-July 25, 2270-

Carter sat on the couch with some water, grinning from ear to ear. He couldn't wait until his dad got home.

Korin walked in, her nose in a book. Carter watched her navigate the room to sit next to him on the couch, without even looking up. He looked at the cover of ¡La Fantoma!.

"How was the sleepover at Amata's?"

"Pretty good, up until this morning. The Overseer got super mad at her for no reason and told me to go home."

"And where've you been since then?"

"Helping Stanley with a few repairs." Carter nodded. Korin's job assignments usually went back and forth between helping Stanley and helping their father. Carter had already been barred from helping in the kitchen, and Officer Gomez tried to help him get a shadow position with the vault security, but that fell through, too.

"Ah."

Carter looked at the time on his PipBoy. Their dad would be home any minute… Carter hadn't seen him at the game, and wasn't terribly upset, with him and Jonas being the only two doctors in the entire vault. He couldn't help but feel antsy. His grades weren't the best right now, he couldn't hold his first job assignment longer than a year and a half… this string of strikeouts was all he could feel accomplished about. He wanted his father to be happy with him for once, rather than the abrasive nagging that'd become the new norm for the past month.

As his PipBoy clicked to 18:08, the door slid open with a hiss and their father walked in.

"Hi Dad." Korin called, not looking up from her book.

"Hello Korin, Carter." He looked over at the two of them.

"Dad, guess what." Carter couldn't keep himself from smiling.

"What?"

"I pitched 4 strikeouts today."

Korin put her book down and looked at him. Their father came over and smiled.

"Jonas told me. I had a patient and couldn't go, but he went.." Carter's eyes widened. He hadn't even seen Jonas. "You want to know what he said?" Carter nodded. "He was very excited. He said you should be the new Vault 101 MVP." Carter grinned from ear to ear.

"Really? He said that?" His father nodded.

"Yep. Even relayed most of the game for me, play-by-play." His features softened. "Sorry I couldn't be there in person, son." Carter looked up at his father.

"It's okay, Dad. I know you were busy at the clinic." The clinic that seemed to be eating up more of their father's time, as of late.

Their father walked over and stood in front of them, a sudden spring in his step.

"Why don't we go celebrate with dinner in the cafeteria?" Korin put down her book.

"Yeah. It's not every day Cartwheel here does something right." She smiled as she stood up.

"Hey!" Carter shot up after her.

-January 31, 2271-

Korin played on her PipBoy while she sat on the floor, waiting for Stanley on the reactor level. They'd be going over some of the more important vault functions today, and he was going to show her how to fix them. She couldn't deny being excited; There was a certain power in being one of few people who knew how to keep the Vault running… and in turn, keep them all alive.

She promised herself only to use this new power for good.

She didn't look up when she heard footsteps down the hall. Figured it might just be a patrol, wandering through.

"K-Korin?"

Her head snapped up at the intrusion of her silence.

Freddie Gomez stood in front of her, staring at his shoes intently, fidgeting nervously. Korin stood up.

"…Can I help you?"

He looked up at her, briefly.

"I. Uhm…. Yeah, I s'pose," he muttered. Korin almost didn't hear him.

A short silence stretched between them. Korin waited patiently for Freddie to tell her how she could help him.

"Do you like Wally?" He asked quickly, breaking the silence. It caught her by surprise.

"…What?"

"Do you like Wally?" He asked again, looking up at her. "I know he likes you."

"Yeah. I figured as much." Korin crossed her arms and thought about how to word her answer.

"I don't know… with how much he and Butch pick on Carter, I'm inclined to say no. But… if circumstances were different… who knows." She shrugged. Freddie looked at the ground again, his eyebrows coming together slightly as he digested her answer.

"Oh."

Korin looked at Freddie. He was nice enough… never threw punches at Carter, even when Butch and Wally were. And he was cute, she admitted. There was no way she couldn't notice, especially with him standing so close with dark-colored hair and hazel eyes.

"I'm much happier with you standing here rather than him, if that helps any." Freddie looked up into her eyes and smiled.

"Yeah?" She smiled back.

"Yep." He looked a bit relieved.

