Authors Note:

Getting so much closer to developing more than just the main character. I know some people see Fahrenheit as Hancock's lover and that there's a manual somewhere that suggests this as well - however the game does have coding (unmentioned in game play) of her being his daughter.

I'm going to work that angle instead. Totally plausible that a man at 30-something (and a ghoul, cuz we don't know how long he's been ghoul) could have a late-teen, early 20's daughter.

I stood beside Kent, feeling damned awful as Hancock lectured me. Us, he was really lecturing us, but I knew it was more my responsibility than Kent's. He was a scared shut in. Maybe getting out and seeing this side of the world was what he needed to get out of his tomb of pre-war memories, but him getting hurt, nearly killed...

Guiltily I handed him the costume and the gun.

"Kent, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you'd get kidnapped, I didn't know-"

"It's fine." He smiled weakly, "I just don't think I'm up for that kind of adventure." He looked at the items in his arms, then shrugged them back to me, "I'm not going to need these..." Kent looked so forlorn, my heart twisted.

"Don't let it get ya down, kid." Hancock rasped, crossing his arms.

"You can't let this stop you from believing in good." I seconded, knowing that Hancock was glaring at me for opening my mouth. "You can't stop being the good. You know what I mean?"

You've done enough. Hancock's heavy gaze said.

I ignored him.

"I'm going to keep playing the episodes, but maybe nothing big until I'm more recovered." Kent rubbed his arm nervously, though he seemed a bit more confident. "But when you're in town listen to the Silver Shroud, you never know when I might pick up the torch again."

I nodded, guilt chewing away at my stomach. I watched Kent leave the room. There was silence for a minute as Hancock and I obviously struggled to find a steady ground to communicate on. I took in his personal rooms. Used drugs everywhere; I was surprised to see Psycho and Buffout in the mix of Jet canisters and mentat cases. My opinion of Hancock lowered slightly. The room was hazy from lack of ventilation; I was probably getting second-hand high without realizing it. His office smelled of the sweet after-scent of the compressed air in the jet inhalers and the fine power left behind in the mentant tins. Hancock pushed off from the counter he'd been leaning against. I watched him cross the room in my peripheral vision, occupying myself with wiping a layer of dust off my fingers after trailing them over an old bookcase.

Intrigued I noticed that some of the books were very well used and their corresponding shelves were immaculate; books about government, psychology, genetics, radiation, nuclear power and its effects and dangers... Hancock's voice shocked me out of my snooping.

"You took down a big guy like Sinjin and kept Kent alive?" The voice travelled with him as he went to the broken in couch.

"I should have done more." I felt like garbage, straightening and moving closer to the shuttered window. "A good man got hurt and it's my fault."

Hancock snorted, "Yeah. Right. Like that doesn't happen all the time out here in the Commonwealth. You give yourself too much credit there, Sister."

I felt myself bristle, "I'm not taking credit for anything. I egged him on. I let this happen. If I hadn't encourage-"

"If you hadn't encouraged him," Hancock took a deep breath as he depressed the Jet inhaler, smoke poured out his mouth and ruined nose as he continued talking, "he would have stayed stuck in that damned room withering away until they found him feral and eating someone. Sit down, would ya! I'm not gunna bite." He winked, "Unless you're into that."

I rolled my eyes, making my way around the couch opposite Hancock, "I've heard about you and your... reputation."

Why would I bring that up? Why am I talking about this? It doesn't matter. It was a half-tempting thought though. I shook myself inwardly. What is wrong with me?! I'm acting like a rutting teenager!

He sat straight up suddenly, his eyes hardened as he met my gaze, "What do you mean?"

I waved my hand to the table full of empty drug canisters, "Druggie, mayor, charismatic-"

"You think I'm charismatic?" His non-existent eyebrow wagged.

