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erikageiger · 11 months ago

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Time to Reflect - a short fic (Sebastian Gaunt / f!Wayfarer)

Summary: After ending the war against the Isle of Dogs Syndicate on a bitter note, the Wayfarer storms away to let Sebastian face the consequences of his actions. Some time later, she returns to find out how the Vagabonds are doing.

Warning! Contains spoilers for the Vagabond questline ending!

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Halo had found that the easiest way for her to handle the mysteries of her origin... was to follow orders. A sense of direction, some time to prepare for her next quest, and the feeling of having a life to retreat to when needed - it was perfect.

And so, her relationship with the Vagabonds grew as she made herself useful to the gang. Making shit happen, as Gaunt put it. She quickly became a friend, and trusted member. ...although Gaunt had his snide remarks about how she handled things.

But when the day came when she had dealt with the lieutenants, making Gaunt almost furious with her for letting the others get their wishes. Things got heated as the base was attacked, and Gaunt had no choice but to leave her the task to kill Black before he fled London.

Only, Black wasn't actually fleeing. And Halo was instead met by the traitor Nelson. She wished to find a peaceful solution, which led to her deciding the fate of the Vagabonds and the future of London.

While it was her suggestion, the peaceful option had a catch. A catch she couldn't accept. So she instead chose to shoot the Top Dog where it hurts.

Gaunt was pleased, unlike some of the Vagabonds who heard him make a victory speech mostly focused on himself. She confronted him about it, pointing out that Winston, Anthony, and Johnny were the ones with the ideas, and that she was the one who did most of the dirty work. When he shot back with the fact that he was the leader who had worked ten whole years to keep things working, she had never been so angry.

She told him it took an outsider who wasn't scared of defying him to "get shit done," and that she'd leave him to soak up all the blood he wanted while she took a break from this whole ordeal.

It took some time before she went back to the Vagabonds. She sometimes felt guilty about it, fearing what would happen after what she told Sebastian and now that the war was over. She dealt with the syndicate and Black... what now?

---

After exploring Ol' Blighty some more and being useful to some other factions, she was ready to check up on the group she thought of as family.

It was late when she entered the bar, hoping to find Anthony or Johnny playing pool, maybe Syd and Yvette chatting about the community... but it was empty. Save for Sebastian. All alone on a bar stool.

"...they haven't left you, have they?"

Snapping around, his healthy eye widened when he saw her, "...Halo. ...thought you had abandoned ship."

"I'm still a Vagabond," she pointed out, tipping her lucky hat that rarely left her head. "Gotta report in when I can. ...if there's still something to report to?"

He sighed and turned back to his drink, "Barely. Still got the community, but... less interest in being a gang."

Relieved that it's not completely disbanded, she went around the counter to get herself a drink. "Probably because the Vagabonds lost their purpose, with the dogs gone..."

"Oh, fuck off," he calmly took a swig of his drink.

Glancing around, she did notice that Jan had made a few improvements since last time she'd been there. "...you're right, I should have some faith in the gang... how have things been?"

Keeping his eye on his drink, he responded, "...it's gone to shit. Dog stragglers have tried to join, folks have been fighting, and..." he gave a hesitant sigh, "Syd's missing."

Syd, the old man she had spent a few evenings with, teaching him to read and write. "Missing? ...did he say anything about where he was going?"

"Dunno... was too busy arguing with Anthony," he admitted with a hint of shame. "Yvette thinks he wanted to get away from the "hostile environment", ...the weakling."

The idea of poor old Syd trying to read while the others were arguing, it hurt to imagine. She would have to look for him later, confident that he likely was hiding in the library or something. Right now, she had some more questions for Gaunt.

"Found anything for the gang to focus on to try and unite them again? ...other than being hostile to former enemies and ruin the chances of attracting new members?"

He glanced at her, clearly annoyed but seemed to bite his tongue at the sight of her slight glare. She wasn't backing down and knew how he'd greet former IODS members. And if they couldn't let in people who only joined the Syndicate to put food on the table, were they really an ally to the common folk?

"...we're trying to rebuild Bromley, develop it so more people can live here."

A surprisingly simple response for someone with his tongue. "Whose idea was it?"

Hesitant, but he admitted "Yvette and Anthony's."

Placing her drink by the seat next to him, she watched him as she walked back around to take the seat. While she had been concerned that he'd still be angry, he was surprisingly compliant.

