#rj maccready fanfic

[deathclaw-for-cutie]

My favorite loud and nitty gritty dirty little freaks.

This is the first thing I’ve drawn in literal years. Please enjoy an off-model Mac and Hancock.

[everydayyoulovemeless]

Hi! I really like your writing!

Can I request a MacCready x reader where he's patching you up? If possible, can he be denying/ ignoring being in love with you, too?

Wounds ↠ MacCready x Reader

➼ Word Count » 0.7k ➼ Warnings » None ➼ Genre » Romantic, Pinning ➼ A/N » Sorry for the wait, love! I couldn't figure out how I should write him for the longest time, and I still don't feel like I did him much justice, but it's done!

You never imagined that your relationship with the sniper would evolve into anything more than business partners. He made it clear from the start that he didn't have any intention to be your friend. You paid him, he did his job, and that's all the two of you would ever be - until you ran out of currency, that is.

You can remember the exact moment you walked into the Third Rail. A pile of newly attained caps in your pocket that jingled together whenever you jostled your leg too quickly. It was a wonder how you managed to make it that far into town without being mugged, but you supposed the vibrant welcoming from the Mayor himself had more to do with it than you actually appearing as a threat to anyone.

You only wandered into the VIP section out of curiosity. You'd always been a sucker for bar fights, so when you heard an argument brewing up in the back, you couldn't help but be a bit nosy about it.

"You have to tell me when something like this happens." He chided, inspecting the gash on your leg with evident concern. "It's too dangerous out here for you to be ignoring something like this."

"Don't get soft on me." You teased, jerking your leg back at the sting that came when he began pouring water on top of the wound.

You knew you probably shouldn't be joking around at a time like this, but what else could you do? You hated the thought of burdening your companion like this, and after you were so close to arriving at Sanctuary too.

His eyes flickered up to meet your own for a minute before casting them back down at the blood he was washing off your body, "I'm not." He hissed, "I'm making sure my only source of caps stays alive."

You hummed in response, "It's only a scratch. It's not like I'll die. Once we make it back to Sanctuary, I'll have Curie take a look at it, and we'll be back on the road."

"Yeah, well, until then, I'm going to make sure you don't get an infection."

You winced again from the feeling of cold water roughly scrubbing at your wound before gazing apologetically at him.

"I'm fine Mac, really," You said, "It's been healing fine on its own for the past couple of days now"

He takes his hat off of his head and runs a stressed hand through his hair.

He did that same motion in the bar where you'd found him, right after Winlock and Barnes were done confronting him. It made you frown slightly when you saw it.

"Are you.. ok?" You asked slowly, resting a hesitant hand on his shoulder, worried that you might've upset him.

"Are you ok?" He retorted, gesturing vaugely toward your injury.

"I feel fine. Really. I'll be able to make it to the settlement without any support." You assured him - or at least tried to, he didn't seem to be feeling any less concerned, though.

"I just - why didn't you tell me?"

"I knew you'd stress about it." You sighed, "It's nothing, ok? I'll be ok for the time being. Once we're there I'll go straight to the Medic house, alright?"

"Whatever." He muttered, "Come on, I'll carry you on my back until we can get you too a real doctor."

You scoffed playfully, "You're too scrawny to-"

"Get on." He spoke, cutting you off. "I want to get there before it gets dark."

You stared at him for a moment before letting out a sigh and grasping onto his shoulders.

He slotted his arms under your knees carefully, and it was clear by the way he moved over debris that he was trying his hardest not to jostle you too much.

His actions only brought you back to the day you had met. You smiled to yourself as you remembered him counting the caps you'd handed to him before he explained he wouldn't be caring for you in any capacity. He was a bodyguard, not a member of the Minutemen. If you couldn't patch yourself up, then there'd be no reason for him to stay.

You supposed something must've changed between then and now, as he did the one thing he told you he wouldn't.

"What are you breathing in my ear for?" He asked defensively. You could feel his face heating up ever so slightly as you rested your head on his shoulder.

You smiled a little wider, "No reason."

[perfectlypreservedpie]

MacCready Fanfiction Recs (Fallout 4)

hey everybody, nobody asked for this but in the midst of writing fallout fanfic I was feeling a special kind of love for my favorite fo4 fanfics and wanted to recommend them in case you hadn't read 'em. Because they are VERY GOOD and writing fanfic is hard, so you gotta give props to those who sweat for your comfort fics.

I'm gonna recommend my top three finished fanfics, and then two more bonus fics that are being updated rn. As a clarifier, these are all Maccready fallout 4 fics. so. keep that in mind.

im tagging the authors and also anybody who wants to join and share their favorites too!

3. THE FATHER(S) AND THE SON(S) on ao3 by @sirmanmister

I'm going to preface this rec by saying this: there is Fanon MacCready. There is canon MacCready. And then there is ascended!whatBethesdawishesitWAS MacCready, which exists solely in this fanfiction. The characterization of Mac is so well written. He is snarky, he is vulnerable. He desperately wants to grow up but doesn't know how. He has the most sick character arc in this story!!!

It's not a romance but instead a coming of age story where the sole survivor becomes a de-facto parent to Mac. The heart of the story is about how to raise a child while you're still trying to grow up yourself. The apocalypse setting lends itself well because the Wasteland is a place where NOTHING is beautiful, but the way that M!Sosu and MacCready care for their sons is beautiful. Which makes it special and worth fighting for.

As a fun fact, I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy for class a week after finishing this fic and I was thinking about this fic the whole time because the themes of fatherhood during an apocalypse hit a lot of the same beats. Maybe my professor would kick me in the teeth by comparing fic to McCarthy, but @sirmanmister YOU ARE MY CORMAC MCCARTHY <3

2. WORKING CLASS HERO on ao3 by @bluegrasskitty

This is the kind of fic you take with you to toilet, to work, in-between classes. It will suck you in. AND THERE'S A SEQUEL TOO YOU GUYS‼️

The sole survivor in this story is the model for the Nuka Cola girl. You know the hot lady in the spacesuit? SHE HAS A BACKSTORY. AND YALL IT MADE ME WEEP. During some point of the story, I sort of stopped rooting for MacCready to be the narrator and just wanted Nora Cabot to take the reins. When I tell you I think of this oc every two to three business weeks. She's an incredible leading lady. I can't look at Nuka Girl posters in the game without thinking of Nora Cabot, my beloved.

the sequel IS SO FIRE. It's the best reimagining of 'what happened after the institute blew up' that I've ever read. im gnawing at the bars of my enclosure actually.

A VERY GOOD PLOT TWIST I CANNOT MENTION TO NEW READERS BUT IF YOU'VE READ IT YOU'LL UNDERSTAND. AND IF YOU UNDERSTAND DM ME I HAVE TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT IT. HHh.

The amount of world building that @bluegrasskitty puts into this story is insane. They ARE Beth Esda.

As a fun fact, I didn't know that radchickens were canon in fallout. I thought it was a plot device made up by this author to excuse the ability to make cake in this book, but radchickens ARE real. When I was playing Far Harbor last year, I found radchickens and thought that @bluegrasskitty manifested them into existence because they had that kind of power.

that being said, I still think this author has that kind of power.

1. Atom Bomb Baby on ao3 by @starlightwrites

I think you dropped something....my jaw.

fellas. fellas. this is my comfort fic. You ever had a comfort fic? Something you come back to at least once a year to reread to feel something? the fiction equivalent of chicken noodle soup? this is what Atom Bomb Baby is to me. this is peak literature actually. if I ever figure out book binding, im doing this one first.

Plot wise, it's a retelling of Fallout 4's main story through the perspective of MacCready. But (and im wheezing as I say this) it's also so much more THAN THAT.

this fic author understands that MacCready is not a womanizer but is in fact a touch starved loser. and they are CORRECT.

MacCready spends the entire fic like 'uuuhhhh I dunno about this one, boss!'

ITS BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS RAHHHHHH

it also has a nostalgia feel to me too, because reading it gives me the same feeling as what it was like to play the game for the first time, years ago. maybe it's because I've read it so many times over the years, but reading it feels so satisfying.

The author spends 10 chapters at the end solely dedicated to an epilogue. I wish more stories did this. They go through the wringer in this story, and it's so deeply satisfying to see how cleanly everything gets wrapped up. MacCready and the Lola work really well together as a couple, so it's awesome to see how they work together after the battle is done.

6 out of 5 stars.

BONUS FICS !! aka fics that are still updating! I squeal with joy when I get an ao3 email about these: 1. Best Laid Plans on ao3 by @druidgroves - Georgia Tate is an incredible character and sole survivor! She was a teacher prewar, so it's really fun to get her perspective on the world. She cares a lot about education and libraries and I find her really relatable and endearing. It's a cool thing for a character in an apocalypse to care about! It also makes for fun tension with Mac, who's written as a pragmatic survivor. A great take on familiar characters and their dynamics. - And It's a great slow burn! I'm really enjoying reading it. 2. Long Time Running on ao3 by @twosides--samecoin - If you've ever thought that Med-Tek was too convenient an option for Duncan's cure, this fic was written with you in mind. - RJ goes to Canada and im obsessed with it. - If you're interested in fallout lore, specifically the bit where the U.S annexed Canada and wished that there was more info about that, I would highly recommend this fic. Twosides--samecoin put in THE WORK. The world building they do to explain Canada's side of the Great War is so fun!!! its genuinely such a thrill to read!

