Pinkerton turned out to be another asshole, not to Maverick's surprise.

And he appreciated Leyah's ability to bullshit through a conversation as she praised the bastard on his scientific prowess, allowing them access to his terminal.

"How did you know what to say?" Maverick asked as he leaned against the wall next to the terminal.

Leyah smirked. "Well, he kind of reminds me of the Overseer in the Vault. They'll do anything if you butter them up a bit and tell them how great they think they are." She typed something into the terminal and a frown suddenly came to her lips. "Huh, that's interesting."

"What is it?"

"Hold on…"

Maverick studied her as she stared at the screen. Her big, heavily lashed blue eyes scanned the screen fervently and her lips pursed as she narrowed her eyes. She stared down the slightly long bridge of her nose as what she read made her more upset.

Now that he was closely looking at her, he realized that while she lacked the qualities of a typical attractive woman, she was still attractive regardless. Everything about her just seemed to fit together perfectly and that made her even more attractive to him.

To be honest, he had avoided talking to her most of the time after the incident outside the Jefferson Memorial because he was scared that he would reveal more than he wanted to.

He had lied when he told her what his problem was outside.

He wasn't scared earlier. He was terrified. He thought that his life was trying to prove just how shitty it was by taking the first good thing he had in years away from him before he could really have a chance to relish in it. In that moment, he knew he couldn't just ignore and brush aside the feelings that were starting to form inside him when it came to Leyah. In the short amount of time he knew her, she managed to get closer than anyone had gotten in years.

And that was almost taken away from him that morning.

Maverick swore he could feel his heart stop when he saw the Super Mutant turn away from him earlier. And he only felt it start beating again when he saw her alive and smiling at the woman they saved.

That was when he decided to stay quiet. He knew that if he spoke out then, he would have revealed too much.

How does someone say, 'By the way, I might just think you're becoming more than a friend to me and we've only known each other for a month. What a fucking surprise!'?

Maverick inwardly groaned in his head. Fuck, he needed to rethink everything he thought he knew about him and Leyah.

The way she looked at him earlier…shit, he never wanted to kiss a girl more than he did then and there.

Her wide blue eyes were so focused on him and the way her lips parted and—fuck, he had to stop thinking about it.

His libido was the last thing that needed to be added to this equation.

Leyah pulled him from his thoughts when she gasped. "Maverick!" she hissed, tugging on his sleeve.

"What?"

"The Android! He came here!" she whispered, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Pinkerton wasn't near them.

"What?"

"Look!"

Maverick glanced down at the screen and he narrowed his eyes. Sure enough, there was a before and after picture on the screen. His eyes widened when he recognized the man in the 'after' part. "Holy fucking shit, that's Harkness!"

Leyah quickly downloaded every file concerning Rivet City and Harkness from the terminal to her Pip-boy before standing up and marching over to Pinkerton.

Fuck.

"Want to tell us about the android that came through here?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Pinkerton denied it at first, but Maverick knew that Leyah would get it out of him eventually. He stood behind her, crossing his arms and trying to look as intimidating as he could. That and Leyah's pestering finally caused Pinkerton to throw up his hands in exasperation and he told them everything.

"What are you going to do?" Maverick asked as they stepped out into the weak sunlight of the wasteland again. Pinkerton had given them instructions on how to restore Harkness' memories.

Leyah worried her lower lip between her teeth, looking up toward the main entrance of Rivet City. "Well, I have the evidence right here. It's not like he can just deny it. And that code would do the trick too."

Maverick grumbled and pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes. "Fuck, I should have noticed it! I punched the motherfucker a few months ago and he barely moved!"

"Why should you have noticed? If I'm punching someone, I'm not thinking about whether they're an android or not," Leyah snorted, hitching her pack up higher before walking.

"Have you seen me punch someone before, Vaultie? They usually don't stay standing," Maverick huffed.

All he got in response was a humored smile and an eye roll.

They made it up to the loading dock again and Leyah was becoming tenser by the second as they walked toward where Harkness was standing. "Mav, I don't think I can do this. This would crush him."

"Leyah, Zimmer is HERE. What if he finds out and takes the damn android back to where it came from?"

The Vault Dweller grumbled and took a deep breath before walking up to Harkness. Maverick stood to the side again and watched Leyah work her magic. Maverick became worried when he saw the steely look enter Harkness' eyes after Leyah literally forced the news on him.

