That night, Laura cried in the shower.
Like full-on, heaving, hands-clasped-together-in-a-prayer type of crying. It wasn't the silent tears she shed at night thinking of Nate, nor the violet shudders that wracked her body when she screamed out for Shaun. This was a euphoric purging of all the pent up emotions she had repressed over the past months, a hot haze of pleasure washing over her. And she meant that literally. Between blubbering sobs, she let out little hysteric giggles. The Prydwen had hot water. Actual steamy, clean, pressurized hot water. To her, this was a religious experience, a spiritual cleanse of sorts. Hopefully Danse, who told her he'd be keeping watch outside the room, couldn't hear her happy whimpers. She let the water massage her neck, before turning around and cupping her hands together to splash it over her hair.
Please, please, please, please don't let this be a dream. I know I shouldn't be enjoying this so much. I mean, the rest of Sanctuary is barely getting by with rusty faucets. But man, this is a total flash from the past. And you know what? I don't care. I need this.
The water washed away any guilt she felt as she selfishly chose to indulge herself, but she did make a mental promise to upgrade the plumbing back home. Laura pumped some sweet smelling soap into her washcloth and scrubbed weeks of packed dirt off her skin, wondering when the last time she felt truly clean was. She tried her best with the world she was given. Too bad her best basically meant doing the occasional bird bath in pond water that may or may not be irradiated.
Aware of how long she had been under the heat, she quickly finished up and turned off the shower. Stepping out into the crisp outer air, Laura was glad to grab one of the fluffy, white towels that were stacked on the shelf next to her. She pressed the fabric to her skin and buried her nose in it, relishing in the fresh scent of detergent. It struck her to think that while the people down below were struggling to keep healthy, let alone clean, even in places like Diamond City, the Brotherhood was enjoying little luxuries like this. Instead of feeling bitter though, she chose to feel inspired, motivated to achieve this level of comfort when she got back.
But there was something bothering her - when exactly would she be getting back? Laura still had no clue about what they needed her help with, or what missions Elder Maxson would be assigning her starting tomorrow.
She decided to brush off this thought, remembering all the other times she had dedicated weeks to helping folks out. It felt way more productive than waiting around, making no headway in Shaun's rescue. Besides, each accomplishment so far had somehow brought her more information about the actual enemy she was dealing with.
Danse mentioned that the Brotherhood only came to Boston to take on the Institute themselves, so aligning herself with them could prove to be mutually beneficial. Laura figured that the Brotherhood was probably her best shot at infiltrating the Institute and bringing Shaun back alive. They had the resources and manpower to make it happen. So, if she could offer them some help while also making her way to her boy, she'd be more than happy to be the stone that killed two birds.
When she was mostly dried, Laura wrapped the towel around her torso and headed out the door. Her eyes caught Danse, who was out of his power armor for the first time since she'd met him, at the end of hall.
She allowed her eyes to linger for a moment to observe him, taking in his strong physique, before she then waved and called out to him, "Hey Danse! Over here!"
She watched as Danse glanced her way for a moment and then quickly averted his eyes when he saw her barely clad in a towel. There was a brief hesitation, but he eventually started walking toward her, avoiding eye contact and looking down at the floor. As he approached, Laura couldn't help but notice the full blush on his face, and it made her smile. It was pretty adorable to see Danse all flustered over her just being in a towel, but she supposed it made sense. Danse did seem like a prude, in a Pre-War romantic kind of way.
He stopped right in front of her, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Knight Laura."
Trying to hold back a smirk, she nodded in response. "Paladin Danse."
He shifted uncomfortably and finally mustered the courage to meet her gaze. "Did, uh, you need something?"
Her playful side took over, and she clasped her hands together, pretending to swoon. "Why, yes actually! I thought you'd never ask! Such a gentleman."
Danse frowned, clearly not amused. "Laura, we are not here to play games. I expected more from you. What did you need?"
"Boo, you're no fun." She faked a pout and crossed her arms. "Come on, lighten up a bit. Not everything in the wasteland has to be doom and gloom."
Hoping for a more positive response, she looked up at him expectantly, but his expression remained serious.
With a sigh, she continued, "Fine. I was just wondering if you could get me something to wear for tonight? I kind of need to wash the ghoul intestines off my clothes, and I can't even remember the last time I felt safe enough to sleep in something other than my dirty overalls."
