covers of a book.

[goodfight]

Somewhere in that long journey back to the Mojave, in that broken and dusty old road, Alex had mentioned a book. There was nothing particularly descriptive in his utterance, nothing that would have a guy running to the local rundown library for it, but it was enough to stick in Neil's thoughts.

Thus, when he "serendipitously" caught sight of the book in a merchant's stock somewhere in Nebraska, he snatched it up. He tucked it carefully away in his pack.

And now, a day later with the sun sitting highest in the sky, while Alex and ED-E are up ahead scouting the area, Neil slips the book into Alex's pack, in a place the other man would find easily. He straightens from his task, a small grin playing on his lips, before he notes that Dogmeat is staring at him in curiosity.

"Not a word," Neil tells his mutt.

Dogmeat wags his tail, as if excited about the prospect of a secret.

Comments

[goodfight]

"You raised him well," Neil comments, dark eyes holding affection, subdued and light. "He's a good child." For reasons beyond death.

[doubletap]

"You mean upgraded him well," he corrects, smiling slightly. "He mostly raised himself though," Alex says, and know Neil would remember their conversation on Whitley.

And ED-E has been raising Alex as well lately. From the Memorial to even today.

[goodfight]

Neil remembers the circumstances of ED-E's life. He would have paid the same compliment to Whitley if he had been around. As it is, the man can only say so much.

So he will say this, "I care about both of you. You know that, right?"

[doubletap]

Alex's eyebrows go up. "I always assumed you were just dealing with him."

[goodfight]

"Just had a one-sided language barrier to overcome," Neil comments lightly. "Kinda hard to be friendly when you have no idea how to approach someone. Now I do have an idea." After Jefferson Memorial, after Point Lookout.

[doubletap]

His hands slide down as the tone of the conversation changes, resting over Neil's shoulders. "Didn't know if you saw him as a person, or what you thought of bots. Plus there's the eyebots in the Capital, and that computer president.... Didn't think you liked them much."

[goodfight]

Silence plays out as Neil considers his choice in answers. Finally, choice made, he loses his smile and looks away.

"Had a Mr. Handy...roommate once. Wadsworth was his name. Kept the Megaton place clean, gave hair cuts, and told some good jokes. He's the guy who was supposed to alert me if something happened to Marie." Before he was torn apart by desperate slaves.

Neil swallows, forcing away that memory. "Once traveled with a Mr. Gutsy, too," he continues. "When I got too popular with the Capital Wasteland folks, he refused to travel with me. Kinda sucked. I was starting to like the idea of a second companion."

[doubletap]

The subjects mentioned are complicated and varied, and in the middle of a trip across the United States, Alex makes the decision to keep the conversation on the original subject, instead of touching on the others. "...Well, ED-E will be able to destroy almost anything that comes near him, so no problems there. And if you try to go off on your own, he will probably hunt you down and sneaky beep after you, the little creeper."

And has more truth in it, since ED-E's perception is inhumanly--and in-robotly--high.

[goodfight]

He cannot help the grin, recalling the exact definition of "sneaky beep". And best of all, it all circles back to his original point.

"Probably why we can actually be friends," Neil says. "Eyebot stuck around long enough."

[doubletap]

"The eyebot has a name," he drawls after Neil. Alex also realizes that he is still sitting in Neil's lap, entwined like lovers. He starts to make movements to get up, for Neil to let go.

[goodfight]

Neil lets him go, allowing the separation. His grin falls away as the man's left sitting on the dirt. "ED-E, then," he says quietly. "ED-E stuck around long enough."

[doubletap]

Alex stands, fastening his pants back up and stretching his legs, then leans down to reach his hand to Neil. "ED-E always stays. Always waits. Just like his guardian."

[goodfight]

Neil inclines to watch the outstretched hand, eyes and face unfathomable, before reaching back to take it. "I know," he murmurs.

[doubletap]

Alex fingers close around Neil's almost gently, before his grip tightens to haul him up. "And I trust you," he quietly reiterates.

[goodfight]

He's brought to his feet, and Neil takes the moment to brush off the dirt on his pants. "I'll remember that next time," he answers, "when I try to take you in my hand."

Neil thinks to grin. Thinks but decides otherwise. He ultimately lets it fall as it may.

[doubletap]

Alex doesn't try to suppress the shudder that runs through him. "Fuck, kid," he says, pushing a hand through his hair. "You really know how to make a guy off balance."

[goodfight]

Here, Neil does grin. "Learned only from the best," he comments. "Probably also helps you actually like me." As opposed to a casual acquaintance.

[doubletap]

"Always liked you," he mutters in embarrassment. "Said it from the start."

[goodfight]

So he did. From Novac to Vegas, from the Mojave to D.C. and back.

"Weirdo," Neil replies. Decides to shift gears on a whim. "You ready for hours of hiking?"

[doubletap]

In an act almost familiar, Alex reaches to ruffle Neil's hair. "Love you," he says; casually, almost easily.

"Let's get going."

[goodfight]

There is a hand in his hair, the feel of it familiar. "You, too," he says quietly.

Let them continue on.