#elder maxson x reader

[plushyvi]

“it’s a common notion!”

game: fallout 4

characters: paladin danse, arthur maxson

summary: he gets a little jealous seeing someone else be interested in you the same way he is. he starts to wonder if it’s a common occurrence for you.

warnings: g/n! reader, they/them pronouns used, reader isn’t sole but you can read it as if they were, jealousy,

↣ paladin danse

“knight.”

you glance up from your seated position to see your sponsor, power armour and all, watching over you. “paladin danse. how was your search in lexington? find anything useful?”

“yes. recovered some brotherhood weapons and holotags for captain kells,” he explains to you as he watches you take your hands off the scribe in front of you, “what have you been doing since i left the prydwen?”

you think it was pretty obvious with how proctor cade has you running a mock infirmary in the armoury bay. you were given a white coat to show people you were acting as a second doctor to cade. the bay was filled with tens of soldiers who came back for a fight with the institute at a hold-out spot in the commonwealth, all injured and most near to death. cade’s office was packed and you offered your help since you worked closely with him a few times.

“are you blind, paladin?” you mumble out in a joking matter. danse shows a slightly embarrassed look. but you smile at him. “the most recent outpost the brotherhood established was overrun by synths. proctor cade cannot tend to all of these soldiers.”

“right…” he grumbles off as you turn back to scribe in front of you.

you hold his hand, wiping the blood off his palm and trying to clean his cut. he winces, but the obvious blush that patterns his pale cheeks is obvious. he cannot stop looking at you.

“i… i have some injuries i’d like you to look at,” danse suddenly speaks up. you look up at him from your seated position. “i know cade is busy.”

“oh, well, i’m also a bit preoccupied too, paladin,” you say and finish wrapping the scribe’s hand, “is it urgent? how badly does it hurt?”

“a ten,” he says without hesitation. you stare at him with a raised brow. “i, uh… just come see me when you have the time.”

you go to respond when proctor cade comes into the armoury in a hurry. his sleeves are tugged up to his elbows and he has dried blood on his fingertips. his eyes meet yours and he hurries over.

“thank you, knight y/n, i appreciate all your help,” he sincerely says. you finish off the bandages before sending the scribe off. he does so reluctantly and shakes your hand for a bit too long for danse’s liking. “i can handle the rest of the soldiers here. you need to get some rest yourself; elder maxson said that you had a tiring mission this morning.”

“are you sure, proctor?” you ask as you stand up. there were still a lot of patients here, albeit you had dealt with the more serious cases. many of the ones left were just injuries. “i can stay for another hour.”

danse stands behind you. cade, looking between the both of you, notices the paladin’s slightly furrowed brows. he only nods.

“yes, knight, do not worry. i’ve been the doctor on this ship for as long as i can remember, i know a thing or two,” he says to you. you nod your head and wipe off the blood on your own hands. “thank you for your help. i’m sure maxson is also grateful for your actions. now, go rest.”

you put the coat down on the box you were sitting on and take out the supplies from your pockets. the medkit was given to cade before you turned to danse.

“okay, leave your power armour here and i’ll meet you at your room.” you tell him. danse agrees and moves carefully around the patients to take off his armour.

as he removes it, the same scribe from before approaches him.

“paladin danse?” he mutters out quietly.

“yes, soldier?” danse replies, head held up tall.

“i wanted to say… thank you for teaching y/n the way of the brotherhood,” the scribe says to danse. his cheeks are tinted red and he plays with his fingers nervously. “they’re an incredible soldier, and they’re so nice… i admire them quite a lot—”

“that is ‘knight y/n’, scribe,” danse interrupts with a harsh tone. the scribe jumps a little at his words, and he slowly nods. “they are just doing their job, as they are ordered to.”

the scribe looks to the ground for a moment, a bit upset. danse feels like he should be apologetic, but he isn’t. he only keeps his stoic look on his face.

“right… i apologise, paladin danse, i did not mean to overstep my boundaries,” the scribe salutes to danse before looking away, “thank you, and knight y/n.”

danse lets the scribe go in silence.

“be easy on the kid, danse,” cade speaks up as he grabs some stimpacks from the box against the wall. danse turns his head to look at him. “it’s just a lil’ crush. knight y/n saved a lot of these soldiers, who wouldn’t be compelled to think about them?”

danse is quiet as he ponders the question. proctor cade goes to do his work as danse moves to his room.

he opens the door quietly to see you sleeping on his bed. your outer layer was taken off, jacket strewn on his desk and you laid on his bed, silently breathing. danse closes the door behind him and unzips the back of his uniform as quietly as he can without disturbing you.

truth be told, he wasn’t injured at all. his retrieval mission went as smooth as humanly possible, so he didn’t need to have anything looked over. he just wanted your attention on him.

he changes into a comfortable shirt and sweatpants before locking the door. it would be heinous is anyone caught you two together in his quarters. you yourself were in a tank top and your pants from your gear, shoes set by the bed. you looked peaceful.

danse sits on the bed as he stares at you.

cade had him thinking; did lots of people have a thing for you? if yes, then how many?

he feels as if it’s childish to wonder such a thing, but he couldn’t help himself. you were an intoxicating thought that clouded his mind.

he thinks that maybe you heard his thoughts, because you suddenly stir and turn around, now facing him. your eyes flutter open and danse feels his face heat up at how you look at him.

“ah, sorry,” you say and start sitting up and wiping your eyes, “i’m exhausted—”

danse leans forward and wraps an arm around your shoulders. he tugs you close before he lays down on the bed. his thin blanket is pulled on top of the both of you. your face is smushed against his chest and your hands press against his upper stomach, trapped.

“get some rest,” he tells you.

“danse…?” you murmur against his skin. he shivers. “what’s going on with you today? i don’t see any injuries.”

he doesn’t say anything in response at first, utterly embarrassed by how he’s acting. he would never tell off a scribe for something like that. perhaps he should apologise when he finds the time.

but for now, danse kisses the crown of tour forehead.

“nothing, soldier,” he sighs out quietly as he closes his eyes. he can feel your hands slowly circle around his waist before you tug him closer, “i was just concerned, is all.”

“i’m okay, danse,” you respond, “you didn’t have to lie.”

“i’m sorry…”

“it’s fine. let’s just sleep now.”

he keeps his eyes open for a bit longer, which prompts you to sigh and lift yourself up. he watches as you plant a kiss to his lips, gentle enough to try and lure him to sleep. he relaxed into you in seconds.

“just talk to me later.” you tell him with a small smile.

he manages to doze off not long after you. the whole entire time, he thinks about how the scribe is right — you are an amazing soldier, and you have the biggest heart. that’s why he fell in love with you.

could he really blame anyone else for doing the same?

↣ arthur maxson

he’s on the ground for a change as he decided he should accompany you on your next task: training the new initiates.

“keep your hands steady,” you say as you watch them attempt to shoot the glass bottles on the boxes. most shots miss. “and don’t hold your breath for so long. you want to pass out in front of the enemy?”

“no, knight-captain!” a call is heard from the firing team.

“i want to see a smashed bottle from each of you,” you say with crossed arms. you watch from the sidelines and see how confident they are with a weapon — which isn’t that much. “we aren’t moving on until we get a clean shot from each of you.”

elder maxson had taken it upon himself to come and watch how you trained them, and he’s impressed. you’re not bad at it, just the right mixture of tough and encouraging. however, he thinks maybe he should’ve asked someone else to do this.

“well done, initiate frieda,” you say as you walk behind her. she lowers her gun and looks back to you, big doe eyes. she was shorter than you and her eyes seemed like the glossiest thing in the world. “you’ll be a sharpshooter in no time. i’m impressed.”

maxson clenches his hands around his bicep. he's let you train initiates before. did you always act so friendly with them? no, you weren't even acting friendly, you were being... genuinely nice. it made maxson wonder how you survived out there.

as you continue to help the other initiates, the girl turns to her friend beside her and begins to squeal quietly.

“did you hear that? knight y/n likes me!” she giggles out, unaware of the looming presence behind her. her friend goes wide eyed before going back to shooting. “i hope i’m on their team when we’re ready for the field, they’re so nice and so pretty—”

“shoot initiate dina’s bottle, soldier.”

frieda slowly looks back behind her to see elder maxson’s glaring eyes. his presence shook her and made the poor girl panic. her laser pistol shoot in her hands before she gulped.

“y—yes, elder maxson, sir!” she replies loudly.

that grabs your attention. you stop mid-sentence as you were talking to another initiate. looking to see the commotion, you’re surprised when you get the scene of maxson standing a foot away from the initiate you had complimented, looking about as mad as ever. you let out a small sigh.

initiate frieda shakily aims at her friend’s bottle. it isn’t a surprise when she misses by a long shot. that makes her friend and all the other initiates, who witnessed you compliment the girl, cringe in fear. the girl swallows the lump of nervousness and carefully lowers her gun.

“if you cannot shoot the target on demand, or under any pressure at all, you are not a suitable candidate for not only the brotherhood, but for knight y/n’a team,” elder maxson’s booming voice reaches across the whole training ground. the initiate looks as if she’s about to cry. but the leader doesn’t let up. “their team is only filled with the ones i deem the best. if you wish to be chosen for such a task, you must work very hard.”

“yes, elder maxson.” initiate frieda mumbles. she wanted to shrivel up.

“and if i may give you a word for advice,” his voice goes quieter, but his glare is harsher. she feels like she’s seen a ghost. “keep you focus on the brotherhood’s goal of freeing the commonwealth. i assure you, knight y/n does not have the time or the interest in someone like you, the way you do for them.”

she’s silent for a moment before she nods her head. elder maxson lifts himself up high again before looking around to the older soldiers.

"take this as a warning to all of you," he shouts as he begins to march. you have to hold back from rolling your eyes. "the brotherhood is now your whole life. you have no time to think of anything other than the good of the commonwealth. if you have joined for any alterior motives," he takes the time to look at you up and down. you don't know whether to be offended or not. "it's best if you leave now while you still can."

the initiates are quiet before they call out a 'yes, sir!' to him. going back to their training, most of them are scared out of their minds. but frieda especially; all she even did was call you pretty.

"elder, may i speak with you for a moment?" you question with a clenched jaw. he stares at you and, without even confirmation, you grab the fur of his jacket and begin dragging him around the corner of a building. you turn back to the eavesdropping initiates. "continue your shooting. when i come back, i do not want to see a single bottle left standing. knight rhys, make sure no one is cheating!"

the knight standing to the side on watch duty at the airport perks up at his name. with a silent groan, he nods his head. he turns to face the initiates and calls out to them to begin. laser shooting fills your ears before you hide behind the corner with maxson.

"arthur!" you grumble out with furrowed brows. he raises a brow at you. "what are you doing? i told you that you could come and watch if it meant you were quiet and didn't scare off my initiates more than you needed to!"

he crosses his arms over his chest as if to show you that he was pissed off as well. you rest your hand on your hip.

"you need to get your initiates in check. you cannot have them thinking this way about you," he tells you with a shake of his head, "not only will they be fawning over you all the time instead of doing brotherhood work, they will be distracted on the battlefield. careless lives will be lost, knight."

"what are you even—arthur," you sigh as you rub your temple. it's not like he was wrong, you needed to whip them into shape, but it was so early. "this is my second lesson with these initiates. give me a week and i'll have soldiers. just... you need to calm down a bit. what happened?"

he holds back from telling you. maxson was only slightly above admitting that he was wrong, but he'd be damned if he had to admit this to you. the crease between his brows becomes more defined.

"initiate frieda will be under knight wagner's supervision. i don't believe she would be an asset to you."

"shouldn't i have a say in that, elder?" you inquire as you raised a brow, "she is becoming a good shooter, and she gets along well with other brotherhood soldiers. not only that, but she got the highest agility score on the first day. i'd say she is an acceptable candidate for my team."

maxson rolls his eyes at you. your eye twitches at his behaviour.

"arthur, seriously," you exhale slowly and take his gloved hand in yours. he finally drops his arms from his chest and slowly relaxes his shoulders. "what's wrong? you've never been so hostile towards an initiate before."

it takes him a moment to gather up the courage to tell you anything, but soon enough he does.

"it would seem that these new initiates have taken a liking to you," he admits, "and i... i don't intend on letting that go any further."

your heart melts at his words before you let the smile you were holding back now take over your face. it’s a little funny, which makes you cover your face with your free hand. maxson’s brow twitches at your reaction.

“alright, that’s enough, knight,” he scoffs at you. he yanks his hand out of yours and massages the back of his neck. “don’t coddle them, is my point. you have to be their commander, not their crush-magnet.”

“‘crush-magnet’? what are you, 12?” you joke with a hearty laugh. that makes his face turn pink with embarrassment. “it’s okay, arthur. i’ll make sure to keep them in line.”

he looks at your face a little longer before he nods his head. you smile again as he rests a hand on your shoulder. he’s always been sheepish when it comes to any form of affection towards you, even if it was just some kind words. you let him come closer to you and soon press a kiss to your cheek. an arm comes around to hold your waist and he sinks against you.

“captain y/n, they’ve successfully—” knight rhys comes around the corner to interrupt, only he widens his eyes at the scene. he stops on his tracks and clears his throat. maxson is quick to remove himself from you and you rake a step away from him. “ah, i apologise, i—i didn’t, uh… excuse me, but the initiates have cleared all the bottles.”

“thank you, rhys,” you say as you nod your head, “i’ll take it from here.”

he nods his head and walks away while rubbing his ear. you glance to maxson before you stretch your arms.

“okay, i have to get back to work,” you say as you straighten your jacket. maxson runs fingers through his hair and fixes his own overcoat too. “now if you’re going to stay, you need to keep quiet, arthur. they need to be scared of me too. the way you look at people is already enough to make them shit their pants.”

“alright, knight, i will still supervise.” he replies.

you flash him one last sweet smile before he hears you call out an order for combat training as you turn the corner. he stands there for a few seconds longer.

he’d have to get over the fact that you were as amazing to him as you were to others.

[fallout-drabbles-n-stuff]

I would absolutely LOVE to hear any headcanons or reactions on Maxson × Female Sole as a happy married couple. Maybe this one will challenge you so I'm super curious on your take!

Ps, you're still the best of the best at these! 🥰

(This genuinely made me smile, thank you so much!)

• Although it would be pretty easy to tell early on in a dating relationship with Maxson, the business between both of your duties can be a little bit of a struggle. There will be quite a few nights going to bed alone, quiet dinners doing paperwork..the whole works but him being a romantic deep down, he makes sure to make it up in small gestures as well as big.

•It might be a bit cheesy but he smiles every time your name comes up in a file or he overhears another soldier addressing you as “sentinel Maxson”.

•Very sentimental in the way that he preserves little things from your wedding ceremony- pictures, holotapes of congratulatory speeches and even pressed aster flowers from the bouquet you insisted on having.

•So long as you are able/wanting to, he can NOT wait to get a head start on extending the family line. If I’m being perfectly honest, he’ll commence this process by first adopting a kitten and considering it your little shared bundle of fur. Consider it practice for the real thing 😉

•Definitely more nervous about marriage than he lets on but wants nothing more than it. Once he made that connection with you, his peace with being a lone Maxson vanished.

•Lots and lots of late night talks about anything and everything, sometime you might wanna hold a pillow over his head it gets so bad. Seriously though, you are his best friend, spouse, and council all rolled into one. Any important decision he makes from here on out must be considered and hopefully approved by YOU.

[hrefna-the-raven]

Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Chapter 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8

Song for this chapter:

Summary: Maxson suffers through his hangover and makes preparations for the last evening before he'll need to let you travel to the Glowing Sea

Notes: a bit of an inbetween chapter, the next chapter will move faster through the story to finally move it up to Blind Betrayal :)

Warnings: smut (18+)

Chapter 9 - The morning-after-date

Maxson groaned, the throbbing headache along with knocks felt like a jackhammer demolishing the inside of his head. Despite the lack of response, Cade decided to enter and walked towards Maxson who buried his face into the pillow.

"Not now", he grumbled.

"I'm sorry Elder, but I'm here on behalf of a worried Knight. I  don't care how she knew, but given the state you're in, it was the right call to send me."

Reluctantly, Maxson allowed Cade to pull him up to sit on the bed. His eyes, bloodshot and weary, met Cade's concerned gaze.

"What do you want, Cade?", Maxson asked, his voice tinged with both annoyance and despair.

Cade reached into his leather bag and rummaged around, searching for something. After a moment, he pulled out a glass bottle containing a blueish liquid and held it out to Maxson.

"My very own anti-hangover recipe", he offered a gentle smile, "as to what I want, you instructed me to keep track of every soldier's mental health, which includes you as well. So you want to tell me what happened?"

Cade grabbed a chair from the desk, pulled it up to the bed and took a seat, watching Maxson inspecting the liquid before taking a sip.

