Chapter 6: Good Old Diamond

Is it true? Was he really about to go to Diamond City? Is he actually serious about trying to convince the people of the Good old Diamond that he isn't insane and that he befriended a Deathclaw?

Atlas sighed. "I really hope it really is 'The Great Green Jewel' of the commonwealth. The place might be nice but that doesn't mean the people will be the same." he groaned.

Atlas and Ruby were passing by the Corvega Assembly plant. The place looked abandoned like almighty hell but he wasn't exactly going to check it out. Not yet.

"Atlas, I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't nervous. I really fear for what could happen to me… and to you. Will they accept our help?" she tilted her head slightly.

"I won't lie either, I don't think they will. Even if we can't help from inside the walls we could always help from the outside. Just clear out the scum that are around the area, that kind of thing." He commented. He mumbled something afterwards.

"…Kill them if they dared..." Is all that she could make out of the sentence. Atlas walked just a bit faster than usual after this statement. Ruby doesn't think Atlas noticed her but she knew he might have known that she heard him. This could be the reason for the pace change.

His pace wasn't a challenge to catch up to considering how big she is. She normally had to take slow and small steps to keep in pace with him. She widened her steps a bit and she was right next to him in no time.

She could have sworn sometimes when she stepped it would break some asphalt.

"Atlas. I know you are worried the most but you know what really worries me?" she questioned him.

I really hope he doesn't get enraged by this. She thought to herself.

"What worries you?" He turned his head bit to the left and let his peered into her eyes.

She inhaled a bit being worried. "If you were right about them, and they were to attack me… I fear for w-what you might do… If you would harm them because of me. Would you?" She looked away from his emerald eyes and looked at the broken roads that were once highways.

Atlas looked forward and said nothing. Grinding of his teeth could be heard. Ruby heard this noise and moved up a little more till she was beside him and saw his face. The face of a man ready to decimate a town.

"You know the answer to that. I would take whoever ordered it and make them suffer. Shoving their head in a bucket filled with barbed wire and salt. Take out his eyes with a rusty spoon and then dump him in a barrel of acids. After his screams fill the air I'll emasculate and eviscerate him and shove his head on the end of a Halberd. Don't test me Ruby! You know I wouldn't allow some asshole like that to walk the earth!" he shouted.

"I know that Atlas but I mean others. People who weren't a part of it. Bystanders. Would you go off on them as well?" she asked a bit frightened.

Atlas hesitated a bit. "I uh… no promises…"

"I wouldn't be thinking straight. You should know me by now." He remarked.

Casual Atlas I suppose. I would hope that the situation doesn't come to that. It wouldn't be good for anybody especially those of the opposite end of my rage.

"You know, we literally became friends at first sight. Maybe not immediately but you know that's pretty crazy right? Others would see that as ridiculous. Normally we would have to know each other a lot more before becoming close friends of the sort. But even then you would still have to be human by most sane people. It's just so hard to believe how civilized you are." Atlas ranted desperately trying to change the subject. Maybe I'll tell her the true, childish reason as to why I wanted to be her friend later. But honestly if I tell her now I think I might look foolish. GRR THIS IS HARD! Think of something to throw her off...

"I guess that could be a reason we became so close so quick. Because of how nice and well-mannered you are. I just feel like me and you were destined to be with each other. Think about it. All humans you have come across were mostly bad and terrible people with a low chance of neutral people. The exact same goes to me. I have very frequent encounters with raiders and even some people called gunners. I rarely come across friendly faces. I have only crossed one nice and gentle hearted person and I don't know where she is now. She was news writer here in the commonwealth and her name was Ashley. Pretty common name but a beautiful name none-the-less. I wish I… I just..." Gloom started to overcome Atlas.

Ashley was the first friend he made in this hellish world but he tried to forget her after everything that's happened. Labeling Ruby as his first friend worked only for a short time and now thoughts were flowing again.

"Isn't that Ironic Ashley? One of the very things you were terrified of is much more civilized than you… she is much kinder and sweeter than you and she is a Deathclaw." He tried to argue with himself. It was an internal conflict.

He is trying so desperately to change the subject. Who is this woman he is mentioning now? Whatever it is it's really bothering him. Ruby thought to herself.

After a few more minutes of pacing the pair finally made it past the Corvega Assembly and was coming up towards the College Square Metro. This was their turnoff point. They will travel on a road to the left of the metro and follow the road down Cambridge till eventually they reach a bridge taking them straight to Diamond.

