PSL post for daughterless

[leanonstuff]

[The NCR had sent Norman to the Vault because the area was surrounded by Fiends, and he was damn good at blending among the various "criminal" groups around the Mojave. No way an ordinary NCR trooper would be able to get inside without being attacked. And according to their intelligence, exactly what was inside was of such great importance that they couldn't possibly wait to go after it just in case Caesar's Legion got wind of it and acted first. Norman was searching for a box of special bottles that appeared to be beer or vodka bottles, but were actually filled with a chemical that, when introduced into a water supply, could spread a deadly bacteria that would wipe out anyone who drank the contaminated water for at least a month.

Unfortunately, finding the bottles was turning out to be far more difficult that Norman had anticipated. He'd gotten into the Vault in the first place by wearing old, torn and dirty clothes that could pass as those a typical raider or Fiend might wear. He'd even bought a few chems from them to help gain their trust (and to use them later, though he planned to tell the NCR that he'd disposed of them instead). The Vault seemed to be empty of Fiends, luckily, but he wasn't too optimistic that he wouldn't eventually run into ghouls or worse.

10mm pistol in hand, Norman opens the door to the Vault infirmary, hoping he might have some more luck locating the bottles in there.]

Comments

[daughterless]

[Joel gives Norman a long, hard look. The pieces don't fit quite right here. They'd definitely had more Med-X than either of them had used in the past day, and there's something off about-- he doesn't know.

The pain is a distraction Joel can't afford and his hands are beginning to shake, as much from blood loss as it is the aftermath of their near-death encounter. There ain't much point arguing about their med stash right now, so Joel exhales, a low and exhausted sound, and lets it go (for now, but he sure as hell is going to mull over it later.)]

Fine. [Letting his shoulders drop, he extends his hand toward Norman-- just pass him the damn stims.] You do that.

[leanonstuff]

[He sees the slump in Joel's shoulders and feels a deep pang of guilt. He'll just... have to find more to make up for it. And he will. There has to be some in that clinic.

So Norman hands Joel the two stims, trying not to appear too guilty.]

Will you be okay in here while I'm gone?

[He'll have to be, but Norman asks anyway.]

[daughterless]

[Rolling back his sleeves to inject the stimpack, Joel doesn't look up at him.]

I think I'll manage.

[If his voice is somewhat less than friendly, well, he's not sure how he feels about Norman right now. Between the kiss and... this, whatever this is, Norman being suspicious as all hell, Joel is definitely having second thoughts about this mission.

At least they hadn't had the other conversation that he'd been trying to avoid. Norman hadn't mentioned-- maybe he felt as awkward about the whole thing as Joel does. Better to think of it as a one-off, not to be repeated.]