"This is horrible", Arthur complained, the disgust on his face evident.

"Worse than the headache?", Cade asked, chuckling as he saw Maxson shake his head.

The room was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of Arthur's deep breaths. He looked at Cade, his gaze filled with hesitation, knowing the weight of his words as soon as they were spoken. With a resigned sigh, he began to recount the events around you that had led them to this moment. His voice quivered as he confessed that the weight of leadership and the constant struggle to balance it with his love for you had become almost unbearable. The responsibility of the Brotherhood's future rested on his shoulders while the desire for intimacy and love tore at him and it had taken a toll on him. Cade sat in attentive silence, his face a mask of neutrality, as he listened to the Elder's every word. When the Elder had finished, the doctor looked at him for a moment, a gentle smile forming on his lips before he spoke up.

"Arthur," he began, his tone gentle yet firm, "your burden is not yours alone to bear. We are a Brotherhood and we stand together, which also includes her now. I can assure you if you'd know what your soldiers are doing in their free time while still performing their duty with best consciousness, you'd be less worried about all this. Why do you keep torturing yourself? If you're in love with her, just tell her and see where is goes. It won't prevent you from being the Elder, you can still chase us all around."

Maxson chuckled at the last sentence. The doctor was right and it wouldn't matter that he had no experience on the matters of love, you never judged him for it, so all that held him back from gaining a little happiness in his life was he himself. He tapped the doctor's shoulder, thanking him for the advice and before he headed out, Arthur had to promise him to take care of himself and talk sooner next time.

You dedicated the entire day to enhancing and repairing your power armour. You had planned on checking in on Maxson but as you would head out to the Glowing Sea tomorrow and dying of radiation poisoning wasn't on your to do list, you postponed your visit to this evening. After a refreshing shower, you swiftly made your way back to your quarters. However, you came to a sudden halt when you noticed a neatly folded crimson fabric and a piece of paper resting on your bed. Intrigued, you examined the items more closely and discovered that it was a flared scarlet dress accompanied by a message. The hastily scribbled note simply stated: 20.00 Control tower. A grin danced on your lips as you had strong suspicions about who had left this here and you wasted no time slipping into the dress. Crafted from a soft garish red fabric, it hung snug around your chest, perfectly highlighting your cleavage, whereas from the hips downwards, it flared out gracefully, falling just above your knee. You put on some make-up, stepped into a pair of well preserved black ballerinas you found during your travels through the Wastelands and you made your way towards the control tower, excitement mingled with nervousness in the pit of your stomach. You couldn't help but wonder what awaited you at the top of the tower.

Finally, the elevator doors opened, and the sight that unfolded before your eyes left you in awe. The control tower was transformed into an enchanting setting, bathed in soft glowing lights that illuminated the space with a warm, romantic ambiance. Countless candles flickered and cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating an ethereal atmosphere. And then, you noticed him. Standing there, dressed impeccably in a pair of black suit trousers and a tight white shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbow, was the person you had suspected all along. Maxson awaited you with a gentle smile on his face. His eyes locked with yours, full of affection and a hint of desire as he took in the sight of you in that dress.

"Surprised?", he chuckled, taking a step towards you, his hands sliding around your waist to pull you into a hug.

You hummed in agreement, closing your eyes, inhaling his sweet scent before you took a step back again, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Do you remember yesterday evening?", you asked hesitantly.

"Why do you think I spent most of my day redecorating this tower?"

"Oh I don't know...perhaps you got up this morning and decided your grand plans to save the Commonwealth needed a more artistic flair?"

"I woke up with a pounding headache and Cade's disapproving glare thanks to a certain Knight", he joked, "I think said Knight may need to have a serious conversation with her superior."

The sultry tone of his voice went straight to your core. Placing a hand on his chest, a sly smile formed on your lips.

"Perhaps her superior should take care of that then", you whispered, your eyes darting between his and his mouth.

Maxson grew tired of the self-imposed restrictions, the desperation and fear, he only cared for you right now and he leaned in, his lips crashing on yours in a hungry kiss, finally letting go of all that was holding him back. His hands glided down your sides, fingers digging into the soft flesh of your butt. You gasped as he lifted you up, moving a few steps forward to settle you down on one of those faint blue pre-war machines. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching yours for any sign of approval.

"So, you wanted to talk to me", a mischievous grin formed on your lips, "here we are and I'm all yours", you purred, your hand trailing over his chest, "Elder."

Maxson let out a deep groan, pressing his forehead against yours and you could feel his grip on your thighs tighten. He had never thought the sound of his title could ever arouse him like this but every word leaving that irresistible mouth of yours had the potential to drive him crazy.

"Knight", he breathed, his lips trembling ever so slightly, "I...I..."

He tried to ignore his lust, the sweet temptation of your hand caressing the bulge in his pants, he had to resist for the sake of the most important words he'd ever speak.

"I love you", he took a deep breath, "I want this to be more, I want us to be more, a future for us."

You couldn't help but smile, pulling him closer to hug him tight.

"Me too", you murmured as you trailed kisses down his neck.

You felt your dress shift up while something pulled your underwear down and as you looked up into his blue eyes you saw the endless desire within them. You swallowed a moan at the sight of him, his lips parted slightly, his gaze trailing over your body while he threw your panties to the ground. Your mind went wild, flooding with images of how he'd fuck you right there but he suddenly dropped to his knees, parting your legs and dragging his tongue through your folds.

"Arthur", you cried out, your hand reaching for his head, your fingers entangling in his dark brown hair.

His licks were sloppy but relentless, drawing you closer towards your orgasm each time his tongue circled around your clit. His lips wrapped around your sensitive bud, sucking gently as he pushed two fingers into you, humming satisfied at how wet you were already. Your head fell back against the window, wondering for a brief moment if anyone could see you from the Prydwen but all thoughts were washed away the moment he started thrusting his fingers faster. You were so close, a breath away from the ocean of pleasure you'd gladly drown in but you needed more of him. You pushed his head away, panting while trying to calm yourself a bit before speaking. He got up, worries written all over his face but you wouldn't give him time to voice them as you took his hand, bringing his fingers to your lips and licked them clean. It was the moment Arthur almost fell apart, feeling his cock twitch within his pants while watching you unravel him with such a simple gesture.

"Arthur please", you pleaded, your hands fumbling to unfasten the buttons on his trousers before swiftly pulling them down.

He growled, rubbing his throbbing cock against your wetness. It was almost too much but the threat of sending both of you over the edge became imminent as he glided into you, your walls clenching around his length while both of you moaned loudly. He paused for a moment, breathing heavily, chuckling quietly upon seeing that you were as desperate as he was, pupils blown wide with lust. You wanted everything he would offer you, a burning desire to melt into him, nestled forever within his soul. Arthur began moving, slamming his hips into yours at a sloppy pace. Sinful moans filled the control tower as the shadows dancing on the walls bore witness to your intimacy. Your arms wrapped around his neck, lips clashing on his as you came, legs trembling as love and pleasure blossomed in a mind-shattering orgasm. Feeling your walls clench around him, Arthur promptly followed you, spilling his seed within you, moving away from you after a last few sloppy thrusts. Both of you were panting, broad smiles painted across your lips as you gazed into each other's eyes. Arthur took a rag, cleaning both of you up before taking your hand and leading you to the window, staring into the night sky.

"So what will happen now?", you asked, feeling his grip tighten at your question.

"Whatever we want to happen", he replied, "and after you return from the Glowing Sea we continue our plan to destroy the Institute and I will help you rescue your son."

He turned towards you, the sight of the affection held within your eyes made him weak. He delved into the knowledge of pre-war life, exploring the simple joys that people once experienced, the traditions they held dear—a glimpse into the life that could have been yours. In the harsh wastelands, where time showed no mercy, he yearned to bring you solace, even though romance and leisure were scarce commodities, especially within the ranks of the Brotherhood. Which was exactly why he had planned to ask you something important this evening but upon being in your presence, his courage faltered. Fear and uncertainty crept in, questioning whether it was too soon. He had no experience in such matters and was not long around his parents to grow old enough to ask them for their guidance in such matters. And although he valued Owyn's and Sarah's counsel, they never broached the subject of love with him. The connection that bound you two, it felt unique, a rare treasure he'd neither find nor share with anyone else, a truth he held close to his heart for now. He feared you might not be ready yet, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing you, not at this moment. And so, he led you back to the Prydwen.

Chapter 10 - Institutionalized

Feel free to reblog if you enjoyed the story :)

[margowritesthings]

Send me a 🌷 and I’ll post part of a random WIP in my drafts

(idea totally stolen from @cowboydisaster )

[delicatedeception]

Lol so pouty

[makahimetenshi]

Follow me inside the wastelands - Chapter 18  -Arthur Maxson x Female Sole Survivor Fanfic

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14242575/18/Follow-me-inside-the-wastelands

Alright people we are getting into the final stage…not final chapters because I kinda counted how much they will be and I expect ten or more…

If you are very very very delighted with one fic and want a continuation I didn’t write or post you can donate me at least $5 bucks, most of this fics have next chapters I don’t finish because lack of motivation but hey a $5 is a $5, I see a few reviews and coments that fics that are abandoned months laters receive coments of wanting to know what happends next. Here it is, I finished my handling with you all, enjoy the fic

Arthur handt seen Nora since the nursery event and hadn’t heard anything also, that was two weeks ago, three plus two were five, since less than 5 minutes of conversation doesn’t count as seeing each other they hadnt seen in a month…were the hell is she this time? She was sick the last time they see, she came back to use the services of the Prydwen as if was her right as sentinel but…He missed her, a lot, she slip again, he thought they were okay, maybe he should confess after all? To make her stick?

He had a lot of work lately anyway, there was good news for him but he cant enjoy life if she wasn’t around, he wanted to came back to his quarters and find her, even just there reading.

His attention tried to focus into reading the papers in front of his deck but he cant, he was worried sick lately, he even was contemplating the idea of sending a patrol to look for her or even…hire…a private investigator…but no, that would compromise his image too much.

His eyes posed on the terminal in the desk: the first email was from Knight Cade, goddammit the man keep sending him the results of the status report of all the brotherhood soldiers, it was okay it was his job it was mandatory for him to send him a copy but he sent already four and the emails had a filter to snich to the writer if the reader had read it or not, so he didn’t even open them. One: he was no doctor, Arthur couldn’t understood most of the words of those reports. Two: he couldn’t care enough? He had thousands of soldiers a board  is not like there was a massive flue or anything to make numbers or estadistics. Three: it was his job to do that numbers anyway…? Four: There was so much people why this was relevant to him. Okay Cade, thanks for the copy, you don’t need to send it four times.

Not one, not two, not with mayus in the title, not with the important filter… Well what the hell, he would open it so the automatical filter will inform to Cade that he read it…looking inside the email there was just an attached file, the usual file but

Subject: “QUARTERLY HEALTH BROTHERHOOD REPORT”

Attached file: “IMPORTANT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION”

Oh wow even the file name was in mayus.

He open it, it was the classical file. This file had the name and info of all soldiers, he included, but separared by range and alphabetically ordered. That means that for example, the four paladins were all together. Of course, as elder, he was first, that’s why it was a classified information file but then curiosity hit him like a coin meeting the end of the jar. Oh my he never thought on this before, Nora must be in this file too! Yeah he never paid too much attention to this information to realize it, after all he was no doctor. Mmm lets see, the first entry was him with the info about her mods updated with the revision from the last weeks…the second file was the second most important range, the sentinel, of course, and there was Nora…just Nora…no surname Nora, although he believed that her surname from her husband was Howard from what he see at her house.

Her height, weight…oh my she really doesn’t weight a shit, aren’t those the numbers of someone underweight? Comparing it with the age and height, his eyebrows crossed, looking at this numbers…oh my god it was horrible, she had awful levels of everything, vitamins, proteins, blood, sugar, colesterol…the only thing that was in a good numbers was the vitamin D, no wonder, walking and traveling that much…hemoglobins were so low…potassium…oh my her bones…ohnonononono this wasn’t acceptable she had an eating problems but if she keep running around the Commonwealth on this health status she is going to end BAD one day…what if right now she was fighting for her life in some corner of the commonwealth? Fainted or without forces from malnutrition? Nora relays a lot on drugs but that isn’t going to help forever! It may give her a boost for some minutes but wit this levels of…of…well he cant read this stuff non understand what it means but anyway she cant process well the drugs, some days she will end up with an overdose! Because her body didn’t process the chemicals enough!

Her triglycerides were shitty? Oh no, a big anxiety took over all his body reading this, there may be a mistake? Maybe? Maybe is someoneelse data?...nono is perfectly possible from here, eating only  one complete meal a day only is totally possible. Should he send that patrol to search for her? Like right now? Arthur keep reading until a red sticker on the lower part on the file caught his attention.

Maternity leave expected in…a date that was three weeks ahead. If he look in that sticker there was a note, saying that she made a sub-unit beta HCG test two weeks ago and her results were 30-300. But that information meant…oh my.

Knight Cade was quickly summoned to his private quarters, this conversation could not go anywhere and not be heard by anyone else

-So I see you received my email Elder –oh the knight was salty, he didn’t have time for this. Nonono he had important QUESTIONS yes questions because with this man he can do questions yes please.

-Yeah sorry about it, I had a lot of work this weeks –it was true, he had work, he had been busy but still this subject very much concerns him, and it was a tickling bomb too!

-I can only imagine, dealing with the fractions in California…

-That is not the theme of discussion today –he stated, making the man shut quickly, as a grown up man he had his boundaries and manners more…polished than Nora.

-Of course –he just simply said, Arthur turned back, he didn’t know how to approach this subject, he stayed in silence for a few seconds before he reunited the guts to speak freely about his lover to another soldier.

-So…the report said that Sentinel…

-Nora is severly underweight –Knight Cade completed the sentence, Arthur sighted, looking back at him.

-Right? Im not an expert but I figured that reading it…

-I was not able to perform a urine test but she has a strong presence of chems in her blood also. Its understandable because she was three weeks in the field and its no place to be clean but considering her numbers doing drugs is anything but safe right now –a balloon of worries started to grow inside Arthurs chest as he heard the explanations –She may have a good health right now because she almost hasn’t experience radiation so her spoileage is more slowly than ours but a large variety of health problems could strike her at any minute considering her levels…of basically everything. She can’t just rely on drinking water and rad-away, eating noodles and trying to find non-radiated pre-war stock, its impossible to maintain.

-The rumours of her not eating are completely true –at hearing the confirmation Knight Cade cover his mouth.

-Damn –he babble

-She wasn’t as skinny before the bombs dropped so its not genetics.

-I have the numbers, as a doctor I don’t need to count every rib on her chest, there’s a math count between her height and  weight that tells me she is 20kg bellow of just skinny.

Arthur felt bad, he knew or had a very palpable idea of this and he didn’t do enough to stop it.

-So she needs to start a diet, what else do we have? –Knight Cade laughed behind his hand, trying to not be disrespectful with his elder worries.

-What else do we have? –he asked to himself low trying to not be heard but  Arthur can, with his mods he can, with his mods he can amplify and separate sounds in different frecuencys to hear and process them separately. It was a lack of respect to the elder, yes, but he keep the focus of the conversation, he needed the man, he only had this secret- well we need to start right away with a threatment or she will not be able to carry on to the third trimester-Arthur blinked, his breathing stopping, his  entire body getting frozen-a pregnancy elder, we didn’t have a pregnancy in the brotherhood in a long time –the last children to be born safely inside the Prydwen had already 7 months old so yeah, soldiers and relationships will go freely inside the brotherhood and still not many children were conceived.

Oh my oh my oh my…he whished to hear those words for so long….

-So she is…-he wanted to clarify, still unable to move, almost without the power to process words from his brain to his mouth.

-Three weeks pregnant by the time the test was made, if I make it again today it should be 500-5000 mui/ml and god knows when im going to perform another  but it she makes it back in two weeks it should be 300000-210000 yes is crazy how the numbers change

Arthur stood in silence, for some moments, trying to gain back his breathing.

-She was informed of the results? –Knight Cade doubted if giving that answer was a good idea or not but…

-Of course, is a quick test, it only take some hours to give the results, she solicited the test, I performed  it in total confidentiality as she asked and she came to know the results.

The elder didn’t understand why.

-And she left? –why not tell him about her…worries?

-I haven’t see her since that day, I don’t know when she left or where –why not tell him to specifically ask for this type of test?

-She left at 19hs that day, that’s the Prydwen ventibird entry –why not tell him anything at all?

-Well yes she came to my office at 18hs I cannot remember so specifically –so she left after having that information.

I was like she just came to take the pregnancy test, confirm her fears…and leave.

“I do fear” She said that day to him.

-Wait she takes pills right? I authorized them –he even sees her bleeding several times, meaning that she had her periods.

