{"sf1_id":1695239,"sf2_id":"B1QNqaVe","title":"Love Me As If There Were No Tomorrow (Chapter 10)","author":"STRONG","words":3307,"posted_at":"2021-03-13T21:37:19.000Z","tags":["Character Development","Fallout","Greentext","Human","M/F","Nightstalker","SFW","Snekdog","Story"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1695239-love-me-as-if-there-were-no-tomorrow-chapter-10","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/B1QNqaVe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/1e/64/1e6433d6-6ca2-4ae2-a97f-afedfee2a7e5","description":"chapter 10","content":"Chapter 10: I AM Alive\n\n\\\u003eIt hurts, everything hurts.\n\n\\\u003ePain? Guess you aren't dead after all.\n\n\\\u003eYou sit up quickly, breathing hard...\n\n\\\u003eWhere's your gun?! They're coming for you!\n\n\\\u003eWhat happened? The last thing you remember was Gracie trying to pull you...\n\n\\\u003eShuffling noises cause you to look around quickly, although you can't see out of your left eye.\n\n\\\u003eWhere are you? Panic sets in as you observe your surroundings...\n\n\\\u003eYou're in a bed in a jail cell with the bars open.\n\n\\\u003eWhat happened? How did you get here?\n\n\\\u003eSo many questions in your mind...\n\n\\\u003e\"Gracie?\", you call out as you sit up\n\n\\\u003eYour throat feels dusty when you talk.\n\n\\\u003eHurried footsteps towards you and Gracie appears, peering into the cell\n\n\\\u003e\"ANON! YOU'RE AWAKE!\"\n\n\\\u003eShe rushes in and pounces on you in a hug.\n\n\\\u003e\"Oh god, oh god, you had me so worried! I thought you were dead, I'm sorry, we didn't know the cloud was poison!\"\n\n\\\u003eShe's talking a mile a minute, hugging you tight.\n\n\\\u003eIt hurts, it really, really hurts as she squeezes you.\n\n\\\u003e\"What happened, Gracie? Where are we? Also, you're hurting me.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe lets go quickly. \"Sorry, Anon.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou reach and pet her head gently.\n\n\\\u003e\"It's OK, what happened?\"\n\n\\\u003eShe sits on the bed next to you.\n\n\\\u003e\"Uhm, after you got hit by that bomb and passed out, I bit you and used my venom to slow down your heart.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe points to your right forearm, where what looks like a bright green 11 marks where she bit you.\n\n\\\u003e\"After that I dragged you to here, a police station.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou blink hard, processing...\n\n\\\u003e\"You stopped my heart? How am I alive if you poisoned me?\"\n\n\\\u003eShe scrunches her face up and looks away...\n\n\\\u003e\"Don't freak out but I, uh, made you drink my blood, my bodily fluids are an antivenom.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe shows her arm, which is bandaged up...\n\n\\\u003eYou sit and stare at her for a moment, digesting everything she told you.\n\n\\\u003e\"And then Pip, Amber, and I scrounged up chips to get stimpaks to help you heal, but...\"\n\n\\\u003eShe trails off, looking at you.\n\n\\\u003e\"But what?\"\n\n\\\u003e\"We couldn't save your eye Anon, your left eye is gone.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou reach up to your face and feel around where your eye should be...\n\n\\\u003eWhat feels like a bunch of raised lines are across your face and eye socket.\n\n\\\u003eYou sigh.\n\n\\\u003eYou should be upset, but honestly you're just happy to be alive.\n\n\\\u003eGracie scoots closer to you when you look at her.\n\n\\\u003e\"Thank you Gracie, you saved my life and took care of me; you didn't have to do that.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe beams at you and nuzzles against you.\n\n\\\u003e\"Of course I did, Anon, I had to, you're my mate! You're the only person I want to be my mate! I love you!\"\n\n\\\u003eYou stare for a moment.