of the Commonwealth, from where Luna was standing.
A horde of super mutants were in the midst of storming the gates, their hellish hounds tearing through the city guards like they were nothing. It was an absolute blood bath, and Luna wanted nothing to do with it.
MacCready had pulled her and Sam behind a car that lay on its side, hushing her with a hand over her mouth. After a moment, MacCready removed his hand and peeked out from around the car, assessing their chances of survival, should they choose to proceed.
Many of the City Guards lay prone on the ground, their innards spilled upon the cold hard ground, blood eagerly soaked up by the packed earth. Peeling his eyes from the gruesome sight, MacCready looked towards the gates. Three guards were still alive. Two of them stood upon sturdy defense towers, throwing grenades wildly, and firing their guns in all directions. The third guard was arguing with someone over the intercoms on the closed gate. He looked as though he had pissed his pants, judging by the wet stain.
Sliding back down to the ground beside Luna, MacCready said "This doesn't look good. I think we need to get out of here, while the getting is still good."
"I agree, but what's going on out there? What happened to the guards? Are they going to be okay?" Luna started to stand up, to try to get a look for herself but MacCready grabbed her arm and pulled her back down to him. "No!" He hissed, "you'll get your head blown off!"
As if to emphasis his words, a stray bullet ricocheted off the car, where Luna's head would have been.
In a small voice, Luna asked "So what do we do now?"
MacCready looked around and spotted a manhole with bright orange pylon cones around it, just a few yards down the street. There was plenty of cover from a few cars and a large bus. The real challenge would be to pass from vehicle to vehicle undetected.
"There." Pointed MacCready.
As quickly and quietly as they could, the trio bolted away from the violence, and headed towards the best possible hideout, hoping to wait out the mini war.
Though Super Mutants were not known to hide in sewers, that didn't mean other creatures weren't busy making it their home. They would have to be careful.
MacCready reached the manhole first and began his attempt at dislodging the cover. It was far heavier than he had expected, and the tiny hole didn't allow for much leverage. Luna quickly looked around for some kind of steel or metal bar that could be used to hook into the hole, and move the heavy, metal disc.
A deep bellowing sound echoed through the streets then. The earth shook in tandem with heavy steps, as though a herd of elephants were stomping by.
"It seems our luck has just run out." MacCready grunted, unwilling to give up on their, seemingly, only escape route.
Luna covered her ears, the cacophony seemed to make her teeth rattle. "What is that noise?" She called out in disgust.
"Behemoth." Was all MacCready could manage through gritted teeth.
Luna continued her search, and was successful, for she had spotted a chunk of re-bar that looked like it might fit in the manhole cover. She dove for the bar, shaking off bits of sludge and debris then handed it to MacCready.
He took it, gratefully, and wedged it in the hole he had just been prying at with his hands. It was a perfect fit.
In a matter of seconds he had the manhole cover lifted and was shoving it to the side. They lowered Sam down the whole swiftly, yet carefully, then MacCready ushered Luna next. He was keeping an eye out for any more Super Mutants, that might spot them.
"I don't think I'll fit down there!" Luna cried out, the thought of being stuck in a small space with limited movement causing her to panic
MacCready whipped around to look her in the eye. "Yes, you will. Just try."
Anxiety and fear warred within her, both consuming her every thought. They didn't have time for her to be uncertain, as the Behemoth was getting closer. They could see its head and shoulders coming up over the top of the bus now. It had spotted them and roared, spittle flying from its jagged teeth and peeling lips.
As if on cue, a gang of super mutants and their hounds could be seen racing towards them. Some fired their guns wildly, others wielded sledgehammers or spiky boards.
Luna froze on the spot, fear and panic having turned her blood into ice. Turning away from Luna, MacCready bore witness to a dozen super mutants and a Behemoth laying waste to everything that stood in their path, bearing down on the two humans and their junkyard dog.
Acting fast, MacCready grabbed Luna around the waist, hauling her with him down to the ground. He struggled to situate her with her feet in the hole, as her survival instincts took over and she fought him the whole way. She wanted to run in whatever direction didn't have enemies, just running away from this area seemed like a good idea to her, as long as it meant she didn't have to go down that hole.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, before shoving her down through the manhole, where Sam eagerly waited below. Once Luna had her hands and feet on the small ladder inside, she moved down the rungs quickly. After a few seconds there was splashing, which MacCready took as a sign that Luna had made it down relatively safe enough. Or perhaps mirelurks were attacking. There was no time to ponder that thought.
