The Rad Zone -- Fallout x reader-ish oneshots

Settled

So, here's the format for these things. I like to start off with an author's note, as you're seeing here, then post the story below the tildes. 

I'm excited to be back to posting content. Do be easy, this was a bit of a warm-up, considering I haven't written for months.

So hey let's start off with the only reason you liked the Honest Hearts DLC, because God knows it wasn't because of the story.

In which the Courier makes a discovery

Joshua Graham/Courier Six

No warnings

~~~

The melodious patter of rain tapped against a stone roof while grumbling thunder bellowed out across the canyons. The sky was a steely gray, hanging heavily in the sky, as though it were about to collapse in on itself. Clouds heavy with water drained their icy cool contents on the world below. A breath of a breeze quietly whistled through holes in the stony walls of the spacious cave. A jolt of lightning broke the peaceful downpour and the sky was alight with a jagged line of white-hot electricity.

Courier Six had situated herself at the western entrance of Angel Cave, propped up against the stone wall, just under cover from the downpour. She was completely entranced by the shower. She'd never seen so much rain in her life -- the Mojave was not exactly the right place to be if you wanted a shower every so often. It was like the entirety of Lake Mead had condensed into the sky and floated all the way to Zion, just to drop back to Earth in the water show that was playing out before her eyes.

Six had lost track of time, doubly due to the fact that her only timepiece, the sun, had hidden away behind the dark, sorrowful clouds. Most of the Dead Horses had taken shelter by the time she stood to stretch her cramped legs and wander back into the cave. It was getting late, as the dark sky had only gotten darker. It wouldn't be long before the canyons would disappear from her eyesight, shrouded by the final drops of dusk fading, and night knocking at the sky's door.

She could still hear the rain thrumming against the top of the cave when she returned to the large cavern just inside. It was muffled, a little hushed, but still obviously present. The rain was singing a lullaby to her and the tribe, the mellifluous melody a constant white noise that kept tired minds from prolonging rest. Six didn't know how she had gone her entire life falling asleep without the sound of rainfall on her rooftop, a constant reminder that she was safe; safe being a word not many could use these days. It was more of a comfort than her overactive mind and dangerous lifestyle, at least.

The breeze that had been a gentle whistle weaving through the tunnels had become a pained howl outside. Angel Cave would have been freezing, if not for the copious amounts of torches lining the walls. That, and the fire directly in the center of the room, casting an orange glow on the already orange walls. It was such a warm, cozy color that made the whole place feel snug and comfortable. It was really starting to grow on Six as a real home, something she couldn't ever remember having, even with the Lucky 38 back in Vegas with all of her friends. Something about the dead quiet, dusty rooms there had never felt quite right.

Six never really had a real place to call home. She was a wanderer at heart, even if that heart longed to just belong somewhere. No, she had told herself, there wasn't anywhere in the ruins of the world that could hold her. She'd travel til' she keeled over dead. Nothing in this world was permanent. Eventually, she'd move on from whatever camp she made without looking back. That's how it had always been. Here, however, Six felt like something that was missing had finally clicked right into place. Her insides ached at the thought of leaving. She had felt this yearning before. This time, it was getting to be too hard to ignore. She knew she had to leave soon. Otherwise, this place might grow on her until she was rooted in place. She wouldn't let that happen. She decided long ago that settling down and trying to start anew would only hurt her. Staying too long in one place put her at risk, since she assumed there was more than one bounty on her head at this point. Her hands were far from clean, after all.