I'm tagging the authors who I mentioned, if you all have favorite fics (fallout or otherwise, I'd love to hear em!) Thank you for making good art!

[twosides--samecoin]

My sister sent me this. She has no idea I wrote a half million words of fanfic about him 😅

[elvishdemigod]

I need fanfics where SoSu is replaced with companions.

Like MacCready went to get the cure for his son, but when he got home, Duncan was completely gone, and whoever he left them with tells him Duncan just vanished into thin air.

Or Piper. Nat is missing and she's freaking out because she has a gut feeling it was actually the Institute, which would make her grudge against McDonough even more impactful.

Or maybe, even Jun and Marcy Long refusing to give up finding where their son is. Two dedicated parents willing to go to the ends of the earth to find their son.

Of course that'd have to give the Institute a reason to kidnap the kid. And would Sole still have seen their spouse get shot, their baby taken, and Shaun become leader? Or will it be someone else?

And what would any of these characters do in their place? How would they get to the Institute? Act with the Railroad? How would they find out about the teleportation? Would Kellogg still have been the one to affect them?

[sagankid]

i'm in need of MacCready content so i'm just gonna crawl through the pits of hell to reach the heavens above again (search and read fanfic on ao3)

(also a reminder for me to finish writing the story i had in mind with him after playing fallout 4)

[mlmxreader]

I'll Be Okay | RJ MacCready x m!reader

『••✎••』

↳ ❝ "Call me up anytime" With MacCready please? ❞

: ̗̀➛ You and MacCready talk about what's going to happen when he leaves to see Duncan.

trigger warnings: ̗̀➛ mentions of violence, mentions of sickness, swearing

•───────────────★•♛•★──────────────•

MacCready watched, his head tilted slightly to the side, his hair all scruffy and messed up as the blanket pooled around his waist; the scars on his torso and back more than visible as he rested on one arm, his gaze almost mesmerised as he took note of everything you did.

The way you scrubbed your face in the sink, the movements of your fingers and the dirty water dripping back down.

He liked to take note of everything you did, always worried that his second chance would be ripped away from him as quickly as his first; his smile reached his blue eyes when you turned to look at him, flashing that smile that always made his heart skip a beat.

"Broken?" You asked quietly, and when he shook his head, your smile seemed to get a little brighter. "Today's the day, right?"

MacCready nodded, humming softly. "Yeah, erm… yeah, I'm going to see Duncan. Hopefully in a few weeks he'll be strong enough to finally come home."

You nodded back, moving to straddle his waist, your hands on his chest as you gazed at him so softly. "I hope so… but you know he'll be safe here, don't you? I won't let nothing hurt him."

Gently, he rested his hands on your thighs as he sucked in a harsh breath. "I know. I know. The Minutemen are just a flare away."

You saluted playfully. "At a minute's notice."

He wanted to laugh, but when he caught the way the sun washed over you, he lost it. "Yeah..."

Slowly, you leaned down to kiss him sweetl,. "Do you want me to come with you? Preston wouldn't mind if I did, you know he understands those things."

But MacCready shook his head as he swallowed thickly. "No, no, it's fine."

"Okay," you whispered, almost completely under your breath. "But you know you can call me up anytime. I can be there."

"At a minute's notice?" He hummed as he raised a brow.

You nodded all too confidently. "Obviously!"

MacCready was almost smiling as he tapped his fingers gently against your skin. "Thank you… seriously, thank you. I didn't… I didn't think you'd be so ready."

"You are my favourite mercenary in the world," you told him. "And my favourite person of all. I would do anything for you, and as your… okay, it's not official, but as your life partner? I want to be part of your family."

"What makes you say it's not official?"

You shrugged, pursuing your lips for a moment. "We never talked about it, and I know you still love your wife, so I figured, y'know?"

MacCready shook his head, swallowing thickly. "I do, I still miss her but... for once in my life everything is going well and I have you to thank for that and... and I want you to be there. I like being close."

You smiled, leaning down a little so that most of your weight was on him. "I like being close, too...and if you want me here, then that's where I'll always be."

He almost gulped audibly, his heart hammering in his chest. Easy silence for just a moment. "Maybe... maybe when he's better, we can get Duncan together, and bring him home?"

"That would be great," you agreed quietly. "You'll have to let me know when - Preston can probably lend us a few Minutemen to make sure it's safe."

"I wouldn't want to -"

"I'm his right hand man," you pointed out. "He will understand. Trust me."

"Okay." MacCready fell back a little, the back of his head hitting the comfortable pillow you stole from Covenant. "I'm really grateful, you know."

You moved over, laying on your side next to him as you splayed your fingers out on his chest. "I know. I'm grateful, too, I mean, without you I would never have been able to get those Brotherhood cunts to fuck off."

"I've never seen someone swear so much," he laughed softly. "Not to mention at a Brotherhood Knight."

You shrugged as you grinned. "Well, I had to impress the best mercenary in the Commonwealth somehow."

He moved, putting his arm under you so he could pull you a little closer. "Don't teach Duncan those words, please?"

"I won't," you put on a false tone of offence. "I can't believe you would think so low of me."

MacCready couldn't help the laugh that slipped quietly from the back of his throat. "You taught Hancock."

"He asked!" You defended. "He asked me to teach him what coc oen meant!"

He wanted to roll his eyes, but he couldn't find it in himself as he smiled and shook his head fondly. "You're, erm... you're not gonna go anywhere while I'm away, are you?"

You shrugged, thinking for a moment. "Only the Castle... why?"

"Just..." he shook his head. "Don't worry. I just wondered."

You knew he was lying, you could see it in his blue eyes; how the worry swirled around, probably crashing in his brain.

You knew MacCready always worried about something happening, he was always the more protective one, but you didn't see any way that anything could go wrong for you; you would be travelling with a group of Minutemen anyway, and there was a reason why Preston had you as his second in command - third in command overall.

But you knew that there wasn't a switch he could turn on and off, so you leaned over, gently cupping his face and trying not to laugh at how the coarse hair tickled your palm as you got him to look at you.

A soft kiss here, just a little sign of affection and reassurance as you hummed softly.

"I mean it," you told him, whispering against his lips. "I'll see you off to Daisy's, but after that? Call me up anytime, R.J. Any time. If you need me, I will be there. If you want me, I will be there."

Gently, he rested his hand on yours. "I know. I'll be okay, promise."

•───────────────★•♛•★──────────────•

thank you so much for reading! If I may just ask for a moment of your time, I'd like to bring Mahmoud to your attention; he needs help rebuilding his life due to recent events, and even just £1 would go such a long, long way - please, if you have anything to spare, consider giving it to him.

[queer-spectre]

Some MacCready Hcs

-always cold. His hands are especially are fucking freezing. He wrings his hands a lot rubs them together to try and warm them up.

-his cap and jacket both have a worn little tag on the inside, hand stitched with his initials — put there by Lucy in neat black thread.

-he and Hancock were passing friends for a bit before sole was thawed out, but became very close quickly once they spent some time on the road.

-Mac gets along famously with Cait, but hates that she—without fail—calls out his cursing with a shit-eating grin. Sole introduces the concept of a swear jar, which Cait thinks is funniest thing in the world.

-Mac is an excellent at herding drunken people, a highly admired skill in Goodneighbor, and later in any settlement. Probably from his years as mayor of little lamplight: he’s stern but even the drunks can tell it’s mostly affectionate.

-Magnolia is on a personal quest to (subtly) play matchmaker for him. Hancock is notably less subtle about it.

-one of the ways sole knew he really trusted them was when he somberly requested a mod on his rifle. He tried to pay and everything but sole would only accept payment in the form of helping them haul salvage across the waste. (Need more aluminum after those upgrades, after all).

-Mac’s jumpy and fidgety both, to an almost comical (or worrying) degree—unless he’s peering down a scope, where everything he can see is his to control.

-close combat makes him nervous, but he does a good job of hiding it. He hates it more if sole has him hang back while they go in close.

-his dry sense of humor was born from many years of not understanding the joke/metaphor as a kid.

-sometimes his deadpan is too good, and people don’t realize he’s joking, then he has to backtrack: which makes him all flustered and shit.

-while he cracks a grin easily, his actual laugh is rare. but when he does it’s full force: the loud, can barely breathe, eyes-watering kind.

-his letters to Duncan include drawings sometimes—usually encountered creatures or people he’s met. Per his kiddo’s request, there is a pretty decent sketch of sole tucked under Duncan’s bed—he likes knowing someone is keeping his dad safe.

