Mac and the Gang

Williamstown

Arcade with gym above.

Finch Farm gets its turn being built up by Riddick, as well as its residents being outfitted in Forged goodies because if the big guy who wandered into the settlement can beat 'em, well... let's join 'em! That's how the saying goes, right? Especially as Goggles is gonna be the official raider Overboss once he heads into Nuka World. But that ain't on the to-do list right now. Got a few more settlements to build (that are being posted somewhat out of order as to when they were actually done) and the main plot needs forwarded into "which faction are we going with anyways?" territory.

Weapon shop with living space above for the shop keeper.

Those who live in glass houses... have pretty houses?

I hadn't planned on doing Vault 88 with Riddick yet, but got the inkling of at least breaking into the joint while trying to not die of a massive migraine yesterday morning. Somehow the distraction factor worked, and the end result is this lil' transparent township for a few lucky residents. Carrot lady mostly stands around repeating how DeLiCiOuS the damned soda is, and how I let her go on breaks all the time (news to me). At least I can use glass ceilings here since it's all technically indoors, and the settlers won't bitch about unsheltered beds.

"It came from Planet X!" Oberland Station city plan.

MacCready: sure, but i don’t see how changing your name is going to help.

Hancock: can I still be Hancock?

Hear me out!

Curie is fascinated with the unconventionally armoured man who has seen so many exciting things, but his scars and bad eye patch makes her very concerned. Their first conversation is her scolding him over it being a horrible choice as the rusted mental will do more harm.

Meanwhile Gage is struck silent. He has never had a girl this pretty and this clean talk to him this nicely without even a hint of caution or fear.

She sits him down and starts to fuss over him and examining his scars while asking questions and gushing over his exciting stories. Meanwhile Gage didnt even know he *could* blush.

MacCready: *yelps, jumps up, trips and falls down*

MacCready:

Like if he could he would wrap himself around Nate's shoulders and hiss like a feral cat at whoever thought it was a good idea to flirt with *his* boyfriend in front of him.

Some of these headcanons contain suggestive content. There is also a mention of su*cide attempts so tread carefully but know that neither the sexual content or su*cidal issues are described in detail.

Part 1

MacCready was Nate's shadow - that much everyone knew. Where you see the one the other wasn't far. You'd think the Merc was the one clinging to the walking legend that is the general of the minute men and notorious 'vault dweller', but try to split them up and see what happens.

"Mac is with me. That is not up for debate." Nate's eyes, usually so kind and friendly, had steel and fire in them when Danse insisted he alone accompany Nate on the brotherhood mission. "If he isn't welcome then neither am I, Paladin."

It was Nate who - when push came to shove - bared his teeth possessively when someone tried to hire or take Mac from him. So for the past 6months whatever mission or job or wander Nate was one, and whoever he was doing it with or for, Mac had his back.

In Sanctuary Nate had taken two weeks to build homes for his companions with three sharing a living room. Piper, Curie, and Cait in one - Valentine, Danse, and Preston in another - Strong, Dogmeat, and Deacon in the last (Dee asked to room with them as neither slept indoors so the spy actually had the entire house to himself and his wardrobe). At the end of the street, however, stood a two story building with a workshop with displays downstairs, and a stairway up to a huge shared bedroom overlooking the valley, carefully designed with floor to ceiling glass windows high enough to not see into On the one end of the floor stood a comfy couch and armchairs with magazine stands, the corner had a desk and shelves with a scatter of mementos, Mac's ammo and pictures drawn by a child's hand, and Nate's Minutemem and Brotherhood holotapes and paperwork. In the centre a huge soft bed and one big chest of drawers. If you didn't know Mac you'd think this could be a commonwealth couple's dream home - but the Merc was as straight as a rifle.

That being said, their friends noted the way Nate would flinch and busy himself with his PipBoy whenever Mac flirted with Piper or Cait. They kept it to themselves but didn't miss the way Nate's eyes softened when Mac got excited over a new comic, a new gun, or letter from Duncan. Nate was smitten, but only his closest friends could tell and they respected the man too much to say anything. With all the pain he had lived through, if the Merc made him happy so be it.