\n\n\\\u003e\"I- you what?\", you stammer out.\n\n\\\u003eShe wraps her arms around you and looks into your eye.\n\n\\\u003e\"I love you Anon, I tried to tell you before you passed out.\"\n\n\\\u003eWhat do you feel now? A warmth in your chest, a flurry in your stomach...\n\n\\\u003eShe wants you to be her mate, and she loves you...\n\n\\\u003e...And you feel the same.\n\n\\\u003eYou've felt you wanted her as yours for a while.\n\n\\\u003e\"I love you too, Gracie.\", you say as you wrap your arms around her.\n\n\\\u003eIt hurts to move, but you want to hold her.\n\n\\\u003eAs she nuzzles into your chest, you realize you aren't wearing your normal clothes.\n\n\\\u003eA holey t-shirt and torn pants are all you're wearing.\n\n\\\u003eYou break from the hug and smile.\n\n\\\u003e\"Where's my gear? Let's get what we came here to find and get out of this place.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe frowns.\n\n\\\u003e\"Your gun got destroyed and your armor torn apart, the only thing that survived was your jacket, and just barely.\"\n\n\\\u003eYour turn to frown, your main weapon- destroyed? You could use your shotgun or scout rifle, but those wouldn't work well outside their specific range.\n\n\\\u003eBut wait, this is a police station, they had to have had an armory.\n\n\\\u003eYou stand up shakily.\n\n\\\u003eThey used stimpaks on you, but you were still sore.\n\n\\\u003e\"Is there an armory, Gracie? We might be able to find something I can use.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe takes your hand, and leads you through the police station.\n\n\\\u003e\"I found this when we were looking for chips, you might be able to use it!\"\n\n\\\u003eOn a table is an odd looking rifle, which you pick up and look at.\n\n\\\u003eTakes microfusion cells, but it's almost like it was thrown together out of spare parts, but it doesn't look like it's working quite well.\n\n\\\u003e\"The armory is over there Anon, I haven't been able to get in it though, the door is locked.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe points at a door with the word \"armory\" on it.\n\n\\\u003eYou walk over and look at the lock.\n\n\\\u003e\"Just shoot the lock, Gracie.\", you say, stepping away from it.\n\n\\\u003eShe looks at the lock, then her gun, and facepalms.(Facepaws?)\n\n\\\u003e\"Why didn't I think of that..?\", she mutters as she draws her gun and shoots the lock.\n\n\\\u003eYou smile and look over the lock again.\n\n\\\u003e\"Yeah, that did it.\"\n\n\\\u003eGiving the door a sharp (and painful) kick opens the door.\n\n\\\u003eYou walk inside the armory and look around cautiously...\n\n\\\u003eA long rifle catches your eye, so you grab it and inspect it.\n\n\\\u003eFires .308 rounds and is full auto? God, this thing is amazing.\n\n\\\u003eBut it looks like it's in pretty bad condition.\n\n\\\u003eYou shoulder it and look around more.\n\n\\\u003eNeatly folded in a corner is what looks like security guard armor and a helmet with an opaque visor.\n\n\\\u003eYou grab that up too and carry it all out to the table where the other gun is laying.\n\n\\\u003e\"Where are Amber and Pip? I haven't seen them.\"\n\n\\\u003eGracie pulls out a chair and sits.\n\n\\\u003e\"They are exploring, said they needed to find the vehicles, they may not be back for a while.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou nod and sit next to her, then get to work restoring the automatic rifle.\n\n\\\u003eBut, wait...you had wanted to combine a energy weapon and a regular gun...\n\n\\\u003eThe gun Gracie found is easy enough to take apart.\n\n\\\u003eYou smile as you get to work.\n\n\\\u003eGracie watches intently as you work.\n\n\\\u003e\"What are you doing, Anon?\", she asks, cocking her head to the side adorably.\n\n\\\u003e\"Making a dual fire weapon, Gracie.