"C-Can I ask you something?" Korin nodded. Freddie's cheeks turned bright pink and he looked down at his hands.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked, looking up. Korin stared into his eyes as her stomach did flips. She hadn't anticipated that. In fact, the thought had never really crossed her mind. Kisses were foreign to her. Although both her father and brother had done so, always on the forehead or top of her head, she rarely saw anyone else in the Vault participate in the act. And what Freddie was asking was a very different prospect.

"Yes." She said quickly, the words leaving her mouth a bit more eagerly than she'd intended. Freddie looked at her with rounded eyes.

"Really?" She nodded again, her mind set. Freddie took a step closer to her, quickly closed the distance between them. He pressed his lips to hers, or rather the far left side of her lips, as Korin observed.

Freddie's lips were soft, though, and she found she didn't mind the closeness between them.

The kiss ended as quickly as it started, and Freddie took a few steps back. His cheeks were pink again, but he was smiling. Korin found herself smiling too.

"That was nice." She whispered. Freddie opened his mouth to say something in turn.

"Korin, you down here?" Stanley called out as he stepped into view. Freddie turned bright red.

"See ya in class, Korin." He ran off, surprising Korin a little. Stanley must have scared him off.

"I'm here, Stanley." She called back. He walked up to her and gave her a knowing smile.

"Boys are trouble, you know." He chuckled softly. "I'd know. I use to be one."

Korin rolled her eyes, but smiled.

"I know boys are trouble," Korin put her hands in her pockets, "we've all met my brother." Stanley laughed at that.

"Yes, we have."

^v^v^v^

After a hard day's work with Stanley, Korin stumbled home on tired feet. When she arrived, she found the Autry quarters empty. She was used to her father's absence, but Carter's absence confused her.

Just as she sat down to read a copy of Dean's Electronics, the main door slid open and Carter rushed in, his face flustered. Korin put her book down and blinked at him.

"What's going on?" She asked, just as Carter breathlessly uttered a sentence of his own.

"You'll never guess what just happened."

"What? Is Butch-"

"No, no no." Carter shook his head. "Not him." He paused to suck in a deep breath.

"Why are you so out of breath?"

"I ran here." Carter smiled a half smile. "Christine- Christine Kendall-" He took another deep breath and closed his eyes. "I'm her girlfriend." Korin raised an eyebrow at him.

"Boyfriend. I meant boyfriend." Korin put her hands in her lap and looked at him.

"Really? I thought she didn't like us."

"I thought so too. But I don't think she'd kiss me if she didn't like me." Carter smiled again. Korin opened her mouth to speak, but decided not to. She wasn't sure how Carter would react to her and Freddie's earlier encounter.

"That's cool." Korin opened her book and put her eyes to the page. "Where are you going to take her on your first date?"

Carter sighed and slumped onto the couch beside her.

"I don't know. I thought I'd ask Dad when he gets home."

"Dad hasn't been on a date in forever, Carter." Carter huffed.

"Yeah but maybe he'll remember something. I'm coming up empty over here."

"Hmmm…" Korin rubbed her face. "What if you take her to the cafeteria, and go watch an old holotape afterwards? If you plan it right, you'll be the only two there."

Carter rubbed his chin.

"Yeah… maybe… It could work. We've all seen those holotapes a hundred times, though."

"Maybe there's some bootleg ones somewhere." Korin shrugged. "It's your date. You figure it out."

"Okay, okay. I'll go look." Carter rushed to the door. "Don't tell Dad. I wanna be the one to tell him."

"Okay, Cartwheel." Korin flipped a page in her book and continued reading.

-October 13, 2272-

Carter laid out on the couch in the living room. Neither his sister or his father were home, which wasn't unusual. Korin'd started working later, and he sometimes went a couple days without seeing their father. They were on different schedules now.

The buzzer for the main door went off, startling Carter. He nearly fell off the couch.

Carter headed for the door and opened it. Christine stood on the other side, holding her arm. Carter blinked at her.

"Christine?"

"C-Can I come in?" She sniffled. Carter let her in and gently ushered her to the couch. She looked to the floor as she sat, and wrapped her arms around herself. Carter sat next to her.

"What happened?" He whispered. She leaned against his shoulder, but didn't speak. He gently tilted her face up to look at him, and noticed a bruise forming on the left side of her jaw. She pulled away.

"Was it your Dad?" Carter asked, his voice barely above a whisper. She nodded, and fresh tears slipped down her cheeks.

