Chapter 14 - Crazy For You
"Nora. Nicholas. I'm surprised to see you again so soon." Dr. Amari replied when she watched the Vault Dweller and her synth compatriot descend the wooden stairs. Amari removed her glasses and set them next to the glowing terminal and massaged her temples. She had been neck deep into research when the duo interrupted her.
"Hey Doc. Sorry to drop in unannounced. I'm here to take you up on your offer from last time." He replied.
"You're having more mnemonic impressions?" Amari asked. Her face grew serious as she scrutinized the synth. "Is it Kellogg again?"
"No. I'm afraid it's… Nick." Synth Nick bit out.
Dr. Amari nodded and motioned for Nick to sit in an arm chair next to her terminal. Nick removed his fedora and handed it to Nora. He ran a hand across his bald head out of nervous habit. As his hands swept across the synthetic panels that made up his skull, he had a sensation of his hand running through thin, tousled hair.
Nora took a seat in the other vacant chair and observed Dr. Amari as she attached lead nodes to Nick's skin until they encircled his entire head like a sci-fi crown.
"How long ago was the last episode you had?"
Nick glanced at the yellow alarm clock that sat on the table. It read a quarter after eight in the evening. "It's happened at least three times in the past ten hours."
Dr. Amari frowned and consulted a thick file folder that sat on top of a metal file cabinet. "You've never had this many frequent episodes before. Where were you when these hallucinations happened?"
"It happened twice in my office and then once more when I — " Nick paused and looked guilty. "— I went to visit the murder scene."
Dr. Amari tutted disapprovingly, "Why do you torture yourself like that Nicholas?"
"What can I say. I'm a masochist, I guess." He replied dryly. Dr. Amari ignored his quip and began typing some commands into her terminal.
"Alright Nicholas, I need you to put yourself auxiliary mode. Run a partial diagnostic scan but focus primarily on your processors and your cerebral memory banks. The results will get sent to my terminal."
"You don't need to stay here, Doll." Nick sighed. Again, hesitation and insecurity wrinkled his tattered face. He already felt like a science experiment gone wrong.
"I'm staying, Nick." Nora replied firmly. "See you when you wake up."
Nick closed his eyes and rested his head against the high-backed chair. A series of beeps emanated from his body and then Nora could hear the gentle whirl of the internal motors and fans. Occasionally, Nick's index finger twitched on his ruined hand and gently tapped the armrest sporadically.
Dr. Amari poured over the information that was being sent to her terminal. She didn't say anything besides a few noncommittal grunts and sighs.
"Doc, can you tell me why Nick has these flashbacks?" Nora asked after a moment. "She wanted to breach the subject with Nick but felt that it would be awkward to ask him about a part of his brain that he deemed was defective.
Amari never took her eyes from the terminal when she spoke, "Nick's pre-war counterpart was diagnosed with PTSD in the psychiatric file that I recovered from the CIT's database. I don't doubt that the PTSD was what spurred the original Mister Valentine to check himself in to psychiatric care. However, I don't think he understood the full ramification of the experiment that he volunteered for. As a result, when Mister Valentine's memories and consciousness were implanted into Nick, the PTSD came with it."
"So this Nick has PTSD?" Nora clarified.
"Yes and no. What Nick experiences are echoes of the same dissociative state that many PTSD sufferers experience. He may sometimes experience visual or auditory hallucinations, but he rarely goes into a full dissociative state. Granted, he's gotten much better since I first began treating him nearly ten years ago. The severity of his symptoms as well as their frequency have died down substantially. I'm hoping today's influx of episodes was just an anomaly."
She scribbled some notes into Nick's file while another series of trills emanated from Nick and he blinked a few times before shifting in the chair.
"What's the prognosis, doc." His voice sounded slurred as though he had been roused from a deep sleep.
"Unfortunately Nicholas, I don't see anything in the data that tells me something has changed or has gotten worse." Nora handed Nick his fedora and he rose to look at the information from over Amari's shoulder. Nora did the same, but all she could see was a string of random alpha-numeric code stretch across the screen. The code looked like hieroglyphs to Nora, but Nick scanned then and frowned.
"Then what can I do to minimize these episodes, doc?" He asked. He couldn't stop the frustration from leaking into his voice. "I lost my hand due to a bad episode long ago, remember? If you hadn't found me outside of Goodneighbor, I would've been picked clean by scavvers and raiders."
