Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I was walking along

Mindin' my business

When out of the orange colored sky

Flash, Bam, Alakazam

Wonderful you came by

Ch. 1: Orange Colored Sky

Lucy MacLean straightened out her blouse as she waited; butterflies fluttering in her belly with excitement and nerves. Chet - her cousin from her mother’s side - pouted as he sat slouched in an old blue waiting chair,occasionally casting Lucy pitiful looks. Beside him, bored and messing with his PipBoy, sat her younger brother Norman. Their father would be along as soon as he could finish up his mayorly duties. 

“Lucy MacLean,” the receptionist - her friend Stephanie - grinned as she nodded eagerly for Lucy to head on into the room where the council for her future sat.

Biting down a squeal, Lucy - as calmly as she could manage - made her way into the room; faded green and white checkered floors and soft yellow walls with two tables facing one another. At one sat three overseers; she’d known them her whole life. Betty, Woody, and Reg… This was the first time they made her a little nervous.

“Have a seat, dear,” Betty - the oldest of the three, softly spoke and Lucy did as instructed, taking a seat in the single chair.

“Now no need to be nervous, young lady,” Woody chuckled, noting Lucy’s bouncing leg; she stopped it instantly.

“Right… Lucy, why do you think you’d make a good candidate for the lottery this year?” Reg chuckled as Lucy shot a sheepish look to Betty about her leg bouncing again.

“I, Lucy MacLean, believe I am a perfect candidate for the lottery this year.  I’m an active contributor to the wellbeing of my community of Shady Sands Ranch,” Lucy began, reciting her speech she’d worked on with Steph for the last month.

“Repair Skills. I enjoy participating in the Young PipeFitters Association, which keeps me active. Science Skills. Obviously mine are nothing compared to my dad’s, but I always relish a challenge. Speech Skills. My primary passion is teaching American History — with a focus on ethics. I also participate in our Gymnastics Club, the Fencing Club, and am active in Intermediate Physical Education, and I dabble in Riflery, though I’m not very good,” Lucy quoted, remembering to try and take breaths like Steph had told her to.

“In my personal time, I enjoy taking walks and watching movies with my dad. I also enjoy gardening with my dad. As well as participating in my family bookclub. We’re still trying to get my brother on board, he’ll come around when he’s ready,” Lucy smiled, thinking of her lackluster brother fondly before continuing on with her speech.

“My reproductive organs are intact, my hygiene well-maintained, and yet... I have been unable to find a suitable marriage partner. At least... one I’m not related to… And we have rules about that for a reason,” Lucy chuckled, making the council members nod along with her logic.

“So, it is with sound mind and body that I hereby submit my application to the Council to participate in this years Triennial Lottery with the neighboring Ranches,” Lucy finished, smiling brightly and feeling sme of her butterflies ease at getting her speech out in the open.

She watched the three councilmen look to one another before Betty - the head council member - nodded… And began typing away at their devices; their Pip-boys pinging before Lucy’s lit up on her arm.

“Lottery Application Approved,” Flashed across her screen; vaultboy thumbs uping her with a big smile.

…

The Lottery wasn’t for another three days. Lucy couldn’t believe how lucky she was. She’d almost run out of the room to Steph in her excitement while Norman frowned at how loud they were and Chet looked even more miserable before he was called in for his turn to present for the lottery.

“I’m sooo excited for you, Luce… I can’t wait for us to raise our babies together,” Steph gushed, hand going over her pregnant belly.

“I don’t see what’s to be excited about. It seems nerve-racking to me. Your husband could be anybody,” Norm pipped up. Lucy smiled at her brother as she glanced back at him.

“We’re aware,” Lucy replied as she saw Steph shake her head out of the corner of her eye.

“And as for his looks…?” Norma tried, wheedling and making Lucy finally laugh.

“Who knows?” Lucy shrugged, not going to play into Norm’s teasing.

“Big butt,no butt…But of course, those are just superficial concerns, of course. It’s “what’s on the inside” that counts,” Norm hummed, jumping as a voice cut in firmly.