Danse seemed to consider this a moment, before he nodded and said, "I'll see what I can do."
With that, he turned around and went back down the hall. Laura waited, raking her fingers through her wet hair until he returned. After what seemed like a long time, he finally came back to her with his eyes once again downcast.
"I apologize, Knight. I couldn't find any spare clean clothes on such short notice. Are you alright with these?" Danse tried to sound professional enough, but Laura could tell something was throwing him off.
As she reached for the clothes he offered, she noticed the white t-shirt and gray sweatpants were both large sizes. It then dawned on her that these were probably his clothes. Now, Laura hardly considered herself a puritan, but something about wearing another man's clothes in this context did make her nervous. Especially so soon after Nate.
She didn't want to come across as ungrateful though, and honestly, a small part of her felt a bit flattered by the intimate gesture from such a conventionally attractive man. She was just a girl at the end of the day.
Laura gave him a thankful look. "These are perfect, Danse. Thank you."
Seeming more composed now, he returned her smile easily. "You're welcome, Knight. As your commanding officer, I'll do my best to provide you with what you need from now on. If these clothes are ill-fitting, just let me know and I will see what else I can do."
"Ay ay, Captain," she replied jokingly.
Danse looked a bit concerned at this. "I am not your Captain, Palmer. I'm a Paladin. Have you not been paying attention?"
Laura giggled at the grave look on his face, finding his genuine dedication to the Brotherhood rather endearing. He seemed puzzled at her laughter, clearly not understanding the humor.
"It's just an old saying, Danse. It means I hear you loud and clear. Nothing to be taken literally, you silly goose."
Danse furrowed his brows, as if unsure of how to react to her odd expressions. He settled on clearing his throat and stiffly raising his chin. "Noted. Now go get dressed, and I'll show you to your bed."
Before Laura could respond with a suggestive joke, he quickly turned on his heel to return to his post at the end of the hallway. She sighed and cursed herself under her breath, hoping she didn't offend him too badly. She hurried back into the bathroom and when she was fully clothed, she glanced in the mirror and smirked at her reflection. She almost looked…normal? Her hair was stringy from moisture and the clothes hung off her frame awkwardly, but it brought back memories of those late nights after putting Shaun to bed, when she would throw on whatever felt the most comfortable, even if it wasn't the most flattering look.
Still, Nate would always look at her in these moments with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Foxy," he'd flirtatiously call her from his side of the bed, flashing her a lopsided grin.
Laura took a deep breath and pushed those thoughts from her head. None of that mattered anymore. Normalcy was way out the window. She finally put on the warm, thick socks and walked out of the bathroom for the final time.
As she approached Danse, she twirled around playfully and sweetly asked, "Well, what do you think?"
Danse's cheeks reddened, but he shook his head and replied in a completely neutral tone, "You look appropriate. The clothes fit better than I expected, and they cover you modestly. They'll be suitable for now."
"Uh, thank you?"
To her surprise, Danse's lips quirked upward, and he gave her an amused grin. "Don't mention it. I already made it clear that I won't be entertaining your games, so consider that all you'll get from me. Now, allow me to escort you to your quarters."
It was just after 2 PM on the day after the Vault Dweller arrived when Elder Maxson ran into Paladin Danse again. Maxson had been going about his usual rounds throughout the day, but somehow managed to miss Danse each time. He started to wonder if the Paladin was intentionally avoiding him, a behavior completely out of character for Danse. He wasn't the type to shy away from Maxson; in fact, he usually took pride in showing off his exemplary behavior to the Brotherhood leader.
It was as Maxson was making his way through the bustling halls of the Prydwen, when the clank of power armor resonated through the corridor and drew his attention. He turned around to find Danse making his way towards the main deck and he swiftly closed the distance between them with an assertive stride.
"Ah, Paladin Danse," Maxson called out, his voice commanding the attention of every soldier around them, "I've been looking for you."
Danse halted his step and turned to face him. "Elder Maxson," he responded with a measured tone, "I apologize if I've caused you any inconvenience. I've been preoccupied with some matters of importance."
"It's not an issue now, Paladin. Knight Palmer failed to attend the morning meeting to receive her next assignment. I expected to find her or you present, but neither of you were. Do you know anything about this?"
