Jealousy in the Wasteland

Chapter 5 - Take It Outside

*word count : 986*

~Y/N's POV~

After my conversation with Codsworth, I head into my bedroom to attempt to sleep, but I catch myself just staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out what the fuck to do.

On one hand, you have Hancock. I've known him for years, and we've saved each other's asses more times than I can count. He's funny, caring, and empathetic, but he's also Hancock. He's addicted to chems, and is only fully sober once in a blue moon.

Then you have Nick. Nick is a synth, but under his cold, metallic, hard exterior, there's a wonderful person. He's charming, the biggest smooth talker I've ever met, funny, all the things. But he's a synth, and also my partner.

I lie awake for what feels like hours, wracking my brain. I eventually decide to just leave things as they are, Hancock probably just said those things because he was high, and Nick didn't really know what he was doing. Simple, right?

Eventually, I drift off to sleep and before I know it, the sun is assaulting my eyes. "At least it's not raining." I hear Preston say through the broken walls of the house.

I get up, nearly tripping over Dogmeat. I lazily get dressed and dread my walk to Diamond City.

~Nick's POV~

Y/N and I are set to leave for Far Harbor tomorrow. Any other time, I'd be excited to be going on another excursion with her. Part of me regrets kissing her that night, but at the same time, I'm glad I did it.

I sit at my desk, tonguing the cigarette in my mouth, watching the flame of a candle flicker. I puff on the cigarette once more before putting it out, lighting another one in tow.

I hear the door to the agency open and look up to see Y/N, who honestly looks exhausted. "Long night?" I ask. She stares at me blankly in response, heading to her desk and dropping her bags. I nod to myself, then shift my focus back to my work.

The day is spent checking our equipment, making sure her power armor doesn't need repairs, and making sure we've packed everything we'll need. "Hey, why don't you just stay here tonight? Saves you the trouble of going back to Sanctuary and coming back." I ask, honestly just wanting to make things easier on her.

"I probably will, but I'm going to the bar tonight too. You can join if you wanna." She says, getting up from her chair and heading towards the door. Before she can open it, I rush behind her and place a hand on the door, blocking it from opening. "We need to talk, doll."

She looks at me with exhausted eyes, but gives me a nod as if to tell me to go ahead. "Listen, I know what happened the other night was... unexpected. I didn't know what I was doing, Y/N. I just knew I needed to do it." I remove my hand from the door and grab hers.

"Y/N, once I saw you in Vault 114, I just knew there was something about you. The way you showed up and killed all of Skinny's men without flinching was all it took for me to fall in love with you." Her jaw drops but she doesn't break eye contact.

"Nick, I can't handle this right now." She says, shifting her gaze down to her feet. "Well why not? Now is as good a time as any." I ask, releasing her hands. "My two best friends have both kissed me and confessed their love for me within the past 24 hours, Nick. I can't focus on that while we have a girl to save."

With that, she turns to face the door, hesitating before leaving the agency. "That greedy son of a bitch." I sneer, before following Y/N to The Third Rail.

~Hancock's POV~

I'm sitting in The Third Rail with a few drifters, all of which are either drunk or high on Jet. I see Y/N and Valentine walk in, rolling my eyes at the sight.

The pair sit at the bar, Y/N ordering her usual and Nick a coolant. Guy can't even drink alcohol, why does he feel the need to come to the bar with her? Fucks sake.

I can tell there's tension between them, so I decide to go over and at least try to lighten Y/N's mood. "Hey, beautiful. Charlie, her next one's on me." I tell the robot behind the bar, who would have rolled his eyes at me if he could. Nick shoots a glance at me, almost as a warning. I coolly lean on the bar beside Y/N, looking at Nick.

"You got a problem, detective?" I ask the synth. Y/N elbows me in the ribs before looking back down to her drink. My eyes don't leave his. "Yeah, I do, Hancock. Just don't see why you have to come bother us every time we're here. Don't you have someone else to annoy?"

I laugh at his words while Y/N shoots daggers at him. "Both of you shut up. Now." She demands, but her words fall on deaf ears. "You don't own her, Valentine, and you sure as hell don't get to boss me around." I sneer.

"No shit, Sherlock. Maybe Y/N just wanted a night of peace before we hike up north. Together." He says back to me, his words laced with sarcasm.

"You blokes better take it outside if you're gonna fight." Says Charlie from behind the bar. "I've cleaned up 'nuff blood from this place." "Wanna take it outside, synth?" Y/N puts her head in her hands, undoubtedly embarrassed by what's unfolding.

"Yeah. Let's handle it outside." Says Nick, promptly getting up from his chair and heading towards the stairs.

TO BE CONTINUED...