"I never should have said anything to him." Her voice was quiet. Carter strained to hear it over the hum of the lights above them. "He was upset about work, and-and…" Carter put his arm around her and held her close to his shoulder.

"No, Christine. He shouldn't have lashed out at you," he whispered, then pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

"Can I just stay here tonight?" Carter looked down at her. A tense feeling rose from the pit of his stomach.

"Won't he be looking for you?"

"I don't want to go home, Carter, don't make me go home, please."

Carter closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Come with me." He stood up, and pulled her to her feet. Korin would probably kill him for this…

"Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere I go when I feel bad." Carter opened the main door and peeked out to either side of the hall. Seeing either side was empty, he pulled Christine down the hall towards the reactor level.

Footsteps sounded from somewhere in front of them. Carter ducked into a room off the hall and pulled Christine in with him. They held their breath as a patrol walked by.

"Yeah, yeah. I've got my eyes peeled." Carter recognized the voice to be Wally's older brother, Stevie. "How do you want me to handle the Autry brat if I see 'em?" Stevie appeared to be speaking into some sort of radio. Carter continued to hold his breath. "Got it."

They waited until the hall was silent before continuing to the reactor level.

Carter looked around as they got to the steps down, and ushered Christine down them. They stopped in front of the storage room door.

"Close your eyes." Carter whispered.

"What?"

"Close your eyes." Carter repeated. Christine let out a small sigh and closed her eyes. Carter quickly picked the lock on the door and opened it. He took Christine's shoulders and gently guided her inside.

"Step high, the floor isn't even."

Christine stepped high, and barely avoided tripping. Carter kept her from falling on her face.

"Why do I have to keep my eyes closed?" Carter bit his lip.

"Because this place is a secret."

He closed and locked the door behind them.

"Okay. Now you can open them."

Christine looked around, stunned.

"What is this place?" Carter looked at the floor.

"It was a present, from Dad to Korin and I, on our tenth birthday. He fixed up a BB gun and the little shooting range behind you." It felt like only a week had passed since then. The storage room hadn't changed much, other than a stack of books Korin had 'borrowed' from their father's room, which sat in the corner next to a small nest made from a blanket and pillow. A disassembled radio sat on top of a crate nearby.

"Your Dad did all this, for you two?" Christine blinked. "But he could have gotten in so much trouble…"

"That's why this place is a secret." Carter shoved his hands in his pockets. "You can't tell anybody I brought you here."

Christine nodded. Carter sighed in relief and pulled himself up onto a crate. Christine watched him, standing in place as if she was afraid to move.

"You can sit up here with me, if you want. Or I can show you how to shoot my BB gun. The only thing you shouldn't do is touch Korin's stuff. She's pretty picky about that." Christine looked over at the range.

"Your BB gun?" Carter nodded.

"Yeah! It's pretty fun. C'mon, I'll show you." Carter hopped down and went to the locker by the target range. He grabbed the gun and some BBs, and loaded it. Christine watched in silence.

"See those targets? When you shoot the little metal plate, they spin around, like this-" Carter aimed for the left one, and fired. The BB hit and the target swung around. "See?" Christine gasped a little. "Wanna try?" She nodded, and Carter handed her the BB gun.

"Hold it like this, up to your shoulder- there, like that!" He moved her grip until she had a good stance. "Now look here," he pointed to the sights, "look down those to aim. And when you're ready, pull the trigger."

Christine paused for a moment, and Carter held his breath as he waited for her to shoot.

She pulled the trigger, and the BB went far left and bounced off the wall. Christine turned to him.

"Keep trying." He gave her an encouraging smile.

She shot a few more times, using up all of the BBs. Carter reloaded the gun and she tried again. On her second shot, she hit the target and it swung around. She jumped in excitement.

"I did it!" She squealed a little.

"Do you want to keep going?" Carter asked her. She looked down at the gun in her hands and smiled.

"Yes."

They continued for another hour before Carter started to yawn excessively, and they propped themselves up against the crates for a nap.

When Carter woke up, a very, very angry blonde stood in front of him.

"Carter Grant!" He jumped, and startled Christine awake.

"Korin!"

"Are you a complete moron?!" She nearly shouted. "The whole vault is looking for your girlfriend, and you're here?!"

"She didn't want to go home, Korin." Korin crossed her arms and huffed.

