a/n: AIN'T SHIT SWEET. this is a bit of a longer chapter. the pink part is supposed to be a flashback btw.
tw: blood and death, a little angst
The next few days were... surprisingly normal.
Well-
As normal as life in the wasteland could be.
You walked.
You scavenged.
You slept under the stars by the fire.
And Vigilante talked.
Constantly.
The late morning sun hung overhead, warm but not unbearable. A steady breeze drifted through the dry grass that lined the cracked highway, carrying the scent of dust and pine from the foresty hills nearby.
"Okay."
You already knew that tone.
"What now..?"
"Gun lesson."
You sighed.
"You've been teaching me for three days now-"
"And you're getting better!"
"You said that yesterday."
"And I was right yesterday too! Now get your booty up and come over here! ...Sorry... that was weird."
The two of you stood in a clearing surrounded by dead trees.
A rusted road sign leaned nearby.
Your latest victim.
-Or target.
Hopefully target.
You raised the pistol.
Vigilante immediately adjusted your elbow.
"Nope."
You frowned.
"What?"
"Too stiff."
"How am I supposed to hold it?!"
"Like you're threatening somebody."
You lowered the weapon, staring at him blankly.
"You're a terrible teacher by the way."
"I think you mean I'm a terrific teacher!"
"You told me the "number one rule of gun safety" was confidence is more important than safety."
"It is-"
"It absolutely isn't."
"It is if you're confident enough!"
You stared at him.
The helmet stared back.
You hated that. Not seeing the face behind the voice was killing you in a way.
Finally, you raised the pistol again.
Took a breath.
Steadied your hands.
And fired.
The shot echoed through the clearing.
The bullet struck the road sign.
Not the center.
But close.
For a second there was silence.
Then-
"YESSSS!"
You flinched.
Vigilante threw both arms into the air.
"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BABY-"
"It wasn't that good."
"It hit!"
"Barely."
"It still counts!!"
You chuckled, brushing it off.
But secretly...
You were kind of proud.
The pistol no longer felt foreign in your hands.
And for the first time since leaving the vault, you felt slightly less helpless.
Slightly.
The days passed and the conversations came easier now. You found yourself talking more.
Not a lot.
Just enough.
Enough to answer questions instead of ignoring them.
Enough to ask a few of your own.
Unfortunately-
Every question directed at Vigilante somehow turned into a fifteen-minute story.
"Physically like 3 years. Emotionally, its been forever-"
"That's not a real answer."
"It absolutely is!"
Before you could stop him, he continued.
"See, physical travel is easy to measure. You walk somewhere. Boom. Travel. Emotional travel is different. Emotional travel is when life takes you on a journey. Life is like chocolates- wait no that's not it, hold on- Life is like-"
A few days later, the two of you were following an old highway.
The road stretched endlessly ahead, a cracked ribbon of asphalt cutting through open, dry wasteland.
On either side, dry grass swayed lazily in the wind, golden and brittle under the afternoon sun.
Far ahead in the distance, broken silhouettes of old buildings leaned at strange angles, half-swallowed by time and sand.
It shouldâve felt eerie. It almost did.
But after days of walking together, even the wasteland had started to feel⊠familiar.
Not safe. Never safe. Just known.
Your sling bag shifted slightly against your shoulders as you walked, the weight of supplies now something youâd stopped thinking about every five minutes.
Your pistol sat at your hip in a way that no longer felt entirely foreign.
Beside you, Vigilante kept pace easily.
As always.
He was mid-sentence. Again.
âSo what Iâm saying is, mantises are clearly organized.â
You glanced at him.
âThey're dumb insects-â
âThink about it...â
He was in the middle of explaining why the mantises were probably plotting something against the rest of civilization.
He gestured vaguely at the empty road.
âTheyâre too coordinated for it to be random.â
âTheyâre insects.â
âThat's how they get you! Its exactly what they want you to think-â
You sighed.
The sun was bright and warm, without the usual harsh edge of the wasteland heat.
A breeze moved through the grass in slow waves, carrying dust and the faint smell of old copper pennies and dry dirt.
It was the kind of day that almost tricked you.
The kind that made you forget, for a few seconds at a time, that the world above the vault had ever been anything but endless ruin.
Just for a few seconds at a time.
Not any longer.
Vigilante continued anyway.
âIâm telling you, if you watch them closely, they pause before they move like theyâre-â
He stopped mid-sentence.
Completely.
You slowed slightly.
Then stopped fully.
And looked at him.
"What?"
The helmet tilted slightly.
Then-
"You hear that?"
Your stomach tightened.
You listened.
Footsteps.
Multiple.
Shit.
Figures emerged from the roadside ruins.
One.
Two.
Three.
Armed.
Not raiders-
Something else.
Raiders were loud, chaotic, and covered in mismatched armor and bad decisions.
These men moved with purpose.
Weathered combat gear, maintained weapons, and armor that actually fit.
One carried a rifle across his chest. Another kept a hand resting near a holstered pistol. The third scanned the road before his eyes settled on you.
Then Vigilante.
Their movements were calm. Measured. Like they already knew how this was going to end.
The moment they stepped into view, one of them pointed.
"There he is."
The leader grinned.
"Took long enough."
Beside you, Vigilante groaned.
Actually groaned.
"Oh, come on-"
You blinked.
"Vigil-"
I stepped back, unconsciously behind him.
"Not these guys again-"
The man laughed.
"Miss us?"
"Why would I miss you?!"
"Aww."
Vigilante pointed.
"Mannn- I was having a good day!?"
The group spread out.
Weapons raised.
Your hand instinctively drifted toward your pistol.
Then one of the men pulled something from his bag.
A piece of paper.
A poster.
Your stomach dropped.
WANTED. VIGILANTE. DEAD OR ALIVE.
Below it was a list.
A very, very, very long list.
Murder. Assault. Manslaughter. Destruction of Property. Destruction of Governmental Building. Illegal Use of Explosives. Homicide Through Use of Illegal Explosives. Reckless Endangerment...
And somehow the list kept going..
Back in the vault, those weren't words you heard every day... nor any day.
They weren't stories or rumors or things that happened somewhere else-
It just didn't exist.
They were the kinds of things that got people locked away. Bad people.
The kinds of things people whispered about.
The kinds of things that weren't supposed to happen at all.
You'd spent your entire life being taught that violence was something terrible.
Something rare.
Something that happened in history lessons and old recordings.
Not something ordinary people did.
Slowly, you looked up from the poster.
Toward Vigilante.
He noticed.
"Okay."
A pause.
"Some of those are exaggerated!"
"Some??"
"Okay, well most..."
The leader stepped forward, looking towards you.
