Chapter Text
“And… on!” Levi smiled, eyes shining in triumph. They place out a hand, waving. “That’ll be twenty dollars.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes, and handed over the bill with a shake of her head. “Jeez. How is that thing still alive?”
“Through love, care and affection.” Levi turned the camera around, pointing at Dogmeat. “Hey, Duggy, you agree with me, right?”
Dogmeat smirked. “If “love, care, and affection” means bringing that camera everywhere, losing it every other corner and getting it soaked in bubbles yesterday even though it’s probably older than my gran, then yes, I agree with you.”
“Thank you.” Levi picked up the mop in the corner. Why it was made of steel, they never knew.
Hey, working for Baeltech gave them the best supplies any cleaner could have in the whole country. Maybe even the whole world. Surplus was awesome.
Steph helped zip up Nicky's yellow suit. Nicky hummed peacefully as she took care of her Tamagotchi.
“Someone remind me why we wear these hideous yellow suits when other colors are available?” Steph said for the fiftieth time this week, and the thousandth time since they started their jobs. It was a constant. Levi liked constants.
“Yellow is iconic. Other than that… dunno.” Dogmeat filled up their cleaning bottles. “What color would you pick?”
“Purple.” Steph said immediately.
Nicky looked up shyly, and whispery said, “Pink would be nice color.”
“Or green.” Dogmeat looked at Levi. “you’re going to say you don’t mind the color.”
“Yeah, so? Why do I have to pick a color?” Levi shrugged, fitting on their Id card. The others usually pocket it. “I don’t really care.”
“Hup, hup, hup, guys! Do I have to do this every day?” Their manager walks in their locker, as she usually did. They never could remember her name. Levi’s sure one of the group does know, but keeps it secret. “Shift starts at 9 sharp! It’s 9:05 already! Get out of here and clean!”
“Alright, alright, lady.” Dogmeat fits on the helmet. “We be going.”
They filed out, Steph pushing the trolley, and Nicky fitting inside the garbage can. It’s usually spick-and-span clean, and she like sitting in there comfortably.
They head towards Area B, the hallway lighting up with their laughter. The scientists and employees shook their head as they passed, but they do that all the time.
They worked together seamlessly, maybe a bit chaotically. Sure, having a sort of slip-n-slide to mop the floors is quite unconventional ways of cleaning, but the floors were usually the shiniest when they finished. That’s probably why they haven’t been fired yet.
Levi smiled as they watched dogmeat slam into a wall and pump a fist into the air. This didn’t feel like a job. It felt like hanging out with friends every day, and they got to make money out of it! Sure, they were only janitors, but honestly, this was the best job in the world.
“how’s Oink going?” Levi nudged Nicky, who was immersed in her little digital companion. Oink was a small alien pig, with small antennae poking out of it’s head and bobbing as Oink walked.
Nicky beamed and showed Levi the stats. She doesn’t talk much, but Levi didn’t mind. She was very expressive, and quite peaceful when they needed a level head.
“Okay, let’s finish up and move on to the next room. I think some guy made a spill there. Make sure your hoods are properly sealed before you go in.” Steph called out, then sent a pointed look at dogmeat. “I’m looking at you, Duggy.”
“Hey, it wasn’t bad last time!” Duggy looked to the side, desperately grinning wide that teeth showed.
“You were hospitalized for two weeks!”
“That… wasn’t bad.”
“You begged us to kill you behind the doctor’s back because the pain was terrible. And you were already on anesthetics!”
“Fine, fine, point taken.” Duggy makes a show of zipping up the hood even more.
Steph wrinkles her nose and walks over. Then she properly zips up Dogmeat’s hood.
“Okay. Now, let’s go.” Steph grabs the back of Dogmeat’s collar and drags Duggy along with her.
Levi smiled a bit wider, pushing the cart as little beeps came from Nicky’s Tamagotchi, as they heard Dogmeat’s familiar mumble of complaints, like It’s too stuffy, I belong to the fresh air, free me. And how Dogmeat shut up immediately as Steph sent a glare.
Levi liked constants.