"Well her dad's tearing up the vault, looking for her. Do you know how bad this could potentially be?" Carter opened his mouth to reply, but Korin kept talking. "If the Overseer even knew about this place, Dad would be in so much trouble! And us, too!"

Carter glanced at Christine and saw how pale she'd become.

"Christine? You okay?"

"I need to go home-" She sat up and got to her feet. "I don't want to get you three in trouble."

"But, Christine-"

"It's okay, Carter. I'll probably just be grounded. A lot better than all three of you getting arrested, or worse." Christine took a deep breath. "I'll just tell them I fell asleep somewhere."

"You're sure?" Christine looked at Carter and nodded.

"As long as you promise me you'll bring me back here more."

"Promise." Carter smiled weakly. Korin headed for the door. Carter walked Christine to the door and hugged her. Korin opened the door, and Christine stepped out. Before Carter could follow, she closed it.

"What are you doing?"

"Giving her a head start. Besides, I have a bone to pick with you."

"Me? Why?"

"Cause you brought your girlfriend to our secret spot." Korin huffed. "I know you were being nice but I liked it when it was our secret spot, just the three of us… and Jonas." She added the last part quickly. "It was our family's, now it's not anymore."

"I'm sorry, Korin. I didn't know where else to go." Carter looked up at her. "If you'd been around, I would have asked you, but you weren't, and I went with my gut." Korin sighed.

"I'm not mad. Just- It feels like the only place I feel safe is being invaded." Korin wrapped her arms around herself. Carter touched her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. Really... I guess I'll plan our visits so Christine won't be there when you are. I already asked her not to touch your stuff." Korin smiled.

"Thanks. That helps… a little." She opened the door. "Come on. Let's get home before you get into any more trouble."

-October 16-

Carter sped down the hall. Christine had left him a note at his door, asking him to meet her at the cafeteria. He hadn't seen her at all in three days, and was starting to worry.

He walked up to a hallway intersection, and as he walked through an arm hit his chest and knocked him on his ass. He coughed and sat up quickly. The arm was attached to Wally, and he walked out in front of him. Paul stepped out after him.

"Lookie what we have here, Paul. The dumb Autry." Carter tried to back up, but he stopped when he saw Butch standing behind him. He quickly rolled to the left and jumped up.

"I'm not looking for trouble, okay? I'm just on my way to see Christine."

"Christine?" Wally snorted. "You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

"She's on house arrest. Grounded for a couple weeks." Butch answered. "And her daddy knows you're the real reason he couldn't find her." Carter paled. "Just can't prove it." The Tunnel Snakes started to circle him.

"So we're going to beat it outta ya." Wally grinned.

"So it was you guys that wrote the note." Carter's shoulders slumped.

"What, did you think she wrote it?" Butch snickered. "Left it outside your door? No. Not after the stunt you two pulled, hidin'. You'll be lucky to ever see her again." Wally took a step forward. Carter tried to keep an eye on each of the Tunnel Snakes as they began to circle him, but Paul managed to get behind him and put him in a headlock. He grabbed his arm and tried to claw his way out. A punch landed on Carter's left side, sending shooting pain through him. Another hit his stomach, and Paul's fist collided with Carter's right cheekbone.

Carter managed to slip out of the headlock and started to back up down the hall. The Tunnel Snakes followed, quick to lunge at him again. He threw himself backwards and nearly hit his head on the floor.

"Boys!" He heard a friendly voice shout. "Get out of here, now, before I bring you in."

He looked up, and saw Officer Gomez.

"Hey Carter, you okay?" He nodded a little. Gomez looked him over. Carter noticed the Tunnel Snakes had disappeared. "Looks like a bit of a black eye forming, there… why don't I walk you down to the clinic?" Carter nodded.

"Thank you." He stared at the floor as they started towards the clinic. Not only did he miss out on seeing Christine and get beaten up, now he was going to get an earful from his Dad.

"You gotta learn how to hold your ground better with those odds, kid." He patted his shoulder. "I don't suppose your old man taught you how to throw a punch?" Carter shrugged. Officer Gomez stopped in the middle of the hall.

"Well, maybe I can give you a few pointers. For starters, you have to have the right stance. Angle yourself, and put your fists up. If you angle your body, that will give them less of you to hit." Carter nodded, and mimicked what Gomez was showing him. "Good, like that." He held up his hands. "Now show me a punch."

