A/N - I will acknowledge my first big fuck up so far in my timeline (that I've caught so far). I wanted to introduce Lucius in this chapter. I did some background fact-checking and realized he'd been in charge of the Praetorian Guard since 2268 and we're now at 2276. Ugh! So, I will write him in for now and eventually I will go back and add in his correct inauguration when I get some time to write Cerberus out of the position. Sorry! This was bound to happen eventually.
Thank you everyone for the great reviews! I had a lot of fun writing these last chapters. I love hearing everyone's thoughts on the pairings and the relationships. They all have a unique dynamic. I can honestly say I'm still not sure how I want things to end. I've got three endings in the works and I'm not sure which one to go with. Humancyrax, you've been so loyal I can't thank you enough for your amazing review. I really tried to flesh out The Strip. I found it pretty underwhelming in the game - a product of the time - so now I'm trying to give it a bit more life. I'm glad I'm writing these characters in a way you all find entertaining. I really can't wait to roll out the next chapters.
Chapter 62
A Scout arrived with a report for Commander Aramis from Colt in Ouroboros. The paper had been marked with a rather unique seal, a dog's paw print, Aramis's personal mark that had once belonged to Desert Dog – now Aramis adopted it. Joshua examined the red paw. Red meant urgent. Aramis hadn't yet returned from The Strip so Joshua decided to open it and read the contents, after all, he was the Legate and nothing was kept secret from him.
The report said that the Sons and Daughters had mustered a large force under Colt's watchful gaze. Hecate remained ever loyal to Caesar and the Legion and would be ready for the upcoming assault on the Hoover Dam. Colt even suggested that the main fighting force comes to Ouroboros in an attempt to sway the NCR into believing that Caesar intended to strike the northern regions. That would allow them to mount a surprise assault on the dam from the north.
This wasn't a bad idea. Bringing Hecate's force down to The Fort would surely get the attention of the NCR and put them at high alert for an incoming attack but if Caesar sent his forces away, this would likely confuse the NCR and force them to scatter their forces, leaving them thinned out along their territory as they tried to figure out what the Legion's intended target was.
Joshua decided to approach Caesar with this information immediately so they could begin planning the upcoming attack.
He entered the large tent and saw Caesar sitting on his chair engaged in conversation with Lucius.
The two men turned and acknowledged Joshua, Caesar with a simple head nod and Lucius with a crossed fist over his chest.
Caesar must have seen the paper in Joshua's hand because his eyes fell down to it then back up at Joshua's face. Caesar's expression turned to intrigue as his brow raised.
"What's that?" the Son of Mars asked.
"News from one of your Frumentarii," Joshua began. "The one we sent to Ouroborus."
"And what does he have to say?" Caesar asked.
"He says the Sons and Daughters are ready to attack when you give the word, but he suggests launching the attack force from Ouroborus rather than here," Joshua said.
Caesar leaned forward in his chair and rested his chin on his thumbs while his finger intertwined in front of his face.
"That would throw off the NCR," Caesar said.
"My thoughts as well," Joshua confirmed.
"They wouldn't be expecting a full-scale assault from the north and we could still leave a strong enough force here to attack from here to engage on multiple fronts," Caesar added. "I think this is a good plan."
Joshua agreed.
"We'll send Centurions Reed, Athos and Wendigo to Ouroboros. They will link up with Hecate and lead the main fighting force down from the north. Shaka and Argo will attack from The Fort. Ticker will remain here to defend," Caesar ordered.
It was a simple enough plan, but Joshua knew there were many pieces to figure out before it would be fully realized but he knew this would give them the best chance of taking the dam.
"I'll send word," Joshua obeyed.
"Oh, and Joshua," Caesar called out.
Joshua turned.
"Inform the Centurions that when the Dam is taken, they are to execute the remaining Sons and Daughters. Hecate will be spared of course, but every single last one of her people should be put to death," Caesar ordered.
Joshua raised a brow, but this was the kind of order that Caesar expected to be followed without question.
He gave the slightest of head nods.
Aramis woke with her head in a fog. Her body felt as though it weighed twice its normal amount. She also felt like she'd aged fifty years overnight. Her muscles ached and pinned for more rest. She was exhausted and when she sat up, a bit of nausea hit her stomach and forced her to remain in place while she collected her bearings.
Above the blankets of the bed, a slumbering Dex lay, wearing nothing but a pair of tight black boxer briefs and that was it. For a brief moment, she took in his fine physique, examining the structure of each muscle in perfect place and proportion. A small grin played across her face until the reality of the situation dawned on her. The man in bed next to her was Tanis "Dex" Dexterra, Aka Art Enigma, Chief Intelligence Officer for the NCR.
Suddenly, the unsettled feeling in Aramis' stomach was amplified when the events of the previous night played back in her head like an unwelcome reverie. Everything was in pieces and it was impossible to distinguish fact from the fabrication brought on by what Aramis could only guess was the drugs slipped into her drink.
Silently Aramis got dressed in the only available option she had, the dress from the night before. Wishing to get some air in hopes to ease her tense nerves, she stepped out of the room trying to be as quiet as possible. She had no idea what time of day it was. Everything around her was cast in the glow of artificial illumination. She neared the elevators and paused when she saw a figure standing in the hallway, casually leaning up against the wall.