Without delay, MacCready began climbing down, and was trying to pull the manhole cover back into place. He managed to get it about half way there before giving up and jumping down the last few rungs on the sewer ladder.
Landing on the balls of his feet, in putrid smelling sewer water, MacCready staggered slightly before grabbing Luna's arm and dragging her down the first tunnel he saw. Sam was gaily barking up a storm, excited by the running.
Shots rang out from the direction they had just come from, though none of the bullets seemed to be fired in their direction.
Eventually they slowed their run to a jog, and came to a stop. Their breathing was ragged, and sweat beaded on their foreheads; more from the adrenaline than the actual running, as they hadn't run for more than a few minutes.
"That was fucking close." MacCready gasped. His hands were braced on his knees, as he tried to steady his breathing. Luna leaned against the grimy sewer wall, breathing hard. "Don't you ever, ever, make me run again. I hate running." She manages to spit out, somewhat angrily.
"Yeah, Princess? Well I hate swimming." He snidely remarked back, "So don't ever make me go swimming."
After a few hours of stumbling around in the dark and dirty sewers, the trio managed to find an exit that thankfully was not swarming with mutants, or mirekurks. Just a few mole rats, which were easily dispatched. MacCready climbed up the ladder first this time, and upon pushing the manhole cover back he realized they had made an error somewhere back at a fork in the sewer.
"What's up there?" Luna called from below, urging him to make quick work of getting out of the manhole. MacCready muttered, "You're not gonna believe this." as he helped Luna and Sam out of the sewer.
Brushing herself off and kicking sludge from her boots, Luna glanced around, and at first didn't recognize their surroundings. after a few seconds it dawned on her. "Goodneighbor?!" she cried out, in surprised and shock.
MacCready merely huffed a laugh, pulling out his pack of cigarettes and lighting one.
"What's so funny?" Luna asked, a little angry, and more than confused as to what could possibly be so funny about being back at square one. We were supposed to come out on the safe side of Diamond City. But Luna knew better than that. There was no such thing as safe anymore. Just little moments where you could close your eyes for a brief moment, not even letting your guard down long enough to get a proper night's sleep; for fear of someone launching a grenade at your camp, or a deathclaw chewing through your shiny new power armor. The Super Mutants and Behemoth had been a prime example of that.
Blowing out a stream of smoke, MacCready replied "Nothing says 'welcome' like the stench of urine soaked garbage." He paused to take another drag from his cigarette, "but since we're here, why don't we rent a room at the Rexford and grab something to eat. Or drink. I'm parched."
Sam yipped in agreement, and wiggled his stump of a tail.
Managing a sigh, Luna concured, "Alright, well, why don't you two go get our rooms, while I sell off some of my junk? We can meet outside of the Third Rail when we're both finished." she suggested.
With a nod and half shrug of confirmation, MacCready turned his attention to Sam and patted the side of his thigh. "Come on, boy."
Luna sat on one of the benches just outside the doors to The Third Rail, waiting patiently, if not a little nervously, for her partners to return. If truth be told, she had become quit comfortable with having another person traveling with her thus far. It even made her feel safer, knowing she had him to watch her back, in case 'shit hit the fan' as her dad liked to say.
"Miss me?" Came MacCready's smooth voice from behind, startling her out of her thoughts and memories of her father.
Luna grinned at him, "Always. Now let's head inside. You left me waiting for so long that I'm thirsty now, too. Not that the running had anything to do with it." she laughed as they headed inside the double doors.
Magnolia's crooning welcomed the trio as they descended the old stairs, into the makeshift barroom. Luna and Sam grabbed a couch off to the side and near the back, tucked away into a corner where no one could sneak up on them from behind. MacCready sauntered up to the bar, to grab their drinks and have a word with Charlie, the Mr. Handy bar-keep.
Thoroughly enjoying listening to Magnolia finish her set, Luna listened as she thanked the audience and promptly left the stage for a break.