Till it wasn't a secret anymore.

"No... Please, no!" Mac pleaded as he tried to staunch the bleeding. "Help is coming, Nate. You need to hold on!" Blood, so much of it. "FUCK! What is taking them so long!"

They were close enough to Sanctuary to see the the distant lights when not one but two Deathclaws jumped them. A mating pair. They'd put up a good fight, but their supplies were low, planning to restock at home.

Mac put a hole in the one beast's head when the other got a lucky swipe at his back. He cried out in pain and dropped his gun. The last thing he heard was Nate's desperate cry, distantly thinking he's never heard him like that. His best friend and he's never heard that rage and despair in his voice.

Then he felt the familiar sting and 'pissht' of a stimpack he knew was their last.

When he came to a few moments later once the stim did it's job knitting his back closed, he turned to see two downed Deathclaws, and a limp bloodied body between them. In the neck of one beast was Nate's modded shotgun, the blade of it's muzzle embedded in it's throat with enough force to break the stock.

Nate's PipBoy had been equipped with an emergency distress pulse that would alert Minutemen to their location. Mac activated it before he was even on his knees.

So here he was, pleading with every god he could think of to keep Nate alive till help arrived with stims and medical supplies. "C'mon Nate," he croaked through the tears choking him. "I need you. Don't leave me alone, please. Please!"

Nate's eyes fluttered open with a groan as Mac ripped off his scarf and pressed down on the hole in his stomach to staunch the bleeding. His hands, scarf, and the ground beneath his knees now the same shade of dark, wet red. "Hey.." Nate whispered, clearly trying to comfort Mac, and didn't that just make him start sobbing harder.

"Shh, don't speak. Just stay with me, okay? You need to promise you won't leave me!"

Nate gave a weak smile, a trickle of blood on his lips. "Wish I could... Stay forever.. but I think this is it for me, Bobby."

"No no no no, don't you call me that now!" Mac cried out, somewhere between anger and affection. "You only call me that when you want something or feel you need to comfort me! Now is not the time for either!"

Nate smiled, a laugh broke into a cough and more blood painted his lips. "Im sorry Mac. I'm...coward. Never even...got to tell you...how much I love you..."

Mac paused for a moment, his heart skipped and clenched painfully till the reminded himself where he is. "I love you too buddy, but you need to pull through so I can tease you about it okay?" He sniffled.

Nate was flagging. In the distance Mac could heard Preston and Cait calling. "WE'RE OVER HERE!! HURRY!!" He called. "They're here, Nate. You're gonna be okay."

Nate shook his head, eyes fluttering closed. "Love you, Mac... Wish...I told you.."

When Nate opened his eyes it wasn't to MacCready's beautiful blue ones, but to Curie sighing in relief and muttering something that sounded like a curse in French. "Monsieur Preston! He has awoken!"

Preston's face appeared above him with a rushed scuffle of footsteps. "General! You had us terrified there!"

"where-" was all he could croak.

"You're at the RedRocket. You were gone... But Curie managed to bring you back with a pulse of a Zeta gun and 5 stimpacks. So take it easy."

The first clear thought in Nate's mind was "Mac?"

"He's fine," Hancock responded and joined their little peanut gallery next to his bedroll. "Just shook up. I called him but he's outside pacing around. Sure he'll be happy to see you."

Against Curie's advice Nate slowly sat up and stumbled to his feet. He needed to see for himself - see that MacCready was whole and alive before he could really allow himself to breathe.

Hancock helped him limp outside where he insisted he could walk (stumble) on his own over to where he could see Mac leaning against the milk machine.

He really was alive. Nate smiled and limped to him, "you're okay." He said with such relief his eyes teared up.

But the look MacCready gave him instead left ice down his spined. Mac looked at him with an expression of fear, distrust, and disgust. Nate had only seen that expression one before when he stood before Barnes and Winlock. The night he put a bullet in their heads Mac had broke down and told Nate of the 'sick' things they made him do, how they used him for their own pleasure till he managed to escape.

