Chapter Text
He’s not entirely sure when it happened—gradually or overnight—Hancock only knows that he’s fallen for Nora.
Their visits to Diamond City are what made it really sink in. The security guards are always flirting with Nora. Shamelessly. It pisses Hancock off to no end. He has no reason to be jealous. Not really. It’s not like Nora has ever shown interest in being more than just friends with him, and he’s never considered making his feelings for her known. Not like he expects her to reciprocate, and the last thing he wants to do is make things awkward between them. So, it’s his own damn fault he has to witness everyone flirting with her.
Then again, he also is constantly witnessing her turn everyone down.
Even after all this time, she still wears her wedding band. Points it out to the men who won’t take no for an answer. He usually keeps his distance because it’s none of his business. He doesn’t want to crowd her or ever make her think he doesn’t believe she’s capable of handling herself.
This time is different.
She waves him over. He goes to her without giving it a second thought. “Hey, what’s up, Sunshine?”
She smiles. “Oh, honey, I love it when you call me that.”
He immediately gets it. Wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into him. “Well, that’s what ya are.”
“You’re so sweet.”
And that’s how he becomes her decoy. For those particularly stubborn men, Hancock steps in. Nora leans against him. Places her hands on his chest. Rests her head on his shoulder. Kisses his cheek.
Hancock has to pretend he can breathe normally during all that. Pretend, after the fact, that he hadn’t enjoyed a single moment of it. Frankly, it’s not even the way she fawns over him; it’s watching the reactions of the men realising this beautiful woman is shacking up with a ghoul.
Tch. Not really.
“Does it bother you?” she asks once.
He hums, enjoying the hit of Jet he had just taken. “Does what bother me?” She quirks an eyebrow at him. “Oh, the make-believe shit.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Don’t matter. We both know it’s fake. And if it helps keep the creeps off ya, I’m happy to help.”
She seems almost…unsatisfied with that answer. “Okay. Thanks.”
He’s an idiot. She deserves to know the truth. The thought of losing her because he couldn’t stop himself from getting attached, though… He’s always been damn good at keeping his distance. Keeping things amicable. Sure, he flirts and teases, but that just comes with being charismatic. It’s part of who he is. The moment Nora flirted back for the first time… Oh, he was done for. A goner. Except he knows he’ll go feral long before he ever gets to share a bed with her.
They’re at the Dugout in Diamond City. Nora is occupied with some guy on the other side of the bar. And this guy who’s flirting with her now… Well, for once, she actually seems into him. Seems to be reciprocating. She’s smiling and giggling and stroking his arm. Ugh. Hancock is going to be sick. Going to pluck his black eyes out.
Suddenly, the guy leans down to whisper something in Nora’s ear. Her cheeks turn bright red. As soon as he pulls back, she slaps him across the face. The force nearly knocks him over. He watches the guy stumble away, his abused cheek even more red than Nora’s. Hancock stifles a laugh; He’s so glad he didn’t pluck his eyes out.
“You okay?” he checks once she’s sat across from him.
She huffs. “Why are men such pigs?”
“Uh…” He clears his throat. “I mean—”
“I get that dating isn’t really a thing anymore, but what about any form of courting? Why does everyone immediately want to jump in my pants? I didn’t even get that asshole’s name before he decided he would just tell me exactly how he wanted to fuck me.”
“Well, that was his mistake. I mean, seriously, he should be askin’ ya how you wanna get fucked.”
He can tell she’s trying not to grin. “That’s not—” She sighs. “Do I need to lighten up? Like, am I overreacting? Ugh. I do need to get fucked but not by bearded assholes like that.”
“I know I’m your fake partner, but maybe I could also be your wingman.” …What? Why the fuck would he even suggest that? The last thing he wants to do is help her into some stranger’s bed. “Ah, sorry,” he goes on. “That ain’t any of my business.”
“That actually may not be the worst idea,” she says. It is. “If people don’t react poorly to a ghoul, then—”
“If people see ya with me, Sunshine, they’re gonna play nice no matter what.”
She hums. “Not necessarily.” Then she shakes her head, huffing. “Never mind. Let’s just drop it, yeah? Forget we ever even talked about this.”
“Uh…okay. If you’re sure.”
He’s not complaining. Again, the last thing he wants is to know Nora is getting fucked by some stranger. Not that he can stop her. Of course, she can do whatever—whoever—she wants.
Paladin Danse requests her assistance on a certain matter. He’s another one who likes to flirt. At least he’s more discreet about it. Much to Hancock’s dismay, though, Nora is also more receptive to it.
For the umpteenth time, Danse asks her to join the Brotherhood. For the umpteenth time, Nora tells him she isn’t interested.
“Y’know, Danse might be a pretty good match for ya,” he dares to say, even though it kills him.
Her eyes widen before narrowing. “Are you going feral?”
He huffs. “Just…makin’ on observation.”
“You hate Danse.”
“Don’t mean I’m blind.”
“Well, I’m not even interested in him like that. At all.”
A pause. “You’re not?”
Nora shakes her head. “He’s a little too like my husband. A lot more serious, but…” She shrugs her shoulders. “Not my type.”
He tilts his head. “A man who’s similar to your husband ain’t your type?”
