#*companion

❝ I’m here enough to have to look at it. ❞ Deacon honestly didn’t even care about little things that she did. Decorating the Commonwealth seemed counter productive, but he could never not give his opinion, especially if it sent Bethany into a tizzy.

Few moments later, footsteps from large boots and a few hard knocks was on her doorframe. It was Brittany, wearing a dirty tank top and a workman’s jumpsuit tied around her waist, leaning one arm onto her doorframe and tapping the toe of her boot behind the other leg. ❝ Got some visitors. Looks like it’s the mayor of Goodneighbor and a woman. ❞

Bethany arched a pale brow, then looked to Deacon who mimicked her expression, pulling down his sunglasses slightly. ❝ What do they want? ❞ she asked.

❝ Didn’t say. But it’s Hancock, so I wouldn’t expect anything good. ❞

Bethany smirked, turning from Deacon to Brittany. ❝ Maybe he’s come to trade. ❞

❝ Don’t you even start touching that shit, Bethany. ❞ Deacon wasn’t kidding around. He wasn’t into the chem game anymore and despised seeing Bethany dabble down that path when he wasn’t watching. 

Bethany just curled her lip, rising to her feet and pushing the rug with her feet off against a wall. Wiping her hands on her houndstooth slacks, she walked out to Brittany, Deacon following, arms folded over his chest as he made sure to keep an eye on Bethany and Hancock. 

Turning from the door, Brittany lead the two of them towards the bridge, where the entrance of Sanctuary Hills opened up to the rest of the Commonwealth. There, the trio was met with the settler that manned the guard post and Danse in this power armor, aiming his laser rifle at the couple.

❝ Damnit, Danse, you always gotta point that damn thing at everyone? ❞ Hancock’s voice was gruff, annoyed that he had to make pleasantries with anyone from the Brotherhood of Steel. Little did he really know why they were really there.

❝ Stand down, soldier boy, this one doesn’t bite. ❞ Bethany pushed the barrel of Danse’s gun away from her visitors, then smirking at the two.

❝ -- Hard. ❞

❝ As if. ❞

The female companion of his didn’t seem so pleased with the familiarities between the mayor and silver haired woman, pushing her lips to the side and glaring down Hancock.

❝ Hehe -- ❞ Hancock chuckled, almost creepily the way most ghouls did. ❝ Got anything to drink in this dump? ❞ Bethany stopped smiling, nodding for Danse to lift his weapon back up until the ghoul waved his hands. ❝ Damnit, take a joke, woman. At least about the dump. It’s one helluva place you got here. ❞

❝ Thanks...  What do you want? ❞ Bethany crossed her arms, looking all the more authoritative in her suit coat and slacks. Hancock couldn’t have just have been passing through. It wasn’t like him. 

The redheaded woman he was with held out her hand to keep her companion quiet, then answered for the both of them. ❝ Do you have a geiger counter? ❞

Bethany pinched the bridge of her nose. She wondered how much she could mess with them right now, but Deacon stepped in. ❝ Ah, sorry guys. Mine’s in the shop. ❞

Danse looked between them, annoyed with the obvious lie. ❝ We have several, if you’re trying to track your radiation levels. It’s responsible to always have one on you just in case you find yourself -- ❞ 

❝ Shut up, Danse, we know. ❞ Hancock grumbled at him, having the ins on Railroad secret codes since he begun his journey with his traveling partner.

❝ But you asked -- ❞

❝ Danse, Hart, go let the robobulter. We have visitors. ❞ Bethany stopped the argument, waving them off. Both soldiers wandered off with a shrug. They’d be informed later, but it was too many people around to be having a secret meeting all of a sudden.

As the two walked away, the leader of Sanctuary shifted posture, settling her hand to her hip. ❝ So, gotta name? ❞ 

❝ Mina -- ❞

Bethany motioned for her to shut her lips quickly. ❝ That’s all I need. ❞

❝ She’s got a thing about last names... Unless you’re military or something. ❞ Deacon shrugged, motioning to the ex-Brotherhood members. ❝ Anyway, you’re the one Dez talked about, I assume? Didn’t know you were hanging with a -- ❞

❝ -- With what, shithead? ❞ Hancock got quickly defensive.