-sole and Hancock collect the all the pens, pencils, and intact paper they can find for Mac. They never give it to him directly: it feels like too much to address it unless Mac wants to talk about his kid, so they just add it to his pack. Mac knows, and returns the favor in his own ways: gruffly shoving shotgun shells into Hancock’s hands, and a giving a variety of ammo types to Sole.

- once the dust settled, Mac and Duncan moved out to the commonwealth: diamond city for the first few years so Duncan could attend school with the other kids. Duncan and Nat are thick as thieves and cause endless (mostly harmless) trouble. Nick’s had to drag the pair out of trouble a few times, only sometimes reporting the shenanigans to their respective guardians.

[wh0reforangst]

Scars and Solace

What should have been a normal argument between lovers explodes violently and ends with a half-dead MacCready, pissed off Preston and Curie, and an emotionally hurt Mandy Bernard(Female Sole Survivor)

The sun hung low over Concord, casting long shadows across the abandoned streets as Mandy and MacCready scoured through the remnants of pre-war homes. Their footsteps echoed through the quiet, broken only by the occasional clink of scavenged junk being collected.

"Find anything good?" Mandy asked, trying to break the oppressive silence.

MacCready grunted in response, his movements jerky as he rummaged through a pile of debris. "Not really. Just a bunch of useless junk."

Mandy sighed inwardly, sensing his frustration growing by the minute. She had learned to read his moods over their time together in the wasteland, but today seemed particularly tense.

"You know, we could always come back later if you're not feeling up to it," she offered cautiously.

MacCready shot her a sharp look, his brow furrowed. "No, we need to get this done now. The sooner we're out of here, the better."

His clipped tone stung, but Mandy pressed on, determined to ease the tension. "Okay, but maybe we could take a break soon? Grab a bite to eat or something."

He shrugged dismissively, his frustration palpable. "Maybe. We'll see."

Mandy bit her lip, unsure of what else to say. She hated when he was like this — closed off and distant. It reminded her of the times before they had truly opened up to each other, when trust was scarce and survival was paramount.

As she rummaged through a dresser in one of the houses, Mandy accidentally knocked over a pile of dusty books, the old volumes scattering across the floor with a soft thud. The noise seemed to reverberate in the tense silence that had settled between them.

"For crying out loud, Mandy! Can't you be more careful?" MacCready's voice was sharper than she had ever heard it, his patience finally snapping under the strain of their day.

Startled, Mandy turned to him, hurt flashing in her eyes. "I'm trying, Bobby. We're all under pressure out here."

He shook his head, his expression tight with frustration. "You know, sometimes I wonder why I bother."

Mandy's heart sank at his words, stung by their harshness. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You heard me," he shot back, his tone bitter. "You aren't worth the caps you paid me to watch your back all that time ago. I should have learned that sooner. I'm done."

Her breath caught in her throat at the finality in his words. They hung heavy in the air between them, each syllable a painful reminder of their fraying partnership. Mandy felt a surge of anger rise within her, mixing with the hurt and confusion. How could he say such things after everything they had been through together?

"Fine, MacCready," she replied, her voice trembling with a mix of sorrow and defiance. "If that's how you feel, then go."

With that, he turned away from her, his jaw clenched in frustration. The bitter taste of their argument lingered on her tongue as she fought back tears, refusing to let him see her cry. She couldn't afford to break down now, not when they were still in danger. With a deep breath, Mandy forced herself to focus on the task at hand. She continued searching the house, her movements mechanical as she tried to push the hurt and betrayal aside. Each item she salvaged felt like a weight in her hands, reminding her of the shattered pieces of their relationship scattered around her.

Minutes stretched into an eternity as she sorted through debris, the silence broken only by the distant sound of gunfire echoing through the empty streets of Concord. Dread gnawed at her stomach, fear for MacCready's safety mixing with the ache in her heart. Then, the gunfire erupted closer, snapping her back to reality. Panic surged through her veins as she raced outside, her pulse pounding in her ears. Following the sound, she found MacCready hunkered down behind a crumbling wall, blood seeping from multiple places.

"Bobby!" she cried out, rushing to his side. "Hang on, I'll get you patched up."

He winced as she applied a makeshift bandage, his earlier anger forgotten in the face of immediate danger. "Thanks," he muttered through gritted teeth.

Gunshots rang out again, and Mandy could see raiders closing in from all sides. With adrenaline coursing through her veins, she fought fiercely to protect them both, her mind focused solely on keeping them safe. As Mandy fought desperately to keep MacCready alive, the distant sound of gunfire echoed through the empty streets of Concord. Her heart pounded as she applied makeshift bandages to his wounds, her hands trembling with fear. The relentless barrage of bullets and the approaching raiders left her with little hope of escape.

Suddenly, a group of Minutemen appeared at the end of the street, drawn by the sound of gunfire. Their leader, a stalwart and battle-hardened soldier named Sergeant Adams, quickly assessed the situation. His sharp eyes took in the scene, and without hesitation, he signaled for his men to move forward.

"Minutemen, move out! We've got survivors in need of assistance!" Adams barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The Minutemen sprang into action, their movements swift and coordinated. As they engaged the raiders, Mandy's heart leapt with a mix of relief and fear. She glanced at MacCready, his face pale and drawn, barely clinging to consciousness.

"Hang on, Bobby," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "Help is here."

The battle raged around them, but the Minutemen's superior training and firepower quickly turned the tide. The raiders were driven back, their numbers dwindling under the relentless assault. The street was cleared within minutes, and the Minutemen turned their attention to Mandy and MacCready.

Sergeant Adams approached, his expression a mix of concern and resolve. "You two alright?"

Mandy shook her head, her eyes filled with worry. "He's badly injured. We need to get him to Sanctuary, quickly."

Adams nodded, signaling to two of his men. "Jackson, Miller, get him on his feet. We need to move, now." I Jackson, a burly and strong Minuteman, carefully lifted MacCready into his arms, while Miller supported his legs. MacCready's head lolled to the side, his eyes fluttering open for a brief moment.

"Mandy," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm... sorry."

Tears welled up in Mandy's eyes as she knelt beside him, her hand gently brushing his cheek. "Shh, Bobby. Save your strength. We're getting you help."

MacCready managed a faint smile before his eyes closed, and he slipped into unconsciousness. The sight of him so vulnerable and fragile tore at Mandy's heart, but she forced herself to stay strong.

"We need to move fast," Adams said, his voice firm and urgent. "Jackson, Miller, carry him carefully. We can't afford any more injuries."

The Minutemen moved swiftly through the deserted streets of Concord, their movements precise and efficient. Sergeant Adams led the way, his eyes scanning for any threats, while Jackson and Miller carefully carried MacCready. His color was alarming, and the trail of blood left in their wake painted a dire picture.

"Almost there," Adams called out, his voice steady but urgent. "Keep moving!"

As they hurried along, Adams glanced at Mandy, who was walking with grim determination by MacCready's side. Recognition suddenly dawned on him. He had seen her before, heard the stories.

"Wait a minute," Adams said, his eyes widening. "You're General Bernard! My apologies for not recognizing you right away!”

Mandy nodded, her expression resolute despite the worry etched across her face. "Yes, I am. And right now, I need you to help me save MacCready."

Adams nodded firmly, the weight of her title adding an extra layer of urgency to their mission. "Sarah!" he barked, turning to the young recruit who was trailing behind. "Run ahead to Sanctuary and warn Curie we're coming. Tell her MacCready's critical and we need her ready!"

Sarah, wide-eyed but determined, nodded and took off at a sprint, her figure quickly disappearing down the road. — By the time they reached the fortified gates of Sanctuary, Sarah was already there, breathless but focused, directing Curie and a few other Minutemen. The gates swung open just as Jackson and Miller arrived with MacCready.

"Bring him inside, quickly," Curie ordered, her voice calm but commanding. "We must stabilize him immediately."

Inside the infirmary, the air was thick with tension. Curie worked with practiced efficiency, moving swiftly as she grabbed the supplies needed. Mandy hovered nearby, her heart heavy with worry and guilt.

Adams approached her, his expression a mix of respect and concern. "General, he's in good hands. Curie is the best we have."

Mandy nodded, but her worry was palpable. "I know. But I can't help feeling responsible. We had an argument before... before all this."

Mandy's heart pounded in her chest as Curie carefully peeled off MacCready's bloodstained shirt, revealing the full extent of his injuries. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight. Deep gashes and bullet wounds marred his torso, and his skin was alarmingly pale, almost translucent under the harsh infirmary lights.

"Oh my God," Mandy whispered, her voice trembling. She reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing against his cold, clammy skin. "Bobby... I..."

Curie placed a gentle but firm hand on Mandy's shoulder, grounding her. "Mademoiselle, please, let me work. He will need all my focus to stabilize."

Tears welled up in Mandy's eyes as she took a step back, her hands shaking. "How could I have let this happen? We argued, and I... I pushed him away."

