Green Skies

Sickly green fog lingered on the horizon, leading Hartley to think that maybe finding shelter for the foreseeable future was a good thing. Taking a glance around, she noted several buildings that didn’t look completely decrepit. Whistling, Hartley caught the attention of the super mutant accompanying her currently. 

“What?” Atlas huffed, head on a swivel. The entire area was a mess of mutated rodents, the last thing either of them needed was a bite in the leg.

“Storm’s on the move, we should find shelter. Pick a building?” Hartley offered, already moving to an office building with a destroyed wall, picking her way through the debris. 

“Why do you ask,” Atlas mumbled, following a few feet behind, “if you are going to pick anyway?”

“Because,” She responded, not missing a beat, “I know you.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“I’m not staying in a building with no walls because you like the color blue.” 

Grumbling as he trudged through the debris, a moment behind Hartley, Atlas motioned to the missing wall in the yellow office building they were entering. 

Hartley shrugged, mumbling, “I like yellow.” 

The two of them wandered deeper into the building, Atlas just a few steps behind, still keeping an eye out - just in case. Hartley stepped over a broken desk and pointed to an open door that seemingly led deeper into the offices. 

“We’ll hang out here, yeah?” 

Atlas nodded, entering the door first and quickly deduced it was fine, not before Hartley entered, chuckled. “I think we’ll be safe in the snack room, bud.”

The room they entered seemed to be the old office snack room, vending machines stood, however, without power. Counters lined one wall, doors open and hanging off the hinges. The light above them flickered a few times but still worked, meaning someone was using the building recently, but was currently not here. Broken glass from cups and plates littered the floor and crumbled when stepped on. 

Hartley wedged a chair against the door, to prevent it from being opened. She pulled up another one and sat next to a Nuka-Cola machine, feet propped up on the chair holding the door. Looking over at Atlas, she raised a brow. 

“Gonna be offly boring standing for the next few hours.” She remarked, tilting her head to the last free chair. 

Atlas looked over at the relatively small chair, then down at his body, “when did you become a comedian? I seem to have missed your opening night.” 

“No you didn’t, it’s right now.” Hartley huffed, “No, they aren’t unlike the chairs at home, you’ll be fine.” 

“See you say that and yet I still harbor doubts…” Making a point, the super mutant sat down on the floor, against the wall opposite of his companion. “See, just fine.” 

Silence stretched out between the two for a long time, as deep rumbling thunder from the rad storm became a placeholder for a conversation. Hartley fiddled with her guns, checking and doing some light cleaning. Atlas pulled out his rations, counting and recounting methodically as an hour passed quietly. 

That was until Hartley sighed and looked up from her pistol. Noticing Atlas was still messing around in his backpack, she sighed again, this time pouting when his attention was still not on her. She sighed again, this time dramatically drawn out and flopped awkwardly in the chair. 

“What is it?” 

Bingo.

“Atlas?” 

Finally, the super mutant’s eyes raised up and pinned her with a half-scowl. “What?” 

“I’m bored.” 

“Well, let me just find some toys for you to play with,” Atlas did a mock look around the room, tapping his chin dramatically, “hmm, seems you’ll just have to entertain yourself.” 

Hartley huffed, lip stuck out in a deep pout, “you’re no fun. Let’s do something fun, like - like, twenty questions!” 

Deadpan, is the only word that could have described the look given to her. 

“Come on!” She continued, “it’ll be fun! And it’ll pass the time.” 

Atlas blinked, before slowly returning all of his items to their proper spot on his body, before sitting straight and looking at her expectantly, obviously conceding to her plan. 

“Okay, yay! Alright, I’ll go first...hmmm, okay - what is your least favorite animal?” Hartley asked, settling in her chair like a child excited for their birthday. 

Atlas looked her over, mentally sighing, but after a moment spoke anyway, “deathclaws.” 

“Are those considered an animal?”

“They sure as shit, not human.” 

Making a face, Hartley nodded, “fair enough. Your turn!” 

“Um, favorite animal?” He shrugged and offered the best he could think of under her gaze, which was slightly intimidating from her eager state, he kinda didn’t want to ruin all her fun. 

“Radstags, they look cool and taste good.” Hartley tilted her head and considered for a second, “what is your favorite thing?” 

Taken aback by such a simple question, Atlas physically recoiled. He sat for a moment, listening to the thunderclap above the building they resided in and tilted his mouth just a smidge. “I do like rad storms.” 

“Wait, what?” 

“Rad storms, they are...nice. I like the sound, the colors, everything.” 

Hartley looked visibly confused, before she sputtered, “th-then why are you here, and not enjoying yourself doing something nice for you? It’s still going on you can catch the tail end of it.” 

“I wanted to stay with you.” 

Hartley went wide eyed at the statement, it was almost adorable? However, still, she wanted him to have fun, he never seemed to have anything that he really enjoyed and did on his own. She lifted her feet off the chair that budged the door shut and motioned to it. “Go outside, and enjoy yourself, Atlas. I’ll still be here.” 

An excited look flashed across his face, before he hesitated, “are you sure?” 

“I’m not your boss, big guy, go have some fun - enjoy yourself, I’ll hang out here till you tell me it’s clear, okay?” Hartley smiled and moved a bit away from the door to miss any rad rain that might come in. 

Atlas nodded, and moved to the door, “I’ll be back in a moment.” Then he stepped out, shutting the door behind him. 

Hartley sighed, happily - at his excitement. It was a charming thing to see from such an imposing figure. Moving the chair back in place, she settled into her spot once again and closed her eyes, willing to let some time pass as she rested. 

Outside, Atlas took a few large steps and inhaled deeply, the tang of radiation in the air making him feel exhilarated. A shuttering thunderclap made him realize nature was just as powerful as ever, but now she had new tools. He stood outside, enjoying the play of green in the sky against the light of the sun, the radiation on his skin, and the powerful noise around him. Taking it in, he felt true peace, that he hadn’t felt since...since…

He paused. 

The last time he felt true peace was when Hartley returned from a solo trip and came back unhurt. 

That is odd. 

Pushing the thought from his mind, he returned to enjoy that last few minutes of the storm, as the skies shifted from a sickly mixture to a clearer blue. Rain still drizzled but it was hardly as pleasing as the denser, harsher rain just a bit ago. Feeling a calmness settle around him, he turned and entered the building, knocking on the door to the office's snack room. 

Shuffling was heard on the other side, until Hartley opened the door, looking slightly drowsy and blinking the sleep away. It made Atlas freeze, was she always so...soft looking?

Hartley blinked up at Atlas, trying to wipe the sleep from her slightly foggy mind. However when she went to ask how he enjoyed that, she could just tell by the look on his face, he was happy. 

That made her heart beat just a tad faster. 

“Oh…” She caught herself before she said something, clearing her throat. “Have fun?” She finally forced out, trying to not appear awkward. 

Atlas nodded, albeit slowly, “Storm’s gone, might want to wait a bit for the lingering clouds to move on.” 

“That’s, that’s a good idea..” Hartley agreed, almost too fast. 

Moving into the room once again, Atlas remained standing next to the door, a lot closer than before to Hartley. Which both of them enjoyed but neither of them said anything until Hartley rose and motioned for them to leave. 

“Ready to hit the road again bud?” 

“Of course.” 

Hartley smiled and lead the way out, Atlas a step behind.