He was a large man wearing a deep brown suit with a matching fedora. From this distance, it was difficult to see his face, but it looked as though he had some kind of mark down his cheek. Aramis knew to trust her instincts and they were telling her this man was not just a casual bystander. As she neared the elevator, the man peeled himself off the wall and walked towards her.
Aramis pressed the button to call the elevator, but nothing happened.
Fuck.
The man now just a few short paces away. Aramis was unarmed and unprepared to face this man if it came to confrontation. She watched him in her peripheral as he drew closer.
"Miss?" the man said with a calm demeanour.
Aramis turned trying to keep her expression neutral as she faced the man. The mark on his face had been a large scar running from the bottom of his right eyes to just below his jawline. She didn't say a word.
"My boss would like a word," he said in a direct tone.
"I'm going to get some fresh air," Aramis said dismissively.
Unexpectedly the man reached out and grabbed Aramis by the wrist. Frumentarius Aramis would have broken his arm in three places and used her teeth to rip out the man's throat, but she was not Frumentarius Aramis, here she was Adeline Rose, schoolteacher from Shady Sands.
"Where are you taking me?!" she hissed as she tried to wrench her arm free.
"Shut up," he barked and gave a violent tug that lurched her forward.
Aramis growled as he pulled her in the opposite direction towards a completely different elevator. Without relinquishing his grip, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small key. Aramis noted the small slot next to this elevator where the man inserted the key. The lift powered up and soon there was a ding followed by the opening of doors. He pulled her in, and the doors closed firmly behind them.
She'd have to see where this was going.
"You're hurting me!" Aramis cried out trying to sound desperate.
The man didn't say anything as the elevator began to ascend for a few seconds before coming to a stop.
The door opened and they emerged into an ornately decorated hallway. Everything on this level looked as though it were brand new, but it wasn't. It was clean, well preserved with intact works of art along each wall and lightbulbs that gave a constant radiance rather than the sporadic flicker.
She was pulled down the hallway until they came to a large gold-painted door. The man knocked and waited for the voice inside to beckon him inside.
With another firm tug, Aramis was dragged through the door and came face to face with the smiling Nero.
"Addy!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "Sorry 'bout all this!"
The man that held Aramis's hand released her but stood between her and the door for sheer intimidation. Aramis wanted to roll her eyes. It was men like him she enjoyed breaking most and she hoped in time she'd get her chance.
"What am I doing here?" Aramis asked, attempting to sound shaken.
Nero rose from the desk in which he had been sitting behind. He rounded the corner and came right up to her, extending his hand to her face and gently caressing her cheek.
"Such a shame something so pretty got caught up in this mess," he began. "I want you to know that none of this is personal," he insisted. "It's just that … the Major and I have some conflict and I'm afraid he really upset me tonight by parading such a sweet young thing like you in front of me."
Aramis felt a little on edge. This was going to take careful negotiation.
"I don't understand," Aramis confessed.
Nero's smile grew.
"The Major needs to learn that my family is beyond his reach. To challenge us on how we run our operations is simply a declaration of war," he told her almost sweetly.
Aramis gathered what he was putting down. So, this had been some kind of elaborate setup but strangely, Dex was the target and she was just caught in the crossfire.
"Please, I don't want to get involved," Aramis tried. She kept a careful close eye on the goon behind her. If he made a quick move, Aramis would be ready, but she doubted whatever was going to happen would happen right here in the pristine office.
Her theory was correct when Nero executed his next order.
"Discreetly, Eddy … and I am sorry sweetie, such a waste," Nero concluded as he touched Aramis' face one last time.
"No! Don't kill me!" Aramis begged.
"Awe, don't cry sweet thing … it breaks my heart to see you so sad," Nero softened, his words offering reassurance but they carried nothing but malice. "I have no intention of having my men kill you, no Dex needs to know the people he cares about suffer all because of his obstinacy."
Aramis let out a sorrowful whimper as the thug known as Eddy took her by the wrist and pulled her out of the officer.
"No! Please! Wait!" Aramis heaved with moderate effort, enough to make it appear as though she were putting up a struggle.
"Move it!" Eddy snarled as he casually drew a gleaming revolver at her. Judging by his posture, this was not where the deed would be carried out. She had time. The gun was just meant to keep her in line. So, she went with it.
They entered the elevator once more and Eddy used his key. The lift began descending into the depths of the casino. Aramis snivelled and backed herself into the corner. Now would be a good time to take care of Eddy but if that door opened and she was met on the other side by a dozen men, she wouldn't be able to take them all on. She had to be sure of her exit strategy when the time came to make her move. She carefully slipped her heels off, they be more a hindrance if she needed to strike quick.
When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, they were met by two other Omerta thugs. One she recognized as Big Sal. No one said a word as Aramis was pushed out of the lift by Eddy and into a dimly lit narrow hallway. They reached the very end and opened the door to a small unkept room. There was a broken bed pushed to the side. In the centre of the room was a round table where two other men sat playing some kind of card game. They were both smoking cigarettes and only looked up briefly to look her over before glancing back down at their cards to continue the game.
Aramis couldn't help but think of the irony in the situation. Serves her right for sinking so low and fucking Dex … seemed only fair she'd be caught up in this mess for being so careless. Still, she'd make the most of it.
She was led to a small cushioned chair and ordered to sit.
She sat.
Big Sal came over and bound her hands with some kind of electrical cord. That complicated things a little but she was not secured in place. One of the perks of being just a lowly schoolteacher. Underestimated.
