Fallout: Fury Blood

Chapter 75: Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear

*WARNING*
Fluffy as fuck, with a rich seasoning of angst and a healthy dash of spicy smut.

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The woman Danse had devoted his entire existence to was in ruins in his arms, her tremulous body a fragile thing against his. He kissed at her forehead and nuzzled into her familiar-smelling hair, but her thin gasps of misery in his chest were puncturing his heart, the whimpers now only the wet dregs of the brutal letting of despair from earlier.

At first, he had felt a sense of relief that she was finally letting go of her emotions, finally coming to him for help, letting him in. Just like he had with her. He thought back to the last time she had broken down before him, that night out in the cabin when she had told him about her son's fate with the Institute. He remembered how restricted he had felt to comfort her as her commanding officer. Now, he could comfort her the way he had desired to back then, unmitigated with all the affection his heart yearned to give.

But now, witnessing the depth of her anguish, he regretted that feeling of relief. Just holding her body, he could feel that she had lost weight again. Her cheeks appeared to have subtly hollowed out again, too.

"Shh. It's gonna be alright," he soothed into her hair, stroking the dark feathery strands in his calloused fingers. "I've got you. I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'll make it happen."

Kelly gripped onto him harder. "I can't do this, Danse," she lamented into his chest, tiny sobs still hassling her body. "They're dead because of me. I failed them, I failed you. I'm not cut out for this. I'm just a soldier."

"You didn't fail them, none of this was your fault, and you have not failed me. You could never fail me. Listen to me." He gently took her face in his fingers and raised it until she was forced to look at him, stained and bloated with misery. "You are so much more than just a soldier. Think of all the good you've done since coming out of that vault. You change people's lives everywhere you go, always eager to help despite having your own problems. You risked your life to save mine. The bravery you showed by standing up to Maxson on my behalf will never be forgotten. You've done so much more for countless others out there, and I can't even imagine what else you accomplished before we even met."

She was listening to his words with an intensive desperation, clinging onto them for dear life, but there was a futile vale to her eyes that told him she wasn't soaking it in, wasn't truly believing him. It was like her inner flame was snuffed out. And he loved that flame.

Danse took a firmer hold of her wet face and hauled from all his years of experience as a Paladin, supporting his soldiers and bolstering their resolves when the world seemed to be falling down around them. She was and always would be his soldier.

"You're going to get through this, even if I have to carry you through it, because you're tough, soldier. You can't be a tough person without overcoming a tough time, and you're going to come out the other side of this an even tougher person, just like you always do."

A sob wracked her body, but she gripped at the hands holding her face up, like she was in danger of falling and his hands were her only hope. Good, she was fighting for survival.

Danse softened his tone and relinquished hold of her face to dash at the rogue tears tumbling down her cheeks. "You have a vision for this world, with the ambition and passion to chase it down. Not everyone has that, and yours is great enough to rival that of Maxson's. He is where he is today not just because of his heritage, but because of his vision and his passion, and it's carried him through a world of hardships, just like yours will. But you're not alone, we're in this together, and I'll be right at your side ready to catch you and carry you through the worst of it."