-That isn’t a guarantee of anything, the pills are not perfect but yes she did the pick ups chords to the date she started consuming them

-So she is like in danger now or something?

-Its very possible for her to have a sludden misscariage –a drop of cold sweat moved down on Arthurs neck, with what they were talking about this things shouldn’t surprise him but it was still…important to him to not feel about it- On the bright side maybe the cravings and hormones change her eating habits at somepoint, she isn’t 60 days pregnant still so there’s a lot of changes still coming

-We don’t know that she isn’t here –oh my so many emotions were running in all his limbs, so much panic an anxiety.

-If the sentinel wish to carry this pregnancy to end…

-Why she wouldn’t want to finish it? –his worries speak loud for him, Cade look at the elder and at seeing him looking to another side ashamed, the knight continued.

-She needs to start a treatment and stop immediately the consumption of chems –Arthur nodded, he never agrees with that since the beginning but now it was dangerous- Right now theres a extreme risk of abortion, at least in my opinion, with her numbers so low and wandering out there In the radiation.

Oh my no…

-She wishes to end this pregnancy why woudlnt she? –does anybody knows any kind of information he doesn’t? –the safest place for that baby is the brotherhood.

-I cannot agree more elder

Arthur was in a mix of being…exited…and worried sick, and happy and overjoyed but also frighten and so scared and…

-Can we know  now who the father is or? –that words came out from an exited  part of him but of course the knight shake his head in denial.

-No, too early, and I only perfomed a test

-So we are at week five  now –his brain was working so hard with the little information he had- maternity leave is projected in three weeks ahead

-Exactly, the standard  60 days but that’s for women in good state of health right now the sentinel is in several risk, its not only about the baby but imagine if she is in the middle of a fight and she has this abortion, its incredible inconvenient and dangerous, she could bleed to death!

-Nora almost never travels alone and she had the ventibirds signals and the minutemen flares shell manage…

-Im sure she has been before in dangerous situations and scaped death by miracle but…

Cade was right, he said that to reassure himself but oh boy he feared for her safety. His fingers were trembling, and soon his knees will start doing it too

-Maybe she thinks that since is still so early is not that dangerous…

-She was a mother before –the elder stop, he was right, so damn right- truth is I hadn’t the time to tell her about her health so lets…give her that credit –he bited his tongue, trying to suppress the nerves he had on.

It was so difficult to deal with all this uncertainty, she wasn’t around and she was in danger, their pregnancy was in risk, she was at the edge of practically dying too…She slips too hard from his hands this time.

-Thank you for…insisting on this subject with me Knight Cade, I will take action on the matter

He wanted to be alone, not wanting to be seen at the edge of a crisis, so much was going on his head.

-Of course elder, any baby of the brotherhood is a brother or sister we all must protect.

That’s right, It wasn’t just about Noras wishes, not this time.

The knight leave his quarters and Arthurs knees finally failed to him, he fall on the cold and hard metal ground causing an echo in the entire room.

And he cried. He cried and cried and cried so much. In confusion, in fear, in  joy, in happiness, in worry, in pain… he had such a mix of feelings leaving his throat in desesperate cries. There was just no justification for any of this. He can make excuses for her until reaching just a certain point where…theresnt more.

You are nervous and don’t wanna tell me? Fine

You are scared to be just around? Fine, go with the Minutemen

But don’t disappear, don’t put yourself in risk. She make things so difficult. What he imagined as a happy moment since a long time now was making him suffer in distress a  lot. He imagined being a dad with her as something so beautiful that will unite them more and in the contrary she lefts! Again!

The next thing the elder would do was something very very bold, oh dear, Nora will surely hear the news and come back. The elder of the Brotherhood of Steel, four paladins and 2 knights with machine guys arrived at the gates of Diamond City. Surely this was an unexpected event, he even noticed that there was people…taking notes and photographs of their arrival like this was some kind of big event.

-This is interesting, what is the supreme commander of the brotherhood doing in the Commonwealth jewel?  -ask one of the Diamond City guards, with also a commando of his own forces , both groups seemed pretty capable of holding a fight for a long time.

-Your reputation procedures you, im looking for the services of the synth you allow to live here, Nick Valentine –said the man that gave the order to destroy the institute.

Everyone stay in silent until the leader of the guards talked.

-We will escort you to his office…Maxson, in gratitude for your services cleaning the routes next to your base in Hardware Town. It really help with the security around.

When the synth mayor was killed, Diamond City was taken under…a military government, but this guys weren’t militarys, they were just strong, insanely strong and organized group of old guards that care for the people and manage some things for the city to keep functioning like before the mayor was unmasked as a synth

Arthur walked around the city, this place was nothing like Noras settlements, it was chaotic, hostile, dirty and this hallways everywhere were awful.

People look at his bodyguards like they weren’t welcome, they can suck on a Deathclaw cock and perish for all he matters right now.

When standing in front of the office door, he knocked, a “come in” feminine voice invited them, Arthur open the door just to find a woman and a 2 gen synth sitting in a desk, she was holding a notebook and he was…relaxed…too relaxed to just be in front of the elder of the brotherhood of steel.

-Today you will perform all machines duty, serve to humankind, synth –he just said to the robot playing in detective old clothes.

-Well, good afternoon for you too –Nick just responded, getting in Arthur nerves- Alright, take a seat, make yourself comfortable.

Why are robots were so rude? He sat on the chair in front of his desk while the secretary at his side…waited.

-Do you came here for a private manner or you wish your company to stay here too? –asked the secretary, Arthur made a sign for them to come in, too small place for so many power armors, so the two knights waited outside with their machine guns, menacing everyone that went close to the place to sneak into the brotherhood business.

-When you are trying to find someone whos gone missing, devil is in the details, tell me everything you can –said Nick Valentine giving him the usual treatment like he would do with any first time client.

It was obvious that the rumors about their arrival prepared them, or someone told him that he was specifically there for an investigation.

-I think you know her too well, Sentinel Nora –Arthur was amazed to see the change of expressions in the silicone face of the destroyed robot.

-Nora? Our Nora? The Nora that destroyed the institute? –the elder nodded and Valentine look at him stranged- when was the last time you see her?

-Month and a week

-That’s not missing, that’s the usual time it takes her to appear in front of anyones noses, deadlines are far away, she is on time

-We need her back at the airport

-Im not snitching on my friend, althought im not sure if she wants to be missing or not, Im sure that now she isn’t

-Im also sure that you don’t want her wandering around having a miscarriage –the eyes of the synth and the woman open wide at his comment- she needs to come back to the brotherhood

-So you are the guy…-said the lady, Valentine look at her bad- Piper told me

-Why I wasn’t informed of anything? –asked the synth, Arthur felt his cheeks warm a bit.

-It’s a ladys talk im not gonna spread about her love life with you guys

-Did Nora said anything about me? –ask the elder.

-I hadn’t see her in a while, but Piper is the best journalist on the Commonwealth and she told me something something about preparing a new article about the relationship of the hero of the commonwealth and the elder of the brotherhood of steel, she say it wasn’t just in the  news yet because she needed more material to make it relevant to publish –Nick rolled his brilliant yellowish eyes and went back to put his hands on the desk.

-You said miscarriage? –Valentine asked now getting the whole point of the conversation, analizing each word and falling into the surprise. Arthur affirmed with the head- I never thought she would want to have kids again –his eyebrows crossed in doubt.

-Im not following.

-After what happened between her and her son …-Valentine saw the empty void of ideas in the man's head and shut the  hell up- you don’t know it and it’s none of my business to tell you about it.

-You better told tell me, this is about her!  –what the hell!? This is important! He can't just skip  information! Everybody told him little pieces that didn’t help to connect anything

-No, we are just discussing what's necessary  to find her, that story right now is irrelevant to the case, so im finding her and when she is here , you ask, and if she doesn’t want to answer is her goddam right

Althought he was glad she had loyal friends that respected her the fact that everybody was so secretive wasn’t helping at all.

-So you’ll take the case? –ask the elder analyzing each of his expressions.

-I cant promise its gonna be quick, I really hope that she comes back first on her own because Nora is slippery as fuck –heck he knows about it- but there’s no safest place for an abortion than the brotherhood of steel

Silence, the entire room went into silence.

Even Ellie was shocked

-What!? –Arthur got up from his chair and rapped his knuckles on the desk calling the synth attention.

-Nick! –said the woman actually annoyed with him –you went too far!

-What? I wasn’t joking around I mean it seriously! Why she would want to be a mother again after everything she’s been trought!?

-I think there’s a lot of things I deserve answers –the bitterness in Arthus voice made the synth tremble a bit, he never was intimidated enough but right now he touched a very sensitive spot.

-I think you deserve a lot of explanations –good difference between both words, the man noticed how careful he was being at talking- but im not the one that can provide them, ill search and send her back to the airport before its too late

-8 months are left, there’s plenty of time –Arthur noticed something…he wasn’t the first one to tell him that Nora would want for this pregnancy to come to the end…does Cade knows anything? Apparently anybody knew more than him! He was the ignorant fucker! His theets closed hard an gritted in frustration.

-Does she know? –the elder nodded, Nick  turned his head to the side looking at nothing in the wall- of course she knows. Don’t worry, you will discuss this together.

This was a public subject of the brotherhood now, but even knowing that, he felt ashamed that his brothers paladins knew about this situation between him and the sentinel. How can she not want his child? It was unthinkable that the woman would wish an abortion than a family with the most powerful man on the Commonwealth

Arthur neither talk, or sleep, or heard anyone of his brothers in the way back to the airport on the ventibird. His mind was in blank and stay like that until the next day, when he summoned to his quarters the Knight Cade.

-You said something when we meet yesterday that stick on my brain for a while…” If the sentinel wish to carry this pregnancy to end…” Why wouldn’t she? Why would you say that? –he could understand if she was nerveous, if she had traumas, if she feared about having a baby again but what he didn’t understand is why two different people that doesn’t know between them suggested the same thing.

-I don’t know elder, it just came out of my mouth, a way of saying –Knight Cade was obviously nervous, and confused to be summoned like that

-No, theres a reason behind it, spill it –Arthur was firm today, he consider enough peoples feelings for too long.

-The Chain That Binds… –the elder rolled his eyes, he couldn’t say bullshit out loud but he wont summon that to scape from him today, they knew for so many years and he put that shitty excuse to not, not today.

-Im so glad to have such an attentive and devoted soldier like you on your position, respecting the brotherhood protocols and rules devoutly…-he said before turning his back on the shaky man who didn’t dare to look him in the eyes- don’t worry well look for every knight and paladin in the airport to follow to chain of authority  above you so that way you wont be compromised…

Nonono Cade didn’t want to expand this, if this gets any bigger the sentinel will blow his bald head…

-She ask me to keep the secret of the pregnancy test and do it as subtle as possible…-he said low with his voice all shaky, Arthur paid attention to his words.

-But you didn’t keep the confidentiality on the subject, why?

-Its my job to make a report anyway –the elder was cornering him like the cats of Quinlan did with some creatures that lived inside the Prydwen walls.

-Yeah but you were very insistent to notify to me…why?

-Because it may be your kid Arthur for gods sake! –what’s with this shitty game? He knew the elder since he was a teenager to be mortified like that, he didn’t deserve this treatment- its not of my business what you both have in hands but its will surely turn worse for me if I didn’t notify you that the sentinel is doing chems during a pregnancy! –alright that sounded like a good reason.

-Ill ask again, why she wouldn’t want to continue the pregnancy to the end? –he clearly couldn’t corner the knight much longer, playing with people patience had a limit until they break or get tired of being disrespected.

-She is unhealthy, does chems, has been a mother before and has traumas, disappear after hearing the results –ok that was a very convincing list of arguments, things that were very obvious an noticeable for anyone, probably Cade wasn't to blame for anything and he was just desesperate looking for answers,  quite embarrassing, he should look for a covert apology- but mostly…-the elder went to look at him after that pause- she didn’t look happy at all about the news.

That hit Arthur in the chest like a bomb.

[colossal-fallout]

Ad Victoriam

Finally got off my ass and started the fic I've been wanting to do for weeks. Maybe months? I'll be doing it chapter by chapter and eventually putting it up on Ao3.

I've made it GN as I want sole to be as relatable to you or your OC as possible.

Chapter I - warnings: None.

Chapter I

Arrival of the mechanical birds

The tangerine sunset always looked gorgeous from the Castle; the sparkling glimmers skipping over the restless sea, making it appear crisp and clean – disguising the usual sickly green hue of the salted waves. But the Minutemen weren’t able to take a moment to take in the beautiful daily view they were blessed with. The usual peaceful bliss they felt in their fortress this time of day was today filled with unease, anxiety and even a little fear among the less informed.

“General. Here they come.” Preston’s familiar voice muttered from close behind his leader.

The familiar tone that seemed a lot more welcome than usual. Preston had always been a great guide to Y/N, and more-so a great friend. And as their heart fluttered at the sight of the vertibirds in the distance, heading towards the ancient garrison, his voice helped hold the glue of their stoic expression as their men and women gathered outside of the main gate to greet the guests for the evening. Preston Garvey was their pillar of strength. Always there when they needed an extra pair of shoulders to unload some weight upon. And of course, the favour was always returned.

A chilled breeze whipped around the small gathering, all eyes up towards the old Boston airport across the shimmering sea – the giant, metal, killing machines looking a lot smaller than they were in reality as they made their journey.

Five. They think to themselves, arms behind their back. They would never allow themselves to show fear in front of their soldiers. Five of them. Why would he need five?

Their trust in Elder Maxson had recently begun to dwindle, due to a few reasons. Reasons they'd went over in the confines of their room over and over again. Planning every move for as many scenarios they could possibly think of. If this were a trap – they would be ready.

A whiff of cigarette smoke filled their nostrils, the disgust of the scent still not faltering their spine of steel stance as the ebony sheen of the metal birds grew bigger by the second.

“So, what’s the deal with this guy?” Hancock asks as he inhales his hit of nicotine, gold plated flip-lighter being tucked back into his crimson pocket with an equally coral colored hand. “How much time have you spent with him? What’s his vibe?”

“I’ve spent a decent amount with him.” They reply, eyes blinking but not moving from the airport. “I’ve worked under him for a while now. He trusts me.”

“But, do you trust him?” He gestures with his hand, pointing the smouldering end of his white stick towards the incoming cavalry. “Because I don’t think many here do.” His voice was lowered so only they and Preston could hear him. Hancock is smart. He read the situation pretty well.

“We’ll see.” Their tone is soft, quiet. Their mind ticking.

Preston glances between his General and the Ghoul. “Whatever the case, it’s too late to be speculating that now. I’m sure the General has thought of every possible outcome. After all, they didn’t bring us this far by throwing caution to the wind.”

Their perfect lips part slightly in a small laugh. “That’s exactly how I got us here.”

“Okay... bad example.” He shrugs, head dipping to the right as if shaking off unwanted information. “But... whatever you did, it’s working. So, I trust your judgment.”

“I don’t.” A third voice chimes in quietly, a lilt of light-heartedness in the tone. “They once dragged me to a museum saying it would be fun. ...Tha---t place had a Deathclaw nesting inside.”

MacCready held out his hand to Hancock without even setting eyes upon him. “But, they did get us out alive, I'll give them that.”

Hancock’s beady black eyes roll as he sinks his hand into the inside of his coat, pulling out his box of cigarettes'. “You know, a ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ one of these days would be appreciated.”

“Well, I didn’t ask to be dragged to some old witchcraft creep-fest. So why would I say please and thanks?”

Hancock let’s out a gruff sigh of exasperation as he tucks his cardboard back inside. “Know what? No. No cigarette for you.”

MacCready’s broken nose crinkles. “What? Aw, c’mon! Was it something I said?”

The vertibirds were audible now; the droning hums that once filled the General with pride as they fought alongside their brothers and sisters, now transmuting into a strange dread.

“What the hell does he want?” Mac isn’t as good at hiding his unease as the rest of them, getting visibly agitated. “You know, I could take him out from the wall.”

“And have twelve to fifteen angry men in power Armour charge at us? Use your damn brain.” Preston scolds.

“I’m still a Paladin.” Y/N reminds them. “He’s still my Elder.”

“But, you’re a minuteman first, right?” Preston asks, large brown eyes pouring with his usual adorable innocence.

He’s answered with a single nod as the ground begins to vibrate; the five choppers now close enough to push Hancock to slap his hand over his hat to prevent it flying away; the strong gust of wind blowing the end of his cig off from the rest of the stick.

The landing gear deploys, a mechanical groan emitting from the machines as the engines switch off, all five of them landing in a small semi-circle around the group of gawping minutemen and their leaders.

The ground shakes as large and loud booms emit from the BoS soldiers leaping onto the soil in their robot-like suits; their faceless helmets instantly snapping to look at the group they’ve been ordered to greet.

