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The world was black, white and gray.
At least to Danse
He's never seen color in his life, complete color blindness, that's how it's always been.
It's hard living in the wasteland, harder surprisingly if you can't see colors- but Danse was alive as ever, although there where opportunities he couldn't take, like he couldn't join the botherhood, no one wants a color blind soldier.
But at least he's going somewhere new, the commonwealth- his friend, Cutler had told him to see the world before he had passed away and Danse promised Cutler and himself he would.
He was looking forward to it, but his arrival was tainted by the godawful headache he suddenly got, nothing seemed to help either, thankfully it went away the next day and he thought nothing of it.
Until he saw something that stood out against the blacks, whites and greys.
It was vibrant and bright- a flower, a rose.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Cutler tried his best to describe colors to Danse, but it proved to be hard, Danse couldn't tell what color it was, but it was beautiful and he couldn't believe he was seeing colors- even if it was just the one.
Pink.
That's what he saw.
Danse was beyond happy, he had no idea what he had been missing until this one color started to show up everywhere.
Though he was puzzled why he was only seeing this one color.
-----
Nick had been having a nice, normal day off when his vision cut from wonderful colors, to black and white, like he was in those noir detective flims.
He was glad he wasn't working, because this sudden change through him for a loop and even made him startle.
What the hell?
Guess he has to make his way to Goodneighbor to see Dr. Amari...
~~~~
"That's peculiar..." Dr. Amari comments.
"What? What is it doc?" Nick asks nervously.
"Well nothing is out of place, and nothing in need of replacement or repair." She informs.
"So I'm not sure why you are seeing in greyscale."
"Unless..." She considers, and then shakes her head. "No, that's probably not possible."
"Care to share what's on your mind, Amari?" Nick prompted.
"Well, I thought maybe you have a soul mate? But I'm not sure since... well..." Amari responded, trailing off.
"Shouldn't I be seeing my supposed soul mate's favorite color then?" Nick states, crossing his arms and cocking a brow.
"Besides, not sure if the universe considers an old synth like me worthy of a destined partner." He rolls his eyes bitterly- he had so many detective cases about missing soul mates, or requests for help finding a soul mate, it made him jealous and cold at the fact he could never have that.
"Nick, I-" Amari starts.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject, but as far as I can see, nothing is wrong, so I don't know if can do anything about this."
"Ah, don't be sorry, I shouldn't have snapped like that, if anything I should be sorry." Nick shrugs.
"Guess I'll just have to get used to it."
------
Goodneighbor is certainly interesting, but at the very least welcoming?
What's more important is the doctor that's here, Danse heard that she was an especially good one, and he wanted to get to the bottom of this.
"So you've been color blind your whole life?" Dr. Amari asks.
"Yes." Danse nods.
"And since your arrival here, you have been seeing the color pink?" She questioned.
"Exactly." Danse confirmed.
"You never saw color once? Not even in your childhood?" Dr. Amari inquires.
"I- uh..."
Danse never thought anything of it, but when he tried to think of it, he didn't remember anything about his youth, not even parents or childhood friends, nothing, no one.
It always made him feel weird and uncomfortable, like something was missing.
"I don't remember my youth..." He mumbles, embarrassed- yes he knew people suffered with all sorts of problems in the wasteland, but this always made him feel like a outcast.
"I see..."
"Hmmmm" Dr. Amari hums, a mysterious grin forming on her face.
"I know, go see Nick Valentine in Dimond City, he's a detective and he's helped plenty of people find their soul mates." She suggests.
"W-what?" Danse asks softly.
Having a soul mate was the last possibility Danse had in mind, he didn't remember picking out a favorite color when he was six, like Cutler had told him- he doesn't remember getting a headache and seeing the favorite color of his-
...
The headache when he arrived
The sudden pink.
He-
HE HAD A SOUL MATE!
To say he was excited was an understatement.
Onwards to Diamond City then!
----
It was bizzar to Nick, not only the color shift, but what Amari had suggested- him? Having a soul mate? Never in a million years! Even if he did, he'd pitty the poor person destined to him, one look and they'd be creeped out, disinterested, disgusted or something like that, he was sure of it...
He just old and falling apart- never mind what Dr. Amari said, (who's never been wrong or lied to Nick in her life) she has to be wrong!
He paced around in the office as he mauled things over, his thoughts building and spiraling-
"Excuse me?"
"We're-" Nick was going to say 'We're closed.'- but the second he made eye contact with the stranger, the world faded into color again.
------
Danse's heart was racing in his chest, a soul mate! He had a soul mate!
He was simply ecstatic!
Because of his missing memories, he thought for sure he didn't have one.
But here he is, in Dimond City, staring at the hot pink neon signs.
Was-
Was this mysterious detective his soul mate?
Only one way to find out.
He knocked on the door, but there was no answer- he tries the door and it opens, he slowly let's himself in and calls out.
"Excuse me?"
"We're-" The stranger turned around and the whole world froze.
A synth, gen 2 to be specific- he's definitely been around in the wasteland for a while, and guessing by the outfit he's wearing he's also the detective, and when Danse looked at him, color bloomed into his vision and he couldn't help but smile, it was brilliant and bright and a little overwhelming, but he had found his soul mate, he felt lucky to find him so quickly.
"...Hi." Danse was first to break the stunned silence.
"I- uh...hey." The synth seemed to in awe.
"You must be pretty surprised..." He said.
"I am, but I'm happy to meet you, I'm Danse."
"You- I- What?" The synth sputters.
"Why?" He asks.
"What do you mean why? I just found my soul mate, why wouldn't I be happy?" Danse responded.
"Because I'm an old synth?"
"That doesn't matter to me, you're my soul mate! I can see colors now, thanks to you." Danse says.
"I've been seeing pink since I got to the commonwealth, and I've been trying to see more, I didn't even think I had a soul mate until a doctor told me otherwise."
"I didn't even know what pink was until a few weeks ago." He admitted.
"What?"
"I uh don't remember picking out a favorite color... or seeing any for that matter." Danse explains.
"Huh, I see."
"Oh, right, I'm Nick, Nick Valentine." He introduced.
"It's nice to meet you." Nick adds.
Danse smiled at that and stepped closer to Nick, offering his hand.
Nick's eyes flickered and he looked shocked for a brief moment, but he put his hand and Danse's and Danse felt like a spark passed between them, he noticed Nick's other hand was skeletal and metal, and he immediately decided that he didn't mind and gently held Nick's other hand aswell- and suddenly Nick's lips where on his.
Danse was quickly leaning in, reciprocating, he couldn't help but smile into the kiss.
"I think..." Nick says, pulling away a little.
"The universe chose well." He wraps his arms around Danse, the other returns the embrace.
"I wholeheartedly agree." Danse nods softly, kissing Nick again.
...Kissing his soul mate.