Last Stop New Vegas

[Interstellar Bun]

"I can shoot better than Darling." But even as he said the words, he didn't exactly sound as confident as he had before. Shooting animals was nothing rare, but the mention of metal, people, was enough to make him just a little more worried. He wasn't an idiot, he knew people could be down right awful, knew there was a war to fight, but he never considered that he might have to shoot someone. In his mind, he thought he'd be the exception to that. People always thought they were the exception.


The comment earned a scoff as Darling flicked his ear, but she didn't fight him on it. She was a good shot, but that wasn't a skill she wanted to brag about. It felt more like a dirty secret than something to be proud about.


Still, she was glad Ben had caught the look in her eye and opted not only to try and make her brother rethink his plans, but keep quiet about the details of their misadventure.


Daniel glared up at her before his attention returned to Ben.


"But, I mean, people live out there so it can't be all that bad, it's not like it's some totally lawless land of assholes."


"Language." The warning was given by his mother, accompanied by the quiet clatter of plates as she put things away.


With a quiet apology, Daniel continued. "You live there, right?" And, obviously, if a ghoul missing a leg could make it out there then a fit young man like himself could too. Granted, Ben had more experience, but Daniel liked to think himself the tough sort.

 

[CortezHorse]

“Yea.”


Ben settled himself back into his chair, realizing this topic wasn’t going to be dropped anytime soon.


“Don’t really live anywhere out there, no one does. Some layover towns..maybe some communities..but can’t ever stay in one place for too long unless ya got barriers er good protection. I’m always movin’ stop here and there for supplies but that’s it.”


He leaned forward, arms crossed on the table so he could get closer to Daniel, look him in the eye.


“No one lives out in the Mojave..everyone survives. This here..yer home..yer land..yer family. People out there would kill to live in a place like this. You don’t got to worry about wether you’ll have enough food and drink for the next day, don’t got to worry about dyin from the heat, from a small scratch that gets infection, from animals er people that want what you got. Dyin’ quick is easy though, got slavers out there as well, shit ton of em’. You get caught by one of them, a strong, young thing like yerself, yea; they’d snatch ya up and put ya to work. Take my advice and stay here, everyone out there would call ya crazy for leaving such a nice place.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Daniel gave Ben his undivided attention as he spoke, taking his words with the weight that they deserved. He was listening and at the end of it, he paused to consider his words, his thoughts being cut off when Darling piped up.


"It's true." Everything Ben had said was true, was something she had learned for herself. In a way, she wished someone had told her that, but at the same time, she was glad she had gone. She was glad she had learned so much and if she had been talked out if it, then she wouldn't have met Ben. That, to her, was the worst thought.


Daniel tensed slightly and tilted his head up to look at her, knocking her arms off where they had been propped. The serious tone she had used, the simple words, it was enough to put him on edge. Had she seen all of that? Had she been worried about starving? About being made a slave?


There was no time to ask as the back door opened and shut with a loud noise. Heavy footsteps sounded as their father strolled in. Pulling off his hat, he smoothed back his blonde hair that was streaked with white and looked everyone over. His eyes, the same tone as his kids', landed on Ben and he gave a broad smile that showed off two gold teeth back behind his canines. The expression made the old, long scars on his face seem more apparent.


"I was told we had a guest stayin' with us." Of all of them, he was the one with the most potent accent, one that placed him far from California. He closed the distance between himself and Ben. He offered a hand with a missing finger for him to shake. "It's swell to finally meet you Ben, I'm Lawrence Harlow and I gotta say, we've heard a lot about you."


His words carried a smooth drawl, slow and unhurried as though he had all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted.

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben looked up when Darling’s father walked in and stood up to shake his hand. Out of all of them, besides Darling of course, he looked like he was the only one to see any sort of life outside of this. Since he met Darling he learned not to judge by appearances though.


“Hope it’s been good things.”


It was a lame joke but he was trying his best to fit in and not feel so odd in this homely, kind environment. He shot Daniel a look, hoping that he scared the wander out of him before he turned his attention back to Lawrence.


