By telling a little story.

This brought Desmond to reminisce for a second, before responding with a dim smile, “I… I was thirty-eight when the bombs dropped. We got packed into the ol’ Veteran Vault a year before, a sad, metal box in the ground, stock full of countless relics of wars long past, all waiting for some change…” As he stopped, he felt the hand of the woman beside him, as he continued, “We got the change, alright. When the bombs fell, the Vault staff led us to Cryo-pods, and that’s when all those people I mentioned earlier died… All the other pods were crushed beyond repair, but mine… Mine was perfectly fine. Or so I thought. But while it did expose me to radiation, I guess it's a good thing, in the end. I’m still alive, and I’m stronger than ever…”

“That’s good, Desmond. At least one of us didn’t get utterly screwed.” A sly chuckle was let loose from her mouth, as she finally introduced herself, “My name is Evelynn Stars… It REALLY is good to meet you, dear Desmond.” As she said this, she laid her head against his shoulder, as she closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

Apparently, she was quite comfortable with him. This perplexed Desmond, as even though he had saved her, she didn’t REALLY know him. But, he would protect her. So… Maybe she did know him.

Well, regardless, Desmond rose from his spot, as he pulled a blanket from his pack, covering her with it, before beginning an all night lookout.

…

Eleven hours had passed, as Evelynn apparently very much needed a rest, before she rose from her spot, rubbing the sleep away from her eyes, she called out for him, “Desmond! Are you there?”

Desmond responded immediately after, to dissuade any fear, “Yep. I’m right here, don’t worry.” He grabbed her hand, as she calmed down.

“That’s good.” She said nothing else, only pulling him by the arm to fall beside her, just holding him tightly.

Desmond was utterly perturbed, but he didn’t deny her advances, as he just laid beside her, handing her some Fancy Lads snack cakes for breakfast.

‘The most healthy choice, of course.’ Desmond laughed to himself, thinking about all the radiation and even the mad gunner from before, remarking, “Nothing’s healthy anymore…”

As he shoveled his face with the very same snack cakes, though, for some odd reason, it didn’t quite quench his hunger, as his now, significantly more toothy maw was pooling with saliva, as a particular scent was stuck in his now, somehow, scaly snout, as a puff of smoke suddenly blew forth, as Desmond tossed a lit cigarette to the side.

He could tell where the scent was coming from. And that troubled him. The scent was coming from Evelynn, as he suddenly was assaulted by another scent, as Big Red came into view, a hefty cow within his jaws, and as he saw Desmond’s salivating maw, he tore the hind leg from the cow, and carried it over to him, laying it before him, and nudging him slightly.

Desmond shakily grabbed the leg, raw as it was, and he took a bite, tearing the tough flesh from the bones with shockingly sharp teeth, as it lacerated the flesh with ease, before he swallowed it down, with remarkably little hesitance.

“What am I?” As Desmond asked himself this introspective question, Evelynn interrupted his thoughts with a surprisingly endearing response.

“You’re my friend, Desmond… And, maybe more… One day.” Her words trailed off towards the end, to near indecipherable levels, but Desmond could hear it.

“But I thought I was an old fart? Like seventy? How could I be more?”

Desmond was half joking as he asked, but she looked him straight in the eyes, all earlier fear and apprehension gone, as she spoke, “Well, I’m 28 now. And you said you were frozen for most of it, so you’re not THAT much older than me. And besides, who else would pick me…” Her words once again trailed off, as she spoke up a second later, before Desmond could correct her, “Or… Do you not like…” As she went to continue that sentence, Desmond shushed her, before drawing his pistol and shooting down a raider.

Desmond then looked at her, “I… I would love to be more with you. But… That’ll have to wait for now, we gotta run.” And then Desmond picked her up with ease, as he started rushing away, as a heavy raining of gunfire came soon after, as Desmond was grazed by one shot in particular, in his arm.

But this didn’t impede Desmond’s speed, as he was sprinting through the barren plains at higher than highway speeds, making his was further and further from his followers. And as a little kick, Desmond heard a loud growling behind him, as Big Red was mauling a few of them, and most assuredly eating them after.

Desmond didn’t worry for Big red, as the immense, irradiated tiger had already tanked gunfire from far stronger guns than what his pursuers had access to, as even grenades would hardly char his fur.

Knowing full well that Big Red could probably tank actual TANK fire, he was much stronger than Desmond himself, and a much better hunter, as the sound from behind completely stopped.

And seconds later, Big Red came from the brush with a meaty leg for him, but Desmond said he could have it, and Big Red wasn’t one to deny food.

So, without any further obstruction, Desmond carried Evelynn through the Illinois Bomb-Pits, followed by the absurdly immense tiger that was Big Red.