Chapter Text
It was meant to be a relatively straightforward job, locate where a legendary alien artifact was currently being held and sell it for a hefty sum on the black market. Of course, tracking down your targets was always the easy part. It didn't matter how well hidden your quarry was, you were notorious for always finding them in the end. So confident you were in your own abilities that you once took a bet with some bandit at a filthy Pandora bar that you couldn’t locate a random penny he had in his pocket as he chucked it out into The Dusts with all his might. He and his buddies initially laughed as you got to work but when you came back no less than 10 minutes later and slammed that exact coin down on the counter that sure had shut them up for the rest of the night.
But for now, you had your eyes set on an ill-famed mobster leader on the planet Isolus. Lucky Lucy, was infamous around these parts for her sweet demeanor and soft face but was rather well known for being ruthless in her tactics as she influenced the local politicians and law enforcements to do her bidding. With that much power under her finger tips, she could often be seen flaunting her wealth and status which swiftly led you to finding out that she possessed the artifact you sought.
Scouting from a nearby rooftop, you were surveying her known base of operations for the third night in a row. The building on the outside was fairly inconspicuous, resembling a high-class business skyscraper similar to those around it but you had good information it was all just a front as you silently observed the small rush of employees that were currently exiting the premises. Checking the time, it was clear that the major shift change of the evening was currently under way and that soon there would be minimal employees remaining in the building while you executed your heist. Taking out your ECHO Unit, you entered a few inputs as the device began to project a blue holographic display of the building’s blueprints. A red dot on the lower floors signaled your entry point as it began to trace its way through the building up to the treasury where the artifact was currently on display. As the simulation plays out one last time before your mission, you hear the man beside you give out an exaggerated yawn.
Your eye twitched in annoyance as you transfixed your gaze on him. “Are you even paying attention?”
With his arms folded behind his head, he was leaning back against the roof's railing as he stared up into the cloudy night sky. His casual relaxed demeanor only annoyed you further but when you quickly caught yourself studying how the soft under glow of the city illuminated his broad shoulders you swiftly pulled your gaze back to your ECHO.
“Looks like it might rain soon.”
“Oh for the love of- We are about to head in and you're busy thinking about the weather? Do you even know the plan?”
“Of course I do, it’s the same as always. You get us to the target and I take care of the trouble. Nothing we can’t handle.“
A soft sigh past your lips, it was true that you and him have worked on countless missions together so far like this. From infiltrating sleazy corporation facilities to ransacking troublesome bandit hideouts, you had built up a fairly flawless partnership that made you an unstoppable duo. With your expertise in smuggling and tracking, you were no stranger to violence. It was a helpful tool to get the information you wanted but seeing as you rather not get your hands dirty if at all possible, that was where your partner really shined. As a skilled assassin by trade, you were memorized when you first saw him in a fire fight. The grace in his movements followed by the brutality of his kills was something you would never get tired of seeing. A delicate balance between artistry and chaos that seemed to create a swirling vortex that swept you up into his madness. When the dust finally settled and there were nothing but lifeless bodies laying all around, you could already hear the smug expression on his face as he holstered his gun.
“Hoo! Still got it. How did I look? Just kiddin'! I know I looked fantastic.”
Something about his overbearing charm had you instantly hooked and irritated all at the same time. While his wild antics and care-free attitude did bring some entertaining elements to your partnership, it was always hard to keep him focused on the task at hand.
“I wish you would take a job seriously for once.”
“But that’s what I have you for, love,” he gave you a sly wink as stretched. ”We already got everything set in place and I trust yah to let me know when things turn belly up. So what are we waiting around for? I look better in motion. Let's move!”
Pushing off the railing, he stepped past you as shook your head and you holstered your ECHO Unit. There was no use arguing with the man with how stubborn he could be as he excelled at deflecting and derailing conversations. For a moment, you thought that maybe you were about to hear yet another one of his infamous monologues about some job (as he liked to refer to them as) that he had done before joining you, but instead was pleasantly surprised when he silently made his way to the roof’s exit with you in tow.