"What are you going to do about, Zimmer?" Leyah asked, looking up at him with concern.

"Would you guys mind following me? I might need backup and I don't want any of my men knowing," Harkness growled, taking his gun off his back.

Maverick scowled. "I bet you 10 caps that he's going to go down there and shoot the bastard in the face."

Harkness curled his lip at him before stalking toward the doors nearby.

Maverick and Leyah looked at each other before quickly following him.

They finally reached the Science Lab and Maverick quickly stood in front of Leyah when Harkness shot Zimmer, just like he said he would. Maverick whipped his shotgun from his back and took out the bodyguard, which turned out to be another android, by shooting it straight in the head before it could react.

He tried to remain calm when he felt Leyah rest her forehead on his back. "Nothing normal can happen to us, can it?"

"I think it's just you, Vaultie," Maverick snickered.

"Har dee har har," he heard her retort, followed by a softer "Asshole."

Doctor Li was shouting at them by now and Maverick had to drag Leyah out before she could try doing her 'being nice' thing and apologize to the scientist.

They all stood out in the hallway for what seemed like hours. Harkness just leaned back against the wall with his head drooping while Maverick stood next to a fidgeting Leyah. He glanced down at her and he almost laughed aloud to see her worrying so much.

Shit, she needed to calm down.

Maverick nudged her with his elbow and acted nonchalant about it. She elbowed him back and he grinned before elbowing her again.

He felt a light smack on his arm and he looked down to see her blue eyes flashing with amusement.

"I can't thank you enough," Harkness finally said, wiping a hand down his face.

Leyah rocked back on her heels, holding her hands behind her back. Jesus, everything she did seemed cute or hot now. Maverick looked away and used every ounce of his training from the Brotherhood to focus on the android again.

Harkness gave him a knowing grin and Maverick suddenly remembered something androids could do. They can read how a person is feeling simply from the microscopic body language cues and even pheromone levels. Maverick knew both of those things must have been high as a fucking kite at the moment.

Maverick suddenly wished the Brotherhood didn't have those reports on the androids so long ago so he could have been ignorant of this fact. It would have given Harkness less satisfaction.

"So...do you want to be called Harkness still or-"

"Harkness," the android interrupted, giving Leyah a tired grin, "And the people here know me as that. I'm still their head guard, despite everything."

Leyah sighed and brushed some loose hair from her face. "Sorry to have sprung it on you like that, I couldn't think of any other way to break it to you."

"I'm glad I know now, and I can't thank you both enough. I'll be able to protect myself and maybe even help other androids in the future." Harkness paused and reached back for his rifle.

Maverick stiffened and stepped closer to Leyah. Was he short circuiting? He began to reach for his own gun.

"Relax asshole, I'm giving her this gun. I modified if myself and it's better than the shit Flak or Shrapnel can sell you. It has the same parts as a laser rifle and uses the same ammo. You will need if more than I will." He held out the gun to Leyah and Leyah gingerly took it from his hands.

"Thank you," she breathed out as she gasped in awe at the setup of the gun. Maverick had to admit that he was impressed with it as well.

"Where are you guys heading now? I heard you were looking for your dad," Harkness asked as Leyah strapped her new rifle to her back.

Maverick jerked his thumb toward Leyah. "We're getting her new armor first."

Leyah elbowed him with an eyeroll. "Yeah, and we need to pick up more supplies. When's the next caravan supposed to come through? We kind of cleaned out all we needed from the market this morning."

Harkness shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, the next caravan isn't due for a few days."

"Fuck," Maverick hissed. Then he remembered something, they weren't too far from the Museum of History. "Hold on, Vaultie, I know where we can find you some armor."

Leyah arched a brow at him, crossing her arms under her breasts. Maverick tried to not look at how the action caused them to lift a little. Fuck, shit, damn, bitch he was in trouble. Cool it you pervert, he growled at himself.

"And where is this place?"

Maverick rolled his eyes. "Remember those ghouls I told you about in Underworld? Let's go bother them. Tulip might have something to sell us."

Leyah groaned, letting her head fall back as she whined, "Ugh, that means we have to go through the Metro."

Maverick reached over and grabbed her chin before he could tell himself not to. He gently pulled so she would look at him. "Look on the bright side, at least the entrance is right in front of the damn place."