“Paladin.” One nods to Y/N through his speaker.

They weren't sure who it was but it didn’t matter. From his armour, they knew his rank.

“Knight.” Was their reply with a curt nod as the Elder himself dismounts his personal ride; all eyes instantly gluing themselves to his stiff and proud form.

A Paladin followed – unknown identity thanks to his power armour.

“Ah Paladin.” Maxson’s authoritive voice greets as he makes his way up to the awestruck group – his eyes not once leaving Y/N's form. “I’m glad you agreed to this meeting. From what I hear, you’ve been making positive waves across the Commonwealth. I wanted to see what my underling was doing for myself. And even offer our assistance at ridding the filth that infests us.”

Underling. A power move already? They think as they remain stone-faced, falling into the salute of the Brotherhood.  “Elder. It’s an honour to have you at the Castle.”

Preston frowns at their words – gloved hands gripping his laser rifle a little tighter than intended.

“Like wise.” He returns the salute, his eyes looking... well, they couldn’t quite place their finger on it. It was a look they'd never seen from him before, yet still seemed like a familiar expression. At least from his tone, he seemed pleased. “My men here will remain outside. Only Paladin Danse will be accompanying me. I don’t want to... impose.”

“Danse?” Y/N blinks at the Paladin behind Maxson.

“L/N.” He replies with a nod.

“Ah yes. I thought it would be fitting to bring your sponsor along with us. You seem to work great together on the field.” Maxson smirks – y/n knew that was his usual smile. You’d never catch the Elder in a full-blown beam of happiness.

Y/N felt a lot better for a moment that Danse was with them. Then it came crashing down when they realised that man would run into hell for his Elder. Support from him if things went wrong probably wasn't on the cards.

“Okay, well then... shall we?” Y/N gestures towards the Castle that was now quickly falling into the shadow of twilight.

Maxon nods before turning to his small army. “Remember, we are guests here. On your best behaviour soldiers.”

A unison, robotic chant of “Yes sir!” chimed through the air before Maxson turned back to follow the General.

“It seems we have a lot to talk about.” He comments as they begin their stride.

Something in the way he said that fuelled the sense of dread that brewed deep within Y/N's stomach. Their instincts were usually right – and they were screaming that something wasn’t entirely how it seemed to be.

[paladindansewaifu]

So, I think it’s about time that I actually get around to writing this. Lol. If anyone was actually waiting for this I appreciate your patience.

Paladin Danse BOS headcanon X reader:

You’ve been in the Brotherhood as a Knight for a few months now. You’ve had a crush on your commanding officer Paladin Danse since the first moment you saw him fighting feral ghouls outside the Cambridge Police Station. As his squad mate it’s easy to make sure that you go on every mission with him. Even if it’s life or death, even if it’s boring recon, you’re more than happy to just be by his side. You’ve tried to confess your feelings more than once, but every time you start to you just get nervous and shut down. Sometimes when you’re especially bold you flirt with him or reach out to graze his hand. Today is one of those days.

You’re out on a scouting mission. It’s boring, completely safe. Danse never has an off day, every mission he’s at 100%. He’s diligent and alert, even when there’s no threat. You decide to tease him a little bit, to try and make him relax. He takes off his helmet and sits down beside you.

“I bet you’d look even better out of the rest of that armour,” you say.

“I wear a standard Brotherhood Paladin uniform, you know that,” he says.

You shake your head.

“Oh. Oh!” He becomes visibly flustered when he realizes what you mean.

You give him a sly smile.

“I don’t know why you insist on saying things like that to me. It’s inappropriate soldier,” he says. His voice is stern but he looks disappointed about saying it.

For the rest of the mission you keep it strictly professional. Once you’re back aboard the Prydwen you decide it’s time to let him go. He’s never reciprocated your feelings, he’s never going to start. Your other squad mates notice that you’re melancholy. Rhys doesn’t care enough about you to even ask why, he just scoffs at your pouty face. Haylen tries to get you to talk, but you won’t tell her why you’re so down. She already knows anyway. You think that you’ve been hiding your feelings well but most people aboard the Prydwen know you have a huge crush on Danse. You and Danse avoid each other for a few days, not even making eye contact. Then you see him having a drink and you sit down beside him. For awhile you sit in awkward silence.

“I care about you. You know that right?” He asks.

“Then why have you been avoiding me?”

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

“You embarrassed me the last time we spoke,” you say.

“I embarrassed you? You’re the one that flirts with me,” he says.

“Should I apologize for having feelings for you?” You ask.

“No need to apologize, but I wish you would have told me in less uncertain terms,” Danse says.

“I like you Danse, a lot.” Your hand finds his fingers and closes around them.

“Not here!” He says.

You pull your hand back like you’ve been slapped. You look around and see that Elder Maxson is watching you two with narrowed eyes. You get up and leave. You try to fight the stinging tears that are forming in your eyes. Why would Danse lead you on only to shut you down? That’s not like him. He may come off harsh, but he’s a good man.

Hours later you’re shut in your room when you hear a light knock on the door.

“Go away,” you say.

“It’s me.” Danse’s voice drifts through the door.

“What do you want?”

“Can we talk? It’s important.”

You reluctantly let him in. He closes the door behind him.

“I don’t understand you,” you say, the tears threatening to come up again.

He grabs you around the waist with one hand and grabs your face in the other. “Let me explain,” he says.

You nod slightly.

“Elder Maxson was watching us. He can’t see us together, not like that. In his eyes we’re squad mates only, and to make matters worse I’m your commanding officer. I like you a lot too, but I take my position here seriously. It’s the Brotherhood, then everything else. I’m sure you can understand that. I can’t risk losing the rank of Paladin or losing the respect of my fellow Brotherhood agents by fooling around with you.” Then he leaves.

Months later you’re standing in the rain outside a bunker in the middle of nowhere watching Elder Maxson’s retreating form. The disgraced former Paladin stands beside you. You think back to that conversation. It would be cruel to confuse his feelings right now by probing a romantic relationship again. He needs time.

One day he approaches you.

“Do you remember a conversation we had a few months back? When I told you I couldn’t be with you because of my duties to the Brotherhood? I guess I don’t have those duties anymore, do I?” He’s trying to be romantic, but he’s sad about admitting he’s no longer a Paladin.

“I didn’t want to pressure you, but I’ve thought about it every day since I found you at that bunker,” you say.

He smiles and steps up close to you. He wraps one hand around your waist and one hand cups your face, exactly the way he did that day. “Decorum prohibits it, but I feel like being close to you right now." Then he presses his warm lips firmly into yours. You throw your arms around his neck and melt into his touch.

[another-bryk-in-the-wall]

MAY I PRETTY PLEASE DEMAND A DANSE X READER WHERE READER HAS TO GO ON A MISSION AND DANSE WANTS TO COME ALONG AND JUST GIVES MAXSON THESE PUPPY DOG EYES LIKE, "LET ME GO WITH THEM"

The Brotherhood of Steel knew three things:First, “S” was the only way they had to obtain secrets from before the war, who could help them evolve into something even bigger.Second, “Blue” was also a goddamn moron who hurt herself in every possible way.Third, Paladin Danse was deep in love with this goofball of a pre war artifact, who had just recovered from a sprained ankle and had the mission to find documents at the University Point.

Elder Maxon was looking over the Commonwealth when a familiar voice asked for his permission to talk. “You are already talking, Paladin. Go ahead.”

Paladin Danse sighed, glad the Elder had given him permission. “Elder, we cannot let Sole go out there alone.”

“Why?”

“She...She....uhm...She is still not in best health, and if something hap-”

Elder Maxon turned around, facing Danse with a shit-eating grin. “Paladin, we both know about your feelings for Sole. But I am the Elder, and I give out the missions.”

The Paladin sighed, and did something which always made Sole weak - especially when he wanted one more Fancy Lads Snake Cake. He put on his best puppy eyes, sticking out his bottom lip a bit. “Please?”

Elder Maxon watched the Paladin do his thigh, then let out a long and loud sigh. “Fine, go with Sole. But remember, Paladin!”

Danse had turned his back to Maxon by the time he called for him, “Hm?”

“Protection is the key!”, Maxon said and laughed, could see Paladin Danse’s ears going red in embarrassment from his spot. Danse shook his head as he left the Prydwen, Maxon and his guards still laughing about the man in love.

[plushyvi]

"i need a doctor!"

game: fallout 4

character: paladin danse, arthur maxson

summary: coming back from a mission hurt, and you are determined to fix them up.

warnings: g/n! reader, they/them pronouns used, reader isn't mentioned to be the sole survivor, but can be read as such. injured characters have to reveal some skin (top of uniform taken off)

paladin danse

"proctor ingram, i'd like to speak to the knight that was in charge of overseeing paladin danse's armour before our mission today." you say as you cross arms over your chest. you stood there with an annoyed expression. with danse behind you, standing tall and bulky, it would usually seem like he was protecting you. yet he held this awkward (slightly embarrassed) look on his face.

usually he'd be the one telling off the knight responsible, but you had taken it upon yourself. you looked so upset for him and his wellbeing. danse didn't even think he had to do anything.

proctor ingram took her eyes off of her clipboard, glancing at you from the height of her power armour. she glanced between both you and danse, taking only one look to understand what was going on.

"hello, y/n. what happened? did something go wrong with it?" she inquires.

"it shut down midway through our battle against super mutants, "you explain as you jut a thumb behind you to danse, "i had to call a vertibird for cover so i could rewire everything and get him out of it."

"you're kidding," proctor ingram widens her eyes. she blinks at the two of you. "my god, i apologise, paladin danse. allow me to personally look over your power armour. i'll bring the knight to you, knight-captain y/n."

"thank you. i'll get someone to haul it in from the loading bay," you sigh out. letting her walk away and do what she needed to, you lean against the wall to wait as danse, in his uniform, looks away. "i won't tell them off harshly; i just want to tell them what i fixed and what was wrong."

"i should've done a test run before taking it out for a spin," danse says, rubbing his exposed neck, "i put you in danger."

you stare at him, furrowed brows. scanning him, you could see various cuts and bruises forming around his face and through his uniform. he was in the middle of the battlefield, about to get swarmed. luckily, you had thrown the smoke signal in front of him, covering danse from view. you had to shoot as many bullets as you could in order to hold them back before the vertibird arrived and you could work on getting danse out.

"you were in more danger," you huff out and shake your head, "look at you, danse. after i talk to this knight, i'll help you, okay? you can't patch yourself up like that."

"i... you don't..." he begins, catching your stare, "i'm fine."

you roll your eyes a little at that. danse only frowns, facing the floor. he listens as you (lightly) reprimand the lower ranking knight. he should be the one to do so, but you were so angry on the field that he would feel bad for the knight if they faced both danse and you telling them off.

they were extremely apologetic, telling danse that it was careless of them and they will double check next time. you use your own armour, parked in bay 3, to explain what you had to do to get him out and what you saw was wrong. the knight is grateful you were kind enough to do so.

danse sits in at your desk, facing you as you open the medical supply box attached to your wall.

"you're going to need to take off your shirt," you say, facing away from him, "is that okay?"

"oh, yeah, it's fine." he replies, beginning to pull up his shirt.

you try not to stare at him, despite danse being so nice to look at. he awkwardly laid his shirt on your bed. you take out something to wipe his wounds with. carefully dabbing on some cleansing alcohol, you begin wiping away the dried blood. he winces a little at the stinging, but ultimately settles in. your hand rests on his shoulder as you stand in front of him.

you felt bad; he always relied on his power armour to help him fighting his battles, and in one of the times where it mattered the most, it failed him.

"i'm sorry, danse. i never thought i would ever see your power armour malfunction." you huff, discarding a red tissue into the bin.

"it's fine, y/n," he replies, shaking his head, "you got me out just in time too. i would've been blown up if it weren't for you.”

you were lucky enough to know a good way around power armour. after tinkering with your own for as long as you’ve had it, you were able to undo the latches. you had checked the fusion core too — halfway full.

“yeah, maybe i should ask elder maxson for a raise for saving your ass yet again,” you joke. danse lets out a small chuckle. “how does ‘paladin y/n’ sound to you?”

“sounds fitting, but you wouldn’t be under my guidance anymore,” he claims, watching as you move on to his other arm, “you would have your own team.”

“so much work. i might as well just stay by your side, right?” you say as you glance at danse.

he blinks at your outward flirting before he begins to turn pink. “i, uh, i wouldn’t… oppose to you staying within my team. i am your sponsor, after all.”

“right, my ‘sponsor’,” you chuckle, grabbing another wipe, “just face me, okay?”

he nods, allowing you to clean the cuts on his face. he was not shot, but some scratches were the result of you hastily pulling him out if the armour and it being stuck in an awkward position to get out of. but your tender caressing made him feel so much better.

you were so careful with him. one time, he couldn’t find his helmet, so you gave him yours to use. he complained, saying that you needed one too, but you were only concerned with him.

such a kind soul. it was quite rare in the commonwealth now.

“careful, big guy,” you say. danse begins blinking open his eyes at you. a smile dawns your lips. might fall asleep on my bed. what would maxson think?”

“i’m sorry, i’m… i think i’m tired.” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. his hair was tousled about, unable to keep tidy.

you fix a bandage on his nose. he was still so handsome, something you would tell him from time to time. it always managed to fluster the crap out of him too.

“it’s okay, i’m finished now, danse,” you say as you pack away all your supplies. danse thanks you. “will you make it back to your room alright?”

“yes, knight, i will.”

you stare at him as he winces to grab his shirt on your bed. it was obvious that he was lying. he seemed to be in more pain than he let on. you watch as he attempts to put it on, but him stretching his chest out helps you to observe the large bruises on his skin. a sigh leaves your lips.

“it’s okay, paladin. you can rest here for a few hours,” you tell him. you place a hand on his shoulder. “i won’t tell anyone, only if they ask.”

“that would be extremely—”

“i have to attend a briefing anyway, danse,” you say, gently pushing him to lay down on your bed. lucky you were given your own quarters, or else this would be even worse for the superior officer. "you'll be fine. i'll tell maxson you're still fixing yourself up."

he lays back on your bed, pillow beneath his head. his eyes follow yours and see how you smile at him gently. your kindness knows no bounds. and your warmth helps soothe him. danse melts into your bed.

"i... fine, i will stay for a few hours, but that's it," danse meekly replies. you have a winning smile on your face whilst you lean over him. he can feel his face warming up with how you look at him. the pink hue brushes along his cheeks and his ears. "thank you again, y/n."

"atta' boy, danse." you chuckle. your fingers are gently going through his hair as you sit beside him on the bed. he immediately gulps, pressed lips together and unable to take his eyes off of your face. "be good. call me if you need me, you have my radio frequency if you need it."

"will do," he hums as he gently holds your hand in his. his warmth fell into yours invitingly. "don't leave anything out in the debriefing, alright?"

"even the part before we got ambushed where you told me you missed so much on my last mission with captain kells?"

"you may leave that part out, knight."

you let out a short laugh at that as you show him a hearty smile.

"okay, paladin, sir." you hum out sweetly. you lean down slowly, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. "i will see soon, danse. rest up."

he watches you as you leave him alone in your room and on your comfortable bed. he thinks about you, as he always does, and how you caress his wounds. you were so caring, too kind for this world. and he cherished every moment with you.

his hand rests on his forehead as he sighs. you were so sweet.

arthur maxson

"fuck—"

"shh."

"do not shush me, knight."

"you're being a baby, elder. stop pulling away."

he leans against his desk in his quarters, hands bracing against the steel as you stand in between his legs, holding his chin in your hand. blood dripped down his nose bridge from his recent run in with a mirelurk queen on a recon mission. one of the only times he was off the prydwen, and it resulted in you coming to his rescue after hearing of his absence from the ship.

you were in the middle of another endeavour before danse reached out to you through your radio frequency to inform you that a scribe got word of maxson's situation. he sent you as you were closer and he was on his way.

with no power armour, you managed to save the leader as soon as you can. but maxson was already plenty wrecked by the time you got there. once back on the prydwen, you dragged maxson by the hook of his shirt to his room to get him fixed. the elder muttered out broken orders, telling you to let him go and stop, but he was utterly embarrassed. his soldiers watched as a mere knight quite literally made him follow after.

"this is why you aren't a medic," maxson hisses out at you as he leans away. you deadpan and shake your head as you drop the bloodied tissue into the bin beside you. "i can do this myself, knight. i don’t require your assistance for this."

"you said the exact same thing back in the commonwealth," you huff out at him. the elder was so prideful. he looked away when you stared at him. "i know what i'm doing, maxson, you just need to be a big boy for me. just for a few minutes, okay?"

his ears glow red before he wipes his face. when he drops his hand, you resume your work. maxson's furrowed brows don't drop; he feels vulnerable under your touch with how warm it was. you hold his face again to wipe away the rest of the blood that covered his face. his face is fixed in an angry expression as you tried to clean up his face.