They made their way down the road, passing by the metro as they continue their converse.

"Atlas? Who is this Ashley you seem to be so intrigued yet conflicted about? Was she a close one?" She questioned him with real intent. It really piqued her interest.

Fuck. No way around it I suppose. "Ashley… s-she was a girl I met back in Concord over inside the Museum of Freedom. She was there probably to catch up on some history or was recording something to put in her newspaper. She didn't trust me at first but she eventually warmed up to me after noticing the fact that I had a pip-boy so she must have known about the vaults. Anything the survival guides or books didn't tell me I asked and she had them answered. She was my first real friend in the commonwealth but in the end she didn't really like the way I acted. I caught feelings for her believe it or not and I guess she had some for me. She tried to get me to converse with settlements at the Starlight drive-in and Abernathy Farms but I acted as I normally do. She scolded me often and tried desperately to change me until she eventually gave up on me and I caught her… having an a-affair." He choked on his words a little glancing back on the horrible image that forever stains his mind.

The scene of Ashley, in the bed with her breasts being partially seen. A man on top with messy bed hair. He was kissing her aggressively and slowly thrusting down on her every second or so with loud moaning to follow.

The scene faded as he stared into the ground still walking with a moment of silence. Ruby broke it with an unexpected question.

"What is an affair?" She was puzzled indeed staring intently at the sauntering yet depressed man.

Atlas was kind of happy she asked such a question. He didn't answer with content but knew exactly what to say.

"We were in a relationship. Boyfriend and girlfriend, mates, bond-ships, whatever you want to call it. We loved each other in that mannerism and broke it. She went to another man without ending it. She had sex, mated, or courted another man and left me high and dry. She is another reason why I am the way I am."

She understood every part. Each word like venom as its potency took effect. To know that he went through such a thing is truly disheartening. If she could she would hug him right now. It is really no wonder that he is distasteful towards others. Maybe that is another reason why he trusts her so much. She is much more intelligent and isn't human as humans have different thought processes and codes of honor. It makes some sense.

"To be honest with you, I am glad I didn't have sex with her anyway. I am perfectly okay with being a virgin. That bitch will get what she deserves. Speaking of which you have any Deathclaw buddies that you remember? Any at all?"

"No not really. I conversed with plenty but never made acquaintances with any of them. There was this one Deathclaw that was terrifying to look at that tried to forcefully mate me but I tore out his throat and shoved his own claw in his eye sockets. I heard one person call him a mythic Deathclaw but I have no idea what that even means Atlas. So to summarize no. No friends." She stated this with some sorrow but was still very straightforward.

"Huh. Well sounds like you and me are one in the same. Both pure and had very bad yet similar experiences with someone when it comes to the mating department. Wow. It's sad how I can relate better to a Deathclaw than of my own kind." He caught on quick to what he had said.

"NO! Wait! I didn't mean it in a rude or bad way it is just the reality of the situation." He rushed his words out fast.

She let out a chuckle. "Relax I understood what you meant." She flicked him in the back of the head. "OW HEY! THAT HURT" "Don't be so psyched all the time you are going to have gray hairs in no time flat if you keep it up." Atlas was a little confused at first as to how she knew human hairs turn gray as they age as well as when they are in situations of much stress. "Well, she was raised by humans and is very intellect unlike my dumbass…"

They had passed the Cambridge Police station being lost in the converse. Skeletons littered the streets along with some dead ghouls. Ashes of victims were spread out like dust. If only humanity could have solved its disputes without the need for war. Were it so easy…

He rubbed the back of his head. "It's just the way I am. Sorry. Just kind of get carried away with my words sometimes. Well… all the time really. I can't lie to you but I feel like it's better to have a huge creature like yourself rather than a human being. The only reason I think in such a manner is because in our current world right now, if I had to choose a companion to follow me around I'd want one that can stand the wastes and is really good at killing. Most humans that are like that mostly betray each other or end up in power struggles. So why not animals? They have better honor codes than us. Just look at dogs. Man's best friend. It is just much easier with you around Ruby."

She snickered a bit. "Okay really though Atlas why did you actually decide to converse with a Deathclaw? I KNOW that I can talk back but seriously. Why did you try to get close to a wasteland monster as if it was a mere domesticated pet?"

Cambridge Polymer labs was in the distance. They had made quite a lot of progress without any real conflict.