❝ A drugged up, mayoral ghoul, obviously. ❞ Bethany had no qualms speaking the truth, putting Deacon off as he pushed up his shades more. ❝ But since this is my settlement, I’m more concerned why Desdemona sent you here. ❞

❝ She, didn’t, actually. ❞ Mina spoke, her voice seemed the calmest of them all. ❝ I asked about where some of the synths we were rescuing where being sent to, once they were processed and set free. She talked about how Deacon, and I assume you’re Bethany, were on the receiving end of the rescues in Sanctuary. When I asked where...  ❞ There was a moment that her voice cracked, but she collected herself quickly to cover up. ❝ Where the location was, I... I needed to see it for myself. ❞ She thought Sanctuary was a code name... but it was truly the name. Sanctuary Hills. She knew this place.

Deacon shifted his gaze behind his sunglasses, curious as to one, how they never crossed paths until now, and two, what Bethany was going to say or even believe. 

❝ Uh, okay... ❞ Bethany just dragged out the last syllable, returning the awkward glare back to Deacon. ❝ I guess a tour? ❞

❝ Yes. ❞

Hancock seemed to be surprisingly quiet now in all this, Mina tightening her grip on her guns strapped to her, then moving forward as soon as Bethany agreed. It was weird at first, but when Bethany watched the way Mina moved, she moved with purpose. But it only took another second more for her to see the PipBoy 3000 strapped to her wrist. A vault dweller? Less likely. Probably stole it at least from them. There wasn’t anyone that wasn’t a ghoul from her time anymore. But she’d save to ask where Mina got it for another conversation...

As the four of them moved, Mina picked up the pace towards the largest pastel blue home in the middle of the neighborhood. So much for a tour. Bethany was always so proud of her little setups she made in all the houses. Especially what she managed to piece back together from Nuka-Arcade  in the house next to her own. She was slightly disappointed she couldn’t show it off.

❝ I can’t... believe... ❞ Mina pushed through the doorway, looking over the decor of the house, slowly moving forward in it to take in every detail she could see. ❝ At least it’s... being taken care of now. ❞

Hancock moved forward in the house as well, placing a hand over her shoulder, the redhead reaching up for his hand and grabbing it in her own and giving the ghoul a sad smile.

❝ So, that was all kind of weird just now. ❞ Deacon watched them while speaking lowly to Bethany.

But it was just as she suspected, arms folded as a hand rubbed her chin. Perhaps her theory wasn’t as impossible as it seemed. ❝ I think this is her house. ❞

Startled, Deacon just threw an arm out. ❝ Okay, one more time for the peanut gallery. What? ❞

❝ This was her house. Didn’t you see? She had a PipBoy and a thousand year sad stare. Woman’s got a secret. ❞

❝ I find this super hard to believe, pal. ❞

❝ Ew, don’t call me pal. Boss is so much more me. Or queen. Highness. Empress -- ❞

❝ Back to the topic of time travel, maybe? They’re wandering more... ❞ Deacon pointed as Mina and Hancock moved further into the house.

Bethany swallowed, then following them in with Deacon, watching as Mina touched the walls of the home, running her fingertips over the peeling wallpaper, something Bethany desperately wanting to replace in the near future.

❝ John, look... ❞ Mina moved into the bedroom furthest down on the right, creeping slowly inside with her hand over her mouth, keeping her composure as best as possible as she wandered in. Hancock went in with her, wrapping an arm over her shoulder and pulling her in close for comfort.

Bethany had no problem parading herself inside the house, seeing one of the cutting boards over the stove out of place in the kitchen and sliding a dirty glass into the sink quickly before any of them noticed. ❝ So, how long is this reunion going to take before you tell us what’s really going on? ❞ The two visitors turned to look at Bethany as she leaned into the bedroom’s doorframe. ❝ Just curious and all. Not a lot of us walk around with personal computers on their wrists and cry over broken houses. ❞

❝ Hey now -- ❞ Hancock started to defend them, but Mina pushed herself from his touch. 

❝ Takes most people a lot longer to ask these questions... ❞ Standing in the corner of someplace significant to her, she touched her lips, then pressed it to the ground. ❝ A crib was here once. What did you do with it? ❞

❝ One of my chairs needed a few more legs. ❞ Bethany answered, unfazed. It was junk to her, after all.

❝ Of course... ❞ Mina nodded. She was used to disappointment. Standing tall again, she straightened her pose and nodded to the other woman. ❝ I’d like a place to sit if we’re going to have a chat. ❞

Bethany gave a slight grin. ❝ I’ve got a place, if you can stand a hideous rug rolled up in the middle of room. ❞ Mina and Hancock simply stared at the other, confused.

