Nekoholic

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

"I don't know if it'll be irradiated or not," Basil said with a shrug. He glanced at Kaye before focusing again on Jace. "We've tried warning you that this place is unpredictable, as are all vaults. This is your last chance to turn back, if you're not feeling up to it. And Jace, take it; I think it'll be worse if you get sick again while we're in there, especially if we do happen upon something particularly bad."
Leith looked up at Kaye, and said, "You having your doubts now, Kaye?"

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

"Kids, stop fighting for once in your damn lives," Leith scolded, huffing as he took a seat on a boulder, beginning to check his gun over before they set off. Though he trusted his combat shotgun to deal adequate damage when she needed to, she'd gotten old and was constantly falling apart. He didn't quite have the heart to throw her away yet, though, as she'd always been there for him before. If she went down, then he was going down with her, just like a captain with his ship. Still, he liked to make sure that she was ready to go before he rushed off into potentially dangerous situations.
"Jace, here's the last of the Rad-Away that we have on us," Basil said, walking over to him with the syringe ready, "You need to take it before we go."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

"Kaye, it'd probably be best to let someone else cook this morning," Leith said, appearing from the treeline. He slung his combat shotgun back onto his back, narrowing his eyes at Kaye as she made the preparations for breakfast. He then flicked his gaze over at Basil, who appeared to be measuring out what appeared to be Rad-Away; he assumed it was for Jace, just in case he still felt the lingering effects or radiation sickness.
"I can do it after I'm done with this," Basil offered.
"Why, that sounds like a splendid idea," Leith said, looking pointedly at Kaye. He cocked his head toward the Brahmin. "Why don't you get Bessie and Bob ready instead, 'hon?"

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

"Of course I forgive you," Basil quickly said. He snuck a glance at Kaye, concerned that she might actually tell Leith or Jace about their "discussion." He then also noticed that Leith seemed to be in pain. "What...did something happen to Leith out there?"

Leith replied, "Ah, just the rheumatism, Kaye."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil felt a surge of anger course through his veins, but upon hearing the approaching footsteps, his attention was immediately diverted instead to Jace and Leith. Rubbing sorely at his throat, Leith stepped past him, but not before giving him a firm pat on the shoulder, and then headed towards Kaye. Though confused at the odd, one-sided exchange, Basil rushed over to Jace and wrapped his arms around him. Giving him one firm squeeze, he said, face buried into the wrinkled fabric of his shirt, "I'm sorry. Please don't run away like that again, okay?"

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil narrowed his eyes. "And just what do you know exactly?"

Leith smirked. "Much. Now let's go."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil was quiet for a long moment, not daring to respond to her. He then looked worriedly toward the direction that Jace had taken off in. "Shouldn't they have been back by now? If they're not back soon, I'm going to go look for them."

"That boy ain't going nowhere," Leith said, prying Jace's fingers from his throat. He then shoved him away. "And like hell he despises you. He looks at you as if you're the sun and he's just revolving around you. For God's sake, you fucking mole, he told us that his whole reason for doing this is for your sake! Well, his and his dad's. But for you to act as if he'd suddenly hate you for going a little wacko on the Chems for a minute or two is just plain stupid." He gestured toward the camp. "Now, Kaye and me will get out of your hair just as soon as she's satisfied with her payment for her services. I'm just her guard, okay? But until then, we're stuck together and you're going to have to deal with it. Now let's go back, you and your fun-sized packet of denial can make up, and then we can be on our merry-goddamn-way to Vault Over the Fucking Rainbow!"