Ben took a seat again after Darling’s father sat, trying to think of something else to say. He was horrible at conversation, especially idle chat.


“I, uh, never thought places like this existed. S’nice house, calm area.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Lawrence chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Hell I wouldn't have believed somethin' like this existed yet alone that I could get a place like this if I hadn't done it. Say what you will about New California, it's still better than anything out in the Southeast Commonwealth. You may not be able to just knock out a power hungry politician like you can a deathclaw, but I suppose they're still easier to deal with in the long run."


It was a joke, one both his wife and his daughter rolled their eyes at. This only seemed to amuse him more. The loud, friendly air he had about him couldn't be tamped down with a few eye rolls.


"Anyway," he continued, "I just wanted to thank you for keepin' an eye on my lil' pine nut and let you know that you are welcome ta stay for as long as you'd like. Place gets a bit hectic but, hell, I figure it cant be any worse than how crazy the Mojave can get. I spent a few weeks there myself on my way out west and if it's anythin' like it was back then I'm just real glad to see you're both still 'n one piece."


It occurred to Darling then that her father had known almost exactly what she would have been getting herself into and that he let her go anyway. She wasn't sure if she should have been upset with him right then or not.

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben felt the same confliction as Darling did when her father mentioned he’d experienced the desert and its cruelty but still let his own daughter go. He was sure the man had ‘his own reasons’ but Ben was certain none of those reasons were good enough to almost get his own flesh and blood killed, or worse.


“Hm, well, my advice is ta keep yer kids here, let em know how bad it is out there before ya let em go wanderin off.”


He’d tried to be polite and civil, he really had, but apparently there was still too much desert in his blood to let his anger easily pass.


“Just pure luck she did make it back in one piece, pure luck we got away from the Legion, the raiders, the wild dogs and the bounty hunter. The Legion wants me and yer lil pine nut there, wants us for a hefty price too. Less you want yer own kids to endure slavery I suggest you keep em here. Won’t always be someone experienced that happens along and helps em on their trail.”


It wasn’t right of him to share the things they’d gone through; Ben could tell Darling hadn’t let her family know the harrowing things they’d been through. He was angry though, upset that a father would willingly let his daughter go to such a terrible place.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

The change in the atmosphere was instant and palpable.


"Ben." His name was spoken like a swear word, something tight and sharp from behind her teeth.


"Darlene."


The way her father said her name, her actual name, made her flinch a little. It was silly, she was a grown woman and he still had that pull over her, that ability to make her feel small and like she had done something wrong. The expression in her father's eyes was unreadable even to her, but she could see the amount of concern in her mother's, in Daniel's, and she hated it. She hated that sinking feeling behind her ribs like everything had just gone very, very wrong.


"You didn't tell us about the bounty hunters...or the Legion for that matter." Lawrence's eyes looked hard and Darling found she couldn't hold his gaze. "I thought you said you had stuck with a caravan until you ran into Ben. I thought you said you'd been safe."


"I don't see how talking about it is going to make a difference."


"It makes a difference that you lied to us. If we had known...oh Darlene." It was her mother that spoke up, walking towards her. "Did you get hurt? Did they hurt you?"


"I'm fine, I'd have told you if anything serious happened." She slipped past her mother, shoving her hands into her pockets as she headed for the backdoor. She needed to get outside, could feel herself bristling with the need to step away if only for a few moments. "I'm going to go take care of the brahmin."


And with that she was gone.

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben was left with the family and an awful silence. The tension cut through him, straight into his gut and he felt like he’d done something very wrong. He wouldn’t apologize for it, for revealing their journey. If it would keep the rest of this ridiculous family in place then he’d choose to do it over again. He stood with a grunt and walked out after Darling.


He wanted to at least say goodbye before he left.


“Darling..Darling!”


He caught up with her and grabbed her arm, tugging her to look at him. He was never rough with her, had never been even in the Mojave and he wasn’t now. His grip was firm but gentle; she could pull away if she wished.