"well you won't need stitches," you explain. you open the medkit next to him and grab some bandages. you unwrap a bandaid to place on his nose bridge. "and you're lucky it isn't broken. give me your hand."

he does so, resting his knuckles in your palm. you roll your eyes with a shake of your head.

"i cannot believe you tried to use a knife against a mirelurk queen, arthur," you scowl at him. he half-lids his eyes and looks at you. "it's like you wanted me to come and save you."

"despite you saving me, i am still your superior. do not call me 'arthur'." he orders you. he pulls his hand away after you've bandaged it.

you deadpan.

"whatever you say, elder maxson." you say spitefully.

you continue to help him in silence, which makes maxson only more annoyed. you looked like it was now a chore to help him. he could have you do the recon mission that he failed, or literally anything else, but here you were, tending to his wounds.

"speak what's on your mind." he speaks up once noticing your expression.

"i don't have anything to say, sir." you mumble back to him. you moved to the slices on his shoulder.

he was quite confused (and flustered) when you told him to take off his shirt upon entering his room. you had to explain that you needed to see his wounds, which made him rest better.

"it isn't wise to lie to me, knight," he warns you as he tilts his head. you look at him with knitted brows. "just... tell me."

you blink at him before letting out a sigh. you first finish up putting bandages over his cuts and wiping away all the blood that stained his skin.

“you… you don’t know combat like us, maxson,” you exclaim, “and that’s going to get yourself killed. don’t run into missions as trivial as that one. the brotherhood needs you.”

“i can decide for myself, knight,” he responds as you wipe the blood off your hands, “do you forget who gives out orders?”

“you’re always like this,” you scowl. you have your hand on your hip as you glare as him. “elder maxson, with all due respect, i believe that my short time here outweighs your firsthand iq of the commonwealth as of now. i understand that you are finally getting out of there, but what’s the point of getting yourself killed over something so small?”

“that recon mission was not small.” he huffs back.

you stare at him a little before you let out a sigh. you step forward a bit and gently wrap your arms around his waist. he stiffens.

“i don’t wan’t you getting killed out there, arthur,” you say against his nape, “if you’re going on a mission, i want to be informed. i want to come with you.”

he freezes up at your warmth mixing with his and he closes his eyes. a hand rests on your upper back, begging you closer.

“very well then, knight. i will be sure to inform you next time,” maxson says to you with a content smile, “you… must care a lot about me.”

“what a stupid thing to say.” you retort.

he tries not to take it to heart and instead get used to how you tease him. you’ve always been like this, ever since he met you. your character never disappointed him. while you were more casual with him than he’d like you to be around others, he admired you.

“pardon me, i didn’t hear that,” maxson mumbles. he starts pulling away a little to get a look at your face. you’re smiling a little. “care to share with me what is so funny?”

“no, nothing, elder maxson,” you respond to him, “it’s just silly. you’re an elder taking orders from a knight.”

"get out of my room."

"i'm joking, arthur!" you begin to chuckle again. your hands rest on his shoulders to push him back against the desk again. his annoyed face only makes you smile more. "you need to rest now. it's late. you can't be standing there in your office waiting for me to come back every single second."

"i... i do no such thing." he claims.

"mhm," you say with a raised brow. you see his begin to turn pink before you tilt your head. "knight lucia told me that scribes often visit you throughout the day to give you word on my whereabouts."

"i do so for many people," he retorts as he crosses his arms over his chest. he puffs it out, attempting to look tougher. but you don't waver. "i have to keep a close eye on you, especially — you are always running amuck in the commonwealth. it is bad for the brotherhood to have hoodlums doing such things."

"i'm flattered that you hold me above the rest of the knights," you say to him as you place a hand over your chest in mock sincerity. he rolls his eyes at you, but can't stop the slight smile on his face. "i suppose i should make sure i'm on my best behaviour for you, then, sir."

"good," is all he says back to you. he stares at your face and how it falls slightly at his response. it elicits a slightly chuckle from him before he reaches out and holds your hand. "thank you, knight. you did a satisfactory job, considering your lack of proper medical training."

you stand up straight and smile at him softly. you were glad that you were able to get closer to him, despite him pulling away every so often. it seemed now that he was warming up to you.

"you're welcome, arthur," you mumble out quietly. leaning forward, you press a chaste kiss against his scarred cheek. he doesn't pull away this time at your affection. rather, he moves his neck closer to you for a better angle. you hold his other cheek in your other hand, letting your fingers brush against his warm skin. "get some rest, okay? i'll finish off your mission for you."

"alright," maxson says with a nod of his head. you step away from him before you grab your weapons you left on his desk. you pick up your pistol and combat knife to shove it in it's cover. meanwhile, maxson stretches his arms and watches you. "be careful out there, soldier."

"will do, elder maxson." you flash him a sweet smile before heading out of his room. he notices how loudly you exit, as if you wanted everyone to know that you were with the superior officer, in his room, alone.

he wipes his face with a groan. you were such a handful.

[hrefna-the-raven]

Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Chapter 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Song for this chapter:

Summary: You took the opportunity to ask Danse about having a private life within the Brotherhood while Maxson was on his way to see an old friend, someone he knew he could talk to.

Notes: I'm so obsessed with Maxson still being this traumatised boy that grew up all alone in the Citadel so here you go with some more insight into his thoughts and fears :) and some sweet funny misunderstanding with Paladin Danse because he's just adorable in his own way. This is not proof-read, finished it 10 minutes ago and decided to just post to not keep you waiting :)

Chapter 5 - Don't let me be misunderstood

After finally being able to leave his quarters, you swiftly changed into your uniform and made your way towards the kitchen, your hungry stomach growling. The tables appeared unusually empty for this time of the morning, with only Danse sitting there, enjoying a simple breakfast of toast and roasted meat. A sudden question popped up in your head, causing you to wonder about the personal lives of the other soldiers and what activities the Brotherhood allowed them to engage in outside of their duties. Reflecting on your pre-war military life, you recalled being granted quite a fair amount of freedom, including the ability to marry fellow soldiers and enjoy leisure time after completing your duties. However these were different times, with different rules in a strange world. With a mischievous glint in your eye, you approached the Paladin, trying to strike up a casual conversation.

"Hey Danse", you said with a sly smile, "you've brought me to the Brotherhood and I've been curious about a few things we never had a chance to discuss. Like for instance how do you unwind after a long day of battling wasteland creatures?"

Caught off guard by your question, Danse shifted uncomfortably. He was known for his unwavering dedication to the Brotherhood and delving into his personal life was a topic he seldom broached. He believed that he had already divulged more than enough about his past during your encounter at the police station. However, he sensed that you were genuinely attempting to fit in, and he had no qualms about sharing any information that could ease your transition into the Brotherhood.

"Well," he pondered, his face turning slightly red at your sudden focus on him, "I, uh, usually spend my free time focusing on my duties, training and maintaining my power armor."

You couldn't help but chuckle at his response, wondering if Danse even might be the right person for this discussion. The Paladin you got to know made you ask yourself more than once if he even knew the concept of a life outside the Brotherhood.

"No, no, Danse", you said, trying to explain the intend behind your question, "this is all too strict, too much of the soldier life. I meant, do you have any personal hobbies or interests? Something that helps you relax?"

"Oh, I understand. Well, I suppose I enjoy tinkering with my weapons and keeping them in top shape or upgrading them. It gives me a sense of fulfilment."

Impressed by his unwavering commitment, you decided to delve deeper and inquire about what you truly wanted to know. You had no idea where things with Maxson would lead, but given how that man ignited a mix of curiosity, desire and occasional frustration in you each time your paths crossed, you didn't want to rule out any potential outcomes, especially not the ones you secretly hoped for. The way he tugged at your heartstrings despite being entrenched in his stubborn beliefs and the crushing weight that came with the leadership of the Brotherhood, meant something to you. He was by far not the first interesting person you encountered since emerging from the vault but along with him came that feeling of a deep connection, an understanding you'd find with no one else.

"And what about love?" you asked, raising an eyebrow, "do you think the Brotherhood has any against, you know, sexual encounters or relationships with...uhm...fellow soldiers?"

Danse's eyes widened at your question. You caught him alone and discussed all those very personal topics. Thinking back at when he first met you, you were rarely quiet, constantly poking at him with remarks, statements or queries. There had to be more to this than he first thought.

"Uh, well, the Brotherhood focuses primarily on our mission to protect and serve. Personal relationships can complicate matters, so they are generally discouraged but not forbidden. We do in fact have a few soldiers and initiates dating each other", he stuttered, "but uhm if you were specifically asking about me, I truly appreciate the sentiment but I'm sworn to my duty and not available for any...uhm...romantic relations with you."

As you stood there, nervously shifting from foot to foot, you couldn't help but feel your cheeks flush with embarrassment. This was definitely not the way you had planned this conversation to go.

"Oh, no no no! I apologise for the misunderstanding, Danse. I was actually referring to someone els...within the Brotherho...you know what? I'm glad we cleared that up. I'm just going to leave now. Bye and thanks."

You hurried down the long corridor, hearing Danse bid his farewells before you sprinted up the stairs and finally got out of sight. It almost made you laugh as you realized that talking to the Elder felt like a walk in the park compared to any conversation with Danse. You headed towards the airport beneath the Prydwen, switching on the radio attached to your Pip-Boy as you geared up for the shooting training. As you made your way closer, the sound of gunfire echoed through the air unleashed a wave of excitement within you. The Brotherhood of Steel's training exercises were renowned for their rigour and you were determined to prove your skills, hoping Maxson would be there to watch, giving you another opportunity to spend more time with him under the cloak of duty.

Maxson made his way down to the airport, the weight of loneliness growing heavy on him, an all too familiar feeling. He needed someone to talk to, someone who'd listen, regadless whether they replied. Surveying his surroundings, he proceeded through a security door at the back of the main building. The dimly lit room emitted a faint aroma of oil as he approached the table. It was a whimsical, childish notion that led him here, but the instant he caught sight of it, a comforting sense of home enveloped him.

"Hello old friend", Maxson whispered tenderly, his hand resting upon the colossal robot head resting on the table.

He leapt onto the table, taking a seat beside the head, his legs dangling and swinging as he shut his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He felt the sadness of that little boy back in the Citadel who had no friends but was burdened with high expectations because of his name. He chuckled softly at thought that Rothchild wouldn't chase him away this time and if someone else were to stumble upon this place, he could simply claim to be inspecting the Brotherhood's most promising weapon. The perks of bring the Elder now instead of that little boy. He shook his head, scolding himself mentally for even being here, knowing all to well that he shouldn't try to make friends with a machine and yet, who else would listen to him without passing judgment? Perhaps you, but how could he discuss all of this with the person who started it all?

" I apologise for my absence and lack of visits all those years. It has been a challenging time for me, especially after losing Sarah. I didn't know what to do anymore, I was completely alone...", his voice trembled and tears formed in the corners of his eyes, " I trained, I fought and look at me now, Elder of the Brotherhood of Steel, upholding the Maxson legacy and striving to protect the people." 

He couldn't hold the tears back anymore, all the weight of loneliness crushing him. He had managed to deceive everyone, including himself, until you entered his sacred space and saw through his facade from the moment you set foot on the Prydwen.

" But I feel alone, old friend, all the burden to bear yet never anyone to confide in, to share it with. But there is someone new in the Brotherhood, joined two days and you wouldn't believe how she's turning my life upside-down."

He chuckled, brushing away the tears from his face, the edges of his lips twitching into a joyful smile as he reminisced in the memories of last night.

"Believe me, if you could meet her you'd adore her too, she is everything I also thought I'd be when I grew up. Strong, kind and fearless in the face of true injustice. I envy her, she can be herself unburdened by the weight I have to carry...sometimes...I...I wish I could just leave, be someone else, be me but that was never my destiny, wasn't it? If you could you'd probably ask me what she means to me, well that is a difficult question. I hold great admiration her, I think there might even reside love deep in that broken heart of mine but I'm also afraid of her in a way. What if I disappoint her? What if I fail to meet her expectations? Given how persistent she was on tearing my defenses down, would she even care for expectations? Wouldn't she simply want the real me? But then again who exactly would that be?"

Arthur leapt from the table, pacing in circles before the head, his gaze fixed on the floor as he became lost in his thoughts. It eluded him how you'd even be able to like him, given how you disagreed with him on your first meeting. You remained a riddle, and the more he tried to unravel you, the more you seemed to fade into the mystery that defined you. A sigh escaped his lips; all his questioning and doubting amounted to nothing. He couldn't negotiate with the worries away that held his heart hostage; the only way out was to confront whatever lay ahead. He had to brace himself for whatever the next encounter with you had in store. His footsteps came to a halt in front of the table once more, his gaze shifting up to the visor of the robotic head. Gently, he placed a hand on it, tenderly tapping the cold metal.

"Thank you for listening my dear friend from days gone by."

He made his way towards the exit, his gaze lingering for one last moment.

"See you later, alligator", he chuckled with genuine joy.

As he flicked off the light and left the room, he knew he had to leave the little boy he missed so much behind, along with Liberty Prime as his friend, all for the sake of the Brotherhood. However, he also held onto a glimmer of hope that, with you, he'd found a new place he could finally find and cherish what that boy always longed for and it left him with a warmth he'd try to keep at any cost.

Chapter 6 - Dream a little dream

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Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Chapter 1

Songs for this chapter:

Summary: Elder Maxson makes his rounds through the airport, inspecting the soldiers training and to check how you're dealing with your punishment. Although he definitely did not expect to find you...singing...

Notes: this story will move a bit off canon obviously :) I promise the next chapter will be a bit more interesting and yes, songs will be an ongoing theme for this series :D

Chapter 2 - Tour of Duty

In the early hours of dawn, a solitary figure treaded the tarmac of the airport yard, savouring the warmth of the first rays of sunshine after another sleepless night. Elder Maxson, the man who carried the weight of leadership as his sole companion, was observing his men silently. Soldiers trained like clockwork, their laughter and the clanging of their tools against power armors echoing across the yard. His presence, his stern gaze was a subtle reminder of the devotion they poured into their tasks. Salutes punctuated the monotonous rhythm of work, an acknowledgment of the authority he wielded. The thought of you popped up in his mind again as he made his way to the main building, a triumphant smirk on his face. He was certain you would have learned your lesson by now, cleaning the latrines and the showers had brought every slightly rebellious recruit back on track quickly. He expected to hear the sulking grumble of resentment but most certainly not the lyrical notes that flowed through the building. As he entered the shower area, the echo of his boots was drowned by a different rhythm - music. A melody woven through the moist air and the gleaming tiles. Shadows danced to the tune, shaping an image of you at the end, holding a mop like a dance partner, your movements painting a bizarrely beautiful tableau across the tiled floor.

Let's rock , everybody, let's rock, everybody in the whole cell block, was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock

Maxson stood still, the stern creases of his forehead softening, his steel-blue gaze capturing your oblivious performance. You were supposed to suffer, to contemplate about questioning his orders, not to enjoy, yet there you were, swaying and laughing, your spirit untouched by the chastisement. An inexplicable warmth coiled around his heart as it reminded him of his own stubborn spirit and his love for music. His damned treacherous heart echoed with an unexpected rhythm, a dance that he had long pushed away for the sake of duty, a dance of life and love that you offered through your buoyant demeanour despite the hardships you went through after waking up from your two hundred year slumber. But while his heart danced, his mind refused to acknowledge this unfamiliar, unsettling sensation. He was the Elder of the Brotherhood after all, a stern leader, not a love-struck fool for a woman, a new recruit, he barely knew. He cleared his throat, startled you spun around and almost dropped the mop at the sight of him.

"Aspirant", he called out, striding towards you as his heart hammered in chest, "Really? Jailhouse Rock? While you're executing your punishment?", his strict voice echoed through the room.

You straightened, a smug grin lighting up your face. Whatever he had planned you'd be prepared and the warm feeling of delight filled your entire being.

"Well, Elder", you hummed, "should I not keep my spirits up, even in punishment? But if it's the song itself, I can change it."

You switched the channel of the radio on your Pip-Boy and another song echoed through the room.

Life could be a dream, sweetheart, hello, hello again , sh-boom and hopin' we'll meet again, boom

Arthur stood there in silence, the lyrics of the song whirling around in his mind, etching themselves into his memory, forever linked to your figure swaying and humming along with the tune. When you noticed the lack of his response, you turned the radio off, the abrupt silence hanging between the two of you, heavy with unspoken words.

"Maybe not the right song", you mumbled, more to yourself than to him.

Breaking the silence, Maxson's dry voice pierced through the tension.

"Status?", he asked, his tone harsh and commanding. It was his way of deflecting from the vulnerable moment that had just passed between you.