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil was silent for a long time, but finally scowled and said, "Living in a fantasy? Know nothing of the 'real world?'" He shook his head, standing with clenched fists. However, he made no move toward her. "Look, everyone has been through more than their fair share of hardship. You're not the only one who has lost people, who has been abused, who has been taken advantage of. You don't even know for who or why I'm going through with this. For the people back at my hometown? Fuck them! I honestly couldn't care less if they live or die!" Perhaps that was harsh, but why should he even care after everything that they had put Basil and his father through, just for being born into a role that neither of them were capable of adequately filling? "I only do this for two people. For my dad and for Jace. I may have only lost one other person that I genuinely cared about, but...but at least you've had people to care about in the first place. I'd give anything for those memories."
That emptiness crawled back in, sinking into his head as he thought more and more.
He became quiet again, but then asked, almost in a whisper, "What if you always felt as if you're doing nothing more than watching someone else, just floating above them? It's like you're tethered to them through a rope or, or a chain. They're...you, in a way, but you're not actually the one making the choices or anything. You're just someone who got front-row seats to the first showing." He wrapped his arms around himself. Even quieter he said, "Maybe...maybe if I do this, then I can have something to ground me. To make me into that person. So that I don't have to feel this way anymore, and Jace won't ever have to worry about me leaving him again, and my dad can be just a little happier, at least, and...and it'll be my life. You may have said that's a pointless goal, but I don't care. I want to try. I have to try because I can't just go away without Jace having something left of me behind."

"I'm not fighting you, kid," Leith said after a bout of coughing. He shook his head. "But feel free to fight whatever's really bothering you because I know for a fact that it isn't actually me."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil stared at her, frowning. He then said, "I appreciate that you helped us. I've also...appreciated the company, despite the circumstances, but..." He shook his head. "No matter what Jace feels for me, I do not feel that way in return. Perhaps I could, with time and contemplation, but at the moment, I'm not interested in romance or anything of that relation. And I refuse to pretend as if I do." He then added softly, "And the world isn't so bad. And even if it really is, then it's our faults, not the world's. There are still so many opportunities to make things better. So why are they still so bad? Because people instead choose to keep hurting each other. That's the only reason."
He stood. "Thank you for your concern, Kaye. But I'm afraid that you were assuming things."

His jaw knocked to the side, Leith only smirked. He then said, "Eh...kinda been a long day. How about tomorrow, though? Give my radiation powers a few hours to charge up again, and you'll have a real challenge."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

"You told me that it was a spice!" Basil shot back. He shook his head. "I didn't...realize that it was a Chem. But you shouldn't blame me for not reacting to it when you shouldn't have put it in there in the first place." He narrowed his eyes at her. "Both Leith and I trusted you, and you went and did that as if it was nothing more than a practical joke. How much longer do you think you can do stuff like that before people get sick and tired and leave you for all of the bullshit?"
He snapped his mouth shut, cheeks flushing from shame. He averted his gaze. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I'm...I'm sorry, Kaye. I shouldn't have said those things, but..." He'd allowed his anger for his prior domestic life seep into his present words; he closed his eyes shut tightly, awaiting Kaye's own retorts and perhaps physical attacks. "I'm really sorry."

"Hey, at least my nicknames for you are creative, rather than just plain derogatory and offensive," Leith remarked, but chuckled. He relaxed against the tree more. "Like, I've got a few good ones so far. Lead-head--you know, because it's supposed to be ironic? Lead is supposed to protect against radiation, but we found you dying from it instead? No? I thought it was pretty good. Humored me for a couple minutes. Uh, brain-waste; yeah, I like that one, too. Kinda connects back to the whole radiation ordeal, but you know, it's also relating to the fact that you're an idiot, as reviewed in adequate detail before. I need a new one for this situation, as well; can't let this one slip past me. Huh, let's see here...dope-for-brains? Nah, nah, too much like brain-waste. Smooch 'n Beans...maybe? 'Cause you know, the Chem Smooch was mixed into the beans and you were trying to smooch Basil back there. Too soon? Nah, never too soon to laugh at what hasn't killed us. I'll have to go over that one before I make it official, though."
He took one last drag on the cigarette before flicking it onto the ground, crushing it with the toe of his boot.