11. It's A Most Unusual Day
Well, there's only one thing to say
It's a most unusual, most unusual, most unusual day
"I fucking hate super fucking mutants," B snarled, leaning against a shattered building. She closed her eyes, feeling her heart thrum in her ribcage. She was in DC, finally. She'd survived several patrols of super mutants, a bunch of those hideous, mutated things that grated against every science and medical nerve she had. Everything ached, stung, or throbbed. She suspected she had at least one broken rib from a wall collapsing on her and scraped from that incident covered her exposed skin. Blood crusted over her sunburned legs. She hoped it offered some sort of protection but she was in too much pain to really care.
B slid down the wall onto her butt, and winced as she let out a heavy sigh. Dogmeat rested his head on a newly formed bruise on her shin. She made a sharp noise and moved her leg out from underneath him. "I'm so done. So very, very done with everything trying to kill me."
She flipped the radio in her Pip-Boy on, volume low enough that the sound wouldn't carry far. "-bathtubs, street cars, taxis; noise in my ear…"
She smiled though it faltered when her side twinged at her attempted deep inhale. "All quiet, Dogmeat?"
The dog woofed softly in response, tail wagging in the dirt.
"Okay. Good." She flipped over to her status screen and grimaced at what she saw. Right leg nearly crippled, torso crippled, left arm nearly crippled. She pinched the bridge of her nose between her forefinger and her thumb. "Ugh." She hated the whine she heard in her own voice. She hated that she wasn't fast enough or strong enough or knowledgeable enough about the outside to make it without injuries. She hated the way she had to fight for survival nearly every moment.
She stabbed another stimpack into her upper thigh, teeth baring at the bite of pain. A high pitched whine ripped its way out of her throat and she knocked her head back against the wall. Bursts of intense prickling, worse since she'd already had one, shuddered into her body. She tried to keep breathing. In, out. In, out. Slow and steady. She squeezed her eyes shut and a tear slipped down her cheek.
"You'll hear a tune that lives in the heart of a bluebird and you'll find happy times." God bless Bing. She focused on the words, the music, reminded of a time in the vault, years ago.
Do you ever think about what our future's going to be like?
We're fifteen, Amata. Why are you worried about it?
You don't think about the future of the Vault?
I'm not the future Overseer. I'll...probably end up as the next doctor.
Boo, you're so good with electronics. Why would you waste yourself on medicine?
It's easier. What about you? You don't have to follow in Alphonse's footsteps.
No, but...I don't want to leave the Vault without guidance.
You're not the one whose mom died in childbirth, Tomato. Me, I don't think I want kids. Besides, no one in the vault gives me a second glance that is halfway kind. More to the point, was that Paulie Hannon I saw giving you eyes?
I don't have any idea what you're talking about.
Uh huh. Keep denying it, Tomato. You're kind of blushing.
Something carefree. One corner of her mouth twitched up briefly. She missed that even if she didn't actually miss the vault.
Eventually the effects of the stimpack eased though it left her nerves hyper aware. She slowly exhaled, noting the twinge at her rib but it didn't hinder her breathing. Better than expected.
She got to her feet and started walking, limping. "Where is a damn metro station? Heh. Wouldn't it be funny if the old people used to say that?" She looked up and felt her adrenaline spike. The sun was setting. She needed to get underground now.
"What was that?"
B froze and looked down at Dogmeat. The dog's hackles were lifted. She closed her eyes and wished with everything she had in her that she would be able to go anywhere without running into raiders just once. She checked the ammunition of her 10mm and tried to quiet her movements as she moved toward the raiders. Cautiously, she peeked over part of a wall. Shit. They were holed up over a metro station entrance. Was that the one she wanted? Probably. That seemed to be her luck.
Still, she wasn't in top shape, or top form. She could have kicked herself for leaving before she was ready. Between the stimpack still prickling along her nerves and the adrenaline tearing into her, she almost didn't feel her injuries. That wouldn't be the case in an hour or so, assuming she survived, but for right now, she'd take what she could get.
She cautiously lifted her head, cursing her bright hair, and she saw at least five raiders when she peeked. There were probably more and these didn't look like they were drunk or high or any of it. She ducked back down. She nibbled on the inside of her cheek and looked at Dogmeat then looked down at her gun. That wouldn't work… would it?