"Adrian is a funny guy, you know?"
His rifle remained trained on Vigilante, Adrian...
Adrian frowned. Not because the man dropped his real name...
He frowned because he wasn't the first to tell you.
You didnât respond.
Not because you didnât have words.
Because you had too many...
"We're getting paid to bring you in."
"Alive?"
"Preferably."
"Nice!"
The man smirked.
"But dead works too. Now that I think about it, saves our ears..."
The joking stopped.
Not completely.
But enough.
Something in Adrian's posture shifted.
Subtle.
Dangerous.
Your pulse quickened.
The leader must have noticed too. You saw it in the slight tilt of his head, the way his dark eyes sharpened.
Then he moved.
So fast you barely registered it-
One moment Adrian was standing in front of you.
The next, a gloved hand had fisted itself in the front of his suit, yanking him forward.
Cold metal pressed against the side of his helmet.
"Move?"
The man smiled.
"And I'll kill him."
Your heart slammed against your ribs.
Nobody moved.
Not even Adrian.
The wasteland went silent.
The leader looked at you.
"You."
The barrel shifted slightly.
"Walk away."
Your fingers tightened around your pistol.
The poster flashed through your mind.
Murder.
Assault.
Wanted.
Dead or alive.
Who was he?
You didn't know.
You didn't know where he came from.
You didn't know why people wanted him.
You didn't know if the poster was true.
But-
You knew the man who shared his food.
The man who paid for your supplies.
The man who stayed awake every night to keep watch.
The man who spent days teaching you how to survive.
You knew him.
At least a little.
And you knew this.
The people holding him weren't planning on taking him alive.
Your hand moved, unholstering the gun in a instant.
The pistol suddenly felt heavier than it ever had before.
Your breathing quickened.
Hands shaking.
Heart pounding.
You remembered his voice.
Breathe.
Aim.
Commit.
The pistol rose.
"Vaultie."
He shook his head.
"Put the gun down."
Your hands trembled.
You hated that he could see it.
"Easy now."
The leader noticed your hesitation.
Of course he did.
And he laughed.
Because to him, you weren't a threat.
Just some scared girl in a vault suit.
Someone who had probably never fired a weapon at a real person nor had the balls to actually pull the trigger.
Which, admittedly...
Was true.
The pistol wavered.
Your pulse hammered in your ears.
The man chuckled.
"See? She won't do it-"
For the first time in a while, Adrian spoke. His head raising to look up.
"Wow."
The leader frowned.
"What?"
"You are really bad at reading people-"
He joked despite the gun against his helmet.
"Shut up."
The man kicked the back of his knees, making Adrian kneel.
"Okay..."
A beat.
"But statistically speaking, there's like a 60% chance you're about to get shot-"
Even with a gun to his head.
He was still talking.
Still trying to make jokes.
And somehow that made everything worse.
Because it reminded you of every stupid conversation you had.
Every campfire talk. Every lesson. Every mile you had walked together.
The man beside him wasn't seeing any of that-
He saw a bounty.
You saw...
The idiot who spent twenty minutes arguing with a squirrel.
The guy who used up his bottlecaps to buy you supplies behind your back.
The guy who stayed awake and kept the fire running to keep you warm.
The guy who taught you how to shoot.
Your grip tightened.
The leader's smile faltered.
Just slightly.
"Oh bitch please, you wouldn't-"
BANG.
The shot cracked through the air.
The man screamed, holding onto his shoulder.
His gun dropped.
The moment the gun left his hand, Adrian moved.
Fast.
Faster than you'd ever seen.
One second he was being held hostage.
And in the next, he drove a blunt stick into the wounded man's face.
Adrian spun.
The second mercenary barely had time to raise his rifle when Adrian grabbed the rifle and yanked it sideways.
The man's shots went wildly in the air. Then Adrian slammed the butt of the rifle into his stomach.
The mercenary folded instantly at the bullets.
A third man charged.
Which, in hindsight, seemed like a terrible decision.
"Please don't do that-"
The warning came too late.
Adrian stepped aside, caught the large man's arm, and used his momentum against him.
The mercenary flew face-first into a rusted guardrail with a loud thud. His entire face caved in at the impact as he slid down into the gravel.
You blinked.
The entire fight had lasted maybe ten seconds.
Maybe less.
Adrian stood in the middle of the road.
Not even breathing hard.
Then his helmet turned toward you. The energy immediately shifted.
Gone was the fighter who'd dismantled four armed men without breaking a sweat.
âYOU DID IT.â
You stared at him.
âHm?â
âYOU SHOT SOMEBODY.â
âI know,â you said automatically.
But your voice came out quieter than you meant it to.
âYOUR FIRST HOSTAGE RESCUE!â
âPlease donât call it that-â
âYou saved me.â
The words shouldâve felt good.
They didnât.
Not really.
Your grip tightened on the pistol without thinking.
You could still feel it - kickback, sound, the sudden violence of it all.
Back in the vault, this wasnât supposed to be real. It was history. Training. Something that happened to other people.
Not you.
âI shot him,â you said softly.
Adrianâs grin faded a little.
âWhat?â
âI actually shot him.â
Silence.
âYeah,â he said. âYou did.â
âIâve never done that before.â
Your voice wavered at the end.
You hated that it did.
Adrian went still.
The excitement was gone now.
âOh,â he said quietly.
A pause.
Then softer-
âThat was⊠a lot.â
You looked down.
âI donât know what Iâm supposed to feel.â
âYouâre not supposed to feel good about it,â he said.
A beat.
âBut you didnât do it for nothing.â
"...Are you okay?"
You looked down at the pistol still in your hand.
Your hands were shaking again.
Not from fear.
Not entirely.
The adrenaline was fading and reality was catching up.
You had actually pulled the trigger.
At a person.
Your stomach twisted.
Adrian seemed to notice.
âI was just... proud,â he admitted. âbecause you didnât freeze.â
He hesitated.
For once, he didn't joke.
He simply stepped closer.
"You did good, y/n."
The sincerity in his voice caught you off guard.
"You saved my life."
And suddenly the wanted poster flashed through your mind again.
The crimes.
The bounty.
The questions.
Your grip tightened around the pistol.
Because that was the problem.
Three men lay a few feet away, motionless in the dust,
In the vault, they would have taught you that saving more lives mattered.
Three over one. That was supposed to be simple.
But you hadnât chosen simple.
You had chosen him.
You had saved his life.
And you still had no idea who he really was.
Adrian stepped forward.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like he was approaching a small animal that'll run if he moves wrong.
He reached up and took his helmet off.
The motion wasnât dramatic.
No hesitation built for effect.
