May I request some romantic headcannons about Nick Valentine and/or John Hancock? SFW or NSFW ❤️
A/N: Absolutely!! And thank you for the request !!
Nick Valentine + John Hancock, SFW + NSFW headcanons
Warnings: nsfw content, !! MDNI PLZZ !! mentions of drug use/abuse
Nick Valentine (SFW)
his love language is 100% acts of service
for him, doing things like fixing your busted radio, or carrying your pack when he notices your shoulders are sore, or even going all the way to make sure your boots are dry the next morning if it rained, are more his style
for Nick within many aspects of his life, especially in a relationship; attention is in the details
respect is the core of his romance
Nick doesn’t act like a gentleman because he was entirely programmed that way, he just chooses to be one.
He listens attentively when you speak, waits until you finish talking to respond, even offers his arm occasionally once you two really get comfortable with one another
he won’t pressure you to talk either, he understands the necessity of comfortable silence.
old world romance with him
he’ll collect you a bundle of flowers in the most desolate places, handwritten notes, basic chivalry even when it’s not necessary
even a quiet dance in his office one day, after a brutal day
Nick is protective but never controlling
he won’t stop you from taking risks, but he’ll be sure he’s beside you during them every time
Nick will smile and mutter something like “Be careful, would ya?” while loading your weapon because he knows he couldn’t stop you even if he tried his damn hardest.
he thinks he’s lucky to have you
it’s not verbalized often but Nick internally struggles with the concept of feeling like he actually deserves good things
so if you love him earnestly, or hold his metal hand delicately, or tell him how much he means to you?
you’ll witness him go still with awe; a new core memory being built for him that he’ll never forget
NSFW
Nick doesnt care that he doesn’t have a dick, and doesn’t see it as a limitation
just more of a reason to double down on making you the center of attention
he is a giver, service top all the way
uses his hands with expert skill
the soft synthetic skin hand for sensuality; slow strokes, tender pressure and the perfect rhythm.
the metal one though? that’s where the fun can turn a little dark; cold, rigid and unforgiving
only ever used if you ask for it
fingering is an artform to him
he knows the exact spot that makes your thighs twitch, how to press deep and slow until your practically crying into his shoulder from overstimulation
will say your name in that low, yet gentle voice of his while curling two fingers inside you
he loves watching you fall apart because of him, his yellow eyes often locked onto your face the whole time
Nick has a massive oral fixation when it comes to you
would happily live the rest of his life between your legs if you let him
he doesn’t need to breathe, doesn’t need breaks, he will lap at you with terrifying precision
his tongue firm and precise, sometimes humming just to make your hips buck up into him
mental edge-play if that’s even a thing?
will tease you with just his words for hours, days even until you finally break and beg for him
wont only talk you through it, but will ask you to talk him through it; tell him what you want him to do to you, tell him how good he’s doing, how good he makes you feel, how no one’s ever made you feel this way before with just their fingers
he feeds off things like that, stirs the cogs inside him
dirty talks quite often, and anyone who doesn’t know him well enough would never expect it
“Let me see how pretty you look when you come, doll. Right here, eyes on me.”
aftercare becomes routine and reverent for him
makes sure your hydrated, cleaned up to your preference, and comfortable
he prefers the nights in his office when he just gets to lay with you afterwards
sometimes even plays quiet jazz on a janky radio on his nightstand if you’re too wound up to fall asleep
John Hancock (SFW)
loves with freedom, not with a desire for control
hancock will never try to own you, his love language is rooted in freedom
to feel, to express, to dedication and learning his partner
if you’re scared of being controlled or smothered, he’s your guy
he respects your freedom above all
he’ll be the first to tell you something cheesy like; “Sweetheart, i don’t want no damned bird in a cage, i want a firework.”
quality time is his everything
when the two of you finally settle in an established relationship together, he cuts back on the chem use
which in result a lack of using like he used to causes bouts of insomnia for him
he’s already a night owl to begin with but completely sleepless nights get difficult for him
that’s why he treasures when you stay up with him, whether you’re a night owl yourself or not
one of his favorite things to do with you is have deep late night talks.
after meeting you, physical touch is full of tenderness and loving intention, not just lust.
if you struggle with depression or just have low days, he notices and shows up
he’d be the last person to abandon or leave you because of mental health struggles; he knows them all to well himself.
he won’t coddle unless you ask him too, and he’ll be there for you in any way you need, you just have to be willing to tell him
above all, hancock values communication the most within your relationship
loyalty is sacred to him. he has no shame in his past flings, people do what they do, but after getting with you he treasures fidelity between the two of you.
he won’t flirt around like how he used to, that’s reserved directly for you unless he’s using it in a sarcastic way to piss off some trader.
he’ll never make you question his love for you, or mess with your heart in any way.
you’re the best thing to happen to him in a long time, he’ll be damned if he lets himself mess that up even the slightest.