"You can do what I've suggested before, Nicholas. You need to behave as though you suffer the same mental illness that your counterpart suffered from. The symptoms of PTSD can only be mitigated by therapy."
Nick shook his head, "No. No offense Doc, but I'm done with therapy. That's what got Pre War Nick into this situation in the first place."
"Why don't you talk with me?" Dr. Amari offered, "I can make you a weekly appointment if you want."
"You already know all there is about Jenny. What more could I tell you?" Nick complained. He tried to restrain himself from snapping at the doctor.
"I'm not talking about having a conversation, Nicholas." Amari replied shortly, "I'm talking about psychotherapy. I'll walk you through the event and —"
"No." This time Nick did snap, and then he sighed. "Sorry, but therapy isn't an option."
"Then I'm afraid that until you decide to talk with someone about what happened, then this is something that you'll just have to live with."
"Thanks again for seein' me." Nick replied briskly. "Sorry 'bout waistin' your time."
"Don't be sorry Nicholas. I'm here to help. I just wish you weren't so damn stubborn sometimes. Take care Nora. I'm happy to see you made it back from the Glowing Sea safely."
"Good night, Dr. Amari." Nora replied and followed Nick up the stairs.
Nick pulled out a cigarette and lit it as they escaped into the night. He leaned up against the wall of The Memory Den and sighed as smoke was exhaled from his mouth and the tear in his throat. Anxiety, annoyance, and uncertainty marred his features.
Nora could understand his frustration. After Shaun was born, Nora felt empty and uncertain about her new role as mother and about her place in the world. Nate took to fatherhood like a duck to water, but Nora was afraid that everything she did, from breast feeding, to changing, to swaddling, was wrong. Shaun bonded with Nate right away, but he was always fussy when Nora held him. She began doubting her abilities as a mother and closed herself off from Nate when he tried to initiate intimacy again.
All of the anger, disappointment, shame, and guilt simmered inside her until Nate found Nora sobbing uncontrollably in the bathroom while Shaun was wailing in the bedroom. Codsworth was beside himself because Nora had locked herself in and refused to come out to tend to the baby. The next day, Nate went with Nora to meet with a psychologist who specialized in post partum depression. It took a while before Nora felt completely secure in herself again, and she often wondered if seeing a therapist was worth it. In the end, though, Nora was glad that she did it.
"Hey, Valentine" Nora said. Her arms snaked underneath his trench coat and ghosted over the back of his cotton shirt.
"Yeah? Something you need?"
His voice sounded hollow and his eyes were unfocused. He was spiraling and Nora knew that it was her job to pull him back to her.
"Talk to me. What are you seeing?"
The psychiatrist she saw gave her a strategy to ground herself to reality when she was feeling too anxious to cope. She needed to pick out five objects that she could see, five scents she could smell, and five textures and sensations that she could feel in order to distract her from fixating on the anxiety or the intrusive hopeless thoughts.
"What am I seeing?" Nick repeated.
"Yeah."
"Uh, you?" Nick replied uncertainly.
Nora chuckled. "Just go with it, okay? You see me and what else?"
"I don't underst—"
"Just play along here." Nora interjected.
"I see a man smoking over there. He looks like death warmed over."
"No judgements, just make observations Detective."
Nick sighed, "Okay… I see two women walking down the alleyway. They look like they're dressed to go out — they're probably going to The Third Rail."
Nick looked around, "And I see two metal-walled hovels. There's one over in the corner that is covered in potted carrot flowers and wild herbs. The man who lives in the larger one near the warehouse collects Vault Tec Lunchboxes. And I can hear music coming up from the old subway station below."
Nora smiled proudly, "Good, and now how do you feel?"
Nick took a drag from his cigarette, "I dunno. I'm pretty confused."
"But you're not thinking about the other Nick anymore, right?"
"No," Nick agreed, "But now I'm wondering if they taught you psychology courses in law school."
"Afraid not. But sometimes small distractions can get you outta your own head. Doing that helps me focus when I'm stressed, and I thought you need it."
"Thanks." Nick was still confused but he couldn't fault the woman for trying. "Look, I'm sorry for being so moody. How 'bout a change of scenery? I believe I promised to take you on a date."