While waiting for MacCready to return with their drinks, and Magnolia to take the stage again, Luna looked around the room, studying the faces of everyone there. Virtually all the patrons were unrecognizable, except for two.
Magnolia, who had come around from backstage and now sat at the bar with a cold water in hand was one. And Charon, who sat close enough to Mangnolia that their knees were touching. Of course, Luna didn't recognize him by his face. No, he kept it covered, same as the first time they met, meaning she had never had the chance to see it. But, she recognized his broad shoulders that tapered into a narrow waist and hips; hips which currently had his combat knife, a couple shotgun shells.
Luna couldn't figure out why, but the sheer fact that their knees kept bumping and rubbing against each other angered her. So much so, that she did not recognize this as jealousy, nor had she noticed the tall figure of a man approach her. Only when he had reached the arm of the couch, and now blocked some of the dim lighting, had Luna noticed. Turning to snap at the person who wanted to bother her, Luna had to bite her tongue, for this man was tall, dark, and downright terrifying.
It was hard for her to tell, but he looked to have sandy blonde, short cropped hair, not unlike that of the military men from her century. He also had piercing blue eyes, and a strong square jaw that was peppered with a days growth of dark stubble that made her want to rub against it like a cat on a wooden post.
"Mind if I sit with you?" He asked in a gravelly yet smooth voice, gesturing at the empty seat with his large hand. His other had a tumbler half full of what looked like whiskey.
Luna felt as though she had swallowed a bunch of cotton, her mouth was so dry, so instead of speaking, she weakly nodded an affirmative, her anger momentarily forgotten.
His movements were graceful and swift, and before she knew it, Luna found herself gazing into his cold blue eyes.
Chancing a glance at MacCready revealed that he had not yet finished with Charlie. The stranger caught Luna's nervous glance and must have misread it because he asked, "Would you like a drink?"
At this point Luna's thoughts had changed gear and were now racing through all the reasons this stranger had decided to sit with her, and all the possible outcomes. But goddamn, she was thirsty, and not just for a beer. Looking at this handsome, terrifying stranger had her blood pumping and her hormones flowing.
"Yes, please." She mumbled, suddenly aware that MacCready may not come back anytime soon, as a second glance his way showed him sliding onto a stool, with only one beer in hand, and it was his beer. Had he forgotten about her already? Was she that unimportant.
The stranger walked to the counter with an air of confidence in every step. His request to Charlie was quickly met, and he had swiftly returned to the corner, drink in hand.
"I hope whiskey is okay, you seem like a whiskey kind of girl." He growled in a sultry voice.
"Yes." Luna gratefully accepted the drink and took a rather large sip of it, letting it rest on her tongue before swallowing it. The burn was pleasurable, even more so when it made her feel warm and tingly inside after.
"So," Luna began with slight hesitation. She wasn't the most confident, especially when handsome strangers made her the focus of their interest. Truth be told, she's never really had many strangers approach her in general, unless they were trying to kill her or were the neighboring Children of Atom coming to try and convert her.
"Why are you here?" Queried Luna, taking another sip of her whiskey.
The stranger let out a throaty bark of laughter that seemed to come from his perfectly sculpted chest, not that she was admiring it through his tightly fitted dark green t-shirt or anything. Which, if she might add, displayed his large and formidable biceps rather beautifully.
"What, I don't even get a 'thank you' before having my motives questioned?" The stranger jested, not in the slightest bothered by her question.
At his statement though, Luna blushed a deep red from embarrassment and shame. Her mother had raised her better than this.
Looking down at her drink she mumbled an apology, hoping he wouldn't pull his gun on her and demand payment for being harassed by her.
He reached a large hand out and rested it on her knee, giving a light squeeze, "I should be the one to apologize, it was a poor joke. Let me get you another drink."
Before Luna could say a word, he was up and buying two more glasses of whiskey. Not wanting to be rude, Luna downed the rest of the one in front of her, feeling the liquid burn it's way down her esophagus and into her stomach. Already she was feeling warmer than usual, and she couldn't tell if it was the drink, or the way this man made her feel. Maybe it was because she hadn't eaten since this morning, or, it was a combination of everything.
He placed her drink on the low coffee table before her and took his seat. It was at this moment that Luna realized he wasn't wearing any amour, having been slightly distracted at first. She didn't want to be rude again by saying something about it, so Luna opted to keep her mouth shut on the subject until the right time.
