She'd gotten a chair to her corner.
It was a simple thing of brittle wood and steel that Moira had tossed out...but it carried Nova's weight and she liked it. It was one of the few good things going for her right now and she was firmly set on enjoying the feel of leaning back in it and keep her legs stretched out in front of her, heck...she had already dozed off a dozen times on it...and was aiming for another right now.
Sleep was the only enjoyment right now, or at least one that didn't feel like she was walking on a minefield.
Moriarty had been very quiet the last week, which would have been great except the fact that Moriarty of all people were afraid was a really bad sign...which left most people in Megaton uneasy. A rat always knew when the ship was sinking...and the enclave attacks had been awfully close to succeeding as of late.
Not only that but she had found herself unable to speak with Gob ever since their little 'episode', though he had tried to initiate her in a conversation at times she just hadn't been...able. It had simply hurt to much. It always hurt to watch Gob...if nothing but out of sympathy...but now it was far worse. She had hurt him, she knew it, and she had done it out of selfishness and without thinking of the consequences...guilt raked her every time she looked at him now.
Ever since their talk he had put on a brave face, she was impressed...though it hurt her even more knowing that he struggled to look untroubled the whole day...and then hear him weeping when he thought she couldn't hear him in his room.
And there was nothing she could say to comfort him.
If the feeling of helplessness wasn't bad enough she also had his question to attend to. Ever since he had asked her a week ago the question hadn't stopped bothering her. It was there when she woke up, it was there whenever she had a customer...which had pissed Jericho off to no end when she'd cried the wrong name...and it was was there when she slept.
Him...or the hero?
She didn't know the answer dammit!
In comparison the paranoia and fear of what Gob had said before the question being true or not was like nothing...well...not really...God she was so confused! And it didn't let up either, it just kept boring down into her, dozens of questions with no answer tearing at her heart until she just wanted to cry. Not like there were any tears left...
And she hadn't heard a thing about him re-
All air went out of her when the door opened and revealed a sight she'd only dreamt of.
John wasn't in the power armour people had spoken of, instead he wore a suit of leather armour that was so singed and torn that it seemed impossible that the man within it wasn't dead. The only weapons on him was a worn looking pistol and a blackened combat knife, both hanging from the string that was his belt. He looked to have had a turn for the worse...Nova couldn't care less though.
And apparently neither could he, despite having over a dozen new scars, an even bonier figure..to the point of starvation...he sported a wide smile that shone like a sun. "Gob! Nova! I can't describe how good it is to see you!"
"John!" Gob smiled, despite everything the ghoul still liked they guy, and even though the smile seemed a little strained...it wasn't obvious enough for someone who didn't look for it. "I can't believe it...where have you been!?" He poured a glass even as he watched John sit down on the stool close to Nova's corner. Was John glancing at her? Was he? "And where's your armour? I thought the brotherhood had given you one of those power suits?"
"Probably buried under an entire mountain." John's chuckle was so low, so...calm. "And I don't think you'd believe me if I told you..." Now, he looked at her...the calm there made her struggle not to fall off the chair. Where was the rage? Where was the sheer need? Something had happened...and Nova found herself smiling at it. "Nova...why are you crying?"
She found herself unable to answer, her throat closing up. Clearing it he wiped her eyes, realizing that she indeed was sporting quite the trail of tears. "It...it's just so good to see you." If Gob winced at that she couldn't tell, nor care. "I...I thought you m...might h...have..."
He smiled, knowing what she meant. "I'm okay, see?" He raised his arms to his sides, showing that he indeed wasn't bleeding, though the pale scars showing through the many holes in his armour showed how close it had been. "Something small like a mountain falling down on me won't kill me." He chuckled, eyes glazing over in memories. "In fact...I'd say it was a little worse getting back after the mountain collapsing. No food, weapons or good clothes while surrounded by enclave patrols...but I'm here and that's what matters." He shrugged, nodding a curt thanks to Gob while taking a sip from the offered glass.
"So...you succeeded?" Gob asked, drawing John's gaze off her...was it reluctantly? God, now that she looked for it it seemed she saw the looks time and time again! Was it just imagination? Or was Gob...God she felt so confused! "With that mission I mean? The brotherhood garrison has been here at times...something about a GECK?"
