*This next chapter was a while in coming I know-I've been hitting a little bit of a wall with my storyline. Everything I write I seem to be finding fault with. Well-hope you guys like this anyways, but feel free to leave a comment with any suggestions or ideas if you want to. Let's see where this goes.*
It was nearly dark when a young man came rushing up to him out of breath and informed him that the General had returned. Preston thanked him and it was all he could do not to go running down the streets to meet her at the gate. The few people still out were gathered around her when he rounded the corner of a dilapidated house, and at first he had a hard time seeing her. She hugged a few of them in greeting and shook hands with those she had not met yet. Preston waited his turn patiently as the crowd began to disperse. It was then he noticed the new addition to their group. A tall ghoul dressed in a comically red coat with a tricorn over his bald head. He stared confused for a moment wondering where he had come from until Margot looked his way and gave him an excited smile.
"Preston! I missed you!" She ran to him and gave him a long and warm hug. He hugged her back-enjoying the feel of her arms around his neck. She pulled away all too soon and held him at arms legnth to look at him. He smiled down at her, a good six inches shorter than him.
"You look exhausted Preston! Haven't you been sleeping?" A look of worry crossed her face but he shook his head easily.
"It has been a long day General. But don't you worry about me. I'm fine." He really was. He was better than fine now that she was back. Never mind that he had indeed been having trouble sleeping while she was away. Perhaps he could coax her into staying a little longer this time.
"Oh-please don't call me that!" She frowned as she patted his arm. "You know I don't like it." She turned from him and walked over to the ghoul standing a few feet away; watching the scene before him with a smile. "This is my new friend Hancock. He's the mayor of Goodneighbor. We've been traveling together for about a month now." Preston forced a smile and extended his hand in greeting.
"Nice to meet you. Preston Garvey, Minutemen." He offered sociably, but his mind was a little preoccupied. They were traveling together? Why? "If you don't mind my asking-what brings you out here so far from home?"
"Well you see-I'd been idle too long. I was itching to get back out in the thick of it. Then this little lady comes along causing trouble in my town." Margot gave an exaggerated gasp but the Mayor continued. "So I figured if she was up to trouble in there she'd be up to trouble out here. The kind of trouble I wouldn't mind getting mixed up in. And here we are. Good thing too-seeing as how I saved your ass from that feral earlier." He added towards her. Margot rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry at him.
"Never would have been in that situation if we had just done it my way from the start." Preston watched this exchange a little confused. She was usually one to travel alone, she wouldn't even take Dogmeat with her. Preston had offered to go along several times but she had always said she wanted to be on her own. And now she meets this ghoul and starts traveling with him? He couldn't help but feel uneasy with their casual conversation and how well they seemed to know one another.
"Anyways-I'm starving! Did we miss dinner?" She asked, her green eyes sparkling in the fading light.
"I'm sorry, we finished not too long ago. I could get you something and bring it to your quarters?" Preston supplied helpfully, Margot just smiled and shook her head.
"Nah-don't bother. I think Hancock and I will just raid the mess real quick then turn in. We both could use a good night's sleep. Could you get him a room in the visitor's house?" She turned to Hancock. "It's not much-but it's got a roof and a comfy bed at least." Hancock just smirked at her.
"Sweetheart-anything's better than the cold, hard ground we've been sleeping on since we left Goodneighbor." He swung his pack back over his shoulder and gave Preston a thumbs up. "Lead the way Minuteman." Preston clenched his teeth a little and gestured up the hill behind the neighborhood to where the vault was. Since coming to Sanctuary they had removed most of it's unnecessary contents for scrap and centered their main base of operations within it's safe confines. Although, as their numbers quickly grew; fixing up the run-down houses in the old neighborhood to use for new tennants had become necessary.
"The mess hall is down in the vault-you will need special permission to access that area since the guards don't know you." He pointed to a few houses near the main gate and continued. "These are the visitors houses. If you want to eat first I'll have someone escort you to your lodging for the night when you are done." The directions were polite enough, and Preston hoped they wouldn't notice his unease concerning Margot's new "companion." He turned her way and smiled.