Curie continued her work, her movements precise and steady. "He is a fighter, Mandy. He will pull through. But right now, you must be strong for him. He needs you to stay calm."

Mandy nodded, swallowing hard as she tried to steady her breathing. "I just... I can't believe how bad it is. I didn't realize..."

Curie looked up briefly, her eyes soft with understanding. "Guilt will not help him now. Your presence, your support, and your strength will. Let me do my job, and then you can do yours. Go clean yourself up."

Mandy bit her lip, her eyes flicking to MacCready's pale face. "But what if he wakes up and I'm not here? What if he—"

Curie interrupted gently, her eyes kind. "I understand your concern, but he may need some space to process everything. Emotions are high right now, and we do not know his state of mind when he wakes up. Give him a little space, let him rest and heal."

Mandy hesitated, the weight of Curie's words sinking in. She knew Curie was right, but the thought of leaving MacCready's side, even for a moment, felt unbearable. Yet, she also knew that pushing him too soon could do more harm than good.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice heavy with emotion. "But if anything changes, anything at all, I want to know immediately."

Curie nodded reassuringly. "Of course. I will keep you informed. Go and rest, General. You have done all you can for now."

Reluctantly, Mandy stepped back, her eyes lingering on MacCready. She whispered a silent promise to herself to make things right, to be there for him when he woke up. With a final look at Curie, she turned and left the infirmary, her heart heavy but determined.

As she walked away, Adams watched her with newfound respect. "General Mandy," he murmured to himself, shaking his head in admiration. "You've got more strength than most." — Unable to sit still any longer, Mandy paced the room, her footsteps echoing in the empty house. With each pass, she tried to quell the rising tide of fear and regret that threatened to overwhelm her. She had argued with MacCready, pushed him away when he needed her most. Now, she didn't know if she would ever get the chance to make things right, or if he would even want to. Frustration boiled within her, and without thinking, she swept her arm across the cluttered table, sending scattered items clattering to the floor. A picture frame cracked against the hardwood, and Mandy froze, the sudden noise piercing the heavy silence around her.

Moments later, a knock sounded at the door, startling her from her thoughts. She hurried to compose herself, wiping hastily at the tears streaking down her cheeks before opening the door.

"Preston?" Mandy's voice trembled slightly as she looked up at the Minutemen standing before her, concern etched deeply into his features.

He nodded gravely, his gaze searching hers. "Mandy, I heard what happened. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Preston. Thanks for checking."

Preston didn't move, his expression unwavering. "No, you're not. Please, let me help."

Mandy tried to muster a smile, but it faltered before it could fully form. "I'm... I'm not okay, Preston." Her voice cracked, tears threatening to spill over once more.

Preston's expression softened with understanding. "It's okay, Mandy. You don't have to be strong right now. Tell me what happened."

"I... I knocked over some books," she managed between gasps for breath. "He... he got so angry. Said I was... I wasn't worth the caps he got... to watch my back."

Preston listened in silence, his presence a steady anchor amidst her storm of emotions. When she finished, there was a long moment of quiet between them, the weight of her confession hanging heavy in the air.

"I'm so sorry, Preston," Mandy whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Preston stepped forward, enveloping her in another comforting embrace. "Sometimes things fall apart so they can be put back together stronger," he murmured reassuringly.

Mandy nodded against his shoulder, finding solace in his words. In that moment, she felt a flicker of hope amidst the darkness that had clouded her heart.

"I just... I don't want to lose him, Preston," she admitted, her voice thick with emotion. "I love Bobby, and... and I'm afraid..."

"You won't lose him, Mandy," Preston interrupted gently, his voice firm yet comforting. "MacCready cares about you, more than he lets on sometimes. Give him time. He'll come around."

Mandy nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders at his reassurance. She pulled back slightly, meeting Preston's gaze with a mixture of gratitude and determination.

"Thank you, Preston," she whispered, her voice steadier now. "For being here."

Preston offered her a small smile. "Anytime, Mandy. We're all in this together." — MacCready's senses gradually came back to him, the fog of unconsciousness lifting like a heavy curtain. The first thing he noticed was the sterile smell of antiseptic, followed by the dull ache that permeated his entire body. He groaned softly, trying to shift in the bed but finding the effort nearly impossible due to the pain.

A gentle hand rested on his shoulder, and he turned his head slightly to see Curie's concerned face hovering above him. "Monsieur MacCready, please do not move too much. You are still very injured."

MacCready blinked, his vision focusing slowly. "Curie... where am I?"

"You are in the infirmary at Sanctuary," Curie replied, her voice soothing. "You were brought here after being injured."

MacCready furrowed his brow, confusion clouding his thoughts. "Injured? What happened? I thought I was supposed to be heading out to Concord for supplies."

Curie's expression tightened with concern, and she placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Monsieur, you already went to Concord. There was an incident."

MacCready's face contorted in confusion as he tried to piece together the fragments of his memory. "An incident? I don't remember... What happened?"

Curie sighed softly, her tone gentle as she began to explain. "You and Mandy were scavenging in Concord. There was an argument, then you were ambushed by raiders. You were injured badly, and Mandy brought you back here with the help of the Minutemen."

MacCready's eyes widened in disbelief. "Raiders? Argument?" He shook his head slightly, trying to clear the fog. "I don't remember any of it."

Curie nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy. "It is common for the mind to block out traumatic events, especially when the body is in shock. But you are safe now, and you are in Sanctuary."

MacCready's gaze drifted to the ceiling, his mind struggling to grasp the reality of the situation. "I just... I feel like I should be getting ready to leave. Like it's just another day."

Curie squeezed his hand gently. "Your body and mind need time to heal, Monsieur. It will take time for your memories to return. For now, focus on resting and recovering."

MacCready closed his eyes, frustration gnawing at him. "I need to see Mandy. I need to make sure she's okay."

Curie smiled softly. "She is safe. She has been very worried about you. Would you like to see her?"

MacCready nodded, though a part of him was still struggling to understand why he wouldn't want to see her. "Yes, please."

Curie hesitated, her expression thoughtful. "There was an argument before the incident. Mandy mentioned it. She is concerned about how you will feel when you wake up."

The weight of his words from that day crashed down on MacCready, and he closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the sting of regret. "I... I didn't mean any of it. I was just... angry and frustrated."

"I understand," Curie said softly. "Emotions can run high, especially in these times. But for now, you need rest. The sun is about to set. Perhaps it would be best if she visits in the morning when you are more rested?"

MacCready nodded, though the thought of waiting to see Mandy gnawed at him. "Yeah... okay. I guess you're right."

Curie gave him a reassuring pat. "I will go fetch you some food. You need your strength."

As she left the room, MacCready's mind raced. The thought of waiting until morning to see Mandy was unbearable. He needed to see her, to apologize, to make things right. Ignoring the pain that wracked his body, he slowly pushed himself up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Each movement sent sharp stabs of pain through him, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. Using the wall for support, MacCready made his way to the door, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The hallway was quiet, the soft hum of Sanctuary's generators the only sound. He moved slowly, each step a battle against the agony that threatened to overwhelm him. — Mandy had finally managed to change into her sleep clothes, the day's exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She sat on the edge of her bed, trying to settle her racing thoughts. The argument with MacCready, the raid, and the worry over his injuries swirled in her mind, making it difficult to find peace. As she moved to close the curtains, a flicker of movement outside the window caught her eye. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw a figure stumbling through the darkness. Squinting to get a better look, she recognized the familiar silhouette.

"Bobby?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Without a second thought, she threw on a robe and slipped outside, the cool air sending a shiver down her spine. She hurried across the settlement, her eyes never leaving MacCready's unsteady form. As she got closer, she could see how pale and weak he looked, his steps faltering with every movement.

"Bobby!" she called out, rushing to his side just as he began to collapse. She caught him, his weight almost pulling her down with him. "What are you doing? You need to be in bed!"

MacCready's eyes fluttered open, his voice a slurred whisper. "Mandy... had to see you..."

She looked around desperately, hoping to find help. Just then, she spotted Preston walking by on his nightly patrol. "Preston! Over here! I need help!"

Preston jogged over, his eyes widening when he saw MacCready's condition. "What happened? Is he alright?"

"He's not supposed to be out of bed," Mandy said urgently. "And being out here shirtless in November is definitely not a good idea."

Preston leaned in to help, his expression turning grim as he noticed the dark patches of blood seeping through MacCready's bandages. "He's starting to bleed again. We need to get him inside, quickly."

As they began to lift MacCready, he slurred out a protest. "No... not the infirmary..."

Mandy exchanged a worried glance with Preston, then nodded. "Alright, we'll take him inside the house."

Together, they carefully maneuvered MacCready into the house, laying him down gently on the couch. MacCready's breathing was shallow, his eyes barely open. Mandy could see the fresh blood staining the couch cushions, and her heart ached with worry.

"Preston, go find Curie. Tell her it's urgent," Mandy said, her voice filled with urgency.

