"Where in God's name have you been?" Madison Li spat as she watched Noel come through the rotunda door. "You've been gone all day! Do you have any idea how worried your father was?"
James rushed to soothe her quickly. "Madison, please. Calm yourself. She's here now and that's all that matters." He got up from where he sat and looked at his daughter, smiling. "Noel, sweetheart, I'm just glad you're okay." He hugged her to him, his eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Don't worry. I didn't think anything bad would happen to you. I know Charon wouldn't allow it." He tipped his head at the ghoul as Charon stepped forward from the dark entrance into the rotunda.
"Charon, good to see you again," he said warmly.
Charon's face was grim, but he nodded back, surprised that James seemed to be expecting him. The ghoul's dark presence in the room made the scientists gasp. They had thought Noel would free herself of him back in Rivet City. It was obvious that no one, aside from James, ever thought they would see him again.
The science crew sat around a small makeshift fire in the Rotunda. Noel and Charon had apparently interrupted their dinner and they watched the couple with open mouths, as they joined them by the flames. Charon smirked as he made eye contact with Wolfgang, who had stood up wordlessly to greet Noel. The trader's face had swollen to a deep purple, bruised where the ghoul had struck him. Wolfgang watched silently, his eyes looking glassy by the light of the fire. He glared at Charon once, quickly, before turning to Noel with a puzzled look on his handsome face.
"Well we're here now," Noel said simply. "Sorry it took us so long. I got… held up in Rivet City." She sat down next to her father, opposite Wolfgang who continued to stare at her.
Charon stood cross-armed by the fire and smirked. Held up all right. They'd had sex before falling asleep in Madison Li's science lab. They woke hours later, still entangled with one another, and he'd struggled to get them ready for their return under Noel's many kisses. He had initially been concerned about the girl, wondering if she'd be okay after losing her virginity to the ghoul, but the bleeding hadn't been bad and she had seemed all right during the short journey here. I guess one could call that "held up."
Wolfgang shook his head angrily, ignoring Charon, and brushed himself off, pulling his pack from the floor. His merc took the hint, leading their brahmin (Charon couldn't tell how they got the fucking animal in the rotunda to start with) towards the east door.
"Noel," Wolfgang nodded, "it was wonderful to see you again." He shot an angry look at Charon. "Though I do hope next time it will be under more pleasurable circumstances." He turned to look at the crew and smiled courteously. "Best of luck to your endeavors here, friends. Please don't hesitate to contact me if there's anything I can do to help."
He gave one final charming smile before following his merc towards the exit. Noel got up quickly, dusting herself off and practically jogging to keep up with the tall merchant's stride. Charon raised a brow and turned his head to watch from the corner of his eye.
"Thank you so much for everything," she breathed. "I'm so sorry for having put you in such an awkward spot here. I'm sorry too, for what Charon did. It's not something that will ever happen again. I regret that it happened in the first place."
Charon snorted under his breath.
Wolfgang's loud voice came out in a gentle laugh. "Don't worry, Noel, and stop apologizing. You just be careful, okay?"
Charon watched carefully. If the trader touched her again he'd give him a matching shiner across the other cheek.
Wolfgang ran a large hand through his hair, smiling at the girl. "I'd really like to see you again," he said softly. "Although hopefully next time, perhaps it can be just the two of us."
Charon set his mouth in a fine line. Fucking Wolfgang couldn't take a hint. He blinked as he noticed the scientists all sitting around the fire, deliberately silent as they eavesdropped into the conversation. They had no shame in blatantly watching the scene before them. Charon stood where he was, keeping his eyes on the fire and the company, but concentrating on the voices behind him. If the trader touched her, he'd know it by the look on the scientist's faces.
Noel sighed. "That won't happen, Timothy. Charon goes with me everywhere."
Wolfgang's voice dipped lower. "He doesn't have to, you know. I don't trust him and you know it, but that's your call to make. I'm just asking that you tell him to lay off you for one night, that's all."
"I can't do that. Despite what you think, I enjoy being with him."
There was silence as Wolfgang tried to wrap his mind around her answer. He sighed heavily, his voice sounding like a concerned parent. "Noel…"
She chuckled, her sweet voice mimicked his. "Timothy…"
He let out a small laugh. "Fine, fine. Do what you want. But I'm here if you need me."
Noel's voice was gentle. "I know. Thank you. Take care of yourself, okay?"
"I will, duchess. You do the same."
Charon watched the scientists as he heard the rotunda door close behind him. A second later Noel brushed past, patting his back briefly before taking her spot near James.
