#synth shaun

More even, as a synth, as he's still not quite reconciled with the idea that being synthetically made or born doesn't make you any more or less a man. He has a preference for watching the walls, feeling like a protector. The satisfaction, knowing he's protecting his home and those he cares about and is trusted to do so outweighs the ache in his feet and the long hours of being alone with his thoughts.

One thing that stays the same from before though, is how close Sole and Danse are. He thought it might be awkward sharing a house, but he finds he likes waking up and finding Sole already in the kitchen with a cup of hot coffee. He likes coming home from late night watches to find Sole waited up for him and has water boiled and cooling for a bath. he likes making breakfast together, with both Sole and Shaun, and Shaun talking a mile a minute about something he learned from Jun's 'classes' or read in a book Preston gifted him. He likes it far more than he ever thought he would... it almost feels like having a family.

It doesn't even bother Danse that Shaun is a synth. He knows it, he remembers. But it doesn't enter his mind as often as you'd think. Shaun is just a kid, he acts like a kid, he looks like a kid. And that's enough for Danse to give him the pass. He's never been the type to play about kids though, even back in his BOS days, with all the tiny scribes running around the Prydwen. You always show a kid empathy and patience, anything short is mistreatment in his eyes.

It's awkward the first time Shaun seeks him out without Sole. Danse wants to tell the kid to ask Sole if he can have a fancy lad cake but the puppy eyes and the earnest look has him nodding his head. And Sole can't even be mad that Danse let Shaun have dessert before dinner, because the sight of Danse's looking down so lovingly at the(ir) kid makes Sole's heart skip a beat.

Sole starts noticing things then. Shaun watching Danse's mannerisms and copying them. Shaun's rapture whenever Danse tells a story or shares a new fact, then turning around to brag about knowing that fact to his friends. He's even started to show interest in mechanics, and ask about Danse's power armor.

It had been a little pet project of his, first fixing it up, then sanding it down to repaint it something, anything other than BOS colors. He even thought about a Minuteman Blue if he could get his hands on it, with the lightning and the laser musket on the chestplate.

But for now, he focused on tuning it and upgrading it with all the supplies Sole had access to as minutemen general. Sturges was a great help, though Danse knew most of the stuff he knew, they still taught each other some things. Mostly Sturges teaches him neat tricks that go outside the rulebook, which Danse hadn't thought of before. But he's also good for a conversation, loving to exchange stories and shoot the shit about day to day life. He had even fixed Danse up a radio so he could have something to listen to when he wanted to be alone.

But Sole notices Shaun watching Danse work from a distance, the sudden uptick in questions. Though never brave enough to get closer than that to asking to join in on the project. Until one day Sole encourages him with a little 'I bet he could use someone to hold the flashlight' and that's all Shaun needs. He's still nervous when he walks up and asks what the tool Danse is holding is foor, but Danse is more surprised than annoyed.

In fact, he doesn't feel annoyed at all, he's almost excited. He explains everything to Shaun, answers every question and Shaun does end up holding the flashlight while Danse points at every piece and teaches him why and how they do what they do, and all the modifications Danse made. Shaun asks so many smart questions, invested now in the project.