Chapter Four

"It's a shame these people have to live in fear, sheltering in this old stadium when all those perfectly good buildings are still standing outside." Danse said as we walked into Diamond City.

"Do you want to start up a brotherhood task force to clear out the city of all those nasty badies and then keep it clear?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

He shot me a look, " The Brotherhood cant possibly spare the men, not when were fighting the Institute." He argued back, "I only meant-"

I put a hand out to stop him, "I know what you meant, I was only teasing. No need to get your Knickers in a twist." Once the Minutemen grew some more and we had heavier artillery, I planned on taking back parts of Boston. Maybe some day…

Danse sniffed, "You certainly like your prewar lingo."

"Call it a force of habit." I sighed out.

I caught him smiling, but then it was smothered by a frown, "Cutler used to love prewar sayings. He would try to slip it into conversations with people. He was obsessed with anything prewar related, especially books." He said his gaze transfixed ahead, unfocused. "He would try to get his hands on any prewar book he could find. In just our bunker we had a small library, all kept in a 'organized mess,' as he would phrase it. I remember being so frustrated with him when he would separate from the group on missions just to go loot a place he saw for books."

Danse had kept most of Cutler's collection at the Prydwen while adding a few of his own he found on missions. The others he had donated to the younger scribes, to read in their down time. "I couldn't part with a few of the series he gathered. He had been so proud when he found the whole set. The Lord of the Rings books had been his favorite." He said softly his gaze still locked firmly ahead. "He would let me read some of them, and well I didn't want to get rid of them..its just-"

"Danse," I said gently, snapping him from whatever memory he had been caught in. "I understand. Nate, he was a collector. But not a collector of books, more like junk I remember when I had went to clean out our closet a box full of his 'collection' had fallen on my head. Oh I was so angry with him I didn't speak to him for a whole week. Pretty ironic if you think about it…"

"How so?"

I tossed him a lopsided grin, "Cause it was a box full of bottle caps."

Danse narrowed his eyes, "Why would he collect those?" He said, "From your stories I didn't gather that he was greedy…"

I instantly paled, shit… "oh…uh…Nate really like the pictures on the back of the caps…so he kept the ones that still had them and would use the ones that didn't…" A very half assed lie if I ever heard one.

"I didn't know they used caps in the vaults."

I don't think they did either…uhh. "Well…we had them, they just weren't used as currency down there." What did vault dwellers use? Trade items? "But anyway… I had ignored him for a whole week when they fell and landed on me, looking back I was being pretty petty about it…" Hopefully he'd buy it.

After what seemed like a long silence Danse said, "No not at all." He glanced down at his feet then looked back up to me, he opened his mouth to continue when-

"Hey, Blue!"

We both snapped our heads to see a women in a press cap who was jogging up the steps. Once she reached us, she threw her arms around me. The action-and force- startled me so much that we almost tumbled down the stairs. "Piper, hey!" I returned as we both stops tumbling. "Long time no see."

Piper let out a snort and released me, "Not since you and, Nicky ditched me to go play detective." She said crossing her arms. "I'm hurt that you didn't even say goodbye before you left."

I let out a chuckle, "Well next time I have to leave in a hurry to go track down a madman I'll make sure to say goodbye to you."

"You better!" She laughed, playfully hitting my arm. "Now onto more important matters.

"Oh and what's that?"

She leaned in close, "Whose the walking tin can?"

Oh…."Uh, Piper this is Dan-I mean, Paladin Danse of the Brotherhood of Steel." I quickly changed when I saw his glare, "Paladin Danse, this is Piper, she owns the newspaper here in town."

Piper gave him a slow one over, eyes trailing from his BOS covered hood, down to his power armor covered feet, her lips pressed into a firm line, while Danse narrowed his eyes. Finally Piper spoke up, "Brotherhood huh," She said placing her hands on her hips, "We don't see too many of your types here."

"We hadn't the resources to come this far before," he said, "but now that Command is here I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of our operatives."