--
Thanks to your gathered intel, entering the headquarters undetected was essentially a breeze and it wasn’t long till you found yourself in front of the treasury’s barricaded doors. The few sparse guards stationed outside were none the wiser as they were systematically taken out one by one without causing a disturbance. With the coast now cleared, you left the clean up to your partner as you swiftly located a security console and connected in with your ECHO Unit. The system itself was a fairly standard upmarket issue as you swiftly isolated the entire floor from the network, disabling any cameras or sensors that would likely set off an alarm from your presence. Right as your display indicated that the final override was complete, a loud bang startled you as you looked over to see your partner leaning with his full weight against a maintenance hatch as he valiantly struggled to shut the door. The limb bodies on the other side threatened to spill out of the confined space in such a comical fashion that you had to stifle a chuckle.
“You need some help?”
“Nope.” He grunted, “everything is ngh- under control over here.”
Bracing himself again, he pushed against the door with more force but the movement only managed to jostle the pile enough that an arm slipped out in between the open crack as he cursed under his breath. With a soft sigh, you made your way over as you help tuck the arm back inside and close the hatch with a satisfying thump. Dusting his hands together from a job well done, he turned to you with a daring smile.
“Where would I be without yah?”
“Probably drinking your money away at some god-forsaken bar knowing you. Stop fooling around and let's hurry this up.”
“Oi, you know it's not me intent to be fooling around. Unless we talking about being in a bedroom of course.”
He wiggled his eyebrows as you quickly rolled your eyes and turned before he could see the heat that suddenly hit your cheeks. At this point you thought you would be immune to his constant flirts on the job but it is always hard to try and keep your relationship professional. As much as you hated to admit it, that man had a way of getting under your skin.
Focusing back at the task on hand, you pushed open the heavy treasury doors to reveal an open concept room that took up the majority of the floor. Similar to a museum's layout, between giant marble pillars sat glass displays filled with different trinkets and artifacts. Some contained older relics of the past, while others seemed to be state of the art technology. The whole setup was an obvious ploy to impress whoever Lucky Lucy wanted to flaunt her wealth to but as you ventured further into the exhibits your eyes locked onto your target. A lone wooden podium adorned with intricate carvings sat idly in the center of a clearing, on top a stone pyramid littered in deep-set cracks floated effortlessly within its glass enclosure. The soft purple glow that emanated from the stone was unlike anything you had ever seen before, it flowed through the cracks eerily as if its power threatened to burst from its shell at any moment. Stepping closer, you were memorized by its beauty but you were a bit unnerved being near such a potent artifact. But who could blame you really, it wasn’t every day that you got to witness a Vault Key first hand.
A strong hand clasped down on your shoulder as you glanced back towards your partner. “Get what we came for. I’ll ensure our escape route is secure and that no one disturbs yah.”
Giving him a firm nod, you pulled out your trusty ECHO Unit as you made quick work to unlock the glass seal. With a small pop, the additional security on the door gave way but as you reached in to retrieve your prize you noticed a curious device just underneath the floating pyramid. With a quick scan, it was easy to determine it was yet another sensor but it had some unique properties as it seemed to be a part of a remote network and was currently monitoring the strange energy seeping out of the artifact. Without fully knowing what network it connected to, there was a high probability that removing the Vault Key would send out some sort of signal and you were not about to risk being caught now.
Swiftly setting out to deactivate the device or at least replicate the effect digitally to hide the fact that the object was missing was proving more troublesome by the minute as you began applying every trick and hack you could think of. One failed attempt after another, it was becoming more frustrating as it seemed that with each firewall or failsafe you managed to bypass the system adapted to the change and instantly undid all your hard work. Biting harshly into your lip, you cursed at how complex this last security check was but you were determined not to let it get the better of you.
“What's the hold up?”
The sound of your partner's voice echoed through the floor though you didn’t answer. Diligently working over your ECHO Unit, you barely registered the footsteps that drew closer until you felt a warm presence enveloped your back. With an arm draped around your shoulder, your partner leaned into your space as his musky scent tickled your nose enticingly.
