Fallout: Fury Blood

Chapter 74: Let's Ride Into The Sunset Together

Outrunning her demons gave Kelly's step a frantic, ungainly note, but she was determined to reach Danse before her feet gave out beneath her. She knew she wouldn't be able to pick herself back up without him.

Rather than relief, the sight of Deacon, MacCready and Nick speaking with Paladin Svensson on her path toward their crew campsite gave her a feeling of impeded impatience. They were chatting outside the supply depot, and spotted her immediately.

Deacon hopped off a crate and flashed her a charming grin. "Ah, my favorite meat-shield," he greeted with a complimenting giggle, but at her threadbare smile, his attempt at being casual flopped with a frown. "Wow. You okay, boss?" He moved as if to catch her. She must really look like hell.

"Yeah," she lied on approach, giving the four of their concerned looks a dismissive sweep with her steeled mask.

But Deacon wasn't buying it, and his move as if to catch her turned into a gesture for a hug. And Deacon never did hugs. "Hey, c'mon, bring it in," he said to her, indicating with a flick of his head and flicking his fingers inward to encourage her toward him.

Kelly suddenly felt ambushed by affection and stood unsure, unaccustomed to such treatment. Not just from Deacon, but in general. So when he tsked her and stepped in to awkwardly embrace her, she was stiff and unyielding.

"Kells, c'mon, don't make this even more awkward for me," he pleaded under his breath beside her ear.

It made her grin at his expense, and she accepted his support with sudden need, giving in to her misery. He wasn't Danse, but he was Deacon, and they hadn't yet had their reunion moment since arriving in the Bloodlands. This was it. But it shouldn't be. It should have been so much more, they both deserved that from each other, but this place didn't give a single flying-fuck who you were and what you deserved.

"There we go. That wasn't so hard now, was it?" her eccentric friend muttered as he twisted them both left to right to give a perky flair to their hug.

"Thanks, Deacon. I forgot how good hugs were." Kelly closed her eyes against his shoulder and savored the moment. It was nice. Beneath all the stress and tension, she hadn't realized how much she had missed Deacon.

"This one's a freebie. If you want more, you gotta pay up in treats. I take Nuka-Colas or Sugarbombs."

"Yeah, 'cause he steals all of mine." MacCready sent a foul look Deacon's way from the sidelines.

"I'll have to stock up my supplies," she chuckled in response as they parted.

Nick and Paladin Svensson were watching them with matching grins, and Kelly noted how odd it was to see a synth and Brotherhood soldier standing side by side so comfortably. "You guys been holed up down here okay?" Kelly addressed them all.

"We've been getting by just fine, kiddo," Nick replied. "All of us have been taking turns caring for the freed slaves, keeping ourselves busy. Don't you worry about us. How've you been doing? Elder Maxson been playing nice up there?"

Kelly checked a vicious laugh. Instead she plopped a sassy hand to her hip and scowled. "Oh Elder Maxson's been playing, I'll say that."

Svensson was eyeing her with cool interest, and she shrugged at him. "You don't even wanna know, Svensson."

"I guess I'll have to take your word for it, Paladin." Mentioning her rank was his way of reminding her not to slander his Elder in public.