"Should I call the others of the council for a breifing at say...nine o'clock tomorrow?" She groaned and gave him a sheepish smile.
"Can we do ten? I'm beat to shit Preston. I kinda wanted to sleep in a bit..." She continued to give him that pleading look he knew all too well. She used it often with him to get her way; and he was not immune to it. He sighed and shook his head.
"Ten it is then. Well-I'll let you get some food and rest. If you need me for anything-you know where to find me." Preston gave a curt nod to them both and walked away along the walls, letting the cool night air soothe his mind. He knew he would have a lot to think about this night.
Hancock had enjoyed a pleasant night with Margot. The two had thrown together a quick meal of potted meat and tatos. He was rather surprised at her prowess in the kitchen; making their simple dinner taste more like a feast with the help of just a few herbs and the right seasoning. They sat around and talked for a little while then she walked him back down the hill to Sanctuary. She'd told him she just wanted to make sure he knew where he was going-but he knew she just wanted to sneak in a few hits of chems before turning in for the night. Apparently this friend of hers, Preston; didn't approve of any chem use and she didn't want him to know. He had obliged her as he enjoyed the recreational use of chems himself. He didn't agree with her lying about it though; that kind of thing always ended badly. They said their farewells at the door and she turned back up the hill towards the vault and her rooms in the Overseer's offices. Hancock watched her go, a slow smile creeping onto his face. He was really enjoying traveling with her. She was tough as nails in a fight, and appealed to his rather reckless nature. She shuffled along the empty street some ways before he saw her pause, staring distractedly at an empty house a few doors down. The dead bushes in the front had been neatly manicured and the lawn recently tended. He pushed himself up off his rest against the doorframe and squinted down the street to where she stood. She stared into the dark remains of the home for some minutes before pulling her coat closer around her and moving on. There was just so much about her Hancock wanted to know; it was strange to say the least. Something about this woman intrigued him. She had many secrets, he knew, and for some irrational reason he desperately wanted to know all of them.
After a few minutes of lying sleepless in his bed he went outside for a little fresh air. He was now sitting on the roof of the fixed-up house smoking a cigarette and fiddling with a tin of Mentats. He laughed a little as he thought about the events of this evening. He didn't have to be a genius to figure out that this Preston fellow was head over heels for his most recent female companion. He could practically read it all over the man's face. As if the glares and brisk conversation being directed Hancock's way weren't a dead giveaway. Hancock wasn't bothered; he had no designs on his attractive new travel-mate. But this friend of hers obviously saw him as a threat and he knew he would have to remedy that situation quickly. He had no desire to get involved in some "lover's triangle"; he had to think of some way to put the Minuteman's mind at ease.
Thinking again, Hancock did have to admit to himself that the woman had a great body, was one hell of a scrapper and she could match him tit for tat with their banter. He had no doubt they could have some fun together. He indulged himself with a little bit of fantasy before he pushed those thoughts aside. There were plenty of willing participants back in Goodneighbor for him to play with. Besides-he was kinda digging this chick; he wasn't about to screw it up by getting sex involved.
Hancock flicked his butt out onto the pavement below without thinking then cursed silently to himself. He knew what it was like to work hard building your community; and these people took pride in keeping their streets clean. He climbed down hastily and picked up the scrap of paper and filter; making sure it was out before stowing it away in his pocket. He shuffled back into the house and down the hall to his room. He slipped off his coat and boots and laid down onto the mattress again with a heavy sigh. The springs creaked under his weight but he didn't notice much; it was the softest thing he'd layed on in a long time. Crossing his hands over his chest he closed his eyes and tried to sleep; but the feel of Margot's soft skin and seductive view of her bare shoulder came unbidden into his tired mind. Well-maybe a little more fantacising wouldn't hurt too much, he thought as he drifted off into a comfortable, deep sleep.