One of the raiders caught sight of her as she lifted her head again. She ducked reflexively at the shout and fortunately the bullet penetrated into the chunk of building she was hiding behind. "Dogmeat, go!" she hissed. The dog bolted, tearing toward the raiders. As they focused on him, B launched herself halfway on top of her barrier and fired back. One raider dropped. Another fell back, turning to face her. He didn't look like he was holding his gun right. She ducked back down, fumbling to reload. She couldn't remember how many times she'd shot and her pulse was pounding in her ears. Dogmeat's growls softened as another raider hollored. She yanked her head up in time to see the raider held by Dogmeat lifting a knife. The one beside him kicked, foot colliding with the dog's side.
Dogmeat yelped and dropped the raider's leg.
"No!" Fear jumped through her and emptied the clip in that direction. Both raiders dropped. More bullets came in her direction and she ducked again. "Shit, forgot that one." Gun reloaded, pulse pounding, hands shaking. When the firing stopped, B popped back up and took enough time to aim before she pulled the trigger again. The last one fell.
B shook her head, trying to clear her hearing. Getting in close was messier and more dangerous but at least it didn't leave her ears throbbing and shrieking in protest. "Dogmeat, you okay?"
She heard an answering bark and slumped against the broken wall, relieved.
"You named the fucking dog 'Dogmeat'? What kind of sick fuck are you?"
B's head shot back up to see a raider perched in a hole in the second floor of the next building over. He was lowering a massive...gun...thing. B stopped breathing, staring at it.
She'd never spoken to a raider before. This was the first one who hadn't immediately tried to kill her on sight. He'd been going to. She knew that. But he'd stopped. Why?
"I didn't name him. That's the name on his collar," she called back.
"No shit? Stay there, I'll be right down."
Wait. "What?"
The raider didn't answer. She watched as he vanished from sight. Some loud cursing later, and he was exiting the building, the...she had no idea what that was supposed to be but it was even bigger as he got closer. She looked down at Dogmeat, panicking a little and wondering what the hell was going on in her life right now. Raiders didn't talk. If they did, they just hurled insults while they tried to kill her.
Raiders certainly didn't walk towards her calmly, hands held out like he was trying for peace. Was he just making it easier to stab her? Why didn't he just shoot her with that massive whatever the hell it was?
Her chest heaved from the fight, making her aware that she needed to hole up and properly assess her wounds.
He was halfway attractive, filthy in the way that most Wastelanders seemed to be and- God damn it, this is not the time or place in any way, shape, or form, you idiot! With her treatment of Leo and her goddamn stupid ass decisions hanging over her head, B didn't want to go anywhere near making more stupid ass decisions. Not with this man. She shouldn't even be in the vicinity of thinking she can trust him. Raider. Raiders try to kill her. That was how it worked.
Her eyes narrowed and she leaned back, settling her weight lower.
The raider stopped in his tracks, hands still up. "I ain't gonna hurt you."
"You're a raider. I have a hard time believing that." She kept her hand on her pistol. The raider dragged his fingers through his hair, scratching at his scalp.
"Look, you trust your dog, dontcha?"
"So?"
"So he ain't growlin' at me. Are ya, Dogmeat?" The raider held out a hand to let Dogmeat sniff.
B felt tension coil in her near enough to breaking when Dogmeat crept forward. Her reflexes weren't good enough to protect him if the raider went for him. And if anything happened to Dogmeat, she'd be stuck out here, alone, without any sort of protection. That was, of course, assuming she survived this encounter.
Dogmeat cautiously sniffed the raider's hand. Slowly his tail started to wag. "There ya go. See?"
"You're still a raider."
"True. But I didn't kill you."
"You're expecting me to believe that you did that out of the kindness of your heart?"
The raider shrugged. "I like dogs."
B stared at him. "You've got to be kidding me."
The raider grinned at her. Halfway decent dental hygiene and seriously, this is why I don't get close to men. What the everloving hell? "I like you."
"I'd-I'd really rather you didn't."
"The name's Nip. Who're you?"
B stared at him. This was not how she was expecting this day to go. She was chatting up a raider. A man that Dogmeat didn't seem threatened by. And now he was asking for her name. Honestly, right now this sounded more like the plot of an alternate universe science fiction story than any sort of reality she'd ever lived in.
