Salty tears stick to Alex's clothes. They streak across Neil's cheeks and nose, and somehow, it grows worse. Dogmeat was the big brother, waiting all this time. It reminds Neil of--
Nine years ago. Megaton. Outside, near the entrance, they were standing together, facing each other with Neil looking down. There was something old and tired behind Dogmeat's eyes as Neil tested the fluidity of his new T-51b, all decked in white. The nineteen-year-old hesitated then. He paused long enough to reach and touch a mental-enclosed hand to the dog's ears.
"I think it's time for us to say goodbye, old buddy."
To let each other go. Neil was sure, so damn sure, that this battle was the end. This charge led by Liberty Prime and Lyon's Brotherhood of Steel would bring the Lone Wanderer to his grave, and it was time. Goodbye and--
"Take care of yourself, okay?"
--and Dogmeat had whined, in the way the teenager had recognized as a protest. As a sad refusal to let Neil go because his dog, his unhappy pup, knew it wasn't time for Neil. For them. Knew he would only have to wait until this moment, nine years later.
Neil blinks, sagging in his arms. "Letting go." He lowers his voice to a whisper. "It seems too much like leaving me behind."
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Nine years ago. Megaton. Outside, near the entrance, they were standing together, facing each other with Neil looking down. There was something old and tired behind Dogmeat's eyes as Neil tested the fluidity of his new T-51b, all decked in white. The nineteen-year-old hesitated then. He paused long enough to reach and touch a mental-enclosed hand to the dog's ears.
"I think it's time for us to say goodbye, old buddy."
To let each other go. Neil was sure, so damn sure, that this battle was the end. This charge led by Liberty Prime and Lyon's Brotherhood of Steel would bring the Lone Wanderer to his grave, and it was time. Goodbye and--
"Take care of yourself, okay?"
--and Dogmeat had whined, in the way the teenager had recognized as a protest. As a sad refusal to let Neil go because his dog, his unhappy pup, knew it wasn't time for Neil. For them. Knew he would only have to wait until this moment, nine years later.
Neil blinks, sagging in his arms. "Letting go." He lowers his voice to a whisper. "It seems too much like leaving me behind."