She studied the room a bit more. From this angle she could see the two men playing poker were not armed with firearms but carried large knives, however, Eddy had his revolver and the two men who paced around the door had what looked like some kind of submachine gun. Firearms were never Aramis' area of expertise. She knew those weapons were good for spray, but accuracy was shit. Big Sal carried some kind of shortened shotgun. That would be messy if he was allowed to unleash it.
"How long will you keep me here?" she asked.
"For as long as the boss tells us to," Eddy said cruelly.
If Aramis could hold off long enough, she may learn something.
XXX
Hours ticked away and she was getting bored watching the same moron lose at cards. The men joked around, told stories of what happened at the party the night before and all the whores they'd been with. They were worse than Legionaries. Legionaries may have been crude, but there was a sense of pride in each man in the Legion. They spoke with conviction and truth. These men were crass and embellished every detail, she could tell.
Aramis wondered if Dex was awake from his drug-induced stupor. Would he wonder where she went or simply accept that she'd slipped away? Would Nero be informing him of her capture? Everything was up to speculation.
Soon the stories shifted to matters of business … talks of incoming and outgoing shipments of various drugs, bookkeeping and financial dealings with the many whores they enslaved. All of it quite interesting to a Legion spy.
Then came the giveaway.
The name Violet came across the mouth of the two men playing cards. Aramis tuned into the conversation.
"She better come up with a better way to funnel the money out," one of the men said. "They are starting to tighten things up with that monorail."
So … somehow Violet was in their pockets. Violet, who'd been so kind to Aramis on the dance floor … who'd clearly put something in her and Dex's drinks. She even provided them with the room. Aramis was quite disappointed in herself that she'd not been suspicious of the woman's intents earlier. How foolish to think that everything had just been to get the Major laid. No, Dex had warned her that the people of The Strip were cunning, and everyone had an agenda. She would not be so naïve again.
Big Sal kept checking his watch and finally it must have told the right time because he dismissed himself from the group, advising that he had other matters to attend to and left.
This was now a good time.
"Excuse me?" Aramis spoke up.
Everyone looked at her.
"I've been in this dress all day and night. It's really tight and I was wondering if I could change into something else?" she asked.
One of the men by the door licked his lips.
"Naked would be very freeing," he teased.
"Freeing but cold," she said kindly. "Please, there must be something."
"Shut up," Eddy scorned.
One of the men playing cards snickered and rose from the table. He came towards her, took off his hat and placed it gingerly on her head.
"Better?" he mocked.
Aramis gritted her teeth. She didn't want him. She needed the submachine gun. The man returned to the table and took up his cards again.
Aramis turned her attention to one of the men with the guns by the door.
"Please, at least unzip it. Let me breathe," she tried.
The man with the gun raised a brow and shrugged. He came towards her and Aramis gave him her back so that he could lower the zipper for her.
His abrasive hands touched her skin and it was all she could do to keep herself from retching. He lowered the zipper slowly.
"Ah, much better," she cooed.
He lowered the zipper even more.
With her back turned he couldn't see the twisted grin on her face. So predictable.
When she turned around the dress had been loosened off so much that it fell to her feet, exposing her naked frame for all of them.
"Hey!" she cried out as she tried to cover herself with her bound hands.
The men in the room all let out a laugh.
The man with the gun bent down to pick up the dress at her feet and when he did, that's when Aramis struck.
Her knee shot up catching him square in the nose. It broke, spraying blood instantly everywhere and causing him to drop the submachine gun.
Aramis dove to the ground, grasping the gun in her bound hands and unleashing a flurry of bullets at everyone in the room. The man whose nose she broke blocked many of her outgoing shots bullets, but in doing so, crumpled to the ground in front of her and became a bit of a human shield. By now, the others were able to get their own weapons to the ready. Shots rained back at her, but she shrunk behind the dead body splayed in front of her. Fortunately, she saw the men with the knives duck behind their table for cover. She was able to concentrate her fire on Eddy and the other doorman. Eddy took cover behind a large couch while the other doorman remained foolishly in the open. Aramis's gun cut the doorman down in seconds. She turned her focus solely on Eddy and released a storm of bullets into the couch where she hoped he would be.
In the corner of her eye she saw a body spring up from behind the toppled table as one of the thugs with his knife out came charging at her. Aramis only had a split second to roll onto her shoulder and spray the thug with another burst from her submachine gun. With her hands still bound her shots weren't accurate but they were still effective, and he went down just a mere couple feet from where she lay, his knife falling and coming to a rest just inches from her feet.
Aramis shot another few rounds into the table to ensure the other thug would remain in place and fired another few shots back at the couch to keep Eddy down too. That's when she heard the dreaded click of an empty magazine.
Fuck fuck fuck.
She threw the gun to the ground and picked up the knife. She could make another dash across the room for the other gun, but she'd likely end up being cut down by Eddy and his revolver.
The other two men didn't move, clearly unaware she'd run out of bullets and had ditched her gun. Maybe she did have a chance.
She released the knife and heaved herself to her feet, making a quick dash for the doorman's gun. Eddy must have caught wise because suddenly he stood just as she reached the other gun and opened fire. Aramis hit the ground again using the other doorman as a blocker but this time she felt the sting of contact to her leg and torso. Still, she was able to grasp the new gun in her hands and open fire. Eddy took cover once again.
