Last Stop New Vegas

[Interstellar Bun]

The lights were on in the house, something she could see through the curtains that were drawn shut over the windows.


Well, so much for trying to slip in before anyone noticed.


That small tidbit of worry, however, was quickly forgotten when Ben kissed her. It left her smiling, her shoulders relaxing.


"You know, if worse comes to worse we can always distract them with our affection for one another." She teased him, squeezing his hand before she looked back to the home ahead of her. Admitting she had a hand in blowing people up wasn't exactly something she wanted to do to her family.


She let go of his hand and pushed the door open just enough to poke her head in. Her parents were sitting there, waiting.


God she felt like a teenager trying to sneak in, only, the consequences were much greater. At least the NCR weren't there. Yet.


"Good morning." She stepped in, leaving the door open behind her for Ben.


It was Marie who stood first. "You left without word right after our house was invaded. Do you have any idea how worried we were? God we thought you'd been killed." She grasped Darling's face before pulling her into a hug. "Are you both alright? Are you hurt?"

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben clunked in behind her and stood off to the side, watching as Marie fussed and fretted over her daughter. He grunted an affirmation to Marie’s question although he knew it was mainly aimed at Darling.


“We’re both fine, probably have some more NCR visitors come knockin’ for the nights over with though.”


He shifted on his feet, anxious for the cigarettes in his pocket.


“I had it in my head to go after the larger group them robbers were talkin about, blew em’ up. Darling tried to stop me but…”


He gave a shrug.


“What ya gonna do when someone’s got a bundle of dynamite on em?”


Ben didn’t want Darling in more trouble than she deserved. After all, she had to live here with her family where he didn’t. She was too young to be in any sort of serious trouble and he certainly didn’t mind taking the blame and any consequences that came with it.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"I planted the dynamite."


The words were out before Darling could stop them. She wasn't going to let Ben take the fall for this all on his own. No, they were a team, always had been, and that wasn't going to change yet. Ben had a habit of falling on swords, of taking blame, and Darling, well, she could take a few punches if it meant that he wouldn't get the full blame. Besides, it had been her idea to leave.


Marie's hands lingered on her arms before slipping away. The couch creaked as Lawrence pulled himself to his feet. He stepped towards them, his face hard. His gaze moved from Ben, to his daughter, and he pushed his hair back with a sigh, letting his hand linger there.


"No you didn't." His hand dropped back to his side.


She blinked. "Dad?"


And yet, as soon as the question was out of her mouth, she understood.


"You didn't plant any dynamite." He looked to Ben. "You didn't have any ta start with, and neither of you left the property."

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben’s murky eyes darted to Darling when she quickly piped up that she’d been involved and he had to hide the smirk he felt growing. Sometimes he forgot how different she was compared to when they first met in the desert. How much braver and bolder she’d become.


His focus moved to Lawrence as he stood and declared that they’d done nothing which translated to you tell no one you did this. The response was odd, the only recent person in Ben’s life that would keep him safe was Darling and now here he was surrounded by people that seemed to have his best interest in mind, or at least they pretended well.


“Yes sir.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"Good."


He watched them for another long moment, his eyes harder than they had been earlier. Darling felt a ball of guilt settling in her stomach. He could say so much with just his gaze, and in that moment she could see nothing but disappointment. Perhaps not for what she had done, but for how she had done it. She didn't know. Her hand twitched at her side, wanting to grab Ben's but she refrained from doing so.


Lawrence shook his head a little, the hard gaze softening slightly.


"Go get washed up, you smell like black powder. Make sure those clothes get put in the wash too."


"Yes sir." Darling gave a quick nod and went to take a step towards the stairs before hesitating. "If the NCR show up...?"


"We'll handle them, dear." It was Maria who spoke, her arm wrapping around her husband's. "I've kept the peace before, I'm sure I can keep it now."


Accepting the answer, Darling headed for the stairs. Before Ben could follow, Lawrence spoke up once more.


"And Ben. I like you, but if you ever bring explosives into my house again without telling me, we aren't going to get along. You hear me?"

 

[CortezHorse]

“I hear ya.”


Ben nodded to the man and followed Darling upstairs. He didn’t suspect he’d stick around for much longer because obviously his appearance seemed to bring trouble along. It didn’t matter where he went but something would undoubtedly get stirred up, probably best for all of them if he took off tomorrow. He wanted to stay with Darling, wanted to be around her forever but that was precisely the problem; his forever and her forever were two completely different lengths of time. There was no telling when his body would finally get too old and shut down, he could die before her or long, long after and that was a pain he didn’t want to repeat.


He entered the bedroom with Darling and found that the mess from the burglar’s had already been picked up by the family.


“I’m a, I’ll probably head out tomorrow.”