"So," she exhaled, a bright smile on her face, "what's for dinner?"
* ***********
Charon liked the fact that no one on the Project Purity crew bothered to look at or speak to him, save for Noel and James. He didn't want to be bothered by them and they seemed too afraid to ask for his help on their many small projects throughout the memorial. They'd been here for days now, holed up in the small building, repairing leaks, fixing scientific shit that Charon didn't understand, and pulling up blueprints for how to get the purifier running again. Despite being surrounded by the stuffy smoothskins, Charon was really enjoying himself. He, Noel, and James shared a small room together in the basement and the tasks they asked Noel to do were simple and easy – go here, fetch that, fix this.
He could tell that Noel was enjoying herself too, having the best of both worlds with her father and Charon in the same space. She was her usual chipper self, quickly befriending all of the members of the science crew, save for Madison Li, who seemed to have an innate hatred for the girl that Charon didn't understand. (He found out later that Madison had been in love with James, and had seen Noel's conception as the thing that drove a wedge between them. Charon found it funny. Smoothskins. That was the problem with them. They always had to have the goddamn drama, even if it meant making it up on their own.)
What Charon liked the best about their new schedule was the frequency at which he and Noel could be alone. Often during their many "find this" quests, he would pull her into a dark corner and they'd kissing urgently, feeling as much of each other as they could before parting instantly at the sound of someone coming up on them. He loved that he could be with her, but hated the small goddamn building and its many inhabitants that never let him be with her for very long. Since coming back from Rivet City they hadn't gotten any further than kissing, though they'd been close once. They'd been in a closet, Noel hastily unbuckling Charon's pants, breathing heavily as he sucked on her neck. One of Li's assistants had come looking for Noel in order to make yet another request, and had opened the closet door while they were pulling on each other, oblivious to the sound of approaching footsteps. Luckily, the closet had been dark and the assistant didn't get a good view. What she did get to see was Noel looking slightly tussled and flushed. Charon had turned with his back towards the door, angrily trying to get his junk in order, muttering obscenities under his breath. They hadn't tried it again.
They were cautious about hiding their relationship by not excessively looking at or touching one another during the day. It was harder to do than Charon had initially thought it would be – so many times he wanted to kiss her or hold her when she did something sweet or stupid or clumsy, which seemed to be all the time. They spent almost every waking second in each other's company, but if the crew ever suspected anything, they never brought it up. Most likely it was something that they couldn't even fathom – a girl and a ghoul together? – it remained an unthinkable taboo despite being under their very noses.
Her first job had been to fortify the place, which Charon found they did effectively enough to hold the supermutants at bay. After a few days of feeling secure in their new compound, he and Noel felt comfortable enough to split up to complete small odd jobs on their own. Charon never felt entirely at ease when she wasn't with him, but he rationalized that the girl may eventually grow to resent his presence if he was always in her space.
This particular day, Charon was working with James in the empty rotunda. They worked together often, being that James needed to get hands-on with irradiated water and Charon was the only one who could safely help him out without the fear of mutation. Charon didn't mind working with James. He was quiet, meticulous, and friendly enough towards the ghoul. Thankfully, they never talked about Noel. James had tried initially, but Charon responded with grunts and stares and the conversations had fallen flat.
They stood before the main purifier, James taking notes on something or another, Charon watching the filter bubbles float upwards, arms folded, awaiting orders. James cleared his throat as he put his pen and clipboard down. "Charon," he said in his quiet accent, "I'm sorry to impose on you, but I've been meaning to talk with you about something."
Charon eyed him skeptically. Most of the doctor's attempts at conversations started like this.
"It's about Noel," James sighed.
Charon felt like rolling his eyes. Regardless of where this went, it was a conversation he didn't want to have.
"I'm not entirely sure how to start," he said cautiously, "so I suppose I'll just come out with it."
Please, Charon thought. Let's get this shit over with.
"I'm a scientist by nature, Charon. I observe. It's what I do." He looked up at the ghoul uncomfortably. "You see," he clarified, "science is about observing patterns in our world and studying the variables within that pattern. Relationships between the variables, that is. You manipulate one thing to see its effect on another."
Jesus Christ, Charon thought. Get to the goddamn point.
"What I'm trying to say," James continued, "is that you observe and measure how things change in relationship to something else. A cause and effect really, and you attempt to determine what, if anything, is significant about those changes."
Charon grumbled and returned his eyes to the bubbles that ran through the filter, hoping James would take the hint.