The man smiled. "I suppose...not...but the brotherhood will no doubt be happy none the less. The enclave has lost Eden himself..." An amused snort. "Not to mention their headquarters." Another amused snort, this one almost a giggle. "Hell...I didn't even mean to blow it up." If he noticed Gob's gasp of shock and Nova's flinch he didn't show it. "But enough about that...how are you two? Is everything okay?" He looked concerned, though still smiling, eyes darting between the two as if he was ensuring they were unharmed.
"We're fine." Huh? When had she gotten to her feet? "Those brotherhood warriors have really been a lot of help...thanks." She sat down in the other end of the corner, once more wiping her tears away. Why wouldn't they stop!? She was smiling though...it was doubtful she could stop that either. "We've mostly been worrying about you, and with good reason apparently." Reaching out she tugged at his leather jacket, the thing practically ready to fall apart. God...he was really there! She could feel it between her fingers! Come now...get a grip! "You...you're sure you're okay? Heh...you look like a sieve."
"Better then okay." John's smile was so...so...uncomplicated. God, she was already finding it frustrating...not that the smile still tugging at her lips gave that impression. "I'm just great." Was he leaning closer? Or was that her? He was smiling at her, for her...with her.
"Yes...why is that?" Gob's question brought Nova out of her dreaming.
John shrugged, a finger coming to rest upon the rim of the glass before him. He seemed so...what was the word? It didn't seem to fit...something out of a different world...content. "Oh there are many reasons really, far too many...it's really easy to find things to smile about if you look for them." Huh? Was he serious? He must be...suddenly the smile of his turned into an amused smirk. "Today for instance I had the pleasure of pissing Colin off...always enjoyable."
"Oh please tell me...what did you do this time?" Gob grinned, the display of rotten teeth did nothing to discourage either of them. When he was happy enough not to care about how ugly that looked...one knew he was excited. "Dipped him in the water by the bomb? Tripped him? Nono! I know...you fooled caps off him!?"
"Well...sort of." John cocked an eyebrow in amusement and leant back a little, his arms crossed in front of him as he threw Nova an amused look before saying: "I talked to Simms and the brotherhood captain...and we decided to clear all debts in town." Uh that didn't...no...wait...Nova's eyes bulged as she realized what he might mean. Gob looked like he didn't seem to understand, eyes blank. "I mean, Lucas didn't like it since Jericho apparently owed him some caps...but since it pissed Moriarty off so much he was satisfied."
"I don't..." Gob blinked, the hands on the counters tightening slightly as he looked at John with vacant eyes. "I...doesn't that mean...?"
"Indeed it does." John nodded, looking so casual it was laughable. "I also happen to know that Moira needs an assistant since she's been expanding her inventory so much." He was right, the large deals he'd struck with her had made her the rich crazy leader of the town...and now that meant she needed help...and she would no doubt accept a ghoul as an assistant, in fact she would be ecstatic over such a prospect. "You think you'd like a job like that? I'm pretty sure she pays well."
"I...I..." Gob's hands shook. "But...Moriarty..." The ghoul blinked. "Can't...do...anything?"
John chuckled even as the realisation of what he'd really said finally sunk in for Nova...the joy of it made her heart sing. Gob still seemed in shock though, hands shaking even as he stared at John with such confusion in his eyes. John simply nodded, the smirk never leaving his face: "That's right, he's still yelling at the captain as far as I know...but with no success."
"I...I..."
"Well don't just stand there! Hug the man!" Nova exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear even as an odd thought struck her. Doing this for Gob was...foolish.
Gob didn't need to be told twice, and Nova's doubts were nothing compared to the enjoyment of seeing the ghoul actually launch himself over the counter, arm closing in around John's shoulders even as the pair dropped upon the floor. Nova couldn't stop the laugh bubbling up as she watched John gasp for breath under the weight of the ghoul as Gob begun to squeeze him tight. The ghoul was whispering something in the other man's ear, Nova couldn't hear what...but she was pretty sure what it was.
