Part Twenty-Five
POV: Danse
Quinn was weak in my arms - I could feel the adrenaline leaving his body, and in its place was an exhaustion that, I think, had nothing to do with the battle that he'd just had, and everything to do with the jaded expression that had slipped through his gaze.
I hated that he had to feel that way - I hated that I'd brought him into yet another fight. But it had happened, and we'd won... for all the good that it would do us. The Brotherhood of Steel stood divided in front of us, though I was pleased to see that Rhys was getting to his feet and coming forward to shake Quinn's hand.
"I won't punish those who refuse to follow the new order of the Brotherhood," Quinn's voice was stronger than he felt in my grip; perhaps he was using all of his remaining energy to sound like a leader. "But I won't support you. If you can't accept Danse, accept the fact that things are going to change," He took a breath, and it sounded like it hurt. It sounded like the words that came from his lips sliced his tongue, "Then you aren't welcome in the ranks."
Exiles, and I could see the men and women staring at him with furious eyes - eyes that told me our fight was far from over. Eyes that told me it had only just begun.
"Elder Quinn," He startled at the name, but that was exactly what he was. He'd defeated the prior Elder, and he was a Paladin in rank. He was the new leader, until the council of the Brotherhood saw fit to appoint a new one. I had a feeling that we weren't going to just let that happen easily. Something had to change.
No, something was changing. I could feel it amongst the ranks, I could see it in the way that the larger half of the men and women who stood before us retreated, muttering furiously and their fingers tight on the grips of their guns. They were leaderless, and they wouldn't attack.
Not now, not until they came up with a new plan.
For now, we were safe... and I wanted to use that safety to get back aboard the Prydwen. It was only just dawning on me, creeping through my senses, that I could go home. It arced through me in titillating excitement that I thought I'd never feel again, like an overwhelming feeling in my chest that was riding on the wings of the losses that we'd experienced for the reward.
But.. I could go back to where I'd always belonged... and the men and women who stepped forward, though they looked almost suspicious, approached me without hostility.
"I also declare that Danse is reinstated as Paladin - he has his rank, his quarters, his Power Armor back." Quinn's voice was strong, loud, and it carried to the retreating men and women. "Anyone who attacks him attacks the Brotherhood itself."
I saw dissension along the lines of their bodies, but the people in front of us didn't give argument.
Rhys actually stepped forward, putting a hand on my shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Danse." And there was a murmur of agreement amongst the men and women around us. It wasn't vocal, but it was there.
It was comforting, because my brothers and sisters were bringing me back into the fold... at least, half of them were.
I wasn't sure what would happen with the other half, but that was a problem for another day.
It was as Preston and the others stepped forward, soft congratulations (or whooping excitement from Hancock), spilling from their lips that I turned my eyes back to the still form that had been on the ground.
Glory, who had given her life to save me. Glory, who had believed in me more than the men and women who stood in front of me in sincerity now.
Glory, who Deacon was holding, sorrow clear on his expression.
I opened my mouth to say something, but I was cut short by the sight of a dark clad man, his eyes covered with sunglasses so that his expression was hidden. He had Arthur Maxson's lifeless body in his arms.
"What are you-"
He cut me off before I could finish, "Quinn! You've done Father a favor in taking out this one, but it seems like you've chosen the wrong side, Elder." Quinn turned, and his eyes were wide, the exhaustion chasing around his features momentarily disappearing beneath shock.
"X6, what are you doing?"
"Bringing an interesting specimen back to Father." I couldn't read his facial expressions, but Quinn seemed completely stunned that he was there - so much so that he didn't move forward when the tall man hoisted Maxson's body up in his arms. Strength - superior strength... and a courser uniform.
He was a synth.
"Forgive me, but your relay has been deactivated. We can't have you interfering." I heard the sound of guns raising, and Quinn's voice ringing out in an order to stop... and then a flash of light engulfed both the tall man who Quinn had called X6 and the former Elder's body...
And they were gone.
Whether Quinn had been telling the men and women to stop, or X6, I wasn't sure. He turned in my arms, and his eyes held alarm, worry. He actually pushed forward, as though to surge from my arms and go into action then and there, and I felt him waver and fall back against me. His voice still held the same conviction. "We have to stop them, whatever they're wanting to do. I can't let Shaun-"
I cut him off with a quick press of my lips against his own, uncaring if the rest of our group saw it. "Don't think about it now, Quinn." It was hard for me to say - a military mind had me on high alert. The fact that Maxson's body had been taken by the Institute was not lost to me.
But Quinn looked like he was ready to collapse, and I wasn't going to risk his life to reclaim a body. "We'll worry about it tomorrow." My eyes flashed to the men and women behind me, and I saw the shock on their faces. The anger, the fury.
The Institute was still clearly the enemy - it was a problem that we would have to handle soon.
But for today, we needed to rest. We needed to recover - we'd lost half of our ranks...
My eyes shifted to the people behind us; Preston, Marcy, Jun, Hancock, and Deacon still holding Glory. We'd won a battle, even if we'd started a war - the Commonwealth had a chance at peace now... if only temporary.
"We should all get back to the Prydwen. Our Elder needs to rest... and we need to get to know our new allies." And plan for tomorrow. We would have to address the Institute and their plans then... but a day wouldn't make a difference.
At least, I hoped it wouldn't. Regardless, I knew it would make a difference for Quinn, and I was determined to give that to him. Still, worry struck hard in the back of my mind... programming that I couldn't escape, I guessed.
Quinn was taut in my arms, and I hugged him tighter to me. "Come on, Elder," I smiled softly at the words, letting him see in my eyes how much I loved him - how much I appreciated the fact that he'd fought for me, that he'd won for me. "Let's get you home."
Quinn smiled, and it was a beautiful thing. For a moment, it chased away the shadows lingering in his gaze. I watched him flick one last glance at where Maxson had been, the blood still hot on the ground, and he nodded.
"You're right." And then softer still, "You're right." His voice rose, so that everyone could hear it. "Let's get back to the Prydwen." And then softer, so that I could hear it as a murmur above his breath. "I love you, Danse... now, let's go home."
With him standing there in my arms and a new hope of eventual peace on the horizon... I'd never heard anything more sweet.