"The point I'm trying to make is that I've noticed changes in my daughter." Charon looked at James again, his interest piqued. "I've seen how she acts around others, and I've seen how she acts… around you." He looked cautiously at Charon. "Well, to be quite frank it's not the same. You're the variable that causes the change in her behavior."
Charon frowned and resumed watching the filter do its work.
"You see these changes in human beings all the time – that is, a natural effect, a reaction, when a variable is introduced into their environment. Although I'm not much good at picking up on them," he admitted. "I'm a student of the physical, not the social sciences." He sighed before continuing. "For example, I've seen the way Madison looks at my daughter. Noel is the variable that causes the change in Madison's behavior. She becomes angry, bitter, perhaps resentful whenever Noel is introduced into her environment. Understandably so, in her opinion, I'm sure. I've also seen the way Wolfgang reacts to Noel. It's decidedly different, of course."
James stopped and joined Charon in watching the bubbles. His voice was quiet when he continued.
"He looks at her the same way you do."
Charon turned to look at James, the scientist not meeting his gaze.
"I'm not doing a very good job with this…" he sighed, running a hand over his trim beard. "The point I'm trying to make is that I've seen the way you change around her. And," he added in a small voice. "I see those same changes when she is around you."
Charon watched, waiting.
James frowned. "Initially I didn't know what to think. I don't know much about your kind or about their… interactions with humans, if you will. But I know my daughter like I know myself. She's always been a good judge of character." He gave a small smile and sighed. "And if she's happy with you then I'm happy for her."
Charon swallowed. Not exactly what he was expecting to hear.
"You're good for her in your own way," James said sadly. "I just… well, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but this isn't exactly the life I envisioned for my only daughter." He looked at Charon and smiled sadly. "But you'll take care of her, I know. And in the end, I suppose that's all a father really wants for his child."
The ghoul grumbled. What the fuck was he supposed to do with this information?
"Well," James said quickly, rubbing his hands together. "I'm sorry for taking up your time. I apologize for not being more… concise. I tend to ramble."
Charon nodded. His voice was gravelly and quick. "If you need no further assistance in your endeavors, I will take my leave." He wanted to get away from the goddamn rotunda and this awkward conversation as soon as he could.
James seemed just as relieved to have the ghoul away from him. "Yes, of course," he muttered quickly. "Sorry to have held you up."
Charon nodded again and headed out towards the main building. It wasn't the most uncomfortable conversation he'd ever experienced, but it was pretty damn close. He looked for Noel around the dimly lit space and found her tinkering with some mechanical gear in the back of the main room.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concerned after reading the expression on his face.
Charon took a seat next to her, lowering her voice and staring at a member of Doctor Li's crew across the room. "Your father knows," he growled.
Noel stared at him, unfettered. "About us?" She paused and Charon didn't answer. "Well, yeah. Of course he does. I told him."
Charon looked at her, stunned. "You told him?" he hissed.
"Yeah," Noel laughed a little. "Charon, he's my father."
Charon leaned back and rolled his eyes, tucking his large hands behind his head. Of course she told him. It was strange and awkward and something no human would ever admit to. Seemed perfectly reasonable.
"Come on," Noel stood up, pulling his arm to get him to his feet. "Dad said he's got a job for us."
Charon grumbled. No thanks, he thought. I've had enough of him for the day. Yet he didn't resist as she led him back towards the rotunda.
"Dad," Noel called out in her sing-song voice as soon as they entered the room. "We're here. What was it that you wanted?"
James smiled. "Great, sweetheart. It's nothing much, I just need you to turn on the main water pipe to the purifier. It's not far. I can guide you through the intercoms if you'd like."
Noel smiled and shook her head. "Dad, we've been here for almost a week. I think we can find our way around. We've got it."
"All right darling, see you soon."
Noel smiled and skipped away, turning back as per usual to make sure Charon was with her. James nodded to them both, watching as they exited the room.
They quickly made their way to the large pipe. He had been in here before. It was dark and dirty, save for the large screen-covered hole near the main valve. The hole didn't give much a view on the D.C. wastes, but it did provide them with enough light to make their way through the snaking tunnel. Noel could walk with relative ease in the narrow space, but Charon was stooped and uncomfortable. She laughed as she watched him creeping his way behind her, turning around to plant a long kiss on his now easily accessible face.
"The pipe," she breathed, looking around with a sudden gleam in her eye. "No one ever comes down here." She pulled him closer with a growl. Her eyes sparked in a way that Charon loved to see. "I wonder why I didn't think of it sooner," she said to herself.