""Okay, it seems the settlement of Grayditch has gone quiet. Residents haven't come out to trade with the caravaners, and attempts to make contact have been met with silence. So if you're out by Grayditch, you may wanna pop in and see what's what."
B winced at Three Dog's cheerful recommendation. Nip's eyes flicked to the Pip-Boy on her wrist and grinned wider. "You're that kid from the vault."
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Sure, you don't. Heard about what you did for Megaton. Some brains you got. Thought you'd be younger though."
That stung. She straightened up and felt her heart rate increase a little. "Yeah, well, I don't see you doing the things you've done."
"Put the claws away, pussycat. I like a bit of a fight," he winked at her, "but not the kinda one you'd give me right now. What're you doing out here?"
"How much do you know?"
He took a step closer and she tensed up again. Nip paused, appraising her. "Three Dog says a cat crawled out of a vault over by Megaton but he wasn't the only one. Little Miss 101 came out after him. Same one who disarmed that bomb."
B's gaze slid to the orange sky. "Okay. Fine. Yes. That was me. Happy?"
"More than you'd know. I think I'm gonna head a bit west now that I'm rid of this gang."
"West? Why-why west?"
"Megaton's out that way."
"Why-why-why would you want to go to Megaton?"
Nip shrugged. "I ain't always been a raider, ya know. 'Sides, that's your place. Might as well keep it safe for ya until you get back from your search."
B scowled. He was smarter than he looked. "I appreciate the gesture but-" The sound of footsteps broke off her train of thought and she twisted around, biting back a hiss.
A handful of men showed up in black armor. Something about them had the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. The one in front, shorter than the others, regarded her curiously. "We were told you'd be in a vault suit."
"Who are you?" she asked slowly.
"This ain't your business, friend," Nip said, moving in front of her.
"Actually, I'm afraid it is our business. You see, we were hired by someone who is rather disappointed in you."
That wording. B frowned, trying to place it.
"Hired to do what?" Nip crossed his arms over his leather armor.
"Teach her a lesson is all."
B took a step back. She hadn't done anything.
"Nah. I don't think so. I think you're going to walk away."
The leader of the black armored men laughed. The others shifted behind him. "And why would we do that?"
Nip shifted the gun thing into his grip and...cocked it? She wasn't sure what was happening but she watched the way the other men backed up quickly, looks of horror on their faces.
"You don't need to do that," the leader said though the fury filtering through made B's blood run cold.
"Run back to whoever sent ya and tell them that she's off limits."
The leader sneered, eyes flicking to the gun thing. "What happens when you're not here to protect her?"
Nip rolled his shoulders back, like he didn't have a care in the world. "She can take care of herself." The leader glanced at her with a disbelieving scoff. "I see ya don't believe me. Kid's smarter than she looks. Tougher too. Not many people can go toe to toe with a mirelurk and survive. She doesn't need me."
Why. What. HUH? B struggled to maintain a halfway neutral expression on her face. Nip had to have an endgame or an angle or something because what the hell was going on?
The leader looked back at her but this time his expression was more appraising. She lifted her chin, panicking more than a little inside and hoping it wasn't visible. For a moment, the only sounds were the radio on her Pip-Boy and the wind. "I suppose I'll need to consider it." His eyes narrowed and B didn't quite manage to suppress the shiver. "I believe we'll be seeing you later."
B didn't relax until they'd faded from sight and even then, her muscles didn't come off survival stress until Dogmeat sat down and his ears pricked forward gently rather than alertly.
Nip put the gun thing back on his back, head tipped curiously toward her. "Y'alright there?"
"You're a raider."
Nip laughed a little at the baffled statement. "Yep. Raider."
"Am I crazy or did you just save my life?"
"You'd have figured out a way to survive if I hadn't been here." He shrugged. "I just helped it along."
B stared at him. "I don't understand. Why?"
He smiled. "I know people." He started to walk away, but tossed the words back over his shoulder. "Next time you're in the neighborhood, check me up."
"What neighborhood?"
"Megaton."
B's mouth gaped open as he disappeared. What the hell had just happened.
AN: Let me know what you think, my peeps!
Chapter title and lyrics taken from "It's a Most Unusual Day" by Peggy Lee (1951/1952).