Preston nodded and sprinted out the door, leaving Mandy alone with MacCready. She knelt beside him, her hand gently patting his cheek. "Bobby, stay with me. Wake up."

His eyes fluttered open slightly, and he mumbled something incoherent. Mandy's heart ached at the sight of him in such a vulnerable state. "Come on, Bobby. You have to stay awake."

As she continued to gently pat his face, MacCready's eyes slowly focused on her. "Mandy... sorry..."

"Shh, it's okay," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "Just stay with me. Help is coming." — Preston hurried through Sanctuary, his footsteps echoing in the quiet evening air. His heart raced as he approached the infirmary, hoping to find Curie there. Bursting through the door, he saw Curie frantically gathering medical supplies, her brow furrowed with worry.

"Curie!" Preston called out urgently.

Curie turned, her eyes wide with alarm. "Preston! What is it?"

"I know where MacCready is," Preston said quickly, trying to catch his breath. "But he's in bad shape. He was shirtless outside for god knows how long in November. He's currently kind of delusional and bleeding again."

Curie's hands trembled slightly as she processed the information. "Mon Dieu... We must hurry. Every minute counts."

Without another word, Curie grabbed her medical bag and hurried out of the infirmary, Preston following closely behind. They raced through Sanctuary, guided by the dim glow of lights from Mandy's house. As they approached, they could see Mandy through the window, kneeling beside MacCready who lay on the couch, pale and weak. Curie pushed open the door, her focus immediately on MacCready.

She rushed to his side, assessing his condition quickly but thoroughly. "Monsieur MacCready, you must stay awake. We need to get you back to bed."

MacCready's eyes flickered open, his gaze unfocused and confused. "Mandy... I needed... sorry..."

Curie's voice was gentle but urgent. "Monsieur, you need to listen to me. You are injured and need to rest."

Preston stepped forward, helping to support Curie as she worked. "We need to get him stabilized, Curie. He's been through a lot."

Curie nodded, her hands moving swiftly as she cleaned and rebandaged MacCready's wounds. "Help me lift him carefully," she instructed, gesturing for Preston's assistance.

As Curie and Preston carefully lifted MacCready from the couch, his eyes fluttered open, still clouded with confusion. He groaned softly, his voice weak and pleading. "No... not the infirmary... please..."

Preston exchanged a worried glance with Mandy, both unsure of what to do next. Mandy turned to Curie, silently seeking guidance.

Curie studied MacCready for a moment, her brow furrowed in concern. "Monsieur MacCready, you need proper medical care," she insisted gently. "You can't stay here."

MacCready's eyes darted between them, his gaze pleading. "Just... just let me stay. Please..."

Curie hesitated, torn between her medical training and MacCready's obvious distress. Finally, she nodded decisively. "Alright, but under one condition. I will stay here and monitor you closely. Preston, go to the infirmary and bring back more supplies."

Preston nodded, relieved to have a course of action. "I'll be right back," he promised, hurrying out of the house.

Curie turned her attention back to MacCready, her expression stern. "You are lucky we found you in time," she scolded gently as she began to re-examine his wounds. "Leaving the infirmary was reckless. You could have worsened your injuries."

MacCready winced as Curie tended to him, guilt washing over his features. "I... I just needed to see Mandy," he admitted quietly, his voice filled with regret.

Curie sighed softly, her tone softening. "I understand, but your health must come first. Do you understand?"

He nodded weakly, his eyes closing briefly as pain washed over him. "Yeah... I'm sorry, Curie..."

Curie finished her assessment, satisfied that MacCready's condition hadn't deteriorated further. She administered some pain relief and began to carefully redress his wounds with the supplies she had brought.

Mandy watched silently, her heart heavy with worry. "You scared me, Bobby," she admitted quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "Please don't do that again."

MacCready opened his eyes to look at her, remorse etched on his face. "I'm sorry, Mandy," he whispered hoarsely. "I won't..."

Curie finished her work and sat back, surveying her patient with a critical eye. "You are fortunate, Monsieur MacCready," she remarked softly. "You have people who care deeply for you."

He nodded weakly, his gaze flickering between Mandy and Curie. "I know... I'm sorry..."

Curie nodded, her expression softening. "Rest now. We will monitor you closely."

Preston returned shortly after with a fresh supply of medical supplies, his face lined with concern. "Here, Curie," he said, handing her the supplies. "How is he doing?"

Curie accepted the supplies with a grateful nod. "He will recover, but he needs rest," she replied, her gaze shifting back to MacCready.

Preston nodded, relief flooding his features. "Thank you, Curie. We owe you."

Curie smiled faintly, her exhaustion evident. "It is my duty. Now, Monsieur MacCready, no more wandering off."

MacCready managed a weak smile. "Yes, Doctor."

Mandy sat beside him, gently taking his hand in hers. "Rest now, Bobby," she murmured softly. "We'll be here."

As Curie began to tidy up, Mandy stayed by MacCready's side, her fingers intertwined with his. — MacCready stirred from his restless sleep, his body still aching despite the stimpaks Curie had administered earlier. He blinked against the dim light filtering through the room and saw Mandy, asleep and slumped against the couch, her face softened in the pale moonlight. Nearby, Preston sat in a chair, his posture rigid with a mix of exhaustion and simmering anger.

When Preston noticed MacCready awake, his gaze hardened. "You're awake," he muttered, his voice low but laced with frustration.

MacCready winced, the weight of his actions settling heavily on his shoulders. "Preston, I'm sorry," he began, his voice thick with regret. "I didn't mean to..."

Preston cut him off sharply, his tone stern. "You didn't mean to what? Hurt her? Leave her scared half to death because you couldn't handle a damn argument?"

MacCready swallowed hard, the weight of Preston's words sinking in.

"I know, Preston. I screwed up," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think... I wasn't thinking straight."

"You think?" Preston retorted, his frustration evident. "Mandy blamed herself for the fight, you know. She thought you actually believed she was worthless."

MacCready's heart sank further, the realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. "No," he murmured, shaking his head. "It wasn't like that at all. I... I just..."

Preston raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue. "Just what, MacCready? What was your problem in the first place?"

MacCready hesitated, struggling to put his thoughts into words. "I don't know," he admitted finally, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's stupid, really. Just... everything's been so tense lately. Raiders, supplies running low, and then... I took it out on her."

Preston sighed heavily, his anger softening slightly into weariness. "She cares about you, you know," he said quietly. "More than she lets on sometimes. She's one of the best things in everyone's life around here."

MacCready nodded slowly, his gaze drifting back to Mandy. "I know," he whispered, his voice filled with remorse. "I'll make it right, Preston. I promise."

Preston regarded him silently for a moment before standing up. "You better," he said firmly, though there was a hint of compassion in his tone. "Get some rest. Curie will want to check on you soon."

With that, Preston left the room, leaving MacCready alone with his thoughts. He watched Mandy sleeping soundly, a wave of tenderness washing over him despite the ache in his heart. He laid on the couch, staring at the ceiling as he replayed the events of the past few days in his mind. His thoughts churned with guilt and self-reproach, each memory a sharp reminder of his own shortcomings.

"You're a fool, MacCready," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. "A damn fool."

The image of Mandy's tear-streaked face haunted him. He had never meant to hurt her, never wanted to see the pain he had caused reflected in her eyes. Yet, his thoughtless words had cut deep, leaving wounds far deeper than any physical injury.

"Why did I say those things?" he wondered aloud, his voice thick with regret. "She's been through enough. She didn't deserve that."

He closed his eyes, willing himself to push past the haze of self-pity and face the truth. He had been scared — scared of losing her, scared of the vulnerability that came with caring so deeply for someone in this unforgiving wasteland. But none of that excused his behavior, none of it justified the hurt he had inflicted.

"I have to make this right," he resolved quietly, determination firming his voice. "For her sake."

As he lay there, the weight of his actions pressed down on him like a lead weight. He knew he had to apologize, to show Mandy that he meant it when he said he cared about her. But first, he had to confront his own insecurities, his own fear of opening up.

"I can't keep running away," he admitted to himself, the words a reluctant acknowledgment of his own flaws. "Not anymore."

With a deep breath, MacCready pushed himself upright, wincing as his injuries protested the movement. He ignored the pain, focusing instead on the resolve that burned within him. He had made mistakes — plenty of them — but he refused to let fear dictate his actions any longer. Without a word, MacCready reached for the blanket draped over him. He hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over Mandy's sleeping form. Then, with a sigh, he gently pulled the blanket over her shoulders, tucking it around her as she curled instinctively into its warmth. Mandy stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping her lips, but she didn't wake. MacCready watched her for a moment, his heart heavy with guilt and regret. He had hurt her deeply, and now, seeing her vulnerable and trusting even in sleep, he couldn't bear the weight of his own mistakes. — The soft morning light filtered through the windows, casting a gentle glow over the room where Mandy lay asleep on the couch. She stirred slightly as she felt a soothing sensation on her scalp, gentle fingers running through her hair. A contented sigh escaped her lips, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning," MacCready's voice greeted her quietly from beside the couch.