"Great." She said rolling her eyes, "Just what we need. Big goofs in tin cans telling us what to do and looting places of technology. As if only worrying about that Institute was bad enough-"

"Piper!" I said cutting in. I think iI finally understood that saying 'the tension was so thick a knife could cut through it.' How about you meet me at the noodle stand in an hour, we can catch up then."

She turned and narrowed her eyes at me then shrugged and walked down the steps. "Sure thing, Blue," She said with a wave, "Just don't bring the tin can."

"Tin can?" Danse bit back, he turned his head towards me with with a glare, " Your friend is rather… impertinent."

"She wouldn't be, Piper if she wasn't." I said with a grin. "Come on Big guy, let's go to my place, we can crash there for the night."

"You have a house here?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I uh kinda of bought it on impulse." When I had gone to visit the mayor about the keys to Kellogg's house, the secretary had told me about Home Plate. At the time I had thought I would have Shaun back (by now) so I bought the place so he would have a proper house to live in. One that wasn't littered with holes in the ceilings, or was attacked constantly. Sanctuary was perfect for me, but not for a young boy. "I haven't even unlocked the place yet."

"How do you buy a house on impulse?"

I shook my head and started walking down the steps, "That my friend is a story for another time. " I said.

He snorted but didn't press the matter further. He probably thought I had been drunk when I bought it.

Joke's on him though, I don't need to be drunk to do stupid things.

Wait…

The place wasn't much to look at, and it was filled with useless junk. And if I said it was junk than well…its junk. Thankfully there was a bed and a couch, so we wouldn't have to sleep on the ground. I'd just have to do some cleaning first, mostly dusting before we sat anywhere.

But this place had potential.

Danse made a grunt of disapproval, as he walked in beside me. "I hope you didn't pay too much for this place."

"Not too much, " I lied, two thousand caps were a lot and it had taken me some time to get that much. But like I said it has potential. "I'm sure I could spruce the place up. When I go out and meet Piper, I'll see if I can find anything in the market."

"Speaking of which, " He said as he turned his focus back on me, "I thought we were here to see your friend, Nick, why are you going to see her?"

"We are, "I said slowly, "I just thought we should stock up before we do," To give me some time to think over my stratagy for when we do. "And Piper wont leave us alone till I tell her what's going on, sooo…."

"I get it." He said dryly, "Just don't bring her back here."

I smirked, "I wont." I said, "But I have some time before I go meet up with her. I think I'll straighten up a bit so we have some place to sleep tonight. Why don't you dock your armor out fron-" I stopped when I saw his glowering expression, "What?"

"You want me to leave my armor out there where anyone could just take it?" He asked incredulous.

"Well yeah, I mean your almost hitting your head on the ceiling, not to mention it'll get dusty when I start cleaning." I said rolling my eyes, "And you can't sleep in the thing."

He fixed one of his trademark scowls on me, "I'll leave it in here."

"Suit yourself." I Shrugged, "If dust and other nasty things gets into the small places, don't complain to me."

An hour later the two of us found ourselves in a compatible silence. I had most of the dusting done, so we could now sit on the couch and the bed without sending a mushroom cloud of dust into the air. While I was distracted with that, Danse had busied himself with his armor, tweaking it where it needed it and tuning up the gears. I suspected he was just doing it to keep the dust out. Stubborn oaf.

I glanced down at my Pip-boy and decided it was time to meet Piper before she thought to come find me. "Danse." I called over to the other room, "I'll come grab you once I'm done, then we'll head over to Nicks!"

"Affirmative." He answered back distractibly. Probably still nose deep in his Armor.

I had no doubts that he'd still be working on it by the time I'd come back. He was so attached to that thing. Whenever he wasn't in it, he was working on it. Maybe it was like a security blanket to him? He never leaves it, and when he has to, he fights tooth and nail to not to. Guess there was a question to add to the ever growing list of what to never ask Danse.

I found Piper at Power Noodles, sitting at the bench with a empty bowl in front of her. "Thank's again for meeting me here Takahashi." Piper said as she leaned forward.

"Nani Shimasu-Ka?"

I shook my head despite the grin that crept up to my face. Didn't she know that robot only spoke one phrase. "No, " She gasped, "But we've been traveling together for ages!"