Danse hesitated before the Elder, looking uncertain. Finally, unable to deceive the man he held in such high regard, he spoke in a low voice, "It appears she is still asleep, sir."
Maxson's stern expression hardened and a flicker of irritation crossed his features, but he promptly regained his composure, maintaining his authoritative tone.
"Paladin Danse, it's 2 o'clock in the afternoon. You're telling me that she's been asleep for 14 hours?" Maxson asked almost incredulously.
Danse bowed his head guiltily. "I take full responsibility for her actions, sir. I was aware of her fatigue and thought it best to allow her to recover, but it seems I misjudged the situation. Considering the toll the Wasteland takes on all of us, it seemed crucial to the mission at hand for her to recuperate completely."
Maxson resisted the urge to sigh and instead shook his head, dismissing Danse's concerns with a wave of his hand. "No need to make excuses for your charge, Paladin. If you felt she needed more rest, then I will choose to trust your judgment. Now, make sure she reports to me immediately for her orders. We have a vertibird on standby, fully armed and ready to depart."
Danse, visibly relieved by his mercy, straightened his posture and met the Elder's gaze firmly. "Understood, Elder Maxson. I will personally wake her up and escort her to you right away."
Maxson nodded approvingly. "Very well, Paladin. See to it then. The Brotherhood cannot afford any more delays. Ad Victoriam."
"Ad Victoriam." Danse saluted his commander and marched off towards the barracks.
Elder Maxson veered around and made his way to the observation deck to await the Vault Dweller. Peering out of the large windows, he looked down to the expanse of the Commonwealth below. His eyes trailed over the devastation of the land and he felt a deep sense of shame as the consequences of humanity's actions weighed heavily on him.
The wasteland was a harsh and unforgiving place, and he wondered how people managed to endure such conditions. He knew most of them resorted to cruelty and savagery for survival, so he was rather skeptical of the woman's ability to beat the odds, especially fresh from a vault. Danse's reports suggested that she might have received formal training somewhere, but Maxson wasn't aware of any civilized factions in Boston.
Laura Palmer.
As soon as he read the reports, there was a sense of familiarity to the situation that brought back the memories of another strange woman who had blown through his life years ago. The Lone Wanderer. The woman whose arrival into his life had left a mark on his young psyche and the Brotherhood as a whole. Similar to Laura, it seemed like from the moment she had stepped out of her Vault, her destiny was intertwined with the Brotherhood's. He remembered how she had fearlessly ventured into the ruins of the Capital Wasteland, recovering the advanced technology and valuable resources to aid their cause.
Strong and selfless, the Lone Wanderer seemed to embody everything the Brotherhood stood for, even as an outsider. But just as swiftly as she came, she went - right after the death of Sarah Lyons, which commenced the beginning of his own rise to power. It was during a time when the Brotherhood needed her the most. When he needed her the most. He wondered if Knight Palmer would be alike in that sense as well. Only time would tell.
"The Brothers and Elder Lyons are excellent teachers, but I get nervous about the protocols," he said ten years ago, his eyes nervously meeting the Wanderer's as he tried his best to make himself sound mature and unafraid, "The codex says that outsiders are not to be trusted. 'Shield yourself from those not bound to you by steel, for they are the blind. Aid them when you can, but lose not sight of yourself.'"
The mysterious woman had merely given him a gentle smile in return.
Those not bound to you by steel.
Back in the present, Elder Maxson thought back to the peculiar hat Knight Palmer had worn the night before, resembling that of a General. While she could've just looted it as a bizarre fashion statement, he couldn't shake the suspicion that it might signify some kind of uniform. In a world where various groups crawled out from the ruins, it was difficult to determine someone's true allegiance. Thus, he had already assigned some of the Knight Sergeants to investigate her background during their field operations, and Proctor Quinlan was tasked with searching through his current documents for any possible references to her.
Maxson had hoped to get a better read on Palmer before her first assignment, but now even that she managed to evade with the absurd tactic of simply sleeping through the day. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Normally, such insubordination would lead to serious consequences for any other Brotherhood soldier, but he couldn't risk losing another valuable asset in their mission against the Institute. The reports spoke highly of her capabilities; she displayed decent enough intellect and adaptability, rare qualities amongst new recruits.