"Glad to hear it. Bromley is a nice place," she took a sip of her drink, "...and how's the blood-thirst? Still savoring it?"

He began to sound more frustrated but kept quiet a moment more, ...almost like he was feeling ashamed. "Yeah, I'm still savoring it - what of it?? Am I not allowed to?? ...just regretting I wasn't the one to do it..."

She nodded, remembering how it felt so strange for him to so quickly let her be the one to put an end to Black. He chose to stay behind and keep the Vagabonds safe... which was one reason she believed he deep down really cared more about his gang than his desire for revenge.

"Tell me, Halo…" he turned to look at her, "what exactly went down that night?"

Thinking for a moment, Halo took a quick sip before recalling it, "It all went as you'd expect, at first. Fought my way through the train, killed a dozen dogs. But in the last car, I met Nelson, sitting at the head of a long table with a radio. …he explained that he had no choice but to be Black's informer, the sick bastard threatening to kill you if he declined the offer." Turning to face him, she made sure Sebastian understood that it was serious, "He really did want to keep you safe, keep the promise he made to Gabriel."

He didn't seem to be able to muster much rage and actually showed a glint of sorrow, "…pathetic little blind raisin…"

"He didn't see any other option. …and his last mission was to try and convince me to join Black too... with the threat of eradicating all the Vagabonds."

"That sly little-…" Sebastian once again couldn't bring himself to react too loudly, making it clear to Halo that it was a good thing he was drinking. He didn't seem the type to get violent after a drink, just emotional, which was likely another explanation for why she's never seen him drunk before.

"I never considered it," she assured, "instead I… had the idea to suggest a ceasefire. And before you get cross on me, I knew you wouldn't accept it… but I figured if you had waited ten years, what's another week or two working together with the Syndicate and then… accidentally take Black to the wrong meeting room or something?"

Taking a moment to process it, he chuckled, "…you and your wits."

"…of course, it didn't work. I didn't have to fight my way to him, at least, carrying a little olive branch. …but the way he talked almost had me shoot him mid-sentence. Nelson told me Black understood how the world works… but all I heard was money money money. It's true that money has power… but it means nothing when there's nothing to buy. …anyway, I convinced him that this feud would only lead to both sides losing, since the real enemies are in the shadows… like that Agent Smythe I've told you about. …and he agreed, happy to move on and work together to make a stronger East London. …on one condition."

It got silent as she gathered her words and glanced at Sebastian to see how he was taking things so far. Despite being intoxicated, he was listening intently.

"You. You were the only obstacle, and Black would only accept a truce if I was the one in charge of the Vagabonds. …you would never accept the peace, so I would have to trade your life for the ones who'd die if I declined. …I tried to be hopeful, thought about suggesting I'd try and reason with you…"

He chuckled, chuckled some more, then burst out with laughter. She eventually joined, seeing the comedy in it.

"What a comedian…" He commented as he calmed down.

"Like I said earlier, figured you could maybe like the idea of returning the favor, kill Black when meeting for a supposed peace treaty… but I knew neither Nelson nor Black would've humored me. …can't remember what Nelson thought about the idea to kill you. ...but I knew I couldn't do it. Even if it meant peace and a lot of lives saved, I… I just couldn't. I wasn't choosing between peace and war… I was choosing between you... and being Black's ally. And having heard his… absolutely disgusting speech about buying people… Gabriel's ghost must've guided my gun when I shot him in the fucking groin, preventing him from escaping while I dealt with his goons."

"Fuck yeah!" Gaunt quietly commented.

"Dealt with everyone in the room and went up to him, shoved him back to his little balcony and shot him in the head."

"Died like the dog he is…" Sebastian growled, "Quite the grizzly sight, what you left behind. Bloody fantastic, me ol' china. …did he have any last words."

"…he tried to bribe me. I said money can't buy him mercy, said the bullets were from you and… then he mumbled something I can't quite remember. But I remember shooting him so he didn't get to finish it."

"Lovely…"

"I... managed to disarm Nelson and throw him into a wall to give him a chance to surrender while I dealt with Black, but just as I reached him… He told me to tell you he was sorry, then shot himself with a pistol he found. …I guess he couldn't live with the guilt."

Glancing over at Sebastian again, she noticed he once again seemed a bit sad, quietly looking away and taking another swig of alcohol. "...serves him right, the slithering worm…"

She couldn't tell if he meant it, with how quiet he was, but she didn't pry. So, it was done. She had told him what happened, how she avenged his parents and the Vagabonds. How she refused to join Black, and even refused to kill him when it meant saving lives.