Well, I guess it's time to spill the beans now. Shit. "Well, to be honest, I was reading some books and comics that I found. Before bed I would always go out and stare at the stars or read and some of these comics were in some crazy worlds. In one, this guy named Reiko, the father of dragons, was the main protagonist. He was a bad ass and he even had dragons on his side. This mere man had dragons by his side to vanquish all evil. I just felt something in me that made me feel like a kid again. So, I guess when I saw the fact that you could talk and were dignified, I gave it a try. It worked… didn't it?"

I am so fucking immature…

She looked over at him confused but before she could even respond something was heard. Bouncing around the streets.

Gunshots were being fired into the distance. Sounded like .38's and some 10mm.

Too soon.

Ruby and Atlas tensed up hearing the shots. They started rushing over to the right side of the street to get cover all the while keeping their heads up looking for what made the gunshots. "Oh for fucks sake I really did speak too soon. Ruby get ready. Whatever the hell is up ahead could be a lot worse than what we are normally used to facing!" He readied his .50 cal rifle, attached his new found suppressor to the end, and looked behind him waiting for her signal.

"Aww. You underestimate me Atlas. You know I have faced way more than you have. Believe me little one this will not be a pyrrhic victory. With me around this will be quite simplistic all the while being sumptuous."

She dragged her claw on the ground and started a full sprint in the direction. She was very surreptitious in her steps however, almost like she was stalking on prey but all the while sprinting at max speeds! Truly amazing. It really left Atlas awestruck as to how that overgrown gecko could run so fast yet be so quiet.

She would kill me if she heard that. "Well I will pretend like I knew what those words meant and just roll with it. Let's go baby." He ran as fast as he possibly could behind her and saw up ahead the oncoming battle of raiders shooting super mutants. The raiders were taking cover utilizing the mines they had placed to take out the mutant hounds and any super coming in with a nail board in hand. They may be shifty bastards but they still are pretty smart.

"Oh-ho this will be fun." She gets close enough to rip out pieces of concrete and started hurling them downrange. A few good throws ended up hitting some super mutants. With successful hits she roared out into the sky and started going on that tactical rampage that you'd expect from a Deathclaw. Of course, being as intelligent as she is she adds her own twists like grabbing the street sign and clubbing a hound with it… which she just did… great.

Atlas slid behind a concrete blockade and steadied his breath, peering into the scope. He lined up on a raider hiding behind cover. Thank god I got that suppressor.

*PANG!*

The raiders head is no longer in a single piece as red mist spurts from the neck. He chambered another round and scoped in on a mutant with a hunting rifle. He drew his breath and steadied on his head.

*PANG!*

"HAHA! There goes his ugly mug. Catch you in hell mutie. They keep staying in place for me and things will keep getting easier." Chambering another round he zoomed in on Ruby causing absolute havoc among the ranks of their enemies. The .38 and 10mm bullets were seeming to bounce off her "scale mail" like nothing as she shredded her foes with those massive talons.

The kid is Atlas seemed to come out again. Well, even though he can't remember shit of his past. "COOOOOOOOL! She is such a badass…" his eyes seemed to twinkle like one looking at their child hood hero.

He zoned back in when he saw a mutant with a big super sledge charge at Ruby from behind.

"Fuck!" he honed in his shot a little bit in front of the target and drew his breath yet again. Slowly grasping the trigger the rifle went off sending the .50 cal hurling forward.

Things seemed to slow in his eyes as he saw the bullet flying ahead. The mutant was slowly moving towards where the bullet would meet. "Please…" he begged.

After dispatching another raider and mutant Ruby turning around to see a big super mutant fall to the ground with a nasty choking sound as blood gushed from his throat. There was nothing but a big vast hole where his throat should be, with a big hole in the wall behind him as well. She glanced up and saw the glimmer of his scope and just knew she had owed him one now. "Well then. Let's finish this I suppose."

Atlas sighed heavily upon seeing the bullet made his mark. "Thank the lords… I need to move up."

He hopped over the blockade and ran towards where the action was taking place and saw Ruby disappear behind a corner. Taking a left on that main street he saw Ruby dart around he stopped with his boots making a scratchy sound and aimed down range only to be met with Ruby pulling her claw out the chest of a raider.

Lowering his weapon he walked over as she growled at all of her victims. After a few scrapes of her claws on the ground the blood has vanished and as she was about to tend to some blood spatters on her chest and arm areas when she was stopped by an unsuspecting hand on her hip.

"Sit. Now…" Atlas had demanded.

She gasped a bit as she was a little startled at his frontward approach. "Why? What's wrong Atlas?"