"Morning," Mandy replied, her voice still thick with sleep. She blinked a few times, orienting herself to the room. "Where's Curie? And Preston?"

MacCready paused for a moment, his fingers stilling in her hair. "Curie went to check on some supplies. Preston, I think, went to help organize things with the Minutemen."

Mandy nodded, slowly sitting up and stretching. As she moved, she realized she was covered with a familiar blanket. Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked over at MacCready, concern flickering in her gaze. "Did I steal your blanket last night? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

MacCready shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "No, you didn't steal it. I... I covered you with it."

She looked at him, surprise and tenderness mingling in her expression. "Oh. Thank you."

He nodded, his gaze sincere. "You looked cold. I didn't want you to be uncomfortable."

Mandy glanced down at the blanket, feeling a mix of emotions. She knew they needed to talk about what had happened, about the argument and his reckless actions. But in that moment, she felt a glimmer of hope, a flicker of warmth in the way he looked at her.

"Mac," she began softly, her voice hesitant. "About last night..."

He met her gaze, his expression serious yet filled with regret. "I'm sorry, Mandy. For everything."

She nodded slowly, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the air. "I know. I just... I didn't think... I thought maybe you really meant it. What you said."

MacCready's brows furrowed slightly. "I never meant any of it, Mandy. I was... I was a fool."

Silence stretched between them for a moment, the unspoken words echoing in the room. Then, Mandy took a deep breath, steeling herself to speak. "What was it, Mac? What made you say those things?"

He looked away, his jaw tightening. "I don't know. Fear, maybe. I've... I've lost people before. People I cared about."

Mandy reached out, gently touching his arm. "You won't lose me, Mac. Not like that."

He met her gaze, a mixture of vulnerability and longing in his eyes. "I don't know what I would do if..."

She squeezed his arm reassuringly. "You won't have to find out."

They sat in silence for a moment longer, the weight of their words hanging between them. Then, MacCready cleared his throat, his expression softening. "Curie patched me up last night. She gave me a couple of stimpaks when I woke up. You were already asleep."

Mandy nodded, grateful for the change of subject. "And Preston?"

Mandy's gaze sharpened as she looked at him, sensing there was more to the story. "Mac, something happened between you and Preston, didn't it?"

He sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Yeah. He was... rightfully angry with me."

She nodded slowly, sitting up and pulling the blanket closer around her. "What happened?"

MacCready looked away, his expression pained. "I didn't handle things well, Mandy. I... I was angry and upset, and I took it out on you and then I just..."

Mandy reached out, gently touching his arm. "You don't have to explain if you're not ready."

He met her gaze, a mixture of regret and vulnerability in his eyes. "No, I should. I owe you that much. I... I was being an asshole. There's no other way to put it."

She sighed softly, squeezing his arm reassuringly. "Mac, you weren't yourself. You were hurt and scared, and I... I pushed you."

He shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "No, Mandy. You didn't push me. I should've handled it better. Preston... he called me out on it, and he was right."

Mandy studied his face, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. "We both messed up, Mac. I should've been more understanding, and you... you should've talked to me."

"Yeah," he murmured, his gaze dropping to his hands. "I'm sorry."

She reached out, tilting his chin up to meet her eyes. "It's okay, Mac. We'll figure it out."

He nodded, a weight seeming to lift from his shoulders. "Thank you."

They sat in silence for a moment, the morning light growing stronger around them. Mandy leaned back against the couch, feeling a sense of relief that they were finally talking openly about what had happened. She wrapped the blanket around herself more securely, a small smile playing on her lips. After a moment, Mandy shifted slightly and turned to face him, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You know, Mac," she began with a teasing smile, "last night when you were talking about how the radroaches were plotting against us and you tried to convince Preston that Nuka-Cola was the secret to immortality... That was quite a trip."

MacCready blinked in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up. "Wait, what? I said that?"

Mandy nodded solemnly, her expression mock-serious. "Oh yeah. You were in full-on conspiracy theorist mode. It was almost convincing."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn, I must have been more out of it than I thought."

She leaned closer, nudging him gently with her shoulder. "You were just lucky Curie wasn't around. She might have believed you."

MacCready grinned, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Well, I guess I owe you for keeping me from embarrassing myself too much."

Mandy laughed softly, her heart light with relief. "Consider it payback for all the times you've teased me about my bad jokes."

He chuckled, reaching out to lightly tousle her hair. "Fair enough. I promise to keep the delirious ramblings to a minimum next time."

"Deal," she replied, her smile warm and genuine. "Now, how about we focus on getting you back to full health? No more radroach conspiracies, okay?"

MacCready nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "Deal."

[ezekiel13]

Lamplight creation story told as if it were a myth by Fo4 MacCready

(I don’t write so sorry if I’ve made any mistakes)

It’s about 1,200 words

If MacCready was honest, visiting settlements with Nora was definitely one of his least favourite parts of his role as a “friend of the General”. But he could see some joy in it- for example, killing the gunners when they came to visit.

Unfortunately, it seemed that all there was to do this time was help shore up some defences, which Nora was busy doing with some of the Settlers, while MacCready was told to “find something to help out with.”

He would admit, Jamaica Plains was quite a nice place, even if the “treasure” was just a bunch of old world trinkets. Nora had seemed pleased with them, which he supposed was worth something.

In the end, helping out came to find him. He had just been cleaning his rifle in one of the mostly fixed up houses when a group of the settler’s children appeared. There had been six of them, with one around 10 leading the others in.

One thing had led to another, and they had sat around him, before the youngest- a girl aged approximately 4, if he had to guess- had asked him a question, “Can you tell us a story?”

Why they had decided he, the hired gun, had better stories than his pre-war boss, he didn’t think he’d ever know. He’d considered saying no, but at the end of the day, he didn’t have anything better to get up to.

He sighed, and begun to tell a tale he didn’t think he’d ever be able to forget, one he’d been told since before he could even remember, “210 years ago, south of here, in the Capital of America, there was a group of children on a field trip- which was not going to a field, but rather being taken by a teacher to visit an interesting place. They had been members of a school, known as ‘Early Dawn Elementary’ and 87 children,”

One of the young boys had looked up at him, “87 children? I know,” he looked around at her friends, pointing at them to count, “I know… 5 children!”

“Hmm- schools before the bombs were a lot larger.” That seemed to satisfy her, so he continued, “The children had been taken to visit a group of caves, known as the Lamplight Caverns. They had gone with their teachers, and some of their parents. For an adventure. What they hadn’t known at the time, was that it would end up saving their lives,” he paused, looking at the children’s faces, and remembering telling this same tale so many times,

“The class had been ready to leave when the caves began to shake rapidly. The lights flashed, and went dark, causing the children to panic and scream. One of the parents volunteered to see what had occurred, believing the now dark caverns to be a danger- what he hadn’t known was that they were the only place they were able to live. He returned after a few hours, his face pale and eyes wide. Him and all of the mungos-“

He stopped, realising that his audience was staring at him, before the eldest piped up, “What is a mango?”

MacCready laughed slightly, “A mungo? They’re adults. Anyone over 16, like myself, is a mungo.”

The group nodded solemnly, as if he had imparted worldly wisdom to them.

Seeing their acknowledgment, he continued the story, “The adults had huddled together, as he told the tale of what he had seen out of the caverns. His voice had quivered, stumbling over words as he explained what happened. Washington was destroyed. There had been large mushroom clouds all over the area. It was no longer Washington D.C. It was now the Capital Wasteland, and nobody was safe.

As the days past, the mungos left, one by one, to look for supplies. However, they stopped returning, until it was only the children and their teacher, Miss Delaney left. She had stayed in the caverns with the children, but knew they couldn’t continue, as their food was running scarce. She had to make a choice- risk everything by getting supplies, or die within the caves?

She chose to leave, telling the children that she would return with food, and that it would all be okay. It had been one month since the war. She never came back.

All hope was not lost, as one brave child, Jason Grant, protected them all. He wasn’t scared like the others. He told everyone that the caves were safe- it was only outside that was bad. He wasn’t worried. He became their leader, aged 10.”

The eldest child looked horrified at that, and the others were staring wide-eyed at him. MacCready wasn’t entirely sure why, he had been Mayor aged 10 after all, but then he remembered Nora’s horrified looks when he told her his life story. 10 year old mayors seem to scare people a bit.

He shrugged, “Someone had needed to be in charge, and everyone there was afraid. Their homes were gone- but they had each other. They would survive. He had been leading a group to look for supplies throughout the caves shortly after taking charge, and the group had found some mushrooms that glowed, a bright and sickly green. He had found them food!”

MacCready hesistated, and decided to not say where it is that the mushrooms came from. Their parents would probably not be happy if he shared about the influence of the… corpses on the mushrooms.