NSFW
Hancock is all about indulgence, and he loves indulging in you
if you’ll let him, he’ll spend hours learning you with his lips and fingers
you’re a work of art to him and he loves studying every part of you
huge praise kink tbh; whether it’s about you or he’s receiving, he loves it all
he gets off telling you how good you feel, how gorgeous you sound, how no one will ever be able to do what you do to him
but if you praise him?? that man is a puddle, a wet pile of sand that your hands can mold anyway you want
he loves it when you’re loud and shameless, he has no problem with passerby’s hearing what he does to you, how good he makes you feel
he’ll take charge when needed but if you ever initiate control? he’s in heaven
thrives on consensual roleplay; just give him a safe word to remember and he’ll explore every fantasy you may have with excitement and care.
he will absolutely have a full blown conversation with you while fucking you
will definitely smoke a cigarette while you’re riding him on the couch, if you smoke as well he’ll place it between your lips after a moment so he can grab your hips and thrust up into you properly
aftercare with him is sacred. no matter how messy or filthy it got, he’s the first one up; grabbing you a wet cloth and ask if you need any water
will whisper praise into your ear while gently massaging your hips as you lay together afterwards
no matter how intense or mild it gets, by the end of it he needs to know that you feel safe and loved.
absolutely zero judgement from him the first time he sees you nude. it doesn’t matter what you look like, he is enamored by your entire existence.
I see a lot of Nick Valentine Headcanons and they're all really positive. I thin people forget the fact that he's got a really awful backstory and is ultimately going to have some flaws because of his human memories and personality.
For instance, he would struggle with the fact that you love the Synth Nick rather than the Human Nick who he gained his memories and mind from. Often asking "Are you sure? You're sure?", no amount of reassurance is going to change that.
Another thing, he has no care if he gets hurt. If he gets hurt, he sees it as himself being able to be replaced. He'd get shot at and not care if he gets hurt or gets broken from the damage he sustained.
Nick's angry and vindictive with one thing, he might not be Human Nick, but his memories are still there. He wants to see Eddie Winters dead, he killed his last lover, what's stopping him from taking you, his closest friend?
Speaking of the Eddie Winter's case, Nick isn't alright with you going out alone because of it. Eddie could still be alive, he knows he is, something in his brain is telling him that he's still alive and he's not okay with it. If you're leaving for somewhere that he can't follow, someone is going to be with you. Cait, Danse, someone is going to be there with you.
Nick often struggles with his identity. Having memories and a name from a guy you never knew can be something awful, let alone knowing that the person you remember being has been dead for 210 years. Sometimes he stares at you and sees Jennifer, sometimes he calls you her name regardless of gender.
He knows you're not her, but sometimes Human Nick's memories overlay with his, sometimes you're just her and he has to take 10 minutes to remember your name. To remember that you're still alive and that you're not her.
Nick sometimes thinks about your morals, he hasn't been around you for long, and if he has, they're often undefined. He's seen you talk Raiders down from doing something, saw you shoot a man point blank and take a lottery ticket off his corpse after he started gloating to you ("YEAH! Who won the lottery? I DID!"), he's even seen you blow up an entire faction just because they pissed you off... But then he thinks about the good you've done; destroying the institute, starting a movement to accept Synths, restoring the minutemen or bringing peace to the commonwealth...
Some days he thinks he'll have to shoot you because of those morals, that you'll turn into an awful person and he'll just have to either shoot you, the person that befriended him and made him feel more human than he has in years, to save the commonwealth, or he'll let you go, betraying Human Nick's moral compass and have to live with the fact that he potentially caused a tyrant to rise above the Commonwealth, taking everything he held dear.
ok but what is something han(d)cock, nick valentine, danse and macCready would only do for you and not for anyone else
Only for you
Things they do for you/let you do and absolutely nobody else.
John Hancock, Nick Valentine, Paladin Danse, Robert MacCready
John Hancock:
He is far more committed to you than anyone before. Before he met you he wasn't too interested in exclusive relationships, simply sleeping around, but now he doesn't care too much about anyone else that way.
You have the biggest scary dog privilege. People are terrified of Hancock and he uses that reputation to make sure nobody gets too comfortable disrespecting you.