"What did you have in mind, Mr. Valentine."
Nick smirked and laced his good fingers in with Nora's. "How d'you feel about jazz music?"
"Jazz is great, although I'm willing to listen to the likes of a Super Mutant opera as long as I'm with you."
Nick chuckled and let Nora into the darkened alleyway. "This will be far better than a Super Mutant opera. Trust me."
"Is this a black tie event?" She mused. In her haste to find Nick, she left the dress that Ellie let her borrow back at the agency. Although, she had a different kind of date in mind planned for that dress.
Nick glanced down at Nora's vault suit and full set of leather armor. "Your suit may garner you some unwanted attention, but wearing armor where we're going may not be a bad idea."
As they rounded the corner, the small neon sign for The Third Rail came in to view.
"Are we expecting a fight?" Nora asked.
Nick shrugged, "You gotta be ready for anything in Goodneighbor."
"Welcome back Mr. Valentine." A ghoul who was dressed in a clean tuxedo replied as Nick and Nora entered the derelict subway station.
"Evenin' Ham." Nick tipped his hat towards the ghoul.
"Hey Nick, who's this lovely bird with ya? A Vault Dweller to boot, huh? I ain't ever seen you walk into The Rail with a woman, usually you only walk out with 'em kickin' and screamin'."
"I'm Nora." She replied.
"I'm not on the clock tonight, Ham. Nora's my guest tonight." Nick extinguished his cigarette the gold ash tray that was by the subway's derelict ticket booth.
"Well, welcome sweetheart. Go on in. Newcomers get a drink on the house. Just talk to the barkeep." Nora turned back to look at Ham before they descended the stairs. He was short, but he looked quite capable of throwing out ruffians if the occasion called for it. His eyes, like most ghouls, were an inky black. He stood watchful as ever and kept an ear to the stairwell in case he heard trouble brewing downstairs.
As Nick and Nora descended the two flights of stairs, they heard the low thumbing of a bass guitar and the sharp croons of trumpets playing a jazzy tune. A woman's alto voice cut through the music and bounced along with the subtle drum beat. When Nora turned the corner, she saw a bombshell of a woman in a skin tight red dress working the crowd that was starting to form in front of the stage. Her eyes were a startling blue and in the limelight they seemed to shine like pale sapphires beneath her dark bangs.
Nick guided her toward the bar and pulled out the robin's egg blue chair that was tucked up against the bar for her to sit on. Although the bar was showing its age — the linoleum on the floor had cracked and then had been patched over by pieces of plywood and wood pallets, — the place was nearly at capacity and most of the guests were either dancing or conversing in hushed tones. In all of her life, Nora had never been to a place quite like this.
"What'll it be." The robot said when she took a seat. His metal hull was partially rusted and had none of Codsworth's shine or luster; the Union Jack embossment looked like it had been painted on recently.
"What do you have?"
The Mister Handy turned fully to her and she saw that he was cleaning glasses with a rag. She chuckled at the image despite herself and the robot's eye stalks quivered in irritation.
"We're a bar. What the hell d'you think we have? Brahmin milk?"
"We'll have two bourbons, Charlie." Nick cut in.
The robot muttered something unintelligible as he went to fix their drinks in a huff.
"He's touchy." Nora commented before she turned her chair to face the stage. Magnolia was reaching the end of the song and as she moved the men below watched every sway and ministration she made like hawks. Nora felt like a voyeur and forced herself to look at Nick instead.
"Charlie's been a touchy bastard since I've known him." Nick commented loud enough for Charlie to hear. Apparently he came with the decorations."
The robot set two lowballs full of amber liquid down on the bar. "You'd be a touchy bastard too if you had Gunners breathin' down yer robotic neck over some runt that Hancock brought in from the rain."
Nick looked across the room towards a crudely etched piece of plywood that read: "VIP ONLY." Two men who wore heavy combat armor over their traveling clothes walked into the hallway like two foxes slinking into a rabbit hole.
"You want me to go do some pokin' around?" Nick offered.
"Nah, no need to go bloodying the ground on my account. I already made Ham aware. He'll be comin' to throw those layabouts out. — Oi, keep yer hand away from the bottles or you'll loose a hand."
