Radioactive Romance

Atom Bomb Baby

Cooper spits out prickly pear seeds onto the dirt as he unhitches the horse...

As soon as she told me her full name, I knew exactly who her daddy was.

That peppy little assistant to my long-dead wife. Cryogenically frozen to ease his existence through the worst of the post-bomb world. He came out to oversee one of his experimental vaults, fell in love by all accounts, and produced this fine little thing that happened upon my humble abode.

I also knew exactly where her daddy was. From spending time with her, I knew that she didn't know half the shit that Vault-Tec was behind.

She was torn up about her daddy, and she didn't even know who he was.

Even now, centuries later, they were finding ways to screw with me. Getting me involved in this bullshit that I had put to bed a century ago.

Then she got into my bed and into my head, and here we are.

She had made me feel like a man this morning, not just a wasteland wanderer. She made me feel wanted and needed, and she had seen me, she had really fucking seen me.... It wasn't my intention to be cold.

I can fight everything out here, but I can't fight my urges for her.

I didn't want to let on what I know about the Vaults; their sordid, insidious, and depraved uses, partly because how do you explain all of this to somebody fresh from one of those vaults, but also because the whole thing makes me so fucking angry. Still.

The past few days with Y/N have been something incredible, and whether I wanted to or not, I was sticking with her. But I wasn't happy going back into this world. I had become accustomed to our nights and days of exploring each other.

"But you promised you'd help me find my dad," she shouted as she walked the distance between us.

She doesn't know shit about the wasteland and what we are walking into.

The wasteland has its own golden rule... "Thou shalt get sidetracked by bullshit every goddamn time," I mutter as I throw the saddle over the horse.

"What about the dog?" she pointed.

"He ain't mine."

She tugged at my coat.
"What is wrong with you?"

Her big eyes glistened in the soft sandy light.

"I'm just trying to prepare you for how hard this is going to be," I look down at her. My hat shielding my eyes.

"I'm piecing it together, Coop, but you have to trust me... I'll trust you, and I'm a quick learner! I'm a good shot, I have excellent repair skills, and I can cook... and you," she paused and gripped my gloved hand, "well, you, you have all that charisma."

I smiled. "Don't you be telling anyone about that, darlin'," I lean down, taking her jaw in my hand, and kiss her.

"We need to visit an old friend."
"And then my dad?"

I hitch her up onto the horse and climb up behind her. It's going to be a long ride.

The dog trots after us.

"Hey can you tell me a favor and tell me what's happened in the last 200 years??"

I sigh...

Days of trailing through the Mojave. Nights under a banner of stars and a bright moon. We ride and talk, and I start to let the secrets I've kept for a long time loose...

She is uncharacteristically quiet, especially as she pieces together who her father is now that she is searching for answers. I think we both have the same vendetta, the same axe to grind, and the vengeance, it feels delightful.