You can thieve his coat, his hat and all that. Just don't damage it. If anything he likes it when you wear his stuff, makes him feel a bit more possessive.
He makes sure people of Goodneighbor like you a lot. Those who don't like you, have probably been threatened into not trying anything to harm you. That, or they mysteriously just go missing. Whitechapel Charlie also gives you free drinks now.
If you're running around Goodneighbor he might ask the Neighborhood watch to keep an eye on you. He doesn't tell you this, but he does it just to be sure. Last thing he wants is to lose you to some jackass who thinks they have the right.
Might begrudgingly cut back on chems and booze a bit if that's what you want. He won't give it up, but he's willing to take a bit less for you.
Nick Valentine:
Lets you run your fingers over the spots where his 'skin' is missing. He doesn't mind you touching him there, as long as you're careful about it.
You get to hear about all his cases. He often rants to you as he tries to put a case he's stuck on together. You're his shoulder to lean on and he appreciates you hearing him out.
Often buys you things from Diamond city's markets. Not uncommon for him to come home with things he thinks you'll like. He carefully studies your habits, the way your eyes lit up when you saw a specific item the Surplus had. Nick told you he had to stay behind a bit and when he came back, he had that exact item held behind has back as he greeted you.
Talks about you quite often with the Diamond city residents. You quickly found out the people within the settlements were a lot nicer to you, even if they questioned why any sane person would be with a synth.
Like a mom, he has a knack for finding random items you lose. You tell him you've been looking for your pistol for literal days and he just pulls it out from under your bed as if it's nothing.
Writes down important dates, anniversaries and whatever else is important to you so he doesn't forget. Part of his wall is just full with random notes about things he doesn't wanna forget about your relationship.
Paladin Danse:
Smiles a whole lot more for you. He cracks smiles more often when you're around, and he seems to get a bit more comfortable with his newfound emotions.
talks to you about how he's doing. His fears, insecurities, how he struggles with his new identity as a synth. He trusts you to reassure him, to make him feel like he's someone after he lost it all.
You're the only person he trusts with his power armor, along with his weapons. You could utilize any of it and he wouldn't really bat an eye anymore, even if he's hesitant at first.
Would actually tolerate synths and ghouls for your sake. He still dislikes them, but he'd be a bit more polite if you were fond of them. He would also feel kind of bad if you scolded him about his prejudice.
He kind of acts like a body guard when it comes to you. He has no issue putting his life on the line to protect yours. Also, he secretly believes your life is worth more than him, as he's just a synth, though he won't say it willingly.
Has actually done some repairs to your weapons and any power armor you have. Last thing he wants is for you to meet your end because you got sloppy with your equipment.
Robert Joseph MacCready:
Absolute biggest defender when it comes to you. You punched someone square in the face? They probably had it coming anyway. Maybe they shouldn't have pissed you off.
Would take a bullet for you, quite literally. He lost Lucy, he would rather die protecting you than be the one burying you. For all his talk of surviving, he's determined to die before you do.
You're the only person he gives things to. He is used to hogging things for himself out of self preservation, but you'd get his left kidney if you asked.
Overall you can get away with a lot more. MacCready isn't exactly the most morally upright person, and he doesn't like when you're nice or generous, but you, you get a pass. He doesn't get as annoyed if you're too generous.
Such a sap around you too. If he's comfortable and you're alone, you get a very soft MacCready. He'll tell you whatever's on his mind as he's snuggled up at your side.
You are the only person he trusts with Duncan. He feels at ease leaving his son with you, like he doesn't have to worry about anything going wrong. He loves you spending time with the little guy.
don't think about the absolute angst of Deacon making himself emotionally unavailable because he's terrified of losing you, and watching you get the memo and be heartbroken, then heal, drift away, and get in a happy relationship with someone else, while he stays completely infatuated with you but hates himself so much that no matter how much pain he's in, he still thinks he did the right thing
got this idea in my mind somehow and had to see it through 🫡 pray for me chat
pairings : the ghoul (cooper howard) x fem!reader | john hancock x fem!reader.
warnings : reader is afab—no descriptions given BUT honey, hun, pretty(lady), girly, babes, sweetheart, and sunshine are all used as nicknames ! references to blowjobs / suggestive themes / alcohol use / chem use / mild mature content / profanity.
The Ghoul (Cooper Howard) 1.7k words
Settling into an actual room for the night is exactly what you’ve been needing. Cooper had been dragging you around the wasteland with him for days now, so you actually felt relieved at the first signs of a radstorm approaching overhead. It wasn’t common to get any sort of storms at all in the desert, but maybe luck was finally on your side.
