Chapter 25: Calm Before the Storm
(Once again, I do not own Fallout. I hope that my writing has gotten better, looking back, I realize my earlier chapters were cringe worthy. In any case, feel free to leave a review, all feedback is good feedback. I am now officially working on a spinoff as well, for anyone interested.)
"You've changed, Boone," Maya said as they tinkered on their weapons. He seemed more at peace than he had, years before.
"Well, after time, you learn to accept things," he said, oiling his rifle. "Now that the Legion is no immediate threat, I've had time on my hands. I travelled around for a time, teaching kids to shoot and handle themselves. The West is still wild, but it's getting better all the time. I'm glad Luna gave me, and all of us, really, opportunity."
"She does have that way about her, doesn't she? In any case, I want your opinion," she said, now greasing the action on her rifle. "The Enclave. Do you think we can do this?"
"Hell yeah," he said. "Wolf crippled their main base. What we saw only shows that they are weakened. I'm not sure if the Enclave will ever truly crumble away, but I do know that this branch, at least, will fall." He may have been curt, but this was actually a lot more dialogue than she was used to. He may not have been a people person, but he was better at conversing now.
"You've changed, haven't you?"
"And you have, as well."
"Well, this damn swampland will change a girl," she conceded. "Then again, I guess you can say the same thing about most of the wastes."
"Right you are," he said, now checking his action.
"Well, Boone," Maya said, slinging her rifle over her shoulder, "I gotta dash. I promised Will that I'd help him with calibrating the weapons on his vertibird."
"Okay, take care," nodded the sniper, still maintaining his rifle.
Maya strolled down the hallway, humming a tune to herself. Their force had swollen in the past 24 hours, and they likely had the three to one ratio needed to assault the Enclave base. She was in good spirits. Even more so when, upon walking by Luna's room, she heard the Courier talking with Veronica. Sounded like they were making up, but the guerilla had no intention to eavesdrop, so she carried on her way.
Rounding a corner, she ran right into Fire, who had his nosy buried in some sort of pocketbook. Maya could feel her cheeks heat up drastically, and could have sworn that she noticed the slightest tint of red on the tribal's cheek, as well
"Fire, hello," she quickly said, trying to diffuse the situation. "What do you have there?" Awkward moment aside, her curiosity did get the better of her.
"Oh, this," he said, indicating the simple book, "is just some records of the equipment and people we have. Not the most exciting job in the world, but someone must do it, right?" She nodded, and was about to walk around him when he gently caught her arm. "Hey, Maya, I was wondering if you had any plans for the evening. If not, maybe you'd like to come up to my room. I plan on making some gumbo, and I can't think of anyone else I'd rather share it with." At this last part, Ofi came from behind Lonely Fire and whined softly, only for the young man to shoot him an annoyed look.
"Sure, sounds great," Maya said, hiding the appeal of the offer. Nodding, the tribal went on his way. Biting her lip, Maya also went on her way, and noted how full the hallways were. Tribals, definitely from the west, conversing with some younger guys from Fire's tribes about harrowing hunts and survival stories. Further along, a pale man in arctic combat gear, another in archaic armor, a man wrapped head to toe in bandages, and a dark man in dreads were discussing their own experiences in war. Maya found Will in the cafeteria, Will chatting up the young woman who apparently piloted the craft that delivered most of the new forces.
"So, lemme get this straight: not only did you capture that thing, but you also took down one just like it? Ooooh man, that's crazy," Will said, hanging on the girl's every word. "And you been flying her ever since? Were you able to repair her?"
"Unfortunately, no," she shook her head. "We have no idea how to. Wolf was talking about a woman who may have had an idea how to, but she went a ways up north. Maybe after this is over, we can track her down? If they come back, I'd rather be at a hundred percent, and able to give it to em good."
Noticing Maya, Sally stood, dusted herself of, and exited the rom. Not before eyeing over her masculine counterpart, however. Waving Maya over, Will grinned ear to ear.
"Thanks, I appreciate this help," he said, in a rather chipper mood. No doubt the girl had something to do with that. "I know you aren't that much of a mechanic, but I figure you may know a bit about the mounted guns."
"Not exactly their systems, but I can help with maintenance," she said. "Will you even have the manpower to operate them? I'm not sure how many people here are capable of operating a mounted piece."
"It isn't that complex, it is literally point and click," Will said. Walking out to the landing pad, the difference was once again notable. Before, the land was lifeless. Now, tents had sprung up all around the station for the overflow of volunteers, complete with armorers and weapon smiths, surgical stations and even a pub. Over the next hour, they worked. Maya honestly felt she knew little about the task at hand, but considering they had left Will alone for a bit, she stayed out of guilt. She had a reason he was just lonely more than anything, frankly.
Eventually, he let her off, and the young sniper made her way back to her room to freshen up. Opting for a simple outfit, she tied her hair back, made sure she didn't smell of oil or smoke, and strolled onwards to Fire's room. Knocking, the door was opened to reveal a shirtless Fire, smelling of spices and smoke. For some odd reason, this just made him more attractive, in some odd, primal way.
"Hola," he said, wiping some sweat from his forehead. "Good timing, it is about to be ready. Please, come in." Waving her in, he grabbed a shirt and pulled it on. In the room, a decently sized stove was supporting a pot, and based on the smell, was filled with the broth the native was so fond of. Preparing a bowl for each of them, Fire sat, and Maya followed suit. "I just would like to say thank you. You and Will have both helped me a lot in the past few months, and I deeply appreciate it. I could not have done it alone."
"You're making it sound as if this is our last ride," Maya said, slightly unnerved. If she was being truthful, she was hoping to hear some better news.
"I just don't know," he sighed, shaking his head. "By bringing the fight to them, we can end this. But it won't be safe. In the event I don't make it back, I just wanted you to know how much it meant to me, meeting you." Beginning to eat, he lowered his head. It was obvious that this was eating at him. Maya ate slowly, and she had to admit, the gumbo tasted good. However, it would have tasted even better had the situation not been so gloomy.
"Fire," she said softly, reaching for his arm. As she made contact, he looked up. His eyes showed a side to him she was unused to seeing. Sure, he was a warrior and a survivor, but he was also even younger than her, and right now, she could see the child in his heart. He was scared. He led a rough life, and she could tell he was expecting his luck to run dry. "I know you have what it takes to pull through. Not many people can do what you have. You killed a Dragón in a close quarter situation. Not even Wolf could have likely done that at your age."
"You know," he said, smiling, "I wish it stayed small. It was simpler when it was just a matter of revenge. Now, it is muddled." Finishing his bowl, he filled it again and left it on the floor, at which point Ofí appeared, almost materializing, and set upon the bowl. Taking a sip from his canteen, the tribal sighed, and looked at Maya again, his eyes now showing a return to the same dry hunter she spent much time with. "But it's not my way to shirk work. This shall be done."
"Good to hear it," she said, finishing her bowl. "And thank you for the meal, I do appreciate it. Standing, she dusted herself off, and approached the door. "I have to take care of something, but if you need me, I'll be in my room." Standing to let her out, Fire nodded, then slowly closed the door behind her. Halfway down the hall, Maya stopped, thought, and turned around. Knocking once again on Fire's door, she practically threw herself in as he opened. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him deeply. At first shocked, he eventually returned in kind, letting weeks of attraction loose in a blissful moment. As she kicked the door shut, Maya thought about how he tasted like Mentats.