He woke to her softly singing 'Crazy He Calls Me'. She was still next to him in bed, but she'd strapped her Pip-Boy back on and was flipping through the map.
"You have a lovely voice, song bird," he said and she gave him a shy smile.
"Thank you. Dad always said it was the prettiest voice in the Vault," her smile slipped.
"You're looking for him, aren't you?" he sat up and leaned against the head of the bed, "Any leads?"
"Moriarty gave me information. I-I just… I haven't gone yet… I mean, I'm all over the news. If he's alive, he knows I'm out here and hasn't tried to make contact. So…either he's dead, which at that point I'd rather not know, or… Or he doesn't want anything to do with me…"
"Don't you think it would be better to know either way?"
She shrugged.
He put his arm around her and looked over the glowing map, "Where'd Moriarty say he went?"
"D.C. to the radio station."
Burke didn't like the idea of her going there. D.C. was dangerous, even for her. He kept his mouth shut though. He had a feeling she'd go in guns blazing just to prove she could.
"You're right," she said at length, "I should try and get some closure," she turned to him, "Will you wait for me while I'm gone?"
Angry with himself for bringing it up, Burke said, "I have some important business of my own to attend to…"
"Like Tenpenny?"
"And other things," he admitted. He wasn't ready for this. One more day, love. Please. "Let's not talk about that right now," he kissed her and stood from the bed, "There's still time. I'm not ready to let you out of my sight."
She smiled up at him, "Alright," and she followed him out of bed.
He spotted the neat little pile she'd made of his clothes and smiled. Dressing, he turned to find her smoothing the green dress against her legs.
"Were you bullshitting me about that?" He nodded at the outfit.
"No, I told you the truth," she put her hands on her hips, "After everything, you think I'm lying to you about a dress?"
"No," he grinned, "And I'm happy to know I'm worth getting dolled up for."
He held out his hand and she crossed the room to him. Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed the back, then turned it over and kissed her wrist. Turning to open the door, he lead her out and down the stairs.
…
Hel couldn't bring herself to look Gob or Nova in the eye as she passed. She knew they'd heard her and Burke. The whole town probably heard. She thought she saw Nova elbow the ghoul but Burke opened the front door and pulled her through. It was a chillier night and she shivered as the wind gusted through the streets. Shrugging out of his suit jacket, Burke draped it over her shoulders.
"Thank you."
"Nice to know I can find ways to take care of you. That thing doesn't tell you the temperature?" He gestured at her Pip-Boy.
"Now that would be useful," she chuckled as he took her hand again.
"I'm sorry to say dinner will be The Brass Lantern again. Maybe Jenny will have some steaks tonight."
"After our marathon, I'm ready to eat anything."
He grinned, "I have to admit I'd be tempted by uncooked mirelurk meat at this point."
Jenny did have Brahmin steaks and this time dinner didn't end with either of them storming off. Hel told Burke a little more about Vault life and how it had chafed her. She didn't ask about his childhood again, but he did tell her a story about when he first came to the Capital.
"I was eager to make a name for myself. I figured the pre-war Capital was a good place to start. I never really meant to stay," he glanced at the Megaton gate, "Seeing the ruins made me realize how much humanity lost in the war. I couldn't stand the idea that these other people lived a better life, building monuments and living free, just because by chance they were born at the right time. I looked around and saw everyone around me just existing day to day. No cares for how their lives would impact the future and I knew that people like that had always existed. And it disgusted me."
He turned to look at Hel and seemed to find comfort in her presence, his shoulders eased and he gave a half smile, "I knew then that I had a purpose. That I could find a way to shepherd mankind into a better future, better than our ancestors left for us. I just had to get rid of the waste."
"Waste?"
"The people that didn't matter. The ones that just existed to exist. They use up resources and time on this planet that they don't earn. They don't have any goals besides seeing tomorrow. What kind of life- what kind of legacy is that?"
The wind blew and Hel shivered. She didn't want to admit that she saw his point. She felt like if she spoke it out loud, she'd realize that the people around her; the living, breathing humans laughing and talking; weren't real, didn't deserve to be alive.
"So you're the one that decides what mankind's legacy is?"
He shrugged, "One of many. I'm just the yes-man, remember?"
But she knew there was more to it, "Which am I?"
"Hmm?"
"Am I part of the master plan, or am I just waste?"
He shook his head, "Neither, my dear. You, in your unapologetic chaos, stand outside the system," he reached out and brushed her cheek, his thumb tracing her bottom lip, "Perhaps that's what I love most about you."
"This plan of yours, do you see an end to it? Do you really think you can alter mankind enough to make a difference?"
He looked tired then, the skin around his eyes strained as if he was suffering from a headache. He dropped his hand from her face, "I don't know," he said honestly, "At times it seems pointless, as though humanity is bound and determined to circle the drain. At others, I have hope. But I won't ever know. The future I work towards won't come in my lifetime. All I can do is my part, lay the groundwork for someone else to come along and continue the work."
Hel sat silently contemplating what he'd said. She still didn't see how blowing up Megaton would aid the future, but she knew he believed it. He'd sacrificed part of his vision of the future because she'd asked him to. She reached out and squeezed his hand. She didn't say anything, she didn't need to.
…
Burke had never opened up to anyone before. He didn't know why he found it so easy to do with Hel. Her hand in his reassured him that he'd been heard. It was refreshing, being understood. She didn't have to agree, it was enough that she accepted him. He brought her hand up to kiss it.
