They walked for a few more hours, not making any stops. Her radio playing the whole time. He hummed along sometimes, and when he did he saw her look up at him coyly, trying to hide a smile on her face.
"What did you mean earlier about the hair?" he asked looking down at her, trying to wipe the smile from her face.
She looked down at her feet, red creeping on to her face, "Uh it's nothing. Just a stupid joke."
He raised an eyebrow, "What's the joke?"
"What were you saying about deathclaws earlier?" she said hurriedly. He chuckled, letting her change the subject. He started explaining his experiences with them once more.
They walked until they came to a red rocket that looked like someone had been renovating. Stairs led up to the roof, where a seat sat, he could see a large fluffy brown and black cat laying in the chair. On the ground by the pumps laid two very large cats, one orange and one black, playing in the dirt.
"Welcome home," she said turning to him and spreading her arms out, a smile on her face. She opened the door and walked in with him behind her. He looked around. The place was small, a stove sat to his right, and in front of him was a large garage with a set of power armor sitting in it, a couch was in the corner. A small grey cat laid on it, looking at them. Dogmeat pushed past him, running towards the cat and started licking her.
"That's Reverie. The only cat allowed in here. All the other cats stay outside." she said and MacCready looked at her confused.
"Cats like me, always have. Don't know why a bunch just started coming here once I moved in." she placed her pack on the ground and stretched.
MacCready shrugged pulling his rifle off his back.
"If you're okay, you can have the couch in the garage. I have an extra blanket and pillow in my room you can have. She went left around the corner, to the small office in the. MacCready followed; a radio played in the room, and Anne was seated on a worn bed covered in a few blankets and some pillows. Anne pulled her shoes off, and stood on her bed, reaching above the metal cabinet behind it. MacCready saw her legs flex in front of him, and he turned, looking around the room trying to focus on something else. On the other end was a small desk with a terminal. There was no chair, the bed was pressed right against it. Some bobbleheads surrounded it. He looked at it before spotting the comic on the desk. His eyes went wide and he picked it up. Grognak the Barbarian. He grabbed it and without thinking he sat on the bed and started flipped through the pages.
"Oh man, I love comics. I used to collect comics like this when I was a kid." That was a lie. He had an almost full collection at home but she didn't need to know that. After a while he let out a long sigh, placing it back on the desk, "I have that one at home." he muttered before realizing her legs were pressed against his own. He hadn't even noticed her sit down. Quickly he shot up, stepping out of her room.
She stood up holding out a blanket and pillow to him. He took them.
"Sorry I'm not here very often, I haven't really been able to add a second bed yet," she said fiddling with the belt and undoing it. He turned quickly, not wanting to watch her take her coat off.
She pulled her vault suit off.
He started making his way to the garage where the cat no longer laid on the couch. He threw the pillow and blanket down and turned to look at her crossing her arms. Her hair was no longer in a ponytail, her auburn hair had long strands framing her face. Her arms and legs were bare, showing how pale she was, but he could see the slight muscle definition.
"You had no complaints sharing last night." he teased. Why are you even bringing it up?
Her eyebrows raised in surprise and a smirk crossed her face, an expression he hadn't seen on her before but it made his stomach tighten, "What you want to share my bed again?" she asked, and he noticed the red creeping up her neck. MacCready chuckled, trying to keep his cool. What do I say to that?
"I don't know boss, you're a bit of a bed hog," he said started pulling the binoculars and ammo on his leg off.
She scoffed, "Excuse me, I woke up this morning with you practically on top of me." she said, and MacCready looked up quickly, feeling his whole face turn red. Her face seemed to be doing the same.
"I uh...I'm gonna unpack," she said quickly before disappearing around the corner. He heard some shuffling and then heard her in the other room moving around.
You practically on top me.
His hand went to his face. What the hell was he doing in his sleep? He pulled his duster off, hanging it over the side of the couch. He looked down at his green coat. His gunner's coat. He pulled that off too, laying it on top of his duster. He just wore his white tee-shirt, green pants, and hat.
Your hair looks nice.
He took the hat off, setting it down on his coat. He ran his hands through his hair, feeling the sweat on it. He sighed and noticed his hand had flakes of dried blood. Oh yeah.
He walked out in the main area and peaked over the corner, not seeing her. "Do you have a water pump? I want to get some of this blood off me," he shouted over, not letting himself go closer. He didn't want to go into her room again.
"Yeah, by dogmeat's doghouse. You can't miss it." he heard her shout back. He could hear music playing on the radio in her room.
I'll rock 'em, roll 'em, all night long. I'm a 60-minute man.
He stepped outside, looking at his arms. There was blood coming from a few holes there too. He sighed and walked over to the doghouse. Dogmeat laid in it, chewing on some old teddy bear, the dog's eyes looked up at MacCready and barked happily. He reached down scratching the dog's ear and then moved past the house to the small water pump. After a few hard pumps and water gushed out. MacCready held his hands under the spout as the cold water hit it. He ran his wet hands over his face, feeling his stubble scratch at his hands. He'd shave if it grew much longer, which it wouldn't. His hands went through his hair, blood coming out with the water. MacCready did this for a while before his hands ran clean, then he ran water over his arms getting the blood off them. He sighed to himself; he was soaked. Looking up at the sky he could see the sun just barely starting to make its way down from its peak. Probably around 3 o'clock.