She would wonder sometimes if it was the right thing to do, seeing all the dead Vagabonds outside, but focused on the fact that Black was a monster. And it didn't feel right to involve the Vagabonds in something bigger than their slice of Ol' Blighty. No, until she knew more about London, it was best to let the Vagabonds keep their lives casual and focused on a brighter future, gather strength and the freedom to decide if they want to join another conflict.

And Sebastian… well, she hoped he'd be done with his thirst for revenge now, so she could get to know him better. Under the thick veil of vindictiveness that was now crumbling after the alcohol, there was a person who hadn't been able to simply live his life for ten years. And not knowing a lot about that person, it felt even more wrong to kill him. He'd been a prisoner for someone else's crime. It didn't excuse his behavior, but it was enough for her to protect him.

...she hadn't really forgotten what Black's last words were, she just didn't want to mention how Black called her Sebastian's bitch for protecting him.

It… wasn't important.

"…why did you choose not to kill me?" he asked, breaking the silence. "Black is one reason, I know… but I know for a fact that you're a fucking softie… You'd do anything for a peaceful solution… and I'm not the type people would miss… So why?"

"…because I'm a fucking softie," she simply responded.

He chuckled, "…fair enough. …but you knew it meant fighting at the heart of Canada Square. All his bodyguards, and then fighting your way out… -That- doesn't sound like a softie."

"…it's the same softie who burned down their prison boat, their warehouse, and stole a train of supplies," she pointed out, "all while fighting dozens upon dozens of dogs."

"So you're bloodthirsty, is what you're telling me?"

"Just doing as I'm-…" She sighed, remembering Black's last words. "…following orders. I'm following orders and doing what I think is right."

Taking another swig, he glanced at her, "Still doesn't answer my question."

"…the fuck you after, boss?! I'm not your bitch, I just-… Ugh…"

"Never said you were," he commented, "just wonderin'… since you haven't been a member for very long, it's strange to think you'd be so loyal. ...not to forget our last interaction... and even now, with the gang in shambles... you're here..."

Taking a good look at him, she was puzzled, "…THIS is how you are when drunk? …you should drink more often, think some more."

It being quiet again, she calmed down and focused on finishing her drink. In the corner of her eye, she saw Sebastian finish his with one last big swig, then get off his stool and turn to her. Looking away, figuring he'd just call it for the night, she was caught off guard when he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her around to face him. Slipping off the bar stool with her back against the bar counter, she froze, trying to process why he trapped her like this, his hands on the counter behind her.

"…you really care, don't you? …you care about me?"

She didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to scold him for what he was doing, point out how weird it was for the strong leader to ask such a question… But she knew he was being vulnerable with a friend, and it was the chance to help him become himself again, get him back on his feet. So she had to take it seriously. She had to be honest.

"…yeah. I do. …you-" she was interrupted when he suddenly pressed his lips on hers.

He reached up a hand to hold her in place, and while she wasn't sure about it, it felt good to reach her hands up to his torso, let one sneak up to his neck. It felt good. Weird, but good. She had never been kissed before, but... she had seen some paintings that gave her some ideas on how to handle it.

Suddenly, he pulled away, freezing for a moment as if he heard something. She pulled away her hands just in case and waited. But there was nothing, so he relaxed and turned back to her, "…this never happened."

He wanted it to be a secret. "…okay," she gently whispered.

His hands left her and she felt the cold of the empty bar, watching as he slowly walked towards the stairs to the apartment. She didn't have a bed up there, her place being down the street, so they would go separate ways now.

But it couldn't end now, could it? "…Sebastian?"

He stopped and turned a little bit, but she couldn't speak - she didn't know what to say. So she just gave up, "Good night… See you tomorrow."

Turning further to glance back, he tipped his hat, "…'night, Halo."

...

And then she helped unite the Vagabonds, takes Sebastian with her on adventures so he can reflect and heal from the years of hatred, and eventually have him apologize to his gang for his behavior, everyone happy to be the good old Vagabonds again... and Sebastian grateful to have someone supportive and patient by his side.

Oh, and she found Syd, he's okay. :D

I know I'm making my character a bit of a Mary "Fixes Everything" Sue in this, ...but this ain't meant to be realistic. XD

#fallout 4 mods #fallout london #sebastian gaunt #my fics

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