"- Philanderer-"

"You know, people take one comment and blow it up into some huge deal -"

"But you're kind. And brave. You're a conundrum, Mr. Mayor." I shifted on the couch, waiting for an interruption that never came. I waited a moment more for him to say something instead of pinning me with his too alive, too dark eyes before standing; uncomfortable. "I've heard Bobbi No-Nose has work for me, Hancock and I think we're finished here. I'm gunna go."

"I've got a job for you too." He grinned, leaning back, finally breaking eye contact with a smug smile that said he knew exactly what he was doing. "Pickman gallery."

"What's there?" I turned to face him, curious.

He had his head leaned back against the cushions, silent.

I rolled my eyes, leaving without a goodbye. Probably too high to use his words. I growled inwardly.

As I started down the stairs I ran into his right hand, Fahrenheit.

"Oh, excuse m-"

"Do you ever play chess?" She stared impassively at me.

"Uhm... what? Yes, once. Long ago I mean."

Her eyes hardened, boring into me, their amber depths were sparking with barely restrained anger. "Sometimes you have to sacrifice a pawn to keep the game going."

I watched her walk away, closing the door to Hancock's rooms after her.

Did she just threaten me, or give me advice? I shook my head, continuing down the stairs. The shouts from behind the closed doors fading.

"We're in!" Bobbi shouted.

"Wait a minute..." Mel spun in a slow circle, "This isn't Diamond City-"

"You're right." Fahrenheit shouted from the cat walk above us. "This is Hancock's warehouse."

I turned on my heel, facing Bobbi with no small amount of anger. "You lied to me, Bobbi?"

"Look, listen-" She held her hands up.

Mel had already booked it into the tunnel, backtracking to safety I was sure.

"No!" I was furious. "I can put up with a lot of shit, but I can't stand a fucking liar, Bobbi." My grip on my gun tightened. "Get. Out. Now." I growled. "Or I will kill you."

The tension dissipated as Fahrenheit came down the plank walkway, Bobbi strolling down the tunnel as though she had all the time in the world.

I turned to the younger woman as she grinned. A wolf that got her prey; the comparison gave me goose bumps. Her freckles stood out on her skin in the cold, her pale complexion adding an extra red tint to her cheeks, nose and ears though I doubt she would ever complain of being cold. Autumn was fast melting into winter now, which meant damp, brisk, ocean scented mornings and a layer of frost that wouldn't completely melt at day's end.

"We appreciate that kind of loyalty." She grinned, one of her bottom front teeth was cracked, the one beside it chipped. "I'm sure Hancock would like to repay you. You should go give him a visit after this-"

"Oh shit!" I ground my shoe into the dirt and grime of the warehouse. "I totally forgot about Pickman gallery..."

She gave me a weird look. "We'll, we're ready for you whenever you stop by. I-I think he could do a lot worse than a friend like you."

In mere moments her hardness and age melted away. Before me wasn't an aged, experienced warrior but a young girl, barely into adulthood. Her shaved head and multitude of scars didn't hide the youthful face, the insecurity that came with lack of time in the world.

She gave her mini-gun a once over, hefting it to the ground before me. "I would like to give you this, on behalf of our Mayor. Loyalty should be rewarded, and I know that he'd approve... We're glad to have someone like you supporting our city, supporting my Mayor."

I narrowed my eyes at the tone in her voice. "W-what are you to-"

"C'mon guys!" She turned on a heel, her façade back in place. The unsure girl before me buried away behind the brick of a woman marching out the door.

I shook my head, confused, unsure. She seemed young to be Hancock's lover, though maybe it was just a moment of womanly tenderness? Was she Hancock's lover? Did I care? Why had she made a point to emphasis that he was her mayor? I grabbed the mini-gun, slinging the weapon over my shoulder with an arm.

I winced as I exited the warehouse.

No possible way to carry this comfortably. I hesitated on the asphalt, then turned back and left the weapon hidden in the warehouse, tucked away in the car with the sleeping bag and lock's spelling out "Hancock".