Crawl Out through the Fallout

Chapter 7 Love is War

The group had returned to the Commonwealth late in the night. "You're all welcomed to stay on the Prydwen tonight." "That's an nice offer but I'd much prefer my own bed." Azumi stated. "Well I'll be staying here." Nora spoke up. "Me too. Yuriko and I can bunk together." Kimikyo smiled at Yuriko. "Just like when we were kids!" Yuriko hugged her tightly. Azumi sighed as she was already out numbered. "I will stay then." "So it's a sleep over!" Nora laughed lightly. They all went into the Prydwen and soon most of them fell asleep the second they touched a bed. Kimikyo, however, was staring at the ceiling before blushing at everything that had happened. She shook her head frantically as she tried to calm herself. "I must stay calm and collected while in the eyes of others. I can't loose myself." She glared at the ceiling as she thought to herself. "No doubt he'll want to keep quiet about it since it all happened so fast. Does he even want this? He didn't get the choice. He was tricked into asking me by my dumb cousins." Her glare turned into panic. She sat up, looking around the room to see everyone was sound asleep. She carefully moved from the bed and crept along the floor, making sure to stay as quiet as she could.

Kimikyo walked the halls of the Prydwen. She made sure no one was around when she lightly knocked his door. "A moment." He responded in a tired voice. The door opened slowly. He looked down at the nervous Kimikyo. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sure you already don't get enough sleep as is but I felt it was the best time to talk about everything that happened. It all happened so fast." She spoke quickly and quietly as she fidgeted with her hands. "I know that neither you nor Nora knew what it meant and I'd completely understand if that's not what you want. I know I'm different than others and I'm a complete mess currently. I don't know how to convey my emotions properly. I act differently with anyone I don't know or trust. I close off my emotions and-" He pulled her into his room, closing the door swiftly behind them before he pulled her into a tight hug. "You talk too fast when you're nervous." He looked down at her. "I'm sorry." "Stop apologizing for things that aren't in your control." He took a deep breath before sighing. "You're right though, it did happen fast. A lot faster than I would have liked it to. I had hoped we'd get to know each other better before we became a couple." She looked at him, already fearing what was to come. "But I don't think it would have felt right any other way. All the chaos that happened is only a chaos your family could bring." He finally released her. "So you don't regret asking me to be with you, even though it was a trick by my cousin?" She watched as he walked over to his bed. "I regret that your sisters and Nora were there. I would have much rather done it in privacy so that neither one of us felt pressured to answer." He sat down as he looked at her. "Do you regret saying yes to me?" "Not at all. We were always friends, from the day you stood up for me against the soldiers." She smiled softly at him. "The obstacle course." He chuckled slightly. "I remember seeing how much fun you were having. You didn't show it out right but I could see it in your eyes."

The two fell silent, hearing someone walking by. "So how do you want to do this?" He asked causing her to blush. "D-d-do what? We ju-just got together-" He looked at her with a dead pan expression. "The dating, Kimikyo." "Right." She smiled nervously at him before quickly looking away. "Maybe we could both work on visiting each other once a week? I mean I deliver documents and everything once a week anyways. So when I do that we can spend time together, even if it's just for a little bit." "I'll do my best but I'm rather busy." "I know and that's okay. You're the elder, it's to be expected." She looked at the clock hanging from his wall. "It's late, I should let you get some sleep." "Until next time." He walked over and opened the door for her.

Months had long since past since Maxson and Kimikyo began seeing each other. The two would send letters to one another through Haylen. Most of the letters consisted of the two getting to know each other a lot more. Each letter he sent she saved in a box that was hidden under her bed. He would visit once a week as promised. On those days she'd kick Danse out of their house using the excuse of giving him and Haylen privacy all the time. "I still don't see why you live with that synth." Maxson spoke as she was making tea. "Because neither one of us are allowed to be alone due to orders of Nora. She's afraid he'll off himself or I'll set the house a flame." She handed him a cup. "Besides he's my brother now. We kind of adopted him into the family. Even Kai views him as a big brother." She sipped on her tea. "Arthur, I know you don't like him but he's my family." "I understand that. What I don't understand is why you're still living with him." "Because I don't have any other place to live at right now? The Castle is full and I don't want to live with strangers at any of the settlements." "You could live with us on the Prydwen." She stared at him with a blank look before cracking a teasing smile. "Arthur Maxson, are you asking me to move in with you? I don't know. It's all going so fast." He rolled his eyes at her as she dramatically placed the back of her hand on her forehead. He was one of the few to see this side of her. Just a playful young adult. "I meant we have enough space at the airport and on the Prydwen." "The airport?" She tilted her head. "We're starting to repair some old buildings around there to make it less crowded and so that the soldiers can have their own space. So far there is one apartment building. We're working on more as we speak." "Would you permit Haylen to live here then?" "I'm sorry?" She looked at a picture that sat on the counter. It was of Haylen and Danse that she took. "Haylen and Danse have been together for a while. Surely you knew this." "I knew but your request put me off." "No doubt they'll be married by summer." She held a soft smile on her face.