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The smell of ozone caught Sid's attention before they realized what was happening. Looking out to the west over the tops of the casino's neon glow, a storm was brewing; the lightning fighting for prominence over Vegas's perpetual gleam.
Last summer had been dry. A drought had wracked the Mojave, and honestly, Sid had been thankful. They couldn't imagine how long their hunt for Benny would've taken if they had to stop for hours every day to seek shelter from the thunder claps.
Now, with a home to their name, the first storm of the season begain to roll in. The first rain they can remember. It drew Sid like a moth to a flame. They stood at the floor to ceiling window in the Lucky 38's penthouse staring out at the wind whipping clouds into a frenzy, the NCR flag in the distance moving so fast you couldn't make out the two headed bear at all.
Pressing a hand to the window, Sid was surprised to find it cool to the touch, not the usual burning that came from the glass exposed to the beating sun all day. Their mouth opened slightly in wonder as fat raindrops began to smack against the glass and roll down in thick rivulets.
"Woah."
The sound of wheels hit their ears as a securitron rolled up next to them. A familiar voice was asking them a question and Sid shook their head to clear it before turning to look at Mr. House. "What's that?"
"I said: Hello, Sidney. I must say, you've been unusually captivated by whatever you're observing. Care to explain?"
Sid's eyes widened. Somehow they forgot that House knew all, his many eyes on every space in the Lucky 38. "It's raining."
"The meteorological aspect had not escaped me." The sarcasm in his voice is obvious. Sid scoffs and lets their face contort into a mild scowl.
"You asked."
"Curious. I've seen you shrug off assassination attempts with considerably less interest. Yet a rainstorm brings you to a standstill."
Pursing their lips, Sid tries to decide how much they're willing to share this moment with House. Letting out an audible sigh they finally turn their attention from the outside towards their boss instead.
"I can't remember the rain."
Sid turns back towards the window. House is quiet for a moment. The fact doesn't make him emotional, he's pondering.
"That's unfortunate."
"Yeah."
Then they're both silent.
"The human brain has a remarkable tendency to preserve what is useful while sacrificing what it deems expendable."
"Guess rain wasn't important."
"Perhaps it is so common that your mind assumed you would never need to remember it."
Sid feels a tug on dormant emotion and decides to change the topic.
"You ever been in the rain?"
"Not voluntarily and not for the last two hundred and sixty years"
"That sucks."
"Does it?"
"Yeah, kinda sad man."
"If you say so."
Boone enters at that moment, pausing when he sees the two of them standing there in contemplative silence.
"You going out there?"
The responses are simultaneous:
"Fuck yes." "Absolutely not"
Glaring at the robot that contains House Sid grabs their boots from the ledge. "Try and stop me."
Then they're out the door booking it to the elevator.
House and Boone continue to watch through the glass, minutes pass before they see Sid exit the building and just stand.
There's no flinch as the drops touch their skin and they stand in the middle of the strip letting themself get drenched.
House wheels away. "Your partner is an imbecile."
Boone doesn't leave the window and merely grunts in response a rare soft smile on his face.
He gives them time to build this new memory on their own, knowing it pales in comparison to what they've lost. Minutes pass by as he watches them slowly move their limbs, cupping their hands to try and catch some of the falling liquid.
Eventually, he heads downstairs. He stops beneath the canopy of the casino entrance, watching from shelter while the rain blows sideways, misting his face.
He calls out to them. "Worth it?"
They turn back with a grin taking over their face. "Why don't you come and find out?"
Boone shakes his head pointing at the water marks on his beret. "Already did."
Throwing their head back with dark hair sticking to their skin, Sid lets out a laugh. "Not what I meant"
Boone smiles again, small but enough for Sid to see. Slowly he takes his beret off and shoves it in the pockets of his cargo pants.
He steps out from his protected spot and lets the rain wash over him.
Sid reaches out a hand to reach for his. They stand side by side in silence until Sid starts to shiver. Tugging their hand as he turns back to the door, Boone reassures them "You'll remember this one."
Of that Sid had no doubts.