She pouted and waved his hand away. "That doesn't make the fact that feral ghouls are down there any better."

"Take what you can get, Vaultie," Maverick snorted, nodding to Harkness before making his way down the hallway. "C'mon. If we leave now we can get there before it gets dark."

Leyah said goodbye to Harkness and the android even went as far as watch to make sure they made it to Anacostia safely before going back to duty.

"So what's the Underworld like? Gob told me a little about it. I wonder if his mother is still there. Remind me to see if she is and then I can talk to her. And-"

Maverick wasn't surprised to find that he wasn't annoyed with Leyah's persistent rambling. He was starting to think it was cute and she wouldn't be Leyah if she didn't ramble.

That didn't stop him from telling her to shut up in the Metro.

hr

Leyah never wanted to step into a Metro ever again after the trip to the Museum of History.

She just saw more feral ghouls than she ever wanted to see.

At least the gun Harkness gave her was as powerful as he said it was. Both Maverick and Leyah just stared at the gun after it reduced a feral ghoul to a pile of green goo. Maverick couldn't stop laughing after it happened.

"A pile of ash is normal. But goo?! Holy shit, that's awesome," he laughed again as they stepped out into the sunlight.

Leyah rolled her eyes, strapping the gun back over her shoulder. It looks like boys are still obsessed with gross things like goo even at Maverick's age. She couldn't wait to get back to Megaton so she could stash her assault rifle away with her other guns. It was adding more weight than was needed and it quickly became a pain in the ass.

"Long time no see, Maverick," a gravelly voice called from across the small square. A female ghoul was making their way toward them, sticking a cigarette back in her mouth.

"Willow, vigilant as ever I see. Kick anyone's ass lately?" Maverick greeted, slinging his shotgun back over his shoulder.

"Who's your friend?" Willow asked, staring down what was left of her nose at Leyah.

Leyah honestly could see why people could be intimidated by ghouls, but she didn't have a problem with their appearance. If anything, it fascinated her. "Hi," Leyah greeted, trying to smile as best as she could. Her body still was on edge from running into feral ghouls.

"She's not from your damn Brotherhood is she?" Willow snorted, punching Maverick lightly in the shoulder before returning to her post.

"No, she isn't. And keep up the good work, Willow," Maverick chuckled before moving toward the Museum of History door.

Leyah only asked the question burning in her mind after the door shut behind them. "Why did she ask that?"

Maverick sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, making it stick up adorably in the front. Crap, she couldn't stop thinking that way about him if she tried now. She had to resist the urge to reach up and smooth it down for him.

"The Brotherhood used to be really good about helping any civilian in the Wasteland. That never included ghouls, sadly. I always threatened my men if they even thought about shooting toward ghouls on patrols," he huffed out a laugh with no humor, "the ghouls here actually called me the Zombie Lover when I was in the Brotherhood. It took them a while to figure out that I was the same guy."

Leyah shook her head with a smile. "Wow, as much as you defend and help other people, you would think you would be a nicer person."

"Being nice and good are not the same thing," Maverick grumbled. "I've met many 'nice' bastards that were rotten to the core."

"Oh really?"

"Damn straight."

Leyah followed after him, taking in everything she was seeing in the museum. A skeleton lay to her right and she couldn't help but stop and study it. Its giant teeth were what fascinated her the most.

"Vaultie, we don't have all day!" Maverick barked.

Leyah frowned at him and she was surprised to see him grinning at her.

"I know it's cool, but I thought you wanted to meet the ghouls."

"I do! But I've only read about skeletons like this. What do you think it is?"

Maverick snorted. "Hell if I know."

"But really! Do you think it was a relative of the Deathclaw or-"

"Vaultie, you and I both know that Deathclaws are nothing natural and nothing can be related to them."

Oh yeah, he hated Deathclaws.

The door to Underworld was a tad intimidating and Leyah just arched an incredulous brow up at it. "Are you kidding me? Skulls?"

"It used to be an exhibit on what happened after life. The ghouls thought it would be an appropriate place for themselves. And no one comes near it because it's creepy as fuck. Win-Win."

Well, that made sense.

Leyah stayed close to Maverick as he easily pulled open the door and strode in. She figured if she was standing close enough to him, no one would have any reason to fear her. Ghouls were everywhere. Almost every bench had a ghoul sleeping or sitting on it and the large decoration in the middle had ghouls sitting all around it.