The Mister Handy's buzz saw whirled threateningly. The man reaching over the counter to swipe a bottle sitting near the sink shrunk back and nearly tripped over himself as he left.
Nora smirked and leaned in to Nick, "This is certainly a colorful place. Do your cases bring you here often?"
Nick lounged back against the countertop and intertwined his fingers into Nora's. The affectionate gesture was discrete; he didn't want to call too much attention to their relationship yet.
"I'm here at least twice a month. Most of the time, its to track down wayward husbands or wives who are meeting up with lovers to continue clandestine affairs. One time, I also tracked a missing child down and found that he had set up a makeshift shanty just beyond the boarded up section over there —"
Nick gestured to the left and Nora saw that a white picket fence, a broken down subway car, and smatterings of plywood blocked off the rest of the subway tunnel.
"The kid said that his homelife was bad. Dad was a drunk and Mom had passed years ago. He set up his own little home back there so he could listen to Magnolia sing. Kid was barely up to my waist and he carried a pretty big torch for the dame."
"So what did you do?" Nora replied. "I hope you didn't send him back to his father."
"Didn't really have a choice." Nick said with a frown. Nora saw it still really bothered him. Goodneighbor aint' a place for kids and the kid needed a basic education if he was gonna get by in the world. Turns out that the kid ran away again a month later and was taken in by a caravan running through Bunker Hill. I don't know what became of him after that."
Nora brushed her thumb along the back of Nick's hand. "I'm sure he turned out all right in the end."
Nick sighed and took a sip from his drink. "I sure hope so. There's not a whole lot of happy endings out in the wasteland."
As the song ended, Magnolia took a slight bow and spoke into the microphone, "Thank you, Goodneighbor. I love each and every one of you, but this gal needs a bit of a break."
The crowd cried in displeasure and sadness until Magnolia interrupted with a consolatory smile, "Oh come now. I'll be right back to sing my love to each and every one of you. Till then, freshen up your drink because the best part is yet to come."
The lights on the stage dimmed and Nora saw a bored ghoul sitting up on a rickety piece of scaffolding that was suspended from the metal rafters. He closed the shutters on a dusty and rusted spotlight and fanned himself against the fixture's blistering heat.
"Charlie, could I have some water." Magnolia asked when she waltzed up to Nora's left side.
"Certainly, love. Song's were as beautiful as always." The robot replied and handed her a can of purified water.
"Thanks, Doll."
She popped the top and drank from it greedily. Now that she was up close, Nora saw the beads of sweat that had collected around her neck and forehead. Her pale skin made her nearly translucent now that she was out of the harsh lighting, and the dark circles under her eyes told Nora that sleep was an elusive thing for the sultry singer.
Magnolia noticed Nora's intense gaze and her ice blue eyes met Nora's with a flirtatious smile. "What's the matter sweetheart. Don't tell me you didn't like the songs."
"No. The songs were great." Nora replied in ernest fearful that she offended the woman.
"Well thanks. A girl does try her best." Magnolia she winked and then turned to both of them. "So how'd you manage to tie down the most elusive bachelor in all of the Commonwealth? I never thought I'd see the day when Nick Valentine walked into The Rail with a woman on his arm. I have to say, I'm kinda jealous."
Nick smirked and took another drink as though it was an excuse to remain silent. Nora saw from her heated gaze that Magnolia wasn't jealous of Nora, she was jealous of Nick.
She leaned in towards Nora's ear and whispered in the same sultry voice that she reserved for the men pining at her feet while she was onstage. "If you ever get tired the Great Synth Detective, you know where to find me. I'm an awful lot of fun when I'm not working."
Magnolia sauntered away and Nora couldn't help but notice the sway in her hips as she walked. She could already feel Nick's amused smirk and she finished the rest of her drink.
"You aren't the jealous type, are you?" Nora asked casually.
"I dunno, Doll." Nick rumbled. His eyes glinted mischievously, "Are you thinking of leaving me and taking up with that songbird?"
"Depends on how you play your cards tonight, Valentine." Nora smirked back. Apparently Nick was the jealous type because he swooped in and kissed her. His tongue brushed against her lips which sent shivers down her spine and Nora rested her hand against his chest. She had half the mind to pull him to the Hotel Rexford by the tie just so she could quench the fire he sparked within her.