Hence, the decision to assign her to Danse's charge served an important purpose. Danse was not only his best Paladin, but also one of the most devoted members of the BoS at large. If anyone could mold Knight Palmer into a true Brotherhood soldier, it was Danse. However, he couldn't ignore the potential influence she might have over the Paladin. Maxson wasn't ignorant of human nature and he was well aware of how beauty could make a fool of even the most competent men. Yet, of all people, he had least expected it from Danse, who always placed duty above all else and never wavered from the mission statement. But, surprisingly, after just one evening with her, Danse was already showing signs of being affected, with him neglecting her schedule this morning.
Admittedly, the Vault Dweller did have a certain charisma about her. Unlike most civilians who walked around with a sort of guardedness to them, she exuded a sense of ease uncommon in today's society. He recalled how he had placed his hand on her shoulder and the way she looked up at him from beneath her lashes in return. There was something about her, he thought at that moment. Her eyes were green. Green like the eyes of someone he had admired long ago. Sarah.
But Maxson had forcefully, maybe even painfully, pushed those thoughts aside and focused on explaining her new duties as a member of the Brotherhood, not quite ready to open up old wounds. Palmer was an oddity for sure, but he couldn't afford any distractions, especially with their mission against the Institute at a critical juncture. He reminded himself to think of the bigger picture. The fate of the Commonwealth and the Brotherhood rested on their actions, and he couldn't let any personal feelings hinder their progress.
Maxson resolved to keep a closer eye on Danse and Palmer in the coming days, ensuring they both remained focused and on track. Maintaining their mission's integrity was of utmost importance, and he needed everyone, including himself, to stay committed.
The first thing her mind became aware of was a weight on her legs. Beneath the thick, scratchy blanket that covered her body entirely, Laura blinked away the remnants of sleep, gradually tuning in to the distant voices that vaguely blended together to create a sort of white noise. Laying there still, she recollected the events of the previous night and realized where the heck she was.
Oh, right. I'm still on the Prydwen. I guess I'm really a member of the Brotherhood now.
The gravity of the situation, that she was now a part of a faction that may or may not be an authoritative cult, hit her hard. It was a decision she somewhat regretted the day after, feeling like she had fallen for a cheap sales tactic.
She always had a hard time saying no. Even in the Pre-War times, Nate had to accompany her to places like the mechanic or the mall, since she had such a bad habit of being upsold. She couldn't help it; she was a people pleaser at heart. It also didn't help that the person she had been trying to please the night prior happened to be the one Elder Maxson.
Elder Maxson…
The thought of him made her sigh. She remembered how he stood tall over her, staring her down with those intense blue eyes, and she felt a throb between her legs. Laura had never thought of herself as having a specific "type" per say, but she had to admit to herself that if she did have one, it must be him. Nate was undoubtedly an attractive man by anyone's standards, but developing deeper feelings for him had taken her some time.
Meanwhile, Elder Maxson had somehow already gotten under skin. Quite literally.
No, no, no, no! Easy there, hormones! I absolutely cannot. I'll be reporting to this guy every single day now, and that's a lot of face time. He's my "superior" now, whatever that means, so I'm supposed to keep my composure, show him the utmost respect, and be a good, little obedient soldier for him. Wait…why is that kind of hot? Jesus Christ, stop fetishing him! When did my taste in men stoop so low?
Laura stopped rubbing her thighs together and jolted up from underneath the comforter, inhaling a deep breath of cold air that stung her throat. She rubbed her knuckles against her eyes to clear out the blurriness and tried to make sense of her surroundings. Her focus instantly shifted when she spotted the source of the weight on her legs. There, nestled in a cozy ball, was Dogmeat! Her heart leaped with joy and a massive grin spread across her face as she squealed with delight. Without hesitation, she scooped up her sweet pet, wrapping her arms around him tightly. The startled dog initially flinched in her arms, but soon recognized who was holding him and began wagging his tail enthusiastically as he licked her cheek.
"Hey there, boy!" she cooed affectionately, "How did you get here? I thought Hayen was baby-sitting you. I'm so glad you're here though! Did you have fun without me, boy?"
Dogmeat let out a resounding bark that echoed against the metal walls and high ceilings of the ship. Laura shifted her body, still embracing the pup, to curl up next to him on the bed. She let out a contented sigh and her eyes slowly closed as she drifted back into the peaceful lull of sleep.
Until a deep voice broke through the quiet.
"Scribe Haylen arrived with him this morning."