"All done, Elder."

"Latrines?"

"Clean as a whistle, it'll almost be a shame as soon as the first sweaty cheeks touch it again.", you grinned.

The twitching of Maxson's eye didn't go unnoticed. It was a small crack in the facade he had carefully constructed, revealing the control he was struggling to maintain in your presence. Since the first moment you stepped up to him on the Prydwen, you were becoming a distraction that threatened to unravel the carefully crafted walls he had built to survive in this world. Despite facing this slight disadvantage, his determination to break through what he perceived as a charade remained unwavering. He never lost his spark and resolute nature but the past years had sapped the joy for the simple things in life. Bound by his duty, the boy, who's soul was forged from eternal steel, found himself sitting within his fortress of solitude that turned into an inescapable cage that denied him the very nourishment his soul needed to thrive.

"I have a vertibird on standby, fully armed and ready to depart. Use it to carry our message to Fort Strong and wipe those dirty mutants from the face of the earth", his voice was harsh but carried a yet barely perceptible tremble.

It was his second test, the continuation of his plan to...he inhaled sharply, clenched his teeth in an insidious moment of anger as the boundaries between his meticulously devised plan and his innermost desires began to blur before his very eyes.

"Yes, Elder. Will I be part of a team?", your soft voice snapped him back to reality.

"Of course. Such an important mission will not be entrusted to a single aspirant, especially not one who joined merely a day ago. You'll have a head paladin accompanying you and you will follow his instructions without questioning. The success of the mission will depend on it."

"Will I work with Paladin Danse?", you asked out loud, hoping that Maxson might indulge you with an actual answer.

"You'll be awaited on the Prydwen in 20. Report to Danse and get familiar with your power armor. Don't dally, Aspirant. Dismissed."

He managed to spin around just in time to hide his smile. His heart beat so fast it threatened to burst through his chest as excitement coursed through his veins like a wildfire that could potentially grow out of control.

You could sense a hidden smile lurking beneath his stern expression as he spun around, making a deliberate effort to hide it. You took a deep breath, attempting to calm your nerves in thought of the upcoming mission. This was the moment you had been longing for, the chance to prove yourself as a member of the Brotherhood, just as, back then, you'd proven yourself during your first mission in the army, and you'll finally get a chance at proving your competence to him, getting closer into his well guarded space.

A nervous chuckle passed your lips as the realisation of your first mission in this new world and the prospect of having your very own power armour within the Brotherhood truly settled upon you. It was both exhilarating and overwhelming given the little time you had to prepare, knowing that the path ahead was filled with danger and uncertainty. You were almost thankful that your first experience in this radiated wasteland was your encounter with the Minutemen while fighting off a deathclaw in an old rusty power armour. You were determined to find out who this mysterious knight in power armour that you were supposed to follow into battle was, wondering if it could actually be Danse supervising you on this mission. You already missed the Paladin and his gentle but stern guidance. You placed the mop away and sauntered towards the Prydwen, whistling a soft tune, readying your mind for the battle to come.

Chapter 3 - Show no mercy

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Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Inspired by this great song of Manowar:

Summary: You are a former soldier before the Great War, frozen in the vault only to wake in a world you didn't recognise anymore with your husband killed and your son kidnapped. You stumble through the Commonwealth, having searched far and wide with Detective Valentine for your son until you stumble upon Paladin Danse at the Police station. His Brotherhood wakens your desire to belong somewhere again and so you join them, but upon meeting Elder Maxson you weren't sure anymore if it really was the right decision....

Notes: I haven't played FO3, so I don't know tiny Maxson and I haven't quite finished the BoS story in FO4 so I'm not quite sure where this is exactly headed as I type the chapters as I move forward in the questline^^

Chapter 1 - Welcome to the Brotherhood of Steel

"The Institute Scientists have created a weapon that transcends the destructive nature of the atom bomb", Elder Maxson spoke purposefully.

Your gaze drifted towards his commanding presence, acknowledging his tall and undeniably attractive stature. During your time you travelled the Commonwealth, you never encountered anyone who exuded such confidence and grace. He paced in front of the new recruits like a predator stalking its prey and yet his radiant confidence stood like a shining beacon amidst the darkness of this world.

"Therefore, the Institute and their "synths" are considered enemies of the Brotherhood of Steel, and should be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly", he gruffly stated, carefully observing the recruits.

A knot formed in your stomach upon hearing those final words. While encountering various synths during your search for Kellog, not all of them had been friendly. However, influenced by Nick's unwavering assistance and his quest to find your son, you were convinced that shooting each and every synth on sight couldn't be the right course of action. Nick had saved you countless times, without gaining any advantage out of it and you seriously doubted he'd ever be an enemy to anyone who didn't deserve it in the first place.

Maxson noticed your attention drifting away, evident in your slouched posture and vacant eyes as your mind was clearly preoccupied with other thoughts. Whether or not he could discern the exact thoughts running through your head, he felt a sense of his authority being questioned.

"This campaign will be costly and many lives will be lost. But in the end, we will be saving humankind from its worst enemy... itself. Ad Victoriam!", he slammed his fist proudly on his chest.

The voices of the other recruits interrupted your trail of thoughts prompting you to join them in mimicking the gesture. As they left, you stood awkwardly in front of the Elder, a faint sense of panic tingling beneath your skin as you realised you were now alone with your new superior in the room.

"Requesting permission to speak, Sir", you asked, every muscle in your body tense as your ingrained military habits took control and you continued upon seeing the Elder nod, "Paladin Danse informed me that you wished to speak to me personally."

Maxson looked a little surprised as you spoke up. The others within the Brotherhood always treated him with respect, some fearfully even, but your way of talking reminded him of old military records he'd read up on.

"Ah, right. The new recruit Paladin Danse spoke so highly of in his report. I was told you're quite the skilled marksman, which is an exceptional achievement for a civilian like yourself... It takes quite a lot to impress the man that much, especially for recommending you for such a quick and impressive promotion. Were you already skilled with a weapon before you joined?"

"Yes, Sir, in a way. I'm not sure if Danse mentioned it but I'm from a vault, I was kinda stuck in cryostasis for over 200 years, prior to that, I served in the US Army", you nervously chuckled as you recounted your journey into the vault after seeing the bombs being dropped.

Maxson's eyes widened, revealing his surprise for a second before he regained his stoic composure. You intrigued him greatly, a beautiful woman out of time, having served during the pre-war era, now finding herself aligned with the Brotherhood and by extension with him. He was determined to unravel the mysteries that surrounded you. The coldness in his voice faded slightly and he leaned in closer as he spoke, his eyes staring straight into your soul.

"It's quite fortunate that you came across Paladin Danse then, isn't it? Most of our people are young and inexperienced, and some have even come from a life of crime and thievery. But you are quite different, aren't you? And I presume you must have been an exceptional soldier, otherwise you would have most likely been assigned a non-combatant role, or maybe even left out of the vault altogether. I'm sure that the Brotherhood has great need of someone like you and could be quite useful as a Sentinel or even a Paladin yourself."

You sensed a shift in his demeanour, your gaze trailing over his form, noticing the subtle change as he reverted back to the hardened exterior you initially witnessed. All that praise, almost flattery, the prospect of climbing the ranks so fast without even knowing you had to come at cost, one he'd surely reveal soon enough.

"But I have to ask one thing... How do you feel about Synths?"

His question ignited a panic, crawling underneath your skin while your mind pondered on a possible answer. Given his speech earlier, you were well aware which answer was the right one to get you on his good side and yet...lying would was the opposite of everything you stood for. Regardless of the consequences, you refused to simply utter the words he wanted to hear but you wouldn't exclude diplomacy either.

"I'm unsure, Elder. I understand they can be dangerous and yet, one of them saved my life and is trying to help me find my kidnapped son. I'd deem it unjust to simply shoot him on sight."

For a fleeting moment, Maxson's gaze drifted off, a slight frown forming, or maybe it was more of a twinge of regret, crossing his face before he cleared his throat and spoke sharply again.

"Remember our principles, Aspirant. EVERY Synth is a threat to our mission and our values. NEVER trust one under any circumstances, regardless of them appearing kind or helpful. They are only acting that way to manipulate and trick us."

"May I ask a question in return, Elder?", you asked in a calm tone.

It was a careful delicate dance around the principles of this Brotherhood and the man's unyielding view on people who's worst and best sides you came to experience while searching for your husband's killer. You could tell from the Elder's blank expression that your audacity to push this subject further after his warning irritated him. However, what you couldn't see was that, deep within the inner turmoil that defined Arthur Maxson, he almost relished in the fact that someone finally dared to challenge him fearlessly yet respectfully. Unlike most recruits who blindly followed his every command upon stepping foot on the Prydwen, which certainly smoothened the daily operations of the Brotherhood, you possessed a spark of individuality that intrigued him, one that each of the others lacked. After all, it often was this very spark that led to great deeds, exceptional knights for the Brotherhood. Perhaps, it was even the same spark that had propelled him towards his current role as the Elder of this faction.

"Very well. Go ahead and ask", his eyes were locked on you now.

"How can one make sure oneself isn't a Synth?"

This clearly caught him off guard, he was expecting the usual question about why every one of those machines would pose a threat but this was something new. You sensed his hesitation to answer so you elaborated further.

"I come from a time where Synths didn't exist, they are, as so many other things in this world, new to me and I clearly experienced them differently than the Brotherhood did. So how I would I know that I'm not one of them? Or anyone else around me for that matter?"

Maxson seemed puzzled by your question, as if he had never considered it to this extent before and while he had to admit that you made a valid point, he remained determined never to openly acknowledge this fact to a new recruit.

"The Institute wouldn't dare to put one of their own creations in the Brotherhood of Steel on purpose. We've also taken measures to make sure a Synth cannot infiltrate us in any way. A Synth is a machine, and therefore I know that I am not one. And neither are you."

The corners of your mouth twitched into a faint smile, pleased to see your plan unfold perfectly. He didn't need to voice it out loud for you to detect the subtle indications of doubt, the hint of hesitation as your question struck a nerve, and in just a fraction of a moment, it became apparent to you that beneath the hardened and austere exterior carried by the Elder, there laid something more concealed.

"Thank you for reassuring me, Elder."

"You're dismissed, Aspirant", you nodded and turned around but stopped when he continued, the severity in his voice returning, "as a former soldier you should be aware of the consequences of questioning your superiors. You'll be cleaning the showers and latrines down at the airport, all of them. Consider this your first assignment and a lesson. Welcome to the Brotherhood of Steel."

You let out a sigh as you made you way towards the elevator. After spending over two centuries in cryo sleep, waking up in a desolated Wasteland to join a faction like an army, only to be punished with the task of cleaning their bathing facilities for asking a single question. Was it truly worth it? You chuckled to yourself as you pressed the button of the elevator, a triumphant grin spreading across your lips. Yes, it was. You struck just the right nerve to get a faint glimpse underneath the Elder's stoic surface and you were determined to take whatever punishment he'd throw at you if it meant you'd finally get through to him. There more to him than he'd show and you were too intrigued to let it slide.

Little did you know that Arthur stood by the window, observing the bustling soldiers moving around the main airport building just underneath the Prydwen. His mind was consumed with thoughts of you, the timeless woman, who wiggled her way into the Brotherhood, the same mischievous yet well meaning spark in her eyes he was all too familiar with. He knew exactly what game you were playing with your question. But two could play this game, he thought to himself, a hint of amusement curving his lips. He'd see how you dealt with the punishment. What secrets could he winkle out of you? Suddenly a trembling sigh escaped his lips. Would he be to resist you if the mysteries around you would turn out to please him? Only time would tell, for now, the most important was to free the Commonwealth of the Institute's threatening claws. Ad Victoriam, he mumbled to himself, closing his eyes as he desperately tried to banish the images of you from his mind.

This recruit would either be a curse or a blessing and the very least, a challenge.

Chapter 2 - Tour of Duty

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Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Chapter 1 - 2 - 3

Song for this chapter:

Summary: You hadn't seen Maxson since your arrival on the Prydwen as Danse immediately whisked you away for a little celebration with some fellow soldiers after your successful mission. Those hours seemed to stretch on half an eternity, your thoughts lingering on how the Elder might feel...

Warnings: alcohol, no direct smut but orgasm (18+)

Notes: thinking about how Maxson grew up and how the Brotherhodd is like (in the show and the games, especially the scene with Max and Lucy talking about sex), there is nothing that could convince me that this dude isn't still a virgin with no proper clue on how to tackle anything sex related outside of the usual masturbation xD so yeah despite his charms and good looks, my dude Maxson is a cute awkward virgin in this series ;) aaaand sorry for the long chapter again^^

Chapter 4 - Something's gotta give

Maxson switched on his radio and slumped down on the larger red sofa in his private quarters. His hands found the glass he had previously filled with some vodka. It was far from his preferred choice but after today he believed it to be exactly what he needed. His mind kept taunting him with the image of you smiling down on him as he regained consciousness. It almost made him question if he'd died and woken up in the afterlife. It felt too real and if he closed his eyes he was still able to feel the warmth of your thighs radiating throw the fabric of your uniform, the tenderness of your touch and those beautiful lips, so close....He groaned, shaking his head as he gulped down half of his drink, not wanting to wait until his mind finally granted him the serene calm of no lingering thoughts and perhaps even allowing him to drift off to sleep this night.

Your finger dug into the Sugar Bombs you held as you paced back and forth outside Maxson's quarters. You hadn't seen him since your arrival on the Prydwen as Danse immediately whisked you away for a little celebration with some fellow soldiers after your successful mission. Those hours seemed to stretch on half an eternity, your thoughts lingering on how the Elder might feel. The glimpse you got at his true self had etched itself into your memory along with his peaceful face resting on your lap. After you finally managed to escape Danse's well-meant little get-together, you locked yourself in your quarters until a sudden thought struck you as soon as your gaze fell on a box of Sugar Bombs. These little treats were probably as unhealthy as bathing in one of the irradiated rivers but they held fond memories of your childhood, your mum sometimes giving you a box of them whenever you were sad. It was a silly thought, you knew that, but it was enough to make you grab the box and march towards the Elder's private quarters. You took a deep but shaky breath as your steps halted and your trembling hand knocked at his door. Seconds felt like an eternity as you waited for a response, and just as you were on the verge of giving up and turning around, the door swung open, revealing a surprised Maxson. You swallowed as your gazed danced over his figure. It was late in the evening, and you weren't quite sure what you had expected, but it certainly wasn't him standing there, dressed in nothing but a snug light brown t-shirt and a pair of loosely fitted dark grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips. His piercing blue eyes locked with yours as you finally dared to look up and there was a flicker of something you couldn't quite place that passed between you.

"Yes?", his voice seemed gruff and exhausted.

"I-I just wanted to check on you, after the fall you had", you stumbled over your words.

Maxson stepped aside, inviting you in. The room was dimly lit, with a faint smell of alcohol hanging in the air. He gestured towards a worn-out red couch and you cautiously took a seat, trying to plan ahead on how to approach this situation as you hadn't thought of making it this far. As he poured himself a drink, you couldn't help but notice the way his hand trembled ever so slightly, wondering if the fall had hurt him more than you assumed. Unbeknownst to you, his shaky hand was simply a sign of the nervousness your presence brought along. He cursed himself mentally, as if his endless thoughts about you had evoked you into his quarters at this late hour. He took a sip from his glass and closed his eyes, reclining on the couch, desperately trying to ignore the closeness he'd allowed himself by taking a seat right next to you.

"I thought, after today's exhausting events, you might wanted a little pick-me-up", you tentatively offered, holding up the box of cereals.

He opened his eyes and glancing between the box and the delightful grin on your face.

"Sugar Bombs?", he chuckled surprised, "aren't we a touch too old for that?"

"I guess you've already resorted to the grown-up version of comfort, but consider this", you eagerly perched on your leg and turned to face him, "what if we're never too old to have some disgusting sweets? I mean, just look at this radiated wasteland. Don't we deserve a little treat from time to time? Elder", you quickly added his title, reminding yourself who's private space you invaded tonight.

"Arthur", he replied flatly as he emptied his glass.

"What?", a puzzled expression spreading across your face.

"It's late, I'm not even in my uniform and you're sitting in my private quarters wearing pyjamas and hell, I'm too tired to bother with formalities right now."

"I'll take that as a yes to my proposal", you grinned, wiggling your eyebrows, "Arthur."

You grabbed a few sugar bombs and held them up to him. He rolled his eyes, but it was obvious that his annoyance was feigned as he took the treats and tossed them into his mouth. His eyes widened, a look of surprise flashing across his face at his own satisfied moan as the sweet taste flooded his mouth. An unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest and he was certain it had nothing to do with the vodka, this felt different, an unfiltered happiness settling within, only amplified by the beaming look you gave him. You chuckled at the sight of him finally letting go, abandoning, even if just for tonight, his usual steadfast determination to avoid anything fun.