"You'll find that I'm a pretty good poker player, especially when I'm up against beautiful women." He said huskily. His yellow eyes shock back over to Magnolia who was issuing some instructions to the four ghouls with instruments.
"I'd be careful, I think Magnolia stacks the deck." Nora replied. Her voice was breathier than usual and her head spun from lust and the booze.
The music picked up again into another lazy beat. The spotlight opened with a rusty whine and the ghoul slipped a filter in the front that dispersed the edges to make the beam less harsh.
"Thanks for waiting for me my loves." Magnolia said. The crowd hooted and whooped as she blew them a kiss. "This next song is one of my favorites and it goes out from me to all of you."
Two ghouls who were off stage crooned out with a trumpet and a clarinet while another one picked away at a upright bass.
"Wanna dance, Doll?" Nick asked.
Nora nodded with a smile and let Nick lead her out to the middle of the dance floor. She wrapped her arm around his waist and grabbed on to his other hand. Their movements were slow to match the sluggish rhythm and Nora let her forehead fall against his chest
I see you lookin' 'round the corner
Come on inside and pull up a chair
No need to feel like a stranger
Cause we're all a little strange in here.
As the music continued, Nick saw Hancock descending the stairs with two ghoul body guards. His arrival created a small scene as guests toasted his appearance and others offered to buy him a drink. Nick exhaled his irritation and held Nora closer to him.
Have you got a history that needs erasing?
Did you come in just for the beer and cigarettes?
A broken down dream you're tired of chasing
Oh, well I'm just the girl to make you forget.
Hancock waved his admirers by with a good-natured gesture. His charcoal eyes scanned the dance floor. Nick felt the heat of Hancock's gaze on both of them. Thankfully, Nora was blissfully unaware; her eyes were closed, her head was rested on Nick's chest, and she had a slight smile on her face. She almost looked content.
So we're glad you dropped by
Come in and loosen up your tie
Have a drink or maybe just one more
But if you're searchin' for something to bring you comfort
Oh well, I'm the one you're lookin' for.
"Thanks for brining me here Nick. I'm having a good time." Nora whispered in his ear.
"I'm glad, Doll." He replied.
Hancock lounged up against the white picket fence and grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the cigarette machine. He watched both of them like a predator from the bushes. Nick gave him a hard look as though he was daring the man to come closer. Hancock smirked and then winked at him.
Now is your motor running close to empty?
Or are you runnin' from yourself?
You're thirsty for a brand new kind of pleasure?
Or are you hungry to be somebody else?
Nick knew that Hancock would make a play. That was always his m.o. When he saw something he wanted, Hancock would stop at nothing to get it. He wouldn't be so well respected by the citizens of Goodneighbor if he was a pushover.
So sit down your pretty face
You came to the right place
Oh, where every night it starts once more
I'm telling you friend, your search is at an end
Cause I'm the one you're lookin' for.
The song ended with a quiet, sad whimper of the trumpet. Nora let go of Nick and smiled. But before Nick could escort her off the dance floor and back to their waiting drinks, Hancock gently put his hand on Nora's back.
"Can I cut in?" The mayor grinned at Nick. His hungry eyes told the synth that Hancock wanted more than just to talk with Nora. For a split second, Nick was caught between in a rock and a hard place. He could deny the Mayor this request and squash all future attempts that he would use to flirt with his girl, or he could trust Nora and give Hancock this one moment. If Nora's first meeting with Hancock told him anything, it was that she wouldn't be seduced by flattery and sweet-talk. He just hoped that he wasn't wrong.
"It's up to the lady." Nick replied judicially.
"Sure, I guess." Nora replied.
"I'll be over by the bar when you're done, Doll." Nick replied. Nick's fingers lingered on her skin a moment longer as though that one moment could delay the inevitable.
"Don't worry Nicky, I won't break her." The ghoul rasped at his reluctance. Nick restrained himself from responding with a flippant insult.
Nora's right hand wrapped around Hancock's slim waist and her left hand held gently onto his dry, warm hand.
The next song began playing with a trumpet crooning out a low, syncopated tune before Magnolia stepped up to the mic. Her lips touched the metal top as though she was placing feather light kisses over it. Her gesture could only be described as vaguely pornographic.