Again the robot only responded with his iconic catch phrase, I covered my mouth to stifle a chuckle. God, I missed Piper.

Finally Piper turned towards me, a frown on her face, and her arms crossed. "Alright, the jig is up, Takahashi told me everything. I bet your name isn't even Blue."

I let out the laugh I had been holding and raised my hands up, "You caught me, it's actually Red."

"Very funny, " She scowled as I took a seat next to her. "Missed you there Blue."

"Same here, " I grinned. "The waste just isn't the same without someone poking their nose into other's business, then running away from their bullets."

"Hey! I don't do that!" She glared, "At least not all the time."

"I didn't say you do," I said, "I'm just saying it's not as interesting when there's no one to get me into trouble."

"You can do that just fine on your own."

"But where's the fun in that?"

We botched grinned in silent agreement, "Soooo…" Piper grinned, "What's up with the lug in Power armor?"

"He's a friend, who wanted to accompany me back here." I said cautiously. I knew Piper would disapprove of my affiliations with the Brotherhood. She'd voice her disapproval loudly too.

"A friend huh?" She said with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "That must be the guy Nicky told me about."

I did not like that look in her eye, "And what did Nick say?"

Her grin widened, " That you think he's good looking." She said, "He is easy on the eyes if your into that whole Macho military brute look."

Gossipy old Synth… "Can we move on from his looks." I said, my face felt on if it were on fire. I did I not want to have this discussion, but knowing Piper she wouldn't drop a topic if she thought it was jusicy.

"Oh your blushing!" She teased, "You do like him! Oh what is it, his looks, his macho personality his thick velvety voice or his dominating attitude!" She said with an arched brow.

"Piper!" I glared, "I don't want to talk about it….and dominating attitude? What you think I'm into that whole dominating/submissive stuff?"

"With his kind of personality…."

"No." I cut in flatly. I did not need that kind of imagery in my head. "And he's not like that, He's actually a really great guy. He cares, unlike a lot of the Brotherhood soldiers. He's dedicated and extremely loyal. He's also one of the best Paladin's the Brotherhood has" Events at the Polymer lab drifted to mind. I knew he was trying to drop his rank around me. It must be hard thought….he's been Paladin Danse for so long that he might have forgotten how to be just Danse. "When it's just the two of us, he's a lot more comfortable, he doesn't act his rank, he's just Danse, or at least he's trying not to act his rank when it's just us…"

"You really do like him," Piper said with a nod, "Well I'm glad you were able to find someone after what happen-"

"Don't." I cut in, " I already feel guilty about having feelings for someone, I don't need them voiced."

"But Blue, its okay to move on."

I felt my anger boil, "Nate hasn't even been dead a whole year yet!" I shot back.

Piper moved and placed an arm around my shoulder, " I don't think Nate would want you to be alone forever." She said gently, "Wouldn't he want you to be happy?"

"How would you know!" I barked, "You didn't even know him!"

She didn't back away, she only gave me a squeeze, "Wouldn't you want him to do the same?"

"I…" I didn't know, the obvious answer was yes I would want him to move on and be happy. But my thoughts had drifted back towards my own past. My mother had died early in my life, and my father never moved on after that. He never voiced it, or showed it but I could tell he had been lonely. I wouldn't want that for Nate, and I knew he wouldn't want that for me. But yet it was hard to not feel that trickle of guilt on my shoulders. It hasn't been that long since he was murdered, and I was falling for another guy no matter how hard I fought against that pull. "Yes. But it still hasn't even been a whole year yet and already I'm falling for another man." I sighed and looked away, "And what about Shaun. My baby's missing and here I am gushing over a man like a school girl?"

Piper's arm fell from my shoulders, but was immediately replaced when she grabbed both my shoulders, and turned me to face her. She gave them both a firm squeeze before she said, "Blue, you are doing everything possible to find your son. "He voice was as stern on her facial expression. "I think it's fine if you have a thing for a guy. It doesn't mean you've stopped searching for your son. And I know you havent."