You would’ve been fine with just getting some rest in an abandoned shelter out of the direct sunlight and stifling heat, but the added luck of coming across an establishment with room accommodations and entertainment was more than welcome. And, you even managed to become a new acquaintance to the lovely bartender.
Speaking of, you took your shower first after settling in, thankful that the Frontier Alehouse and Inn even had the type of facilities to allow you to do so. And while it had been a much needed self care moment, you were now sitting in the part-lounge part-bar area of the old building while Cooper stayed back in the room to wash up as well.
You expected to order yourself a drink or two and plot out the next destination for you and your companion, but surprisingly the bartender offers you some great company.
She’s a young woman as well just like yourself, but she’s got a confidence to her that you aspire to learn for yourself. In just the eight minutes you’ve spent at the bar, you’ve already witnessed her set two burly men in their place without so much as batting an eye at their threats.
“So, what’d you say brought you here to the old alehouse?” she asks as she refills your mug with ice cold beer. Another welcome commodity.
“Just passing through until my companion and I head out for our next job. The radstorm made us stop here for the night,” you explain as you take a small sip of your beverage.
“Well how lucky is that?” she says with a grin as she polishes a freshly rinsed rocks glass in her hands. “One thing we’re known for around here is our specialty drinks menu. We offer unique flavors and challenges for any wandering travelers willing to put their drinkin’ to the test.”
You swallow another sip of your beer and tilt your head curiously at her. “A specialty menu sounds great, but challenges? What’re those like?” you ask as she passes you a small menu with the names of many drinks you don’t recall ever having heard of, and you can’t imagine what they would taste like.
She smiles at you excitedly as she taps at one of the drinks on the list. “Okay so for example, here we have what we call a flaming shot. We use vodka for this one. If you can take it in one go and not react, at least outwardly, it’s on the house,” she explains.
“Hm, really? So, the game is trying to take these special shots successfully, and if you do then you get them for free?”
“Exactly! It’s a win-win honestly, people come from all over just to try them. And once you build up such a great relationship with ‘em, they keep coming back as regulars. Brings in the business,” she says as she refills a drink for a guy a few stools away from you, before returning to your area.
“So, what say you, honey? Wanna give one a try?” she smirks, leaning over the bartop as she watches you curiously.
You laugh softly as you glance at the menu again. “Hmm, I mean…” The bottom of the menu explains that each shot is around five caps if you fail a challenge, so you shrug and decide to roll the dice. “Okay, sure, why not?” you smile, finishing off your beer and sliding the glass over to the side. “Which one should I go for?”
She claps excitedly as she snatches up the menu. “I know the perfect one. We call it a blowjob shot,” she laughs. “It’s made up of an almond-flavored liqueur, our take on Irish cream, and our famous whipped cream. You take it with no hands and in one go. You know, to really let it live up to its name,” she smirks. “Wanna try?”
You laugh shyly at the idea and think it over for a moment. You suppose it could be a fun experience… “Um, okay! I’ll try it,” you smile, laughing again when she calls you ‘the best’ and blows you a kiss, getting right to work on your drink.
The sound of boots against the floorboards beside you catches your attention, and you smile brightly when you notice Cooper’s joining you at the bar.
“Oh, you’re done! Just in time too, I’m about to earn myself a free shot,” you joke as he takes a seat next to you and scoffs.
“Is that right? And what’d you gotta do to get that deal?” he asks with a suggestive gleam in his eyes. You sigh and shake your head, waving him off lazily.
“Oh, you’ll see~” you tease as you watch the bartender, Janet, prepare your shot.
Cooper raises an eyebrow at the mysterious drink she’s working on. “The fuck did you order?”
“Just you wait a damn minute and you’ll see for yourself, oldie. Like she already said,” Janet chastises as she wags a finger at the ghoul. You suppress your laugh behind your hand as he grumbles grumpily and orders himself a glass a whiskey from the other bartender a few steps away.
Cooper’s become a big softie since traveling with you, you’ve noticed. He’s much less quick to jump into battle—and you admire that. He’s got a big heart whether he’s willing to admit it or not, and you’d do anything to let him express it, even if it’s in his own unique ways.
“Okay one special shot for this pretty lady right here,” Janet announces as she slides the shot in front of you. You notice a trail of whipped cream dripping down the side of the glass and give her an unsure glance.
“Start there, hun,” she says with a smirk, moving her eyes from you to the bottom of the shot glass. You laugh as you realize the implication, glancing warily to the ghoul beside you. It’s making you a bit nervous to do this shot with Cooper watching you, especially since he’s got no clue what he’s about to have a front row seat to.