(That was also the night Nate swore to himself he would never, ever make a move on MacCready.)

But here stood the Merc looking at Nate like he was one of those men who used and abused him. Nate had to take a moment to swallow down the irrational tears that now threatened for a different reason as he wracked his brain for why, what did he do!

"Bobby, what's wrong?" He took a cautious step forward but froze when Mac flinched and backed into the shadows a bit.

"Don't call me that."

His words triggered the memory. He called Mac Bobby, he was begging him to stay with him...and he told Mac he loved him.

"...I'm sorry." Was the only words Nate could get out.

MacCready tossed his cigarette to the grown and sneered. "Whatever." With that he walked into the darkness towards Sanctuary.

Nate felt like he couldn't breathe. Tears rolled silently down his cheeks, cooling on his neck where his pulse was hammering. A pain sharper than any he had ever felt - be it bullet, knife, or betrayal - laced through his chest with enough force that his legs gave out.

Nate wakes up at first light as he always does. And as always his first thought is of Mac, wanting to ask how he slept and then talk about the day as they shake off the fog of waking up.

But this time he opens his eyes to an empty cold shack. He's confused for a moment when it all floods back. A near crippling ache clenches in his chest. He doesn't want to get up, doesn't want to wake up this a world where Mac hates him.

But then Preston is knocking and poking his head in. "Ah, you're awake General. Curie says we need to get moving to Sanctuary so she can give you a proper check and you can rest."

Nate just responds with a tired grunt and sits up, his head still down.

"Everything...okay, Nate?"

Preston using his name was a pretty big sign the man was really worried. Nate didn't want that, he didn't want to burden even more people. He had already destroyed the most precious friendship he had in this godforsaken world he woke up in - he refuses to disappoint anyone else.

So he lifts his head, hiding how heavy it feels, and smiles to hide how much he wants to cry. "I'm okay. Just on the mend."

"That's good." Preston seemed to buy it by his relieved tone. "A bit of news. Duncan arrived with the caravan while you were away, escorted by a minutemen dispatch as requested."

"Duncan is finally here?" Nate's smiled was actually genuine. "That's... That's amazing."

"MacCready left the second he heard the news. I'm sure he's eager to introduce you two." Preston gave a warm smile, thinking to himself how the three of them together would make a beautiful picture.

"I don't know about that," Nate whisper under his breath before he can catch himself. But before Preston can ask, Nate puts on his best fake smile and starts to get ready to leave.

The sooner they leave the sooner he can be alone again.

As they arrive in Sanctuary, all his companions rush out to greet him in a mix of scolding for his recklessness and concern for his injury. Curie, however, only tolerates it for a few moments before she urges them to 'cease the chaos, give the patient some room to breathe'.

MacCready is notably absent.

Nate's feet start towards home, then stops. Because it's their home.

No. MacCready deserves some space. It's the least he can do.

"Wanna crash at mine?" Deacon appeared at his side, a steadying arm casually thrown over his shoulder. "No offense, Charmer, but you need like - five showers and a bath to get properly cleaned up. That and I don't think you're in a state to be climbing all those stairs."

Nate drops his head with a small self deprecating smile. Trust his pal the master spy to keep a secret and appear exactly when needed. They both know what Deacon is actually doing - offering him an escape and place to hide.

"Remind me to swap that out for an elevator, will you?" Nate responds in an equally casual tone as Deacon steers him towards his house, not letting it show how much Nate is leaning on him.

Nate took a long warm shower, watching the dried blood in his hair and chest wash away, focusing on the burn of the hot water instead of the tears he's letting fall. Deacon had left him some clean clothes ("from my premium disguise rental collection") and informed him he's stepping out.

He tells himself all is not lost. He just needs to convince Mac that he meant platonic love. And they'll have a laugh about the misunderstanding and all will be forgiven.

He takes his time getting clean and changing before stepping out. A last look in the mirror shows his eyes are still read, but his short black hair is clean with his fringe sticking up as always, as is the white t shirt and jeans Deacon 'rented' him. Time to keep up appearances and fix the mess he made. He can't afford to lose MacCready. He won't.