“Hello? Anyone home?”
He poked at you at your cheek childishly as an attempt to grab your attention but when you swatted his hand away and remained silent he let out an exasperated sigh.
“Do I really have to do everything meself?”
Before you could even form a response it was already too late, reaching past you he quickly snatched the Vault Key from its resting position. Instantly the sounds of alarms and blaring red lights enveloped the space as you sharply turned to growl in his direction. With the artifact in one hand, he sheepishly shrugged as he silently whispered oops with a cheshire grin on his face. As angry as you were, this was not the time to berate the man once again about his careless antics as you pushed past him towards the exit.
By the time you had made it out of the treasury, the sound of the nearby elevator's arrival chimed before a massive explosion engulfed the area. Shielding yourself from the debris, you coughed lightly as you fanned the dust from your face.
“A little warning next time would ya kindly? Is that really too much to ask?”
His throaty chuckle behind you sent chilling shivers down your spine, it was just like him getting a kick out of your misfortune. That gleeful nature he expressed whenever things spiraled out of control was alluring to say the least but you were pretty sure he would soon be the death of you.
With no other options, you navigated to the stairwell as you began to descend your way back down to the lower levels of the building. With a silenced pistol in hand, you and your partner swiftly dispatched any stray personnel that were unluckily enough to step into your crosshair. As the security alarm was still blaring loudly on red alert, it wasn’t long till you could hear the ruckus of multiple guards entering the stairwell from the floors below. Swiftly exiting through the nearest door, you navigated through the floor’s maze-like office interior with exact proficiency that one might think you had worked there for years. But as you rounded the corner to where you knew a second stairwell would be located you were immediately stopped in your tracks as the door swung open and a small armada of gunmen spilled out onto the floor. As they aimed towards you, a swift yank on your jacket forced you to stumble clumsily backwards behind cover. Recovering to a crouched position beside your partner, you were trying to quickly calculate a new plan but with the sound of heavy footsteps approaching from the direction you just came from, your options were rapidly dwindling away.
As the next set of guards came into view, you were fully surrounded as you slowly laid down your weapon and stood up with your hands raised. From a nearby window, you could project that you were only a few floors up from the ground level but while you were determining if it was still too high of a jump to make a smug snicker beside you caught your attention. Gazing over at your partner, he was grinning madly towards the gunmen as he firmly held the Vault Key.
“Alrighty fellas, it seems we have missed our exit. So if you don’t mind me and the missus here will just see ourselves out.”
It was like time had stopped in the single moment, the words that spilled from his lips instantly bought the overwhelming sense of dread as you watched him pull out a hidden detonator from his belt.
“Zane?”
He turned towards you, his singular blue eye sparked mischievously as his cybernetic eyepatch emitted the same yellow glow you had grown accustomed to.
“See you on the other side boyo,” he smiled as he pressed down on the trigger without hesitation.
--
The first thing you could perceive upon waking was the indescribable pain racking through your body. The sharp flares you felt from trying to sit up forced the air from your lungs as you reluctantly laid back down on the cold surface you were on. Slowly opening your eyes, you could barely make out the dark barren room as the only light source being a dull lightbulb that swung slightly above you. Confused of where you were, you tried to recall your last moments before falling unconscious. That wicked grin on your partner’s face, the massive explosion that suddenly opened the floor beneath your feet, and the crushing weight of the building falling down upon you. The sickening feeling of being trapped under the debris brought your attention to the pain you felt but there was a growing concern in your mind when you noticed the grimly lack of sense on your left side. Struggling to sit up enough to peer, you pushed against the pain as you looked down to see the dark red bandages wrapped around what little remained of your arm. A choked cry passed your chapped lips as you heavily fell back onto the makeshift bed.
“Well well, finally awake I see?”
