I really can’t think of a title that isn’t corny as hell, so we’re just going to roll with this. :) I haven’t been able to come up with anything good to write lately and I saw this prompt meme the other day. With no other ideas, I decided to work my way through some of the prompts because it’s better than nothing. So this is just a conversation between Piper and MacCready where Piper realizes there might be a little something between MacCready and Anna. I’ve never written Piper before, so hopefully it works out alright. :)
The Castle had become something to behold, thanks to Anna. Everyone in the Commonwealth had known to stay away from the dilapidated old fort, though MacCready hadn’t known why. He had never been stupid enough to go find out. According to the Minutemen, the biggest mirelurk imaginable had taken up residence here. Thankfully all traces of the creature were gone now. Instead MacCready could marvel at the popular, and quite safe, hub it had become. Today marked the last of its restoration and the Castle was buzzing with excitement. Of course, the promise of a celebration to mark the occasion had everyone in a frenzy.
“Everyone’s pretty excited, aren’t they?” Piper said, plopping down beside him on his perch overlooking the courtyard.
“Can’t blame them, I guess,” MacCready replied around a mouthful of muta ruin. “They’ve got their fort back, their numbers are up, they’ve spread settlements across the Commonwealth, and they have a leader again. Sounds like a Minuteman’s dream.” He swallowed his bite before turning to the reporter. “What are you doing here anyway? Since when did you join the ranks?”
“I didn’t, though Blue doesn’t hesitate to bring any of us along to help a settlement.”
“Nah, I’m just here for the story,” she said, spreading her arms wide like she was imagining a story title. “‘Minutemen Officially Back In Business.’ People will want to know about retaking the Castle, rebuilding it, and their new operations.”
“All thanks to their new leader who is too dam-- too charismatic for her own good.”
“That almost sounded like a compliment, Mac.”
“I guess it was. It’s the truth, though.” Glancing over at Piper, he was met with a bemused, almost mischievous grin. One that made him simultaneously blush and want to smack her like a little sister. “What?”
“Oh, Mac. She won you over, didn’t she?” The question was far too innocently sweet for MacCready’s comfort.
“Won me… What are you talking about? I’m just saying she’s charismatic. I’m surprised she didn’t calmly ask that mirelurk to leave the Castle. And with her luck, it probably would have work. Besides that, she’s easy for people to follow. She’s nice in a way that just shouldn’t exist. I can’t figure out how the heck she does it. But people respond to it, and to her, whether they mean to or not.” With every word that came out of his mouth, his blush grew. He had to practically slap his hand across his mouth to stop the flow of words that were digging him deeper and deeper into a hole. Looking at Piper was just out of the question, so he studied the courtyard instead, even though he could feel her gaze burning a hole into him.
“Mac, are you…” she started quietly, no longer acting the part of mischief maker. MacCready knew exactly what she was about to say and he looked anywhere but at her in the vain hope that she would leave it alone. Apparently that was as good as an admission of guilt.
“Oh my God,” she breathed.
“Piper, don’t,” he tried to say firmly, along with a stern look. The falter in his voice gave him away.
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” At least she was quiet about it, he thought through a wince at hearing the words said out loud.
“I don’t...I mean no, not…” His protests falling flat, he hung his head. “Maybe,” he admitted quietly.
“I’m guessing you haven’t told her.”
“No. And don’t you even think about it. If I ever tell her, I want to be the one actually doing it.”
“I wouldn’t dare. But if I were you, I’d do it. I’ve seen her look your way too many times for it to be a coincidence.” With that, Piper stood and left, leaving MacCready feeling like an idiot. Yet still he scanned through the crowd below him to find a glimpse of Anna. When he caught sight of her auburn bun, she looked up at him like she had read Piper’s mind and rewarded him with a dazzling smile. He caught himself grinning back before she was whisked away by yet another task. Only when he realized his heart had skipped a beat when she smiled did he realize how truly hopeless he was. And he wasn’t sure if that was going to be good or bad.