#aaauuguhhhhhhhhh

[maspaz]

anyway I think deacon would know shroud has a crush on him first

Deacon spoke up first. “ Is that a Geiger counter in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

The enclosed space they were in seemed to grow tighter.

" T-that's my pip-boy," Shroud stammered, eyes wide, their face a fresh coat of red at Deacon's chest. Surely, Deacon couldn't see through his sunglasses... They held onto that small ray of hope.

The taller man's already wide grin grew.

" Is that what you call it? Weird. Mines The Big One, but we also accept Cap-Maker and Ginger Whiskey."

Shroud wondered vaguely if he was red headed - NO, no, they could not go there, not when they were hiding from ghouls. Not even if they weren't. They needed to be professional.

But how could Shroud not think about it too hard? It had been so long since they'd been with someone so comfortable with their body. And Shroud had feelings. Feelings that spread to playful, handsome older men.

" What's wrong? Wait, don't tell me - You're blushing," Deacon said after the long silence. " After many years of studying, I find I have that affect on cute little vault dwellers like yourself - "

Nope.

After leaving the Pulaski Shelter and killing all the damn ghouls in Jamaica Plain, Deacon caught up with them.

" You know, if you ever need me to shut up, a please would work," Deacon said cheerfully. Shroud hung their head low and hid their face in their hands.

Deacon watched them from behind his sunglasses, a chill grin still visible on his face, but his chest ached with pain.

Later, Shroud stuttered as they asked him to pass them the water. Their face was still uncharacteristically red...

Deacon sighed to himself.

" Something wrong?" They asked.

" Nope," he replied, not bothering to elaborate. He was too tired for jokes. He sincerely hoped he hadn't just ruined a perfectly good partnership.