Her eyelids flew open and a surprised yelp involuntarily left her lips. Sitting upright, she quickly scanned the room and spotted Danse standing at the entrance. She felt a hint of disappointment when she noticed he was fully clad in his power armor again, preferring his human form and stature. His fit body aside, the power armor just gave her an unsettling feeling; it was just a bit too uncanny for her liking. Placing a hand over her chest, she willed her pounding heart to calm down.
"Fuck, Danse! You scared me half to death!"
Feeling her heart race settle, Laura lowered her hand and scowled at the Paladin, who looked somewhat sheepishly at her. She hated being caught off-guard, and she couldn't believe she hadn't heard him coming, despite the usual loud clanking of his heavy exoskeleton.
Wait, was he here before I even woke up? Was he watching me sleep? Pretty creepy, dude. Her glare intensified momentarily, but then softened as she noticed his shy apprehension. This man obviously wore all his emotions on his sleeve, and everything about him felt whole-heartedly sincere, which was a relief nowadays. He seemed to feel every emotion completely genuinely, with no real malice in his actions.
Nevermind, she decided, maybe it's kind of cute.
"I apologize for disturbing you, Knight Laura, but Elder Maxson ordered me to escort you to him immediately. You overslept and missed the morning meeting." He then looked down in shame. "It's my fault. I should've woken you up earlier."
Laura stretched her arms up and out, humming out a little yawn. She then returned to absentmindedly petting Dogmeat and sleepily asked, "What time is it anyway?"
"2:13 in the afternoon," he replied mechanically.
"What?!" she exclaimed, "I slept for over 14 hours? Jeez, was I in a coma or something?"
To be fair, back in her time, 14 hours of sleep wasn't too unheard of, at least before Shaun came into the picture. Sometimes she and Nate would be so exhausted after a long week, between her legal battles and his military training, that on their days off, they'd crash around 8 PM and wouldn't stir until 11 the next morning. Now in the midst of the apocalypse, she couldn't remember the last time she even got a solid 5 hours.
"I know it seems shocking, but considering everything you've been through in the past 24 hours, not to mention your time in the wastes before as well, it was only a matter of time until your body shut down like this," Danse explained factually, "That's why I was so hesitant to wake you."
Her lips curved gently into a warm smile as she looked up at him. "Well, I appreciate you looking out for me."
His brown eyes seemed to sparkle as they met hers directly with complete sincerity. "That's my responsibility now. I will always be looking out for you."
A faint blush colored her cheeks and she quickly averted her gaze, chewing on her bottom lip nervously. Clearing her throat, she managed to say, "I guess I should get ready before Maxson has both our heads, huh?"
"That's absolute nonsense, Laura. Elder Maxson would never-," Danse started to lecture with a frown.
"Just a figure of speech, Danse!" she cut him off playfully.
Her laughter filled the air as she got up and reached into her satchel to retrieve a brush. After untangling her long hair, she grabbed a small hand mirror and her eyeliner pencil, smudging a delicate wing on either corner of her lids.
Danse observed her actions with a hint of skepticism. "Are you sure that's necessary, soldier?"
"What? Just because I'm a badass, I can't look nice?" Laura replied, speaking slowly as she moved to apply mascara. "It's fun to accentuate your femininity sometimes. I'll have to try it on you someday."
His frown deepened and he shook his head, his voice stern as he said, "A woman like yourself doesn't need any of that."
She let out a little snicker, thoroughly amused by his traditionalist ways. "Thanks, Danse, but I like to do it anyway. It makes me feel stronger, y'know?"
Danse looked doubtful, but didn't say anything else as she finished off her look with a bit of jelly lip balm. She looked up to flash him a goofy grin and wiggled her eyebrows flirtatiously.
"Like what you see?" she teased.
"Laura…" Danse said disapprovingly.
"Kidding! Now, do you know where I can find my clothes?"
"They are still waiting to be washed. In the meantime, I decided it would be better if you looked the part of the rank you were given. In your footlocker, you'll find the standard Brotherhood Knight jumpsuit."
Laura glanced down at the metal box at the end of her bed and nodded. "Got it."
"Once you're finished getting dressed, come meet me in the engineering bay so I can escort you to Elder Maxson."
"Okay. Thank you, Danse." she said earnestly.
"You're welcome, Knight. Now get to it. We're already very behind."
