Despite everything that happened today, Vito and I decided to leave Nipton for now and return to the Outpost, leaving Jackson and the recruits behind to finish their jobs. Unsurprisingly, Ghost also decided to return to her post, after all, one single ranger was more than enough to deal with this batch of recruits, besides the outpost need its silent protector.
Once we reached the outpost Ghost by us farewell before she went to report to Major Knight leaving us to do our things. Despite not being the most talkative person I know, Ghost was one if not the best sniper I ever saw, making her one dangerous enemy to have.
Anyway, after she left, Vito left seemly in a hurry, which made me curious about what could make him so impatient, then again if it would have been something I should know, he would have told me by now. Shaking my head, I went to search for Violet and Cassie, finding the two girls at the bar. Cassie had quite a few empty bottles beside her while Violet tried to take away a bottle that hasn't been opened yet, though from what I could see that was easier said than done.
"Hey, girls what's the occasion?"
Violet was the first one to turn giving me a pleading look before turning her attention back to the drunken mess that sit beside her.
"Dsmdne, domr anc comfprt mw."
I couldn't understand anything she was saying and because of that, I had to turn toward her friend, who simply shook her head.
"She just found out that the major wouldn't let any caravan leave the outpost until the threat was completely passed."
"Tjat bqwtqrf is makinb ke loseondy. I harr him"
Once again, Cassie blurted out something that could be barely understood, yet for some reason, I could feel her sorrow. Not only was she forced to stay inside this place, but also at the same time, whatever she was transporting was costing extra caps, especially when she couldn't sell it thanks to the rather huge amount of caravans that are in the same situation as hers. Just as I was about to ask Violet what happened, Cassie fell asleep on the bar counter making the redhead mechanic sigh in relief.
Violet then turns towards me, almost pleading for help with her eyes. Thankfully, Cassie wasn't all that tall or heavy and because of that I managed to carry her on my back to her bed, before leaving the woman to rest. After we put Cassie in her bed, Violet asked me to walk with her outside.
The walk through the desert at night was both eerie but also beautiful in an odd way, as we had an utterly clear view of the brilliant night sky and the stars twinkling away above us. Thought I was curious why Violet would want me to walk with her, but who was I to argue when I was enjoying our walk?
The huge moon above us lit the desert sands in a beautiful mirage which to be fair was something unreal to me to see, making me feel unease as if something was wrong or false, considering how I lived until a month or so ago…
Violet seemed to notice my unease as she kept falling behind before having to hurry to catch up with me. Then out of nowhere, she grabbed my hand, forcing me to a stop.
"What happened, Dante? Did I or Cassie do something wrong?"
When I heard her question, I could only blink at her in survive, not realizing that my response made the redhead even more worried that something was wrong. It took me a few seconds to realize why Violet was looking at me with worry, making me embarrassed about what I have done.
"It's nothing about you and Cassie. It's… just that this seems surreal to me. The desert hadn't looked this beautiful ever before. Now I don't know if this is happening because I genuinely enjoy our walk or simply because I'm with you, but one thing I can tell you is that I'd like to walk with you again"
My words made the red-haired girl blush before she responds with a smile on her face.
"While we had only met and let's be honest we had barely talked all that much, we both have similar hobbies and like to dirty our hands with oil when fixing stuff. I truly enjoyed the short time we spent together. However, I lied to you, Dante about why I approached you, and while it is true that I wanted to take a closer look at your eyebot, the truth is that I was jealous of your knowledge and I wanted to somehow get my hands on that knowledge."
Could I trust her with the truth about me? Not exactly, after all, she did lie to me to find out how I was so good at fixing stuff, but then again she did tell me the truth… What should I even do in this situation?
Her face softened and she let go of my hand when she saw my internal conflict, making her let out a forced laugh.
"I sympathize with you for what it's worth, I know that it is hard for you to trust me or even call me a friend now, after I confessed to you that I was lying and trying to use you, but please do believe that I was telling the truth when I told you that I enjoyed our time together."
For the first time since she had, for some reason, to tell me the truth, Violet spoke in a surprisingly soft voice that was obviously trying to sound both apologetic and at the same time somehow sympathetic to the whole situation.
"I'm sorry, Violet, but I can't just roll out with it just like that after you basically told me in the face that you were using me or at least wanted to use me."
The girl in question gave me a sad smile before she nodded at me, aware that what she had done and said might have just destroyed the last and only bridge she might have had with me. Nevertheless, for some reason, she also felt a peace now that she had told me the truth.
"I promise you that if you still want to be friends in the future, I will never lie to you again."
I could only force a smile at her before something fast grabbed me by the torso lifting me in the air before I was thrown into the ground knocking the air out of my lungs. As I was trying to breathe, for a split second I glanced at what attacked me. What I saw almost made me pass out in fear. In front of me stood a deathclaw growling at Violet, who fell down on her butt staring in fear at the creature that had just attacked us.
< Just change "3" with "e" Patr3on Link : https://patr3on.com/meatbunkun>