“That’s absolutely right,” Hank MacLean - dressed from work and giving Norm and intimidating and “cut it out” look. But of course, Norm was always one to push the boundary of their father’s patience.

“Of course, in that respect he could be a cannibal, or just like crammed full of tumors—,” Norm pushed, grunting as Lucy slapped at him and flinching as Hank’s voice cut in.

“That’s enough, Norman,” he ordered, no room for debate. A tone that made Norman deflate as Steph giggled into her hand and Lucy shot her brother an amused look as the council room door opened and out stepped Chet… Who shot Lucy a kicked puppy look as he showed his Pip-boy sporting an approval message.

“Chet! This is a good thing,” Lucy grinned, trying to catch her cousin’s eyes.

“Lucy, I love you, though…” Chet began and Lucy’s grin went soft as she took his hand gently.

“We all know that, Chet. Messing around with your cousin, it’s all well and good for kids, but it’s not a sustainable long-term sexual practice. You know?” Lucy hummed, patting his hand as he looked at her with resignation.

“Yeah, I know,” he sighed deeply before Steph was motioning him over to congratulate him as Lucy went to her father and hugged him tightly.

“I’m proud of you, sweetie… You’ll make a great bride to a lucky man. Don’t pay your brother’s teasing any mind,” Hank murmured into her hair as Lucy smiled.

It was at events like this that she wished her mother was here. That she’d survived the wheat plague of 2277 and could be here with her and Norm to celebrate… Maybe she could’ve gotten into Norm better than her dad about his lack of enthusiasm and negative attitude. Maybe her dad would smile more.

“Come on. Lets celebrate with some jello cake and a movie. Your choice,” Hank offered, meeting Lucy’s eyes and smiling warmly at her. Lucy’s heart warmed at the offer, knowing her dad knew exactly how to celebrate and make her feel at ease.

“Under the Covers?” Lucy asked and Norman groaned as they waved bye to Chet and Stephanie before heading for their home on the ranch.

“Not another Cooper Howard night… Can I pass?” Norm asked, giving Lucy and their dad a pleading look. Lucy pouted at her brother, who sighed deeply and muttered about “fan girl” and “we’ve seen it a million times already” as he relented under her gaze and shuffled along home with them.

“Can’t go wrong with a classic, son,” Hank chuckled, patting Norm on the shoulder as Lucy smiled and tried not to feel giddy. Today was perfect.

…

In the outskirts of town, gathered in a graveyard made into the nuclear swamps of what was once California, a group of men and women what were once men and women sat atop tombstones and horses, laughing loudly and with rancor. Today they buried one of their own; the fool going feral and not letting anyone know… Anthony given up.

“Rest in Peace ya old fuck,” Biggie - one of the lower men of the group - slurred before chugging down more of his whiskey as a few men cheered in agreement. They all began to speak above one another as multiple conversations commenced.

Over by an old coffin - Anthony’s coffin - sat three figures away from the rustle and bustle of the group. Leaning on a shovel and watching with little to no emotion was a ghoul of average height. His face was melted and scared and he was missing an eye; the skin growing over it almost grotesquely so.

“Sirius, you moody bastard! Join in the celebration!” One of the girls - a human with a pixie cut - called over to the one eyed ghoul. He simply shook his head and looked away and ignored her cat calls and teasing.

“Where’s my invite, Lux?” a southern voice cut in, earning a smack from the woman beside him as the pixie cut - Lux - laughed and winked his way before going back to chatting with the group she was circled in.

“John Hancock I will cut off your dick if you even try,” the girl - fiery red hair appropriate for her name; Fahrenheit - hissed at the colonel dressed ghoul as he smiled “innocently” at her.

“Now you know I would’ve dragged you along too, love,” he promised in a southern coo as the two shared a look. One that spoke of many things that only they could hear.

“They best get all this energy out before the job in two days,” Sirius mused as he leaned the shovel on a nearby blackened and dead tree, glancing at the man at the head of their makeshift triangle of troublemakers.