Meeting more comfortably across the way in the canary yellow house, Bethany had a far more elaborate set up for herself and seating for her guests; her living room finely decorated to the point where you could almost mistake it for prewar design and livability. 

❝ So, what do you want to ask? ❞ Mina shifted herself awkwardly, Hancock resting a hand over her knee in assurance.

The silver haired woman leaned forward, sucking down on a bottle of bourbon, offering none for the others. Deacon had to play host and serve up from drinks in shot glasses, though it seemed Bethany was the only one wanting to indulge. If she was going to talk about the past, she needed something to take the edge off. She hated bringing it up. Let alone to strangers, but this was different. But Deacon was there and even he didn’t get to have the full story yet. ❝ Everything, actually. We’ll start with the PipBoy. Where did you get it? ❞

Mina pressed her lips before answering, quickly taking a sip from the shot glass. The taste was terrible but needed. ❝ Vault 111. Just north of here, actually. ❞

Bethany pushed her lips out in a smile. The liquor was already sinking in. ❝ Aw, three digits away from mine. Resident 114. ❞

Mina blinked, eyes widening slightly. ❝ The Triggermen? ❞

❝ No, fuck those guys, I’m an original. You know exactly what I mean. ❞

Mina quickly looked to Hancock, then back between Deacon and Bethany. The man in the sunglasses merely nodded, indicating she was telling the truth. ❝ That’s impossible! There weren’t any other survivors from the vaults. Not like me... ❞

❝ Yeah, well, color me surprised too. I thought I was the only smooth skinned person over 200 years old. ❞

❝ Oh honey, you ain’t that smooth. ❞ Hancock choked a laugh, thinking himself pretty funny.

Bethany didn’t think it was. Neither did Deacon, only ever having fragments of the story. ❝ You wanna leave this settlement alive, you shriveled looking cock.❞ Bethan gripped the bottle in hand, the ghoul backing down.

❝ Damn, tough crowd today. Jeez, relax... ❞

❝ Just cool it everyone for like, five minutes. Or until I finish my drink. Not into this hostile crap you two are putting out. ❞ Deacon swirls his drink, then sniffing before taking a quick swig.

❝ Like I was saying, ❞ MIna brought the topic back, Bethany narrowing in on the conversation. ❝ Vault 111 was cryochamber. All the residents were to be frozen until it was safe enough to leave. ❞ Bethany was in truth, jealous. It been taking in so-called safe levels of radiation until the residents went crazy and killed themselves and each other without ghoulification. ❝ I stopped here shortly after I left the vault, but I couldn’t stay. Not here, on my own. Cogsworth lead me out of the city, but... That’s a longer story. ❞

Bethany took another chug from the bottle in hand, wiping the corners of her lips and smiling. ❝ Oh, you know the robobutler? ❞

❝ He was my Mr. Handy. ❞

❝ No shit... ❞ Bethany was even more impressed. So, this really was her neighborhood after all? There was a million more questions, and to confirm her identity, all she had to do was talk to Cogsworth, but her story was almost too farfetched to be fake. It was all something Vault-Tec would set up, after all, which was sickening to her. ❝ Well, sorry about the crib... ❞

❝ It’s fine. ❞ It wasn’t completely fine. That was her baby’s crib. Shaun’s crib. The whole reason she was venturing out in the wastes and living this long with purpose. Sure, saving synths was a noble enough cause, but it was a duel purpose and gain joining the Railroad. It was a way into the Institute -- The organization that stole her baby.

❝ Slow down, Bethany, you’ll lose a liver tonight. ❞ Deacon wasn’t super strict on her drinking. He didn’t want to be hypocritical when he joined in, but it would always go downhill when she was on her shit. Whenever Bethany hit a threshold of what she could handle mentally and physically, she tended to have large, dramatic outbursts. Another reason to keep her from the chems, but he had a bad feeling tonight was not one of those nights.

❝ People only have one, stupid -- ❞ Bethany hissed, then continued to sip down some more bourbon. Rubbing her face, she swayed in her seat, then leaned back and set the brown bottle on the table next to her. ❝ You had a child. Married, most likely. Probably a perfect life, if you lived someplace like here. ❞

A bit annoyed with the assumptions, she wasn’t half wrong, but it wasn’t like her life was completely torn out of an issue of Picket Fences. ❝ It was far from perfect, but it... It was good, yes. I had a son, Shaun... and a husband.  ❞ She felt guilty bringing up her life before the war now, especially Hancock listening in. She found companionship with him, but that wasn’t to completely erase her loves in life before. Things had to change, wounds needed to heal. There was no way for Mina to change what was done, all she could do now is take down the bastards that stole her son, bring him back and begin anew. And she was getting closer to that with the aid of Hancock beside her.