"Dear God! I think I'm dying!" John laughed, making Gob release him as if he'd been burnt, the ghoul sported a goofy grin though, and was already on his feet as he bounced with barely contained energy. "Well aren't you Mr happy?" John chuckled as he let Gob pull him to his feet and dust him off, his eyes were on Nova though as he said: "Hey...maybe you should ask Moira about that job of hers? And...heh...maybe talk to Colin?"
The goofy grin instantly turned to one of calculating satisfaction, Gob actually rubbed his hands like a Mr Burke look-alike. "Oh yes...I'll do that right now...oh I'm going to enjoy this!" That was it, a quick slap on John's shoulder, a: "Thanks man!" And Gob was rushing out the door, almost knocking it over in his eagerness to find his old 'employer'.
John was still laughing when Nova found herself speaking up: "That might have been foolish..."
"Oh he'll be fine." John waved the worry aside and sat down on his stool once again, that smile...so calm. "I'm sure he won't taunt Colin...too much."
"That was not what I was talking about." Nova whispered, the worry worming itself in until her guts felt like they were tied up into a knot. "Colin is a powerful man...got a lot of hooks in people...he could make it impossible for you to stay here..." Never to return, to her...
The smile didn't disappear for a moment. "I'm not worried about that..." Why not? Now he hesitated, the calm surface disturbed for but a moment. "I have a...house here...it's not vastly furnished since I've been far too busy for that..." He chuckled, looking away. "...but it has a lot of items in it, ammunition and medicines, a small library of books...quite the fortune of items really. One could start a small store."
"Well that's fine for...you?" Nova felt cold, he couldn't mean...he wasn't possible suggesting...her heart seemed ready to explode. "John...what are you saying? Please just say it, I can't bear to...please?"
John looked back at her, face serious. "I'm saying...this." Forcing herself to look away from him and down at the sound of something sliding across the counter...Nova found herself looking at John's hand pushing a key towards her. He then pulled his hand back, leaving the small item in front of her, so...small. "Take it, it's yours."
"You...you're giving me a copy of your house key?" Warmth...oh the warmth. Nova grabbed the key and held it close to her, it was so small...and wonderful. A new life...
"No, I'm giving you the house key." Nova's eyes shot up from looking at her hands, meeting John's amused face. "The house is yours." Then he looked away, the amusement dying out. "Now...I must be going, one of the brotherhood knights will escort me back to the citadel where I have a report to make." He got off his stool, his movement suddenly weary, still not looking at her. "Try to treat the Mr Handy nicely, I know he might not be your style but he's a good...robot."
"B...b...but you can't just leave!" Nova protested, dropping the key back unto the counter and getting to her feet, she reached out and grabbed John by the wrist, surprising herself. He looked back at her with a raised eyebrow, the smile nowhere to be found. "All this...and you're just leaving? You don't...want anything else?" She winced at her own words, her feet forcing her closer. "I mean...Don't you want to...stay a while?" God...she felt so shy all of a sudden...she!
"I...I cannot." John looked away, shoulders sagging. "I'm...already late, it's too important to postpone."
"Stay...please?"
He was suddenly close, hot breath brushing against her, hands holding her by the sides. For the first time in a very long time Nova's lips trembled with something besides fear.
He kissed her, and it was not at all what she'd expected it to be.
It was not the ravishing one would expect of a hero, nor the hunger of a man famished...it was gentle, the lips against her so inexperienced...tentative. The hands on her hips held her so lightly...a feather touch...as if she was of glass and he feared breaking her. Nothing like what she had dreamt off...
It was far better.
And it was over far too early, John stepping away with an odd look on his face, fingers moving up to his lips...as if he didn't really understood what he had just done. Nova just smiled, she felt so warm...content. John's face was one of regret though.
Regret...no!
"I...must go." He turned hurriedly towards the door, hand grabbing the handle even as Nova's hand shot out, grabbing him by the other arm, making him look back. The smile was back, but it was a sad one.
"Wh..." She hesitated, unsure, afraid."...when are you coming back?"
He looked away, gently pulling his arm out of her grip even as he opened the door, the bright light framing him as he stepped into the doorway. Then he looked back, swallowing slightly before speaking: "Goodbye Nova."
Then he was gone, the door silently closing shut.
And she begun to weep...