“I’m sorry.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"You should be." Her voice was more upset than truly angry, and yet, she didn't tug out of his grip. She could have if she wanted to, she knew that. ut she and Ben had been honest with one another, had been open, and it felt wrong to change that now.


"I was going to tell them everything but when I got back Bruce was getting married and they were all busy with that, then he had a kid and everyone just got so swept up and excited that no one asked about how it all went and...and I didn't have to say anything and I thought that if I didn't tell anyone that it would be okay." She swallowed and felt the fight drain out of her, her shoulders slumping as her other hand lifted, rubbing her face.


After a moment of silence, she gathered her words and continued.


"It's stupid and you probably think I'm stupid but...It made it less real because I didn't have to think about how afraid I was and I didn't have to think about how I was so sure I had gotten my best friend enslaved when I chose to walk away like some sort of selfish idiot. I felt so guilty and I kept thinking of everything I never got to say and how it all went wrong that I just...I needed to be able to pretend like it was okay. That's it."

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben’s face turned from hard to sympathetic, he understood what she was trying to do.


“Well, ya know it all did happen, can’t run away forever. Trust me, can never run far enough.”


He squeezed her arm, a comforting gesture as he continued.


“Dad just upset me is all. Knowin’ some of what’s out there and lettin’ you go.”


A pause as he thought of what else to say.


“Sides, don’t think yer stupid, could never think that and I’m still here.”


His hand moved from where it gripped her arm, to her hair. Gently, he pushed his fingers through her locks then cupped the side of her face.


“Can leave if ya want me too so I don’t cause no more trouble fer ya.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

She leaned into his hand, letting her cheek rest against it as she just looked at him. The idea of sending him away sounded silly, especially because he understood.


"Now why would I ever want you to leave? I've spent too long wishing you were here to want you to pack up at the first sign of trouble."


Either way she was going to have to take the time to tell the story, the full story, and reassure everyone that it was alright, that while Ben had been honest, there had been more to it than just the worst experiences. They had fun, too, and the Strip had been everything Darling had dreamed of.


She rolled her lips in thought before a thought escaped her.


"I'd do it again, you know. If I got to go back and remake the choice to leave knowing what was going to happen...I'd still do it."

 

[CortezHorse]

“Really? Why?”


His face scrunched in confusion because he honestly couldn’t figure out why Darling would want to go through what they did again. Why wouldn’t she want to stay put in her home with her family?


He kept his hand at her face, stroking a thumb over her cheek without truly realizing what he was doing. It was an intimate moment between them and he was lost.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"It wasn't all bad, you know. I learned a lot, like that I'm stronger than I thought I was, that I can be brave sometimes, and that while there are bad people in the world it's still worth taking chances."


Before all that, she had never regarded herself as being the strong sort, and maybe she still wasn't, but it was nice to know that she had more ability than she gave herself credit for. She could protect herself, protect others.


She lifted her hand, resting it on his. There was a feeling of warmth, of peace, that settled in her core.


"And if I had just stayed here I never would have gotten to meet you."

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben smiled softly, an expression rarely seen except around her. He was a factor in her choice, in the decision that if there were a redo she’d suffer once again.


“Gotta agree there. Do it again to.”


Her hand was soft on top of his, her cheek even softer under his palm. A warmth spread through him, a feeling he had become accustomed to when traveling with her and now he was remembering it all over again.


“Should, probably go inside..gotta lot to tell yer family. I can help out with it if ya want.”


Ben was more flat, more overly honest about things, he’d only be good if she couldn’t go into details but still wanted her family to know. Still, he’d offer her help, always would.


He moved his hand away, twisting it around to grasp the hand she’d laid on him.


“Let’s go, I’ll be with ya.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Darling looked down at their hands, adjusting her fingers a little so they rested comfortably with his. There was a fluttering in her heart, something that almost made her feel nervous of all things, like she was worried her hands might be sweaty or something as equally vapid and silly. Looking back up at him, she felt herself smiling, a faint and warm expression with the realization that had dawned on her.


