the story in which Alex Seattle Geer is right for hating enclosed spaces,

[doubletap]

and Neil Park is blamed for his knowledge of vaults.

---

Terminal Entries:

1st Floor, Vault Entry-Room Computer:
- Data Entry 1: Year 20XX, Month XX; There's no escape.
- Holotape Entry 1: Y#4@ SDhig^8705 H98 [data corrupted]; This is hell and I want out of it.

1st Floor, Cafeteria Luncheon:
- Holotape Entry 2: Private Recording; I've had better?

1st Floor, Cafeteria Supply Room:
- Inventory List: Inventory List; A list of food....
- Data Entry 2: Shift Notes; Maybe I should tear the walls down.

1st Floor, Broken Cave:
- Data Entry 3: Preparations; Everything's fine.
- Data Entry 4: Near the End; I'll tell you the truth, but I won't give up my soul.
- Data Entry 5: Finally, the End is at Hand.; This is far enough.

1st Floor, Office:
- Data Entry 6: Vault-Wide Public Service Announcement; Get back to work everyone.
- Data Entry 7: Locked Administrative Reply; You're reaching for straws.

1st Floor, Administrative Secretary's Office:
- Data Entry 8: Drama Hoes; It is sort of funny that people aren't able to lie, though.
- Holotape Entry 3: Bill Self-Log; Byron's access still works everywhere.

Comments

[doubletap]

[ He opens his eyes at that, and gives a half-smile. ]

You haven't been. Not fully.

[goodfight]

[Neil mulls over the reply a bit before murmuring.]

I guess I'm bad at that. Since me caring about something seems to drive that something away.

[The answer is far more truthful than he intended.]

[doubletap]

Especially when you're not willing to admit it a lot.

[ That care.

Alex reaches out without his usual swagger, reaches to pull Neil from next to him, to tug him into Alex's lap. ]

[goodfight]

[Perhaps that is the root of things. The possibility does not bother him as much as the dejection that comes from it.]

Aren't I basically now?

[Admitting everything.

It matters little. Neil follows the prompting without resistance, albeit the closeness (and the lack of clothes) makes him tense up in anticipation.

For what remains unknown.]

[doubletap]

Maybe. Or maybe it's not what I think it is.

[ Because his thoughts need to settle, if they are going to move forward. One way or the other. ]

Touch me.

[goodfight]

[The request strikes as strange. On another day, it might sound suspicious, but now, the younger man doesn't know what to think.

After a second, he quietly reaches out to press a hand against Alex's chest, near the other's heart.]

[doubletap]

[ Alex stares, seemingly waiting. ]

[goodfight]

[The weight of Alex's gaze proves unnerving to the point of discomfort, and something cracks within Neil. He moves the other hand to cup the side of Alex's jaw, dark eyes watching.]

What are you looking for?

[doubletap]

[ The touch to his face is not what he expected--Alex shudders and closes his eyes. This is not what he was asking for--

But he doesn't know what is needed anymore. ]

Something simple.

[goodfight]

[Neil continues watching, his eyes unmoving. The hand on Alex's chest slides across to grasp the left shoulder lightly as the other hand remains.]

Is that what you want? Simple?

[doubletap]

[ Alex keeps a hand on Neil's hip, and moves his other hand to hold the hand against his face. Despite pride, or the lack of it, Alex leans his head into it.

He speaks quietly. ]

...I don't know.

[goodfight]

I'm not going anywhere.

[The words are spoken without restraint. Neil releases his hand from Alex's shoulder to run his fingers over the skin.]

Take your time figuring out what you want. I'll wait.

[doubletap]

[ He shivers at the touch, and doesn't try to hide it. His lashes flutter against his cheeks.

His voice is rough, quiet. ]

...What the hell are you saying, kid?

[goodfight]

[His gaze holds steady even as his innards churns within him.]

I'm saying that I'm staying with you.

[A strained pause.]

Until you find out what you want from me.

[doubletap]

[ The hand on Neil's tightens at that, and his eyes open to stare again. ]

I know what I want from you. That was never in question.

[ What he's having a problem with... ]

I'm just... I was used to you not being so in this with me. How the hell am I supposed to act when you're telling me you love me and want to stay with me? This whole time, I've been--

[ He swallows. ]

...Preparing for you to leave.

[goodfight]

[There is a sad chuckle, a release of tension. He trails in hand from the other man's shoulder to arm, lightly pressing against the skin.]

I'm a shithead. I don't blame you for thinking that.

[Neil nervously licks his lips.]

This didn't come with this vault. This...feeling isn't even brand new to me. I knew when we left D.C. that I wouldn't be able to walk away from you again.

[doubletap]

[ The touching can't be ignored, not from this source. Not when it's as rare as it is. He moves against the touch, more of his body reacting. Despite this, he speaks instead. ]

...What changed?

[goodfight]

[The question proves multilayered and ultimately, difficult. His fingers rest at an elbow.]

Dad is dead.

[What exactly changed.]

That place... [That horrible, traumatizing swamp.] Made me finally let him go.

[doubletap]

[ A subject he would rather not. It stands in the air anyway. ]

Despite how I've been, I'm not unsympathetic.

[ But of course there's a but. ]

...But I'm not a consolation prize. It's not something I want, to be your second choice.

[goodfight]

You're not a consolation prize.

[Nothing of him is settling for the next best.]

All my fucking wants and hopes and dreams died the day he left Vault 101.

[The hand on the Alex's elbow shakes.]

Can you understand, old man? You've become the first thing in five years that I can't stand to lose. You're it.

[doubletap]

[ Alex leans back against the desk, pulling Neil closer to him--skin to skin, body to body. His hands move to wrap around the kid's back. ]

You know it's never been like that for me.

[ He starts, a non sequitur. ]

Sex is sex. It's casual and self-satisfying. It's simple.

[ And he gives a tired smirk at that, before looking to the other side of the room. ]

...Last night wasn't simple. Last night meant something, and yeah, maybe I'm old, but that's something I've never experienced before.

[ Love in sex. Affection laced with care. Movements of love instead of lust.

Alex looks back at Neil, gray-blue eyes watching. ]

You turned everything upside down. You and I--it's not what I thought at all. I thought I understood, but there's a helluva more to this that I didn't know. This right now, it's not the be-all and end-all. This is probably just the start. Fuck, that's scary. You scare the hell out of me.

[goodfight]

[Neil knows. He understands the approach because he stands at the other extreme.

Perhaps it speaks volumes that he permitted it in the first place.

It is warm where their skin touches. The words spoken prove overwhelming. With restraint, he buries his head into the crook of Alex's neck and breathes.]

You're not alone in that, you know.

[doubletap]

[ Neil tucks his head into Alex's neck and breathes out, and Alex's body responds further, pressing against where their bodies meet. He takes in a deep breath, muscles tense, and slips a hand upward to pet the back of Neil's neck. ]

That it meant something or that I scare you?

[goodfight]

[Pressure results in Neil shivering. His arm slides tightly around the other man's torso.]

Both. This is unknown territory that I'm willingly crossing.

[doubletap]

[ Neil shivering is something Alex is drawn to--he can't help nuzzling Neil, and moving to kiss the edge of Neil's ear. ]

...Come a long way from the brat with father issues who couldn't stand me, then.