Author's Note: You guys, thanks so much for the reviews. Seriously. It really helps to know that you're lovin' the story. Feedback = motivation, I suppose. Also, I went back through some of the chapters and realized I didn't have any of those time breakers that I've seen others use in their stories so I went and fixed that. Hopefully, the time line won't "blend in" so much.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fallout characters, nor the source material. The only character who came from my own imagination is the name and personality of the Courier, (and I don't own the "Courier" name, either). Oh, and I will probably make some references to Elvis Presley and his songs (and I don't own those either).

Chapter 7: Don't Be Cruel

The King hadn't expected her back so soon. Yet here she was, sitting with him in the theater and rubbing Rex on the neck. She was silent and just stared at Rex for a few minutes. The King's lips curved downwards into a sympathetic frown. Had she come here to talk, or had she come just to be in his company? Neither one was a burden but this uncertainty was foreign to the King of Kings. He would give Raven the time she needed. She had gone through a lot the day before and he didn't want to rush it. As if sensing his confusion, the courier shifted her eyes to his face and leaned back in her chair.

"I came to give my report on Orris, Mr. King. Would now be a good time?" she asked.

Back to business, it seemed. "Of course, Miss Raven. What do you have for me?"

"Orris is a fraud. He fakes attacks on his clients and then plays hero," she replied.

He leaned back in his chair, pretending to be surprised. The King already learned this by making Orris talk the previous night...before the tortured bodyguard bled to death, of course. Still, no reason for her to know that and this was an opportunity to get to knew her better.

"So that's how it happens... Okay, then. But due to...recent actions on his part, I didn't think it wise for him to be a bodyguard for hire on my streets. I took care of the issue, but I appreciate you bringing me your findings."

Raven nodded, not really wanting to know how he took care of it. "Not a problem, sir." She gave him a little salute and it made him smile.

The King would probably never figure out why he found her to be so damn adorable. "Before we continue our business, I'm curious..." he stopped his words and scooted his chair closer to her, decreasing the distance between them. Raven leaned in closer, thinking he wanted to keep some delicate information 'hush hush'.

"Ok," she whispered. "What's on your mind?"

It took her by surprised when he rested a hand on her arm, as if to provide comfort. "How are you feeling, Miss Wagner? What happened yesterday couldn't have been easy for you."

For a moment, the King thought he saw her eyes lose the harshness he was so accustomed to seeing in her. For a moment that he wanted to stretch out for eternity, the King saw a piece of her shell break off and expose a tiny bit of her tender form. Then it went away as fast as it had appeared.

"I'm fine. In fact, I wanted to thank you again for what you did. Boone gives his thanks as well," she said.

"It was the least I could do for putting you and Boone in danger like that. Besides, medical bills can be costly these days."

Raven blinked. She was grateful to the King for picking up the tab, but that wasn't what she was referring to - not exactly. "Very true, and I thank you for that...but I was talking about you stopping Orris before he...if you hadn't been there when he..." she took a deep breath and slipped her hands into her lap. "Pull yourself together, woman! Just calm down and thank the man for saving your ass!"

She was thankful, but at the same time...Raven wished he hadn't shown up at all. Then again, where would that leave Boone? In the gutter. No, she had a responsibility. Several responsibilities, in fact. What kind of person would Raven be if she died before all the promises she made were complete? Raven had to stop thinking this way, at least until she put a bullet in Benny's head. That promise...the courier was saving for last.

The King lifted the palm that rested on her arm to place it on the top of her hands. Perhaps he shouldn't have brought it up, but for the sake of curiosity, "Miss Wagner, I haven't been up front with you about something. I would like to clear the air."

"Oh?" she asked. Raven's green eyes pierced into his face.

"I...showed up about a minute before intervening," the King swallowed hard.

Raven quirked a brow, obviously confused. "So you just watched me for a minute before doing anything? Why?"

"I figured you had it covered when you took a bite out of him," he replied. That was not the only reason why the King stopped himself from interrupting the attack, but it was the main one. He took her for being too proud a woman to accept his help without question. It wasn't until she touched his shoulder that day in appreciation when he realized that pride did not hinder her at all. Clearly, she knew how to show gratitude when she thought it was due. "Then you left him there to help Boone, leaving yourself wide open for him to attack again. Almost like you had a death wish or something..." he continued, expecting the young woman to be cross.

Much to his surprise, though, she did something the King never expected her to do. Raven burst out laughing. The King wasn't sure what the joke was, but seeing her laugh like that brought a smile to his face. The King found himself with ambition to find more reasons to make her light up in the way she was doing now. Rex started barking at her as if to join her laughter.