"Ahem" he looked over, Anne stood there leaning against the red rocket, "You done?" she asked pushing herself off the wall.
"Just letting you enjoy the view," he said walking past her. She scoffed reaching in her shorts pocket and pulling out a stimpak for him.
"Figured you may need this," she said. MacCready nodded leaning against the building as Anne walked by, making her way to the pump. He noticed that she had changed too, now wearing a white teeshirt like himself, and jeans that were clearly a mans pair with how she had rolled up the bottom of them.
He put the tip of the needle into his flesh and he pushed it in, trying to ignore the sharp pain that accompanied with it. He pushed down on the syringe. He pulled the needle out, and sighed, already feeling the wounds heal. He looked up at Anne who was squatted in front of the pump. She was running her long hair through it, getting blood out and running water over her face. He noticed the water had soaked the front of her shirt. Her white shirt.
He turned around coughing as the heat started to hit his ears, "I'm going to head inside." he said and she grunted in response. He walked in grabbing his rifle where he had left it by the front door and went to the workbench she had in her garage. He picked up the screwdriver and started taking the rifle apart. His mind cleared as he worked, all the confusing feelings disappearing as his gun came apart piece by piece. He had it all apart and sighed, looking at it. He'd have to replace the screws. He was just staring at it when Anne appeared in the doorframe, looking at him. He made sure to keep his eyes on her damp face.
"I'm going to start cooking, do you have a preference?" she asked. MacCready shook his head an she was just turning to head into the main room.
"Do you have any guns you don't use? My rifle needs new screws," he said. She looked back at him nodded, turned and walked into the garage. She stood beside him at the workbench reaching underneath and pulling out a small bobby pin box. SCREWS was written on the top. She held it out to him.
"Oh uh...thanks," he said taking the box from her hands, feeling the weight of it in his hands. He brought his eyes up to hers. She was close, and he could see that her nose was crooked, and her eyes had bags that had formed under them, or had those been there before? She nodded before walking back into the main area.
Weird...feels like we're living together. He chuckled to himself. He started putting his rifle back together. He was almost done when Anne knocked on the door, a metal bowl in her mind.
"I think it can wait," she said, a smirk on her face. He put the screwdriver down and took the bowl. Squirrel soup.
"Thanks," he said looking up at her, she moved her head, indicating him to follow her. The two walked out into the main room. She sat at the counter and he sat across from her. A lantern was on the table lit as the sun had started setting.
Sitting at the end of the counter was a bottle of whiskey and he looked at her, and then at the whiskey. She laughed grabbing it and pulling the cap off. She took a swig before handing it to him. MacCready smiled taking a long drink. The burn went down his throat and made him feel warm. He placed it down between them and started eating. The radio played behind her, as the two wolfed down their meals.
Worry, Worry, Worry, love is passing me by.
"So you impressed yet? I told you I was a damn good shot." He reached into the pocket of his pants, pulling out a cigarette. He realized he did have a lighter in his jacket, but before he could get up she held a lighter in front of him with a small flame. He leaned forward lighting the cigarette. She put her lighter down and picked up the whiskey herself.
"I don't know. I haven't really noticed," she said teasing, before taking a sip.
Worry, Worry, Worry I'm so painfully shy.
MacCready rolled his eyes blowing the smoke over his shoulder and holding the cigarette out.
"Oh come on. You've got skills, I'm sure you know talent when you see it." She reached out and took the cigarette, and pushed the whiskey towards him, which his hands greedily wrapped around. It was like a reflex, his hand instantly raised the bottle to his lips. It was going down easier now.
Other guys get all the kisses.
"Yeah I suppose so," she said placing the cigarette to her lips, and he watched her chest rise as she breathed in. Stop that.
He smiled leaning forward on the counter, "There you go. That wasn't too hard to admit, was it?" he smiled at her, and she blew smoke from her nose. He took the cigarette from her mouth.
Why am I the one who misses?
"I'm completely self-taught you know. Picked up a sniper rifle when I was 10 and I never looked back." He put the cigarette to his lips taking in a long drag, their eyes still locked across the counter as she took a sip.
Worry, Worry, Worry woe is me.
"Always thought it was smarter to hit my targets at long range. I mean, why take chances right," he said, then exhaling the smoke out his nose, "besides, I had to come up with every trick in the book to survive the capital wasteland." he watched Anne tilt her head back and she took another sip of whiskey. Her neck was very exposed.
"I'm sure your parents were thrilled by your hobby," Anne said as she lowered the bottle from her lips. She took the cigarette from MacCreadys hand. This was becoming a pattern now, with them passing their vices back and forth.
Baby, baby, baby I'm a fool about love.
