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kellygreeny · 6 months ago

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Christmas in Diamond City

Chapter 3: Giving the Synth his Christmas Spirit back

Notes: Last chapter of this little christmas story and I did it finishing it in time :D It started of a bit angsty but it is a mix of the two previous chapters. I made some ridiculous in Game references, which I already had in the last one. I still hope that the pacing is ok and I´ve got the characterisation right. But I´m already proud of myself that I published anything I wrote! :D

Words: 3.5 k

Nick and Nora stared at each other and the room became silence. So silent that Nora could hear Nick´s pumps, which wasn´t surprising. She could directly look at them, working in his open chest.

The air felt thick, both didn´t even dare to blink and after a moment which felt like hours, Nick spoke up, cut the unbearable silence.

“SHUT THE DOOR!” He said almost screaming. He was glad that his door was towards a dead end and therefore obscured.

Nora needed a second to process this and her body moved prior to her mind. She closed the door. After turning back to Nick, she could see that he was fuming and she might saw some steam coming out of him, but that might be the cigarette in his hand. He tried to fight his anger down.

“Sorry, I thought you were out, I just wanted to grab something from your office. And I would had left a note and.“ Nora stumble over her words, still not sure how to react to the situation.

“What´s the matter, Nora? I´m not keen to bee seen like this,” He opened his arms that she could see more into his open chest where tubes coming in and out, “but I can´t run away either like you might have guessed.” He tried to settle his emotions. It was just Nora. She saw him way worse, but he really didn´t like to be seen like this. But why was she here in the first place? Why didn´t Ellie catch her before she stumble into his LOCKED office? His logic thinking took over which helped settle his emotions.

“I´m sorry, but I have no problem seeing you like this. It´s not like I didn´t know what I have to expect. Can I sit down? Please?” She really needed to calm her self and if she didn´t sit down, she would walk up and down the whole time. He gestured to the chair in front of the other side of the desk he was sitting at.

Normally, he would lean forward, but in his situation, this wasn´t really possible. The tubes had the right length for his current position. It was hard enough to find some which were clean enough for this purpose. Dirt wasn´t good for his pumps. Sure, he has filters, which he also needed to exchange them every now and then depending on how much his coolant was contaminated through punctured and damaged tubes. He even has the feeling that some bacteria felt quite well in his life-hostile body. Just another thing on his long maintenance list. He felt old.

Nora sat down. “Before I come to my matter. I would guess, you need to exchange your coolant for the winter. Why did you make a big deal out of it? Why didn´t Ellie give you company? Why didn´t you ask me to help you?”

Nick put his cigarette on the ashtray on his desk and let his hands fall to his tights, still trying not to touch the tubes. He started to avoid her gaze. “Can an old synth not have some quality time during his maintenance?”

“Nick, you don´t need to sleep, there you would have all the time you need for yourself.” He ignored her comment.

“And yes, I need some new frost save coolant. It´s not like we got a weather forecast telling you if the nuclear winter is getting icy or not coming at all. And I can tell you, I experienced both.”

“So, you wanted to be sure?”

“Ice can damage my pumps, of course I wanted to be sure. Can we come to your matter. It´s really not a big deal, Nora. I just want to be alone when I´m doing this.” He point vaguely at his chest and laid his hand back to his tights, carefully.

“Can you remember, when we found this perfectly preserved chocolate powder and marshmallows? It was just too good to be true. It made me sad, somehow.”

“I can. I promised to keep it until we find your son and then you can enjoy this with him.”

“That was at a time, where I almost lost the hope to find him, but you didn´t let me giving it up. Now we found him. I mean it´s complicated but what isn´t since the bombs dropped. Am I right?” She let out a hallow chuckle.

Nick turned his head and look at a drawer. “There you go, the in the right cabinet, the top drawer.”

Nora stood up. She passed Nick carefully and opened the drawer and there was it! She took the two boxes and put it in one of her big pockets.

“Thanks for keeping it for me. Now it is the perfect time to share this with my son. A hot chocolate taste best during this cold weather. And besides that, I wanted to celebrate Christmas with him. It would be his first one, so he is very excited.”

Nick swallowed but he caught himself. He wasn´t keen on the thought, bringing this old tradition back. Some of Nicks old memories came back. Jenny in a beautiful dress decorating the tree. No. This wasn´t his memories. He had another family, now. His OWN family. And it´s for the kid.