The nauseating sweet tone of her voice sent a wave of unease through your body as you extended your gaze to the rest of the room. From the darkened corner, you watched as the one person you never wanted to meet stepped out into the dim light. The full pinstripe suit she wore hugged her thin frame eloquently as her light blond hair was slicked back meticulously. The crimson color adorning her lips was vibrant compared to her pale skin though it only brought to mind the dreadful color painting your arm. As she stopped beside you, she folded her arms as you weakly groaned at the recognition of the infamous mobster leader, Lucky Lucy.
“You sure do you know how to make a mess, darling. I must say you and your partner have caused me quite a few problems with your little stunt.”
“Do I- ugh, look like I give a damn?”
“I sure as well hoped so since they soon will be your problems to fix but I wouldn’t expect a thief like you to understand. You’re not the first to try and pillage from my vast collection but seeing as you were the first to succeed, you're a little above the average thief now aren't you [Y/N]?”
A cold shiver ran through your body as she spoke your name, “how?”
“What? Did you really think I didn’t know who you are? I’d like to give you more credit for your reputation but it seems you're a little washed up now that you've been caught by little ol’ me. Though it seems like neither one of us are coming out of this ordeal in one piece.”
You scoffed harshly at her blatant jab to your condition only to receive another pulse of pain that made you wince. Closing your eyes, you tried to steady your ever increasing heart rate as you felt a hand gently sweep through your hair.
“Poor little [Y/N]. He left you behind, you know? Left you to clean up his mess that he made. Boys can be so irresponsible.”
She cooed softly as you labored against the pain, your breath only escaping your lips as a weak wheeze as she continued to give you gentle touches.
“H-he wouldn’t," you snapped.
“How can you be so sure mhm? You and I know better that the minds of men can easily be corrupted.”
You didn’t want to believe her words, you trusted your partner with your life, surely he wouldn’t have abandoned you like this but a part of you wondered. Contemplating if maybe the riches of the Vault Key were too enticing for one man to share as you couldn't rule out that he may have planned all along to leave you in the rubble to die while he made his grand escape.
“But you see, I think you and I can come to a more beneficial arrangement despite our current grievances to one another. One that would see you still retain some sort of freedom while correcting the problems you’ve caused.”
You didn’t like the sweet tone to her sinister words, based on the information you had gathered, nothing good ever came out for people who directly dealt with Lucy. “What do you want?”
Her lips twisted into a devilish smirk, “what I want is for you to retrieve the Vault Key your partner made off with and also pay off the substantial debt you now owe me. A daunting task for sure but I am willing be generous by allowing you to continue your work as before on the condition that you meet certain arranged deadlines.”
“You’re serious? W-why the hell would I ever agree to that.”
“Because you don’t have a choice my dear. After all, there is no such thing as a knight in shining armor for damsels like us.”
--
Waking up with a startle, you quickly jumped to survey your surroundings for any danger before recognizing the rusty interior of the merchant ship you had smuggled onto. A soft groan escaped your lips as you relaxed back into your hidden alcove among the random cargo. It seemed even in your dreams you couldn’t escape the horrors of what happened to you on that fateful day so many years ago.
Lifting your left hand in front, you removed your leather glove and pulled back your jacket sleeve to reveal the chrome metal arm that extended down from your elbow. Flexing the artificial fingers a few times, you still struggled to come to terms with your new appendage. It was a constant reminder of your arrangement to Lucy and how much of your miserable life now revolved around getting her the money you promised. Even after all this time you were pretty sure you hadn’t even made a marginable dent in the ever growing debt that kept you complacent to her will.
Pulling out your ECHO Unit, you quickly scanned over your newest mission debrief once again as a way to distract you from your lingering thoughts. An unknown contact had messaged you a few days ago about locating some abandoned corporate documents currently within hostile territory on the planet of Gehenna. While you didn’t like the idea of working with an anonymous client, they offered to pay in advance if you accepted the job and you couldn’t afford to decline as your next deadline with Lucy was swiftly approaching. As soon as the payment was deposited within your account, you watch as it was automatically withdrawn and a single message popped up on your display.
> LuLu: This month’s payment is accepted, babydoll.
