But He Stopped Pt 2

Maybe I'm Just Too Demanding

I paced. Ever since Fahrenheit had told me about what had happened in the store room. Ever since she'd given her that stupid mini-gun that I had found in the freight car beside my name in blocks. I closed my eyes and stopped pacing; breathing in deeply to avoid the feelings of embarrassment that rose up in me. I shook my head, my feet moving again.

How immature. I ran a hand over my head, And she had seen it.

The floor moved beneath me hypnotically. She hadn't bothered to come and see me though I knew she was told to. Instead she had gone straight to Pickman's Gallery. Fool woman, stupid pride. The faint knock at my door was like a gunshot through my quarters. I spun and caught the intruders gaze. My shoulders drooped. It was just Ham. I was hoping...

"Why are you here?" Curiosity laced my voice.

"She's here." He answered, calm as ever. "Your Vault Dweller."

"She's not mine." I snapped, pushing past him and down the stairs, annoyed to hear him on my heels.

I could feel the eyes of the neighborhood watch. Everyone knew about my unrequited love. It was annoying in the worst way, but when you're the mayor everyone knows everything. I was used to that. I ignored the shouts of Daisy as she tried to flag me down, rushing past the men of the watch trying to start conversation. I paused at the stairs leading down to the Third Rail, smoothing my frock, straightening my hat, breathing deeply. I strode down the stairs, my eyes found her immediately. Magnolia was crooning on the stage, the atmosphere was slow, easy, calm. Better than normal.

I hesitated in the shadows of the last few steps as I watched her spin. She had cuts all over, she looked... absent. I felt something cold sink in my gut. I took a deep breath and started crossing the distance. Her bar stool stopped and she was staring at me. Something passed over her face that looked like disgust. My heart followed the path of that cold something earlier. I slowly made my way towards her as she spun around, refusing to meet my gaze.

"Another water, Charlie."

Her voice was thin and fragile over the hushed din of the bar. I took a seat beside her, the bar stool groaning. I watched her, nerves racing over my body. She seemed so different. Cold and distant; withdrawn. She had never been overly friendly with me, but she had never felt this far away either. I watched her look at me, her eyes catching the refraction of light from around the room, blooming into an eruption of colors. She looked at the top of my head, trailing down over my face deliciously slow. I couldn't help the crooked grin that found my lips as our eyes met. She froze, she'd even stopped breathing.

"Rosie?" The words were low and quiet in my throat, I wasn't even sure she heard me.

She set her glass down, "What do you want?"

I hadn't stopped smiling. Even angry and despondent she was cute. I stalled for time, trying to get my thoughts together. I tapped the bar counter. Charlie hummed right over, pouring the whiskey into the glass and leaving the bottle behind like usual. I could feel her looking at me, scrutinizing my glass before glaring up at me.

"I heard you did my job." Stupid. Stupid, of course she did that job! You idiot. Fucking stupid

She froze a bit, raising her glass to her lips with jerky motions, nodding before taking a small sip and setting the glass back down. Worry ate at my gut. I had done the wrong thing asking her to do this job.

"You look like hell, sunshine. Are you okay?" I couldn't help but worry for her, all those cuts, her behavior.

Something was wrong. I wished to hell that she didn't dislike me so much, God I wanted to help her. The need was a living thing in my veins. I watched her war with something within herself, her face tight, her lower lip worried between her teeth. I wanted to hold her, soothe her. I wanted to kiss her and reassure her. She refused to look at me as anger took over her body. She took a final long chug of her glass, emptying it.