❝ Whatever you say. Seems pretty cushy to me. ❞ Bethany hung her arm lazily over the back of the chair, bothered with the modesty the other woman was speaking to. ❝ You’re here now, did you get what you’re looking for here? Because I’m not about having a bunch of freeloaders taking up space. ❞

❝ Bethany, seriously -- ❞ Deacon snatched her bottle before she could grab for it again, moving it into the liquor cabinet above her bed’s head rest. Convenient spot. For a lush.

❝ Are you going to make us leave already? What about you -- ❞ Mina was a bit upset that she never got Bethany’s version of life before the vaults.

❝ Men paid me to walk down a red carpet. Free drinks. Long nights, high profile. Vault-Tec, etc. Then landed here. Boom, story done. ❞

❝ That ain’t all that happened. ❞ Deacon chimed in, now standing behind her chair, lighting up a cigarette. ❝ You missing a couple of blanks. ❞

❝ Those aren’t important. And take your smoking outside, you’ll ruin the walls. ❞

❝ You’re incredible. Incredibly deplorable. ❞ Still, upon her request, he took his smoke outside. Almost on queue, Hancock tapped Mina’s leg, then gave her a knowing nod before he moved outside. It was long overdue for a hit.

❝ What happened to you in the vault? ❞ Mina asked, more specifically this time.

Bethany was not close to being sober at this point, crawling over to her couch and laying on her side, pulling a blanket over herself, staring past Mina into the wall. ❝ Nothing as cool as getting frozen into a popsicle. ❞

❝ I wouldn’t call it fun. ❞

Curling up more, Bethany just blinked a few more times before speaking. ❝ I’m told my brain’s a little messed up. Deacon says it’s not my fault but it’s not true. I didn’t have to drink the stuff. I just didn’t want to die like the rest of those fuckers. Not with a belt around my neck or gun in my mouth. ❞ Touching the scars stretching across her lips, the permanent smile she was cursed with, she continued, ❝ Some people think they could win. But, I’m literally a goddess. You can’t kill someone like me. Many have tried. I guess I could thank being slowly poisoned over time. ❞

Mina wasn’t really sure what it all meant, but it sounded like the experiment in 114 was slightly more twisted than some. She read in the terminals there when rescuing a friend of synth kind, older generation, from the vault that it housed the richest and elite members of society, then forcing them into cramped quarters and unhealthy living conditions. And to make matters worse, they tried to keep the same people alive for the entire test, seeing how long they could handle being tortured like that. And with the overseer being someone that hated nothing more than to watch high society burn, it was a wonder how Bethany made it out in one piece and her brain not completely rotted like a feral ghoul’s.

❝ Must’ve been terrible. I’m sorry. ❞

❝ Me too. ❞ Bethany covered her head in the blanket. 

The silence between the women was interrupted by the Railroad’s main spy, checking in and seeing Bethany gone full recluse. ❝ She does this. You probably got more out of her than I did the first time. Lucky you. ❞ There was a punch in thigh from under the blanket, Deacon grabbing his leg and swatting back at her. ❝ Just sleep it off, princess. ❞

❝ I like that one, ❞ she muffled under the blanket, then rolled over and faced away from the living room.

❝ That’s about all you’re gunna get today now. Maybe another time, c’mon. ❞ Deacon waved for Mina to follow him out, giving her some space to nap off the booze and psychological rollercoaster she put herself in.

❝ Are you sure it’s okay to leave her alone like that? ❞ There was concern in Mina’s voice, looking back as she left the house.

❝ It’s probably a bad idea, but I wanna keep talking and that doesn’t involved her. ❞ Deacon moved to the local caravan set up. It was a giant structure for shops to set up, and the most popular hangout spot, the bar that was equipped with far more fun liquors than in Bethany’s house. 

Hancock was already having himself a drink and a grand old time, teasing Danse a bit and getting away with it, making Brittany laugh at his expense. He also got the full story of why the Brotherhood and Railroad were coexisting peacefully under the same roofs. Very. Interesting.

❝ Hey Buddy! How about a couple of beers? ❞ Behind the counter was a modified Protectron robot, specifically made for brewing beers on the go, always ice cold to perfection. 