You’ve noticed the way Cooper watches you when he thinks you’re not looking, and you’ve certainly felt the temptation between the two of you on your journey together. You’ve already tried flirting with him in passing before too, hoping he’d reciprocate the attraction you feel for him, but he never budges. You think maybe now you’ll finally get a more satisfying reaction out of him—you just hope you don’t mess up.
Cooper stares at the glass with furrowed eyebrows, to him it just looks like a messy presentation, but you seem to like it if the twinkle in your eyes is anything to go by.
“Ready to try your luck, girly?” Janet asks as she pulls out a an old bell from beneath the bar counter.
“Mhm! Just say when,” you reply, bracing yourself for the moment.
Janet taps the bell and it rings out loudly into the air. A few of the other patrons around the bar look over to watch the challenge, and the second bartender joins Janet at your end of the bar, to help judge how you do.
“Ah, good choice,” the guy chuckles as he notices which shot you’ve chosen to try out. You offer them each a small smile as you clasp your hands together behind your back.
“And… Go!” Janet cheers, rooting for you through and through.
You immediately lean forward at her cue and start at the bottom of the glass. You smile as you run your tongue up from the bottom of the shot glass to the top, and then lower your mouth completely over the top of it. You catch Cooper’s eye for just a brief pause, and his gaze burns into you. You immediately glance away and toss your head back with the shot in your mouth, as you successfully take it all in one swig. You grab the glass deftly with your fingers and slam it down onto the bartop as the crowd around you cheers loudly into the room, claps and whoops resounding around at your first victory.
“One victory for you, babes, I knew you could do it!” Janet grins as she slides the five caps you laid out back to your side of the bar.
“Thank you! That was great, you’re amazing at what you do,” you compliment.
Janet goes back to serving the other guests drinks after that, and you find yourself left with just the ghoul beside you as company.
It’s silent for a long moment between the two of you. You can’t find it in yourself to even look towards him, so you instead focus on putting your caps away.
“Took that shot there pretty well, I’d say,” Cooper suddenly drawls out lowly, his voice smokey as usual. “No hands either, ain’t that somethin’?” he chuckles.
You finally turn your head to look at him and feel your heart race at the way his dark eyes watch you so intently.
“Got somethin’ else you can try your luck at, too, sweetheart,” he teases. Your eyes widen at the implication and you nearly gasp, feeling your face heat up under his watchful gaze.
“I do gotta warn you though,” he says, a curt laugh slipping past his scarred lips. “What I offer might just be a little bigger than you’re used to takin’, pretty.”
You take in his appearance beside you where he’s leaned back comfortably on the stool, legs sprawled out like he owns the place. You can’t help the way your body heats up at the attention he gives you.
“Now what do ’ya say? Wanna give this ‘ol ghoul a shot?” he smirks lecherously.
You nod your head immediately, taking the hand he offers to you without a second thought. A silly wink from Janet off to the side makes you smile victoriously for a whole different reason than before.
He leads you through the lounge and to the ‘inn’ part of the building, where the two of you had rented a room for ten caps. And when the door closes behind you, the lock clicked right into place, you can hardly contain your desire for what comes next.
John Hancock <1000 words
The Colonial Taphouse has got nothing on the Third Rail, if you were to ask Hancock. But when it comes to visiting diamond city, it’s one of the best places they got.
It’s late one evening after a long day of traveling with you, and to be quite honest, Hancock is exhausted. When the two of you finally stopped into the city for the night, Hancock was more than welcome to the idea of getting some drinks in his system before a long, warm sleep consumes him.
Now, after enjoying some mentats and ordering himself a drink to wind down with in the corner of the tavern, Hancock finally feels at ease.
It’s a nice night in the wasteland, all things considered. He’s got a drink, chasin’ a high, and if he looks over towards the bartop, he’s got a pretty amazing view of you, too. Even with your back turned to him, just seeing the side of your face every now and again, along with the sweet sound of your laugh filling the air, well, it’s all plenty enough for this ghoul. What can he say? He’s a simple kind of guy.
He knew you’d been wanting to stop in here for some time now. Apparently you and Darcy had been making up some pretty unusual drink ideas, and you’d finally managed to get all the supplies you needed to try them out. More of a chem user himself, he didn’t focus much on the details. Still, just seeing you out and about and clearly happy with your little friends fills him with a sense of pride.
That’s my girl, he thinks as he takes another long swig of his drink. He rests his head back against the wall behind him and lets his eyes fall closed, a relaxed sigh escaping him as he fully relishes in this rare moment of peace.