"Thanks Piper, "

She winked and released my shoulders, "And wouldn't Nate want someone Shaun could look up to. A father figure of sorts." She said, "And from what you gushed about Danse, he seems to be a decent role model?"

My father had been concerned about me not having a women in my life to look up to and ask things about. But it turned out alright in the end, even if I was a bit too boyish for most me. Nate never really cared…but still…"Maybe…"

"But seriously Blue, I'm here if you need it. I always got a good strong shoulder for you…though its not as strong and beefy as a certain tin can…but hey I bet I give better advice than he could." She smiled, "Now whats's up with him following you? And how'd you two meet anyway. It's not like Brotherhood members fall out of the sky, at least they didn't up until a few days ago…"

I gave Piper a brief recount of how I ran into Danse. By the time I finished, Piper's face gad twisted into an unpleasant scowl. "You joined the Brotherhood?" She asked steely, "Seriously blue, don't you know they're a bunch of uptight bigots?"

"I do, I just thought I'd give them a chance."

"And I bet that chance involves Paladin Bush brows." She gleamed, " I bet you enlisted the moment he opened his mouth. I bet that's how they get all their female recruits."

"Piper…." I hissed feeling a tug of embarrassment. "I thought I said to knock it off."

"I'm just teasing." She laughed, "But all joking aside, why are you two here? Nicky said you went to check in with him, so why'd you come back here?"

"Nick wanted me to come back here and talk with you about the case. Get a fresh pair of eyes." I said. "Danse, well he didn't want me traveling alone, and he uh….wanted to thank Nick."

That caused Piper to burst into laughter. I had to pull her back to keep her from laughing herself off the chair. "Good one Blue," She said wiping a tear form her eyes. "A Brotherhood Paladin thanking a synth. That's rich!"

"I'm serious." I said firmly. "I haven't exactly told Danse what Nick is. I didn't want him to come, but the man is as stubborn as a rock. He wouldn't take no for an answer."

Piper leaned forward, her eyebrows knitted with concern. "You cant have them meet." She pressed, "He'll take one look at Nick and shoot him."

"Which is why I need you there."

Her eyes grew wide as she leaned back in her seat, "Me?" She asked incredulous, "You want me to defend Nick from a Paladin, are you nuts?"

I resisted the urge to groan, instead I leaned towards her, "No, I just need you there for support if shit hits the fan. If it does all I want you to do is get Nick out of there."

"Shit hits the fan?"

I shook my head, "Pre war saying." I grumbled, I really needed to stop saying pre war lingo. It just confused people. "It means, when something bad happens."

"Right….but I don't like this Blue." She said skeptically. "And I don't think the tin can will allow you to work with Nick anymore, especially if he guns him down."

"He wont." I said, "At least I wont let him."

"Isn't he your commanding officer or something? Couldn't he order you to step down?"

I snorted, "Right now were just comrades. He cant command me to do anything."

"No, but could report your connections to someone," she said judiciously," or have you locked up and brainwashed.."

"No, he wouldn't do that." I said. I trusted Danse, but he was loyal to the Brotherhood first, everything else came second. 'Brotherhood through and through.' Would he tell Maxon. I wanted to say no but could I really believe that? "At least I hope he wont."

Piper was silent for a moment, regarding me with thoughtful eyes. She then sighed , " I just hope you know what your doing." She said with a shake of her head. "But I'm with you."

I smiled, "Thanks Piper. But there's two other things you ought to know before we go in." She regarded me with suspicion but remained silent. "He doesn't know that I'm the general of the minutemen nor that I was born 200 years ago."

"So you've neglected to tell him your age, big deal." She said "And a little confessing never hurt anyone."

"Confession is good for the soul, but bad for your career…" I muttered.

She rolled her eyes, "you plan on telling him soon?"

"I am…I just have to find the right words, and the right time to drop this bombshell on him."

"So basically one big bombshell after another…you seem to be full of them." She said cheekily. I only shot her a glare.

"He might not even believe me..." Before this whole thing, I wouldn't have believe a thing if someone told me I would thrusted 200 years into the future. I'd have laughed in their face.

