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captain-cyrus-of-the-unreliable · 5 years ago

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Sun, Moon, Stars, and My Love:

Chapter 1: Nightmarish Day and Acidic Dreams

[A.N.: I know an author's note is very outdated, but I haven't written fanfiction for a very long time. Please forgive my grammar and story building. It's been easily a decade since I've written fanfiction, and I'm trying to get back into it thanks to my new favorite game. This story is (hopefully) going to be a slow burn fic of Vicar Max x My captain of the Unreliable. (Cyrus Adler).]

Panic and fear... those were the twins that were plaguing Captain Adler's sleep. Those feelings and the many faces he's put bullets in. So many lives snuffed out. Marauders. Raiders. Many people. So many people. All he ever wanted to do was fix things for people.

His heart played against him when he could be afforded rest. The fear of getting his companions killed. This time it was no different. His subconscious was playing out a story of himself standing idly by as Vicar Max bled out. Max was begging him for help. The Cyrus in his subconscious just watched as the good Vicar's skin grew pale and he breathed his last breath.

Cyrus jolted out of his sleep with a cry, his heart was beating and his eyes were darting frantically around the room. He was safe. He was at home on the Unreliable. Cyrus's memory came surging back from the dream and he felt hot tears well up in his violet eyes. The breath was knocked out of him and he began to sob into his pillow.

It was moments like these he was thankful he covered ADA's camera with a blanket. Cyrus couldn't handle the idea of the crew knowing his problems... or knowing he was weak. 'I fix things and people. I am not... I do not want them to have to fix me.'

Cyrus spent half an hour recovering from his dream before he got dressed in his best armor and grabbed his favorite weapons. He paused to gaze at himself in the reflection of his black terminal screen. Dark circles were present under his eyes and a frown was etched into the corners of his lips. Slowly, he drew in a breath and forced a smile. He knew this forced smile would easily trick Parvati into believing he was alright, but it was really the good Vicar he was worried about. Max has always seemed to see right through him as if he were transparent.

Though... 'Vati has always been more wise than those innocent doe eyes let on...

'It'll be okay, just a normal mission he picked up on Monarch. Raptidon Dtalkers have been spitting acid on machinery that Sanjar has been using to defend against Marauders. Kill as many as possible, get paid with a shit ton of Bits, and get a drink at the Yacht Club.'

He breathed out a slow breath and ran his fingers through his short crimson curls. 'It'll be easier than playing Tossball.'

Quickly, Cyrus left his quarters and approached the cockpit, trauma crossed his face when he saw S.A.M. "cleaning" ADA's panels. "Oh, yes, S.A.M. it's been so long since my panels have been cleaned." ADA said in a voice that could easily be mistaken for pleasure. Grossgrossgrossgross.

Cyrus b-lined across the hall to the storage bay, his disgust dissipating as soon as he saw Parvati.

"Hey," he greeted, "suit up, we make ground fall in 15."

"Have you seen the good Vicar this morning? He's coming with." Cyrus rubbed the back of his neck. The redhead always got fidgety when talking about Max or even discussing him, especially today. There was this little voice in the back of his mind, whispering his worst nightmares.

"Sure thing, cap!" Her grin was so bright. She was like the sunshine after a rainy day. Honestly, it just made Cyrus more protective over her. She reminded him of the daughter he left behind on Earth. Even their shared passion for engineering reminded him of Olive.

"Have you seen Max? He's coming with."

Cyrus rubbed the back of his neck, an odd fidget he picked up since being thawed out. Especially whenever he spoke about the good Vicar. Everytime he mentioned Max, or looked at Parvati there was this little voice whispering about his worst nightmares.

'What if you get them killed, hm? Do they deserve to die just because they tag along with you?'

It was enough to make his heart race hard and the breath leave his lungs.

"Yeah, he's been sleepin' in his quarters still."

Quickly, Cyrus nodded and scaled the ladders up to the rec area and to the hall with the various crew quarters. As he reached Maximilian's room he quickly used the emergency inhaler. Once the air was back into his lungs he lightly knocked at the metallic door.

"Max? You awake?" Cy called through the metal. There was brief shuffling of feet on the other side of the door before they slid open, revealing the preacher man himself.

"Do you need something, Captain? I am really quite immersed in a certain text at the moment and would rather not be interrupted." Though his words were stern his tone was gentle, making the tense captain slightly relax.