"Now there's something I never thought I'd see," came the slurred voice of Jericho, "The Suit with Little Ms. Vault 101."
"Jericho," Burke acknowledged him tightly. Here was a perfect example of what he'd been telling Hel about, a giant waste.
"So you two a thing?" the drunken raider pointed back and forth between them, "Huh, funny."
Hel had more patience for the man, "We're on a date, Jericho," she smiled, "Do you mind?"
"I gotcha," Jericho gave a wink, "Good fer you, Burke. She's quite a piece of ass."
"Watch it, Jericho," Burke growled.
"It's alright," Hel touched his arm, "He's just drunk."
"He's always drunk."
"Heeey, was that you two making all that noise earlier today?"
Hel blushed and put her face in her hands.
"Phew, musta really been giving it to 'er the way she was screaming," Jericho made a humping motion and laughed.
Burke slowly got to his feet, "One more word, you washed up fuck."
Jericho shrugged, "You ain't scare me, Suit," he nodded past him to Hel, "If I'da known she was loose, I'd 've tried to give 'er a fuck myself."
Burke grabbed the front of Jericho's shirt and dragged him forward, "Shut the fuck up, trash."
"Make me."
Before Burke could swing at him, Hel came up next to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "Burke, come on. He's just trying to get you riled."
Jericho smirked, "Ain't got the balls."
Hel glared, "Jericho, shut the fuck up."
The ex-raider laughed, "You make me then, sweetheart. Yer sugar daddy here gonna let you fight for 'im?"
"Oh for fuck's sake," Hel rolled her eyes and put her hands in the air, "Fine, you guys have your dick measuring contest." She backed off.
Burke shoved Jericho backwards. Despite being drunk, the old raider caught his footing quickly. Burke removed his hat and held it out to Hel. She took it with a huff and slapped it on her head, crossing her arms.
"Oh I'm gonna enjoy this," Jericho laughed.
Burke smirked, "You think so?" he unbuttoned his sleeves and rolled them up.
"Well come on then, lover boy."
It had been a long time since Burke had to get his hands dirty. You didn't survive all these years by being a pushover. Setting his feet, he rolled his shoulders and raised his fists. Jericho's fists came up and Burke lunged forward. Feet sliding over the gravel underneath them, Jericho shifted back, dodging Burke's first punch. He threw a left hook in the same motion and Burke caught it with his right arm. Dust came up between them and Jericho connected a punch with Burke's left shoulder. Burke staggered a step before he caught Jericho's next punch with his right arm again, this time he twisted his arm around to trap Jericho and sent his left fist into the ex-raider's face.
Catching the hit on his jaw, Jericho's head snapped sideways. They came apart and Jericho grinned, "Got some fight in ya, huh Suit?"
Burke didn't waste words. He feinted a right and connected again with a solid thud against Jericho's jaw. Jericho's uppercut cracked against Burke's chin, sending his head back. Steadying himself, Burke blocked two more hits before Jericho brought a leg into it and Burke had to step back from almost taking a knee to his side.
He was rusty. He should have already had Jericho laid out. Gritting his teeth, he stepped right and swung. Jericho dodged, but Burke was already stepping left and went low for his gut. Two shots to his ribs and Jericho grunted and coughed as he stumbled backwards. Burke lurched up and grabbed Jericho behind his head, bringing him down as Burke brought a knee up. The sickening crack against his knee told him he'd broken the asshole's nose. Jericho fell backwards into the radiated water surrounding the bomb. The scrappy son of a bitch was only down for a moment before he was back on his feet and coming at Burke.
A gunshot rang out as dirt sprayed up to Burke's left. Both men stopped and turned to see Lucas Simms aiming his rifle at them.
"You two better break this up before I put holes through you," the sheriff threatened.
Jericho wiped blood from under his nose and spat, "Aw come on, Sheriff. Just a friendly lil' sparring session."
Simms looked from him to Burke and shook his head, "Not having it, Jericho."
"It's alright, Sheriff," Hel broke in, "Burke and I were just going," she came up on Burke's right and handed him his hat, tugging on his arm.
Simms sighed and lowered the butt of his rifle to the ground. Leaning it against a pipe, he took his hat off and rubbed his hand back over his head, "Kid, why-?" he didn't finish the question, just shook his head and put his hat back in place, "Alright, all of you, out of my sight."
Burke let Hel tug him towards Moriarty's. Jericho coughed and hacked something up out of his chest into the water and waded out. Hel hesitated and reached into the pocket of her dress. Giving Burke a warning look, she took a step back towards Jericho.
"Hey Jericho, here," she tossed a Stimpak to him.
Catching it, Jericho gave a sarcastic salute, "Much obliged," and he turned to go the opposite direction under Simms' watchful gaze.
"What was that for?" Burke asked her when she came back to him.
"The guy's in debt to Moriarty and spends any other caps he earns on alcohol. If I didn't give him that Stimpak, his nose was gonna have to heal itself.
Come on," she touched his chin gingerly, "I've got more up in my room."
"I don't need one."
Hel rolled her eyes, "Fine, but come on, I don't need my lover getting murdered by an uppity Sheriff."
My husband had fun helping me edit the fight scene just right. XD
Jericho is my all-time favorite follower of any Fallout game. (Boone and Hancock are tied as close 2nds.) It was fun making him the instigator for Burke having to fight someone. Maaaybe someday in the future he'll get the honor of his very own fanfiction from me...
Your comments give me life! I appreciate every single one of you guys!
Early post for July because I'll be out of town on the weekend of the first.