He slung the rifle behind his back and sighed, making sure not to make eye contact with her. "Just do it. Please…"

Ruby couldn't really think of a reason to retort so she willingly sat down and watched for his next move. She was still worried and distraught over her companion not knowing what was bothering him.

He untightened the straps to his pack and emptied out some rags and alcohol. He then, using the alcohol and rags as disinfectant, started cleaning the blood and wounds that were on her body. A few shots had managed to break scales on her arm as that was a blocking mechanism for her when she didn't have anything else. He could hear her hissing but he had to clean them.

After the arm he moved on to her chest and stomach area where a few cuts had managed to break through.

"Atlas please… these are nothing compared to what I have been through previously. You need to worry more for yourself. I can endure a lot more than you and you can't contest it.

… Come on now please Atlas just stop-"

"NO!" he looked into her ruby eyes. His emerald eyes were the cynosure of the hour matching up with hers and you could tell that his next words were being poured from the soul.

"Don't… just… don't. I need to keep you safe as we travel the commonwealth. I will be a pest until the day my last breath draws. Don't expect me to ever leave your side in the right state of mind. If I need to use a little of my supplies to keep you in good shape then I will. I can always find or buy more. You are all I have got."

He continued with her wounds as she sat bewildered. Why is he so selfless? He is apathetic one minute towards others but to me he is completely opposite. He really wants to be my shield into battle. Or at least a support. You are a lot kinder and genuine than you make yourself out to be mo stor.

He sighed after disposing of the bloodied rags and putting the alcohol back. Closing it and strapping it tight onto his back, his pack was secure and so was his rifle and pistol. So he stood up and took a few steps away from her and peered out onto the bridge ahead with a destroyed boat in the water.

She felt bad, almost guilty for getting herself injured, even if it was only minor. She got up herself and stood beside her partner looking out and seeing what he was. "The crash of the USS Riptide. That means that diamond city is straight ahead."

"Astounding…" he turned around and started checking bodies for look. He received a few caps, 10 mil, 308 and .38 rounds, some stimpaks and about 7 bottles of water. "Thank fuck…" he opened up his pack being desultory about it seeing as he just put it back on. He kept 3 bottle of water out.

"Ruby" he had called out whilst walking over to her. She had zoned out just from looking around at the city ruins laying ahead. "Here, I found water. These three won't be enough for you as big as you are but it should do something."

"The gesture is appreciated but have you drank any yourself?"

He opened up all three of them and handed her them to drink. She will down them within seconds anyway so three at the same time isn't that bad of an idea.

"Yeah I had some already go ahead and drink up. I will give you some more later. You may be able to last longer than me but that means you need more in general." He had to lie to not worry her again. He will feel the repercussions of this choice later on but at least she is alright.

She nodded and gulped down all three bottles and handed the bottles back to him, in turn he fit the cap back on them, put them in the pack, and closed it up.

"Well then. All ready to go Ruby? It shouldn't be far from here now."

"Yes Atlas let us depart. The smell of blood is starting to stain my sense of smell."

"Tch. I know that's a lie. You could smell a blood hound from California to the UK if you wanted to."

*THWAP!*

"OW! Hey what was that for?" he rubbed the back of his head.

"You keep messing with me little one and I will hurl you out into the glowing sea without your precious little Ruby to protect you." She amused herself quite a bit when messing with the smaller human. Even though he is big for his own species.

"You don't have to flick me in the back of the head all the time though you experimental chameleon! I swear my head is going to pop off you keep it up."

*THWAP!*

"OWW DAMNIT ALL I TOLD YOU TO KNOCK IT OFF I SWEAR ON MY LIFE!" "Oh hush now Atlas dearest look. Your head just so happens to still be attached to your neck and shoulders so all is well."

He could hear her snicker with a touch of evil. I will get her I swear on it. Just you wait.

As they walked across the bridge she thought to herself.

Well Atlas, looks like I owe you twice now… my little Atlas. What am I going to do without you?

Next time we see our two protagonists they will have scrapped a few raiders, mutants, and ghouls and will be towards the front gate of Diamond City. That lucky ol' diamond.

Will the guards let them through or will they be fired at?

Welp that's chapter 6 hope you enjoyed! Sorry I have been gone for so long I have been busy with life in general. I'M BACK BABY! But yeah if you don't know the CAPS UNDERLINED LIKE THIS means he is yelling but it isn't focused on. It's in the background pretty much. Chapter 7 is coming out very soon I promise i am very sorry for not writing in such a long time. Have a good one and PEACE!