Aramis stopped firing, trying to preserve her ammunition this time. She didn't have as much cover behind this man and Eddy had a better line of sight on her. She couldn't stay here. Standing up quickly she tried to move for behind the bed. Three more heavy shots broke out just missing her head. She'd heard each one whiz by her ear.
When she was in position, she rested the gun on the mattress and opened fire on Eddy once more. He ducked behind the couch, cursing her. They went back and forth like this for a few more shots until finally, Eddy's gun made the familiar click of the hammer striking air.
There was no second to spare as Aramis launched herself forward to try and get a clean shot on Eddy. With no option but to face her, Eddy dashed out from behind the couch in an attempt to tackle Aramis, but she was quicker and unleashed the submachine gun on him until he was a heap on the floor.
"Jesus Christ!" she heard the thug still cowering behind the table call out. "Don't shoot!" he begged.
"Come out!" Aramis snapped.
The man got to his feet slowly, knife in hand.
"Throw that away," Aramis ordered.
He obliged and tossed it towards her.
"Come here and untie me," she said with the gun still aimed at him and firmly grasped in her bound hands.
He swallowed hard then came towards her slowly. Reaching out he begun to untie the cord around her wrists. Aramis watched him attentively. Just as he released the final knot, she felt him make his move for the gun. Aramis was ready and squeezed the trigger, firing a short burst right into his stomach at close range. He fell to the ground grasping at his stomach.
"Idiot," she grumbled, tossing the submachine gun away.
There was no point putting him out of his misery. Better to just let him die nice and slow with the rest of his buddies here in this room.
Aramis walked towards the bed and pulled the sheet off, wrapping it around her naked body.
She moved out into the hallway, checking the corridors to ensure it was clear. That's when she remembered the key. Quickly she turned back around and that's when she was struck down by something large.
Aramis was now on her back and looking up at the menacing eyes of Eddy. He brandished one of the knives and slashed at her hands that held the gun. Feeling the blade slice repeatedly, Aramis released the gun but made a grab for the knife. She felt the steel bite into her flesh again as she and Eddy rolled around on the ground for control over the blade. She struck him over and over again with her knee to his gut and finally, he let go of the knife. With one final shove, she was able to gain the upper hand and get on top of him before driving the knife down as hard as she could. The knife cut swiftly and cleanly threw his neck. She'd put so much power behind it that she'd managed to pin him to the floor. He made a gurgling sound as his mouth filled with blood before he finally went still.
Aramis stood up slowly feeling the effect of every wound taking its toll on her body. She gingerly wrapped herself up with the bedsheet and took the key out of Eddy's pocket before retrieving the gun and moving towards the elevator. She prayed that there would be no one else coming as she slid the key in and called the elevator. The doors opened, revealing an empty car and she staggered in. She pressed the button for the main floor. She wouldn't be able to escape out the front door, but she was certain she could navigate her way out the back if she simply walked casually.
She tied the sheet around her body, attempting to make it appear as though it was more a toga type dress. Hopefully, no one would pay her much attention – just another whore walking the hallways. The door opened and Aramis stepped out into the corridor. Following the burnt-out exit signs, she meandered through the halls as casual as she could be. Fortunately, it worked, and she slipped out a back door and into an alley between the casino and another building.
That's when she broke into a run. She wanted to avoid the main strip, so she stuck to the alleys. She didn't know exactly where to go but she had a rough idea so long as she kept the spire of the Lucky 38 in the right place.
Finally, she emerged between two buildings and saw the NCR embassy across the road. She took a step forward and stopped, remembering what she'd heard about Violet. She couldn't go to the Embassy, that's where Violet worked … but she had to warn Dex.
Dex. Shit. Was he still back in the room? Aramis had no idea. She had to find someone who could get him out of there if he was still in his drugged-up state, or worse, taken by the Omertas.
But did she? Did she have to get him help?
The simple answer was no, but against her better judgement, she chose to send help his way. Cursing, Aramis stumbled forward then remembered the Vault 21 Hotel.
Maybe, just maybe she could trust Sarah and Cleo.
Aramis dragged herself through the door of the old vault and instantly saw Sarah behind the guest counter. Sarah shrieked at the sight of Aramis and rushed around the counter to be at her side.
"Adeline!" Sarah cried out.
Aramis collapsed to her knees, then to her side.
"Room 209 … Dex … send help," Aramis got out, finally feeling that moment of comfort when she knew she was safe.
"Adeline are you okay?!" Sarah squealed.
"I'm fine," she lied but her even tone sounded convincing.
Sarah flung herself to her feet and rushed out of the hotel.
Aramis lay on the cold steel floor for those few minutes until the door opened once more and Sarah was back at her side, this time she was accompanied by Dex.
Aramis was surprised to see him so soon, and completely unharmed. He was even in his usual set of plain ordinary clothing.
"Get us a room!" Dex ordered as he scooped Aramis up and lifted her effortlessly into her arms.
Aramis didn't protest as they descended down into the vault. Sarah led them to an empty hallway and finally into a quaint guest room.
"Bring a medical kit!" Dex snapped as he placed Aramis down on the bed.
"I'm fine," Aramis managed.
"Shut up," Dex barked as he pulled off the bedsheet Aramis had used to cover herself, exposing her body and her injuries.
"Fucking hell," he muttered as he examined her wounds. "What did they do to you?"
"I fought back," Aramis grumbled but forced a smirk.
"What happened?!" he demanded.
"I went for some air … they were waiting for me in the hallway," Aramis began.