\"\n\n\\\u003eYour time with the Brotherhood of Steel had helped you understand energy weapons.\n\n\\\u003eAs you work, clicking parts together, Gracie yawns and stretches.\n\n\\\u003e\"Want some food, Anon? After we got you healed we still had a bunch of chips.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou nod as you work, Gracie gets up and heads to a vending machine.\n\n\\\u003eAfter a few moments she comes back carrying a few cans of cram and some water.\n\n\\\u003eShe sits next to you and nuzzles against you while you work.\n\n\\\u003eYou smile as she does and stop tinkering with the guns to eat with her.\n\n\\\u003eHow long had it been since you had eaten? You're pretty sure Gracie fed you while you were out of action.\n\n\\\u003eShe opens the cans and hands you one.\n\n\\\u003e\"Here Anon, sorry we don't have forks or anything.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou smile as you take the can and use your fingers to eat.\n\n\\\u003eWhat do you care about silverware?\n\n\\\u003eShe leans against you as she eats.\n\n\\\u003eCram might not be your favorite food, but it'll do.\n\n\\\u003eYou finish eating and get back to working on the guns.\n\n\\\u003e\"Gracie, are there any weapon repair kits in the armory?\"\n\n\\\u003e\"I have a better idea! You can get all sorts of stuff from these machines! Plus, you can take other stuff and turn it into chips!\"\n\n\\\u003eShe bounces to her feet and bounds over to the machine, then taps away at the touch screen.\n\n\\\u003eAfter a moment, she walks back over with 3 weapon repair kits and some snacks.\n\n\\\u003e\"Looky, looky! So much good stuff!\"\n\n\\\u003eYou look at the vending machine.\n\n\\\u003eThat thing is useful...Maybe you can get one to the Brotherhood?\n\n\\\u003eA thought for another time.\n\n\\\u003eYou sit and tinker for a few hours, talking with Gracie and getting parts to work together.\n\n\\\u003eAmber and Pip enter the police station.\n\n\\\u003e\"Oh, hey Boomer, you're awake! Gracie was so worried about you!\", Amber says, shaking dust off her body and clothes.\n\n\\\u003eYou nod as you work.\n\n\\\u003e\"She did a great job taking care of me- she saved me, that's for sure.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Well, most of you, anyway...\", Amber says, looking at your left eye.\n\n\\\u003eOr rather, where your left eye should be.\n\n\\\u003eYou frown, and cover it with your hand.\n\n\\\u003e\"Sorry...\", she says as her ears droop a bit.\n\n\\\u003eYou sigh and uncover your face.\n\n\\\u003e\"It's fine, I gotta get used to it I guess.\"\n\n\\\u003ePip looks over the weapon you're creating.\n\n\\\u003e\"What this? Looks like you found a nice gun here.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou show him a few of the parts as you explain.\n\n\\\u003e\"Gracie found an energy weapon, and I found an automatic rifle that shoots .308 rounds, I'm trying to combine them for extra weapon penetration.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe nods and inspects one of the components of the energy weapon.\n\n\\\u003e\"Nice, I think this is a holorifle, this place has been good for us.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou look at him with a frown.\n\n\\\u003e\"Well, mostly good...\", he adds.\n\n\\\u003eYou get back to work and Pip sits down with you, occasionally giving you tips and helping you put it together.\n\n\\\u003eAmber is telling Gracie about things out around the villa.\n\n\\\u003eIn a lot of places, the dust has settled and the ghost people went berserk, eating the dust; Further driving them insane.\n\n\\\u003eShe tells Gracie about how some have their weapons fused to their bodies.\n\n\\\u003eJesus, looks like you dealt with the easiest ones...\n\n\\\u003e\"We found our way into the maintenance area and turned on these giant fans to get most of the dust out of the air.