The hunt
Fallout masterlist - main masterlist
Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x reader
Chapter 1 - The plan - Chapter 2 - The bounty - Chapter 3 - The spoils
Summary: the morning after 😉
(this happens before Cooper ends up in that grave)
Words: 1154
Warnings: mild swearing, canon typical violence
Reader: female reader in mind but kept it gender-neutral
Chapter 4 - The betrayal
Cooper woke up first that morning, his breath hitched as he felt your warm body curled up next to him. He could barely remember the last time he woke up like this to someone else. He placed a hesitant kiss on your head, secretly hoping you'd continue to sleep as he attempted to slip out of the bed, fearing that you'd might regret last night. But luck was not on his side as you stirred, slowly waking up at the sudden loss of him next to you. He froze as you wiped the sleep from your eyes while mumbling a good morning in between yawns.
"Look at me", he suddenly said with a trembling voice.
The agonising wait was unbearable, the need to get over with your disgusted stare of regret urged him to cup your cheeks and turn your face towards him. And yet, that gaze he was so afraid of never came, your eyes were simply filled with affection, leaving him stunned.
"Do you know what happens when you force me to look at your naked self?", you chuckled, tracing a finger along his lower lip.
Before he could respond, you leaned in, kissing him gently. Your tongue ghosted teasingly over his lips before you finally got out of bed, collecting your clothes from the floor. Whatever thoughts he was lost in got interrupted when you tossed his worn out blue-yellow shirt at him.
"Let's get ready, we still have a prick to kill", your hands held up a torn piece of fabric, "and I'd like to point out that you, Mr Howard, still owe me a new tanktop."
With a mischievous wink, you playfully threw the torn piece at him, laughing as he caught it inches from his face. His eyes darted between the torn top and your bare chest, a wicked smile dancing on his lips.
"Oh I very much prefer you without it but I won't let anyone claim that this ghoul ain't paying his debts. I'll get ya a new one", he assured you, walking towards the door before turning around one last time, "and I'll scout the area. One can never be too careful."
Cooper shoved your top into a pocket of his coat. Just in case you ever came to your senses and grew disgusted by him, he wanted to hold onto a small reminder of better times. Leaving the motel, he was about to turn the corner when an oddly familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Do ya really think he's here?"
"Course, it's closest, idiot!"
He heard a loud slap, causing him to chuckle despite the nausea Honcho's voice provoked in him.
"Ouch! Don't need hittin' me! Shouldn't we get more firepower before takin' on a guy like 'im? And isn't he with 'er? Two of 'em is too much!"
"Nah sumthin' tells me he took care of 'er already, he's a ruthless bastard but we got the upper hand, surprise 'n all so shut up and get on lookin' for that ugly ass ghoul!"
Cooper turned on his heel, rushing back through the entrance of the motel and sprinted up the stairs. His mind raced a thousand miles an hour on how to get out of this alive and, most importantly, ensure your survival as well since you wouldn't benefit from the same healing perks. As he jumped past the last step, he bumped into a woman, her noisy complaints instantly filling the hallway. Although he saw her lips moving, the words failed to reach him as the pandemonium and desperation in his mind gradually took shape.
"You know what lady? Today's your unlucky day! No ghoul will ever be in your way again."
He seized her by the neck and forcefully flung her into the corner of your shared room upon entering. You looked up at the sudden turmoil, your eyes darting between the woman and Cooper. Without uttering a single word, he approached, grabbed your shotgun from the table and fired at the other woman. You shrieked, watching her brain splatter on the walls as her body crumpled to the floor.
"What the hell Coop?!", you shouted, your gaze never leaving the lifeless form before you.
Although his exterior remained composed and almost icy, a burning panic raged within him. Torn between the honest truth and the convenient lie, he took a moment to reevaluate the situation. You were both fucked if he didn't act soon and, while a few days ago, he wouldn't have given a damn about anyone else's fate, he did right now, reminding himself of how much simpler life had been when he was that selfish bastard everyone feared and despised. His hands gripped your arms, holding them painfully tight as he hoisted you up from the bed onto your feet. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes that you couldn't place. He must have spotted something suspicious outside but as long as he wouldn't speak up, you were left to guess.
"Coop, please tell me what's wrong", you pleaded.
"Gotta trust me on this one, sweetheart", he replied before he pressed his lips on yours, "and I'm sorry."
"Wha-"
The rest of your question got stuck in your throat as your entire world abruptly plunged into darkness. Cooper cradled your limp body in his arms, burying his face in your soft hair and inhaling deeply before gently lowering you to the ground and carefully tucking you underneath the bed. He grabbed the last few of your clothes that still clung to the chair and proceeded to dress the headless corpse. Just as he was about to stand up, the door burst open, Slim barging in with his gun trained on the ghoul, closely followed by Honcho, a wicked grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Well well well", Slim giggled with excitement, "looks like ya were right, Honcho, ol' fucker got 'er good."
A faint feeling of relief washed over Howard as Dom's stupid lackeys presumed the lifeless body was yours.
"Ah ya know me too well", Cooper chuckled, his gaze fixed on Slim, who took a cautious step back while keeping his gun aimed, "so what's it gonna be?"
"Given ya relations with my pa, I'm truly sorry for gettin' ya like this but you know...caps are caps", Honcho began.
"Aaah my presence makes the great Dom Pedro too nervous?", Cooper mocked, slowly raising his hands, "well took care of 'er for you two little birdbrains, now take me to the boss, will ya?"
Honcho flashed his yellowed teeth in a grimy smile as Biggie made his way into the room and positioned himself behind Howard. He slammed the rear end of his Junk Jet onto the back of the ghoul's head, knocking him out. All that was left now, was for the unconscious Cooper to hope that those three idiots wouldn't find you while dragging his body off to Dom Pedro.
Part 5
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Tags: @dreamtofus