“OK, Nora, what is your plan?” Nick asked, still fighting with himself. Nora eased and explained him her plan.

“I can´t promise that the people will be open for that, but you can at least try and you can count on my help, but first.” He gestured to chest.

“Oh yes, sure. How long do you need?”

“Its´s almost done. And when you already here, you could help me.”

“What can I do?” Nora took a cautious step closer.

“You could hand me the bottle on the shelf there. I always need to put it above, so gravity helps the old pumps.”

“How does it feel?” Nora reached for the bottle and gave it to him.

“What do you mean? This?” He gestured to his chest, this time with the empty bottle of fresh anti-freeze coolant in hand.

“It does not hurt but it isn´t pleasant either. It´s a necessity. And I can´t really move during the process. A loose tube could cause a big mess. I might have a secretary but not a cleaning lady.” He put the bottle between his legs and grasped into his chest, started to rewire the tubes.

“What happened when you run out of coolant? It´s not like blood, right?”

“Am I in an interrogation?” He stopped and stared at her.

“Nick!” He sighted.

“Sorry doll, I don´t like to get to technical about this, about,” he swallowed, “me.”

“It´s fine. I´m just curious and I care for you, you know.”

“I know. It won´t kill me loosing coolant, but running out damage my pumps and you don´t get spare parts at the next property market. And if you know what happens then? My system probably overheat and more parts get damaged and that might kill me. So I try to avoid that.” Nick continued unplugging the tubes and plug them on other places in. Nora stares at this in fascination. Nick caught her gaze.

“Oh, sorry, I don´t want to stare. I just thought about how I could help you.” Nora lifted her hands in defends.

“If you don´t found it too disturbing that I work in my open chest, would you please provide me some light?”

“Nick, this isn´t the first time for me. Do you remember the time where you got shot in the abdomen and I needed to patch a hardly reachable tube and wire?” Nora took his desk lamp and brought the light cone in the direction of his chest.

“I successfully suppressed this memory.” Nick murmured and finished his maintenance. He cleaned everything with a towel he had beside him and applied some oil. The rust really became a problem, but with enough oil, it wasn´t a big issue, especially on his protected inside. He close his chest and finally started to ease.

“Done?” Nora asked.

“Done.” Nick said relieved. He started to bottom up his shirt or at least tried to. His good hand was oily and his metal hand always lack friction. Nora got around the desk to stand directly besides him.

“Can I help you?” Nick put the coolant bottles, the empty one and the one with the old coolant, on his desk. Turned to her, stood up and gave her an agreeing look. He felt defeated by his shirt and his greasy and messed up hands.

Nora came close and bottom up his shirt, really tender. He eased even more under her touch. All the anger, he felt before, was finally gone. Every time, Nick needed to open one of his plates, especially the chest one gave him so much stress. Physically, because he was vulnerable and mentally, because it made him aware what he was. Nora never cared for what he was. She always saw the man behind the machine and he really appreciated this.

When Nora was finished with her work, she gave him a short kiss on his cheek, took his bad hand and pulled him in the direction of the door. She always took his skeletal hand to show him how less she cared for his appearance.

“Come on, Shaun is waiting for us. And I hope he didn´t talk Pipers ears off.”

“Nick!” Shaun didn´t finished his sentence, he was talking to Piper and ran to his favorite Synth detective, when he saw him.

“Hey kiddo. Hi, Piper.” Nick greeted them. Shaun pumped into Nick and gave him a hug around his waist. Nick laid his good hand on Shaun´s back.

“So what´s your plan for this Christmas, Blue?” Piper asked and Nora grinned in response.

“OK, here is the plan.” She distributed the tasks. Piper went home and wrote an article to inform the people of the little festival which was coming to town. The first person, Piper talked to was Ellie. Piper should inform her, that Nick is currently at Nora´s place, so she didn´t need to worry. Ellie was glad that Piper was too distracted by her news that she forgot to asked about Nick´s little maintenance secret. She liked Piper but you needed to be careful what are you telling her. Some of it might end up in her little newspaper, if she ran out of ideas.

Nick and Nora were tinkering lights together, while Nick told Shaun about some of his cases. Shaun´s favorite one, was Nick´s first case, where he had pretended to have a bomb by making beep sounds to scare off some raiders.