His face was shaded in shadows but all around them knew what he was and who he was. He was the oldest of the gang now that Anthony was no longer with them; he’d been the one to put the bullet in the old ghoul’s head.

The Ghoul - known by his real name to only the small handful around him - took a hit of chems before tipping his hat back; amber eyes almost glowing in the moonlight as he looked at the grave and with a solid kick, sent it sliding across the sludge and mud and into the grave, loudly.

Everyone went quiet, tensing and turning to look at him. Waiting for him to speak. No one interrupted The Ghoul, their leader, unless they wanted a bullet in their brains.

“We’re heading out,” he ordered, making a “pack it up” gesture with two fingers twisting in the air as he turned and walked over to a ghoulish horse-like beast; Sleipnir, a creature that was a mutation of two horses melted together to make one. The fall creating their grotesque ancestors and nature developed them as they are now.

With ease The Ghoul mounted the Sleipnir and faced it west before taking off, a few dogs that had been sniffing around followed after him as the rest of the gang whooped and hollered as they took off running or mounted their own beast and took off as Sirius took his time. He’d catch up later after he finished burying Anthony. It was the least he could do and he’d been ordered by The Ghoul to finish it.

Pulling out a pack of cigarettes, Sirius grabbed one and quickly lit it, blowing smoke as he shook his head down at the coffin; the drop shaking it loose enough to see Anthony’s hand hanging out.

“Poor old bastard,” he grumbled before getting to work covering the grave. 

Chapter Text

To the town of Agua Fria
Rode a stranger one fine day
Hardly spoke to folks around him
Didn't have too much to say
No one dared to ask his business
No one dared to make a slip
The stranger there among them
Had a big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

—---------------

Ch. 2: Big Iron

Shady Sands Ranch was decorated like the days of the old Fourth of July festivals. There were blue and gold ribbons, balloons, and streamers everywhere. Rows of tables with pristine white cloths covering them. A table full of food reserved for the special occasion that was the Triennial Lottery.

Lucy and another girl - Molly Spencer - stood side by side and faced a large wall mirror, admiring their chosen “Wedding dress”. Molly had gone for a bit of fun by wearing a blue and gold dress for her picking.

Lucy - always looking fondly over her parents' picture from their lottery win - had chosen the white, silk dress and white boots; just like her mother had years ago. The dress had even been worn by her mother back then. It fit Lucy a little snug but all the ladies helping get them ready had assured her that it wouldn't be on for long after the lottery reception.

“On my wedding night, that dress got off almost as fast as Bert did,” Steph laughed as she fixed up Molly’s hair, the girl quiet but listening as Lucy grinned, excitement bubbling in her belly with the nervous butterflies.

“It’s all so exciting, right Molly? Especially after ten years of cousin stuff, I’m ready for the real thing,” Lucy gushed, making Molly nod in understanding as she put on lipstick.

“I’ll be happy to have something besides my hand,” she replied shyly, making all the other women laugh and coo over how cute she was. Lucy and Molly were a few years apart in age but Molly hadn’t fooled around with anyone because she didn’t want to step between Lucy and Chet. Lucy knew about hand fumbling but felt a little selfish that Molly hadn’t had anyone because of her and Chet’s “commitment” to each other, as Chet had pointed out. 

“Alright, ladies. Lets get going,” Betty ushered, helping finish putting Lucy’s necklace on as Molly nervously grabbed Lucy’s hand for support as the two girls smiled at one another before getting up to leave the room and step out of the building to the center of the ranch where everything was getting set up by the corn and wheat fields.

“Dad!” Lucy called out, beaming at her father as he spread his arms out and reached out to pull her in to a hug, Molly’s parents rushing over to hug and fuss over her as well.

“My little sugarbomb,” he sighs as he steps back to really look at her. There’s a pride and sadness in his eyes. She’s sure he’s thinking of her mother like herself.

“Gosh, you look just like your mother,” Hank sighs, brushing her hair ;lovingly from her face as Lucy leans into her dad.