\", Amber says with a smile.\n\n\\\u003eThat's good, you won't have to breathe anymore of it, or at least not as much.\n\n\\\u003eYou watch as Amber pulls out a hatchet from her belt.\n\n\\\u003e\"Plus, I found this down there, it's made of some super sharp metal.\"\n\n\\\u003eGracie takes it into her paws and looks it over...\n\n\\\u003eYou know Gracie isn't too good with melee weapons like you.\n\n\\\u003e\"Did you find a way into the casino?\" you ask as you run a few wires from the fusion cell port to the trigger.\n\n\\\u003e\"We did, it's pretty deep in there, we're going to go together to get in there, and there might be other things in there.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou nod and look over your new rifle.\n\n\\\u003eWith Pip's help you got it put together quickly.\n\n\\\u003eWell, not quickly, but quicker than if you did it by yourself.\n\n\\\u003eIt looks like the basic automatic rifle, but the barrel of the \"holorifle\" is around the barrel of the auto rifle.\n\n\\\u003eYou had stripped the bipod to get it to fit, but it works.\n\n\\\u003eA port for the fusion cells is under the ejection port, and wires run from it to the trigger and to the receiver.\n\n\\\u003eTo reload it you have to put in a new magazine AND a fusion cell, though.\n\n\\\u003eBut it will do a LOT of damage.\n\n\\\u003eIt's not pretty, that's for sure- but it'll do.\n\n\\\u003e\"Alright then, let's get to that casino.\", you say, standing up and grabbing your new gear.\n\n\\\u003ePip puts a hand on you shoulder to stop you.\n\n\\\u003e\"It's too late to go out there, last thing we want is to get caught out there at night, we can sleep here safely and then go in the morning.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou frown, but nod.\n\n\\\u003eAs much as you wanted to get out there and get revenge, you also didn't want to nearly die again.\n\n\\\u003eYou put your holorifle into your inventory and look to Gracie.\n\n\\\u003e\"Lets get some sleep, then.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe takes your hand and leads you back to the cell you woke up in.\n\n\\\u003eThere wasn't much privacy here, Amber and Pip must be sleeping in one of the other cells.\n\n\\\u003eYou get out the pillows and Gracie changes into her pajamas.\n\n\\\u003eAfter the bed is set up you sit back against the wall and pat your lap softly, inviting Gracie over.\n\n\\\u003eShe lays down and places her head in your lap.\n\n\\\u003e\"Goodnight, Gracie.\", you whisper.\n\n\\\u003eShe sits up and kisses you quickly.\n\n\\\u003e\"Goodnight Anon, you're the best mate ever.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou smile and pet her head, lulling her to sleep.\n\n\\\u003eBefore long, she's snoring softly.\n\n\\\u003eYou drift off to sleep yourself soon after...\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\\\u003eYou awake slowly and peacefully, a stark contrast to yesterday's panic stricken wake up.\n\n\\\u003eThere are no windows, so there's no way to know if it's morning or not.\n\n\\\u003eBut your Pip-Boy can tell you.\n\n\\\u003eYou check it, making sure not to wake Gracie just yet.\n\n\\\u003e7AM\n\n\\\u003eThat's a good time to start the day.\n\n\\\u003eYou shake Gracie gently to wake her up.\n\n\\\u003e\"Gracie, time to get up...\", you say softly.\n\n\\\u003eAfter a moment, she stirs...\n\n\\\u003eYou lean forward and kiss her softly.\n\n\\\u003e\"Come on Gracie, we gotta get going.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe sits up and yawns, her jaws opening wider than you would think.\n\n\\\u003e\"Mornin' Nonnnnnn...\"\n\n\\\u003eYou smile and stretch, then stand up.\n\n\\\u003eShe sits on the bed and watches you, still in her pajamas.\n\n\\\u003e\"You OK to go out there, Anon? You were nearly dead earlier...\"\n\n\\\u003eYou start putting on your new armor.