Chapter 2

note: From now on, the updates for the fic will be done every Tuesday so stay tuned for more :) I felt like writing a bit more today so I will be posting out of my regular schedule to hand over some fluff-ish. Have fun reading :)

"This can't be a good idea," Boone said, his arms crossed over his chest as he slowly shook his head. "The minute that Lady gets that you are behind any harm that comes to Benny, you risk having another tribe keeping their teeth sharp for you."

"I'm not saying this is the perfect way to deal with this," Arcade added, somewhat agreeing with Boone on that one. "But at the very least, you can always use the information she can give to get closer to him. Like I said, you would need to be subtle."

Six listened to them both in silence, contemplating the possibilities ahead of her as well as the challenges they presented. From what she could tell, Arcade only knew the woman had previous ties with the Chairmen's leader and couldn't tell more about how well they still got along. Maybe they only cared for a professional relationship, maybe she hated the prick but still needed some sort of protection, who knew, right? It may not have been the straightest route to Benny but it was surely worth getting looked into.

"I'm going to go meet her," Six said with a brisk nod. "Arcade, you said you didn't really know the nature of her relationship with Benny, right? I'm thinking, maybe she hates him too, no? Like, she is not running with the Chairmen anymore, there's got to be a reason for that."

"It's true that I don't know much more about them, no," Arcade shrugged. "But sure, I'll set up the meeting. Come back tomorrow, I should be able to send for them until then."

"Thanks, Arcade," Six sighed, getting up from her seat and giving the man a pat on the shoulder, a gesture Arcade responded to with a slight frown. "I can't wait to see what kind of woman is dumb enough to have married that prick."

"I'm pretty sure I can hit this signpost from here," a fairly drunk Boone said as he struggled slightly to keep his balance, his sniper held up and pointed at the horizon.

Six, who on the other hand was sitting down comfortably on a pile of rocks, let out a loud yawn, the whiskey they had cracked open earlier slowly starting to affect her. Getting drunk under one of the broken overpasses outside of Freeside might not have been the best idea to survive a night in the Mojave but the two companions were celebrating in some sort. They were almost there, 2000 caps for one and a passport for the other, one more day and another part of the plan would be dealt with.

"My mom always said never to drink and shoot a heavy tactical weapon in the middle of the night." Six said with a lazy giggle. "Come on and sit by the fire with me, there's some whiskey left that I can't be trusted with."

"I probably should stop drinking," Boone sighed, dropping his weapon down before landing indelicately on the ground beside Six. "I need to stay sharp, keep my mind clear for the day I'll send a bullet on a one-way trip through Ceasar's ugly skull…"

"That's what I love about you, man," Six laughed softly. "No one puts killing into such a poetic light like you do. Send a bullet on a one-way trip...I wish I had a good one like that for Benny. Care to find me one?"

She could tell that despite his natural stern demeanour, a smile was tugging upwards the lips of the ex NCR soldier. He looked up, pensive, trying to find a one-liner that could fit with the courier's case.

"Alright, so, the last thing he said to you, something about the game being rigged from the start, yeah?" he asked her, unable to hide the grin on his face. "How about, like, Checkmate in reference to his checkered vest and the fact that he now, is in the losing position?"

Six remained silent as she looked at Boone before grimacing and shaking her head.

"I've already lost it, right?" Boone said, letting out a short sigh.

"Nah, you're just the kind of artist who needs to have their own anger and rage fuel their art." she laughed, grabbing the bottle at her feet and swinging it over for him to take. "It's understandable, I'll just need to channel my inner you."

His smile grew wider, giving Six a mushy feeling on the inside, surely helped by the alcohol but nonetheless warm. She rarely saw him like this, relaxed and willing to join her on the endless joke train she liked to ride. Most of the time he'd merely tolerate her constant rambling but from time to time, they sat down around a fire just like the one they had tonight, and they would drink an entire bottle of whiskey just to forget how fucked up everything really was.

It wasn't perfect, nothing in the fucking Wasteland was anyway, but in these moments they had each other to remind themselves that it was worth it, from time to time, to sit with another human being and just...Trust for a second.

"Eh, you're alright, kid," she said through a yawn, laying down to take a look at the stars in the sky. "We take care of my Benny tomorrow and you can bet I'll be right by your side the day we take down that misogynist psycho."