Danse left the room and Laura went to seek out some privacy to change. She settled on a nearby bathroom and made quick work getting into the tight, orange jumpsuit. She struggled to pull it up over her hips, and once it was on, the fabric clung taunt to her skin. Looking in the mirror, Laura felt a wave of embarrassment.
"What the hell! Who approved of these tight-ass uniforms?" she muttered to herself, "This thing covers every inch of my skin, and yet I feel completely exposed…"
She tried to adjust the material around specific areas of her body, but sighed as she realized that this was the best fit she would get. Despite the discomfort, she looked in the mirror and couldn't help but whistle at herself. Oh, she definitely still had it. Pleased with her reflection, she felt a twinge of excitement at the thought of meeting Maxson. There was a bit of guilt in enjoying this small pleasure amidst everything going on around her, but hey, everyone needed something to look forward to. As long as she wasn't hurting anyone, she welcomed the distraction from her otherwise miserable existence.
She squared her shoulders with new-found determination and left to meet Danse upstairs, finally ready again to face whatever challenges the day would bring.
Laura peeked past Danse's lumbering figure as she trailed behind him, her nerves building as they ascended the stairs to the command deck of the Prydwen. Captain Kells's voice could be heard speaking privately to Elder Maxson in the upcoming room, and her chest tightened when she heard Maxson's deep voice respond. They approached the observation room and she forced herself to stand a little straighter. She'll be damned if these men thought they could intimidate her into submission a second time.
As the two men took notice of their presence, they ended their conversation abruptly, with Elder Maxson dismissing Kells with a firm nod. As Kells made his way out of the room, he paused to address them both briefly. "Paladin Danse. Knight Palmer."
Once Kells was gone, Danse stepped forward and announced, "Knight Palmer is ready for duty, sir."
Stepping up beside Danse, Laura placed herself directly in Maxson's line of sight and clumsily saluted him with the same gesture she had seen throughout the Prydwen. "Elder Maxson."
"Thank you for finally joining us, Knight Palmer," Elder Maxson said harshly, "I hope you enjoyed your beauty sleep, because that will be the last time I overlook any form of insubordination from you, soldier."
Laura's jaw instantly clenched, but she managed to force an amiable front and replied through gritted teeth, "Understood, Elder Maxson. I apologize for any delays."
Maxson narrowed his eyes at her, but then seemed pleased with her compliance. "Good. I hope this will be the last time I encounter a mistake like this from you. Your duty from now on is to follow my orders to the letter, Knight. Every operation we undertake is a team effort. We're called the Brotherhood of Steel for a reason. Therefore we need every member-"
Despite her better judgment, she cut him off with a flick of her wrist, "I hope this isn't another Brotherhood morals lecture."
Maxson's gaze hardened and she heard Danse shift uncomfortably behind her. But Laura stood there unfazed, eager to receive her orders and get this over with. She was a capable, grown woman and being chastised by some guy she hardly knew wasn't exactly her cup of tea. Like come on, she's the one who bailed them out of a shitty situation, free of charge! Did they already forget that?
With a hint of irritation starting to strain his voice, Maxson continued, "Not at all. Eager to take on your first mission? Good. Then I will be expecting nothing short of perfection from you today."
Annoyed by his condescending tone, Laura couldn't help but respond sarcastically, "Well, I was already expecting to have no leniency from you, so nice to hear nothing has changed."
His brows furrowed deeper at her passive aggression and she could tell that he was probably fuming on the inside, but he kept his deliberate tenor. "Let's get right to it then, shall we? Take a look over there." He turned and motioned towards a window in front of her. "That's Fort Strong, and it's infested with Super Mutants."
He quickly outlined the situation at Fort Strong, concluding with, "I want you to head over there, wipe out everything that moves, and secure that stockpile. Think you can handle it, Knight?"
Laura nonchalantly examined her nails and simply said, "Consider it done."
"Is that it? You seem rather confident. Are you even aware of the risks you're taking?"
Her face scrunched in exasperation. "What? Were you expecting me to be scared? They're just super mutants. They have the brain of fucking goldfish."
"Knight Laura!" Danse exclaimed from behind her, scolding her for her choice of words.