Carter swung his fist into Officer Gomez' hand. It landed with a satisfying smack.

"Wow, you've definitely got some power…" Gomez shook out his hand. "I was always told never to punch with a closed fist, but... sometimes you need a closed fist." He gently squeezed Carter's shoulder. "Come on. Let's get you to the clinic." Carter nodded. They started walking again.

-August 3, 2274-

"Carter, get up." Carter ignored his sister as she shook his shoulder. He was still in bed, wrapped up in his sheets. He groaned.

"Cough- Korin, I don't think I can make it to the G.O.A.T. today, cough. I'm sick." Korin put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"Big fat liar. You just want to get out of it."

"Cough cough- Korin, I think I have -cough- black lung."

"You've never worked a mine a day in your life!" She hissed. "Come on. If you're really so sick, get dressed and we'll go see Dad."

"I-I don't think it's that serious." Korin rolled her eyes at him.

"Then get dressed and let's go to class." Carter weighed his options. If he saw Dad, maybe he'd get a note and get to take the test later on.

"On second thought, let's go see Dad."

After he'd dressed, Carter and Korin went to the clinic. Jonas walked out of the office when they walked in.

"Hey, kiddos. It's been a while since you stopped in here to see us! It's the big G.O.A.T. day today, right?" Jonas smiled. Korin nodded, while Carter tried to swallow the nervous lump in his throat. "Well, good luck, you two."

"Thanks, Jonas."

"Thanks." Carter's voice cracked a little.

Their father appeared in the doorway to the back office and stared at them.

"What are you two doing here..." He asked in an even but suspicious tone.

"Carter thinks he has black lung." Korin crossed her arms and cocked a hip. Carter turned and glared at her.

"I see." Their father walked over and pointed to a medical table. "Hop up, sport. I'll look you over." Carter felt himself pale a little. "So, tell me. How did you contract black lung without access to a coal mine?"

"Uhhh…" Carter swallowed hard. He gripped the edge of the table, and noted that his hands were clammy.

Carter took deep breaths as his father put his stethoscope to his chest and listened to his lungs.

"As far as I can tell, you're a perfectly healthy sixteen year old boy, with anxiety about a big test." He crossed his arms.

"Do I really have to take it?" Carter whined.

"Yes, you do. It's very important, and I know that it's daunting to have one moment decide what you're doing for the rest of your life, but you can't hide from it." Carter hung his head. "Go on. Go take your test."

Carter hopped down from the table and headed outside. Korin waited for him.

"I knew your ploy wouldn't work." She put her hands behind her back.

"Had to try." Carter shrugged. Korin stopped walking.

"What's up with you, huh?" Their eyes met, and she held his gaze. "It's just the G.O.A.T."

"Yeah. 'Just the G.O.A.T.'" Carter bawled his fists. "We all know where you're headed. You've got Mom's looks and both hers and Dad's smarts. Not to mention you get along with everyone…" Korin's eyes softened. "Me? I got the short stick. I didn't get Dad's smarts; I got his awkward social skills. I barely fit in anywhere around here. I've got barely any friends, plenty of enemies…" Carter broke eye contact with his sister and rubbed his face. "You'll be fine. You're going into repairs. There's no way in hell you're not. I only know the places I'm not going."

Korin put her hand on his shoulder.

"There's more to you than what you see, Carter. And wherever you end up… is wherever you'll end up. There isn't really any controlling that. But no matter what, I'll still be here." Carter nodded. Korin wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. None of them would. And while he was still nervous about the outcome, he felt better knowing she had his back.

"Get out of the way, you stupid Tunnel Snakes!"

Carter's head jerked up as he heard Amata's voice.

"Carter…" Korin warned.

"Y'know, Amata.. I could show you a real tunnel snake."

"Butch." Carter growled, his eyes focusing on him. They were several feet away from the scene unfolding in front of them. Korin grabbed his shoulder.

"Carter, be careful. The odds aren't in your favor." He shrugged out of her grip and stormed over. Amata looked past Butch and saw him, and took a step back.

"What the hell's going on here?" Carter's shadow fell on the group. Butch turned and scowled.

"Fuck off, meathead. Go take your stupid G.O.A.T." Carter felt the others step closer.

"Are you okay, Amata?" He looked at her.

"Fine, Carter. Just annoyed beyond reason." Carter turned to Butch.