\n\n\\\u003eSecurity armor? It'll do the job.\n\n\\\u003eYou pull your Boomer jacket over it, then pick up the helmet.\n\n\\\u003eIt has an opaque visor, which is good for hiding your missing eye.\n\n\\\u003eYou put in on and look at Gracie.\n\n\\\u003e\"I'll be fine.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe smiles at you.\n\n\\\u003e\"Lookin' good Anon, let me change now!\"\n\n\\\u003eYou watch as she changes, enjoying the view.\n\n\\\u003eGod, her body is amazing.\n\n\\\u003eA thought hits you as you watch her pull on her recon armor.\n\n\\\u003e\"Gracie, when is your next heat cycle?\"\n\n\\\u003eShe smiles at you and presses against you.\n\n\\\u003e\"Ohhhhh, why do you ask, Anon?\", She says in a teasing voice, her long tongue flicking your visor.\n\n\\\u003eYou pull off your helmet and kiss her.\n\n\\\u003e\"No reason.\", you say with a smirk.\n\n\\\u003eYou hear a noise outside the cell and see Amber peeking in at you both.\n\n\\\u003e\"Not mates, huh?\", she says smugly.\n\n\\\u003eGracie nuzzles into your neck softly.\n\n\\\u003e\"Things changed, sister.\"\n\n\\\u003eAmber smiles at that.\n\n\\\u003eYou slip your helmet back on and look up...\n\n\\\u003ePip appears alongside Amber, ready to go.\n\n\\\u003e\"Yesterday we heard something big out there, we should all cloak to not cause anymore trouble.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou had never let Gracie cloak you, you never were a sneaky guy but something stomping around might be dangerous.\n\n\\\u003eShe scoots close to you and leans against you as you walk to the door outside.\n\n\\\u003e\"Ready?\", Gracie asks.\n\n\\\u003eYou draw out your rifle and nod.\n\n\\\u003e\"Ready.\"\n\n\\\u003eYour body feels weird, like there is a small yet ever present charge of static that won't discharge.\n\n\\\u003eYou feel Gracie holding your arm softly when you look down.\n\n\\\u003eEverything is see through, a slight shimmer shows where you are.\n\n\\\u003e\"Let's go.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou push the door open into the dust filled streets.\n\n\\\u003ePip and Amber really did kick whatever fans there were on.\n\n\\\u003eThe clouds around this area are basically gone.\n\n\\\u003eA few wisps of it float lazily.\n\n\\\u003eYou step out and begin walking around.\n\n\\\u003eIt's weird to see footsteps forming.\n\n\\\u003e\"We'll lead the way to the casino, we can get a vantage point to find the vertibirds.\", You hear Pip say.\n\n\\\u003eYou look around...\n\n\\\u003eHuh, you can see the Shimmer of Amber and Pip easier than you would Gracie's.\n\n\\\u003e\"Follow our footsteps.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou watch as footprints appear in front of you.\n\n\\\u003eNice.\n\n\\\u003eThey lead the way and you follow silently, passing the occasional ghost.\n\n\\\u003eSome stand twitching in the remaining clouds.\n\n\\\u003eA few are kneeling, shoving the dust into a hole where they ripped the gas mask section off their suit.\n\n\\\u003eHow bizarre, how did these things function?\n\n\\\u003eYou aren't sure you want to know.\n\n\\\u003eYou feel Gracie's grip tighten around your arm as you keep your rifle ready.\n\n\\\u003eWould they notice the footprints in the dust? You hope not.\n\n\\\u003eThe dust in the air is not affecting you like it did before.\n\n\\\u003eDid Gracie's blood work to stop you being affected?\n\n\\\u003eYou can see the casino doors as your group gets nearer and nearer.\n\n\\\u003eThe ground rumbles softly and you all get closer.\n\n\\\u003eSlow, rhythmic rumbling.\n\n\\\u003eFootsteps?\n\n\\\u003eYou had thought they meant something like a deathclaw or something...\n\n\\\u003e...This sounded like something bigger than a behemoth.\n\n\\\u003e\"Jesus fuck, what is that stomping around out there?\", you say, imagining the worst.