Just a quiet, deliberate removal, like heâd finally decided there was no point in hiding behind it anymore.
The helmet hit the ground beside him with a soft, dull clink.
And for the first time, there was nothing between you and him.
Dust clinging to his skin.
Brown hair flattened slightly from the helmet.
A bruise darkening near his jaw you hadnât noticed before.
But it was his dark green eyes that held you.
Searching.
Uncertain.
Worried.
Not about the men behind you, but about you, and what you were thinking of him.
Like he was bracing himself for the moment you decided he wasnât worth staying with.
As if your presence had become something he wasnât ready to lose.
im making a fallout au x peacemaker fic about Adrian in a post-apocalyptic world.
This idea popped into my head while I was watching Fallout lmao. I was thinking about how Adrian would be a lot like Lucy.
No matter how fucked up the world gets, he'd hold onto his kindness and optimism. He's trusting, helpful, and naive to some, but he genuinely wants to see the good in people.
Till they fuck up and he won't hesitate to kill them.
Anyways! It'll probably be out within the week and I wanna do a short series with it
You woke up to the sound of someone arguing with a squirrel.
At first, you thought you were dreaming.
Then-
"I know you can hear me."
A pause.
"You've been staring at me for ten minutes."
Another pause.
"You think you're being subtle, but you're not."
You opened one eye.
Vigilante was standing at the edge of camp.
Arms crossed.
Staring at a squirrel.
The squirrel stared back.
Neither appeared willing to back down.
You closed your eye again.
Maybe if you ignored it, it would go away.
It did not.
"We have an understanding now."
You opened your eyes.
The squirrel was gone.
Vigilante looked pleased with himself.
You decided not to ask.
Maybe going back to sleep was the best option-
Unfortunately, Vigilante noticed you moving.
"Oh good! You're awake."
Vigilante stood and stretched.
"How'd you sleep?"
You hesitated.
Better than expected.
Much better than expected.
Which felt strange considering you'd spent the night in a forest with a masked stranger.
"Just fine."
A little while later, breakfast (if a can of questionable pre-war food you reluctantly ate counted as breakfast) was finished.
Backpacks were packed.
Vigilante slung his bag over one shoulder.
Then pointed dramatically east.
"Today, Vaultie, we journey."
You groaned at the nickname but stood up from the fallen log. Slinging your own bag on your shoulder.
Just a few hours later into the walk in the forest, the trees began thinning.
The forest opened up and for the first time since leaving the vault, you saw something that looked almost like civilization.
Buildings.
Fences.
People.
A settlement built from scrap metal and salvaged wood.
The sounds of people talking, haggling, and a hammer pounding against metal filled the air.
Before you could argue about the place being dangerous, he started walking toward the settlement.
Without hesitation.
Like he belonged there.
That surprised you.
People actually lived out here.
Together.
Trading.
Talking.
The sight felt strangely comforting, reminiscent about the community in the vault.
How they each helped each other out simply out of kindness.
How they blindly followed the orders from the overseer...
As you entered the settlement, dozens of eyes immediately landed on you.
The blue vault suit tended to have that effect.
Then those same eyes shifted toward Vigilante.
A man with one eye and a patch on the other, standing outside his shop groaned.
"Oh no."
Vigilante pointed.
"See?"
You frowned.
"What?"
"He's happy to see me."
"That is not what that sounded like."
The man rubbed his face and his overgrown beard.
"Last time you were here, somebody's brahmin ended up on a roof. You know what happened- it fell off and fuckin' died. Woopty doo, there goes their dinner-"
"Okay, first of all-"
Vigilante held up a finger.
"Nobody can prove that was me."
"You admitted it and laughed for fucks sake-"
"That isn't proof!"
The man looked rightfully exhausted and you could understand why.
As you walked deeper into town, more people recognized him.
Some waved.
Some groaned.
One woman immediately walked inside a building and locked the door.
"Why did she do that?"
"Long story."
Throughout the afternoon, you followed him through the settlement.
Trading posts.
Supply stalls.
Repair shops.
And everywhere you went, the same pattern emerged.
People liked him. Most people annoyed yet they entertained his theatrics.
Not because he was normal.
Clearly.
But because he helped.
An old woman struggled to move a heavy crate.
He did.
Immediately.
A ghoulish-looking kid ran up to show him a slingshot.
He spent five minutes pretending it was the greatest weapon he'd ever seen.
A merchant complained about raiders on a nearby road.
Vigilante promised to check it out.
Without asking for anything in return.
The more you watched, the more confused you became.
Because none of it matched the image you'd formed of him.
He was reckless.
Weird.
Possibly insane.
But he was also... Kind.
As he finally remembers what you two came here for- he trudges back to your side.
While you examined a collection of supplies, the merchant looked toward Vigilante.
Then toward you.
Then back toward Vigilante.
"You with him?"
You nearly choked.
"What?"
The merchant shrugged.
"Just asking."
"We're not-"
"She's traveling with me!"
Vigilante answered cheerfully.
The merchant looked amused, turning towards you.
"Good luck keeping sane with all his yapping-"
Vigilante remained completely oblivious.
As usual.
As you looked through his little shop of miscellaneous things, you settled on getting the small knife you had just enough bottlecaps for.
"I'll just take this one-"
The merchant grumbled, packing a dirty sling bag with the knife and then a pistol, a map, compass, and a few more necessities before holding it out to you.
It was far more than you could afford.
You frowned.
"No... I just wanted the knife-"
"God damnit I don't have all day- just take it."
I grab the bag confused, then...
Across the settlement, Vigilante was suddenly fascinated by absolutely nothing. Whistling innocently.
Looking everywhere except you.
Your eyes narrowed.
"Did you pay for this?"
"What?"
"You paid for this."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You absolutely do."
"I'm just standing here."
"Vigilante."
"Okay, technically I was standing over there five minutes ago-"
You stared.
He stared back.
Or at least you assumed he did.
It was hard to tell with the helmet.
Finally he shrugged.
"You needed supplies."
The answer was simple.
Matter-of-fact.
As if it were obvious. As if there was nothing more to discuss. Something in your chest tightened unexpectedly.
A/N: This idea popped into my head while I was watching Fallout lmao. I was thinking about how Adrian would be a lot like Lucy. No matter how fucked up the world gets, he'd hold onto his kindness and optimism. He's trusting, helpful, and naive to some, but he genuinely wants to see the good in people. The only big difference?
If you betray him, Adrian won't hesitate before killing you.
tw: mentions of blood, death, and almost SA
The wasteland was nothing like the posters. Nothing like the stories. Nothing like the lies they spent your entire life selling.
Back in the vault, the world above had been painted as something tragic but beautiful. A place waiting to be rebuilt someday.