Wow, it's really a city, she thought.

Maverick led her up the stairs on the left. "Aren't we going to trade stuff?" Leyah asked, quickly following him. Some of the stares from the nearby ghouls weren't comforting.

"Nah. Tulip is probably asleep right now. Let's not bother her. Didn't you want to meet Gob's mom?"

Leyah gasped and grabbed Maverick's sleeve. "She's still here? That's great!"

She could see the sign for Carol's Place and she started to make her way toward it when Maverick's hand caught on her arm. "Leyah, there's something I need to tell you."

Leyah stopped and looked up at him, trying to ignore how his touch on her arm was making her body slowly heat up. "Yeah?"

"You can't tell her about Gob's situation. I've been telling her he has a steady job and is happy. They're situation is already shit, she doesn't need news like that to make it worse."

Leyah thought about arguing, thinking about Harkness, but she realized this situation was completely different. She was sure she wouldn't take news like that well. "Okay."

"You're going to listen to me for once? Good," Maverick joked, giving her arm a gentle squeeze before stepping around her.

"I listen to you most of the time!" Leyah huffed, marching after him.

"Yeah, but you talk back usually," he snorted.

"I only do it to piss you off," she giggled, nudging him with her shoulder.

Maverick grumbled under his breath as he opened the door and Leyah couldn't help but feel happy for the first time in weeks. She finally had an inkling about where her dad was. She had a house in Megaton. And now she knew Maverick wasn't going to drop her on her ass again any time soon and was her friend. And she had a gun that could turn things into goo.

Things were looking up.

"Carol!" Maverick greeted, stepping toward the counter.

A ghoul lifted her head and she beamed up at him. Her cracked lips flaked a little as she reached out to give Maverick a small hug from across the counter. "Maverick! It's good to see you again. What brings you to Underworld?" she paused when she noticed Leyah and she gave Maverick a teasing smirk. "And you brought someone with you? This is new. Hello dear, I'm Carol."

Leyah was just happy to meet someone who was polite for once. "I'm Leyah, it's nice to meet you." She held out her hand to the ghoul and Carol was surprised for a moment before her smile widened and she shook it.

"Why is someone so nice traveling with you of all people, Maverick?"

Maverick's grin instantly turned into a deep scowl and Leyah couldn't help it. She couldn't stop a snort from escaping her and she covered her mouth, trying to keep her giggles in.

"If ONE more person says that to me, I'm going to pop them in the mouth," Maverick growled, staring down his nose at Leyah.

She saw the familiar spark of humor in his eyes and she stopped trying to cover her laughs. "Maybe this is a hint. You need to stop being so rude to people," Leyah retorted, punching his shoulder playfully.

"I'm nice. I took your ass in after all."

Leyah rolled her eyes. "Yeah, then you dropped me on it with no warning."

"I made up for it."

A small cough forced them to look toward Carol, who looked tickled pink…or some grey color. "What can I do for you two?"

"Well, two rooms would be nice," Maverick said, pulling out some caps.

Leyah stared up at him in confusion. "Two?"

"Leyah, it's literally a bed and a door. You'll thank me."

She shrugged. They had been doing good on saving their caps, so they could afford this for one night.

"I'm sorry Maverick, but I only have one room available," Carol apologized. Her eyes darted between them in confusion.

Oh shit, she thought we were a couple too, Leyah thought.

"Dammit, I guess we're sharing a bed tonight, Vaultie. I don't want either of us sleeping in the common room."

Leyah could see how that situation could go wrong so many ways. She had been thinking of her and Maverick in a bed way too much these past few days. And not sleeping. Leyah had accepted the fact she had a crush on him and was attracted to him, that didn't mean anything was going to happen though. But sleeping in the common room wasn't a good idea either.

"Okay," she croaked, clearing her throat before looking at Carol again, "Thank you, Carol."

"You're welcome, dears," she took the caps from Maverick, "Maverick, have you seen Gob lately, how is he doing?"

Leyah had to give Maverick is props. He usually was blunt and told the truth…here though, he was a natural liar.

"He's doing great, Carol. He told me to tell you he loves you and misses you the next time I come out here."

Carol's eyes softened and her smile made Leyah's heart break a little. She could see why Maverick told her to lie. If Carol found out the truth, she would be devastated. Maverick took the key and the room turned out not to be a room at all. It was what Maverick said. It was a bed surrounded by flimsy walls and a bathroom stall door.