❝ You... got... it, Bu-ddy. ❞ The bot’s voice was clearly mechanical, but also with a slight bit of whimsy. ❝ Do you... require... a laugh? ❞

❝ Nah, not today, Buddy, maybe another time. ❞

❝ You... got... it, Bu-ddy. ❞ The Protectron repeated itself, but it was friendly enough still with it’s programming.

Mina and Deacon found some chairs away from the crowd, popping open the caps on their beers and settling down. It was a lively afternoon, the farmers all taking a break for a late afternoon lunch and drinks. Many of them didn’t seem to have a care, living easier than most.

❝ This place is pretty remarkable, isn’t it? ❞ Mina commented, smiling lightly at the sight of the people around them.

❝ I know, right? Like, I get that Bethany isn’t our typical go-to for team members, but she’s a more valuable asset than Dez would like to admit. Half those guys over there are synths. All of them escaped from the Institute on their own free will. And they’re all getting paid and have a safe place to sleep. Bethany says she doesn’t really care as long as they work and follow some kind of dress code which basically entails showing up in clean clothes and washed hair. No arguments there, but she makes it a big deal. ❞

❝ Probably holding onto Old War standards. ❞

❝ Oh, like you wouldn’t believe. I just keep on her good side and all. Pissing her off is not a good idea. At. All. ❞

❝ You two seem to be pretty close? ❞ Mina arched her brows, sipping on her drink.

Deacon just pushed up his shades, shrugging. ❝ Close is a relative term. I keep an eye on her time to time. ❞

❝ There are a lot of times though, aren’t there? ❞

❝ More than I’d like. ❞ He leaned back, not interested in talking more about his and Bethany’s awkward codependency. Whatever they were doing, he’d like any strangers he just met to see them as simple coworkers. ❝ Anyway, welcome back to Sanctuary Hills. We’ve got caps, security and a treehouse surrounded by cats. ❞

❝ Excuse me? ❞

❝ Yeah, Bethany had this crazy idea to build a treehouse on that giant oak at the cul-de-sac. It’s completely surrounded by cats too. I dunno, but she’s obsessed with them and putting up string lights. I mean, it is kinda cool. Save for like, the damn cats everywhere. ❞

❝ I thought everyone... ate the cats, or something gruesome along those lines. I haven’t seen a single one since before the war. ❞

Deacon snorted a laugh. ❝ Yeah, you haven’t seen any of them because Bethany hoarded them all. Look, I did say she was unconventional. But she’s not too bad. Promise. ❞ He was actually being honest. Mostly out of excitement. Another Railroad member to outnumber the other factions taking up residency in the settlement. Felt pretty good to be on top.

Mina sighed, but it seemed like they had everything together. ❝ What’s the likeliness we can stay a while longer? ❞

❝ Very likely. There’s still some rooms available, since much of the residents have also taken up doing caravan routs between here and Bunker Hill. It’s been a mutually beneficial partnership we’ve gotten out of them. ❞

❝ That’s amazing, actually. ❞

❝ Totally. ❞ Finishing off his beer, he leaves it on the table, then rubs his cheek. ❝ So, uh, does that mean Goodneighbor’s finest is sticking around, too? ❞

Mina didn’t love the question at all, her lips thin before answering. ❝ I’d prefer you didn’t insult him. I get it, I know. I see it, and I would’ve thought the same as you did, but... Just as you say to keep an open mind about Bethany... I need you to do the same for him. ❞ Her eyes begged to him. ❝ Please. ❞

❝ Just keep the chems away from Bethany. I don’t know why she thinks relying on them will take away what happened to her in the vaults and elsewhere, but she gets lost in using. And it’s really hard to get her back. I don’t want to have to keep pulling her feet out of her grave. ❞

❝ You do really care about her, don’t you? ❞ 

Deacon wasn’t going to admit anything to a rookie, in his eyes. ❝ We need this settlement to always be in top shape as long at the Railroad is tied to it. No exceptions. ❞

❝ If you say so. ❞

The two of them sat in a momentary silence, until they were joined by Hancock, stumbling over to half sit on Mina’s armrest, partially over her lap. ❝ Couldn’t help but stare from across the room, sweet cheeks. ❞

❝ Ugh, alright, I’ll leave you to it, Mina. Nice chat. ❞ Mina rolled her eyes at the men, Deacon giving a slightly dramatic bow as he walked away from them, then strolled out of the building and back across the way to the light yellow house where Bethany was curled up in her own space.