Because it's goddamn uncomfortable, Charon thought. But he didn't resist as she pulled his face to hers, kissing him deeply. Charon slipped his arms around her, as far as he could being bent over as he was, and kissed her back. She broke the kiss after a minute, stepping back and laughing.
"Never mind," she giggled as she watched him. "You look miserable down here."
Charon gave her a look that read "no shit" as they made their way to valve that would activate the main water pipe. The light coming through the hole above them made her look radiant against the grime. He grinned as he watched her throw her weight into moving the valve's access wheel without success, her small face reddening with the effort of it.
She looked at him in mock annoyance. "Don't just stand there, help me."
Charon leaned over and kissed her, backing her away from the valve as he placed his calloused hands over the metal wheel. He smiled as it turned easily under his touch.
She rolled her eyes and kissed him. "You think you're tough," she teased.
Then Charon saw it. Something he hadn't seen in years. A black helicopter from the corner of his eye. He broke the kiss from Noel and stared, adrenaline instantly surging through his body, his heartbeat pumping in his ears at the threat that lay before them. He watched what was at least a dozen black power armor-clad warriors climb out from the helicopter as it landed. Shit. If they got in they were all fucked.
"Who are they?" Noel gasped as she followed his gaze, her small fingers hooking over the screen.
Without a word Charon yanked her from the opening, pulling her into the darkness of the tunnel for fear that they'd see her. "We have to get out of here," he growled, his voice urgent. "Now."
She started to pull against him. "Charon, what are you talking about?"
"There is no time," he hissed. "We must leave now!"
"We can't leave! What about dad?"
Charon dragged her through the tunnel, his thick arm wrapped around her body. His only concern was getting her out safely. "Your father will be fine," he muttered.
"What?!" Noel screamed. "We can't just leave him!"
Charon angrily clamped a rough hand over her mouth with his free hand as he continued to drag her through the tunnels. Goddamn it. He hoped he saw them soon enough. He hoped he could get them out.
He pushed open the door leading from the pipe to the main room with his back and looked around cautiously. So far so good. He breathed into Noel's ear, gripping her tightly against him still.
"I am removing my hand. Do not make a sound. Do what I do and stay directly behind me. Do you understand?"
Noel's eyes were wide and she nodded quickly.
"Good," Charon whispered as he slowly released her.
He crouched low, grabbing his shotgun from his back and leveling it to his face. He watched from the corner of his eye as she unholstered her rifle from her back and raised it at the invisible enemy. He crept forward, stealthy, alert, hoping that they could get the hell out of here without being seen. He turned to make sure Noel was with him, a dry cry coming from his throat as he watched her quickly making her way in the opposite direction towards the rotunda. He cursed, running as quickly as he could without making a sound to catch up with his master.
She rounded a corner and screamed, jumping back as bullets flew past her head. Charon snarled and yanked her roughly to the ground, rounding the corner and shooting quickly at the black metal soldier.
"I'm not leaving him!" she shouted over the gunfire. "We have to get in there Charon!"
Charon growled, his back pressed up against the wall. He looked down at her, registering the absolute panic on her face at the thought of losing her father yet again. He nodded, angrily. If he had to die to get her in there he would, but it was a stupid decision, likely to get them both killed. He turned the corner quickly, firing off a few more shots before pressing himself back against the wall. He reloaded his shotgun, leaving his cover momentarily to fire at the enemy, noticing this time that Noel's small speedy assault rifle bullets joined with his buckshot towards their target. The soldier fell to the floor with a loud thud.
"What in the world is he?" Noel gasped as she peered out from the corner at their fallen enemy.
Charon didn't answer, grabbing her roughly by the wrist and dragging her behind him towards the rotunda door. He didn't know what the fuck they were doing here, but he knew it wasn't good. They had barely made it five paces before another one rounded the corner. Charon thrust the girl behind a fallen pillar, and fired at it before it realized he was there, killing it quickly with a few skillfully placed headshots. Without a word, he yanked her to her feet and kicked open the rotunda door, dragging her inside and throwing them both behind cover as soon as they entered.
Two more of the black soldiers were in the rotunda. Girl and ghoul had been discovered as soon as the door opened and the soldiers fired mercilessly. Noel looked up at him, afraid. They'd been in tight spots before, but never anything this bad. There was nowhere to run and no knowing how many more of them would come. They were hopelessly outnumbered and the enemy was strong, fast, and smart. Charon grit his teeth as he popped off a few shots from behind the fallen piece of ceiling where they hid. He hissed under his breath as the bullets flew over their heads, looking briefly at Noel before reloading. Her fear was gone, her face determined, as she saw her father and Madison Li near the purifier who were watching in terror at the two of them in the firefight.