Dex was checking out every wound with great detail but Aramis paid little attention to his poking and prodding.
"They wanted to use me to get to you," she stated in a very manner of fact kind of way. That's when she remembered Violet. "Violet is a traitor. She's running money for them. Something about a monorail. She drugged us on purpose. Dex … she knew what they were going to do."
Dex looked up and suddenly his features changed from concerned to downright hostile. He narrowed his gaze at her as the colour in his face turned slightly pale.
"Violet? Are you sure?" he asked in an even tone.
"Yes," Aramis said. "She drugged us … it was all part of their plan"
"I know she drugged us … but are you sure she's …"
Aramis cut him off.
"Listen to me! Violet sold you out!"
Dex's expression changed to surprise as he leaned back a little.
"I'll look into it … for now we gotta clean you up," he insisted.
"I said I'm fine," Aramis grumbled as she tried to sit up, but his hand reached out and prevented her from moving. "What did you tell me back at the Grub N' Gulp? I'd be perfectly safe? Fuck you," she added, swatting his hand away.
Dex frowned.
"Nothing looks life-threatening but you'll need sutures and proper antibiotics," he said calmly.
"I don't need your help," Aramis snarled. "I've been through worse."
Suddenly Sarah and Cleo materialized in the doorway. Cleo carried a large medical bag over her shoulder while Sarah brought a Vault 21 jumpsuit.
Aramis suppressed a growl.
Cleo got to it, examining Aramis's wounds.
"This looks awful," Cleo said, taking in the new and old damage to Aramis's body.
Aramis didn't say anything but caught the uneasy expression of Dex's face. She didn't have the body of a schoolteacher. She had the body of a Legionary.
The back of Aramis's hand required several sutures, but the other cuts had been fairly superficial. Two bullets had struck her in the lower leg, one just grazing her calf muscle while the other had been what they believed to be a clean through and through of her right chest. Concerned for her internal organs, more specifically her lungs, Cleo insisted she be taken to the NCR Medical Clinic within the Embassy but even Dex protested.
"She's stable. We can assume there's nothing more serious," he said. "It's safer to keep her here until I figure this all out."
"Are you kidding me?! She's stable now … her body could be compensating. We should at the very least X-Ray the area," Cleo asserted.
"She stays here," Dex growled.
"She's got a bullet hole through her chest!"
"Do the best you can Cleo and do it here. I'm not going to some NCR clinic," Aramis exclaimed firmly.
Dex grimaced and Cleo appeared taken aback. Her eyes scanned Dex then Aramis as if weighing details that were suddenly coming to surface. Maybe she'd figured out there was more to all this than she initially thought.
"Fine," she grumbled.
Once Aramis's injuries had all been dressed and bandaged, Dex requested the two women leave the room. He'd call for them should anything change. Aramis put on the jumpsuit and sat on the bed while Dex paced about the room.
"What are you going to do?" Aramis asked simply.
Dex shot her a stern look and he frowned.
"Suppose I'll have the MPs arrest Violet and I'll interrogate her," he said simply.
Aramis shuddered slightly at the thought of Dex's interrogation methods.
"Do you think she'll give up the details?" she asked.
"I'm good at my job," he said with smug confidence.
For a brief moment, Aramis felt uneasy. His remark wasn't meant to make her smirk or laugh, he'd meant it.
"Did you ever suspect her?" Aramis asked, trying to remember that his focus was on Violet and not on her.
Dex was silent for a moment.
"No," he said calmly.
"I guess you really pissed off the Omertas," Aramis teased.
"I've been trying to disrupt their cash flow for quite some time. They keep supplying The Strip with chems, whores and their operations are getting increasingly violent. There's no place for a family like that within the NCR," Dex confirmed.
"Did you know something was going to happen last night?" Aramis asked.
"Anything was possible last night," Dex affirmed and suddenly things turned from serious to awkward. His gaze fell to the floor as his face turned a shade of red Aramis had never seen before. She swallowed, tapping her fingers on the side of the bed, neither one of them clearly wanting to address their intimacy while being on drugs.
There was another long pause before Aramis spoke up.
"How did you get out of there?"
"The front door," Dex said like it was obvious.
"They just let you leave?"
"When I woke up, you were gone. I figured you'd just taken off, so I headed back to the Embassy," he said.
"That's it?"
"That's it," he confirmed.
Aramis scoffed and asked,
"Why didn't they go for you?"
Dex shrugged.
Aramis rolled her eyes and stood up.
"What are you doing?" Dex said with mild concern.
"Leaving. I'm done with this. The party is over … thank fuck … and I am going back to The Fort," she said.
Dex blocked the door.
"Get out of the way," Aramis ordered.
"No, you're not leaving," he said firmly.
Aramis took a step forward, but he remained fixed in place.
"I'm done with you and I'm done with this shit. I've been beaten, tortured, humiliated … and I'm only talking about the bullshit you put me through … now I've been shot … twice and beaten … again. You left me to die in that grungy hellhole at the hands of those gangsters. My debt is paid … so get out of my way," she snapped.
Dex didn't deny a thing but he still stood between her and the door.
She took another step towards him but that's when she felt a little woozy. Her body had gone through enough and it was telling her that if she didn't take it easy, it would put her down in order to recover.
"Lie down," Dex told her with a steady tone.
Aramis didn't want to take another order from him. Injuries or not she was getting out of here. She moved to get around him, using her arm to shove him out of the way. Maybe it was weakness on account of her condition or the fact that he was firmly planted in place that made her lose balance and topple over.