"Move."

"You move, dickweed. Nobody tells the Tunnel Snakes what to do." Carter took a deep breath, then calmly pulled his arm back, and slammed his fist into Butch's jaw. Butch stumbled and his back hit the wall.

"Get that son 'uva bitch!" He shouted, and before Carter could react a fist hit his stomach. He doubled over and backed up to avoid another swing.

Korin ran over and stood next to Amata. Freddie stood next to her with his arms nervously crossed.

"Freddie, can't you call them off?" Korin looked up at him.

"Nah, they won't listen to me." He shook his head.

"Stop fighting!" Amata shouted.

Carter flung his elbow out and caught Paul in the chest. He turned and saw Wally too late. His fist hit Carter in the cheekbone and sent him on his back. Both boys stood over Carter, and when he tried to get up, kicked him.

Korin watched in horror, before hearing Butch laugh. She turned to him. Her vision went red as she walked over, hands in fists, and punched him in the face as hard as she could. Butch nearly fell over as his nose suddenly erupted in a stream of blood.

"You bitch!" He shouted, holding his nose. "You broke my fuckin' nose!"

Korin held her hand and hissed.

"Your face cut up my knuckles."

Wally and Paul stopped to see what was happening behind them, and Wally laughed.

"Shut up, Wally." Butch glared at him. "Come on." He looked at Korin, then at Carter. "This ain't over, punks." The three of them entered the classroom. Korin and Amata rushed over to Carter.

Carter groaned as he sat up.

"You okay?"

Carter nodded.

"Sore, but I don't think anything's broken." He coughed. Freddie offered him his hand, which he took and climbed to his feet.

"Thanks for coming to my rescue, Carter, but you really need to pay more attention. They could have hurt you pretty badly." Amata sighed and held her arms. "I guess they're just picking on me because my dad's the Overseer."

Freddie reached over and gently took Korin's hand in his. He looked over her cuts.

"Hurt any?" He asked. Korin shook her head.

"That was a nice right hook." Carter smirked.

"Learned from the best." Korin replied. Freddie put her hand up to his lips and kissed over her knuckles. It startled her a little, and Korin felt her cheeks flush with heat.

Carter stared at them with wide eyes, and his jaw open. Amata grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the classroom.

"But- what was that?"

"Shh. Come on."

After Korin and Freddie entered the classroom, Mr. Brotch spoke.

"Good Lord… what the hell happened out in the hall? A shark attack?"

"Nothin' teach. Just a lil' misunderstanding, that's all." Mr. Brotch narrowed his eyes at them.

"Well, whatever really happened aside, everyone's with us now, so we can start the G.O.A.T." Carter received his paper and looked down at it. He focused on Brotch's voice as he marked each answer, snorting a little at the option to say 'Up yours, too, buddy.' Mr. Brotch glared at him, but continued to read the questions.

After the last answer was marked, Carter stared at his paper for a moment. Everything he'd done so far in life was nothing compared to this twenty minutes of silence. He picked up his paper with shaky hands and stood. Mr. Brotch sat behind his desk, and was receiving the other students' papers. Carter was too nervous to hear what their assignments were.

When it was his turn to hand the page in, his hand shook even worse. Mr. Brotch took note, but said nothing. His eyes scanned the page, and Carter found himself both holding his breath and counting the seconds.

"Mr. Carter, it says here…" the words felt incredibly drawn out, like time had slowed. Carter swallowed hard. "…you're perfectly suited for a career as a Waste Management Specialist." Carter stared at him.

"What?" He whispered.

"A specialist, mind you, not just a dabbler. Congratulations!" Mr. Brotch continued on as if he hadn't heard him.

Carter stepped back and leaned against the wall. He could hear his heart beating in his ears.

"Carter?"

He looked up and saw Christine.

"Hey." He smirked softly. Christine walked over to him and held his jaw in her hands.

"Tell me you're going to go see your Dad after this…"

"Yeah." He looked at her. "What'd you get?"

"Maintenance. Stupid test… I thought I'd be in engineering, or at least home economics." She huffed. "How 'bout you?"

"Why do you care?" Carter pulled his head back away from her hands. "I thought you said you didn't want to see me again."

"My father gave me an ultimatum, you know that." She rubbed her elbow. "And just because we can't see each other anymore doesn't mean I don't care about your wellbeing." Carter looked away and saw Korin take her paper up to the desk.