“Well, it’s not like I’m trying to replace Nate.”
“So…do you want a relationship or do ya wanna just fuck around?”
She lets out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know.” She sounds aggravated. “What does it even matter?”
“Sorry. You’re right. Ain’t any of my business anyway.” Hancock has said that before, yet he still brought it up again.
Her brow is furrowed as she looks at him, her eyes boring through him. What does it even matter? It matters because he wants to be the one she wants. Except she also deserves so much better than him. Besides, he doesn’t need her rejection. Or her pity, for that matter. So, as far as she’s concerned, they’ll only ever be friends. And she’ll be better off for it.
Their next pitstop involves another relentless asshole. Hancock doesn’t even wait for Nora to wave him over, just intervenes on his own.
“This guy botherin’ ya, Sunshine?” he starts.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Her partner, in case ya missed the ring on her finger. Or did ya just decide you would ignore it?”
The guy laughs. “Yeah, right. No way in hell you’re fuckin’ a ghoul.”
Nora’s brow furrows. “Why would you say that?”
“Because ghouls don’t fuck. They probably don’t even have dicks.”
Hancock huffs, trying to keep his cool. “You must not, either, seeing as your personality is clearly compensatin’ for it.” Nora covers her mouth, stifling a laugh. “Shove off.”
The guy sneers. “Fine. If you two are so in love, prove it.”
“How the hell—?”
Before Hancock can finish his thought, Nora is turning his head towards her and kissing him. He barely misses a beat before he kisses back. Holding her waist and pulling her closer. He almost can’t believe this is happening. Her lips are so soft. He just barely hears the guy muttering—Disgusting—before walking away. Except, that doesn’t cause the kiss to break. If he’s lucky, it never will.
He’s not so lucky.
Nora licks her lips as she pulls away and he has to hold back a growl. “We should get out of here.”
So, they leave. Hancock is hopeful enough to think that maybe this is it. Maybe this is some sort of long-awaited confession.
“Holy shit. I’m so sorry,” she then says. “That was so inappropriate. I never should’ve—Are you pissed?”
Tch. Yeah, definitely couldn’t be so lucky. “Nah, ‘course not, Sunshine. It was for a good cause. I mean, the guy wouldn’t back down.”
She lets out a relieved sort of sigh. “You are way too good to me.” Then she shakes her head. “That was—Was that weird?”
No. Nothing had ever felt more right than when he was kissing her. “Super weird.”
She swallows hard. “Yeah.”
And, because he’s a glutton for punishment, he cradles her face and dares to kiss her again. She makes a surprised sound but doesn’t push him away. Doesn’t pull away. Fuckin’ hell, I get it. The same guy ends up passing by them. They break apart, as he practically had screamed in their ears. Hancock immediately steps away from Nora.
“Oh, so you—” She clears her throat. “You just saw him and—”
“Y-yeah. Exactly. Wanted to make sure he wasn’t comin’ back around just to cause more trouble or…whatever.”
“Right.” Her middle finger is tracing her lower lip. He wants so badly to bite it. He can’t, though, so he takes yet another step away from her. “Maybe we should stop pretending like this,” she goes on.
Please, no. Damn it. He knows she’s right. They should stop. This is the closest he’ll ever get to feeling her, though. If they stop now, then there’s a good chance she’ll be further away than ever.
“That would probably be for the best,” he says anyway because he’s not selfish.
She nods her head. “Sorry, I—I crossed a line.”
“No, it’s not—It’s not a big deal.”
This is exactly what he had been trying to avoid. This damn awkwardness. Now he can only hope they can forget about it and move on. And that kills him because he wants to kiss her again. Over and over. Everywhere.
“Have you ever thought about this being real?” she suddenly asks. “Have you ever thought about us as more than…just friends?”
All the fucking time. Except he can’t tell her that. He’s not sure why he wants a confession so fucking badly when he would never let her settle for a ghoul. There are people all over the Commonwealth who are interested in her. One of them has to be a decent enough guy. An actual good guy. A guy who’s worthy of her. Not just some fuck up who runs away from all his problems and hides behind chems and a costume.
“Can’t say I have.” It’s the most painful lie he’s ever uttered.
“Oh.” A pause. “Good. That—No, yeah, that’s a good thing. It means we’re on the same page. Just friends. That’s a relief. I was, uh… I was worried for a second.”
He swears he can feel his heart physically breaking. “Happy to hear it. Honestly, though, it’d be crazy bein’ anythin’ more than…just friends.” Even crazier of him to believe that it would happen.
“Yeah, I know. Sorry.” She chuckles, though it sounds almost forced. “Such a ridiculous notion.”
“Sorry if I ever gave ya the wrong impression, Sunshine.”
“No, you didn’t—It’s not—” She takes a deep breath. “Don’t worry about it,” she goes on. “Like I said, we’re on the same page. That’s what matters.”
With that, he watches her walk away. Nora isn’t the best liar. If she is harboring some sort of crush on him, it’s better to nip it in the bud. Hancock will deal with the pain while she moves on and realises that she can do so much better. And he’ll be the friend she hopefully falls back on. Or he’ll be replaced. In which case…
Well, he’s used to being on his own.