Your lips curled downwards in displeasure, for once you wished you weren't constantly being haunted by that nightmare of that woman but be it your dreams or the waking world, you couldn’t seem to escape.
The ship rocked softly around you, signaling that it had landed at its final destination. Quietly, you waited in the shadows as the bulk doors opened and the orange glow of sunlight cascaded over the cargo. Near the entrance, some men began shouting out orders as they started unloading the various crates from the ship. As soon as you spotted an opening you swiftly exited the craft unnoticed, blending in with the sparse locals as you made your way into town.
The township of Vestige was a quaint settlement to say the least though it was a bit old fashioned for your tastes. On your way to this backwater planet, you had learned all you could about the current affairs of this planet to find that the township recently celebrated a tremendous blow to the outlawed group known as the Devil Riders. While the details of this victory didn’t really interest you to know, you figured that if there were still any hostile territories on Gehenna it most likely would be the remnants of this former gang.
Locating the nearest tavern wasn’t hard when you witnessed some drunken lout stubbled out of the hinged doors as they slapped him back with full force. You sighed under your breath, already regretting your decision to take this job as you entered the building. Taking a seat at the dilapidated bar, you swiftly ordered a drink as you eyed the room. As friendly as the people of this town seemed to be, you still caught a few lingering eyes in your direction as you started an idle conversation with the hostess. Spinning a half-hearted story of being a hired mercenary looking for a convict said to have found refuge with the last remaining Devil Riders and that you are looking for any information of any reported activities. Instantly she perked up to your request as she quickly revealed a location out in The Blastplains that was still fairly active with the lawless group. While you were skeptical as to why she was being so forthright with the information, you judge she must hear a lot of any recent dealings with outlaws based on the current state of some of the bar’s patrons. Regardless if the information was false or not it was a lead as you thanked her for her time and headed out to your next appointed destination.
--
This job was far too easy. As you stood in the middle of a ransacked office of an abandoned company facility just outside of Vestige, this was not what you had envisioned when you were tasked to scout out some hostile territory. Even navigating your way here was essentially a walk in the park as you strolled through the bunker only having to deal with the pitiful amount of bandits out of sheer annoyance than anything troublesome.
With the light of a nearby lamp, you picked up some of the scattered papers that were strewn haphazardly. Judging by their condition, they were indeed long forgotten weapon schematics and various research documents which you could only assume was what your employer was after. What said employer wanted with such old information wasn’t really your concern as you un-holstered your ECHO Unit to relay your coordinates only to pause when you noticed a strange movement from the corner of your eye.
Suddenly a figure lunged out from one of the darkened corners as you quickly drew your pistol only for your attacker to grab a hold of your wrist. Twisting it forcefully, you winced at the sudden pain as your grip falter and the sound of your gun clattering to the floor echoed loudly. Now fully disarmed, you swiftly threw a punch with your free hand as your assailant let go of your arm to dodge the blow. Freed from thier grasp, you were unrelenting as you continued to strike towards the figure as they ducked and weaved through your attacks until they suddenly caught one of your fists in their own. Strong fingers gripped around yours as you were suddenly pulled off balance and twisted around until your back collided with their chest. A muscular arm wrapped around your throat as you let out a gasp, your airway being lightly constricted under the pressure though not enough to bring you past discomfort. Clearly whoever it was you were fighting was stronger than you but you still had a few tricks up your sleeve. As you swiftly curled your body forward while simultaneously collapsing to one knee, you caused enough momentum to take your attacker by suprise and hurl them over your shoulder. When they landed with a thick thud, you could hear a low groan escape their lips but before they could recover you were already sprinting out of the room.
With your job already complete there was no reason to stick around as you hastily navigated your back back through the building. The vacant halls feeling more menacing than when you had first arrived as every shadowed corner threatened to reveal yet another assailant within their midst. It wasn’t until you had reached the barricaded entrance and began the override sequence to open the gate that you finally looked back to see that nothing was following you. Letting out a quick sigh of relief, you waited patiently for the outdated door to slowly open but a sharp buzz of static compelled you to turn to its source as a shimmer of blue light caught your eye and the feeling of a hefty impact to your chest caused the world to instantly be engulphed by darkness.