Instead, it was hot.
Dusty.
Smelly.
And full of barbaric people trying to kill you.
You stumbled down a rocky hillside along the woodlands. Your vault suit already torn and stained with dirt after only 4 days on the surface.The canteen on your hip was nearly empty, and the map you'd been given might as well have been written in another language.
From being ravaged by mutated surface dwellers to the close calls with radroaches, it was damn sure a miracle how you were still alive.
You trudged through the dense green overgrowth with a growing sense of regret, your thoughts drifting back to the comforts of the vault.
Hot meals waiting at the end of the day, endless clean water, and warm showers that didn't require worrying about rad poisoning...
Lost in those thoughts, you failed to notice the sharp snap of a twig behind you or the faint rustle of leaves nearby.
A gloved hand suddenly clamped over your mouth.
A startled cry died in your throat as another arm wrapped around your waist, yanking you backward against a solid chest.
The scent hit you immediately...
Sweat, dirt, and weeks of living without a proper shower.
Panic surged through you.
A random wastelander...
A surface dweller...
The rad poisoning he probably had...
And judging by the grip he had on you, he wasn't interested in anything friendly.
"Don't scream."
The man's voice was low against your ear.
Your heart hammered wildly.
Easy for this fuckwad to say.
You immediately tried to elbow him in the ribs and stomped on his foot.
"Ow- shit!" he hissed but tried to stay quiet.
His grip loosened just enough for you slip out of his hold.
"Jesus fucking Christ!? Was that really necessary?" he clutched his stomach covered by his dirty black and teal suit.
His face covered except for the red visor he peeked out of.
Making a run for it, you barely get away when you stumble right into the arms of another filthy wastelander.
"What do we have here... A pretty little vaultie. She's pretty fresh too. I can smell it-"
The disgusting smug smile on his wart-filled face widened as I looked up at him in horror. Two other armed men looking the exact same stood right beside him.
You froze.
Half utterly disgusted and nauseated, half trembling in fear.
When you try to back away, his grimy hands grip onto your wrist and pull you closer to his chest.
"Let's see how you taste, huh? Bet that ass on you tast-"
Your eyes shut just as blood splatter all over your blue suit and on your face.
Only then do you process the sound of several gunshots ringing in the air.
You hear bodies fall to the ground but you're too scared to look so you opt to back away slowly.
"Oh shitâ sorry!" he hurriedly wipes away at the blood covering your face with a sticky handkerchief that's been used for god knows what.
"Fuuuck- I'm sooo sorry... I totally didn't think that through- They were gonna hurt you so... you know... I had too. On the bright side, the blood makes you look kinda badass! Like you're definitely an experienced vault dweller and not some dumb, naive target... Not that I think you're naive- or dumb..."
He rambles, trying his best to somewhat make you feel better about the situation like you're not completely covered in blood and probably traumatized.
He turns you around, away from the bloody mess, and you let yourself be taken away from the scene before slowly opening your eyes.
When you finally opened your eyes, the first thing you saw was red.
Not blood.
The visor.
The stranger's red visor stared back at you from only a few feet away. He immediately brightened up.
"Oh good! you're conscious."
"But I was conscious before..."
"Really? Because you looked pretty unconscious to me."
"I closed my eyes."
"Yeah, but like... dramatically."
You stared at him.
He stared back.
For a moment, neither of you said anything. Then his head tilted slightly.
"Are you gonna throw up?"
"What..?"
"The whole blood thing-"
His hand gestured vaguely behind him.
"A lot of people throw up after the blood thing- especially vault people..."
Your face paled as you remember the remainder of the blood on your face and suit.
Dark red stains splattered across the bright blue fabric. Some had soaked into your sleeves. More covered your hands.
"Oh-"
The gunshots echoed in your head.
The bodies.
The sound they made hitting the ground.
Your stomach lurched.
"Oh God."
"Yeah."
"Oh my God."
"Yeah, that's usually the reaction."
You made a strangled noise somewhere between a groan and a gag, immediately clamping a hand over your mouth.
"They're dead-"
The statement hung in the air.
He shifted awkwardly.
"Yeah."
You stared at the blood.
"They're actually dead..."
"Uhhh... yup."
A pause.
"They would've killed you, you know...? Or even worse-"
You swallowed. Hard.
You knew that.
Logically.
You'd known it the moment that man grabbed you.
The moment he'd started talking.
The moment you'd seen the look in his eyes.
But hearing it said aloud made it real.
A sick feeling twisted in your stomach.
The strange but kind man seemed to realize he wasn't helping.
"I know this is a lot for you. Just try to relax... And don't feel bad about them, alright?"
He watches as you stumble toward the nearest tree and braced yourself against it.
The forest suddenly felt very hot.
Very loud.
Very real.
Four days.
You'd survived four days in the wasteland.
And now you'd witnessed three people get shot.
You missed the vault.
You missed your bed, your family, the food...
You missed not knowing what a severed artery looked like.
You missed literally everything.
Coming out here was a mistake.
The stranger hovered awkwardly nearby.
Not close enough to touch you. Just... hovering.
"Do you need water..?"
You looked down at your nearly empty canteen.
Then back at him suspiciously.
"Is it irradiated?"
"What?"
"The water."
"No."
"How do you know?"
"I drink it and I'm fine."
"That doesn't answer my question..."
The masked man paused, then shrugged.
"That's fair."
You narrowed your eyes.
This wastelander was strange.
Dangerously strange.
Not in the murderous way.
He seemed too nice for a surface dweller. Too nice for his own good.
He suddenly held out a canteen.
"Here-"
You eyed it.
Then him.
Then the canteen.
Then him again.
"You could be trying to poison me."
"You literally watched me save you from those guys. I thought I looked like a trustworthy person-"
"That doesn't mean anything..."
"Okay- Wow."
He huffed and his shoulders slumped.
"Trust issues much?"
"I've been outside for four days, got robbed, almost eaten by cannibals, and almost killed by those guys-"
"Okay yeah, that's fair too..."
Despite yourself, you accepted the canteen.
The water was cool.
Clean.
Cleaner than anything you'd found since leaving the vault.
You drank greedily.
The stranger watched with what looked suspiciously like satisfaction. As though he'd somehow accomplished something.
When you finally lowered the canteen, he looked almost relieved.
"See? Not poison."
You wiped your mouth.
"Yet."
"Oh come on-"
The forest fell quiet around you.
For the first time since the attack, your heart wasn't trying to escape your chest.
You studied him more carefully.
The suit was worn.
Scratched in places. Definitely homemade. Bits of armor had been patched together from different materials.
Nothing matched nor looked professional.