Or, maybe she had known for a while but hadn't dared admit it to herself, not when everything just seemed to go so wrong for them.


"Ben I-," she paused before giving a slow nod, "think that sounds like a really good idea."


Looking back towards the house, Darling resigned herself to telling the truth and finally just biting the bullet so she could put it all behind her. She started walking, keeping a grip on his hand as she did so, keeping her pace easy.


A thought hit her and it was enough to make her shift her shoulder a little, a subtle squirm.


"Can we just...skip over the details of the Legion camp, though?" That was one thing that was still hard for her to stomach. It was the Legion camp that had been the turning moment for her, the one that left as big of a mental scar as a physical one.

 

[CortezHorse]

“Course.”


He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. He’d never be able to thank her enough for what she did. It was the most selfless act he’d ever seen. She risked life, limb and things that were better left unspoken to save him. Ben wasn’t worth it, wasn’t worth everything she went through, the scars that she now bared but for some reason she was completely convinced that he was worth everything. It was the least he could do for her, to keep this little secret.


They walked inside together and Ben released her hand before they were in view. No reason to give her family something else to talk about.


“I was, uh, out of line when I spoke earlier.”


He shifted on his feet, false leg scraping the floor as he awkwardly shuffled, standing there in front of her family.


“Shoulda let Darling tell ya.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Daniel had vanished from the kitchen, likely having been sent off to do more chores. The garden didn't weed itself after all, though maybe having the carrots die would be a good way to get her mother's attention off of her. She stood beside Ben as he spoke, absently rubbing her thumb against the palm of the hand he was just holding.


No. Stop. You're acting like an idiot.


Her thoughts were interrupted as she noticed her mother had stopped cutting the vegetables and had turned to watch them. Realizing it was her turn to say something, she stepped away from Ben and moved to sit at the table, running a hand through her hair. Any previous contemplation on happier subjects had disappeared and she sobered up quickly.


"And I should have told you before. I'm sorry, I'm real sorry."


Lawrence let out a breath through his teeth and nodded, broad shoulders sinking. "It's alright, I don't guess we made it easy on you did we?" His gaze flickered to Ben. "Come take a seat if you'd like, seems like we're all gonna be talkin' for a while and I'm sure you're a real big part of this story."

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben grunted an affirmation and sat down. He watched Darling closely as she began to speak, trying to look for clues as to when he needed to jump in and assist the story telling and when he needed to be quiet. Obviously he was horrible at reading social cues but it was easier with Darling. When she came to the part of the Legion camp and paused, Ben saw an opportunity to help and spoke.


“Wasn’t nothin’ too big with them, almost got caught, I took a couple of their guys out and that pissed em off so ya know, put a bounty on our heads.”


He made sure to make the story brief and to leave out the part where Darling helped kill. If she didn’t want them to know then they wouldn’t know. While he spoke his hand even came up and rested on Darling’s forearm out of instinct, wanted to make sure she was alright while he wove the simple tale.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

She had hesitated, had felt the words catch in her throat and was all too thankful when Ben filled in for her silence. She was glad to have him there because after everything else, she just didn't have it in her heart to lie any more. The muscle in her arm twitched under his touch but she remained still otherwise, relaxed despite it all.


Her mother had moved to sit at the table with them by then, her hand resting on Lawrence's out of habit more than anything as Darling continued the story.


"Ezra had caught us then and Ben..." her tone slipped from its usual lightness, bogged down by old emotion, "he told me to just take his stuff and go, that he'd bring Ezra his daughter back and handle it. I didn't know what else to do so I just left and that was where we parted." It sounded like such a simple ending, something that shouldn't have wrapped up their story as easily as it had.


Lawrence let out a long sigh, rubing his face. "Hell. Darling I...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let you go. And Ben, I owe you a hell lot more than just a thank you for all of that."

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben shrugged, such a casual gesture in this weighted moment.


"S'fine, don't need nothin."