Trying to catch her breath Aramis sat in a heap on the ground with Dex standing over her, arms folded.
After a second he reached down to help her up.
"Don't touch me!" she barked and swatted his hand away. She crawled over to the bed and pulled herself onto it.
"I'll get Cleo," he grumbled, and he was gone.
A few short seconds later and Cleo appeared in the room.
"Now will you go to the clinic?" she asked kindly.
"No!" Aramis just about yelled.
Cleo sighed and said,
"Fine, we do this the hard way."
Aramis took a deep breath and said,
"I'm sorry … as you can imagine, this is not how I expected things to go."
Cleo smiled.
"It's fine. I know better than to ask Dex what's really going on. I know what he does and when he says he needs my help; I don't ask questions. If he says you're an old friend from Shady Sands, then I go with it," she said.
Aramis kept her face stoic. There was a long pause before she spoke again.
"After I'm gone, you won't mention any of this to anyone. Not me, not my face, nothing. Is that clear?" she said, her voice cold and direct.
Cleo eyed her suspiciously but nodded.
Maybe she'd been too harsh after all, Cleo was nothing but helpful.
"It's just safer for everyone alright?" Aramis added, her tone softening.
Cleo only nodded again.
The rest of the exam was in silence.
Cleo was careful when checking the dressings. The wounds were sensitive, but nothing had opened back up or seemed to be worsening.
Eventually, Cleo broke the silence.
"I know it probably doesn't seem like it but Dex is glad you're okay. When Sarah went running into the Embassy, him and his team were just about to storm Gomorrah," Cleo told her.
"What?" Aramis inquired. What team? What was she talking about?
"The Breach Team. Mostly Rangers trained in quick assaults on buildings. They were mounting a rescue when Sarah told them you'd turned up at the hotel," Cleo said.
"Why didn't he tell me that?" Aramis said, really just to herself but Cleo shrugged.
"I figured he'd have left me to those assholes," Aramis grumbled.
"What?! Why would he have left you?!" Cleo spoke up in alarm.
"Huh? Oh … no just a joke," Aramis said trying to brush her remark off.
So, Dex had planned on coming for her, but why did he hide it?
"Do you know where he is?" Aramis asked.
"I think in the atrium looking over some papers. He wanted to stay close so he could monitor your health," she said.
Aramis smirked.
When Cleo was done Aramis followed her out of the room. Sure enough, she found Dex alone in the central atrium of the vault sitting at a large table strewn with documents. As she approached, he gathered them all into a pile and turned them over so she couldn't see.
Aramis rolled her eyes and sat across the table from him. They eyed each other for a few seconds before Aramis spoke.
"Why didn't you tell me about the rescue?" she asked.
"What was there to tell?" You didn't need rescuing," he said firmly, his eyes locked on hers. He didn't even waver.
"You would have rather me believe you left me to the Omertas?" she questioned.
Dex was quiet.
"Why come back for me?" she probed with a raised brow.
"You're a high-value asset," he said dismissively.
Aramis frowned.
Dex dropped his gaze back to the papers.
There was another drawn-out moment of silence.
"Listen, I need to get these reports done," he said.
She stood there for a few seconds longer waiting to see if he'd be brave enough to look her in the eye. When he didn't, she merely shrugged, stood up and went back to the room. She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes, trying to piece all this together for her own report to Caesar.
Suddenly her door opened and Dex stepped in. He looked flustered with a reddened face and immediately began pacing the room.
"Look, I'm finding it really hard to hate you right now," he said awkwardly.
The statement caught Aramis off guard. Before she could question it, he went on.
"You dragged yourself back to this hotel after everything the Omertas did to you and according to Sarah … passed on information that I was in trouble and needed help."
"I figured if the Omertas got me, they would have gotten you too," Aramis replied casually.
"So, what if they had? Wouldn't that have worked in your favour?" he asked.
"If anyone is going to kill you, it's going to be the Legion … not some crew of suit wearing thugs," Aramis teased.
Her joke didn't get the reaction she expected. He would normally counter with his own off-handed remark but instead, he rounded on her and eyed her with such intense scrutiny that she actually took a step back.
"Fuck it," he mustered as he suddenly came forward, reached out and cupped the back of her head with one hand and her waist with the other, pulling her close to him and kissing her deeply.
Instinctively Aramis raised her arms and pushed him back with enough force to break them apart.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" she lashed out.
Dex stood before her as if transfixed by something unexplainable. Why had he just done that? It's not like they were on drugs this time.
Without a word Aramis turned and moved for the door. The best thing she could do was just leave … but she didn't leave. She reached for the button but hesitated.
Why?
Press the damn button, her mind told her.
He was NCR – worse he was the chief of intelligence for the NCR and they were sworn enemies.
Press the button.
"When I got the message from the Omertas that they had you … what they planned to do with you if I didn't fall in line … I …" he tried to get out.
Aramis lowered her arm and turned to face him.
Without warning, he came at her again. He held her face as he kissed her with such intensity, she couldn't help but put forth the same enthusiasm.
Their emotions were finally exposed. Neither drugs nor alcohol influenced this behaviour. This was all them.
She broke away for a moment to catch her breath. He looked her in the eyes but neither wore any expression on their faces.