Charon reached into Noel's pack and quickly pulled out two frag mines. He activated them both in a second and threw them over his head without looking.
"Charon, no!" Noel screamed.
He grumbled and popped his head out from their cover, firing upon the second soldier just as the frag mines went off, sending the first flying into a wall. He had memorized the layout of this room from days spent helping James. He knew the frag mines were nowhere close to hurting the scientists. Noel joined him in firing at the second soldier who had become distracted from the explosion and the rubble and debris that it produced. He went down quickly.
Noel ran towards her father before the body had even hit the floor and Charon cursed her under his breath. The rotunda had two doors and enemies could come from either one of them at any second. The purifier offered no cover, no protection, yet she ran to it without hesitation. He followed angrily, and noticed for the first time that James had locked himself inside the transparent cylinder.
She stopped by the purifier door, watching helplessly with Doctor Li at what was happening inside. "Open the door," she demanded at Li. "Let them out!"
Madison shook her head. "I can't! James locked it from the inside!"
Charon stood by Noel and watched as she frantically tried to activate the purifier's doors from the computer console. She gave up when Madison gasped behind her, turning from the keyboard to watch her father. James and one of Li's crewmembers were trapped inside, both looking unarmed and helpless. Two of the black armored soldiers and a man in a clean white trench coat were in as well, pointing guns that the ghoul couldn't identify at James. Charon swallowed hard. The only thought racing through his mind was how to get Noel out. Now.
"The enclave is taking over this little assembly," the man in the trench coat said in a thick accent. "I suggest you hand over all materials related to the project and provide us with your full cooperation."
James's voice was calm, his eyes steady as he answered. "That's quite impossible. The enclave has no jurisdiction here."
The man in the trench coat gave a sinister smile. "We are the enclave. We have jurisdiction over everything. Furthermore, you are to assist our efforts in the running of this facility."
James looked up at Noel, worry reading in his eyes, but masked well in front of the trench coated man. "Sir," he said patiently, "I assure you, the facility is not functional at this point."
"Am I to assume that you are not going to cooperate?" the man said plainly.
James's voice stayed controlled, though his eyes nervously flicked to Noel again. "You have to understand, the facility is --"
Without warning the white coated man pulled a pistol from his belt and shot Li's assistant in the gut with a quick flash of his wrist. Noel and Madison jumped, frozen by the sudden brutal act. Charon narrowed his eyes. Jesus Christ, they needed to leave. Now!
James was quick to respond. "Please," he begged, holding up his hands. "I'll cooperate. Just please, no more violence."
Noel gasped as James moved towards the purifier door, coming closer to his daughter. He looked at her through the cylinder, his eyes sad as he spoke. "I love you Noel. I just wanted to give you a better world." His hand shook as he began opening one of the containers within the purifier, the man in white watching him suspiciously. James looked to Madison, Noel, and Charon before removing the substance in his hand and dropping it into the purifier's filter.
"Run," he commanded. "Save yourselves."
"DAD!" Noel screamed, dropping her rifle and throwing herself against the clear door, pounding with as much strength as she could muster. A white cloud formed inside the chamber and James slumped lifelessly to the ground, followed seconds later by both soldiers. Charon had lost the man in white, his brain a frenzy of how to get them out.
"OPEN THE DOOR!" Noel yelled at Li. "HURRY!"
"We can't!" Madison yelled, panicked. "He released a chemical capsule. The radiation will kill us both!"
Noel yanked on the door, muffled sobs escaped her throat. She threw herself suddenly onto the control panel to the purifier, attempting to open the door herself.
"No!" Madison yelled, "You'll kill us! We have to get out of here! You heard your father, he said to run!"
Noel ignored her, her face red as she typed maniacally.
Charon growled and snaked his free arm around her stomach, his other hand keeping the shotgun leveled. He yanked her back from the console, dragging her down the purifier stairs. "Grab the gun," he directed at Li, motioning with his eyes where Noel's rifle had fallen.
"Put me down!" Noel screamed, kicking and thrashing against him. "We need to get him out! Let me go!"
"We need to get out of here, now," Charon snarled, ignoring Noel.
"Goddamn it, Charon! Let me go! I can't just leave him! He's dying in there!"
Madison looked terrified, but obeyed Charon, snatching the rifle off the floor and following him down the stairs. Her hands trembled as she held it to her chest. "I know a way," she said in a quivering voice.