--
There was a stiff ache in your neck as you arose from your sudden slumber. The tight ropes bound across your chest, arms and legs keep you in an upright position as you found yourself sitting on a sturdy wooden chair.
"Ugh-"
"You are awake."
The metallic sounding voice echoed slightly in the small room as you snapped your attention towards its source. Standing only a few feet away, a figure dressed in a heavy coat that covered most of their body stood leaning against the far wall. A single green light shone from the center of their metal face but while you simply thought it could be a mask, you barely spied the distinct metal skeleton beneath their clothes in the dull light.
"Unfortunately.” You groaned as you casually tested the strength of your bonds to find they secured you quite well. “Wow, what the hell are you supposed to be? Some sort of advanced Loader Bot or maybe you went a little crazy with cybernetics upgrades there buddy? You don't look like anything I've crossed yet."
"I have no quarry with you."
"Ok... then who are you?"
"It is of no concern who I am but you may call me FL4K."
"FL4K? Alright well if you don't have any issue with me, care to explain why you have me tied to a chair?"
"It was not I who did this to you. I am merely here on behalf of your captor as a voice to this negotiation. We wish to-"
"Wait, hold up a second.” You shuffled slightly in your chair, ”you're telling me that someone went through all this trouble to get my attention but they are too much of a coward to talk to me themselves? That's really quite sad."
The metallic sigh he let out sounded strange on your ears, "I concur with her."
FL4K was a hard one to read, usually in these sorts of situations you would get a general sense of what to expect based on your interrogator’s body language. Though for the case of FL4K they stayed completely motionless, making it tough to figure out if you were actually in any danger but by the way they seemingly addressed someone else made you instantly concerned. Straining your ears momentarily, you listen carefully to your surroundings when a hushed shuffle emitted from just behind your bound form; you were not alone.
“Well FL4K. I guess you’ve piqued my curiosity because I agree it couldn't have been you who got the drop on me. No offense but you're kinda- unique looking and I would have remembered you before going dark. Unless you got a realistic body suit hidden somewhere.”
"No. I do not have a suit," their robotic voice seemed to have a disappointed tone though there was no physical expression.
“Oh ok. Good but then I still want to know who the mastermind behind all this is because this is maybe what, the second time I've actually been captured that wasn't part of the plan? Makes a girl wonder who is pulling the strings.”
"I can see why they like you."
“Like me huh? Well I guess they must since I'm not dead yet. Wanna give me a hint on who?”
“They wish to remain anonymous during this exchange as I negotiate with you to work for us. They insist you would be an asset to our hunt.”
You had a bad feeling about whatever this ‘hunt’ was. It wasn’t normal to be ambushed during a job only to be offered another one. “Well they should know I don't work for free and the last time I was asked to work for someone I didn't know I woke up to my ass strapped to a chair talking to a sentient metal man so I'm gonna need to know who's asking.”
Leaning back against your confines, you lulled your head backwards to get a glimpse of whoever was behind you. Only for a sturdy hand to grip your head harshly and forcibly push your gaze back towards FL4K.
“Ouch, easy there will yah? Must have a pretty ugly mug if you are constantly hiding it in the shadows.”
The deep growl that sounded just behind your ear at your mockery made your lips curl upwards ever so slightly.
“It seems she will not cooperate without fully understanding the situation,” FL4K chimed as they remained unmoving. ”I do not blame her. Do you wish to continue the farce?”
When there was no response from the unknown third-party you took the opportunity instead to see if you could pry for a bit more information. “I mean we can make a game of it right? How about I name a few people I can think of that fit the criteria for our mystery captor and if I get it right then we can have a proper decision about my services for sale, sound fair?”
“That does not seem to benefit us but I wish to end this. You may guess three times.”