"Crazier stuff have happened in this fallout hell." She said with a smile, "I think he probably will though, its not like you exactly blend in."

"Yeah, I stick out like a sore thumb..."

She tilted her head to the side, "I'm guessing that's another of your prewar lingo…"

"You'd be right…"

"You know for someone who doesn't like to vocalize she's prewar, you sure make it kind of obvious…" Piper said with a toss of her head.

"Gee thanks…" I grumbled, "I better get back to Danse. I'll see you back at Nicks Place."

Piper hopped off her stood, "Maybe you oughta butter him up first, to soften the blow." She said.

"Good idea." Arturo might have something I could buy in that department. I knew he only had the one laser pistol but he might have laser rifle mods for sale.

"Alright, I'll meet you there." She turned to leave but stopped, "Maybe you should tell him to leave his guns at hime."

I shrugged, "He'd get suspicious. And he's already a naturally suspicious person to begin with."

"Point taken….well, I'm sure you'll think if something." She said as she walked away.

I wish I knew what to think of…

Arturo had a few really good laser rifle mods in stock. For which I was grateful for. A mod to improve sights and one to improve aiming. Hopefully these would help smooth things over

I paused before entering home base. I was a jumble of nerves and Danse would be able to see that immediately. I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants and took a few deep breaths in. I trusted Danse, I trusted him with my life. But could I trust him with Nicks? The short answer was no…

I also hadn't put much thought into what this could do to our friendship. This could shatter that bond we had been building. He might not even trust me after this.

But it was too late to go back now…

Placing a hand over my beating heart, I pushed open the door to my home. Danse was still tinkering with his suit, his tools scattered neatly around him. I couldn't suppress a smile that grew on my face. He could spend hours working on just one piece of his armor. I could hear him muttering to himself as he tightened a bolt. He was so engrossed with his work that he hadnt noticed me entering, nor when I walked up behind him. I smiled as he leaned towards the armor to make sure the bolt was in there as tight as possible. 'Your armor or is your first line of defense, take care of it!' He once told me.

He leaned back on his heels, a satisfied grin on his lips as he picked up a rag and wiped the oil off his hands. "Finished?" I asked.

He leapt to his feet, his eyes wide, causing me to burst into a fit of giggles. "Solider!" He glared, his tone sharp. "You should never sneak up on someone when they're working on they're armor!" His face was flushed which only caused more giggles to escape my lips.

He glared, his expression darkening. "I'm sorry, I-I'm sorry." I tried to say, but was too breathless. He was still glaring with his arms folded over his chest. "It's just you never get snuck up on, and your face was just priceless. I'm sorry."

His expression soften as he looked away. His face was returning to normal color, but his cheeks still had a hint of pink staining them, "Don't do that again." He scolded.

"Affirmative sir." I smiled, "I got you something by the way."

He turned back to me, his face lit up with curiosity, "You did?"

My smile grew, god he was just too cute sometimes. He'd probably hate it if I told him that. What guy-especially a macho man like Danse-liked to be called cute? "You bet." I said as I drew out the mods. "Here I saw them and thought you might be able to use them. That and I saw crazy Myrna had her eyes on them."

His eyes briskly scanned the two plans, shifting back and fourth, all while his grin grew. Devouring what information he would, he finally looked back at me, "Where did you get these?"

"There's a man who runs a weapon stand here, his names Arturo; really great guy. He and I exchange weapon mods once in a while." Arturo was the one who had helped me improve my sniper the last time I was in town. "He told me he got some new laser mods in and I thought you might be able to get some use out of them."

He stared at me for a moment in contemplation, "I uh, thank you." He then looked back down at them in his hands, "But why though, I mean not that I'm ungrateful, just…"

"Do I need a reason?" I said while I raised an eyebrow, "I just wanted to do something nice for you."

Danse looked back up at me, his eyebrows quirked with bewilderment. He blinked a few times before a smile broke out. "Thank you." He said with a bit more confidence.

I felt my throat thicken suddenly, and tried to clear it. I adverted my gaze from him, this wasn't right, I thought. Getting him a gift and playing it up like its just me being nice. All these lies would catch up to me soon. One of them were already on my heels. I had to tell him.