Dusk was approaching, the Minutemen back from patrol and serving up their catches of the day of radstag and brahmin meat, cooking up something special for the newcomers. There was more excitement buzzing about vaults once Linda got onto the topic.

❝ You done dying in here? ❞ Deacon walked in without knocking, as he typically did in Bethany’s presence. 

❝ I said too much. ❞ Bethany was still hiding under the blanket, less drunk as she was before.

❝ Well, when you decide to go hard on the booze, you say stupid shit. You know this, boss. ❞ It wasn’t the first time he experienced this, he doubted it would be the last. But one could try.

❝ I hate it. ❞

❝ Yeah, I know you do. ❞

Instead of forcing her to sit up and try to move around, Deacon just rolled onto his side and pulled himself next to her on the sofa, barely hanging off the edge of cushions as he held himself to Bethany. She didn’t protest the gesture, rarely feeling any kind of human touch to bring her some kind of ease.

❝ How come she left the vault perfect? ❞ Bethany finally squeaked out, pulling her head from underneath the covers.

❝ I’m sure she sees that differently. ❞ Deacon stretched his neck up, resting his chin on the top of her head.

Hugging herself, she shook a bit. ❝ I can’t get it out of my head. It’s like poison. And I don’t remember how it stopped or where it began. I just know that couldn’t die like that. Not with him. Not with him hovering over me with a knife and I was so weak. Everyone was so weak and -- ❞

❝ Hey, that’s enough. ❞ Deacon hushed her, removing his sunglasses from his eyes and setting them on the coffee table. ❝ That’s enough. ❞

Bethany’s hands grabbed at her temples, a mess of silverly hair popped between her fingers as she shook some more. ❝ I let him control me for so long. I should’ve killed him sooner but I didn’t know how. I was weak like the rest of them until I felt myself break. I couldn’t take it anymore, I just didn’t want to die. He controlled all of us and -- ❞ With a voice cracking, she broke a bit, several hot tears rolling across her face down into her palm. ❝ I don’t, I can’t. I’m... ❞

Pushing her hands down from ripping at her hair, Deacon held onto her a little tighter. ❝ He can’t control you anymore. No body can. Hear that? No one can ever again. You’re in control now. Remember that. All this... This is yours, this is you...  ❞

❝ I’m not hurting them, am I? I don’t know, I can’t tell -- ❞ Her disillusions where getting the best of her, memories of old mixing in with the new.

❝ Everyone trusts you. It’s fine. You’re doing right by everyone. ❞

Bethany took a few heavily breaths then nodded, trying to clear her headspace. ❝ Sometimes everything turns hazy. Green, like.  I don’t remember that happened before the vaults... That’s not normal, right? ❞

❝ Nah, it didn’t happen until after. ❞ She was recalling radstorms now. Those really messed her up. He’d find her sitting around with a hazmat suit helmet on and playing Blastradius just to keep herself busy while she was cooped up. There was always several packs of radaway next to her when it was over just so she wasn’t pushed over the edge. ❝ Good memory though. See, everything’s alright. ❞ The least he could do what make her feel like we was making rational decisions on her own.

❝ I’m sorry you have to keep doing this. ❞ She rolled over now, feeling less zombie like and more calm into her own mind again. She pushed her head into his chest, covering her face in her own hands. ❝ I promise I was much more fun when I wasn’t a crazy person in a vault. ❞

❝ It would’ve been nice to see you at one of your parties. I bet you were a real showoff. ❞

She smiles a bit, then pushed him gently. ❝ Of course I was. I looked amazing. ❞

❝ Maybe. If they’re into that sort of thing. ❞

In silence, Bethany closed her eyes, finding some piece now in her place. ❝ One day, I won’t be your burden. ❞

Not too sure what to make of that comment, Deacon, lays there and collects his thoughts into words. ❝ It doesn’t have to be any time soon, though. capisce? ❞

❝ Okay... ❞

Taking a moment to soak in the fact she may not get another time to be this close to Deacon, she sighs at herself, knowing this was a one time deal. Sucking in she just takes both her hands and forces him back, completely pushing him off the couch and landing hard on the ground, getting all the space back that she wanted back on the sofa.

❝ Oof -- After all that emotional jargon, you’re going to do that to me? ❞

❝ Yes. Yes, exactly that. ❞

❝ You’re honestly the worst and I don’t know why I put up with you. ❞

❝ Because you called me princess and now I’ve come to terms that I really am one. ❞

❝ I’m quitting you. For good. ❞

❝  Not a chance. I’m the best chem you’ll ever get.❞