“The children were overjoyed, and life in the caves improved. They fixed the lights to celebrate, filling the caves with Lamplight once again, and becoming ‘Little Lamplight’ a town of safety.

Two months after the Great War, a group of children ventured deep into the caverns, finding a door. The children had banged and pleaded at it for days, begging entrance to what should have been a safe haven. A mungo on the other side had told them they were dead already. Jason made a choice. They didn’t need any mungos. They would do fine as just the Lamplighters. A wall was constructed to block off the Vault, to keep them safe from the mungos who couldn’t be trusted.

Three months after the world ended, the children had conspired, and held a vote, officially claiming Jason as the Mayor, on the 26th of January. Little Lamplight was their own city. A town of children. They were independent.

Nobody knew how, but word of the town of children had grown, and over the years many people had visited- mungos turned away, and children welcomed. It wasn’t uncommon to go to patrol and find a baby outside of the caves, but they managed. The children had a few books, and taught each other what they could.

6 years after settling in Lamplight, Jason and many of the original children found themselves becoming mungos. It was Jason who decreed they couldn’t stay- no adult did. If the Lamplight ones did, who knew what they would become? They left, saying they would create ‘Big Town’ for all of the Lamplighters who left. Eventually, Jason himself returned, giving a map with Big Town on.

He told them all how perfect it was, how aging out of Lamplight was a gift, because in Big Town they saw the sun every day! They ate foods from the wild and it was a safe haven.

Every Lamplighter wanted to join Big Town, but nobody truly wanted to leave. Little Lamplight was safe. New Mayors were elected, and trade was set up with nearby groups, as the world adjusted.

Big Town, and Jason himself became myths- a tale of a world that was, and who they had became. The lamps stayed lit every day, to honour the child who had saved them- us all.”

It had felt odd, to tell their story to children not in Lamplight. The last time he had told it, it had been to Duncan, just before he had to leave.

The children were all staring at him, and looking up, he noticed Nora was too. Ah. The pair of them probably had to leave.

[super-duper-mart]

guys im sad n wanted to read maccready fanfic send me ur best/fav ones please

[sirmanmister]

I love coming up with ideas for phrases that would evolve over two hundred years :D I’ve used collared cap instead of a pretty penny, blue blood to call somebody inbred and stupid, and arms and crabs when it’s raining so hard the mirelurks come out and the rads are so strong you’ll grow a third arm!

Absolutely shameless promotion for my fic where I use all those phrases, you can read it here :3

[nerdygoth77]

Did Lily ever hookup with any of the other companions and what factions did she work with before arriving to Nuka World?

Was she the typical civilian (minuteman type) and got corrupted by the wasteland/enticed by the raiders of Nuka World or was she always a little Neutral Evil?

Sorry if this is a bit of a long ask I'm just curious 😂

Never apologize for a long ask!! I love in depth questions like this!! I really loved this ask and was so excited I had to answer this the moment I saw it!! This answer is super long btw! I couldn't JUST answer these questions, I had to give you a full history of my OC.

So I have been thinking of Lilly's story for a long time, along with her character development. She is originally based on my evil Overboss playthrough of Fallout 4 where I completely ignore the main story LOL. I get to Nuka World as soon as possible by leveling up, mostly by doing Good Neighbor and Cabot family/Edward Deegan missions.

So Lilly's story isn't quite set in stone! But my main idea so far is that she is pre-war. Lilly does come from Vault 111 but she isn't the mother of Shaun and isn't the Sole Survivor. That's her brothers problem, who gets out of the vault a few days before she does. He goes one way, using his military training and desire for revenge to survive, becoming the leader of the minutemen(or he joins the Brotherhood. Maybe both?? idk yet) Meanwhile Lilly escapes Vault 111 and goes a completely different direction.

The vault is picked clean, and the body's of her brother and nephew are missing, while her sister in laws corpse has a bullet in her skull. Lilly finds no sign of her brother, and doesn't search too hard either. She leaves the vault, avoiding the neighborhood of Sanctuary and the possible people that lived there, their campfires burning brightly in the night only deterring her away.

Lilly's pre-war life wasn't military like her brothers. She was a "no good hippie" who was between jobs and staying with her brother and his wife until she "got back on her feet," Her brother took her in. In return she would help her PTSD stricken brother and his depressed wife take care of their brand new infant son.

Lilly was seen as no good to most in the pre irradiated world. She had been a part of the large underground punk scene in Boston, becoming a disgrace to her family and a nuisance towards the police. Her life had always been chaos, never knowing quite what she wanted to do as she jumped from job to job trying to keep money in her pocket that was instantly spent on drugs and lipstick.

Lilly doesn't even spare a second glance at the vault or neighborhood as she heads into the wasteland. She is more than prepared to leave her old life behind in the ashes of the old world, so she immediately finds a change of clothes, some chems, and heads towards Boston. She doesn't know why Boston, maybe just morbid curiosity of what the city had turned into. Maybe in search for drugs and answers to why she was still living. Her mindset is that of a depressed addict. Nothing on her mind but that next hit that would bring her that sweet rush of endorphins.

She enters the world with little to no knowledge. She can fight decently with her fists and switchblade, pick locks, run her mouth and hardly shoot a gun. She has a rough time getting to Boston, the weirdly smart German Shepherd she finds at a gas station, and lovingly names Dogmeat, helps her survive her first few weeks in the wasteland.

Soon she finds herself in Boston, and like all drifters, she quickly finds herself in Goodneighbor. She immediately sees the potential in the city and in its mob boss ghoul mayor. Lilly and Hancock quickly become romantically involved. (She is def fucking Maccready in secret too. But RJ is nothing more than some fun to her. She also has a fling with Edward Deegan who she also meets in Goodneighbor when he comes offering a job.)

In my au Hancock is a bit darker and mob boss like, Lilly corrupting him slightly. She helps clean up the city, both metaphorically and physically. She wipes the triggermen out, and takes down Marowski. Long story short they take over his chem empire and become the main chem bosses and suppliers of the commonwealth. They build Goodneigbor into an empire. Her charisma and luck are incredibly high, making it all the easier for her.

John teaches Lilly about the Commonwealth, about proper fighting and weapons. She gains as much knowledge as she can about the new world, settling into the line of leadership and manipulation well. But John wants something real and long term. He loves her, but Lilly doesn't love him in return. He has big ideas for the future, from helping synths to building supply lines to marrying her. Lilly doesn't share the same feelings or ambitions, so she leaves.

She takes her knowledge and weapons of the new world and leaves Goodneighbor without warning and without a trace. She disappears yet again into the wasteland until the best thing to ever happen to her since finding Dogmeat happens. She finds Nuka World and meets Porter Gage. Or maybe he finds her instead?? I don't quite have how they meet picked out yet but I have some ideas!

So yes, Lilly has always been a bit evil! She had a few loose screws in the beginning and the Cryo pod only made it worse. She is corrupted before the bombs, but the wasteland corrupts her further and further. By the time she reaches Nuka World she is already a pretty bad person who is scarred inside and out. Meeting and joining the raiders only corrupt her further. Gage actually helps her get clean and off of chems, but she does get a little crazier. But she couldn't be happier. Porter Gage and Nuka World become her lifeline.

Gage does change her for the better. Lilly finally able to commit to things in her life for once, like her romantic relationship with Gage and job as Overboss.

Fun fact: I actually named Lilly after my evil five pound toy poodle. Lilly is a grumpy old bitch of a dog. She is my whole entire world but she has some screws loose for sure.

So the short answer: Yes! She does hook up with other companions, but only John Hancock and RJ maccready. She also sleeps with Edward Deegan, having a short fling with him. All of these relationships are nothing compared to what she has with Porter Gage, their bond being actual love. Lilly is factionless, choosing to go her own way entirely. She becomes a mob boss before completely ditching that life and disappearing on the irradiated wind before finding Nuka World. Starting over with yet another new life. Lilly is a bit evil from the beginning, but the wasteland does corrupt her further.

[twosides--samecoin]

chapter 1 - spotify playlists - chapter 16

Explicit/Graphic Depictions Of Violence | Slow Burn, Enemies to Friends to Lovers

Med-Tek ended in failure - RJ is shattered. Jack Ward, Sole Survivor of Vault 111, pushes him onto a vertibird in search of Plan B - a remote Vault once plagued by Duncan’s illness. After two weeks of kicking RJ's ass, Olivia Dallaire - a sniper just as talented and cranky as he is - agrees to move to Boston. Her presence forces both Jack and RJ to face problems they can no longer outrun: How do they move on from survivors’ guilt (and be the men Olivia needs them to be) when the Wasteland only seems to tear families apart?