Nora made hot water when they were finished. “Normally, we made this with milk, but I don´t really trust the brahmin milk and it´s expensive!”

“There is a reason, why this isn´t an essential nutrient source anymore.” Nick added and Nora chuckled as a response. She finished the hot chocolate with marshmallows and made a cup for her, Shaun and Piper. They thanked her and started enjoying their drinks.

“That´s really good, Blue.” Piper said.

“Delicious!” Shaun added.

“Nothing for me?” Nick said with a bit of played disappointment. They all looked at him not expecting that.

“I thought you can´t eat detective.” Piper broke the short silence.

“You can have some of mine.” Shaun offered.

“It´s fine. I actually can eat, but I don´t get anything out of it and most of it taste awful to me.” Nick explained.

“Do you wanna try?” Nora offered.

“No, this is something rare and you shouldn´t waste it on me.” Nick denied.

“I guess, I can spare a sip.” Nora offered, again.

“OK, but I can´t promise liking it.”

“That´s fine, but I don´t want you to miss out on something.” So, Nick took a small sip from Nora´s cup. The taste wasn´t as good as in Nick´s memories, but less awful than most of the food he tried as a synth. He still needed to hide his disgust, but he got practice in it. Since he had been a synth and therefore don´t really eat, he learned what it socially meant for people. It still was an important part of social structures. But most people accept that he don´t need to eat, even if it made him an outsider of this social event. It made him feel alienated but people were glad they didn´t have to share their food with him. It was a zero clearance.

The other looked at Nick anticipating.

“It´s good,“ He lied, “Can I have a cup? Not for me, but I guess Ellie would be happy to get one, too.”

“Sure! I still feel bad that I missed her this noon.” Nora prepared another cup and gave it to Nick. He gently touched her shoulder.

“Thank you. I guess, I will be back in the morning, so you can get some rest.”

“It´s already pretty late, maybe we should meet up, tomorrow, again.” Piper said, “I hope to get the article out tomorrow. Nat is already preparing copies.” Piper informed Nora before she left.

“That would be great.” Nora smiled, “Good night, everyone.”

“Let us do this.”

So they started decorated all around the market place in DC in the morning. People were asking what was going on or chatting over the article which Nat handed around. The information about their little festival was going around.

This only took until noon and so Nora had time until dawn to prepare the presents. It wouldn´t be something big but she hadn´t much time for it. This counted for the others, too.

The sun was slowly set and Nick helped Nora to prepare for turning on the lights. The whole city was gathering around the market. Even the one from the upper ranks looked over the railing down to the market with anticipation.

First they turned off all others lights, waited til the sun was completely set and then turned on the new lights. The market glowed in all colors. Everyone started to cheer. The merchants sold warm drinks and food. The mood of the people lid up like the lights around them.

Nora laid her arm around Nick´s waist and he did likewise.

“To be honest, I was a bit afraid of this.” Nick said, still enjoying their work with the lights.

“Why?” Nora asked.

“Some memories still haunt me. The ones, which aren´t mine, but they are still there. I still remember Jenny. She loved Christmas and Nick really loved her.” He sighted.

“What is grief if love not persevering.”

“I like that quote.”

He started humming and the humming slowing became a song. He sang. It wasn´t load. It didn´t get over the chatting around them. But he sang just for Nora to be heard. He sang for Nora like Nick had done for Jenny. His full heart was in there, even if had none.

Nora shed a tear, but she smiled. He never heard him singing. She wasn´t even sure if he was able to. But now, she was and it was beautiful. She lent closer, let her head rest on his chest, which was vibrating with the song. She could hear his inside, the pumps and fans, became harmonic with his song, like an orchestra.

When Nick was done, after a felt eternity, he looked down and looked at Nora. He cupped her face and brushed off her tears with his good hand.

“No need to cry, doll.” Nora needed to chuckle a bit. He stayed true to his name. She reached for his face, too and cupped it. She needed to be careful not putting her fingers into his cheeks through his gaps. They slowly lent closer, lips almost touching, until.

“Mom, what about the presents?” Shaun disturbed their intimate moment. In both adults crept the fear that this intimacy was made out of the moment and will never happen, again.

“They´re at home. I will come, soon.” Nora answered, trying not to sound disappointed.