Maxson silenced Danse with a raised hand and took a step forward, addressing Laura by looking directly into her eyes. "Don't allow the allure of arrogance to cloud your judgment, soldier. It would be a shame for the Brotherhood to lose their newest recruit so quickly."
Undeterred, Laura matched his step, raising her chin defiantly. "It's not arrogance, Elder Maxson." she said mockingly, crossing her arms, "I just know what I can and can't handle. I've been doing this by myself for a long time now. You should feel grateful to have someone who actually recognizes their limitations."
She suddenly realized that she was almost toe to toe with the Brotherhood leader and her assertiveness waned timidly. She took a moment to look over his features carefully.
Yup, still handsome. Damn it. She cursed herself for falling for the mediocrity of male temptation. Why do I feel guilty now?
Laura knew that arguing with the man in front of her now would be of no use to anyone. Ultimately, she needed the Brotherhood to get to Shaun and she had to admit that she was the one who was in the wrong here. While she fiercely valued her independence and autonomy, if she wanted to get her son back, she'd have to use honey to catch more flies here.
She sighed, bit her lip, and looked up at him, softening her body language.
"Look, Elder Maxson. I mean no disrespect towards you or Danse or anyone. I'm sorry I missed my orders this morning, but just know that wasn't my intention. I really am here to serve the Brotherhood well. The Institute is an enemy to both of us and I am 100% committed to the cause, more than you could ever know. And this is something I can handle easily. Just trust me."
She ended with a charming smile, hoping to ease the tension like she had learned back in law school. "Who knows? Maybe I'll end up changing your mind about me."
Elder Maxson stared her down from the tip of his nose, his expression inscrutable. He maintained his intense eye contact, as if he were trying to gauge her resolve. The tension in the room was palpable and Danse was noticeably on edge. As Maxson's eyes slowly raked over the features of her face, Laura resisted her body's urge to look anywhere but at him, determined not to show any signs of weakness.
After what felt like an eternity, Maxson finally broke his silence. "Confidence can be a valuable trait in a soldier, Knight Palmer. However, overconfidence can lead to recklessness and that's something we cannot afford."
His voice was steely but measured, clearly indicating that he was not one to be trifled with. "I respect your eagerness to prove yourself, but remember, the Brotherhood of Steel is built on discipline and adherence to our principles. We cannot take delinquency lightly."
Laura nodded, acknowledging his words respectfully. "Understood, Elder Maxson. I'll remember that."
Maxson nodded back at her. "Very well, Knight Palmer. I expect you to perform admirably. Your success on this mission will set the tone for your future with the Brotherhood. Perform well today, and you'll earn your place among the best."
He then turned his attention to Danse. "Paladin Danse, you will accompany Knight Palmer on this mission. Ensure that she remains diligent and follows protocol."
"Yes, Elder Maxson," Danse answered crisply.
As Maxson stepped back, Laura exhaled the small breath she hadn't realized she was holding. With her heartbeat ringing in her ears, she saluted him once more. "Thank you for this opportunity. I promise I won't let you down."
Maxson returned the salute. "We'll see, Knight Palmer. May you bring honor to the Brotherhood. Ad Victoriam."
Laura and Danse left the observation deck, and when they exited the exterior door that led to the vertibird docks, Danse turned to her with a cold expression.
"Are you out of your mind, Knight?" he angrily reprimanded her, "You can't talk to Elder Maxson like that! That was a complete show of disrespect."
Laura flinched, knowing she had pushed the boundaries too far on this one. "You're right, Danse. I messed up in there. I'll be better from now on, I promise. I didn't mean to make you or our squadron look bad."
Her shoulders slumped and she felt dejected that Danse, who had only ever seen the good in her straight from the start, was now disappointed in her. It was a tough realization that maybe she had been acting like a petulant child back there, refusing to follow orders just for the sake of rebellion, when all this man had ever done was go to bat for her.
"Good," Danse gave her a stiff nod, still visibly displeased, but willing to move forward. "If you want to prove yourself, do it through actions, not through sass and sarcasm. Now, we have a mission to focus on, and I won't tolerate anymore distractions. Let's get to Fort Strong and take care of those Super Mutants."
As Laura watched Danse's towering figure stomp down the stairs, she couldn't help but feel thankful for having met him. Despite his outdated code of ethics, Danse was a good man. She could already tell. It was the same feeling she had when she met Nate.
Now, she just had to show him that he made the right choice by believing in her.