He smiles and greets everyone as he always does and makes his way over to Curie first. He lets he fuss and administer a 'immune booster' of her own making to make sure his body heals properly. He listens attentively to her sweet scolding that he was brought back from the dead and how irresponsible to not have extra stimpacks and and that using five at once out immense strain on his body. She forbids him from doing any hard or dangerous work for at least three days, and absolutely no using chems or stims for a few days.

Finally free he sets out to find MacCready.

He tries his best to keep his cool as he asks around, handing out new gear and ammo as he goes. He always makes sure to share with the settlers, and in turn they're always happy to help. Last he was seen was with the boy near the mutfruit trees.

He's slips between the house towards the farming area when he feels a tug at his jeans.

Even though he's in a settlement if something grabs your leg you think ghoul - so he jumps with a yelp only to hear a giggle amongst the mutfruit trees.

His chest warms and thaws just a little at the sound. He slowly kneels in the dirt and sees a little boy hiding amongst the leaves - big blue eyes full of mischief with a light scatter of freckles over his nose. A blind man could see whose kid this is.

Nate winks at the boy who smiles and steps out from the leaves into the sun, standing proud and fearless in front of the big stranger.

Nate loves him. He hasn't even said a word yet but Nate knows in his soul he would die before he lets anything bad happen to this little boy.

"Hello there, champ," Nate smiles - his first genuine one all day. "I didn't even see you there! You have quite the potential as a spy, I think. I'm Nate. And you must be Duncan."

The boy's eyes light up, showing off a missing baby tooth. "Really? You know me? My dad says you're the smartest strongest man he ever met! Do you really know the Silver Shroud?"

Nate's smile falters. "Your dad said that?"

"Uh huh," Duncan nods. "in his letters. Aunt Meryl read them to me and helped me write back. I did pictures too! You should come see them, they're in dad's room! Come!"

Duncan grabs Nate's hand like it's the most natural thing and tugs him along. He gentle closes his hand around the small one in his, a little sticky but sure in it's grip.

They round the corner when they almost run into Mac.

"Duncan, there you are! What did I tell you about running off? Curie is waiting for us- . Oh." Mac stops dead in his tracks when he sees who Duncan is pulling behind him. Mac looks tired.

"Dad! I found uncle Nate!"

"I see that." MacCready reaches out and pulls Duncan firm away from Nate and moves between them. Duncan looks up confused and a little scared at the sudden change with a nervous whisper of "Dad?"

"Mac, can we talk?" Nate asks, trying to breathe through the sharp stab at the thought that Mac doesn't want him near Duncan. "Please?"

"You did enough talking yesterday, think I'm good." He said in a bitter sarcastic tone. MacCready has always been honest with his feelings and moods, snappy comments and sarcasm too. But they were never bitter, well, before. He turns to Duncan "See that pink house? Aunt Curie is waiting for you. Hurry along, I'll bring your bear."

Duncan gives Nate one last nervous glance, eyes so full of uncertainty, before scurrying off.

Mac turns to leave then, and Nate reaches out for him. This might be his only chance. "Mac, please, just-" only for Mac to violently yank his arm away.

"Don't touch me!" He bites back, his eyes glaring. "Don't you dare!"

"Mac we can talk about this, there's a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding!? For the first time in my pathetic life I was happy! You knew what your friendship meant to me! And now that you let it slip you've been lying to me all this time, luring me in like some fool. After I told you what I went through with the Barnes, something I've told anyone! You KNEW how I felt about this stuff!"

"I didn't 'lure' you, and I've never lied to you once, Mac. Not once!" Nate has to bite down on his own building anger at MacCready's homophobia, reminding himself that it stems from Mac's past.

"Oh yeah?" Mac gives a bitter laugh, his eyes however seemed sad. "Okay then mister honesty, answer me this: have you ever thought of having sex with me?"

Nate freezes. He has. Of course he has. The man he is madly in love with has been at his side, sharing his meals and bed and company for over half a year. Of course he has daydreamed little secret make imaginary moments between the two in a world where his feeling would be welcomed.