And he didn't, Ben wouldn't ask for anything for what he'd done. Maybe in the beginning he would have excepted some money or other valuable from her father for keeping his daughter alive but after everything that happened, he felt he owed Darling a lot more, more than her father would ever know.


He stroked her forearm with his thumb, not even thinking about it, just trying to ease some of the tension and guilt he felt from her.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

His thumb smoothed across the skin on her arm, leaving behind an almost ticklish sensation. She had missed the way his hands felt so odd and had all too quickly become accustomed to it once more. There was something comforting about it, something so uniquely him, and maybe that was what she liked about it.


"No I insist, I'd hate to let somethin' that kind go unrewarded. We don't have too much to give away but-."


"Sweetie," Marie spoke, squeezing Lawrence's hand, "maybe just letting him stay for a bit would be payment enough. I'm sure after staying in the Mojave for as long as he has, he'd appreciate nor having to worry about the Legion being on his trail, hm?"


And that was enough to make Lawrence relent.


"You're right. Perhaps it ain't much but you have our hospitality for as long as you want it." There was a pause before he grinned, trying to lighten the heavy mood. "Besides, your better than most of the other guys Darling's brought home."


And, as per usual, Darling rolled her eyes at her father. They'd talk more later, of that she was sure, but right then she was glad to have a bit of humor to cut the tension that had been coiling in her.

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben nodded in gratitude, honestly letting him stay here was more than enough. Most people he’d ever come across were wary to even let you inside to cool off. The room was more relaxed now and Ben felt himself unwinding as well, at least until her father made the comment about Darling bringing home men that is.


He coughed, clearing his throat awkwardly.


“Hm, thanks.”


His thoughts immediately went back to the awful soldier in the layover town they’d stopped at. Ben couldn’t think of his name, didn’t really want to but the image of Darling parading around with men like that her entire life made his stomach knot. She was too special for some ignorant clod with no sense to be attached to her in anyway.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

The awkward reaction almost made it more amusing to Lawrence as he stood. Pressing a kiss to his wife's cheek, he was sure to clasp a hand on Ben's shoulder as he departed from the table.


"Well, for as much as I'd love to sit 'round and chat some more, I'm afraid a rancher's work is never done. Darling said you used to do some of this work before the war, yeah? If you ever get bored, feel free to lend a hand." He gave another smirk to mark the last comment as a joke before he scooped his hat up and headed back off.


Darling watched her father leave before offering the very smallest smile towards Ben. The rest of the day ticked away with various chores to be done until, finally, the sun started to dip below the edge of the horizon. Viola and Daniel worked on the dishes and, while it would have been easy to just wash down and retire for the evening, Darling had other ideas.


She touched Ben's arm in an attempt to grab his attention. Her eyes glimmered, a plan clearly building under the surface.


"Hey, if you're not too tired, I think I have a pretty nice idea of how to spend the evening."

 

[CortezHorse]

“Yea?”


He looked confused and maybe just a little uneasy. A good way to spend the evening? Ben had been around long enough to know what that could possibly mean. Of course he knew there was no way that Darling meant something so crude but he couldn’t help it that his brain jumped to that conclusion.


“Sure, yea, uh, lets go.”


Ben stood from the table and took her hand, following her lead.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

He took her hand and Darling smiled at him. Without a hint of what she had in mind, she lead the way out of the house and down a dirt pathway she had walked too many times in her life. The air was pleasantly warm outside and though she could have easily let go of his hand, she didn't. Her grip was loose, enough so that he could easily slip his hand away if he wanted to.


The walk wouldn't take long and it wasn't as though that mattered. The area wasn't dangerous, in fact, it was rather quiet, though that didn't stop Darling from carrying a knife in her pocket. The promise of safety never quite felt the same after the Mojave.


A peaceful silence fell about them until a thought occurred to Darling.


"It doesn't feel like it's been three years, does it?"


Three years of not seeing someone usually meant that people had changed too much to ever truly have the same bond as before, and yet, it was like they jsut had a long weekend apart from one another. They fell into that same pattern as before all too easily.