The bartop where you and Darcy sit is scattered with many different ingredients. You brought a lucky find you copped—some almond extract. And Darcy managed to get her hands on a cream-based liqueur to pair with it. And, of course, some yummy homemade whipped cream had also made the cut. The two of you were bristling with excitement at the idea of these shots. You’d been inspired by an old recipe you remembered from before back in the prewar days. When you explained it to Darcy as the ‘bj shot’ she found it both funny and fitting, and you agreed to try it out for yourselves.
“Okay, these are all done! They look pretty good for being wasteland shots,” you say with a smile as you examine the fluffy cream on top of the shot glass.
“Mhm, but now… you should come join us over here, Hancock,” Darcy calls as she turns to give the mayor a mischievous grin.
“And why’s that? Thought you ladies were havin’ a girl’s night,” Hancock says as he stands from his seat slowly and makes his way to the bar.
He wraps his arms around you from behind when he reaches you, kissing you on the cheek slyly as he looks over your shoulder at the concoction before you.
“Whaddya got there?” he asks, taking a curious look towards the shot glass.
“It’s a secret,” you reply with the most innocent smile you can conjure up.
“Interesting choice so far,” he laughs gravelly. “What’s next?” he takes a curious glance from you to Darcy, who’s hiding her wide smile behind her palm, pretending to focus her attention on the bartender instead of you and Hancock.
“Well, Darcy will take hers while I take mine. Just make sure you keep a close eye on me while I do,” you wink, adjusting your hair and then glancing to the woman beside you.
“Alright then, ready?” Darcy asks. You nod excitedly and then the bartender calls out loudly for the both of you to start.
While Darcy does her shot monitored by the bartender, you and Hancock have your own special moment.
You fold your hands behind your back as you lean down towards your drink, and smile at Hancock teasingly as you circle your tongue around the sugary rim of the shot glass slowly. He immediately straightens his posture and stares at you with intensely dark and slightly dazed eyes. You hum softly—playfully—at the yummy taste of the sugar, delighted with the way Hancock watches you longingly play out your little show. Then, your lips wrap around the shot glass and you jerk your head back in one quick move, downing the contents of the drink in one gulp.
When you take the glass from your mouth and gently set it back to the bartop, Hancock slides directly into your side and whispers in your ear lowly, “Think that’s enough fun for you tonight, sunshine. You’ve got me all worked up here, you know,” he uneasily chuckles, seemingly a bit embarrassed at his situation. “I say it’s only fair that you come and help a fella out, yeah?” Hancock suggests as he tucks a piece of your hair behind your ear and then pulls away.
You notice the way he adjusts his pants just slightly and then heads for the door. You’re already up from your stool and following after him before you even register Darcy giggling and shouting after you two, a teasing, ‘have fun and be safe’. You wave her off with a little laugh and then take Hancock’s hand when you step outside of the Taphouse.
Finding a room for the night is easy enough, and the hard part is making sure the two of you don’t get too rowdy. But with Hancock of all people, that’s a nearly impossible task. Still, simply being thoroughly satisfied and embraced in his arms by morning light is more than enough to convince you. You’d do it all over again even if you did have to pay an extra five caps for the disruptions.
I have a few headcanons for Danse on how his life would be after Blind Betrayal. Before I get into them though, I'd like to say I believe Blind Betrayal would happen during both the Minuteman and Brotherhood of Steel routes. This is told where you are the SoSu, but can be interpreted if the reader were not!
✧ Danse, when being spared, would live in either Red Rocket or Sanctuary. He knows that the Brotherhood wouldn't look for him there or show near there. This is partly because you had suggested it, but also because when you tell him you were from Sanctuary/Vault 111, he mentioned that there was nothing of value for the Brotherhood up there.
✧ No matter where he's staying, he'd be great friends with Sturges. His love for power armor plus Sturges love for tinkering would make for a great duo. Plus, if the Minuteman were the ones who dealt with the Institute, the data that you give to Sturges might contain the details that he himself is also a synth (or the data that the BoS has on Danse being a synth may have Sturges data as well, so Danse sought him out).
✧ He'd run or operate a power armor shop. If he were in Sanctuary, Sturges might also help him. He'd offer to sell parts, fix up people's armor, as well as selling people armor. With his BoS knowledge, he'd be able to make sure that the people have the protection they need for the settlement.
✧ The power armor shop would be located in the garage of Red Rocket, or the garage of your old home in Sanctuary would be worked on to make a make-shift shop.