He sat his pack nearby and took a seat on the bed.


“Gonna go back to the Mojave I reckon.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Darling sat on the bed as she pulled her boots off. She was thinking, grey eyes not really focusing on anything as her hands moved. Shoes gone, she worked her gun harness off next and it was then she stood, moving to put it away, hiding it up in her wardrobe. She heard Ben speak and paused, her hands resting on the old leather. She didn't move for a long moment, then, hands dropping back to her sides, she went back to her bed and plopped herself right next to Ben.


"Alright, we'll go. Sky is prettier out there anyway." Darling smiled at him, that same, ever optimistic look.


She knew what she was doing, knew exactly what she was saying. She loved being home, loved working with the Brahmin and saving up enough with the dream of buying her own place one day. She loved the easy life, one where she could shower as she pleased and had a real kitchen to cook in, who wouldn't love that? And yet, she had become daring enough to leave it all behind and throw in her loyalty with a one legged ghoul.


Maybe, in a sick way, she really had missed the Mojave.


It hadn't been all bad, after all.

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben’s eyes widened at the statement because surely this was just a temporary moment of insanity for the girl.


“Darling, you know if you go with me than it’ll be a long time before we can make it back here to yer family.”


He clearly remembered how homesick she had been during their adventure and the last thing he wanted was for her to uproot and follow him then immediately regret it. Besides, her coming with him got in the way of his whole, ‘finally going out in a blaze of glory’ thing. That could be what she wanted though, the distinct look of hurt on her face when he revealed why he’d had the dynamite was still vivid. If she came with him then of course he’d continue to stick around and that brought up the other problem of lifespan but…it was still a maybe, a maybe that he might outlast her and a maybe that he wouldn’t; both were equally true.


“Well..”


He started, not waiting for a response to his previous statement.


“Will be nice to have company again.”

 

[Interstellar Bun]

It would be a while until she could make it back. She knew it, but it felt different to hear the words spoken aloud. Well, she had done it before, had packed up and headed out without even knowing what she was going to be getting into. She had been alone then, at least now she'd be with someone she trusted, someone who would have her back through and through because he had before. Besides, it wasn't like she'd be completely without communication. Letters were always an option, and it wasn't like Darling was ever the sort to forget to write.


She was psyching herself up for it, smothering her worries before they could grow.


She moved her hand, resting it on his.


"Really, Ben, I've spent too long wishing you were by my side to let you just run off again." Her tone had softened, becoming slightly more serious. She didn't look at him but, rather, watched the far wall.


"Besides, you know me, I'm always great company. Someone has to keep you smiling."

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben smirked, noting her shy behavior as she spoke. If he didn’t watch himself then he’d start calling her cute.


“Well, you do a good job of that.”


He turned his hand over and threaded their fingers together, his eyes focused on their intertwined digits and how different they were.


“You still gonna take a bath?”


He purposefully left the question open and vague, not really wanting to explain or detail what he was really asking.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

It was normal by then to feel his palm against hers, to feel warm familiarity. Yeah, she'd follow him back to the Mojave. Hell, if he asked, she'd likely follow him just about anywhere.


"Hmm? Yeah. Figure that'd be a good idea, you know, seeing as how smelling like explosives and dirt isn't exactly my favorite thing."


She chuckled a little at herself, using her free hand to push her hair back.


Getting up felt like a lot of effort right then, like she was finally starting to feel tired now that the energy and rush of everything that had happened that evening was fading away.


Well, things never had been boring when Ben was around.

 

[CortezHorse]

Ben followed Darling with his milky eyes and wondered if he was being too bold and forward in asking. Maybe he should just leave it alone and wait. He bit his bottom lip in thought and before he could truly think of what he was saying, he blurted out.


“Ya need any help?”


He visibly cringed after the words left his mouth. God, what’s wrong with me?!


“I, uh, I didn’t mean it…well I kinda did but…I-I’m sorry just forget it.”


He looked down, focusing on his hands which were nervously folded in his lap and prayed to whoever might be listening that Darling had become temporarily deaf during his fumble with words.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

She blinked, his words processing after a moment.


It was amusing, in a way, that he could be so bold for one second before doing something to try and keep himself in check, as though he had something to worry about when it came to her. Unfortunately for Ben, Darling hadn't become temporarily deaf.


She rolled her shoulder a little, the one that had been pulled at an awkward angle when she had contorted her body earlier to free herself from her binds. It throbbed a dull pain, something that didn't actually bother her all that much. While it wasn't a bad injury, it was a perfect ploy.


"Well, you know, I am a bit achy." She pursed her lips, as though she didn't already know exactly what she was going to say.


She looked to him.


"Perhaps a little help might not be a bad thing, hmm?"