Yet somehow it all worked. The red visor hid his eyes which made him infinitely harder to read.
Unfortunately for him, he talked enough for both of those things.
"You shouldn't be out here alone."
The sudden seriousness in his voice caught you off guard.
You blinked.
"What?"
"You're a vault dweller."
His head tilted toward your jumpsuit.
"People see that and immediately think 'easy target! Let's loot her and then eat her body afterwards!!' And trust me, you don't wanna mess with any of those human jerky fiends. One time, my friend got his ear bitten off during a fight by one of them, it was gnarly-"
He cleared his throat, stopping his rambles.
His hand unconsciously drifted toward one of the pistols at his side as he got serious again.
"You got lucky today..."
Lucky.
You glanced toward the trees behind him.
Toward the place where the bodies still lay.
Your stomach twisted.
Lucky...
Right.
Because if he hadn't shown up...
You swallowed hard.
The realization was unpleasant. The stranger seemed to notice.
Because his voice softened. Only slightly.
"But you're okay."
The words came out surprisingly gentle.
Almost awkward.
Like he wasn't used to comforting people.
"You're safe."
For some reason, that helped.
A little.
You looked up at him.
Like actually looked at him.
At the ridiculous suit. The red visor. The nonstop talking.
The strange way he kept checking the surrounding forest while carrying on a conversation.
And you finally asked the question that had been bothering you since he appeared-
"...Who are you?"
The masked man straightened immediately.
Almost excited.
"Oh."
A dramatic pause.
Then he pointed both thumbs at himself with a grin you couldn't see but you could definitely hear.
"Vigilante at your service."
You blinked.
Silence.
A bird chirped somewhere nearby.
"...That's your name?"
"Yep."
"You named yourself Vigilante?"
"Technically I named myself before anyone else could- Oh look its a mantis!"
He announced it with far more enthusiasm than the situation warranted.
"Did you know praying mantises' have an ear on their stomach-"
Then, before you could even turn around to look at the damn thing, he whips his pistol out and a gunshot cracked through the woods.
The dog-sized mantis exploded just a few feet away from you into a mess of green gore as he continued to walk away.
"Oooh and a similar cousin to the mantis are rad roaches. Did you know they can grow to be the size of a German shepard and as fast as them too?! That's why I always say not to run away but back up slowly-"
You turned away from the green remains of the mantis and stared at him.
He stared back.
The wasteland somehow managed to produce the weirdest man you had ever met.
And judging by the proud way he was standing there...
im making a fallout au x peacemaker fic about Adrian in a post-apocalyptic world.
This idea popped into my head while I was watching Fallout lmao. I was thinking about how Adrian would be a lot like Lucy.
No matter how fucked up the world gets, he'd hold onto his kindness and optimism. He's trusting, helpful, and naive to some, but he genuinely wants to see the good in people.
Till they fuck up and he won't hesitate to kill them.
Anyways! It'll probably be out within the week and I wanna do a short series with it
the best fanfiction you've ever read was written by a woman in her 40s before she made dinner for her kids. it was written by a teenager after school when they should've been studying for a history test. and a barista came up with the idea while they cleaned the espresso machine and busser fact-checked it on their break and the post-doc edited between writing grant proposals and the nurse apologized for typos in the notes after a long shift and behind every drabble and one-shot and multi-chapter fic there is a person with a wonderful and interesting and chaotic life and it is such a privilege that we get to be apart of it because they decided to do this thing we all share, for fun.
Pairing: Adrian Chase x bimbo(ish)!reader
Summary: John has to grapple with the fact you've taken a liking to Adrian.
Warnings + notes: Fluff, reader is ditzy but sciency smart (kinda like Elle Woods?), based off this request, Adrian basically falls in love at first sight and lowkey so does reader, reader implied to be shorter than John, contains peacemaker spoilers(vaguely)
John is known to overshare small and insignificant things about his life. Heâs never had a girlfriend, heâs had crippling anxiety as a kid, he hasnât been checked for testicular cancer in a long time, and he doesnât like it when he has his balls in someones mouth. Some may say it was for safety, to protect his family and loved ones from being targeted- whether from shitty jokes or deadly surveillance. Even with having a job that keeps a low profile, A.R.G.U.S could be unpredictable- it was hard to find trust in that office.
So it was a big surprise when a beautiful, bubbly girl that looked nothing like him strolled right on into Checkmate with balloons, takeout, and flowers, claiming that she was his younger sister.
âHello! Iâm looking for my brother, John Economos- heâs a big guy, very natural beard, probably wearing a graphic t-shirt and a flannel, aviator glasses? We look exactly alike.â Your voice is sincere and cheery, impossibly bright demeanor for someone whoâs visiting the office to see Economos of all people.
Harcourt squints her eyes, looking up and down at you in shock before nodding slowly. âHeâs stationed right over there.â Her finger points towards the corner, where you can see your brotherâs head above the cubicle, snacking on what you assume is Doritos while blissfully unaware of your presence.
You smile with your whole face, thanking her with a chipper tone as you beeline towards him. Harcourt and Adebayo watch as your skirt flounces with each click-clack of your heels echoing throughout the quiet space.Â
âWhat the kind of business does a girl like that have to do with John?â
âShe said he was her sister- Iâve worked with him for years and he has never mentioned a sister.â
âThereâs no way theyâre actually related.â
They watch intently as you tap him on the shoulder, startling him as chip crumbs fly across his desk. He turns around, irritated before slipping into a relaxed smile, standing up to give you a⊠secret handshake??
John Economos has had a sister this whole time and theyâre actually close? Close enough to have a fucking handshake? Ads and Harcourtâs faces screw up in confusion as they watch the interaction unfold.
Although you know he isnât one for physical touch, he still pulls you in for an awkward hug, lightly gripping your shoulder in affection because, yes, while his brain is wired weird, he does still love his sister and it does feel good to be reminded that he is cared for. You know him well enough to appreciate his telltale signs of affection, and the gesture makes you soften as you part from him.Â
âCongratulations on the new job! I hope this means I can visit regularly.â You place the flowers on his desk and clip the balloon on his hoodie, giggling as it moves slightly with his motions.