A strange coldness settled over Sanctuary for the rest of the day, that had nothing to do with the weather. Usually if Nate and Mac were home you'd hear them anywhere in the settlement - either Nate building something and Mac arguing that he's making it look too easy, arguing over splitting up the loot (Nate wanting to hand out the good stuff to the settlers, Mac threatening his life if he gives a 'gourd grabber' a modded laser rifle), or just laughing.

Not today. Nate is quiet in a way that gives off the air that he wants to be left alone as he does repairs, while Mac focuses on showing Duncan around, having Curie check him over, and helping him settle into his room. A small side room Nate built without a word next to their house with two little beds, bobbleheads, comics, a soft carpet and toys. Mac had just given him a soft smile when he walked in on Nate wiring up a neon 'D' over the one bed and 'S' over the other.

Even if it was just as a reminder that they were out here for their boys, and their shared unspoken dream to bring them home.

This should've been one of the happiest days for both of them.

Dinner was an odd affair. The mess hall where everyone one ate was always lively, with Nate and his closest friends having their own table. Mac, usually always at Nate's side, wat on the opposite end with Duncan who was charming everyone. The little boy still looked uncertain about Nate, but turned on the dimples and freckles as he tells stories of the travel here much to Piper and Preston's delight particularly. Damn, even Cait had a soft look on her face as she listened.

MacCready noticed, and he would usually love using it to flirt and tease her, but tonight he just couldn't be bothered. Tonight he is just so so happy to have his boy with him - save and sound where he can see and protect him.

But he also hates that he is not happy. Not really. And the reason for that is seated at the opposite end of the table, pushing his food around without eating.

Mac is hurting. He's angry and hurt and betrayed. He bore his soul to Nate, told him things he's never told anyone. Not even Lucy or any friend he's had before knew even half of what Nate knows about him.

And that makes it worse. In his mind Nate had taken his time to break down his defences before seducing him. It must've been his plan all along. And here Mac was playing the fool at thinking Nate was a friend.

Mac tries to keep his mind on Duncan. He listens to the same story for the third time, but he doesn't mind at all. After dinner he helps Duncan take a bath and tucks him into bed. Duncan asks who the other bed is for - Mac says he might get a roommate, but only maybe. Before Dun can ask more he pulls out a comic they can read together till Duncan falls asleep.

Mac goes at takes his second shower of the day. Everything that's going on has brought up memories he wished he'd buried. He feels dirty. He remembers the laughter of the other gunners when Barnes would brag the 'Merc with the mouth'. He scrubs his skin till it's pink and the water goes cold.

He hates that he smells like Nate because they share soap. He hates that he's so used to sleeping in Nate's soft t-shirt that that's what he almost grabs. He hates that he's gotten so used to sleeping next to Nate's big warm body that he can't seem to settle for the night.

He hates that he was so fucking happy, and Nate ruined it.

Radio Freedom says it's 10PM. Exhausted settlers are asleep or about to be. Deacon prepared an extra bed for him at 'Casa Del Deacon', being his usual extra self with candles and turn down service. Bye Nate can't sleep yet. So he keeps busy. Because if he's not busy he's going to start thinking. And he's already on breaking point as it is.

His subconscious wrestles between anger at Mac's blatant homophobia, and self-hatred for ruining what they had.

He's on a roof, fiddling with one of the turrets to upgrade it to an electric laser turret. He's trying to salvage what he can do it's taking longer than usual. But electric also means wires. Lots of it. He was so focused on not dropping a screw off the roof that he didn't even hear anything till a mop of brown hair and big curious blue eyes peeking over the turret at him.

"Hello mister Nate..."

"Hello Duncan. Shouldn't you be in bed, tiger? It's pretty late."

Duncan flops himself down next to Nate like it's a natural thing and starts playing with the big heap of cables. "Why are you and dad fighting? It's bad for family and friends to fight. But he won't tell me why." Duncan seemed visible upset at the situation, as his expressive face had showed everytime the three were together.

Nate puts down his tools and rubs his eyes. "Your dad is right. I did something bad, so don't be mad at your dad. Okay? It's not his fault."