Ahead by two and a half centuries, Jack Ward finally feels like he's getting his shit together. He's throwing a Hallowsgiving party, and the greenhouse is full of close friends and the many people he has helped in the year since he left Vault 111. Though he vowed to never start a family again, he's stepping into a paternal role without realizing it. Despite breaking up arguments between Olivia and Deacon and putting his world on hold to handle her anxieties, her charm and fighter's spirit is everything Jack hoped Shaun would have and more. The moment he feels on top of the world, he finds Olivia speaking to an unwelcome guest - unresolved Commonwealth tensions are catching up to him, and a protective instinct he hasn't felt since Nora's murder kicks into overdrive.

[elvishdemigod]

Shirt or scarf?

I have to wonder if MacCready is wearing a green shirt and a matching scarf, or if it's actually a wrap-around shirt?

Are there even wrap-around shirts like that for men? Or is MacCready just proudly wearing women's wear?

[whatanightmaregrinch]

MacCready X Fem!Sole Survivor- quiet love

“I love you.” The words came tumbling from her lips before she could stop them, and it stopped Robert in his tracks. He turned to gap at her, jaw slack with shock. Sole looked back at him with a mirrored look of sheer panic, heartbeat hammering in her throat from the adrenaline. She thought she should have blushed, but instead all of the blood drained from her face.

They’d been sat in silence for awhile after stopping in at Sole’s home- and to MacCready? He was just using the time to check his ammo stock, checking the quality of each casing, looking for undesirable marks and damages. He’d laid his stuff out on the floor, sitting cross legged and hunched forward, glowering over his supply. It was never enough bullets for his liking, and he bit back a bitter resentment at the thought. This was not a task that brought him joy, and only served to frustrate him. Sole though, Sole was enraptured by him. His small frown, his little hat strewn on the floor and his hair messy from combing through it with his fingers from sheer frustration. His eyebrows furrowed in a deep concentration, Sole loved every part of it. They’d been travelling together for nearly a year now, and he’d trusted her so openly with his problems with the Gunners, and then Duncan, and Lucy; it was difficult not too admire the man. He’d been through so much in such a short time, but still went through the effort to gruffly shadow her through the wasteland, watching her back with extreme efficiency. His once bitter exterior had melted away, and he’d confirmed it was all her doing. She’d felt so overwhelmed by these feelings, so overjoyed by his presence, she’d forcibly told him before perhaps either of them were ready. I love you didn’t really cut it for her either, had she had more control over it, she would have been far less blunt. Far more honest about the way she felt protected, the way his sarcastic demeanour never failed to amuse her. They did everything together. Eat, sleep, travel- she didn’t want anyone else to fill his shoes, but what she said was nowhere near as eloquent.

The box of .45’s he was sorting through remained silent observers in her confession. His hands pressed into his thighs as he tensed, as if to say something to her- but she was already standing up and MacCready’s voice cracked as he tried to get her to stop, stop and slow down: but she’d already disappeared out of the side door to the house and out into Sanctuary. He was left alone then, still half crouching on the floor from his surprised reaction. His heartbeat served as the only noise in the room, and even that too eventually quietened into a steady thrum. By now he’d moved to the sofa, sat stiff as a board, unable to relax. His head was swimming, she really had him fu-.. messed up. She really had him messed up. He hadn’t been sure what time it was that she left him, but it was almost night time now, and he’d long ago cooled off from being angry with her- angry at her for leaving him alone to deal with these feelings; angry that he’d not reacted better. Now it was gone, replaced only by a worry in the pit of his stomach. Where had she gone? Was sitting here, waiting for her to come back even worth it? MacCready picked at his fingernails idly, before desperately looking out the window. It was pitch black now, and he couldn’t see beyond the glow of the light on the porch that she’d installed months ago. MacCready hated it, thought it attracted too much attention. She’d waved off his concerns, refusing to explain initially. She’d finally relented that she’d always wanted one as a girl, she thought they were a nice idea. So that you could see home before you got there, she’d said sheepishly. He’d not admitted to her that he’d relented then, and had started to think it was a nice idea too. There was something quite lovely about the way she’d explained their function, the way he could tell she’d desperately wanted a home, a safe space to come back too, even in a horrible place like the wasteland. He wanted that too, and there was a longing, a horrendous ache in his bones that demanded he share that with her, the frozen vault dweller who had melted the ice that had formed around his heart. Without question she had taken him to the Med-tek research building that had haunted him for so long; destroyed the ferals in their way to get the cure into his hands. He trusted her enough to tell her what he couldn’t too Lucy; and in a way, that had helped heal him. He missed her terribly, but Sole had help soothed the terrible voice within him that whispered that he should have perished there with Lucy, his beautiful wife. That maybe he did deserve happiness, and Sole was the reason for it. He’d never expected her to want anything more with him, and he was fine with that. She’d already given him and Duncan so much, time they didn’t have before: and he more than anyone understood the grief of a widow. She rarely talked about Nate, and maybe that was his mistake because he talked about Lucy often once he’d ripped the bandaid off and told her about his guilt.

He’d been so deep in thought that he didn’t hear the makeshift door open to Sole’s home, and a soft fall of footsteps as she slowly and carefully made her way in. Slinking back to finally face the music, or maybe to avoid the situation if she could, she eyed the doorway that led to her bedroom. If she could just get there, she’d be spared any sort of embarrassment she’d earned in her absence. She regretted being gone for so long, but she dared not find out from her companion how ruined their relationship was. The first few hours of her disappearance was spent vomiting behind the Red Rocket Truck Stop; and when she’d got rid of everything in her stomach, she dry-heaved for awhile, flushed and sweating. She’d become close to Robert, and just knowing how much he talked about Lucy was enough to send her right back to vomit-territory. Nate had taunted her for awhile then, feeling horrendous guilt for just hoping he felt the same. Confused at her feelings, her mind lingering on the way Nate would smile at her, comparing it to how MacCready did. Her heart tightened, wondering if he could see her from wherever Kellogg had sent him too. What would he say? Would he be ashamed of her for falling so hard for the mercenary? She racked her brain long and hard, the wedding band she no longer wore burned a hole through her jacket pocket the longer she lingered on the question. She washed her mouth out and brushed her teeth in the bathroom, splashing her face with water. She barely pulled it together to make the short journey back to Sanctuary, resigned to her fate. She didn’t know if she was over Nate, or if MacCready even returned her affections, but whatever came her way, she must have deserved in some capacity, she supposed with some cynicism. Lingering for just a moment, she attempted the crossing between the kitchen to the hallway, but her foot hit a particularly old floorboard, and it groaned loudly at her weight.

MacCready snapped to attention, almost launching himself off of the sofa wildly as his brain came to focus on Sole. She seemed vaguely surprised at his reaction, but before she could respond he surged forward, nearly stumbling over his feet to get to her. Her resolve started to crumble with each step he took, heart hammering. “Robert, I-..” she started, but he just threw his arms around her in a crushing hug, bringing her cold form to his. She made a noise of shock, her mind going blank of what she wanted to say. Her face now buried in his chest, her arms awkwardly settled around him. He smelled like gun oil and wisps of tobacco smoke, and she decided she didn’t mind it. MacCready held her tightly, almost worried she’d run right back out the door; never to be seen again. Once he’d held her enough that his anxiety siphoned away into something smaller, it started to turn into frustration. “You’re an idiot” he began quietly, stepping back to look her in the face, and she stiffened. “Going out by yourself in the open was a stupid, stupid risk.What would you have done if something had happened?!” His voice wavered, unable to keep the fear from his voice. She guiltily looked at their feet. “Sorry, I just..” she muttered, not wanting to refer to it directly, the unspoken question still between them. His gaze softened, and he searched the air for what he wanted to say. “I’ve never-.. well, I’ve never wanted to think about us as more than friends.” He stated, and her heart snapped. Her chest seized painfully, and she started to nod, already accepting his answer, and he frustratedly held a hand up, indicating he wasn’t done. “I never wanted to think about us as more than friends, because.. well, because I didn’t want to get my hopes up. With your husband, I didn’t think there would be a chance, but you didn’t exactly give me time to explain that.” He admitted, unable to resist commenting on her absence. Sole flushed, nervously trying to piece together what he was telling her, glancing up at his face as he spoke. “But uh, I really like you, Sole. A lot. You helped me get Duncan back, even when you had the whole world on your shoulders. I used to feel like there was nothing here for me, that the world was just one giant shi-.. uh, crapstorm after the other. But I don’t feel that way anymore. Thanks to you. And if you’ll have me, then-.. then I want to keep feeling good, and share that with you. Share myself, I mean.” He confessed, a blush steadily blooming in his cheeks, his blue eyes almost electric in the lowlight and contrasted to the furious flush that warmed his face. Her own blush crept up from her neck, trying to keep her tone measured as she spoke. “It might be difficult sometimes; but if you’re willing to be patient with me, I’d-.. i’d really like to make this work.” She said with wavering confidence. He audaciously leaned in, and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, her letting out a soft gasp in shock. He grinned at her, and she couldn’t help but smile back, soft in their newly professed love. She didn’t have all the answers, but if MacCready was by her side, then she was sure she could do anything. If not, he’d have her back. There was no other way she’d rather it be.