Chapter Text
Let it be known that Arthur Maxson is not a big fan of surprises, which, in itself, isn’t all that shocking. It’s a trait that comes with the territory, he supposes, especially since he’s responsible for orchestrating large-scale military campaigns that yield deadly consequences. Wanting to have as few unforeseen developments pop up in his face and disrupt his plans as possible is only natural.
After being forcefully led down the path of leadership from such a young age with no consideration for his desires, Arthur has developed into a man who craves control—needs it, even. To have his hold over a situation be derailed is extremely distressing, to put it lightly.
But the young elder knows Taylor isn’t going to let a small hiccup like that stop her from giving him an amazing birthday gift. Arthur’s turning twenty-one, an age that was a big milestone in Pre-War America, as she likes to remind him. According to her, it’s only fitting that the sentinel does something special and memorable to help him celebrate the occasion. Oh, and top secret, too, since she has refused to tell him what exactly he should expect from today.
However, while somewhat hesitant to follow an agenda that hasn’t been made entirely clear to him, Arthur cannot help but look forward to what Taylor has in store for him. Whatever it is, he’s sure it’ll be more than enjoyable. He trusts her; his girlfriend has rarely led him astray before.
That’s why Arthur’s allowing himself to be dragged from location to location in Diamond City, a dazzling grin on Taylor’s face as they tour the sights the repurposed baseball stadium has to offer. He has only been here a few times in the past, though those visits were rather brief and strictly business-related. Despite the destruction of the Institute a few months ago, it is still rare that he gets to step foot outside the Prydwen beyond political matters, and even then, most of those are affairs conducted on the airship itself or at the settlement requiring attention. Having the opportunity to spend some time away from his duties with his beloved is a nice change of pace from the hours spent hunched over his desk, reviewing and signing report after report.
Frankly, if this is all Taylor had planned—wandering around the marketplace hand in hand, buying pointless little trinkets, sampling different foods, and poking fun at the less likable characters of Diamond City—then Arthur is more than content with how the rest of his birthday will go.
He finds himself admiring his girlfriend as he follows her back to Home Plate after their late lunch date, her obsidian shoulder-length hair a glossy curtain that flows behind her. A leather jacket, emblazoned with the Brotherhood’s emblem on its sleeves, is layered over a navy sweater that compliments her pale complexion. A tight-fitting pair of black jeans that highlights her curves and combat boots complete the lower half of her outfit. Her hazel eyes, always so expressive and open when it comes to him, are hidden behind a pair of aviators that Arthur is pretty sure she stole from his collection. He doesn’t mind—it’s not the first time she’s done it, and she looks hot with them on, anyway.
Taylor’s beauty is no secret, even though Arthur’s possessive instincts sometimes want to keep that information to himself. Being Pre-War, she’s so different compared to the women from this time, shining with an intangible lightness and unfettered by the darkness that sinks its claws into everyone in the wasteland. Of course, she’s capable of tapping into that darkness just like everyone else is, but those moments are generally far and few between. She’s a far better person than he is, that’s for sure.
They’ve been dating for quite some time, and still, Arthur is amazed that he managed to find a partner as genuine and amazing as her. It was slow going at first, beginning with late-night talks on the Prydwen’s forecastle about everything and anything, their loneliness bringing them together. However, after she decided to make the first move last Christmas, their dance around each other was quickly concluded with the Institute’s defeat.
Courting Taylor is, frankly, a dream come true. For a long time, he resigned himself to being locked into a loveless marriage with some high-ranking Brotherhood official picked out for him by the Council as soon as he came of age. No doubt, their choice would be one of the councilmen’s daughters, groomed for the position of Lady Maxson since birth.
Despite not seeming like the type to be one, Arthur is a bit of a romantic, much to his chagrin at times. Being the last of his name, the expectation to conceive an heir as soon as possible is not lost on him, but he’s always hoped that he would be able to do so on his terms. He’s sure that being wed to a lady of their choosing wouldn’t be that bad, though it certainly wouldn’t lead to a happy future. Perhaps they would fall in love with time, but an amicable union was more likely. Alas, as the years went by and the nagging from the Council and his senior officers persisted, he found himself preparing for such a marriage. If he had to sacrifice his personal happiness to complete his duty to the Brotherhood, so be it.
Then Taylor Keaten came along and made him believe that maybe, just maybe, he would get his wish.
Arthur still remembers the first time he met her as clear as day. It’d been during a speech to some of his officers, only a handful of hours after securing the Boston Airport from the feral ghouls infesting the compound. She wore a mismatched set of leather and metal protective gear over a vault suit, the form-fitting cobalt material underneath shiny and bright, and an old marksman's rifle slung over her shoulder. Compared to the paladin who stood beside her donning power armor and a laser rifle, she appeared tiny and unassuming—undoubtedly pretty, yet unremarkable beyond that from a soldier’s standpoint.
To most, she would be dismissed as an average scavver or mercenary that hailed from one of the local vaults. To Arthur, though… well, to say Taylor immediately caught his attention would be an understatement.