"You've been full of surprises today", you crunched on some sugar bombs and just as you were about to continue, he interrupted.

"And you have been since you stepped foot on my ship", he poured two glasses of vodka and set one in front of you, "tell me, timeless lady, have you always been this rebellious? Invading the private space of your superiors...admitting to ignore their instructions."

"Careful, your Elder is showing again", you playfully chided him as you took a sip, your noise wrinkling at the burning sensation of the alcohol, “but to answer your question...why do you think the latrines had been cleaned this fast and efficient?”

You gave him a sly wink which earned you a hearty laugh, his head falling back as he lead out a contented sigh.

“Maybe it's the alcohol talking but I have to admit you're intriguing”, he slurred, barely noticeable.

“Same, although for me, it's simply honest curiosity.”

The two of you kept talking, from serious topics over the a playful banter and back. Arthur couldn't remember the last time he felt so carefree, liberated from the weight of the Brotherhood and the expectations tied to his name. He was truly grateful that a person like you ended up in his life. Whether he'd ever confess it to you or himself how he truly started to feel about you, right here and now, he was grateful that fate had brought you to the Prydwen. A sudden twinge of guilt pierced his chest, as amidst his own happiness, he couldn't ignore that the reasons that had lead to you being here, were a tragedy. You'd been frozen in a vault for over two hundred years, robbed of your husband and son and forced to waken up in a destroyed world teemed with peril. Sensing a shift in his behaviour, you raised your gaze towards the antiquated radio, humming along to the melody of the song.

When an irrepressible smile such as yours

Warms an old implacable heart such as mine

Don't say no because I insist

Somewhere, somehow

Someone's gotta be kissed

“Do you like music? Is dancing still a thing?”, you asked, offering him a smile.

“Maybe?”, he replied, “I must admit the last time I danced was at least ten years ago and it probably looked ridiculous.”, he chuckled, a slight grin forming on his face while his fingers unconsciously tapped along to the rhythm of the music.

You rose from your seat and changed the radio station, a more lively and rhythmic tune echoing from the small device filled the air. Without thinking, your fingers naturally wrapped around his wrist, gently tugging him up from his seat. Both of you stumbled a bit and ended up in each other's arms, the sudden closeness provoking a deep blush to spread on your cheeks. In a faint attempt to distract yourself from the several beats your heart just skipped, your body started swaying along with the tune as you held his hands, not daring to look at him.

“I'll take it as my duty teach you”, you chuckled, the tone of your voice betraying your nervousness, “we can't have the great Elder Maxson, leader of THE Brotherhood of Steel, saving the world without knowing how to dance.”

As the minutes turned into hours, the room was filled with laughter and the unsteady footsteps of two souls who, if only for a fleeting evening, managed to forget the burdens of their lives and embraced this timeless carefree moment. In that small, shared space, a connection blossomed between the two of you. It wasn't just about dancing; it was about breaking down barriers and allowing vulnerability to seep through the cracks. Arthur hummed content, his head resting on yours, eyes closed as he surrendered to the magic of the moment, only existing with the recorded voice singing his desire, evidently for you to hear, yet remaining hidden.

So, en garde, who knows what the fates might have in store

From their vast mysterious sky

I'll try hard ignorin' those lips that I adore

But how long can anyone try?

You stirred awake, eyes opening only reluctantly while the low but cthe dull but persistent pounding inside your head stole away any remaining traces of sleep you still craved. Memories of the previous evening's ending were hazy and as your vision slowly cleared, you realised that you hadn't made it back to your own bed. YLying still for a moment, you could now hear the peaceful sound of Maxson's soft snoring coming from behind you while your body registered the warmth of his pressed against yours and his arm wrapped around your waist. Carefully, you tried to turn around without waking him. Arthur's mouth twitched, the eyes moving beneath closed lids as he remained trapped in a dream. JJust like back in Fort Strong, you admired the beauty of his peaceful expression, tracing a finger over the scar on his face. Your gaze then shifted to his lips, wondering what it would feel like to kiss him. Arthur's grip on your waist tightened, pulling you closer while opaque murmurs spilled from his lips as his dream continued to hold him captive. You wiggled your body gently, attempting to create more space for yourself while turning around, when suddenly you swallowed, painfully aware of how his hardened length was pressed against you now, rubbing against your folds with every tiny movement. Even in his slumber, his body seemed to instinctively respond to the situation, as his hips bucked against you and a chorus of moans rumbled from his chest. His movements quickened, his hand moving down from your waist, fingers digging into the soft flesh of your ass to press you even further against him. However, the moment your own moans escaped your lips uncontrollably, his eyes snapped open, fixating on your flushed face. He continued thrusting a few more times, emitting a long, sinful groan before you could feel the fabric between you becoming damp. The lust clouding his eyes dissipated, replaced by an expression of fear as his mind gradually awakened, realising what just happened. Every muscle in his body tensed up and Arthur didn't dare to move anymore, his mind in a frantic state of panic trying to figure out how to navigate through this unexpected situation. The Brotherhood had taught him how to defeat the most vicious enemies but he felt utterly unprepared for this particular battle.

"Good morning, Arthur."

You were the first to break the awkward silence that hung between you, trying to ease the fear you detected in his eyes. You were trapped in this moment just as much as he was and you were determined to show him that you had no issue with what just happened. As he remained silent, your gaze shifted to his lips and you finally gave up resisting the urge to kiss him. You leaned in, your mouth pressed on his, melting into a passionate kiss. At first he seemed to enjoy it, kissing back eagerly but then he abruptly pushed you away with such force that it nearly threw you off the bed.

"I...I...you need to go", he stuttered, scrambling to climb over you and escape from the bed.

"Arthur", you whispered, following him.

You attempted to grasp his hand and redirect his attention towards you, but he swiftly moved towards the locker, opening the metallic door to take out a fresh uniform. His trembling hands stripped the t-shirt over his head and pulled down the stained sweatpants, revealing his softening cock. You gulped, the sight of him in his naked glory stirred a wild fire deep within you. No this was not the moment, you scolded yourself mentally and your hands moved to his shoulders, finally managing to turn him around. He might have been the Elder of the Brotherhood but the man before you now resembled more a frightened young boy, someone who had committed a wrongdoing and feared getting scolded for it. And then a sudden realisation struck you. While you had experienced a normal childhood and life before the bombs dropped, he had grown up in the midst of chaos, sheltered within an organisation that cared only about freeing the world of its abominations. The irony was not lost on you - this man possessed extensive knowledge of battles and military strategies but had most likely no idea of intimate human relations and...

"Arthur, are you...", you didn't dare the voice the remainder of your question, afraid it might the fragile relationship that had formed between the two of you.

Maxson donned his uniform, exhaling shaky breaths as his thoughts raced at a hundred miles per second. The memory of a book came to him, the one fourteen year old him stole from one of the Knights in the citadel. He used to sneak away under the cover of the night, reading its pages in secret about the tale of a woman's journey to uncover the delights of carnal pleasure. The power those words held, the very same emotions that consumed him whenever he found himself in your presence. In his dreams he confidently explored the curves of your body, fingers caressing down your bare back as he rubbed himself against you, the irresistible tingling growing so overwhelming until it erupted, drowning him in a violent sea of bliss. But this morning, his dream bled into reality, and suddenly, he was overwhelmed with shame.

"I'm sorry", he finally uttered, his voice fractured and filled with shameful sadness, "my first duty is the Brotherhood and saving the people. I shouldn't have, I mean I..."

It broke your heart seeing him in this state for, despite his stubborn beliefs regarding non-human life, there was nothing wrong with him and you'd make it your utmost priority to show exactly this to him. It was high time for the Elder to step aside momentarily, allowing Arthur to bask in the warmth and affection that life had to offer. Gently cupping his face, you tilted his head, guiding his sorrowful ice-blue eyes to meet yours. There were countless things you wished to say to him but all the words transcended into one tender fleeting kiss.

"Your Elder is showing again", you playfully chided him, earning a faint sheepish smile from him, "you have nothing to be sorry for, except for maybe stopping and denying me my pleasure."

The touch of your love almost physically pained his heart, and though his mind still grappled with resistance, the very same heart grew stronger, guiding him on the way for a new light and he wouldn't be him if he wouldn't master the challenge to balance his duty and his love.

"Maybe we could try-"

A sudden pounding on the door interrupted him, causing both of you to hold your breath, desperately hoping that whoever was on the other side would simply turn away. Another knock followed, shattering the brief moment of silence.

"Elder?", Proctor Ingram's voice called out from behind the door, "it's time for our briefing. You promised me we would finally address the issue with the coolant supply."

You witnessed the sheer terror spread across Maxson's face upon hearing Ingram's voice. He stumbled towards the door, nearly tripping over while trying to get his boots on. He grabbed his coat hanging down from the cabinet and hastily threw it over his shoulders . His hand reached for the door handle but the paused, allowing himself a small smile while he quickly turned around, strode towards you and planted a loving kiss on your lips.

"Wait good ten minutes before heading out", he murmured against your lips, "I'll expect you to be ready for shooting training at noon. That's an order, Knight", his words were firm, but the warmth in his eyes revealed his true emotions in that moment.

"Yes, Elder", you replied, slamming your fist on your chest in salute.

You found yourself grinning as you watched him exit the room, amused by the strict tone he adopted as soon as he lead Ingram away from his quarters.

Chapter 5 - Don't let me be misunderstood

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Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Chapter 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

Song for this chapter:

Summary: Arthur finally reveals how he get his scar but despite you growing closer, it seems the Brotherhood is pulling you apart again

Warnings: cursing, feelings, alcohol, drunk Maxson

Notes: yes we're delving into Maxson's deathclaw incident ;) and yeah he's going through all the emotions^^

Chapter 8 - Why do fools fall in love?

You woke up to find Maxson's piercing blue eyes locked onto yours, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. The morning sunlight streamed through the cracked window, casting a golden glow on his rugged features.

"Good morning", his voice was husky as he whispered.

You mumbled a good morning back, rubbing the sleep from your eyes and leaned closer to him as you pressed your lips against the rough texture of his scar, leaving a trail of gentle kisses along its path. Maxson's breath caught, his voice trembling as he began to speak.

"I got it seven years ago, scavenging through some ruins with a Scribe when a deathclaw surprised us."

Your curiosity piqued, you propped yourself up on your elbow, your hand moving to his, squeezing it reassuringly.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to", you spoke softly, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

Arthur hesitated for a moment, his eyes clouded with memories and he felt tears forming. His voice dropped to a whisper, filled with both tension and vulnerability.

"Perhaps it's time I do share, I never told anyone the whole story", he began, "we were searching for an artifact in the ruins of that old town, it was supposed to be a safe area, aside from a few molerats and radroaches. Everything was going smoothly, we found the artifact when suddenly, a deathclaw stood within the same room of the collapsed house. I can't even recall how it got there, but I'll never forget how the creature mercilessly tore the scribe's body apart with its razor-sharp claws. Blood splattered everywhere - the walls, my clothes, my face - I could taste it on my lips."

He couldn't hold the tears back any longer, for seven years he tried to forget the details of the attack and for those same seven years, he would awaken every night, drenched in sweat with the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, haunted by the echoing roar of the creature. You held your breath, the words slowly sinking in as you realised how he must have felt.

"I sprinted out of the house, barely managing to find refuge within the remains of a dilapidated, rusty APC. I retreated as far back as possible, but the deathclaw was relentless. It thrust its arm inside, wildly thrashing around until one of its razor-sharp claws tore through the skin on my cheek. There was so much blood, I thought I'd die. My instincts took over, refusing to make it easy for the creature to get me, so I fought with everything I had. I shot all my ammo on that thing and just when I thought it was going to end me, a vertibird swooped in, distracting the creature long enough for me to ram my combat knife into its eye and it finally drop dead on the floor. I...I can't remember much after that...", his voice broke off.

Maxson's trembling hand reached out to cup your cheek, his eyes filled with tears and shame. 

"I'm sorry Arthur", you whispered, afraid to shatter the fragile moment if you spoke too loud, "during my times, an incident like this would have resulted in your removal from active duty and provided you with the necessary medical care to recover. Hell, you wouldn't have even been out there; you were just a child."

"But this is neither your time and nor your world", he muttered, wiping away the tears that stained his face, "it got me a promotion and finally gained the recognition of my brothers", a bitter laugh escaped his lips.

While this battle may have granted him the admiration of his brothers, but the cruel reality remained that it had fractured something deep within him, leaving indelible scars. 

"You were but a child."

"With the Maxson name and big shoes to fill."

"But a child nonetheless", you murmured, pulling him closer and embracing him tightly.

Arthur sobbed, burying his face in the side of your neck. After all these years he finally found someone to share the burden of this tragic moment. You didn't care about strength, about glory or his lineage, you only cared about him. Gently, you lifted his chin, making him meet your gaze, and tenderly kissed away the tears streaming down his cheeks.

"You've endured so much, it's okay, you're not alone", your eyes locked onto his and you saw something you didn't recognise before.

It was a vulnerability he had long kept hidden which now began to surface around you, revealing a truth he had never shown before. It made you wonder what would happen once you returned to the Prydwen. You've gotten a glimpse at what was buried beneath the soldier but he was still the leader of the Brotherhood of Steel, whatever he showed you would remain well hidden around them. Nervousness churned in your stomach as you pondered what awaited you upon stepping foot on the ship again. The anxious whispers in your head prevented you from asking, too afraid of the answer that might pass his lips.

Of course, upon your arrival there later that morning, a vertibird was already waiting for the two of you at the Cambridge police station. Arthur must have contacted them while you were leaving a message for MacCready. Of course he would have, you scolded yourself for forgetting that, despite all that happened between the two of you, he was still THE Elder Maxson. The flight was short and, for once, none of the raiders or mutants along the way tried to shoot at the aircraft. Maxson was sitting next to you, seemingly lost in thoughts. You felt the burning gaze of the armoured Knight standing in front of you as you shifted uncomfortably in your seat. Are they suspecting that you fucked their leader? Had Arthur even informed them of his decision to accompany you? Would he even need to? The fading sound of the rotors brought you back to reality, realising that you'd landed at the airport. Maxson guided you towards a tunnel near the helipad, leading you to a spot where a portion of the wall had crumbled away. With a gasp, you took in the sight of numerous soldiers gathered in the courtyard, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their leader.

"Brothers and sisters of the Brotherhood", he declared, taking a step forward, "we finally uncovered how the Institute uses their technology to travel undetected in the Commonwealth, all thanks to this Knight's commendable perseverance."

He held your arm up, allowing the soldiers to cheer for a brief moment. You tried your best to play along but it was hard to not let the confusion take over your expression.

"This Knight will be given the task of acquiring the necessary technology to infiltrate the Institute and with her dedication and aid, we will finally crush the Institute and their abominations and free the Commonwealth of their grasp! Ad Victoriam!"

He saluted, and everyone followed suit, pounding their fists against their chests while shouting the Brotherhood's battle cry before resuming their duties. Maxson's hand patted your shoulder, a triumphant smile adorning his lips, before he turned and walked away, leaving you standing there. Your mind was blank, unable to connect the man that cried in your arms to the one who delivered that speech. Had it all been an act? And if yes, which one? You rushed through the tunnel, up the stairs, eyes fixed on your steps as you made your way back to the ship. You didn't even notice brushing past Paladin Danse who had planned on congratulating you. No, you only wanted to lock yourself up in your quarters and be alone...

The hour was late and Arthur was pacing up and down his private quarters, his gaze shifting to the door every few steps. He wouldn't want to admit it but he waited for a knock, your knock. He'd spent the last nights with you, secretly hoping that you'd continue visiting him upon your return, granting him peaceful sleep and the reassuring love he grew so fond of. But no matter how long he waited, you wouldn't come to knock on his door, leaving him waiting and wanting until the first rays of sunlight marked the arrival of another day.

Meanwhile, you lay on your bed, burying your face in the pillow as frustration welled up inside you. The answer you longed for felt so close and yet eluded you. Every time you two were together, he would expose another layer of his soul, but his demeanor would change once you crossed the threshold of the airport, causing doubts to seep into your heart. You remembered the awkward conversation you had with Danse about the Brotherhood neither encouraging nor forbidding relationships. Perhaps whatever connection existed between the two of you was destined to exist outside the confines of the Brotherhood. Sharp persistent knocks on your door ripped you out of the slumber you didn't remember succumbing to. Before you could even get out of bed, the door swung open and Cade entered the room.

"Rise and shine, Knight! I must assess your condition and then you'll be scheduled for training alongside Paladin Danse", he spoke with authority, "the Elder has entrusted you with a vital mission, and it's imperative that you undergo proper preparations before venturing into the Glowing Sea."

