Relief. He felt it soften his shoulders and give his lungs a gentle release. Maybe he should finally trust that Leah would always find her way out of whatever mess she dove headfirst into.
He doubted it.
He waited, restraining his eagerness as he watched her dizzily crawl up and over the simulation pod, her eyes unfocused. Her face was nauseous. "Why do I feel like I'm about to puke?"
"This happens." Charon took a step forward when she began to slump, catching her as she shivered. "You were in there for four hours."
She was taking deep, slow breaths, turning to look up to him. "It felt a lot faster than that. I thought it was only one."
He nodded, keeping his face blank. "These machines make you feel time differently." The fact that she felt such a short time was at least one small mercy. Once, for him, years had transpired when it had only been minutes. It brought a haunting shiver up his spine. "You should sit down."
"No. He's out. I got him out. Where is he?"
Charon turned, noticing her father's pod had been opened. The top of the man's head was poking out the other side of the glass. He, too, seemed to be suffering from return-sickness. "He's right there, Leah."
"Great." She forced herself straight and stumbled ahead. "Dad."
"Lee. You saved me."
Lee?
"We need to talk."
Charon hung back, curiosity making his feet itch to inch closer but knowing better than to start getting nosy. He kept glaring over at them, filling in the blanks from the hostile hands fisted on his employer's hips. The quick retreat to a defensive stance as she crossed her arms sharpened his focus.
He watched through the glass of her father's simulation pod, noticing the way the man seemed to look down at Leah. The bits and pieces of the conversation echoed off the steel and concrete of the vault.
"You were supposed to stay put. It was safe down there."
"Safe. Yeah, you do realize that Almodovar had Jonas killed, don't you? He and Mack attacked me."
"I - I didn't think they would have reacted so poorly."
"He beat Amata. She needed stitches after he was done with her. And I certainly wasn't allowed to play doctor while all of Vault Security were ordered to take me down-,"
"Still, it was a better living situation than here."
"You stubborn asshole!"
"Lee!"
Her voice sounded panicked and he did not care to hear her so stressed. Charon growled and grumbled under his breath, this silencing the two of them. Both pairs of eyes were upon him. It was almost endearing how similar their faces were. Definitely her father.
"What - who is that?"
"Charon. He works for me."
"I… see." The duo finally approached him, as though they hadn't just aired their dirty laundry for him to see. "Introductions are in order. I'm James, Leah's father."
"I got that." Charon didn't care to be polite until he saw Leah's reproachful gaze. He nodded in understanding. "Charon. I make sure your daughter's safe."
A lot safer than you.
"You have my sincerest thanks." The man held his hand out, looking up at the ghoul with a diplomatic poker face. He had to give the vault dweller credit. Remembering all the times Leah suffered at this man's memory, Charon took the hand and crushed it in a dominating shake.
James' eyes winced slightly but the smile widened. "Charon. You seem to be quite strong. Lee. How did you two meet?" The man's teeth were bared, as though he was trying everything he could to seem pleasant but was resisting the urge to cry out in pain.
Which, to be fair, he probably was.
Charon finally released the man's hand, realizing he may have squeezed a little too tightly.
"Underworld." She kept her arms folded, lips pursed. She didn't seem like she was going to be forthcoming with the details.
Probably for the best.
"So you've traveled far and wide."
"All across the Capital Wasteland, Dad. And I'm fine."
"Well," James straightened his sleeves, "What's done is done. No point in lingering in the past. Perhaps you can accompany me back to Rivet City? I'd love to have you."
"So that's where you'll be?"
"For now. I hope to return to Project Purity in the Jefferson Memorial. We could get started sooner, with your help."
Leah had pursed her lips, shoulders squared. "Actually, I'm going to stay in the area for a little bit."
"I won't hide my disappointment," James had a tone Charon didn't particularly find appropriate.
"You have your work to chase. And I have mine."
"Then why follow me here? Not that I'm unhappy for you rescuing me from that lunatic," James quickly added, just as Charon was about to take an imposing step toward him, "But we've only just been reunited."
Leah took a few seconds to think on this, eyes distant but mouth firm. "I wanted to see your face one more time. You just left. I want our parting to be on equal terms. I'll come back," she rushed when her father's face contorted with pain, "But I need to process all this. I'm not ready to just dive into whatever your life was… before I came along. I need to find my own way."
He nodded. "Very well. Whenever you're ready, Madison and I will be in Rivet City."
"Yeah. Say hi to Maddy for me, won't you?" The derision in her voice was sharp but seemed to have gone unnoticed.
The sound of James' lonely footsteps fading as he went up the stairs. The silence was deafening.
It was one of the most awkward goodbyes Charon had ever observed in his many years of living.