Especially once she started admonishing him for bringing children on board the Prydwen.
Taylor challenging him on just about everything she could come up with—the Brotherhood’s doctrine, why squires are exposed to warfare so early, the length and roughness of Arthur’s beard—has become a constant in their relationship. While their conversations of that nature have since moved to private settings and away from prying ears, it is one of the many things Arthur likes—dare he say, loves—about her. Being surrounded by yes-men and people who practically worship the ground he walks on because of his lineage is exhausting after a time. While having his authority questioned is never an enjoyable experience, it’s good to have somebody keep him in check and on his toes.
Taylor’s bluntness and sincere care have been a breath of fresh air, and Arthur can’t seem to get enough of her—or her ferocious sexual appetite.
He is reminded of the latter when Taylor sits him down on the couch in Home Plate and tells him in a falsely innocent voice that she has a special surprise for him. The sultry wink she throws over her shoulder as she sashays up the stairs to her bedroom promises trouble in the best way possible. His blood singing with desire, Arthur has to painfully dig his fingernails into his legs to prevent himself from chasing after her, instead choosing to shrug off his coat and slightly unzip his flight suit to stave off his excitement. Patience, he’s learned, is so much more rewarding when it comes to sex with his girlfriend.
And when she returns dressed in nothing more than an O-ring choker, a strappy, full-body leather harness, and a pair of thigh-high boots, Arthur is glad he chose to follow his instincts. Taylor is sin personified, pleasure in a human form, and Arthur’s pants instantly begin to feel entirely too constricting at the sight of her. He’s seen her naked, he’s seen her suited up and armed to the teeth, and he’s seen her in everything in between. While Taylor is drop-dead gorgeous and sexy in all of those cases, this just might take the cake.
Her movements are deliberately silky-smooth and fluid, drawing him in. Hips swaying from side to side, Taylor settles herself in his lap and smiles seductively, teeth sinking into her plush bottom lip as she loops her arms around his neck, her fingers brushing across the cropped hair on the back of his head. While simplistic, the makeup she’s applied makes her features all the more sharp and alluring, only serving to strengthen his need to absolutely ravish her.
“Happy birthday, baby,” Taylor coos, a smoky undertone to her voice as she leans in close. There’s a heady and intoxicating floral scent that clings to her smooth, creamy skin, wrapping around the two of them and making Arthur’s head spin. It’s certainly not the first time she’s worn perfume around him, but it riles him up nonetheless. She knows it, too, if the satisfied smirk on her lips is anything to go by.
Pliant and warm, she’s a pleasant weight on top of him that Arthur can’t help but hold onto with a death grip in a desperate bid to maintain his sanity. The sound velvety sweet, the sentinel laughs at the feel of his hands gliding up her thighs, over the thin leather bands circling her flesh, then to her waist. Flipping her hair to one side, she kisses him on the cheek as a reward, no doubt leaving a ruby-red mark the shape of her lips on his skin.
Groaning, Arthur cranes his head down to mouth at the pale column of Taylor’s neck, drawing out a breathy moan from the back of her throat and causing her to grind down against him in response. Delicious friction sparks where their bodies meet, Arthur barely fighting off the urge to buck his hips and growing erection into the warmth between her legs.
“This is quite the surprise,” he mumbles against her, his voice an octave deeper than usual and taking on a raspy quality. She tastes absolutely delectable, and Arthur can’t get enough. “How long have you been planning this for?”
“Mm, a couple of—ah!—couple of weeks,” she replies between moans, her head tilting back to allow him greater access. Arthur nips at her pulse before lathing it with his tongue, smirking at the whimper that escapes Taylor’s mouth. “Do you know how h-hard it was to find this? I had to go to five—mm—sex shops before managing to strike gold.”
“So that’s where you’ve been instead of warming my bed at night.” A hum rumbles up from within his chest. “While your presence was greatly missed, I’m pleased with the results of your mission.”
“Yeah? Then why don’t you show mm-me how much you like it?”
Oh, what a dangerous thing to say, Arthur muses. Honestly, the devious little minx should know better. The last time Taylor goaded him like this, he made sure to fuck her so thoroughly that she walked with a limp for the next three days.
He looks forward to making tonight a repeat of that one.
With a throaty growl, Arthur’s hands abandon their position on Taylor’s hips, one traveling upward to cup a full, perky breast while the other greedily grabs a handful of her shapely rear. Squeaking at the change of pace, a trail of goosebumps erupts along her heated flesh in the wake of his touch. There’s a sharp intake of air above him as he rolls a pert nipple between his thumb and forefinger, the sound dissolving into a loud moan when he roughly pinches the tight bud.
Lifting his head, Arthur meets her hooded gaze as his face splits into a wicked grin. “Don’t you worry, my dear. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be lucky to have a single coherent thought.”
Surging forward, Taylor covers his mouth with hers in a passionate kiss, using her tongue to tease his bottom lip. “Good, because we’re just getting started.”