Aramis glanced down at the hem of his T shirt. She reached out slowly and grasped it firmly. He let her pull it gently over his head. Now it was his turn and he reached for the zipper of the jumpsuit in the centre of her chest. Slowly she lowered it, exposing the very middle of her bare chest. When the zipper was all the way down, he slid his hand beneath the fabric at each shoulder and peeled it down and away from her body leaving her upper half totally exposed to him. His eyes skimmed across her bare chest but still, his expression never wavered from stoical.
Aramis lowered herself down to her knees, so she was at eye level with his waist. She reached out and felt for the zipper of his pants. Before she lowered it, she glanced up at him and saw him swallow.
"Aramis … you don't have to …" he said in an even tone.
She ignored him, lowering the zipper and reaching in with one hand till she felt his bulging member, pushing forward beneath the fabric of his boxers, insistent on freedom. With his pants still on, Aramis pulled out his hard cock and grasped it softly at the base with one hand. Her mouth found the tip and gently sucked on the exposed head. She felt his hand caress her shoulder lightly and she smiled.
From this angle, Aramis could admire his physique. Perfect abdominal muscles sculpted by years of training in the NCR army, tough but soft skin untouched by brutal Legion trials that marked up her own.
Her tongue traced down the side and underneath his shaft feeling it throb with each soft lick. She brought her mouth back to the tip and slowly took him to the back of her throat.
He let out a subtle, soft moan that made the corners of her mouth lift ever so slightly. Her hand traced along the skin of his abdomen before it descended back into the opening of his pants and pulled the rest of him free. While her mouth, in particular, her tongue explored his shaft, her fingers gently tugged and squeezed his balls.
Now there was no more subtlety as he let out a deep moan and she saw his head roll back in the corner of her eye.
Aramis's head bobbed and rotated allowing him to feel every sensation her mouth could offer. Clearly, he needed more because his hands took hold of the corners of his pants along the zipper seam and pulled the fabric wider apart to give her better access.
She looked up at him, their eyes connecting at that moment and she smiled. He bit his bottom lip, deep in the moment.
With delight she rocked back and forth, plunging him to the back of her throat while her hand followed up and down his shaft, changing the firmness of her grip as it slid along.
"How did you get to be so good at this?" he questioned but his tone was complimentary.
Aramis pulled away and smiled up at him before flicking his tip with her tongue and squeezing his balls ever so gently. Quickly, almost fervently she swallowed him up again and this time took to devouring every piece of him she could. She sucked back hard and clasped the base of his shaft with one hand while the other dug fingers into his inner thigh, pulling him into her like she craved it all.
When she finally pulled herself away, she watched the precum dripped from his tip. His entire cock glistened with the wetness her mouth provided. She brought her tongue back and tasted him, the salty deliciousness pleasing on her palate.
His fingers combed through her short hair, pulling gently at thick strands that coiled between each finger. He cupped her chin in his hand and lifted it, so their eyes met once more. He continued to apply pressure to the bottom of her chin, indicating he wished for her to stand. Aramis got to her feet and they stood facing one another. He peeled down the rest of her jumpsuit until she stood before him in nothing more than a pair of simple white lace panties.
He raised a brow when he saw them.
"It's was all Sarah had in this place," Aramis defended feelingly slightly embarrassed.
Dex smiled, appearing to be pleased with this circumstance. He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her towards the small bed. When the back of his legs touched the frame, he sat down on the edge and pulled her, until she knelt on the bed with him between her legs.
Her body shuddered went it felt his bulging erection press against her inner thigh. She rested her forearms on his shoulders and looked him in the eye as she felt him take hold of his cock and bring it to her slit. It rubbed along her opening slowly. Feeling herself get wetter and wetter until she was dripping in anticipation on his tip.
"Is this what you want?" he whispered in her ear.
"Yes," she moaned back, her forehead resting against the side of his neck. His free hand gently pressed itself into the small of her back as he entered her ever so slowly. When he stopped, about halfway inside, she lowered herself down the rest of the way until he filled her.
She let out a gasp followed by a deep moan.
They were both very still for a moment, her aching pussy flexing all her muscles around his cock.
He kissed her neck and bit playfully at her ear.
"This was more what I had in mind for our first time," he whispered to her as he slid out slightly and drove himself back in.
Aramis smiled through closed eyes and asked,
"Do you regret what happened in the room at Gomorrah's?"
"Fuck no," he replied as he balled her hair up in his fist and kissed her deeply. "I just wished I could have tasted you," he added and before she could react, he lay down, pulling her forward slightly and positioned his face between her legs so now she was straddling his head. There was no time to protest when his tongue rose to meet her opening with such tender flicks.
"Oooooo ….." Aramis moaned as she dug her fingers into the bedding.
The muscles of her thighs quivered with each pass of his tongue on her clit. She could hear him sucking as he plunged his tongue inside her.
"That feels incredible," she groaned.
Her breaths became erratic, her mouth fell open as she sucked in air. The things he did with his tongue were driving her crazy. She couldn't help but buck her hips sightly and lower herself down more onto his face so he could have more access to her, and he didn't protest. He licked and sucked at her pussy like it was a dining experience.
It was building, her climax, she could feel it.
"You're going to make me come," she warned.
"Isn't that the intent?" he mocked.
"It's too soon," he said.
"No, it's just the first one," he warned as he drove his tongue inside her and dug his fingers into her legs to pull her pussy down against his face.
"Fuck!" she cried out.
He held her there, refusing to let her go.