"Waste Management Specialist. That's what I got."

"Oh." Christine crossed her arms across her chest. "At least you're not a garbage burner."

"Yeah, I guess." He looked down at the floor. From where he stood, he overheard Mr. Brotch reading off Korin's results.

"I'd bet you're going into repairs, if I was a betting man, Ms. Korin." Brotch took the paper from her and read it carefully. "Thank goodness. We're finally getting a new Jukebox Technician. That thing hasn't worked right since old Joe Palmer passed."

"Jukebox technician? How often does the thing break down if that's my job?"

"Joe would be in there all the time, working on it. I guess you'll be, now, too." Mr. Brotch paused. "Congratulations, Ms. Korin."

Carter watched her walk over to the two of them.

"Jukebox Technician." Korin stated, still confused about her results.

"Better than what I got." Carter shrugged.

"I heard… Waste Management Specialist. Does that mean what I think it means?"

"I don't even know." Carter shrugged. "The word 'waste' has a lot of meanings. I don't want to think about most of them." Korin patted his shoulder.

"Come on. Let's go home."

^v^v^v^

Once they returned home, Carter laid himself out on the couch while Korin sat on the floor with a copy of Lying, Congressional Style. The twins waited for their father to get home in silence, except the sound of pages flipping.

When their father walked into the room, he barely noticed them on the couch. He was slumped over some, with dark bags under his eyes. He yawned, and looked up at them.

"Hey, kids." He smiled softly. "How'd the G.O.A.T. go today?" He directed his attention to Carter. "Not as bad as you thought it would be, r-" he paused, staring at his son.

"Dad?" Carter turned to look at him.

"You know, earlier today, I had an unexpected patient, with a broken nose." The twins glanced at each other. "Tell me you didn't break Butch's nose."

"I didn't. I was too busy getting my ass kicked by Wally and Paul." Carter grumbled. Their father looked at them both with wide eyes.

"What?" He strode over to the couch. "Get up, let me look you over."

"Dad, I'm okay-"

"Why didn't you come see me?"

"Because you're always busy, Dad. I'm fine. Really. It's Korin's hand you should look at…"

"You dirty little snitch." Korin whipped around.

"Korin broke Butch's nose?" James looked at her in disbelief. He grabbed her hand and sure enough, there was the proof, lying in cuts across her knuckles.

"It was the only way I could think of to stop the fight!" Korin shouted. "He was just standing there, watching them kick him. I had to do something."

"Kick? Did you say kick?" He turned back to Carter. "Up, now. You can't distract me any more than you have." Carter groaned, but sat up. James felt Carter's ribs, which caused Carter to hiss, but nothing felt out of place.

"You'll live." James crossed his arms. "What is wrong with you two? I keep telling you, avoid him, or make amends… anything that doesn't involve fighting." He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache starting to form. "Three against one is bad odds, and three against two is not much better. Fighting like that could get one or both of you seriously hurt someday!"

"They were harassing Amata. I did what I felt I had to- isn't that what you always tell us? To stand up for what's right? For what we believe in?" Carter shouted, hands curled up into fists.

"It's different in the vault!" James matched his tone. "You have to come up with a peaceful solution. Butch is not going to go away. You can't fight him every time he wrongs you or someone you love." He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "As punishment, you're both grounded for the week. We're lucky Butch isn't pressing charges."

"He wouldn't dare." Carter hissed. "He's too much of a pussy to press charges."

"Carter, language!" James hissed. "Go to your rooms. Both of you." Carter grumbled, but left to go to his room. Korin left much quieter, and brought her book along. James knew Korin's room wouldn't be much of a punishment for her, but he needed some time to think.

He sat on the couch and stared at his hands. The distance between him and the twins had grown more than he thought, although he figured that was a good thing, in the long run.

The tests were underway, and with Jonas' help, surprisingly. James counted himself lucky to have been handed such a great assistant, doubly so that he'd not been turned over to the Overseer immediately.

With a few more tests and a little more time, he'd be ready to try again.

A/N: Sorry for the slow chapter. I had two art critiques, one right after the other, and it really ate up my time and motivation to do anything but sleep. Anyways, here's Chapter 4! Chapter 5 is going to be the last vault chapter, I promise.