Chapter Text
Stevie is an enigma. Preston checked him out the first time the little drifter passed Sanctuary limits, following Trashcan Carla and her brahmin. Ratty but clean clothes, sensible shoes, shotgun in hand but with the grip of someone not used to big firearms. Through their first discussion, Preston immediately discovered that Stevie’s weapon of choice was a big blinding smile. He had met the General in Goodneighbor, who told him, like apparently all lost lambs of the Commonwealth, to come to Sanctuary. Preston told him the rules, the jobs, the people not to bother and the basics of food, water and a bed to call his own.
And he thought it would be all. Little Stevie would find a useful activity for the community and they would interact at most with greetings from time to time. But when he came back at dawn to his bed, Stevie was fast asleep on his mattress, not even bothered by Preston moving around, annoyed and tired. Not knowing how to deal with that and too weary to bother, Preston found another bed and crashed for a few hours of precious rest.
The following day ran away with minutemen business, radio calls and weapons checks. Another barricade up and another house cleaned. Preston had little time to think about his visitor after nightfall, worried about a million things, patrolling up and down the main path through Sanctuary to fight the cold.
But another dawn finds his invader still in his bed and this time Preston is so annoyed that he shakes the sleeper’s shoulder with a half harsh, half hushed from a disused voice, “Wake up!” The new settler blinks slowly and gives him his easy smile.
“Finally! I waited for you but I always fall asleep when I’m not moving.”
Preston is pretty sure he’s missing vital information. He can’t comprehend from where these word come from. He tries anyway because he kinda needs his rest. “You know this is my bed?”
The teasing smile makes him feel slow-minded. “Yes. Your bed. I was waiting for you. Come on, it’s cold, I could use the body warmth.”
At this point, he’s at loss. It’s not a mistake and the man does seem enthusiast for a little bed sharing. The new question is what does he do? He tries again because he doesn’t like surprises and this deserves the award of out of the blue impromptu encounters. “You want to…sleep with me?”
He’s rewarded by another sweet smile. Sweet by certainly far from innocent. “Sure! Could be sleep. Could be whatever you want it to be.”
Preston backtracks immediately. “No way. I don’t… I’m not… Interested.”
This is really the worst five A.M. encounters he could imagine. His obstinate roommate stretches slowly on the bed but makes no moves to leave. “Whatever you wish, darling. Let’s just sleep then.”
Fine. He’s fine. He’s also cold and tired. He grumbles through the task of removing his hat and laser musket and lowers himself fully clothed besides his companion. It’s warm indeed. He’s asleep in minutes.
When he wakes up a few hours later, he’s alone. He tracks down Sturges to gather more information about his bed stealer. But this doesn’t get clearer when Sturges smiles with all his teeth. “Stevie? She’s a funny girl. As in she knows how to have fun! I wanted to attribute her a bed you know?”
Stevie’s a woman? He tries to remember if he missed something. Crap, he hopes this doesn’t go where this is heading. Sturges is always on his case to ‘live a little’. Sturges frowns at Preston’s expression but continues. “And then she told me she doesn’t like to sleep alone and could she, please, sleep in my bed?”
At this point, Preston’s disapproval must be clear because Sturges gets somber. “What is it? I know you don’t… Like it.” After an embarrassed look, Sturges bravely continues. “But I like it, fun between consenting adults, no harm done.”
He doesn’t really know how to go from there. Stevie is a girl who sleeps with Sturges and a boy who just sleeps with him. He can feel the headache coming about this one.