fracturedsarcophagus - Tumblr blog

fracturedsarcophagus · 4 months ago

Text

I wait for you

Little fic starring my Sole Survivor, Jag and his romance Danse. I haven’t written fic like seven years so please be gentle. And let me know if you’d like to read more!

Male sole survivor x Paladin Danse, modern AU, slow burn ————— The heat in the air felt heavier than usual, more than it should for September and being so close to fall. Then again maybe it was just the way Everything felt heavier in Rivet City. At least to Jag, a strong looking man with long blonde hair who more often than not always seemed to smell like wood wax and cigarettes.

He had been home just shy of four months now, honorably discharged after receiving the rank of Cleric for a short time. Ironically his discharge was also considered medical, although he protested it immensely. Why couldn’t he still educate squires and anoint Knights? He missed the smell of the incense he would light before missions.

Truth be told he wasn’t supposed to be out on the field, in active combat, anyways it just happened… all too quick an ambush and then… darkness. They told him he hadn’t woken for a week and that his leg would manage just fine, but still never be the same. Sure it hurt sometimes, the long scar running down his thigh and calf made sure to remind him of that, but he didn’t always have to use his cane and most days he tried not to take medication.

He was still able to work at his brother’s hardware store just fine. Maybe a little slower than he used to be, but he decided he was older now too so it was fine. He had decided to move back home, not for him he would try to tell himself but for his family. His father was still alive, a different type of veteran than Jag himself, one who acts like war never really lets go of a man. His mother had been dead for five years by now, and his brother had moved to Diamond City and came back soon after she passed.

Being at the hardware store was quiet, honest work he enjoyed. He continued unloading small boxes of assorted screws and nails of all sizes onto the shelves as he listened closely to the song playing over the store’s crackling speakers. He barely looked up when the bell at the front door jingled as someone walked in.

This time though, it wasn’t the mailman or even one of his usual customers.

It was /Danse/.

Jag barely looked up at first which caused him to double take the man browsing the signs above the aisles. What could he be looking for?

“Can I help you?”

Danse didn’t even look over when he answered, “The new place I just moved into has a problem with the front knob, I need a replacement.” When he did look down again, looked to see who had asked him if he needed help he paused. Then, “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Jag almost let out a forced laugh, “I live here.”

Danse gestured around him, “I meant the store.”

“I hadn’t realized you made it back.” No hesitation from Jag, he needed answers.

He nodded. No smile, no handshake.

“How long have you been back?” Jag asked quieter this time, knowing the answer would hurt.

“Three days.”

No calls, no texts. No letter written back. No warning.

He had heard a rumor some soldiers were returning, some boys who had grown up here, boys like Jag. But no one had known when and by the time Jag had convinced himself it would never happen, never be Danse, they had quieted all together. Jag had known Danse was the type of soldier who didn’t come back in one piece, even if all his limbs were still there.

He realized how long he had been silent when Danse offered, “I’ll come by later.”

“No one else is ever here but me. Let me help you.”

Silent minutes passed from Danse as he either nodded or shook his head at simple questions from Jag about the doorknob he needed replaced. His brow furrowed once or twice and Jag almost smiled, he had missed him. When they walked to the register up front Danse paid in cash and didn’t ask for a bag, scooped up what he needed and stuffed it into his jacket.

“Do you want to grab a coffee?” Jag almost didn’t realize he had asked, it was so quiet.

“Maybe some other time.”

Jag almost told him you used to like coffee. You used to drink it black as hell and twice as bitter, back when the sun came up behind sand dunes and everyone wore the same dust on their skin.

But he didn’t. He just nodded.

Danse turned and left and Jag was left alone to listen to the music playing in the store and sort the boxes left abandoned in the aisles.

It was almost like he had never been there at all, but the way Jag’s heart was still racing he knew he had been.

#paladin danse #fallout 4 #sole survivor #Sole survivor x paladin Danse

7 notes · View notes