the pier.

[doubletap]

Let him just say it now--the kid had a lot of problems.

I mean, not really a surprise or anything--Alex had found him dried out in a desert, for crying out loud--but god damn.

Let’s recap.

Alex Seattle Geer found himself in love with a Vault brat from the Capital Wasteland with a daddy complex the size of Hoover Dam. Said kid loves him back--sometimes. Said kid would probably rather put another bullet between Alex’s eyes rather than spend time with him, and didn’t this just go to show it. Neil leaves to check up a rumor, said he’d be back shortly--shortly became two days and by then Dogmeat was back, meaning Neil took off somewhere he was worried the dog would get hurt at. Two days turn into two weeks and counting, and by then, Alex has tracked Neil’s steps, found the fucking pier, the fucking tool of a woman looking for her child, and all of the pieces are too easily placed.

Neil left for Point Lookout. And Alex, ED-E, and Dogmeat are left hanging in the wind.

Alex has been fucking camping on the dirty sand and shit next to that pier, waiting for that stupid kid to come back on that stupid ferry the woman told him about. Tobar the fucking Ferryman, and Alex feels like shooting the asshole just for submitting to Neil’s request. Probably not the guy’s fault, but-- Hell. Yeah. He didn’t traipse all over the goddamn country just to be left in the dust. Is the kid even coming back? Who fucking knows.

Alex will just.

Wait here.

Until Neil comes back.

Yeah, that’s not pathetic at all.

Comments

[doubletap]

...The smile gave him pause. He hadn't expected to see that again so soon after their talk. The dog was more a miracle worker than Alex gave him credit for. The surprise is blatant on Alex's face.

ED-E rushes past him, zooming to beep at Dogmeat before moving around Neil to bounce him lightly in the back before zooming back out the door. Alex raises his eyebrows; shakes his head. "He certainly is," he quips dryly. The sight of ED-E had leached the surprise from his expression, and it's only with affection that he reaches out to touch Neil's cheek. "However long you like, Neil."

Something that means two things without Alex meaning to.

"Take your time adjusting. I'll be right here."

[goodfight]

Surprise's written clearly in the other man's countenance, and Neil cannot help but laugh. He thinks to comment on the previous conversation, on Alex perhaps believing he's given up on life for good, but it's ED-E who interrupts Neil. He zips past Alex to nudge Neil in the back, causing the younger man to stumble forward in surprise.

He doesn't recall the eyebot ever touching him so willingly.

Before Neil has time to collect his thoughts, ED-E disappears out the door, leaving the two men and the dog to process. To eventually follow. Alex reaches for Neil's face, hand touching his cheek, and Neil drops the grin. Trades it for a soft yet complicated expression.

"Okay," he murmurs. "Alright."