Notes:
This may read a little weird; there's a reason for that. Let me know if you find it. =P

Moment 049: Hot Coals


The first time Piper walked through the halls of the Institute, she was a little too preoccupied to really notice a whole lot; mainly due to the fact that she was actually there and – for that reason – more than just mildly freaking and very occupied with trying to act like that was not the case. The second time was mere minutes after waking from a medically induced sleep that did a right poor job of making her feel rested, to the point where she had to actively concentrate in order to keep herself from bumping into things.

Her third time doing so, however (or fourth, maybe, if she counts the time where she was apparently carried from their quarters to the infirmary – man, that's an embarrassing thought), is now; side by side with Blue now that both of them have out-slept their exhaustion, and taking as many good, long looks as possible as she tries to commit everything she sees to memory.

Everything. Piper knows what a camera is, of course, but not only is a functioning one so rare that it could probably sell for half the cumulative worth of Diamond City, it's little more than a talking point to the wealthy even then, because what chance does a film canister have against nuclear radiation? Photography – as far as she's aware – hasn't been a thing for at least a century.

Sketches – detailed drawings, if the creator is talented and has enough practice – is the chief way in which the Commonwealth shares knowledge, because hardly everyone is literate. Piper herself has an old, slightly crumpled piece of paper depicting the view of Diamond City from the Upper Stands; drawn in her own hand, and now mostly making her think of how much she would love to see how close Blue could get to the view itself.

Eh. It's a fanciful thought but nothing mission critical, and so she pushes it from her mind when they enter the elevator; focusing instead on the absolute perfection of the curved, clear glass surrounding the little platform, and wondering what in the world would make someone come up with the idea of a see-through elevator.

X-ray research, perhaps?

"Shaun should be waiting," Blue says; effectively securing her attention. "Are you sure you're okay with being alone with him?"

Clearly, she's been keeping an eye on her, Piper thinks, and lets a small smile slip free because they have obviously gotten to the point of knowing each other so well that they can essentially read each other's minds. She's sure that Blue doesn't know why she's nervous, but it's patently obvious that she can tell that she is.

Experiencing the Institute is fascinating, but she's honest enough with herself to realize that the place as a whole creeps the hell out of her. That fear – the definition of this place being everything wrong and frightening in the world - is such an old part of her life and such a hard thing to let go of; this isn't a safe place to her, outside of their quarters or anywhere that she doesn't have Blue to watch her back. It's a little childish and a little common sense mixed with a deep sort of bone-chilling fear that makes her hyper-alert of every single, tiny sound; especially with the knowledge that she'll be alone with the leader of this place in a few, short minutes.

No, she isn't sure that she'll be okay. But she also knows that she will be of absolutely no use to Blue's proposed purpose here if she doesn't get past this, and hanging around small numbers of people that Blue seems to trust is probably a good way to start working towards that.

"Easy, old timer," is therefore all she says; catching Blue's hand as the elevator slows to a gentle stop and they both exit onto a higher, much less active floor. "I'll be fine," she then promises, once they've walked a few paces and the massive atrium is behind them.

"I'll come with you, if you want," is Blue's quiet offer. "Or wait outside."

Stubborn. Piper smiles, though, because offering to help even when she doesn't understand exactly what the problem is is so typical of her best friend, and never fails to make her fall that little bit harder. Even if the fact that there's apparently still further to fall continues to surprise her.

"Could you be any sweeter?" she wonders, and holds back a chuckle when Blue's expression twitches into one of puzzlement. "Hm. Maybe if I drizzled you in honey." Puzzlement, at this, turns into eye-rolling, very-put-upon-sigh-type exasperation as Blue picks up on the fact that she's being teased, and Piper lets the grin slip free when her ear is given a light, reproving tweak. "Seriously, Blue; I'll be fine. Okay?"

"Okay." There's still an arm curling around her shoulders, but Piper hardly minds that. "You're going to tell me what's going on at some point, right?"

Most likely sooner rater than later, Piper thinks. It isn't fair to keep Blue worrying, after all. She just needs to find a way to talk her out of helping; or, more specifically, she needs to find a way of doing so that lets her explain why she doesn't want the help.

"I will," is all she says out loud, and winds an arm around Blue's middle in return because the hallway is empty. "Soon as I get my head on straight."

"No rush," Blue murmurs, and now sounds a little embarrassed. "I just... I want to be in the loop. On how you're feeling." Pause, and a few more steps that echo faintly in the hallway. "What you're thinking."

God. Piper gives the side under her hand a slow stroke with the pad of her thumb, and feels the press of fingertips against her own shoulder in response. For someone as naturally quiet as Blue tends to be, she has a real gift for packing as much as she possibly can into very few words.

"I want you in the loop," she tells her, and lets their little half-hug stroll turn into a full-hug stand when they reach the end of the hall. "Try not to go too crazy worrying until I get this figured out?"

"No problem." Blue's low chuckle rumbles softly against her chest, and Piper presses closer when their lips brush lightly because this – above all else on this earth – is her safe place, and if she is about to be left alone in these surroundings, she needs the buffer. "Yell if you need me? I'll stay in hearing range, at least."

"Considering your ears, Blue, that's about from here to Quincy."

"Hrm." That earns her the faint wrinkle of Blue's nose as well a touch more color in her cheeks. "Still. Please?"

"Alright." Piper leans in for another short kiss because she can, and firmly tells her traitorous body to calm the hell down when Blue's retreating footsteps echo faintly between the metal walls a few moments later.

Pah. The whole thing is completely nonsensical, and she knows that. So why can she not stop herself from freaking out the second she's alone outside of their quarters? It's downright primal, the way her chest tightens and how her throat feels like it's about to close up; how her hands go clammy and she has to actively work to keep herself from hyperventilating, and it doesn't make sense because even with everything she has learned of the Institute over the past years, her time here has at least proved that she genuinely has no reason to suspect any ill intentions aimed her way for the moment.

The panic buzzes through her system anyway, and it's only sheer cussedness that keeps her from either yelling for Blue or tearing off after her because god dammit, she is not going to succumb to this. She's stronger than that.

Even if there are spots dancing at the edges at her vision.

Relax, she reminds herself, and takes a forcibly slow, deep breath. It's fine. Blue wouldn't leave you alone if she suspected the tiniest thing out of place.

Strangely – or perhaps not – that thought helps a little; a least enough that she can unclench her fingers and make her vision stop tunneling. While Blue might not have a lot of innate talent when it comes to reading people, the amount of protectiveness she seems to feel where Piper is concerned also means that she is taking absolutely zero chances in regards to her safety.

In short – Piper takes another long breath and feels the corner of her mouth quirks – buck the hell up and quit whining, Wright.

Xenophobia gone rampant not withstanding, this place is probably the best chance they have to turn things around for the Commonwealth, and while Blue's plan sounds far-fetched indeed to even Piper's admittedly biased ears, God knows that her best friend has pulled more unlikely results out of her proverbial hat before. So.

That should be enough to keep anyone stepping forward, yeah?

Yeah.