✧ If he lives in Red Rocket, he'd go back and forth between Red Rocket and Sanctuary to trade and sell parts and salvage. Also to talk and hang out to Sturges. They would talk about the shops, what they're working on, etc. Hell, maybe they'd invite each other to help work on a project together.
✧ Danse would also offer his services to help with the protection of the settlements. He would help guard the settlements from attacks and train others on how to do so efficiently.
✧ Scribe Haylen would probably visit him often too. She'd let him know of anything of note happening in the BoS, help give him any extra salvage for his shop, and possible warn him if the BoS planned on taking an expedition up to the area (Especially if Red Rocket, Sanctuary, or Abernathy Farms was one of the settlements the BoS wanted food from).
✧ Depending on if Danse is romanced or not, Haylen would either eventually open up to Danse or be in a relationship with Rhys. Either way, they would stay close friends.
✧ Danse would also become buddies with Nick. Sure, he may distrust and dislike him before, but after he himself learns he's a synth, he'd open up. Albeit slowly. Don't expect this man to change his opinions overnight, he did dedicate himself to the Brotherhood after all.
✧ He might not become friends with Hancock, but I can see him also just 'accepting he exists' at this point. Again, don't expect this man to change his views overnight. Since Hancock is a ghoul, he's in the same predicament as Danse. But, since he's a ghoul and not a synth, Danse most likely would stay his distance.
Deacon and the Sole Survivor finish up a mission in the Wasteland, braving a few stray bullets along the way. Fortunately, Deacon's there to patch his partner up.
Tags: Original Sole Survivor character, fem! Sole Survivor, Mentions of Violence, Established Relationship, written on vibes alone.
Word Count: 1.4k
The acrid scent of smoke and gunpowder clung to the air as the last raider hit the ground. Melissa peered over the side of a crumbled half wall to the grocery store on the other side of the street. The turrets lay quiet, and nothing steered in the blown-out windows. She let her head fall back against the wall and shoved her gun back into its holster at her side. A bead of sweat rolled down her brow, and she wiped it away with her gloved hand.
Someone skidded to a crouch beside her. Deacon rested a hand on her knee and bent his head to look her in the eye. His dark shades slid down the brim of his nose, revealing his deep blue eyes. “Hey, Specs,” he said, “How’re you holding up, bud?”
“Oh, you know.” Melissa took another deep breath. “Nice job with the turrets.”
“Their password was stupid easy.” Deacon rolled his eyes. “Blamco.”
“Like the Mac and Cheese?”
“Yeah, they were hoarding the stuff. I snagged us a few boxes while you were blasting their heads off.” Deacon got to his feet and offered her a hand. He pulled her up, dusted her off, and handed her the small bag, weighed down by boxes of pre-war noodles and cheese. “Let’s go get K-8.”
Melissa fell into step beside Deacon as they backtracked down the street. In the privacy of the moment, she leaned against his side as they went. He wrapped an arm around her back and let her take a breather. The smell of his cologne and his aftershave from earlier that morning filled her nose, and she longed for their apartment back in Diamond City.
The moment’s over when they approach a former post office. Deacon let her go, and she stood straighter as they stepped through the broken front door. Although the envelopes and boxes from two centuries ago were long gone, the clerk's desk still stood, and from behind it, Melissa’s shepherd exploded from her hiding place with an excited bark.
Melissa bent at the knee to greet the dog, petting her on the brown patch behind her pointed ear. “Atta girl, Ladybird. Did you keep watch for us?”
“Are they gone?” Another head poked over the top of the clerk’s desk. A freckled-faced young man who looked like he belonged inside a fast-food restaurant or movie theater, not being hunted down by the Institute or the Brotherhood for being a Synth.
“We told you, K-8. We’re the best damn team the Railroad has to offer, you’re in good hands!”
K-8 sighed and came around the counter. His gaze shifted nervously between the two agents and the door before something caught his eye. He pointed nervously at Melissa. “Uh, M-miss Specs? You’re bleeding.”
“What?” Deacon turned to her.
Melissa raised her arm. A stray bullet had managed to graze her below the armpit. Between the adrenaline and trying not to die, she didn’t think it had been that bad, but the blood oozed past her shirt and came through her thin vest to shine in the afternoon light.
Deacon cursed beneath his breath and pulled the backpack from his shoulder, but Melissa stopped him with her hand outstretched. “Don’t waste a stimpack on it, Deac.”
“I don’t want that getting infected.”
“We’re not far from Good Neighbor.” She reached for his bag and took a roll of gauze from inside. “I’ll go wrap it. Okay? I’m more worried about getting K-8 to the drop-off point in one piece. Once we do that, then we can count the bumps and bruises.”