"I'm going!" she cried. He didn't stop, it just made him work harder. "I'm going! ….. Oooooooo fuuuuuuuuuuuck!" she screamed as her body was rocked into an almost violent orgasm. She bucked her hips and tried to pull away as the sensation became almost unbearable but still, he held her, unrelentless and still eating away at her quivering pussy.
"Fuck fuck fuck!" she cried. "Please! Stop! It's way too!" she begged but nothing she said made him stop and soon she felt the agonizing sensation subdue itself and the familiar creeping response of another orgasm on the horizon.
"That's it, stay with me," he said as he lowered his face. He wiped off her cum from his face as he rolled her off and onto her own back.
He stood off the bed and moved between her legs. Still standing he pulled her into him and placed his dick at the entrance of her dripping wet cunt. He hoisted both her legs over his shoulder and leaned down on his arms on either side of her body.
When he entered her, she cried out so loud she was certain everyone in the vault could hear but she didn't care. His thrusts became rhythmic as he slammed deep inside her.
"Fuck, yes, yes, yes," she moaned.
"Feels good?" he asked.
"Oh yes!" she wailed.
"That a girl," he said coolly, releasing one leg from his shoulder but keeping the other in place as he leaned down into her. A hand reached out and grasped her neck, squeezing gently. Aramis's own hands grabbed the arm at the wrist and clasped it firmly.
His thrust got faster as he brought his mouth down on hers and kissed her. His free hand squeezed her breast, pinching her pink nipple and twisting it slightly. He withdrew his mouth from hers and brought it to her nipple and bit down, hard enough that she was surprised but not so hard that he broke skin all while maintaining his deep thrusts.
Aramis switched from digging her fingers into him, back to the bed, then back to him.
"I'm getting close!" she called out.
"Another so soon?" he teased. He raised himself up slightly, still with her leg on his shoulder. He positioned his hands on her upper leg while he pushed and pushed.
"So close!" she cried. "So … close! Don't stop! I ... fuck I'm coming!" she screamed as her body jerked. She gripped the sheets so hard she was certain she'd tear them up. "Uuuuugh! Yes! Mmmmmmmm," she groaned. Her body convulsed and shuddered as another orgasm ripped through her.
"Give me one more," he said.
Her eyes went wide. Her flesh was begging for a break. She was more than happy to satisfy his needs but his touch back on her clit was too much. She tried to push his hand away, but he refused to relinquish his hold. He drove two fingers insider her and she let out a scream. With forceful, almost violent pushes with his fingers, he was able to bring her back from extreme sensitivity to craving more.
"Ugh yes don't stop!" she begged.
"This time we both get off," he said breathlessly.
He flipped her over onto her stomach and climbed on top of her.
"Put me inside you," he ordered.
She reached behind and felt his swollen prick. She brought it back to her entrance and braced when he thrust in forcefully and deep.
"Fuck this feels amazing!" he groaned. He hoisted her up slightly, so her hips rose off the bed. He dug his fingers into her pelvis and brought her back and forth to meet each powerful thrust. "Does it feel good?" he asked.
"Yes!" she cried.
"How good?"
"So fucking good!"
"You want more?"
"Yes!"
"What do you want!"
"More!"
"More what?"
"All of it!" she begged.
"Almost there!" he cried.
"Get me with you!" she ordered as took hold of his hand and brought it to her clit.
"Mmmm yes!" he moaned as he rubbed and squeezed her clit while delivering thrust after thrust in his soaking cunt.
The heat that suddenly shot into her was electrifying. He slammed himself inside her as his climax reached its peak. She felt everything, each throb, each spurt. It drove her over the edge, and she let out a scream as the third orgasm ripped into her. She drove her hips back into him, wanting to feel every last drop he could give her.
He collapsed down on top of her and kissed the back of her neck gently.
"I've been fantasizing about this for years," he said.
Aramis looked over her shoulder and smiled at him before kissing the corner of his mouth.
They were both wet with sweat but that didn't stop him from reaching for the corners of the bedsheets and pulling them over their bodies. To her surprise, he held her tightly against his body, her back flat against his chest. She could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck.
They didn't speak and she was fine with that. The minutes ticked away before she felt him stir to check his watch.
"I was due to report back to the Embassy two hours ago," he grumbled as he sat up. He didn't get out of the bed right away, rather he turned and looked at her, drinking in her naked body. "You probably need to head back to The Fort," he added.
The remark surprised Aramis. She expected him to ask if she'd stay and leave the Legion, but he hadn't, in fact, quite the opposite.
"I seem to have more independence than you … but yes, I should get back," she said nonchalantly.
Dex got out of the bed and dressed.
"I'm not sure we'll have another encounter like this," he said rather apathetic.
Aramis raised a brow. Was he fishing for her to offer some reassurance or was his indifference legitimate? She honestly couldn't tell.
"I still expect your reports," Dex added in a firm tone.
Aramis frowned.
"Uh huh," she mumbled as she too got dressed in the terrible Vault 21 jumpsuit.
"Hey, wait," he called out as she moved for the door. Aramis turned.
"That was … fun," he commented.
Aramis wished in that instant he'd just shut up and let her leave.
She gave a half-smirk over the mere fact that he allowed his vulnerability to break through in that very moment. Refusing to give him the win she merely shrugged.
"Sure," she muttered as the door opened with a /WOOSH/ and she departed.
Thanks for reading! I would love your reviews!