âI mean, itâs better than the big A- thereâs definitely other things to worry about here though.â His voice trails off, eyeing Ads and Harcourt from across the room, who quickly shuffle to look busy before returning their gaze. âYou didnât have to come, yâknow. I could have met with you at, wherever you got this stuff.â
âWell I know that, but it was last minute and I wanted to bring you stuff cause I know your desk would look like-â You pause, skimming over the cubicle that had a calendar on the side, a photo from what seemed like a post-mission victory with other people, and a flimsy plastic succulent along with the mug you had gifted him for his birthday last year, filled with bic pens and Dixon pencils. âThat. I just wanted to liven things up a little. Plus, I havenât seen you in like a month!â
The corners of his mouth just turn slightly, standing awkwardly as he watches you rummage around his desk. âI am really grateful you came by but I donât know how to process it without sweating.â
You roll your eyes, unpacking the lunch you brought before handing him his plate. âYou canât process anything without sweating!â The giggle you let out is infectious. Ads and Harcourt canât help but snicker, not even bothering to turn their heads the second time when John sends them a glare.Â
âCan you two not?â
Ads shakes her head, putting her hands up in surrender. âSorry man, itâs just- you never mentioned having a sister before so this is really⊠surprising.â
John freezes, shifting nervously as you turn around, a frown tugging at your lips. âYouâve never talked about me?â
âI donât like talking about my personal life and I donât like it when people make you the butt of the jokes when I finally do mention you.â For a good period of time, John had heard a handful of untasteful jokes about you when he had finally shown someone at his old job a picture of you both during your graduation.
âYou told us about your balls when you had basically first met Ads.âÂ
âThat was Chrisâs fault and it was self defense.â
âWas it about the testicular cancer thing? I told you that you need to get it checked out- I swear it runs in our dads side or something.â
Harcourt is nearly stunned in silence, watching you two interact was like, something totally fake or ai-generated. You were nothing like him. Your hair was perfectly cut and styled, nails painted pretty pink, and your outfits were so⊠bright. Itâs like pink sparkles and rainbows followed you everywhere you went.
âAre you two like, fully related?â
You look at Harcourt like sheâd fucking stupid- looking at John and looking at yourself before nodding. âUh, yeah. Canât you tell? We literally look exactly alike.â
Ads almost laughed- thinking it was a joke, but the sound never leaves her mouth at the absolute honesty in your voice. Your face was completely serious- as if what you said was complete and utter fact.
Harcourt does nothing but nod. âRight. I guess I wasnât seeing it before but I am now.â The look she shares with Ads is unsure, but she doesnât question further.Â
John lets you rattle on about random things going on. How none of your lab partners can do anything right, how irritating your job is, and how despite working the absolute hardest on everything, no one has been taking you seriously. Sure, youâll forget what day it is and forget California isnât a country- but who cares about that?Â
It clicks in Harcourtâs head that youâre a total ditz, where you excelled in social interaction must mean you lack in basic knowledge. How the hell can someone think of California as a whole fucking state?
As you walk off, waving goodbye to everyone in the office (which was still just Ads and Harcourt) beaming with a cheery smile, Harcourt does exactly what John fears the second you close the door.
âCanât believe you never talked about your bimbo sister.â
Johnâs voice is back to itâs cut and dry tone, slightly glaring at Harcourt before he takes one last bite of his lunch. âShe may be a little clueless, but sheâs not a bimbo. I mean yeah if you consider all the-â He motions his hand with a wave, pursing his lips as he thinks of a good way to describe it. âThe glitter and pink.â
Ads raises a brow. âShe thought California was a country, John.â
âOk yeah. She can be a little clueless but sheâs not dumb. She made this weird, exothermic contraption in like eighth grade that set off the fire alarm. Sheâs always had this insane talent with science. Sheâs pretty good with tech too, but she just dabbled because I did.â
Itâs probably a little misogynistic in the way Harcourt doesnât believe him at first- but John gives her no probable reason to doubt, and John normally doesnât defend anyone with such sharpness. âShe just, doesnât really talk like someone who would know that stuff. Not really any need to present smarter when you just are.â
âWhy donât you offer her a position here then? Someone good with that could be really useful here.â
John taps his fingers on the desk, once, twice, before shaking his head. âYou guys are too fucked up for her. She deserves to live a normal life and I donât think sheâll achieve that here.â
âWhy not? I mean, she clearly hates her other job and isnât getting along with people. I need someone here that isnât such a Debbie downer.â Ads looks at Harcourt apologetically, unsure if she offended her in the process.
âAds is right- she could be a valuable asset and sheâd be treated well here. Adrian has enough blood money to probably keep her employed for the rest of her life too. With health insurance.â
âSheâd be valued here.â
The last statement is what has the gears turning in Johns head. You had been complaining about your job for months- disappointed with the fact that even with your multiple degrees and feats within your workplace, everyone treats you condescendingly and youâve been thinking about finding a different job anyways. All you really wanted was to make enough money and have a space to conduct research- and the lab here is already collecting dust from the lack of use besides Chris and Adrian making a baking soda volcano when theyâre bored.
âIâll think about it.â
Triumphantly, Ads and Harcourt give each other a silent, subtle fist bump. Youâll be Checkmates most valued employee by the end of this month.Â
-
Adrian doesnât have the blessing of meeting you until you visit Checkmate again a week later, lunch in hand and same happy smile beaming as you walk through the doors. You greet Harcourt with enthusiasm, hugging her like youâve known her for years, and she lets you. Your unwavering positivity and sweet perfume leave even her bending to your whims.
âHeâs not here right now, heâll be in a meeting and out and about for a while, but if you have time you can totally hang out at his desk til he gets here.â
âI got time! I quit my job today so Iâm actually just⊠um.â You look down dejectedly. âI donât know. In need of company I guess.â
The blondeâs face slightly softens. âIâm sorry to hear that. If you want-â she hesitates, almost considering Johnâs fears of letting you work here before continuing. âWe could really value someone with your skillset. In both science and social.â
As if someone shooed the rain cloud above your head, you brighten instantly. âReally? Could I build things here? We could run assays and thermal tests and solvent profiling-â You cover your mouth slightly, stopping yourself before you get too excited. âAs long as you donât mind glitter everywhere! Itâs actually mica powder, not glittery plastic. My work keeps saying itâs a âliabilityâ but itâs literally a mineral? I donât think they have any idea what theyâre talking about ever. Weâre not even dealing with stuff thatâll be effected by a little sparkle.
The longer you talk, the sharper your words get. Itâs not a complete turnaround, your bubbly charm still persists as you talk about basal cleavage and thermal stability. âMicaâs cleavage planes make it really hard for it to interfere with any of our labs unless what weâre dealing with is extremely sensitive- which most of the time itâs not. Honestly, their b.o would probably do more damage than mica powder.â You shudder, thinking about your last coworker who probably couldnât wear deodorant if a gun was pointed to his head.
âItâs totally non-flammable too. Perfect Basal cleavage too- you can split them into thin sheets that are tough and flexible. Overall a great mineral- but nooo glitter and whimsy is too much for the people at my work.â
Harcourtâs face turns from confusion to amusement, just barely keeping up with your words before it morphes into something more akin to respect.