Deacon frowned. Melissa watched the gears turn in his mind, but with a squirrelly kid on their hands and a raider presence in the area, he didn’t want to stick around long enough to argue. “Fine,” he caved with an inclination of his head to the back room. “Make it quick.”
—--
Good Neighbor rarely changed. It allowed the agents to let their guards down as they passed beneath the Mayor’s building to reach the Memory Den, where K-8 would undergo the procedure to have his memories altered. In the blink of an eye, his memories of the Institute, his escape, and his existence as a Synth would disappear, replaced with a softer life and a new name. One that, if he were ever interrogated by the people out to get him, would keep him safe.
“This isn’t going to hurt?” K-8 asked, for the second time, as they approached the front door of the Memory Den.
“Nah, kid.” Deacon paused with his hand on the knob. “I’ve been here a few times. It doesn’t hurt to go under, it’s like… Going to sleep. When you wake up, you won’t have any idea that something was wrong or that anything bad happened to you. The Doc will be there to see you out, and another of our contacts will be waiting to take you to your new home, where you’ll be cared for.”
“I won’t see you again?”
“Maybe,” Deacon said. “But we’ll be meeting again, and under better circumstances.”
“Remember, this procedure is completely optional,” Melissa added. “If you’re having second thoughts, we can let our contact know. You don’t have to go through with it.”
“No,” K-8 shook his head. “I want to! I want a new life, away from all of that.”
“You’ll still be you,” Melissa said. “It won’t change who you are as a person.”
“No?”
“No.”
K-8 nodded and then allowed Deacon to lead him inside.
When Deacon returned, he took the shades from his face and wiped his tired eyes with his thumb and forefinger. His persona of the coy, charismatic, and experienced agent disappeared in an instant. When he returned his shades to his face, it was to point an accusatory finger at Melissa. “You.”
“Me?”
“It’s your turn. Let’s go.”
He led her through the crowded streets. An expert at fading into the background, Deacon weaved past the local guard and the merchants to reach the doors of Hotel Rexford. He pushed them open with a flourish and fished a handful of caps out of his pocket. “One bed, and I’ll do the hot water package.”
“Sure,” the clerk swiped the pile of caps into their hand.
“Deacon,” Melissa pulled on the back of his shirt. “That’s expensive.”
“Yeah, well.”
“We don’t know when we’ll get paid again.”
“We’ll pick up some odd jobs around the Diamond.” Deacon waved her concern away. “Besides, we need hot water to make the Mac & Cheese.”
Melissa didn’t argue further and followed Deacon up the stairs once he got the room key. By the time they reached the third floor, her legs ached, and her side throbbed. He barely opened the door before she threw herself onto the full-size mattress. The blanket smelled musty, but she didn’t complain as the clerk appeared behind Deacon with a bucket of hot water. He took it with a smile and kicked the door shut behind him.
“Alright, Sweetheart.” He set the bucket beside the bed. “Shirt off.”
Melissa groaned.
“The longer this takes, the colder the water gets, and the crunchier that Mac & Cheese will be.”
Mellisa pulled herself up and began to pull herself free of her top layer of clothes.
Deacon set his bag on the edge of the bed and searched through it for their medical supplies. “Atta Girl.”
A few minutes later, Deacon sat cross-legged on the bed beside her. His shades on the nightstand, she watched his furrowed brow and narrowed eyes as he cleaned her side with tweezers, cotton balls, antiseptic, and deliciously warm water. She shivered as droplets roamed down her ribcage. Deacon paused to swipe them away with his thumb.
“Thanks for bein’ a trooper about this, babe.”
“It doesn’t hurt that bad.”
“No?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s good.” He put the tweezers aside and picked up fresh bandages. “That means Lady and I can dog-pile you tonight for extra cuddles.”
“Extra? Feeling needy?”
“Uh, you were getting shot at today, and I had to watch from the window. Yeah, I want extra cuddles.”
“I’m the one who got shot.”
“Grazed.” He leaned forward and stole a quick kiss. “And exactly. My plans for tonight are mutually beneficial. First, though, I’ve got to make us dinner.”
“Right, Blamco.”
“Blam-Co,” Deacon annunciated the words as he took the bag of stolen food and the water to the stove. Ladybird jumped down from an armchair to follow and lay beneath his feet as he cooked.
Melissa yawned, gave in, and sank onto the mattress where she watched Deacon hum to himself and sway about with a wooden spoon in his hand. As the smell of expired noodles and dusty cheese took over the room, her stomach rumbled, and she counted the Delivery Mission of K-8 as another success.
