This is my first fanfiction. I would certainly enjoy some feedback. This is just the opening. I realize this starts out strong in the romance, but it's not as it seems, so keep that in mind. Please give my story a chance and read at least to chapter 3 or 4, they're not very long. You will realize it's not all romance.

Borderlands is the sole property of Gearbox and 2K

Ch. 1

The Kindling

Maya smiled in awe and satisfaction as the loot rained down around her and her teammates. They had done it. They had done it. They had defeated the Warrior. Wow. Just wow. She squealed and laughed out in joy as the loot just kept falling around them never seeming to end. She noticed and Legendary Maliwan SMG hit the ground and skid to Axton's feet. He looked at it with the same satisfied smile that was on Maya's face.

'Dibs,' Maya called mentally, but Axton not hearing her call picked it up. He looked at her meeting her dissatisfied glare, but instead of glaring back he smiled. Maya wasn't sure if she was just caught up in the moment of their victory, but Axton was looking generous opposed to his normal 'I'm only in it for me' attitude. He took a quick few steps towards her and handed her the Sub-Machine Gun. It had a nice fire mod and was the normal Maliwan orange and blue camo. She smiled at him, and in the passion of the loot storm and release of pressure and satisfaction of their accomplishment their lips met.

She felt his arms wrap around her waist as he pulled her against him almost crushing the SMG against their bodies, but Maya dropped it before the Commando could get too close. It hit the ground with a clang as she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck as she accepted his embrace.

Maya didn't particularly like Axton. Well, she didn't like his attitude. He was full of himself and a little prejudice. Plus, he didn't like cats. What kind of person didn't like cats?! She was sure he probably saw her in the same way, and though the two have in many instances risked their own lives to save the other…their attitudes conflicted greatly.

This was a different side of him.

Maya melted into him, in the moment forgetting about the other six in the room (I'm counting all the B2 vault hunters including Gaige and Krieg plus Lilith and Handsome Jack. This is before Brick and Mordecai walked up). She was really focusing on the feeling of his nearness when the sound of Handsome Jack yelling "No, no, no…I can't die like this…"

At the grounding words from the masked madman the Siren and Commando pulled apart. Axton's lips had remnants of Maya's smeared blue lipstick. The two blinked and stepped farther apart. The blue-haired Phaselocker was blushing as she noticed everyone but Lilith staring at them. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand smudging away what was left of her lipstick leaving her light pink lips exposed. She noticed Axton duplicate her make-up removal technique as she knelt down to pick up her new SMG. Her shoulder brushed Axton's leg causing him to take an embarrassed step back. She heard Jack continue on in the background about how they were filthy child murdering psychopath bandits and that he was going to save Pandora, he was a hero, and he wasn't supposed to die and blah blah blah. She examined her gun hoping her fellow Vault Hunters would look away and forget about her and Axton's victory kiss. She tuned it out as Jack continued to complain and cry. She didn't begin to listen again until Lilith spoke up.

"This is the end, Vault Hunters," she said. "Either you kill Jack, or I'll kill him for you. What's it ganna be?"

Maya looked back at her friends thoughtfully. She could see the eagerness of revenge twitching on Axton's and Salvador's faces. Axton pulled his Torque assault rifle from its place and pointed it at Jack's head. Salvador pulled out two, ironically, Hyperion shotguns. He smiled as he aimed them towards Jack. She watched as Zer0 pulled his sword from his digital backpack. He readied it as a smiley face emoticon appeared on his helmet. Krieg pulled out his buzz axe and screamed, "I'LL SLICE YOUR EYELIDS SO YOU CAN WATCH THE END!" Gaige digi-structed Deathtrap and giggled her teenage giggle. For a moment Maya felt her tattoos tingle as she imagined getting her revenge on that Handsome bastard, but as she looked at the weak Lilith grasping her arm she realized something. She shook her head at her companions and looked at her fellow Siren.

"You do it," she said.

"What?!" an outburst of voices chimed.

"MURDER?!" Krieg yelled at the same time.

She looked at them with a look in her eyes. She could see that Axton realized what she meant and he returned his gun to its place. Gaige realized too and waved her hand at Deathtrap calling him down. Zer0 after a moment nodded, his emoticon flashing -SHOOT. He sheathed his sword and crossed his arms as he stood down.

Salvador and Krieg were the only two who didn't seem to notice or care.

"BLOOD!" Krieg screamed excited.

"Come on!" Salvador yelled.

Maya didn't say anything she just flashed her piercing blue eyes at the short man. He glared at her uncaringly before lowering his weapons. He began to pout like a child. Maya then looked at Krieg. She didn't give him the same cold look, but an understanding look, one that she hoped would calm the psycho down. The psycho seemed to vibrate with excitement for a moment before he threw his buzz axe at the stone of the chamber. It ricocheted and hit the ground with a thud. He let out a scream before settling, and looking at Maya through his mask. She smiled and returned her gaze to Lilith.

"You do it," the blue haired Siren repeated to the red head.

Lilith smiled at Maya as the idea of sweet revenge settled into her core. Handsome Jack had turned her world upside down in more ways than one. He was behind the attack on New Haven causing her to go into hiding, and forcing her and Roland to split. He had been constantly on her tail as he tried to capture her causing her to have to constantly relocate and always be on her toes. The greatest of all: he had killed Roland, taken him away from her. Then he used her to charge the fucking vault key. She wanted this. She needed this.

She looked at the wounded Handsome Jack before placing her hand on his forehead. She began to glow bright pink as her Siren powers flourished, bringing Jack to his knees. He began to glow the same bright pink before being launched back in a violent explosion. He fell on the ground dead, his mask blown off revealing the imprinted Vault symbol, a blinded eye, and scarred skin. The pink glow faded from Lilith and Jack. Lilith grabbed her pained arm and looked back at the vault hunters.

"That was for Roland, asshole."