“Yeah… I wish she could be here, you know?” Lucy asks, trying not to tear up as she sees her dad tearing up. She never could keep it together if her father - a strong man like no one else she’d ever met - would tear up or speak of her mother.

“Yeah. I wish she was here,” Lucy whispered sadly, trying not to let her dad see the pain those words held. A wedding was supposed to be a happy occasion and she couldn’t go being all sad and mopey…

“Me too, Luce… Me too,” Hank answered honestly, kissing her forehead and hugging her once more before taking her arm. He called out to Norm and the three of them made for the stage set up last night for the lottery; a quick put together thing used over the last two hundred years of wedding services and lottery introductions.

Behind the stage is one of the three gates stationed around the Ranch. The door is open and Lucy feels her stomach flip as she realizes her new husband is coming from Filly Ranch; the title of the ranch being written over the doorway in big yellow letters. 

The same ranch Steph’s husband, Bert, had come from years earlier.

Lucy found Steph in the crowd and grinned at her as Steph golf clapped at her and gave a big thumbs up her way. She also seemed excited by this news. The chosen door was never announced until the day of the lottery. It was always meant to be a surprise and to say she was surprise was an understatement.

Her mother had been from Griffith Ranch and a part of Lucy had thought she’d like a husband from there… But with her mother being from there it made sense to not risk mixing genetics for Lucy. She was pretty sure Molly’s father was also from Griffith… So it was logical to pick Filly.

Lucy took a deep breath and went to sit with Chet, an older male named Freddie, and Molly. Two females and two males for exchange of seeds, foods, and material. As was custom for the lottery and breeding exchange.

…

A speech was made by Betty that had been very inspiring and thoughtful, congratulating all four of the candidates and acknowledging each of their forthgivings and how lucky Filly would be to have such fine wives and husbands.

Molly’s parents - Donnie and Susan Spencer - had been given a chance to give a little speech about Molly that had the young woman crying and hiding her face in embarrassment as they shared a rather funny story about Molly learning to walk and a piece of bread that had everyone cooing at the poor young woman.

Chet’s father - her uncle Ash - had cried and shared how Chet’s mother - her aunt Rita - would’ve been so proud of him and how he can’t wait to see him become the man his future wife needs and give him grandkids; much to Chet’s blushing and nervous groans.

Freddie didn’t have any parents, having been found outside the Ranch years ago as a kid who lost his parents to the horrors of the outside. Instead, the council stepped up and Betty gave him a speech that had Freddie crying and smiling in gratitude.

When it was her dad’s turn, Lucy hadn’t expected him to give one. He was the mayor and couldn’t go showing favoritism to even his own kids on their special days. Something Norman had always grumbled and muttered over the last few years.

“I’m not going to stand up here and give a long speech. I know most find me a little winded anyway,” Hank began, earning a few chuckles from the crowd. “But I have to congratulate all of these candidates and their dedication towards our future… I especially want to give a loving nod and congrats to my Lucy. Her mother would be so proud of her as I am… I love you sweetie and I will always be here for you if that husband of yours gives you any trouble.”

Everyone clapped and Lucy felt herself crying, hoping her makeup wasn’t smudging as she clapped along with everyone else. Molly and Chet and Freddie each pat her on the back in comfort as they all smiled at her.

“Now… Lets open that gate and welcome Filly, shale we?” Hank asked, earning cheers as he turned to the door where two guards stood. He made a motion and the guards didn’t need to be told twice as they pulled the power switch and the big gate began to swing outward.

“Now ain't this a nice little shindig?”

Lucy had barely a chance to react before a loud bang rang out and one of the guards - who had approached to greet the newcomers - dropped to the ground with a horrible thud, a bullet in his head.

Everyone began to scream and scatter about as Lucy jumped to her feet with Molly, Freddie, and Chet as a crowd of men and women suddenly charged through the gate. Some on foot and some riding strange creatures as they began to attack.