But when I looked back over at him I felt my resolve to do so dwindle. Concern glazed over his features, he reached a hand out but promptly stopped it, letting it drop back down to his side. "Are you alright, Emery?"

His concern only added to the guilt that twisted my insides. "Yeah." I said slowly, "Just a dry throat is all. Why don't we go see, Nick now before he gets another case."

Danse seemed hesitant, he gave me a weary glance before he nodded his head, "Lead the way."

This was it, oh god I hope this wouldn't blow up in my face.

We had walked at a slow pace, Danse didn't seem to mind though. His eyes scanned over each vendor we past with curiosity gleaming in them. Hopefully if things went over alright with nick, I could take him around and show him the sights of Diamond City. That is if he didn't kill, Nick or he still wanted me around. "So, Nick is a detective. I don't think I told you that." I said over my shoulder. Talk up how great Nick is, maybe he wont automatically want to shoot him.

"I gathered that when you said he helped you track down Kellogg." He said with a nod, "Though I didn't know people still called themselves detectives."

"Surprised me too." Though I suppose even the wastelands needed someone to do some smoothing every now and then. "But real nice guy, didn't ask for anything when I needed help. He's like that though, willing to help anyone, and wanting nothing in return. There's not to many people that would do that."

Nick was a rarity, I really needed to properly thank him for all that he did

That didn't receive the reaction I had hoped. Danse frowned and looked away from me, more content with looking back out at the market place. "You think pretty highly of him huh?" He said frowning.

I squinted my eyes at him, was he jealous? No, I dismissed the thought. He wasn't-couldn't be jealous. Yet, his tense posture and pulled expression told me otherwise. I felt a strange mingle of delight and confusion swell within me.

He turned back to me, watching me speculatively, "Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Oh." I realized I had stopped walking, and we were just standing there in the middle of the walkway. "Oh uh nothing sorry." Now I really felt like an idiot, I thought as we rounded the corner. Rounding the corner in the alley, the Tacky neon lights coming into view."That's Nick's place." I pointed out.

Danse made a noise of disapproval as he folded his metal arms over his chest. "Flashy isn't it." He leered.

I snickered, "I think it adds a bit of flare to the city." It also reminded me of those old detective movies. "Danse, I need you to promise me something before we go in there."

Danse looked down his nose at me, a frown tugging at his lips, "And what is that Knight?" He asked his tone curt.

"That you wont shoot him."

"I wont-what?"

I could feel myself dancing on thin ice. Choose your words carefully Gilmore. Think before you open that big mouth of yours. "He's not the type of person you normally associate with…." I said faintly, playing with my fingers. "He may have a few screws loose, but he's nice and not a raider…." I said adverting his eyes, "you won't like him."

His eyes narrowed down to me then he looked back at the detective agency. Before I realized it, he shoved past me and opened the door. "Danse wait!" I called out trying to pull him back but brute force was no match for power armor.

Danse stood there stock still watching Nick with a look of pure shell shocked. From over Danse's metal arm, I could see Nick mirrored Danse's expression, his cigarette falling from his lips.

I gulped, and moved past him. "Uh, Nick, this is uh, Paladin Danse Danse….this is my friend Nick Valentine…"

I saw Danse visibly tense, as Nick pushed himself from his chair, a guarded expression on his robotic face. I could see him place a hand under his desk slowly. If those old detective movies were anything to go by, then there was a gun under there, and I didn't fault him for reaching for it.

Looking up I noticed that Danse's ears were burning and so was the rest of him from his neck up. Even his eyes which were already bloodshot seemed to be flaming. "A synth?!" He exclaimed, "Have you've taken leave of your sense Knight? Synth are the enemy-"

"Not Nick!" I hastily cut in, I could feel Nick and Piper gazes burn into my back.

"I don't care!" He said darkly. " He is still an enemy of the Brotherhood!"

"He's done nothing against the Brotherhood!" I shot back. "He's done nothing but help people. Including me I wouldn't even be standing here if it wasn't for him!"