I got lips, ruby and sweet
I've got hips that can't be beat
I've got eyes that are lookin' for a love
I just need a man who's man enough
"So how are you and Nick doing? He ask you to … go steady yet?" Hancock chuckled at the ancient idiom.
"I don't think any of that is your business." Nora replied. Unlike the cozy dance with Nick, dancing with Hancock seemed like a battle of wills as one gently tried to take the lead over the other.
He laughed, "C'mon sunshine, is a "you were right" really so hard to say? I'm sure that as soon as you graced his office in Diamond City that you fell into bed with him in a matter of hours. I mean, how could he not? You're a knockout."
Nora bit her lip and flushed at the comment and the accuracy of his statement. Was Hancock hitting on her?
Magnolia's voice overshadowed their discussion as they weaved their way closer to the stage.
I got arms to hold you tight
I've got charms to keep you with me at night
I've got all that you could ever want
I just need a man who's man enough
"I see that you got my package." Hancock spoke into her ear. The silver change that the two golden rings sat on was the only part visible, but Hancock could briefly see the indent it made beneath her jumpsuit.
"I did. You really didn't have to do that, but thank you anyway."
He smiled and tried to avoid Nick's luminescent gaze from the sidelines. He could only imagine what story Nick was concocting in his head as he sashayed to Magnolia's sultry music with his dame.
"I did it for you, sunshine. Like I said, consider it fair payment for helping me out earlier. Don't worry about it."
"Yeah, but I hope KL-E-O didn't give you a hard time." Nora responded. "She made it pretty clear that if I didn't bring her Power Armor back that she'd extract the cost from my blood."
"KL-E-O's all heart despite not having one. Don't worry about her, sunshine." Hancock's lie came easy, but the truth was a different matter. He had Fahrenheit do some recon on easily available Power Armor but the only intact set was sitting on top of some shipping containers near a the waterfront crawling with raiders. He wouldn't exactly call that "easily accessible" but it was better than trying to steal Power Armor from the giant airship that flew into town a couple weeks ago.
Don't need another casual lover
Walkin' out the door in the morning light
I want a man who can stand on his own
Without lookin' for another lover every night
"So hows your search for the Freedom Trail going?" Hancock asked, changing the subject. His breath was warm on her neck. Nora could smell the faint spiciness of tobacco.
Nora shrugged. "The first test will be actually getting through the Boston Commons. Rumor has it that the place is crawling with danger."
The corner of Hancock's mouth turned up into a smirk, "You ain't scared, are ya sister?"
Nora narrowed her eyes at the challenge, "I will stop at nothing to find my son, Hancock. You know that."
"I do." He agreed secretly pleased that he ruffled the bird's feathers. "So let me give ya a little push. If you go North West out from Goodneighbor, you can skip a majority of the trail. Stay away from Faendal Hall though. The Super Mutants there don't mess around."
"So it's an actual trail, then?" Nora clarified. "I thought the name was more like a scavenger hunt."
Hancock's grin got even wider but he said nothing. He already said too much. Magnolia's song hit a crescendo which would've drowned out any secret that the mayor was willing to spill.
If you got style and you know how to please
And a smile that makes me weak in the knees
If you're a guy who is gentle and tough
You might be the man who's man enough
"Nicky should take you out dancin' more. You're pretty good at it." He grinned as she gracefully twirled underneath his arm and then joined back into his body as the beat picked up and the piano took the melody and ran with it.
Nora glanced over at Nick who was now smoking a cigarette. The red ember pulsed as he took a drag and blew the smoke into the already hazy air.
"I'll make it a point mention that." Nora replied. "Besides, are you just looking for an excuse to get me to come back here?"
Hancock chuckled. The woman was astute, he'd give her that. "I was hopin' that after you sampled some of the Goodneighbor hospitality that you'd make your way back here on your own."
Nora took in a shuddering breath. She was now certain that the ghoul was indeed flirting with her. She was even more surprised that she was okay with that fact.
Don't need another casual lover
Walkin' out the door in the morning light
I want a man who can stand on his own
Without lookin' for another lover every night
Nora tuned out Magnolia's crooning and locked eyes with the ghoul for the first time that night. In the dimly lit, smoky bar, Hancock's face was shrouded in shadows that accentuated his rough features. Nate once joked with her that the scars he recieved from the war either made him look "roguishly handsome" or "handsomely roguish" depending on his mood. Hancock's dark eyes peered back at her and she had to look away before she got lost in them. His expression were impossible to read but Nora felt the same heat in her stomach that she felt when Nick stood with her outside of the Dugout Inn after she drank the night away with him at the agency.
