Chapter Text
She moved the scope from her eye and took a long drag from the cigarette before flicking it out, then looked one more time licking her lips in anticipation. Pulling a bubblegum pack from her pocket had Dogmeat rising with a tail wag and a whine; he knew what was coming. Beside him, Hancock moved his tricorn hat from his eyes and glanced up at her. She could see the jet still lingering in his bones, but that by no means meant he was any less dangerous.
"We got company boys. Why don't we go down and say hello." She fixed her hair into a ponytail and popped her gum loudly. Grabbing Dogmeat's harness handle, she brought him down from the rooftops of Hangman's Alley. Putting him down she kissed his muzzle before giving her signature whistle and the settlement broke into motion; people moving to man their posts.
Taking the the proffered shotgun she slung it casually over her shoulder with a strut. "Get em' General," was called repeatedly and she just saluted lazily, popping her gum. He loved that cocky shit-eating grin she wore like lipstick, rallying her men even though she'd never leave them to fight for her if she could help it. Her devastator chest piece and combat legs and arms shone bright pink even in the glow of the burn barrels.
Stepping through the gate, she made kissy noises to her pooch and sent him scurrying behind cover. She pointed to John and motioned around the corner to where the dumpsters had been moved to create a maze and she herself walked to the entrance and crouched, waiting. Raiders were all the same no matter what part of the wealth she was in, making all kind of noise and throwing threats and slurs to try and invoke fear. She waited until it sounded like they were going to round the corner before she spoke, loud and clear. "This is minutemen territory. Leave!"
Jo smirked listening to their idle threats, checking her pipboy for movement. Pulling out a grenade she threw it in a high arc, readying her shotgun with a sinister smile when they panicked and filtered in. She let the first three enter and raised her gun, shooting the fourth in the back of the head just as the grenade went off.
She rose like a specter, turning her back to the first ones and shot the fifth point blank in the chest. Dropping low she took a hit of jet and turned to watch Hancock. Her smile was a mile wide as he burst from hiding, red frock billowing out like wings of death, shooting one and slashing the second while completing his spin. God she loved that feral grin as he kicked the third back to give him time to reload.
"Oh shit! Its Bubblegum Jo! Run!" She whistled and laughed as her faithful puppy leaped like superdog off the remnants of a car and tackled the raider to the floor, shaking his head. She strolled up as Hancock's double barrel went off behind her. Unholstering her pistol she took aim and shot the last runner before pointing down. "Dogmeat release." She shot twice and looked back as John joined her. "I did warn them," she explained cheekily.
"More than they deserved doll." She grabbed his collar and yanked him into a hot kiss, ignoring the blood on his face. "Come on handsome, Lets get you all presentable again."
Hancock laughed and squeezed her ass as she passed. He watched her sway and listened to the gum pop loudly. How he had hated that before was beyond him; he couldn't imagine Joanne not chewing gum now, the scent clinging to her like perfume.
It was her vice and her currency. Scavvers made sure to always have some in stock when they visited a town, the Slog bringing in ridiculous caps for the grape flavors they made. She had a soft spot for ghouls and he couldn't help but crow that she had chosen him. Her bright pink armor was a joke and warning; some settlements painting their own leathers to match. If anyone wondered why those places got hit less, well then they hadn't been in the commonwealth long and they'd better learn quick. Bugglegum Jo was a cotton candy colored nightmare to anyone who dared to pick on what she claimed as hers and she was claiming the commonwealth, one home at a time.
Hancock sighed and took a hit of jet just to watch her even a moment longer, his heart clenching at the thought of losing her. Either she'd kill him or get him killed on one of her crazy adventures, but damn if it wasn't going to be the sweetest hell.