\n\n\\\u003eThe door to the casino opens from someone opening it.\n\n\\\u003eYou can't tell who opened it, and you suppose it doesn't matter as you shuffle in and get inside.\n\n\\\u003eThe difference between inside the casino and outside is like night and day.\n\n\\\u003eEverything in here is preserved and in great condition, but still worn from time.\n\n\\\u003eThe handrails are crumbled a bit, the doors you can see are still broken.\n\n\\\u003eThe floor is covered in reddish carpet and dual stairwells wrap around the walls to an upper level.\n\n\\\u003eBetween the stairwells you see the casino floor, dozens of tables and roulette wheels.\n\n\\\u003eGracie lets go of your arm and you feel the static feeling disappear.\n\n\\\u003eFreaky.\n\n\\\u003e\"WOW, Look at this place! It's so cool!\" Gracie says walking forwards and looking around.\n\n\\\u003eIt was cool, but it was eerily quiet.\n\n\\\u003eNo ghost people, no ragged breathing...\n\n\\\u003eJust silence.\n\n\\\u003eIt's unsettling that's for sure.\n\n\\\u003e\"Where's this thing you need, Boomer?\", Pip says, walking forward through the lobby.\n\n\\\u003eYou look at your Pip-Boy and scan the notes section...\n\n\\\u003eAll those notes on what's his face...Elijah had on the vault in here.\n\n\\\u003e\"The vault, doesn't say how to get there but it says there is a vault.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou look around calmly, where would a vault be?\n\n\\\u003eProbably below ground.\n\n\\\u003eGracie and the rest of the group have started walking through the lobby.\n\n\\\u003eMaybe you could head to the elevators? Those would probably get you there.\n\n\\\u003eYou can see some elevators up the stairs.\n\n\\\u003e\"Think we could use the elevators to get to the vault?\", you ask more to yourself than anyone else, motioning to the elevators.\n\n\\\u003ePip nods.\n\n\\\u003e\"We might as well try it.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Should we split up? Gracie and I head down and you two find your vertibirds?\"\n\n\\\u003ePip nods his head in agreement, but Amber looks skeptical and concerned.\n\n\\\u003e\"Will you both be OK? Last time you wandered off, you nearly died...\"\n\n\\\u003e\"I'll have Gracie with me this time, I'll be fine.\"\n\n\\\u003eGracie hugs your arm happily.\n\n\\\u003e\"Don't worry, sister! I'll keep him safe!\"\n\n\\\u003eAmber looks even more concerned now.\n\n\\\u003e\"That doesn't make me feel any better.\"\n\n\\\u003eGracie lets out a short \"Hmph\", and Pip puts an arm around Amber's waist.\n\n\\\u003e\"They'll be fine Amber, I'll give Boom my Pip-Boy's contact info so they can call us if there's an emergency.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe lets go of Amber's waist and gives you a piece of blue paper.\n\n\\\u003eYou nod and input the info into your Pip-Boy, then give him a holotape of your info.\n\n\\\u003eHe pops it into his Pip-Boy and looks it over.\n\n\\\u003e\"Got it, call if you find what you're looking for or if you run into trouble.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Got it.\"\n\n\\\u003eYou and Gracie head for the elevators, leaving Pip and Amber to find their vertibirds.\n\n\\\u003eThe fact that the elevators still work doesn't surprise you, this place might not be in the same condition as the Lucky 38, but it's better preserved than most of the wasteland.\n\n\\\u003eGracie hits the \"B\" button in the elevator.\n\n\\\u003eYou give a final nod to Pip while Gracie waves frantically to Amber as the doors close...\n\n\\\u003eFinally, it's time to find what you need and get out of here.","series":{"name":"Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1678158-love-me-as-though-there-were-no-tomorrow-chapter-9.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1700307-love-me-as-if-there-were-no-tomorrow-chapter-11.json"}}