"Would you like to accompany me on a trip to Freeside?"
Gannon had approached Boone that morning as the sniper glared down at his morning breakfast of Brahmin steak and cram. The doctor had been hoping to give the man an opportunity to stop sulking.
Ever since Diana had left, his already gloomy demeanor had become a downright mass of seething self hate.
With nothing to do and being bored in the Lucky 38, Arcade had opted to observe his companions as they coped with this limbo they were forced to be in as the courier left them for some unknown adventure. He learned best in the background and had become accustomed to everyone's quirks by then.
Cass, as usual, drank and had set up her own personal nest at the rotating lounge level. She had bragged that she had cleaned the bar of any whiskey and was switching to tequila until they restocked. A new man would appear before being hoisted into the master bedroom with Cass slamming the door. Every new guest resulted with the same routine. He heard cackling in the room followed by heavy thumps and breaking glass.
Veronica had been out shopping, the ever growing pile of elegant dresses and prewar fashions growing on her bed.
Boone, beyond cleaning his gun, had done nothing else but sit in the corner and stare at the wall.
Arcade half hoped he had been admiring one of the many paintings upon the living room walls.
One morning, Arcade went to Boone's favorite chair and turned to the wall it faced.
There was nothing but a crack in the off-yellow plaster.
That was when Arcade decided he needed to intervene.
"I need someone to watch my back while I check in with the Followers."
Boone's jaw twitched. "Maybe."
Arcade let out a sigh when a lightbulb of inspiration lit up in his mind. "Well, Diana asked me to keep matters in Freeside stable while she's out. It would be helping her a great deal. As well as all the locals who need humanitarian aid." He almost grumbled the last part, resentful that the NCR sniper was clearly more responsive to the needs of one over the needs of many.
"Fine. You just need protection?"
"Yes. And your company, of course," Gannon added dryly.
Boone barely spoke beyond the bare essentials throughout their walk. It was almost funny, considering how many opportunistic muggers had tried their luck against the two and quickly had their heads explode like rotting mutfruit in the sun, since Boone remained silent as soon as he made short work of them.
Arcade made note to stay on the man's goodside. Which, from what he gathered, would not be hard.
Boone seemed troubled but not morally questionable. He was a victim of war, forced to carry invisible scars that would likely never heal completely.
It was clear he was in pain.
There were times Boone would turn his face and grit his teeth, particularly when a happy couple crossed their paths.
There was a notable trend of NCR soldiers and their pretty brides, walking arm and arm with big grins as they made their way to the King's for a colorful wedding.
Arcade felt guilty for dragging the man out, until some half-starved children sprinted by them while chasing a large rodent. "We're having rat tonight!" One of the kids let out a wallop as he waved a kitchen knife around with impressive familiarity.
Boone took out his rifle and shot the creature right through its eye.
Watching the children ravenously devour the rat, pulling at its fur and shoving bloody meat in their mouths, Arcade felt a wave of nausea hit him.
Boone's mouth was agape, in shock at the sight as well. "That just happened." And he let out a low chuckle, just barely a deep rattle heard.
Arcade smiled back, joining in.
Never a dull moment in Freeside.