“OK, but don´t take too long.” And he disappeared.

“Sorry, Nick, I need to go.” But before Nora could go, Nick took her hand, pulled back and kissed her. And she kissed him back. Her lips were soft and it was like he remembered kissing felt like. His lips were different, a bit rough, uneven and dry. But he knew what he was doing. They were holding tight and hands caressed each others back. They parted. It was a short kiss, but not less intense. Nora went to Homeplate but took Nick by his hand with her. And again by his skeletal hand. Both were smiling.

No one really noticed them, except for Myrna.

“I will never sell them anything anymore. Synth loving bitch.” She mumbled.

Nick, Nora, Shaun, Piper, Nat and Ellie met in Nora´s little home, which she had decorated, too. She also got a tree, which was more a small festive decorated pot plant. But under it were all the presents wrapped in old newspaper and other old papers. And there were a big bag, too, which Nora didn´t put there.

They started to unwrap the presents with their names on them. Shaun and Nat got a lot of old toys, Ellie good preserved clothes and Piper working pens and a really neat notebook.

“Who made this?” Piper asked holding the notebook.

“You might never know, that´s part of the presents. I told you about this.” Nora explained.

“I know, but I have some question and I want to say thank you.”

“You only get your answer, if the person wants to reveal himself.”

Piper huffed, but she was sure to find it out.

Nora got some sweets like a perfectly preserved cake and a functional camera, which she directly used to take some photos of the moment.

Nick got almost the same as Piper, but in his case, the pen was more notable. It was bigger, and the surface was rougher, so he could grip it better with his metal hand. Nick was, of course, right handed, which was very cynical of life. He always struggle writing with a pen, so he preferred terminal or typewriters, but sometimes he had to take notes and none of this was at hand. Running around with a typewriter, or several, would be ridiculous!

“What´s with the bag?” Shaun asked when all presents were unwrapped. Nick chuckled.

“I gathered some toys over the years. I wanted to give them to the children here, but I didn´t know how without looking like a pervert. People has some strange prejudice about me already. The only one, who got some were Nat.”

“There she got all the toys! Did you know how annoying some of them were?” Piper nudged Nick.

“Oh this is such a sweet idea. Let us help you!” Nora said beaming with joy.

So they went back to market place. Shaun and Nat told their friends, what was going on and after some hesitations, maybe because of Nick, the first one got his present by Nora. Then more children came. Nora told them that Nick brought the toys and at some point Nick was able to share the presents, too. The children were so happy and this in return made Nick and Nora smile. Many of them came back and thanked Nick for their presents. They hadn´t much toys before.

After all presents were shared, they drank some hot drinks, chatted and enjoyed the light until the people got tired and went back to their homes to get some rest. Nora brought Shaun to bed at some point but came back to the other adults to round off the night until only she and Nick were on the market place. And Takahashi.

“Don´t you want to go to bed, doll?” Nick asked concerned about his friend. He knew, she must be tired even if he couldn´t be.

“Yeah,” She yawned. “But the night is so beautiful. I don´t want it to end.” She lent against him. He was warm compared to the fresh air around them. Not as warm as another human but warm enough not to freeze in his nearness.

“Thank you for doing all this.” Nick said.

“What do you mean?”

“Everything. The Eddie Winter case, the old Nick, Jenny, you always treated me like I´m worth it, like I´m still human even if I´m not. You´re the best friend I have.” He looked at her as he wanted to cry but there were no tears, never will be.

“Oh Nick, you helped me, too. Without you, I would still searching for my son with no clue were to start. And I don´t care if you´re human or synth. You got a good heart and you are really good company and I might fell in love with you.” She gave him an honest smile and hugged him tight. He cupped her face and kissed her, again.

“I love you, too. I didn´t know if this was even possible, because I´m just an old bucket of bolts, but you showed me it is. And this is something, which truly belongs to me.”

Nick offered her a hand and invited her for a dance. “The last dance of the night, sweetheart?”

Nora took it and they danced under the colorful lights until the sun rises.

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Tag List: @psybrepunk

#nick valentine #sole survivor #nora #piper #ellie perkins #nat #shaun #fallout 4 #synth writing #christmas in Dimond City #christmas #nick valentine x sole survivor #fo4 #I got a steam deck for christmas so I can mod Fallout 4 >:)#fluff

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