abstracts | the pier.

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.

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His efforts are hampered, but truth be told, Neil doesn't mind. He relents. "You sure?" he asks after a beat.

"Rivet City guys, right?" If they witnessed anything of the recent 'unpleasantness,' they must be fucking stressed past their limits. Although-- "Did you talk to them? Who's the one in charge today?"

"I like you in my clothes," he says, a repeat. Then continues to the other topic. "Washington. Good guy. He likes you."

Neil stares outright. "Wearing your coat, then," he tells Alex.

As for Washington, the name sounds familiar, in the way of Neil probably talked to the guy before. Talked to nicely if what Alex states proves correct. "That's a first." Someone liking him. "So how would you say, 'I'm sorry for the gross inconvenience of making your work harder?'"

Alex's smiles grows, obviously pleased. He tilts his head to the second topic. "We say, 'you can take the credit for running out the insane squatter who managed to kill a contingent of Brotherhood forces.'"

He shakes his head. "Because I'm definitely not letting them take the fall for helping us."

His gaze falters, the skin around his dark eyes swelling from the high temperature. Neil shuts his eyelids, taking relief in the dark. "You always have an answer," he speaks evenly. "Have to respect you for that."

The expression shifts to something more solemn, and he reaches to close his hand over one of Neil's arms. "Do you want me to do something else? This is your party here."

At the pressure of a hand, Neil swallows the whimper sitting in his throat. Touching's beginning to be too much. He doesn't know if this is good or bad. "Your plan's perfect. None'll be wiser."

A pause. "Provided that's all the Brotherhood of Steel that came into the Memorial."

He watches Neil for another moment. "...I'll go check upstairs, make sure everything's kosher. You mind if I wake you up when I'm done, make sure things are good here as well?"

"No mind," responds Neil. Between the sickness and the fever, he doesn't believe he can fall asleep anyway. "Thanks, Alex."

The gratitude is given with mourning in his voice. "Really, thank you. And I'm sorry. Will make it up to you somehow." The you includes Dogmeat and ED-E. And any poor soul who got caught up in this melodrama.

About ready to go, Alex paused, then shifts to kneel on the floor, hand trailing down Neil's arm until he catches his hand, bringing it to his mouth. He kisses his fingers, and stares at the kid. "...Listen, you have to stop apologizing. There's no resentment here. I just want you to get back to yourself."

There's a thump sound as Dogmeat's tail hits the metal of the bed. Alex glances over, and then to ED-E peering back at them. "...All of us want you to get better, all right? Don't thank me, either, kid. There's nothing I've done that you wouldn't, right?"

One has to wonder about his apologies if people keep telling him to stop. Regardless, Neil forces away his reactions. Push down his want to crumble beneath Alex's touch to the pits of his stomach. To reach desperately for Dogmeat like a child.

"Better. I'm on it," he manages. He leaves the rest of the topic alone.

"Kid. Relax," Alex continues, without moving to leave. "Don't think about anything right now. Kids are here, I'm here, and I have your back, all right? Let me take care of things right now."

Trust me a little bit more and just rest.

There's a prolonged beat of silence. Then Neil forcibly relaxes. "All right."

He'll try.

He kisses Neil's fingers again, then lays his hand on the bed, moving to stand. "Be right back. Watch your dog."

Alex pauses, looking at the corner the eyebot is in. "...Want to come?"

ED-E makes a series of sounds, enough for Alex to turn away from the door. "I didn't mean you had to stay in this room forever. Do you want to come with, or watch Neil?"

ED-E wants to come with Alex, wants to see what happened outside and what might have changed, but Neil was kind to him. And he needs to be taken care of. He moves from the corner, and beeps questioningly at Neil.

Watch Dogmeat and wait for Alex. "I can do that."

Except there's a questioning beep from ED-E, a query Neil thinks he understands. The man opens his eyes to look at the eyebot and smiles slightly. "I would go with Alex," he says. "Dogmeat will be here."

ED-E beeps to Neil, a surprisingly intimate sound; friendly and comforting. Then, not waiting for Alex, he rushes out the door.

Alex shakes his head and follows.

the pier.

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