Raven covered her mouth in a futile attempt to muffle her cheery cackling. If only he knew the morbid reasoning behind that laugh, the courier knew the King wouldn't be smiling about it. She didn't feel inclined to spoil the mood, however. Especially with the way he was beaming at her. There was a tenderness in the man's eyes that she found alluring. The epiphany of it rattled Raven to the core, but not in a way she expected it to. Certainly not in a bad way, but she still she opposed of it. Her laughing ceased and she sucked in a heavy breath, reaching her hand to Rex. She began scratching behind his ears again and he settled his head into her lap contently.

"Gee whiz, I'm sorry about that. It's just, well, I get that 'death wish' thing a lot. Boone and I even have a bet going on just for that reason." Ok, that last bit was a flat out lie but Raven didn't want the King to question it.

"No need for apologies, Miss Wagner. As a matter of fact, your laughter is quite welcome around here," said the King as he leaned back in his chair, looking quite pleased with himself.

"Oooooh, now he's being smug," Raven thought to herself. "Two can play at that game." Her eyes narrowed at him with a glint of confidence. "Is that so?" she said with a devilish grin, her arms intertwining with one another. "Then perhaps you can tell me precisely what compelled you to have my picture taken yesterday?"

The look on her face, the way her body shifted, the undiluted boldness that suddenly presented itself hit him hard. Surely, he was going to need a very cold shower after this meeting. The King was sure his face looked like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar when Raven mentioned the picture. "Ah, that," he smirked. "Well, I have my men take photos of everyone who enters Freeside in order to keep tabs on them. A lot of people here tend to blend in together and it gets hard to tell who's whom in this town. I like to keep all my bases covered."

Raven's grin twitched. She was going to buy Boone something nice for bringing the subject to her attention. "So why wait three days to take mine?"

"I was waiting until the right opportunity presented itself. However, catching you in a dress was unexpected," he answered calmly. "But well worth the extra picture," he continued in his mind.

It was at that moment when Raven no longer felt uncomfortable about the King's gang watching her every move. She would be stupid if she didn't think this man was the devil in disguise, but Raven had no quarrels with it. It surprised her, though, and the fact that he was keeping an eye on her was comforting even if it was just part of his protocol. There was no going around that. Why the King chose to bide his time until she was quite out of place with herself, however, was beyond her. In all seriousness, Raven wasn't sure she wanted to tread down that path by questioning it. Not yet, anyway. With a gesture of her head, Raven shifted back into her professional mannerisms.

"So, what's next on the agenda, Mr. King?"

The King returned to his cool, collected exterior as he explained to Raven the next 'favor'. He specifically chose one that wouldn't require her to play at innocence with rapists, or to have her wear a dress. This time, he wanted her to check up on some friends of his at the Old Mormon Fort. Quick, easy, and no bullets required. When he finished, Raven stood up and gave him a salute, telling him she would get right on it. The King seemed pleased with her enthusiasm and told her to come back when she was done. As she turned to leave, Raven looked down at Rex with a frown.

"He doesn't seem very happy," she observed. The courier doubted it was just a tummy ache that made Rex so miserable.

The King mirrored her expression. "He's been acting peculiar for some time now. I took him to the Followers and had him checked out, and they said his brain is bad or something."

As she studied Rex's brain, she did notice it looked a little worse for wear. "Can they do anything?" she hoped.

"No," the King sighed with regret. "They said they don't have the tools to help him."

Raven's eyes saddened as she looked at the King. "Is he going to be okay?" she hoped.

The King's head lowered heavily. "For now, but they said eventually he's going to get worse. I..." he ran a hand through his jet black hair, "...don't know what to do.

Raven's heart went out to him and Rex. "Can I help somehow?" she asked.

The King was floored at her generosity. "I don't know. Maybe. If you found a way to help my poor Rex here," he paused, his gray eyes pleading with her, "I'd be much obliged." He stood from his chair. "Your best bet would be to talk to Julie Farkas over at the Old Mormon Fort. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did."

Since she was going there anyway, two birds with one stone seemed the best phrase that fit. With a serious gaze, she rested her palm on the King's shoulder. "I will find a way, Mr. King. You have my word." Before he could react, she removed her hand and crouched down to Rex. He licked her face and she chuckled. "Don't worry, boy. You'll be better in no time."

As Raven walked away, the King felt a lump in his throat. "Please," he thought. "Don't let my hope be in vain...Raven."