Author's Note: Will re-write this later. Might add more. XD

~*~
Dad
~*~

It had taken awhile, but we'd finally been able to contact her father. Salvador had called up some of his old contacts to see if we could ECHO the man safely, without the call being traced.

I would never forget the look on her face when we handed her the ECHO communicator that she could use to speak to her father again. She'd hugged Salvador, thanking the short man a million times over before pulling me down and kissing my mask.

"Thank you so so so so so much!"

"No kiss for me, Amiga?" Salvador teased, laughing loudly when I pulled the girl just a little bit closer to me "I'm just kidding Zero. She's all yours!"

Under my mask I blushed, coughing awkwardly and half-heartedly releasing the mechromancer who blushed uncontrollably.

Laughing even louder, the gunzerker began to walk away "Have fun amigos, I'll see you later!"

Once he was gone Gaige quickly used the communicator, ECHOing her father with glee, grinning at me "I can't wait till you get to talk to my dad, he's the best!" She told me before an automated voice told us that a connection was reached "Dad? Dad you there? Can you hear me?"

"Gaige?! Sweetheart it's so good to hear you're ok. You are ok right?" An older males voice spoke back, relieved.

Tears sprung to her eyes "Yeah Daddy, I'm fine. What about you? I miss you."

"I miss you too Honey." He said "How's Pandora? Did you make any friends?"

She looked up at me with a smile "Pandora's not that bad Dad. And yeah, one of my friends is here right now… He's the one that got me a communicator I could use to call you. He's pretty badass awesome."

"Really? Tell him I say thanks."

"Actually, he can hear you right now." Gaige nudged me "Come on Zero, say hi."

"Um, hello." I greeted awkwardly, somewhat nervous for some reason.

"Your name's Zero?"

"Yes, sir." I replied, "It is a pleasure to finally speak with you. Gaige has told me much about you."

Gaige giggled, whispering "You're not haiku-ing? Really?"

I scowled under my mask. For some reason, I could not bring myself to speak in haiku to the mechromancer's father. Talking to him, even over ECHO, made me feel nervous.

But I refused to tell Gaige that.

"Sweetheart, mind if I talk to your friend alone for a minute? We can talk for as long as you'd like afterwards."

"D:"

"Sure thing Dad!" she handed me the communicator "I'm going to grab something to drink, then. You want anything?"

I shook my head, and watched the mechromancer helplessly as she closed the door behind her.

"She gone?"

"Yes, sir."

"Let's get a few things straight now. How old are you, what are you to my daughter, and is she really ok?"

Shuffling nervously I replied "I am twenty-six years of age. Gaige is a close friend and a fellow vault hunter, and we have been keeping her as safe as possible."

"Just close friends?"

"Well-"

"Because most guys wouldn't go through so much trouble to get a special ECHO communicator so that a girl can talk to her father. I find it hard to believe that you're just close friends."

"She means much to me, and I to her although we are not… in a relationship." I told him honestly "I intend to keep her safe here, until she can return home."

"You damn well better keep her safe." He threatened "And if you break my little girl's heart, I'll hunt you down."

"Yes sir."

"Anyways, it's nice to meet you Zero."