…

It’s chaos everywhere as Lucy jumps into action. She doesn’t have a weapon or anything but she knows she has to try and help. Stepping towards a man that stabs Steph in the eye, she grabs a personal box of Dandy Boy Apples, Lucy chucks the box at the man’s head to get his attention as he reals back to kick at Steph’s exposed, pregnant belly.

Angered, the man rushes her, grabbing and slamming her down onto the ground. Lucy struggles, grappling with him until she's back on her feet. Finding her balance quickly, she throws out a punch. The man catches her fist and grabs her by the back of the neck and moves her body easily before he slams her face into one of the pretty cloth covered tables before hurling her across the grounds. Her back slamming into a bench that falls on her unceremoniously. Lucy fumbled to push the bench off her as the man grabbed a long knife from the buffet table; the cake knife.

“Stupid little bitch,” he sneers as he bears down on her, hundred more pounds than her own heavy and intimidating. Lucy’s arm slashes out and she’s able to hit him in the groin with her Pip-boy and wind him enough that she’s able to try and scramble away from his grip.

She barely gets a few good steps before he easily catches her by arm and throws her like a rag doll onto one of the tables. Thinking quickly, she grapples with him and is able to slam his head against it and disarm him; now she is the one with the knife.

Storming towards her, the man throws the table aside, approaching her with purse rage on his almost handsome face. Lucy swipes at him with the knife, drawing blood. He sneers and obviously has had enough as he wrestles with her, tossing her onto the buffet table and sending food everywhere.

She’s barely able to react before she realizes the knife is gone and- A pain like she’s never felt before hits her as she gasps and begins to shake. The knife sticks out of her gut and she gasps for air as she struggles to push it out as he shoves it in deeper.

Lucy’s blood seeps crimson and stark through the white of her wedding gown. She tries to grab it again before the man grabs her throat, choking the life out of her. The world blackening at the edges as she scratches at his hands, trying to get free-

Then a loud bang rings out across the Ranch, startling both of them. As the man looks away, his grip slackens just enough that she’s able to reach out and grab a glass bowl of mashed potatoes and smashes it upside his head, shattering it in her hand and making him release her as he staggers back.

Lucy gasps for air before she’s swinging, slashing and.slicing the other side of his face. Blood splatters the cool green grass as he staggers about before finally collapsing.

Lucy gets to her feet, shaking in pain as chaos reigns around her. People running and screaming, throats being slashed, women being dragged off… Her picture perfect day shattering with ever blood curdling scream.

“Lucy!” Chet’s voice cuts through the ringing in her ears and over the sirens going off to alert the other ranches and anyone alive of danger in their own ranch. They were warbled sounding from years of never needing to be used; even when Raiders had attacked her home as a kid, it had been handled pretty quickly and without sirens needed.

“Oh God, Lucy, here!” Chet cried out, reaching her with Molly at his side as the two looked at her in horror. Lucy looked down at Chet’s hand hand and grabbed the auto-injector syringe he was holding. Without hesitation Lucy slammed the syringe into her wound with a whimper. 

“My dad… Norman… I have to-” Lucy began, only to jump as Chet was tackled and Molly was grabbed by a dirty looking woman with very short hair.

“Now why don’t you put that needle down, sweetheart and turn around real slow like,” a deep southern voice drawled as Lucy felt the cold, hard head of a barrel of a gun pressed against the back of her head.

Slowly, Lucy gripped the syringe before looking at Chet and Molly and deciding it wasn’t worth it to get them hurt too. With a shaky sigh, Lucy let the syringe roll from her fingers as she slowly turned to face a gun pointed at her face.

At the end of the gun was… A ghoul? Lucy had never seen a Ghoul before but had heard about them from her father and the other council members… Actually, now that she was paying attention… Many of the attackers were also Ghouls.

“Hands up where I can see them, Ranch head,” he ordered, grinning menacingly at her. Lucy complied, frowning at him as he taped the gun against his head and chuckled at her.

“Well I’ll be damned… You’re Hank’s kid, aint cha sweetheart?” he asked and Lucy was taken aback.

This ghoul knew her father?