The stranger cleared his throat before speaking, drawing her attention back up to his face.
"I assume what you were trying to ask earlier is 'what was I doing at your table'?" He sipped his drink before continuing, "Well honestly, you looked lonely. And far too innocent to be out here on your own, even if you do have a mutt." He gestured towards where Sam lay, sleeping soundly on the floor at Luna's feet.
" So I thought you could use some company." He smiled, all charm and seduction. Luna couldn't help but stare at him in shock as her hormones warred with her better judgement.
Grabbing her drink Luna took another large sip, not bothering to taste it this time. She looked over towards where Charon and Magnolia were seated. The fates seemed to be against her, though, since within seconds of looking at the pair they stood up and were heading towards the V.I.P room where she had first met MacCready. Oddly it made her feel sad, and jealous, to see this, as she assumed the worst.
"Uhm, what kind of company did you think I could use?" She looked back at the stranger and asked, sipping her drink and fidgeting with the rim, distracted by her growing jealousy again.
"Whatever kind you want." He offered, without missing a beat.
This time Luna looked at him fully, trying to get a reading on whether or not she could trust him. Perhaps it was the booze, despite the fact that it hadn't hit her fully yet, but she had a nice little buzz going, and was feeling like she could trust him. Maybe he was a good guy and actually wasn't out to kill and rob her.
"Maybe we could just sit here for a bit? I've been on the road for a little while and just want to rest for a moment." She said rather shyly. The stranger merely gave a deep nod of acquiescence and said "Sure."
A few glasses of whiskey later, and Luna felt much more at ease with the handsome stranger. Though she still didn't know his name, she had learned that he was part of the Brotherhood of Steel.
She also learned the reason he didn't have any armor on was because he had arrived in his power armor, and had decided to leave it in a corner of the room where it would be out of the way, but still accessible to him.
"You ever gonna tell me your name?" Luna slurred, cradling her nearly empty fifth glass of whiskey. She was in such a jovial mood, having finally been able to relax for a little while, with some good natured company was something she did not want to waste, and appreciated very much. Though MacCready was good natured too, things were still a little off with him, on account of Luna being hyper aware that she owes him those two hundred fifty caps still. Plus flirting with this handsome stranger was exhilarating.
"Can you keep a secret?" He asked her, conspiratorially, his arm was draped over the back of the couch, with his fingers drawing lazy circles on Luna's shoulder blade. This man was so secretive that it was almost like pulling teeth, trying to get any information from him. But, oddly, Luna found she was enjoying the challenge.
She leaned forward in her seat and whispered, "What if I can't?"
The stranger grinned devilishly and leaned forward, as well, so they were just a breath away from each other, and growled "Then I'll have to punish you."
His words sent a shiver of excitement down Luna's spine, where a warmth seemed to pool.
"What's all this then?" MacCready dropped his bottle of beer, and a second unopened one, on the worn surface of the wooden coffee table, startling both Luna and the stranger out of their flirting. They quickly pulled away from each other and sat up a little straighter. A blush spread over Luna's cheeks, she felt as though she had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, Luna glanced up at MacCready, "Uh, this is uh..." she couldn't properly introduce the man seated with her, for he had not yet revealed his name to her.
"You can call me Anders." The man supplied rather coldly, not bothering to look at MacCready.
Still scrambling to break the uncomfortable silence Luna reached up and grabbed MacCready's hand and announced "He's a Star Paladin in the Brotherhood! Isn't that just the coolest?" She was still slurring slightly, but tried hard to appear more sober than she really was. Even under normal circumstances she was not a physically touchy person, so just the fact that she had grabbed her partner's hand was a testament to how much she had drank, and how it affected her.
MacCready's eyes were full of concern as he stared down at Luna, before he turned to Anders and hissed, "How much have you given her to drink?" There was venom in his tone, that brooked no argument.
"Too much, apparently." Laughed Anders. He hadn't actually expected her to announce his status and affiliation right off the hop. Though, if he managed to control the situation before it gets out of hand, he might be able to keep a lid on any more information Luna could potentially let slip. She was a sweet girl, and he figured there was someone here looking out for her, it was just a matter of drawing them out before moving on with the next step in his plan.