Roguishly handsome. Nora decided to herself with a smirk as the music skipped to a quick, sultry conclusion and the men near the stage hooted and whistled accolades.
Nora let go of Hancock and quickly cleared her throat. "Thanks for the dance, Mayor."
Hancock watched as she slid through the crowd and reappeared at Nick's side. Nick's hand brushed her cheek and Hancock could see his lips moving in quiet conversation. Nora's smile was radiant and full of love for the synth detective.
"Boss, you're needed up in your office." Fahrenheit's deep voice rumbled in his ear. He looked at the small clock hanging above the cash register; the traders from The Slog were early.
"I'll be right up." He replied. He took once last look at Nora and saw that her eyes were looking at him. She was trying to figure him out, but he noticed that there was a heat in her eyes when she looked at him. He saw that look often on other women — both as a man and as a ghoul — but he never expected to see Nora looking at him like that.
As he disappeared up the stairs and into the darkness, Hancock grinned at the euphoria bubbling in his stomach and relished in the feeling of success.
"You ready to head out, Doll?" Nick asked. "I think we've been away from the agency long enough. If we stay out much longer, Ellie will start charging another poor sap to come and find us."
Nora took one last sip of her drink and nodded. Her mind buzzed happily and the alcohol pulled warmth to her cheeks. "Let's get outta here."
Nora and Nick weaved their way through the crowd. Magnolia was now bouncing to an upbeat song that had faux train whistles toot in between her lively verses. Three chorus girls were dressed in simple black dresses and they joined her on stage and sang back up vocals.
The night air was cool when they emerged from the subway station. Ham nodded farewell to them as they passed his booth. The square outside of the Old State House was deserted save for the occasional Neighborhood Watch patrolling the streets. First impressions aside, Nora realized that she liked the atmosphere of Goodneighbor and preferred it in some ways to the underlying anxiety that filled Diamond City's residents. People seemed more accepting here.
Nick cleared his throat and gently grabbed Nora's arm before they reached the metal door. "I — uh, Can we talk for a second?"
Nick looked nervous and he bit his lower lip gently.
"Sure. What's up." Nora already suspected that she knew what Nick was going to say.
"I feel like a fool for askin' you this. The thing with Magnolia was a lark, I know that, but is there something going on with you and Hancock?" Nick felt miserable. It was only their first date and he was already on the defense as the jealous boyfriend. He would've put it out of his mind entirely if it was any other man besides Hancock.
Nora stared at the detective like a criminal who was finally cornered into giving up information. Truth would save her here, but Nora wasn't even sure what the truth was.
"I don't know." She replied. "I mean, no. There's nothing going on between us. I would barely call him a friend. I mean, I he saved my life out in the Glowing Sea, but he's also irritating and impulsive. He's not like you, Nick."
"No, he's not." The synth agreed. "But it's clear he likes you."
"Are you upset that I danced with him?"
"I'm not upset with you Doll." Nick urged. He glanced unconsciously up at the whitewashed balcony of the Old State House almost expecting to see Hancock leering down at them. "I stand by what I said when you first met him. Hancock's a good man. He's also a lonely man even if he would never admit it. He sometimes forgets that the solutions to his problems are rarely found between a dame's legs."
Nora guffawed at Nick's candor. "I'll keep that in mind, I guess."
He held the door open for her closed it quietly behind both of them. "Don't worry too much about it. Hancock may try to make plays at you, but he's always respectful of a woman's boundaries. If you tell him to quit flirting with you, he'd listen."
"Is that what you want me to do then? Tell him to quit flirting with me?"
Nick wanted to say "yes" but couldn't stopped. "I hate it, but I guess I really am the jealous type."
Nora smirked. She appreciated Nick's honesty and turned to face him.
"Hey, Valentine." Her voice crooned softly.
"Hmm?"
"Don't be jealous. After all, I'm the one coming home with you."
"That you are, Doll." He mused. His kiss was brief but searing. When he broke away from her, he snaked his arm around her waist as they walked down the alley and towards the Mass Fusion Building into the darkness.