"No! Family shouldn't fight! Dad said in his letter you were like family!" Duncan - probably overstimulated by all the new things and not enough sleep - started crying, his brows pinched in an angry expression so very much like his dad.

"Duncan, how about he head to bed and tomorrow I'll try again?"

"No! Grown ups always just talk but never-"

In his distraught frustration Duncan jumped up and his foot got hooked on the pile of cables as his feet. In trying to get it out, he slipped and tumbled backwards off the roof surrounded by wires...

Mac wakes up from a nightmare. Nate's limp body between two Deathclaws is still vivid. He had drunk himself to sleep to get his mind to shut the frick up. Only for his dreams to do the talking, it seems.

To distract himself from it he stumbles to his feet and goes to check on Duncan. Only to find the bed empty.

He feels a cold sweat. A deep primal instinct kicks in. His kid is gone. He just lost his best friend and his kid. In the alcohol haze, the image of Nate in a puddle of blood, little Duncan crying in pain with blue boils, Lucy screaming at him to run...

He's out the door before he realizes, rifle over his shoulder in blind habit, panicking as his eyes search the shadows between the street lamps for his little boy's bright eyes.

Then he hears Duncan scream.

What he sees makes him see red.

Duncan is on the floor in a pile of scrap, screaming, Nate is over him with a knife to his neck, other hand pinning him down.

He doesn't think. He whips off his rifle in one smooth motion, lifts and fires a bullet into Nate's hand holding knife.

"STEP AWAY FROM MY BOY NATHAN!" Mac all but bellows as he lines up a second shot in warning. He distantly hears the guard calling out to calm down, people coming out their houses at the commotion, but it feels like he's under water.

Nate had just managed to hold the boy still enough to cut the cable that was tightening around his throat with every struggle and wiggle, trying to soothe the boy but act quickly before any damage is done. He sure the kid's ankle is twisted. There! Finally he managed to saw through the thick cable and Duncan is about the draw his full proper breath since he fell when the gunshot rang out.

MacCready's voice in that moment would haunt him for the rest of my life.

He cradles what's left of his right hand to his chest, trying to breathe through the pain, but there's something more pressing right now.

"It's not what it looks -"

"Its not what it looks like? Not what it looks like !?? Because to me it looks pretty simple!" Duncan, obviously terrified, runs to his dad in tears. Mac pushes him behind him. All around them people were coming out of their houses, roused by the screaming and noise.

Nate feels his throat closing. Mac doesn't seem to realize. In fact, he looks like a time bomb that had just ticked it last second.

"You had spent almost a year buttering me up and seduce me! Then I turned you down, and you couldn't stand that! So you decided to get me back, by going after the one thing besides you that I treasure to win me back! I came here to find you pinning my boy down with a knife to his neck, that's exactly what it looks like!!"

Nate hears the murmuring, his eye catches Preston and Piper looking uncertain, Curie looking nervous. They're looking to Nate, expecting him to defend himself but with every second a look of horror takes over.

"The only reason I put a bullet in your hand instead of your head is because you saved my boy's life. But we're even now. You so much as look at him again and I'll put you down."

Duncan pulls at his dad's t-shirt, "No, Dad-" but Mac looks at him, sees the purple bruising around his neck, and can't hear a word.

While Mac can't hear anything over his own fury, Nate can't get a word out. The vice grip on his throat squeezes. The pain, the bloodloss... All their friends and neighbors gawking at him...

"I-" he starts, wanting to defend himself, but looking around he could see in their eyes. They'd already made up their minds.

What they don't see is him squeezing his injured hand. Needing the pain to ground him. And...because he deserves this pain. The amount of hurt he has brought on MacCready in the past two days is too much. MacCready is gasoline which is amazing...but Nate is the flame that is destroying him.

Nate hangs his head. This is it.

It had been a whole month since Nate left. MacCready had given himself only one night to cry his heart out then but on a brave face for his boy who clearly felt responsible for his dad's hurt somehow. He packed their things and headed to Diamond City, Piper tagging along.