âYou talk like glitter, but you think like a textbook.âÂ
Like a flower on a sunny day, your face blooms with gratitude as you smile. âThank you! Thatâs the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me!â
Harcourtâs head tilts, lips pursing as she looks at you. âThey really didnât see any of this? You really do talk like you know your shit.âÂ
You shrug, puckering your lips into a pout as you think. âThey liked my results, but they didnât really like me, I guess. I think the pink bothered themâ
âWell, people here donât mind pink.âÂ
A beat passes, youâre standing there looking at Harcourt questioningly, as if she had uttered out hieroglyphs.Â
âAnd the lab could really use someone that knows what theyâre doing.â
You nearly blind Harcourt with how bright your expression gets, bombarding her with questions at the offer.
âSeriously? You wouldnât mind it at all? I have a pink lab coat and I have a bedazzled one with rhinestones too! I didnât even bring any of my stuff- could my office be next to a window?â
Harcourt laughs- your talkative nature and rambling about knowledge is reminiscent of another teammate. Except, compared to Adrian, you actually know what the hell youâre talking about.
The universe must have been listening in on her thoughts, the man stumbles into the office with a box of files, grinning as he places it on the front table with a thud.
âI got the last of the files! Please donât tell me youâre going to put me in the back alone again- I havenât eaten anything all day and,â Adrianâs gaze just barely passes over you to look at Harcourt, before whipping his head right back to you and pausing.
Speechless. Itâs the first time Harcourt has ever seen Adrian stunned into silence. His mouth opens and closes, mind running a mile a minute as he figures out what to say. You beat him to it sticking out your hand to him while introducing yourself, pink glossy lips hypnotizing him as you talk.
âHi!â
âHey. Hi! Hello.â Adrianâs voice squeaks as he clears his throat, voice changing with every greeting. âAre you new?â
âWe just offered her a job here. Sheâs Economosâs younger sister.â
âEconomos? Holy shit heâs like my best friend- we used to call everyday, but now we work together so he doesnât answer them as often.â
Your mind briefly remembers Economos complaining about him- he mustâve been the guy that pestered him about animal facts.
âOh! I think I remember- youâre the owl expert.âÂ
He nearly melts at the recognition, spurring on with his usual energy.Â
âYeah! And also manta rays, and crows, and owls.â He repeats owls again, brain revving too fast to be able to catch himself, finding himself lost in the scent of your perfume and how bright your teeth are.
âYou already said-â
âDifferent types of owls.âÂ
It was a horrible catch, but you didnât seem to pay any mind as you clasp your hands together in excitement. âThatâs so cool! Did you know that they can turn their heads all the way around because their eyes donât move around like ours? Itâs wildâ
He nods in agreement. âYes. Same. So wild- yes.â
You continue with enthusiasm, walking over to in the direction of his office as he trails behind you mindlessly while you ask him questions. âJohn never told me your name- he didnât mention you were so handsome either!â
The tips of Adrianâs ears turn pink at the compliment, entirely affected by it despite it being a casual comment for you. Youâre nearly skipping along the floor, stopping suddenly before turning around. âI just realized I have no idea where Iâm going.â
Adrianâs quick to veer you towards his cubicle, hand settling on the small of your back as he speedwalks. âLets go to my desk! Or I can show you around since you might be working here- I can show you the lab here. Itâs so sick. No one really uses it besides me and Chris when weâre bored.â
âOh nice! What do you guys normally do in there?â
âOh- uh tons of science-y things. Youâd love it. Chris isnât in today but I have enough knowledge to be able to cover all the bases. Iâm more of an animal science person though. Totally.âÂ
Ads joins Harcourt at her desk once again, a snicker leaving her lips as she watches your conversation between Adrian go on. âHeâs about to pass out.âÂ
Harcourt kisses her teeth, shaking her head in response. âHeâs about to imprint on her like a baby duck.â
Your conversation with Adrian helps the time go by fast- youâre so caught up in his reciprocated enthusiasm and the way his curls frame his face and how dorky he looks when he pushes his glasses up in the middle that you donât process the heavy footsteps nearing you both.
John squints, as if he couldnât believe the sight before him before shaking his head profusely. âNo. Hell no.â
At the sound of his voice, you turn around to greet John with a bright smile, which quickly fades at his accusatory finger stabbing into Adrian. âFuck. No. You need to stay away from her.â
You furrow your brows, putting a hand on his chest to get him to back up. âWhy? Weâve become best friends! Heâs kept such good company while I was waiting for you.â
Adrian brightens as if heâs been knighted. âYeah! You never told me your sister was so cool! And smart! She just showed me all of her notes and the things she works on and itâs like- a whole different language.â
Warmth blooms in your chest at the recognition- nobody had really recognized you for your brain first and foremost besides select professors and a few girls you had met in college. As much as you liked being eye-catching for your style, itâs exciting to see someone be as passionate about your work as you are.Â
It feels nice.
Really, really nice.
John, however, feels like his world is crumbling as he shakes his head in a panic. âShe showed you her notes? Her notes notes?â
âYeah! They had a bunch of sparkles and equations and graphs- I totally couldnât understand anything but she said she could teach me! And that I could help her in the lab!â
âAbsolutely not.â
âJohn, please. I really like him! Heâs so nice and heâs enthusiastic about learning!â
The groan he lets out almost startles you- itâs almost as if his soul left his body.