"I wanted to take you with me for a mission on Monarch. If you are willing to come, suit up. We're going ground side in 10."

The preacher man briefly paused before nodding, offering the smallest smile to Cyrus, "alright I'll come with, captain. I'll be ready shortly."

A smile came to the captains features and he nodded, "I'll see you at the door then." Cyrus turned and quickly walked way, breathing out a breath he barely knew he was holding. He made his way down the stairs and stood by the ship door, awaiting his landing party.

Within ten minutes Parvati and Max showed up in full gear, well... except for their helmets.

"Why aren't either of you helmeted?" Cyrus prodded, disturbed at the thought of them leaving without the most basic of protection.

"Felix decided to put itching powder in our helmets as an attempt of a prank." Max said, sounding thoroughly irritated.

Fear and anxiety bubbled in the captains chest. So many things could happen to his companions under his watch. Slowly he breathed out and said, "we shouldn't need helmets mostly if we do this cleanly and quickly."

He quickly left the ship and they made their way on foot to the location. As told by Sanjar there were Raptidon Stalkers, but also there was a Mantiqueen and her drones. That was an unexpected twist, and his companions took the brunt of what Cyrus would call a mantis attack. What felt like hours was really seconds as he witnessed the Mantiqueen attack his companions and he also watched the two crumple to the ground unconscious.

Cyrus would be lying if he didn't say he saw red, but... he also had this uncontrollable drive to throw himself over them until an Adreno did it's job. With shaking quick hands he switched from his light weapon to a heavy massive gun. With little control he unleashed a hellfire rain of electric rounds on the Mantiqueen and her drones.

They fell quick with the barrage. Only managing to lightly char the captain. As they fell Cyrus threw his weapons aside and scrambled to Parvati first, injecting her with Adreno. The bleeding quickly stopped and she began to stir, but Cyrus was already kneeled over Max when he remembered the acid spitting maniac creatures. He remembered painfully as one of the creatures spit acid up his back, and his own armor, being well worn, failed him in protecting him from the painful acid.

Cyrus couldn't help but to let out a scream of pain, which jarred the good Vicar out of his unconsciousness. Max moved quickly as Cyrus applied some adreno into his emergency inhaler and took it. Whatever bleeding there was stopped and he was alright enough to grab his shotgun and succeed in their mission.

Parvati still wasn't conscious which worried Cyrus more than his acid burns. He lightly scooped her up and started to make his way back to the ship without uttering a word to Max. Of course, the good Vicar was worried, but for different reasons. Max knew that the captain and Ellie, the ship's medic, didn't get along well. He was worried Cyrus would be stubborn and refuse treatment from Ellie... or Architect forbid pretend like he didn't have an injury whatsoever. He couldn't allow the captain that grounded him when he was at his weakest to just suffer needlessly.

Meanwhile, as soon as Cyrus boarded the Unreliable he brought Parvati to Ellie's quarters and demanded she get treated. Ellie was quick to work on Parvati, but the captain went about his work as well, programming the ship to land at the Stellar Bay landing pad. Afterwards, Cyrus went to his quarters and peeled his damaged armor and under clothes off. Even the cool air of his quarters pained him as he laid chest down on his bed.

Vicar Max felt a certain amount of responsibility for the captains injuries. After all, the captain was protecting him when he received his injuries. Max gathered some Auntie Cleo's medical cream that would soothe the burns. Lightly he knocked at the door of the captains quarters, and without listening for the captains voice he let himself into the room. Briefly he stopped to gaze out the massive windows before gently stating, "Captain, I am aware you and Ellie do not get along... and I feel responsible for your injuries. So... if you'll have me, I'd like to... help you."

Cyrus lifted his head a bit and looked over his shoulder as the Vicar spoke. Softly he sighed but nodded, "alright..."

Max relaxed a bit before sitting at the side of Cyrus's bed and began spreading the cream across the burns. His hands worked delicately. At first Cyrus flinched hard at the touch, but eventually relaxed as the pains from the burns disappeared.

'I... miss being touched so gently... so warmly and tenderly...'

Slowly he drifted into a deep sleep and as Max noticed that he smiled faintly. "Rest well, captain... you deserve it." Lightly he set the cream aside and briefly considered something before leaving one of his favorite books on Cyrus's desk.

With a smile on his features, the good Vicar took his leave to let Captain Adler rest.

#the outer worlds #vicar max #injury #nightmares

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