“Only three huh? OK let's see, there's Mad-eye Willy or maybe it's someone from the Torgue Corporation. Oh what about Trevor from Eden-3, he seems like the kind of scumbag that would do something like this. Actually on second thought, he would know better than to orchestrate a plan this stupid.”
“Are you freking saying that me plans are-” As the voice behind you rang out, the sound of a hand clamping over skin echoed lightly in the small room but it was already too late. You knew that voice.
“Oh no. No no no, h-hey FL4K? Can you be a dear and let me out of this chair, like right the fuck now! There is absolutely no way, NO WAY, I'll agree to work with him.”
“It seems our presence is no longer needed. Come Mr. Chew.”
As FL4K pushed off the wall effortlessly you began to panic. A sudden rush of dread washed over you as you realized you were completely vulnerable, strapped to a chair as one of the ghosts of your past stood unsettlingly right behind you.
“Wait. Come on, you can't leave me here with-”
A feral grunt that sounded right beside you made you jump through the ropes tying you down firmly held you in place. A gigantic slag wearing a dusted red bandana and various gear packs stood up as it happily chirped before joining FL4K, the door closing behind them with a thunderous thud. Cursing under your breath for not noticing the creature before, you tried to forget it as you had bigger problems at the moment than your lack of perception.
The silence of the room was defending as you sat motionless, your body quivering slightly under your binds. Your mind was going a mile a minute as you were trying to accept the fact that he was here. After all that time you waited for him in that dark cell, for him to come save you from that vile women’s clutches but to never show up. It was just like Lucy said, there was no such thing as a knight in shining armor as you were left behind. When you finally gave in and agreed to her deal, you had spent months trying to track the man down to retrieve the Vault Key but seemingly he had vanished into thin air as for the first time in your career you were unable to locate your query. Worried that you might have lost your edge, you instead contemplated that a part of you never truly wanted to find him in the first place. You had built up some much hatred and resentment towards him in that isolated room that once you regained some sense of freedom all you wanted to do was bury the past behind you the best you could. Though it seemed you were doomed to be haunted when years later, news of the C.O.V. uprising that was beginning to plague the known galaxy reached your ears only to hear his name among the stories. After that you did all you could to steer clear of him, even going so far as to keep track of him and the C.O.V.s whereabouts to avoid taking any jobs on planets that were effected by the conflict.
“Whelp I guess the cat is out of the bag. How you been, love?”
“Fuck you Zane.”
“Gosh how I missed the sound of me name from those heavenly lips of yours but you didn't miss me back? I'm hurt [Y/N].”
His footsteps thumped loudly like drums signaling an incoming threat as he circled around your bound form. With your eyes set on the floor, you first spotted his shoes as he stood before you. The sight forcing a dry swallow down your throat as you valiantly tried to calm your growing nerves. A mixture of fear and anger was already boiling just below the surface as you slowly trailed your eyes upwards towards him. With his hand on his hips, he stood confidently as his gaze was set on you. His handsome rugged features were just as you remembered though you noted how they had aged slightly over the years. His broad shoulders always seemed to highlight his tone physique in just the right way though you couldn’t help but stare at that captivating blue eye compared to his glowing cybernetic eyepatch.
“Missed you?" You scoffed under your breath, "after that stunt you pulled on Isolus?”
“I knew you could handle it.”
“No thanks to you! You left me behind.”
“Darling, that was ages ago. Would you forgive me if I said I was sorry?”
“No,” you let out a sharp growl at his sentiment, your hatred slowly consuming you as you tried to remain in control of your own emotions.
“Well I'm still sorry. You know, if I knew that you missed me company so bad I would have tried to find you earlier.”
“What? I never said-“
“No need to get embarrassed, I know it's hard getting over working with a dashing fellow such as yours truly.”
“Zane, I swear to god-” you pulled harshly on your binding, praying to find some sort of weakness in their hold so you could give Zane a proper punch to his smug mouth.
“But it really has been a long time hasn't it. Shite, those were the good days. When you and I fought side by side, literally there was no bounty this side of the galaxy we couldn't handle. Let's work together again.“
“No.”
“Come on. It will be great.”