âYou donât understand, heâs like, a ticking time bomb. He will kill you on accident.â
Adrianâs tone is sharp, cutting through as he stands up.âHey! I take great offense to that! Iâm extremely careful in all my endeavors.â
âYou blew up the microwave two days ago.â
Adrian sputters as you look over at him questioningly. âThat- that was science!â
Harcourt adds, not looking up from her cubicle. âIt was a hot pocket, Adrian.â
Itâs hard to bite back a smile, unsure if they were joking or not (they werenât), the banter between you two only made you want to work at Checkmate more as they argue.Â
Adrian spins around, pointing a finger at her accusingly as he defends himself. âIt said âheat thoroughlyâ How was I supposed to know that didnât mean seven minutes on high?â
Ads sighs. âReading the instructions fully? Common sense?â
Adrian turns back around to you with a pouty look as if knowing you would be the only one to understand him. âIt wasnât my fault! I swear Iâm so, so careful.âÂ
You wonder what heâd look like pouting for someone else, and you bite your lip, unable to contain your laugh. Adrian swears he can feel his knees buckle at the sound of it. You swat Johnâs arm affectionately, âCâmon! Whatâs the harm? Heâs been so nice and heâs so funny! I like him.âÂ
Adrianâs smile is practically taunting John. âShe likes me.â
Itâs as if you had stabbed him with a million knives, the pained look on his face grows in contempt as he tries to be firm. âNo. Nope- no. This is like my nightmare. You-â he points another finger at Adrian. âAre a hazard.â
âA hazard? I save lives- I have a job! Iâm a very capable adult.âÂ
âYou set your own sleeve on fire because you forgot you warmed up a mug of tea with the fucking spoon still inside of it.â
You gasp in concern, planting your hand on Adrianâs shoulder. âOh no! Are you okay?â
âYES! Totally fine- itâs nothing compared to some other stuff Iâve gotten into.âÂ
John scoffs as he snarls at Adrian. âYeah, at the cost of your stupidity.â
Adrian recoils, the jab hitting a little personally as he looks around at his desk in embarrassment. Your heart tightens. Sure, he might be a little awkward and not all there in the head, but so were you sometimes! At least, thatâs what your roommates tell you when you forget your keys for the millionth time. In an instant, your hand moves down to his forearm to ground him. His breathe hitches, staring at your hand and up at you as you stand across from your brother, eyes locked onto his firmly as you quietly contest against him.Â
John notices. He notices the way you softly look at him, and the way Adrian puffs up his chest in confidence at the sight of it, and he can feel his internal system circuiting.Â
âNo. NO. You do not get to defend this guy- you barely know him! Heâs a danger to himself.âÂ
Ads canât help but agree, crossing her arms as she nods. âHeâs right, Adrian.â
âI didnât know the spoon was metal- it looked neutral!â
Harcourt pinches the bridge of her nose. âThe spoon was shiny, Adrian, why would the spoon need to be there in the first place? Who warms up anything with cutlery, metal or not?âÂ
You giggle, thumb rubbing against Adrianâs forearm affectionately as he looks up at you like you hung the stars.
âOf all people, why him? Iâd seriously have-â
For the first time in a long time, you interrupt John with a sternness, âJohn, stop being mean. Youâre embarrassing him.â
Like when you were kids, you and John bicker back and forth, spiraling from job safety to Adrian safety, and all Harcourt and Adebayo can do is watch in amusement and Adrian sits silently, watching the retorts bounce between you and your brother. He turns his head over to Harcourt and Adsâs direction , careful to not disturb your argument, quietly mouthing âsheâs touching meâ with a pumped fist in the air. Adebayo graces him with pursed lips and a thumbs up of encouragement before tuning back into your bickering with John.Â
Your hand squeezes his forearm again, more for your comfort than his, as you glare at your brother. âYouâre being so dramatic! Youâve always been such a diva and I know youâre concerned- but I havenât found a friend like this since, like-â your mouth smacks, clicking your tongue at the roof of your mouth, making that noise that John hates. âLike college!â
âDonât touch him- youâre making it worse!â
Adrian blurts suddenly, âI like it when she touches me.â
Silence fills the room, John looks like heâs about to blow his brains out while Ads and Harcourt watch you three like a nature documentary.Â
In a panic, Adrian sputters over his words as he continues. âI mean not- not like that- unless you wanted it to mean like that- but I didnât mean-â
John looks up to the ceiling, dragging a hand down his face as he prays to whatever god might be out there to take him now.
âI just meant that youâre very grounding!âÂ
You look at him quizzically, tilting your head as you look down at him. âBecause of the science thing?â
âYes.â Adrian lies, poorly. âBecause of the science thing.â
You donât seem to mind, in fact, youâre reveling in the way he seems to stutter under your touch, you squeeze his arm again, watching how he freezes up and how his eyes flit nervously between you and John. âI just- I mean like youâre stabilizing. Like how uh- energy?? Like.. what did you say earlier about valent bondsâŠâ
âValence bonds.â
âYeah! Like a uh⊠when you said atoms pair up to make things stable right?
âAre you calling me a perfect ion?â
Johnâs groan interrupts Adrian before he can respond. âCan you guys quit it? Youâre seriously talking about ionic bonds right now?â
You turn around, raising a brow at his interruption. âWhatâs wrong with ionic bonds?â
âEverything! You really want to end up as this guys babysitter? You could get seriously hurt.â
âNormally, I wouldnât defend Adrian,â Adebayo sneaks into the conversation, hand lightly touching Johnâs shoulder to ground him slightly. âBut- while Adrian is normally not careful with himself, heâs extremely cautious whenever it comes to others.â Ads looks at Adrian affectionately, âHeâs sacrificed himself more times than I can count.â
John closes his eyes, attempting to think for a half-baked retort about Adrianâs impulsiveness, but the image of him throwing a grenade to save him and Chris flashes across his mind, the quickness in which he dove after the White Dragon right as he was about to kill Chris. The shots he would take for Harcourt and Chris when they infiltrated the butterfly farm- and even the stupid âalligators in the sewer systemâ he thought about instead of flushing his drugs like a normal fucking person.Â
With a defeated sigh, John relents and sits down at his desk. âWhatever. Fine- just donât talk flirty with ions in front of me. It makes me want to throw up.â
You nearly jump in glee, throwing your arms around Johnâs midsection in excitement as he grudgingly pats your back. Adrian seems completely unphased by the glare John gives you behind your back as you rattle on about what your first experiment is going to be to âbreak inâ the lab.
You yank onto Adrianâs sleeve, completely uncaring to the fact that he should be working as you drag him to the lab. âDo you have a favorite color? I can bedazzle you a new lab coat- did you know that rhinestones are heat-resistant to 330 degrees?â
âThatâs so sick! You think you could make me a teal one?â
âDuh! It would be so cute! Weâd be like Barbie and Ken!" Adrian nearly misses the comment, entranced at the thought of you both blowing up the lab in shiny lab coats.
The conversation dies off in the hallway as you both turn the corner, leaving John exasperated as he rubs his forehead.Â
Ads snickers, patting his shoulder and shaking him slightly. âI see an new in-law in your future.â
kingsman the secret service is so good in so many ways but one of my favourites is how the movie takes everything we already know about eggsy from the beginning and shows how it affects him during his time at kingsman
eggsy pickpockets rottweilerâs car keys -> eggsy âslippery fingersâ unwin switches out his glass of poison with arthurâs regular glass
eggsy doesnât grass up his mates despite being told heâd get a more lenient sentencing if he did AND eggsy not telling dean who the man (harry) he was with at the pub despite dean threatening him with a knife -> eggsy risking getting killed by a train rather than spill kingsman secrets to who he believes is a madman that drugged him then tied him to train tracks
eggsy risking jailtime instead of hitting a fox with a car -> eggsy refusing to shoot his dog, the test standing between him and becoming a kingsman
thereâs probably other little things as well that i canât think of right now