The doctor just remained in the door frame, impatiently waiting as you dragged yourself out of bed and got into your uniform.

The rest of the day went as well as it started. Cade's check-up and the countless questions of which you deemed most too personal in regards to the mission at hand. While your attention should have been focused on the examination and the grueling training regimen imposed by Danse, your thoughts were remained on Maxson. In previous days, he would often be seen wandering about, observing, conversing, and issuing commands, whether aboard the ship or at the airfield. However, you had not caught sight of him today or in the days that followed. Although you didn't get a chance to worry about it any further on your final day of training because as soon as you returned to the Prydwen, Danse essentially whisked you away for one of his little get-togethers with a few others.

"You'll be heading into the danger zone soon, you deserve a little relaxation", he cheered, refilling up your glass.

"So that undercover mission with the big boss", Brandis winked, "how did it go?"

"Is that what he calls it?", you chuckled, "it was no undercover mission, I simply visited some friends who had information on the Institute and my son."

"Ah and the Elder just casually tags along?", Brandis raised a brow in doubt, "I find it hard to believe."

"Yeah it does sound suspicious, he rarely even goes down to the airport base", Teagan mumbled, "I already thought he'd grown roots within this ship."

The quartermaster had decided to join your little merry group about an hour ago, never denying a good excuse for some booze and gossip. You emptied your glass and rose to turn up the volume on the radio.

"How about less questioning and more dancing?", you suggested, swaying to the music.

One of the Neriah's younger scribes, who had joined the Brotherhood around the same you, got up, eagerly accepting your invitation as both of you danced together. The rhythm of the music swept you away, and for a brief moment, the weight of your worries around the Elder seemed to fade away. However, it didn't take long for a pang of sadness to hit you in the chest. The scribe was clearly a better dancer than Maxson but it felt wrong and you realised how much you actually missed the Elder. You stopped in your tracks, excusing yourself, running off through corridor, leaving everyone behind with a confused expression on their faces.

Meanwhile, in the solitude of his quarters, Maxson sat on his worn-out couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His eyes were closed as his mind kept replaying the image of you laughing and dancing with another. He had wandered the corridors of the Prydwen, hoping to clear his mind until he stumbled upon your little celebration. His curiosity got the better of him as he observed you conversing and sharing laughter, but he swiftly turned away the moment you began to dance with that scribe, not able to bear the sight. A mix of pain, love and guilt washed over him. Despite his resolve to uphold a more or less strict hierarchy within the Brotherhood, the connection with you had grown deeper during your little trip to Goodneighbor and the realisation of his own feelings conflicting with his duty became unbearably difficult. He emptied one glass after another, his hand trembling slightly as the slow buzz of alcohol finally began to numb his senses, lulling him into a deceptive state of calm. Confessions of love and regret filled his mind, yet the words remained unspoken, even within the solitary confines of his quarters. The weight of it all seemed to press heavily upon his shoulders, crushing him, as he wondered if he had lost his chance for happiness. A sudden knock startled him. He tried to jump up to rush towards the door, underestimating the power of the copious amounts of whiskey he had gulped down in the short time, causing him to trip and land flat on his face.

You heard a loud thud, followed by a groan and weird laughter from the other side of the door. Worried but hesitant you opened the door and stepped into the room. You scrunched your nose at the sudden smell of alcohol and a shocked gasp escaped you as your eyes landed on Maxson, sprawled out on the floor. Rushing to his side, you carefully turned him over, taken aback by how miserable he looked. The person before you bore no resemblance to the one who shared your bed or delivered that impassioned speech just a few days ago. As his eyes found yours, you witnessed the forlornness within them. His hand clumsily reached up, lightly poking and pinching your cheek, his eyes widened in shock.

"It's you", he slurred, struggling to get on his knees.

"Arthur what the fuck happened?", you asked, torn between shock, anger and concern.

"Why are you here?", he jabbed a finger at your chest with such force that it almost hurt you, "don't you...you...wanna dance with 'im?"

Confusion washed over your face at his question. Did he see you dancing? That would mean he was there...seeking you out? And, more importantly, it raised another question.

"Are you...jealous?", a smile crept onto your lips.

After days of not seeing him, you worried that he had distanced himself from you. However, it slowly dawned on you that his absence might have been due to his struggle to balance his emotional life with his responsibilities to the Brotherhood, given how deeply attached he was to them. He blew raspberries and playfully slapped your shoulder, nearly losing his balance and falling back.

"N-n-never", he hiccuped, the colour draining from his face, "I-I think I need to lie down."

You chuckled as you helped him to his feet, draping his arm over your shoulder for support as he stumbled towards the bed. He slumped down on the soft mattress, letting out a sigh of relief as you carefully placed his legs on the bed. While you had witnessed moments of vulnerability from him before, where he let his emotions spill out after years of holding them back, seeing him like this stirred something new within you. It was as if you were witnessing the truest version of the person who usually hid behind a stoic facade. His drunken mind seemed to be speaking sober thoughts, unfiltered and unrestrained, revealing his true essence.

"Try to get some rest", you said, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

"Nooooooooo", he slurred, his fingers gripping your wrist as he pulled you closer to him, "stay...I miiissed you yesterday and...before...and....staaaay."

You shifted, lying down beside him, gently tracing your fingers across his face as you observed him relax, his eyelids slowly becoming heavier. He murmured a few unintelligible words before finally drifting into sleep. You listened to the sound of his snoring for a brief moment before quietly rising, planting a final peck on his cheek. Tomorrow morning, you would inform the doctor to check on him, regardless of Cade's opinion or the potential resentment from the Elder, who would undoubtedly reappear as soon as Arthur left his quarters. But for now, all that mattered was the small smile that adorned your lips, enveloping yourself in the joy that came from knowing he loved you. It'd be hard if all would vanish again for the sake of duty but now you'd revel in it and succumb to sleep peacefully and content. Any doubts you had earlier were now replaced with absolute certainty: you were in love with each other and, one way or another, you'd both find out to balance it with everything life threw at you.

Chapter 9 - The morning-after-date

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Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Chapter 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12

Song for this chapter:

Summary: the Brotherhood's final assault and the last time you'll see your son....

Warnings: swearing, death

Notes: this is it, the end of Maxson's redemption story^^ I hope you enjoyed the ride :) the picture for this chapter was made by the wonderfully talented @hpysprkl <3 please check her Fallout art, it's absolutely amazing :)

I'm not 100% satisfied with this chapter but it's been sitting there for so long without changing so here you go, the final chapter :)

Chapter 13 - A new dawn

The walk along Liberty Prime towards the C.I.T. ruins felt like an agonizing eternity, battling against synths and mutants while the robot spewed one absurd statement after another.

"Democracy is non-negotiable.", Prime's static voice reverberated through the towering buildings as it advanced, "we will not fear the Red Menace."

"The nostalgia is real", you chuckled, nudging Maxson who walked beside you, "sounds exactly like the news broadcasts back in my days."

"Embrace Democracy, or you will be eradicated."

"I definitely liked Prime better when it was still silent", the Elder rolled his eyes, though the hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Every muscle in his body was tense, his eyes frantically scanning his surroundings to spot potential enemies in time. Your destination was mere minutes away and he fell slightly behind, motioning for the knights in power armour to form the first front with the robot. You noticed how on edge Arthur was, a stark contrast to your first mission together back in Fort Strong, but then again neither of you was wearing power armour this time. He wore his usual reinforced battlecoat over his black uniform, holding a massive gatling laser tightly in his hands. His gaze shifted between you and the surroundings, prepared to protect you at any moment if needed. The Institute hadn't deployed many of their synths along the way but the moment you finally reached the C.I.T. ruins, swarms of them teleported in, firing relentlessly at you.

"Obstruction depth: five meters. Composition: sand, gravel and communism. Stand back."

You fell back, making space for the robot to dig or rather blast its way down to the Institute. After the Knights cleared out the last remaining synths and the dust had settled, Arthur's hand quickly found yours, giving it a reassuring squeeze before you descended. As you squeezed through the old run down hallways, disabling the outdated turrets along the way, nausea slowly spread like an all consuming darkness through your entire body, getting worse the closer you got to the part you had seen on your first visit here. Your trembling hand rested on the door while you took quick shaky breaths. You kept reminding yourself that you joined this battle for the good of the people of the Commonwealth but deep down you knew that it was inevitably linked to the death of your son. Regardless of how you'd play this or the choices you made, by the end of the day he'd be dead, his body buried underneath the rubble of the organisation that took and corrupted him. Arthur's hand found yours, pushing the door open along with you. He felt your pain and understood the weight of what awaited you in these halls. He lost his parents, was sent to grow up in a place that meant well but left him scarred, always torn between who he was and who he needed to be but he would do whatever he could to lessen your burden. As soon as the last synth in the mainhall fell to the ground, Proctor Ingram's voice resonated in your comms.

"Paladin, we've located the reactor. It's accessible through the Advanced Systems division. Only... you can't reach it. The security override can only come from the Director's terminal. You'll need to access his quarters."

Her words knocked the air out of your lungs and dizziness shrouded your mind as you stumbled a few steps backwards. You weren't ready to see him again, the sneer etched on his face as he'd realise that his own mother was tearing down his life's work, a betrayal so close and yet so far from the blood that bound them.

"I'll go", Maxson's steady voice broke through your panic, nodding towards you, "Paladin get ready to make your way to the reactor as soon as the door opens."

And with that he disappeared in to the elevator.

"You've doomed humanity... you know that?", the old man's voice echoed from the corner of the room.

"If anything, I'm saving humanity", Arthur replied dryly.

His gaze shifted to Father and for a moment he felt pity. The person lying there seemed old and weak, time wasted within these sterile walls for the sake of destruction instead of spending what time he had left with his mother, the sole person in this world who truly loved him, who went to great lengths to protect him until she witnessed first-hand that he had become lost, poisoned by the Institute's doctrines.

"Ah she didn't even bother to come here herself but instead sent the Brotherhood. I never thought my mother would be so cowardly", Father spat, his voice laced with arrogance.

Arthur took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, gathering every ounce of strength to resist the overwhelming urge to strangle your son with his own hands. The way he spoke about you, the hatred and air of hubris that emanated from him, it became all too clear why you returned so broken from your first visit here.

"She's not cowardly!", his voice trembled, "she had to go through more than you could ever comprehend to save you, only to find out that you toyed with her, that she was nothing more than an experiment for you. From all I've seen, it's clear that you have even less emotions than the machines you create. I always thought the Institute created monsters, but she showed me the truth, it's not the synth, it's you, you're the monster!"

"How dare you low-life wannabe soldier talk to me like that?! I'm her family!", Father screamed through his coughs.

"No!", Arthur slammed his fists on the side of Father's bed, "I AM her family now! You heartless monstrosity can't even begin to comprehend what she means to me! To you, she is nothing more than a mere tool, but to me, she is everything, my world!"

Father's hollow laughter echoed through the chamber. He laid there, weak and dying and yet he had the audacity to laugh in Arthur's face. Pity rose within Maxson once again, along with a profound sadness. He'd gazed into the very essence of your bright soul, your damned big heart that felt compassion for those he considered mere machines, it was your goodness that had saved him from himself and he was glad that he'd spared you the sight and the words of that despicable man lying in the bed before him. His body tensed painfully at how he yearned to slam his fist into Father's face until the laughter fell silent. Every punch delivered would be in retribution for the pain he had caused you, every tear you had shed because of him, until there was nothing left anymore. His hand rose as clenched fist but just before throwing the punch, he paused. The memories of how you'd stepped between his gun and Danse flooded his mind. It was time to rise above his hatred and prove once again that he was so much more, that he was the man to whom you pledged your loyalty and love to. Arthur stepped away and proceeded towards the terminal on the desk, initiating the process of overriding the lockdown and deactivating the hostile synths. Father's laughter and shouts no longer rang through to him. As Arthur headed towards the door, he cast one last glance back to the dying man.

"You threw your life, your family, away for nothing and now you'll die for nothing", Maxson spoke before leaving the room.

Planting the bomb in the reactor was a walk in the park once the synth fighters had been disabled. You couldn't wait to get out of this place, leave it all behind and start over, together with Arthur but the moment you entered the room on your way to the relay, your heart sank at the sight of the boy clinging to Ingram. As soon as he spotted you, he darted towards you, relieved that you had finally arrived.

“Mother”, his small arms wrapped tightly around you as you froze in place.

Arthur's eyes widened in shock as he instantly recognised the true nature of the child and who it was meant to imitate.

“I'm not your mother. Whoever told you that was lying.", the pain in your voice revealed the depth of your heartache.

After all you had been through, he had managed to stab your heart one last time by throwing a synth child at you, pretending to be him. Your heart wanted to accept the child, wanted to pretend none of this had happened and simply start over with your little boy at your side, but you knew better. No matter how much you believed synths to be sentient, to be truly alive, this was still not your son and he would never be.

“Why would you say you're not? Don't you love me anymore? ", the boy uttered heartbroken.

You sobbed at his words, the sound of them almost too much to bear as they sounded sincere, despite knowing it better. Arthur tenderly held your face, placing a gentle kiss upon your lips before whispering softly into your ear.

"If you truly want this, take him. I'll keep both of you safe, my love."

Your heart ached at his words, torn between the profound sadness of leaving the boy here and the desperate desire to have your child back but no matter how you reasoned with yourself, this synth child, was a creation of a broken world, a last way of Shaun to hurt you, and was not yours to keep. His existence was a painful reminder of the past, a past you had fought to leave behind to finally be free of that sadness.

“I loved my son... my real son. You're not him. I'm sorry", you sobbed as you took Arthur's hand and walked towards the relay, ordering Ingram to teleport you out of the Institute.

You still thought back at the moment where your trembling hand hovered above the button, hesitant, afraid. When you closed your eyes, you could still feel the breeze on top the building you were standing, Maxson's fingers intertwining with yours as he whispered into your ear. The words he spoke that moment felt so different from the first speech on the observation deck. He had changed, not entirely but enough to recognise the heart beating within his chest. You enlisted under the Elder who vowed to eliminate every synth and by the end of your mission, you were engaged to Arthur, who would have granted you a life with the synth version of your son. The only problem was that you had changed too. Your heart broke the moment you met Shaun again, realising that your baby died back then along with your husband, the man who he was now was nothing like you, his arrogance mocking your very existence. And while you sometimes wondered whether you should have given into the pain and lie of raising that synth child, the certainty of your decision always came around to reassure you. You lost your family, your old life, the world you lived in, but you gained a husband you truly connected to, a new family, not made out of blood but the bonds you forged along the way and you had a new life in a new world you'd help to shape for the better. You were right where you wanted to be and no memories of that fateful day six months ago could sow doubts.

Your thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Hancock's infectious laughter. He leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Well, I guess we can all be honoured that the great Elder of the Brotherhood is sitting here without shooting any of us", he said, chuckling, "but that still won't change the fact that he lost this round, so off with those clothes!"

"But-", Arthur groaned in protest, slamming his cards on the table.

"Don't be a sore loser", MacCready chimed in, taking another sip from his glass, "I'm half naked too, that's the price you gotta pay when you play against a cheating mayor."

"Hey, not my fault that you all suck at poker. Ain't that right?", Hancock nudged you in the side, a mischievous smirk on his face.

Your hand gently caressed Arthur's thigh as you offered him a supportive smile.

"I call tactical retreat", Maxson threw his hands up and got off his chair, standing there in only his briefs and one sock, "besides I don't want to upset the ghoul."

"Oh afraid I'll go feral?", he winked.

Arthur rolled his eyes and sat down again, taking a sip from his drink.

"I told you not to play", Danse shrugged.

"Yeah, got him yesterday, his little friend Haylen got all flustered."

"You and scribe Haylen?!", Maxson called out, looking sceptically at Danse who only nodded, blushing slightly.

"Leave him alone and bear your defeat like a man by taking that sock off...or the underpants, I don't care", Hancock winked at Arthur.

You almost burst into laughter, ignoring your husband's angry stare. You knew that this outrage was simply a play, a constant banter between him and the mayor, since the day of the first of your monthly poker games. You felt at peace, with your life, your love right next you, loosing to a cheating ghoul. You always wondered how someone as sharp as Arthur could not notice that Hancock obviously played cards that shouldn't have been in the deck so many times. But then again, as you watched him fling his last sock straight into the ghoul's face, bursting into laughter, a suspicion arose within you that he might have actually noticed it. He was among friends, away from the Brotherhood, he wouldn't need to beat anyone, he would only enjoy the company and have fun. Maybe, if those two were able to bond despite their differences and ideas then there was still hope in the midst of this chaotic world.

It was one of the many nights that would forever be etched in your memory, a testament to the bonds of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit despite the hostility around. And as you left the room, you couldn't help but wonder what other surprises awaited you in this unpredictable world that now was your home....