Author's Note: I was going to start on my next chapter right after I uploaded chapter 11, but I got side tracked. First my mom wanted to watch a movie with me, then halfway into it a friend of mind was begging me to go out to karaoke with her so I did. Then I had to deal with Easter and cleaning up the house, but now I'm back to business. I know the last chapter was a bit...dumb, but I'm hoping things will pick up from now on. Oh, and the way that Raven argues with herself, especially in this chapter...she doesn't have like a multiple personality or something, but it's just her way of figuring things out.

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 12: I Got Stung

After shopping around for some supplies, visiting Boone, and deciding on an outfit that was better suited for the desert life, Raven was in a good mood despite her throbbing headache. Hangovers were horrible but at least she didn't have a nightmare after going to sleep. Well, not the normal dreams, at least. The dream she had the night before...Raven put in the 'uncategorized' section of her mind. Maybe it was because of last night's events that she hadn't been haunted this morning by the bad guys in her dreams. Between singing her heart out and making conversation with the King, in which the latter lasted almost the whole night, Raven felt lighter. While the weight of the world was still on her shoulders, the gait Raven paced along with was not as heavy as before.

Nothing happened between the two of them last night, at least as far as she was willing to realize. Just a conversation that went into the early hours of the morning. Raven couldn't even remember the last time she stayed up all night just talking to someone. Still, it was...interesting. A chance in talking with and seeing the casual side of the King revealed much to Raven, and she found her original purpose had faded as the two them talked on into the night. After talking with Elizabeth, Raven wanted to know for certain if the King was capable of being that dishonorable. While no deceit was noted and she found herself thinking very highly of the man after such a long chitchat, Raven wondered if she was glorifying the King with too much haste. Or maybe his looks had to do with it. She shook her head at the possibility.

"Nope. Stop thinking like that. Get your head out of the clouds and back into the game." she thought. "Ok, he's handsome. I'd be blind or an idiot to not see that, but that's not why I like him. Ok, like? No. No no no. That's not the right word...adore? No, that's even worse. No, my interest in him is strictly professional."

Raven began fighting herself in her own head. "Huh. Could've fooled me, and I'm part of you."

"Ok, my inner self. That's enough. He's attractive and charming and he can sing, but that's it."

"Uh huh. So why are you wearing a new outfit? Especially one that shows off some skin?"

"It's...it doesn't make me sweat 24/7! Besides, I like the name that went with it. Mercenary 'adventurer' is a very eye-catching name."

"Yep, and the King is going to 'eye' you in this and you're going to 'catch' it because you'll be looking for it."

Raven stopped walking. "Fuck. I need to get out of this thing."

"Wear it."

"What the hell for?"

"Because now you're curious to see his reaction."

"Bullshit. Why the hell would I be curious?"

"Because you want to see if he finds you attractive, and because you're arguing with yourself over it. And losing!"

Raven grumbled to herself. This was why she could never deny something for too long. Because she'd form arguments with herself in order to see reason, or to find a solution if she was ever conflicted about something. It took the form of herself, and despite the self-teasing, it was better than the previous form that her alter ego took. Her inner voice; her self-loathing used to be a version of her father. It took her years to keep that man out of her head, and the courier knew exactly what he'd be saying now.

"Yeah, you'll be cornered in a dark alley somewhere if you look like that, and you'll be no better than that whore mother of yours."

Raven started walking again with an angry pace. She was not going to let that horrible man define her actions ever again. But arguing with her alter ego about...possible feelings for a man she hardly knew? It was ridiculous, yet she found her way to the King's school without changing into something more professional. Curiosity wasn't going to get her killed this time, and if the King was interested in her, she needed to nip that bud before it got bigger. As Raven opened the door to the King's place and walked in, Pacer ran up to her.

"Hey there," he said. "I heard that NCR lady told you some wild story about them sending a messenger to us to work out some deal." Raven resisted the urge to smack him. "That's bullshit," he continued, "and it's nothing to bother the King about. More like they sent someone to spy on us and he wasn't tough enough to last in Freeside."

"Is that so?" she mocked.

"Yeah, so do everyone a favor and keep your mouth shut about it, okay?" he replied viciously.

Raven felt her lips curl. "What's my silence worth to you?" Her arms interlocked and her hip pivoted as she stared him down.

Pacer chuckled. "You're a bastard after my own heart. Here," he reached into his pocket and pulled out some caps, "this should do it."

Raven held her hand up. "Don't bother," she said. "You'd have better luck reasoning with a Death Claw than paying me off. Rumors or not, I still think the King should know about it."

"Don't fool yourself, sweetheart. You think the King digs this 'holier-than-thou' attitude you've got? " Pacer flashed a toothy grin. "When it comes down to it, you're just a tool for him to use. Be it to get his dirty work done or an easy fuck in his bed, he doesn't give a shit about you."

