Danse, being the naturally born survivor that he was, had fallen back to the Listening Post, in fear of being caught by the Brotherhood personnel that had reported to the Castle yesterday. He had no contact with Alexei since and he really missed her. He didn't know when she had managed to get so deep in his head but now he didn't want her to leave. He wanted to hold her close and feel her slightly smaller figure up against his chest. No one had ever had this amount of hold over him since Cutler, but he didn't want to think of Cutler now. That particular set of memories hurt like absolute hell.
He walked around the bunker. It's defences had been improved significantly since Alexei had demanded it and now she had it fitted with motion sensors, stronger, more sophisticated turrets as well as robotic bodyguards and cameras. While past all the defences, it still looked like the grubby old bunker, it was now near impossible for anyone to survive long enough to find that out. He looked over to the glistening suit of X-01 power armour that stood in the corner like some silent guardian. He had been overjoyed when he found it here among the wreckage of the bunker, when he had first discovered it with Haylan, but since Alexei had asked him to shed the hard outer shell, he only donned the suit in dire situations.
Suddenly, the rapid beeping of an alarm pulled him from his thoughts and he ran to the monitors. It was Alexei. He knew that she willingly pulled the motion sensor to let him know that she had arrived. If anyone could avoid them, it was her. Her superior agility, coupled with the fact that she knew where they all were as well as the fact that she had installed them all combined to form the situation that Danse hated the most. Never knowing when she could strike or pounce on him. Deactivating the security measures, he saw her wink towards the camera feed and saunter into the welcoming elevator. She seemed to arrive as fast as she disappeared from the feed.
"Welcome to my humble abode. What brings you here?" Danse asked, whilst smirking and gesturing to the mounds of crumbled concrete and rubbish that lay around him. Alexei laughed. Danse had come to love that laugh. It was genuine, real and heartwarming. Danse knew that if anything in his fabricated life was real, it was the love he felt towards her. He felt empowered around her. As though he could accomplish anything.
"I suppose you heard about the Brotherhood being relocated?" She asked.
"No... What? Did something happen?" He asked concerned about the coming answer. Alexei admired that about the disgraced Paladin. While he had been abandoned by the Brotherhood, he wouldn't stand by while a Brother or Sister was in need of help or wouldn't allow any to speak ill of his beloved Order. While Alexei loved everything about the Brotherhood, she knew that they were practically his family. And you can never turn away from family.
"No, but the majority of the Order is currently headed west to New Vegas. Rising conflicts and a request from Elder McNamara had them all temporarily repositioned by the Council to aid in the battle effort. Maxson put me in charge around here until he gets back as I'm the current highest ranking member around here. Rys and Haylin are still around, as is Proctor Ingram. They're investigating the Institute. I've command over another twelve Brotherhood members. Mostly Initiates and Scribes." She told him. He stared at her for a minute, dumbfounded.
"Arthur put you in charge?"
Suddenly he put his hand to his chest and dropped down on one leg, bowing before the now confused acting Elder.
"What are you doing Danse?" She asked, rather confused.
"Respect must be shown before the Elder at all times. I'm just following protocol, Elder Coles" He replied, still looking towards the floor.
"Would you stand up! I'm only acting Elder and even still if I was Elder, I only want my compatriots to bow before me if they wanted to, not have them feel they have to." She said, while helping Danse stand up. "By the way, it's just Alexei and I need you at the Castle, so lock this place down and meet me up top." She added, planting a sweet kiss on his cheek and heading for the elevator.
When she had left, Danse stood there and thought for a minute. He closed his eyes and in his mind, imagined Alexei as the new Elder of the Brotherhood. She had the authoritative stance and presence about her and Danse wouldn't want to see what happens to her enemies, but then he thought about that if she was to be given the position, would their future be over. Surely the Elder of the Eastern Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel couldn't be seen fraternising with the enemy. It would be terrible for morale. Anyway then he put the thoughts out of his head and headed topside to see Alexei going through her inventory, trying to source something. Suddenly her arm went up in a show of triumph. There she stood with a packet of Dandy Boy cakes and two bottles of Gwinnett Stout Beer. Smiling brightly, she acknowledged his presence.
"Brought some snacks for the road." She said, handing Danse a bottle of the popular beer. "Now let's get going. We have to hurry if we plan to get back before nightfall."