"You weren't kidding," she whispered.

"Yeah, downside of staying in Underworld."

He took their bags and tossed them over the flimsy walls onto the bed. "Well, I say we buy dinner and have a few drinks before heading to bed. We can plan our next move."

The thought of a full-ish meal and a beer sounded wonderful. "Lead the way."

An hour later, Leyah found herself sitting across from Maverick with a full stomach and a cold beer. She found herself spitting out her beer more than once when Carol and Greta joined them and started to tell stories about Maverick.

"Really ladies?" Maverick growled.

"What? You convinced him you were President Eden for a week! Patches is always drunk, but that was a new low for him," Greta giggled.

"What about that time he and Charon dealt with those troublemakers a few months ago? It was the only time I saw Charon smile," Carol cut in.

Leyah looked to Maverick for an explanation.

Maverick ran his fingers through his hair, making it stick up again. "Some ghouls that never lived here before started causing trouble in Ninth Circle. So I went over there to see what was going on and helped the 'bouncer' take them straight out of Underworld. It was mostly us against 3 high ghouls."

"And you convinced one of them you were a Super Mutant," Greta added, deadpan.

Leyah snorted out a laugh. "Remind me never to get inebriated around you. I may not know who you are the next day."

"Sure thing, Leyah," Maverick chuckled, kicking her chair leg a little.

"It was a sight. Maverick and Charon kept up the act and they willingly ran out of Underworld," Carol chuckled. "Again, I think that was the only time I've seen Charon smile."

Maverick grumbled and popped the top off another beer. "Well, can you blame him? He has the shittiest boss in the Wasteland."

Both ghouls nodded in agreement. "So how did you and Leyah meet, Maverick?" Carol asked, looking tickled…greyish pink? Leyah's tipsy mind couldn't make itself up.

"She passed out in the middle of my street after running away from Raiders. I did the usual and took her in," Maverick said curtly.

"From Raiders?! You poor thing." Carol reached out and patted Leyah's arm.

"I had a Rad-Cold," Leyah sheepishly admitted.

"Yeah, she came from 101. Never been around radiation in her life," Maverick added on.

"Wow, really?" Greta asked. "I always thought there was at least a little bit of radiation no matter where you were."

They then continued to tell the ghouls about how they started traveling together to find her dad. "So now we're going to wait a few days and see if he comes back," Leyah finished.

"That's so nice of you to help her, Maverick." Carol looked at Maverick with twinkling eyes. Well, at least Leyah thought they would have that quality if they weren't covered with a milky film.

"Nah, she could have taken care of herself, I'm just along for the ride," Maverick said, winking at Leyah.

Leyah rolled her eyes, ignoring how her stomach was fluttering now. Maverick rarely complimented her. And that wink did things she wish it didn't.

The two ghoulettes went to bed, leaving Leyah and Maverick alone.

"Did you mean that?" Leyah whispered, rolling her beer between her hands.

Maverick gave her an even stare for many moments. "Every word."

Leyah scooted toward the edge of her chair, bringing herself close to him. "Really?"

She was inwardly pleased when Maverick didn't move away from her either. "Yes, Leyah."

Before she knew it, her face was inches from his and her heart was beating quicker and quicker with every inch. Shit, she knew it was the alcohol. She didn't have a good tolerance for it and Maverick had a large glass of vodka before his beers.

She found herself staring at his lips and her breath caught in her throat. Was this happening? Did he want to kiss her just as much as she wanted to kiss him?

God, she hoped so.

A loud bang made them jerk apart and Leyah saw a drunk ghoul stumble in and clumsily land on his bed in the room in the corner.

"Let's get to bed, Vaultie. We've got a long way to go to Megaton tomorrow."

Leyah nodded, cursing her luck. Maverick unlocked the door to their 'room' and they both stepped in. Leyah kicked off her boots and took off the equipment belt and her Pip-Boy. There was no way she was stripping down to her usual tank top and underwear right now. She wasn't tipsy enough to make that mistake.

Maverick had already took off all of his armor and he was pulling the covers over him as she turned toward the bed. She gingerly climbed in beside him, turning her back to him.

"Goodnight, Mav."

"Night Leyah."

This was going to be a long night.