Before Raven could even register her actions, she had Pacer pinned to the wall with an arm pressing against his throat and a knife aimed at his gut. "Now you listen to me, you cocky little shit. I am not a tool, I am not a patsy, and I most certainly am not an easy fuck. You better fuckin' believe it when I say this." Her eyes tore into him with the red hot glare of a crazed and malicious Fiend. "If you ever, EVER talk to me like that again, I'll slice open your insides and feed them to Caesar on a god damn silver platter. Do I made myself clear?"

Pacer glared right back at the enraged courier, though it was plain to see he was about to piss himself. "Crystal," was all he managed to say.

Raven hesitated, contemplating whether or not to just kill him now. After considering her options and the dead silence in the room, she withdrew her arm and knife. She turned angrily toward the audience that had accumulated into the room. The look on her face never faded as she made her way to the theater. When she glanced in and did not find the King or Rex, she bit back a growl of irritation. She leaned away from the door frame and faced the bundle of shocked Kings.

"Where the FUCK is the King?" she barked.

When a few up them pointed toward the ceiling, she strutted through the room with a heavy and strong gait. It was the walk of a raging woman on the verge of exploding. Raven turned corners and raced up stairs until she reached the King's bedroom door, the expression of death not once leaving her face. She found the door did not budge when she attempted to open it, and Raven started slamming her fist on it. The woman listening carefully for any noises coming from the room, and when she heard none she took a step back. Raven Wagner was not in a patient mood and was not going to wait for an invitation.

Without pause her foot kicked the door open and she strolled in to find some women wearing sleazy pajamas in his bed. Rex jumped up from the floor and padded toward her. When she was about to ask the King's whereabouts, another door in the room opened and the King walked out with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Raven felt the color drain from her face when the King noticed her.

"Ah, Miss Wagner. You know, that door was locked for a reason."

Raven crossed her arms. "So I see," her eyes went to the women who were probably frightened out of their minds. "Well, when you're done playing 'Hide the Salami' with your pals here, I'd like to give my report."

"Now's as good a time as any. Fire away, Miss Wagner." he strutted toward her slowly with a small smirk on his face.

If she hadn't been so pissed off, Raven would have felt her knees weaken from the sight of the handsome, wet, and practically naked man before her. Instead, she turned her back to him as he approached her. "The NCR is distributing supplies in a building down by the old train station."

There was a long pause before she heard the King say anything. "Ladies, would you be so kind as to excuse us for a moment?"

Clothes and bed sheets were rustling for a bit before Raven saw the two women, now in more modest clothing, leave the room. One of them shut the door as they left. Raven didn't turn around. She didn't know if she was disgusted or...what else at the King's unusual behavior, but the courier found she could not even look at him.

"Handing out supplies? Like food and stuff? That ain't nothing to get ruffled over," he said.

"Ruffled?" she said bitterly. "I'm a bit more than ruffled."

She heard the King clear his throat. "You find anything else?"

Raven felt her jaw tense. "They're only handing out supplies to NCR citizens."

"Ah, that would explain the goons. They're here to keep people like my friends away from the food. That ain't something I support. No sir."

Raven stared blankly at the wall. "They said someone was sent to discuss the issue with you."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute. They said what?"

"They said the man was severely beaten," she said, turning to face the King, "and barely survived."

"Huh," he started pacing a little, "that would explain why they're all riled at us. Seems like we have a big misunderst-" a King member opened the door suddenly, breathing heavily. The King stared at the man. "What the hell?"

The man walked in and took a few breaths before speaking. "King. We got problems."

"Lay it on me," the King replied with a calm tone. "What's going on?"

"There's a shootout going down by the train station. It's Pacer and some strangers," the King member responded. "Might be NCR."

The King lowered his head with a shake. "What is that fool doing?" He lifted his head and eyed Raven.

The courier lifted an eyebrow. "Is it really that shocking to you?" she asked.

The King straightened his shoulders. "I need you to head out there and try to diffuse the situation. Tell them I'm willing to cooperate."

Raven rolled her eyes and began walking toward the door. "Yeah yeah, I'm on it. Don't worry your pretty boy mind over the situation. I've got it covered." Before she shut the door she glanced back at the King who looked very confused and appalled. "When I get back," she spoke harshly, "you and I are going to have a dialogue." Raven slammed the door shut.

The King flinched slightly as the door slammed shut. He shivered. "What the hell's gotten into her?" he asked.

The King member looked over at his boss. "Probably what Pacer said to her when she came in."

The leader of the Kings eyeballed the other man. "What happened now?"

This one was sooooooo difficult. Uuugh I hope it wasn't crappy so please put some reviews up so I know how I'm doing.