"Never knew my parents. Lived underground in a place called little lamplight with a bunch of other kids. Left there when I was about 16," he reached for the now over half empty bottle, "we kind of had a policy there, no adults. When you were 16 you packed up and left. I know it sounds crazy but having adults around was something we couldn't trust." He took a swig and she held the cigarette in her hand and her head cocked as she looked at him confused. The look made him smile to himself, it made him think of the woman who had walked into the third rail, not the one who had killed all those raiders with him yesterday. It was nice to know she was still in there.
Maybe, Maybe I should go to school about love.
"How could a bunch of kids survive without help?" she placed the cigarette in her mouth, the confusion dissipating from her face. Hiding.
"Everyone pulled their own weight. Just like a colony you'd find anywhere. We all had our designated jobs and we watched each other's backs," he smiled, watching her nodded her head, "Can you believe I was actually the mayor for a while? Crazy I know." he smiled rubbing his chin, looking up at her ceiling. He could feel the stubble again.
When it comes to getting Chummy.
"Pretty brave, a bunch of kids living alone like that." he heard her say. He shook his head, watching the smoke making its way up to the ceiling.
I'll admit, I'm quite a dummy.
"I don't know. Looking back on the whole thing, I think we were just lucky" he muttered that before shaking his head and looking down finding her snuffing the cigarette out in an ashtray, "Anyway when I hit 16 I ended up wandering the capital wasteland for a while. Took the odd job here and there but things were pretty hot with the brotherhood of steel running the show. So I hitched a ride with a caravan and made my way north until I ended up here," He wasn't technically lying, "Made a pretty decent name for myself before I heard the gunners needed sharpshooters. Biggest mistake of my life." he took the bottle in his hand looking at the last bit left and swung it back.
Worry, Worry, Worry woe is me.
"They were animals. Killed anything that moved if it got in their way. I went with it for a while because the caps were good. But...I dunno, I guess it started to catch up with me. So I quit." An animal is a kind way to put it. She was leaning on her elbows looking at him, there was something in her eyes now; curiosity. Too much RJ.
"Which pretty much brings us to now. So there you have it. My whole life in a nutshell." he leaned back in his chair, tucking his arms behind his head. She looked at him a sly smile on her face.
I found out that I'm the worrying kind.
"Sounds like the road can be a lonely place until you meet someone to share it with." His ears started burning fast and he didn't have his cap to cover it. He looked down at the counter trying to think of something to say
I'll go worrying right along.
"I...well...I never thought of it that way," his eyes darted back and forth and he looked back up at her, "Maybe that's why I feel so comfortable telling you all of this." now it was her turn to look startled. MacCready sighed.
"Look I know I tend to be a pain in the ass...I mean I know I tend to be arrogant and I come off like I want to be alone," Oh no I drank too much, "Nothing could be further from the truth. Being alone scares the heck out of me...Now that we've been traveling together for a while, I'm beginning to realize how much I missed having someone I could depend on." His eyes were locked with hers, and he felt himself just keep talking as much as he wanted too.
Life is fine, but with a worrying mind.
"I just wanted you to know that I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it stays this way," he leaned back in his chair, noticing her cheeks turn red, his ears felt hot.
So many things can go wrong.
"Well, that's all I had to say. I hope you got something out of all that. I know I did." He stood up from the seat and looked at her.
She nodded her head, "Yeah...I got something." she said softly. MacCready smiled weakly before stretching.
"I'm going to bed okay boss, it's been a long day." Anne nodded, and MacCready made his way to the garage, not actually feeling that tired and shut the lights off as he laid on the couch staring at the ceiling. He could hear her in the other room, the music shutting off.
Worry, Worry, Worry woe is me.
AN: Not important though.
I'm putting this at the end for a few reasons but I want to say something because it's kind of worrying me I suppose on how people may interpret something. I, like most people, HATE Mary Sue's. I'm working hard on trying to make Anne not a mary sue, but it can be difficult at times with the central role her character naturally plays in the story. Whatever. One thing I notice when people write a mary sue is they usually incorporate parts of their own life into their character and their life. Since a Mary sue is a way for someone to insert themselves into the world, they put parts of themselves into the character. There is nothing wrong with drawing from experience for your characters, every writer does, but I find inserting ACTUAL very specific parts of your life into your story, connected to your main character, is making it so you have inserted yourself into the story and it's...gross? I don't know I think it's a way to make your a character an irredeemable mary sue.
I just did that. I want to give an explanation. The cats in this story are my own cats (Princess, Reverie, Bruce, Dorito. We didn't name Dorito.) Almost a year ago, Reverie died from heart failure. It was the worst experience of my life. She was 5. She died and it sucks and every day feels like I'm missing one of the most important parts; Which was her. She's dead in this world, but maybe in some little way she can continue living. My other cats, when they pass away, will still live in this story. I can't protect them from death, but I can let them live on in some small way, even if I can't be with them. I'm sorry this is so personal, but I want to give some sort of explanation if after reading this you are like "Oh gross, mary sue." I want to give some sort of justification so you understand where I'm coming from. Maybe for some of you, this didn't bother you, but it bothered me so I mentioned it.