“I said no," your eyes narrowing as you gritted your teeth.
“Not even if I paid yah?”
“Zane. Get it through your thick skull that-”
“100,000 bucks.”
You paused from his words, the anger inside you subsiding for just a moment. That was a lot of money, almost triple the amount you made even in a good month of work.
Placing a hand on the back of the chair, he slowly leaned in. “Interested in what I have to say now, boyo?”
The light fragrance emanating from him was comforting, a scent long forgotten that instantly triggered fond memories you had once shared. A feeling of remorse slow crept through your veins as it was hard to keep your anger from your unexpected reunion and sudden proximity to one another. Why you were always soft when it came to Zane you really weren't quite sure but this was too risky. You had never told Lucy that you had gotten word on Zane's location when he had suddenly reappeared and you knew that she had some sources that were keeping tabs on you. If she was ever to find out that you were hiding information from her then you would be in a lot more trouble than just owing her money and a Vault Key. A soft sigh passed your lips as you contemplated your choices, “what's the job?”
“Glad you asked.” He swiftly flashed you a sly smile as he leaned back, “but first, I'm sure you heard all about me recent grand adventure?”
“I assume you're talking about the stories of four misfits that stopped some crazy cult leaders before they took over the galaxy?“
“Aye, that's the one. Took out those sorry bastards with me own two hands, so now yours truly is not only a handsome skillful assassin but also a genuine Vault Hunter to boot.”
You rolled your eyes, “that’s great and all but are you ever going to get to the part where you explain why you need me then?”
“I was getting there lass. See, me buddies and I have been cleaning up the last of the C.O.V. since their beloved leaders died but a few have been a real thorn in our side. Some schmuck calling himself 'The Prophet' has been rounding up bandits to his cause and so far they have proven that they are a real slippery bunch.”
As he folded his arms in front, a look of frustration overshadowed his features as he knitted his eyebrows only to quickly change back to a carefree smirk. It seemed like even after all these years he was still the same as always, easily displaying his ever changing mood as Zane was far more expressive than his counterpart FL4K.
“So we really could use someone to help tracking them down and I knew just the gal who could do it. And besides, it means we’ll have a chance to catch up after all this time.“
“That's not a benefit in your case. Zane, I don't think working with you or the Crimson Raiders is a good idea. I know the type of carnage you guys get into and I got my own set of problems to deal with.”
“Come on [Y/N]. Live a little will yah for once? I won't be making you do anything you haven't already done before. You always worry too much about the details.”
“And you never worried about them at all! Gods the amount of times I saved your ass because you just threw caution to the wind.”
“That's why I need yah, girly. Someone I can trust when the going gets tough. Not to say me new friends aren't that but sometimes you can't always go into a situation guns blazing. You know?”
For a second you genuinely thought about the days before Isolus, when it was just you and him taking on the world. That satisfying feeling to have someone that you could rely on but you quickly realized your mistake and dismissed them. If you were gonna do this for the money then you were gonna need to keep yourself away from those dangerous thoughts. You couldn't afford to get used to being around him again, telling yourself that you couldn’t stay any longer than what was necessary to get your next payment to Lucy.
After a few moments of silence, Zane finally spoke. “So what'd yah say? Let's give it another go and this time I'll be making sure not to leave you behind ok?”
This was it, now or nothing you thought as you took a deep breath. “Fine but I want the money for every month I get stuck on this job. Up front. Plus you’re covering my gear and ammo expenses.”
“You're gonna run me dry, [Y/N].”
“I'm just making sure this is worth my while and I know that you're good for the money, Zane. You think I don't know about your off planet retirement accounts?”
He lifted a solitary eyebrow, “been keeping tabs on me eh? Ever think about trying to get your hands on me savings?”
“Of course but I know better don't I?”
“Always the smart one. Well then, I agree so long as you are willing to work with me again. I'll be keeping yah close.”
“Whatever floats your boat, boss.” You joked lightly, trying to mask the serious implication of your deal as deep sense of worry was swelling inside you.