A strange expression crossed his features, concern, regret? He masked his expression before I could read it better. "He is a synth." He repeated, his voice strained with anger. "The institute built him!"

"Nick hates the Institute just as much as the next guy!"

Next to me I could hear Nick cheer, "Here,here." He said dryly.

Danse gave a sharp glare towards Nick, then fixed his steely glare onto me. "He is a machine, not a person!" He snapped, "And it cant feel, a machine has no emotions."

I heard a grumble from Nick, "And I think you just hurt my nonexistent feelings with that one bucko."

I heard the click of a laser rifle whirl to life as Nick's eyes widened. My heart leapt to my throat as I turned to see Danse, who held his laser rifle up, sights pointed to Nick. "Hands where I can see them synth." He growled out.

Nicks hands flew up in the air, "Alright, alright." He muttered. He then turned his yellow gaze back to me, "You sure know how to pick 'em kid."

"Blue!" I hear Piper hiss, "Do something…"

I didn't answer her back, instead I took one step in front Danse. Placing myself between Danse's rifle and Nick's head. Danse's eyes widened, and his gun twitched, but he didn't lower his weapon. "Stand down, Solider." He ordered, eyes dark with anger.

My knees trembled involuntarily , as I balled my first together to stop them from shaking. "No, " I said firmly. I surprised myself at how strong my voice sounded. Would he gun me down just to get to Nick? I thought for one heart stopping moment. No. He wouldn't, I have to trust him. "Danse please, lower your gun."

"No," He hissed, "Now move. That's an order, Knight!"

I shook my head, "Nick is a good man! Please lower your weapon please, Danse!"

Danse stared at me, his features wrought with disbelief. He spoke with a low voice that was filled with fury, "That thing is not a man, it is a machine!"

I heard nick scoff, "And in that giddup, you look more like one than I do."

"Not helping!" I said through my teeth.

I turned back to Danse whose eyes blazed with his anger, his hands had a death grip around his rifle. "Please, "I said, "I know that all the synths you've come across have been bad. But Nick isn't one of those synths. He works to help the people of the Common wealth, just like he helped me, and without hesitation. And like I said, he hates the Institute, probably as much as you do! Maybe even more!"

A flicker of uncertainty flashed over his face as his grip loosened. Whatever I was saying was working. "I know I didn't tell you who Nick is and I'm sorry for that, but you need to trust me. Nick is a good person, please, Danse." I begged.

A loud silence drowned us as I watch Danse struggle with himself. I knew I was asking for a lot, knew that he was weighing the trust he felt for me against what he was taught, what he thought he knew was right. He remained silent, jaw clenched for the longest time, until he finally holstered his weapon on his shoulder.

With the rifle finally out of my face, I could calm the frantic beating of my heart. I didn't like seeing him point his weapon at me, I hoped I never would see it again. "Thank you." I breathed out slacking my shoulders.

He didn't respond, and I feared that whatever bond we had might have been broken after our hostile exchange. I squeezed my eyes shut, I couldn't dwell on it now.

I turned my back to Danse, half expecting to hear his metal footstep stomping to leave. I was relieved when I didn't.

Yet I shouldn't take that as a good sign. He might want to discuss this more later.

"Not the kind of meeting I was expectin'." Nick said as he lowered his arms. He fished out another cigarette and lit it. He took a long drag before he said, "You built up a pretty accurate description of you boyfriend there kid, you sure you weren't a profiler back in the day?"

I didn't need to look to see Danse's eyes on me. My cheeks burned and I cleared my throat, "Nick." I hissed.

"Right, right." He said as he took a seat, Piper and I followed suit while Danse's loomed behind me, arms folded over his chest and an icy glare plastered on his face. Nick casted a cautious eye towards Danse, then back to me, "I take it you got him caught up?"

I nodded, "He knows about Shaun."

"Ah." Nick said with a nod of his own. "Now onto business."

Piper laughed as she drew out a cigarette of her own. Nick leaned over to light it for her. After two quick puffs she said, "So you two finally gonna let me in on this little case of yours?"

-Chapter End-