A/N: I wanted to try and write something else for a change. Let me know what you think/if you think I should stick to Mass Effect stories... :)

The story's Maya/Lilith for now, though it might turn into Maya/Mordecai or Maya/Axton, I haven't decided yet... maybe even Maya/Claptrap, who knows? I'm open to suggestions... :)

I know it's short but I just want to know what you guys think first before I upload more... The chapters will probably stay this short, but they're just easier to write for me that way...

And last but not least: let me know if you want me to include Gaige as well. I personally haven't downloaded her character, but I could include her regardless at bascially any part of the story, just let me know what you think...

And now: onwards, Minions! :)


Long story...

"Now, let's talk about rescuing my boyfriend."

My head whips around to the redhead lying next to me. She's propped her chin in the palm of her hand and is eyeing me curiously while my eyebrow shoots up.

"Your what?"

She shruggs and states matter-of-factly, "Roland." And in case that name doesn't ring a bell, she helpfully adds, "The guy you're looking for..."

I give a short laugh and shake my head. I don't believe this... Propping myself up and wrapping my arms around my knees, I let my eyes wander over our discarded clothes all around us.

To be honest, I have no idea how we ended up on one of Lilith's furs (well, technically it was after mostly my back hit various monitors and shelves, but that's beside the point right now) in her secret hideout in the first place, but it seemed like an exciting idea at the time... Now I'm not so sure anymore... Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect a half hour of cuddling, but there are definitely nicer ways of telling you to get your ass in gear and leave...

"Well then..." Lilith stretches with a sigh and gets up, reaching for her shirt. "Get dressed so that we can get your friends and I can explain my plan," she says as she walks down the stairs, running a hand through her hair – not that anyone would be able to notice a difference from before me and my group split up... if we manage to grab all our clothes before "my friends" return, that is.

Friends... I smile. A couple of weeks ago I didn't even know these guys existed... We just all happened to be on the same train a few weeks back, but I guess it's fair to say that they've grown on me by now. It's amazing how almost being blown to pieces can quickly form a group out of complete strangers...

So we've been traveling together ever since, silently pledging to have our backs for the time being, which, seeing some of the... things we've encountered so far, doesn't sound like a bad plan to me...

But back to my momentary situation... The guys offered to check the cave for any more Bloodshots trying to burst into the Firehawk's hideout unnanounced while we girls could talk about Lilith's enhanced Siren powers, which I have to admit, made me kinda jealous back there...

Heh, see how that worked out...

In retrospect, it's kinda hard to decide why she chose to pounce on me just as I was about to open my mouth and ask my questions... Maybe it was a side effect from all that Eridium she absorbed during and after our little fight before (note to self: stay clear of that stuff, even if it could enhance your abilities) or maybe she's just been on her own for too long in these caves... who knows...

Anyway, there's no time to dwell on this weird situation right now. The guys could be back any minute and I'm not exactly in a state I want them to find me in right now, so I quickly grab my clothes and follow her down the stairs just in time to see Axton, Zero and Salvador return...

By the looks of it, Salvador has managed to trigger a few of the traps protecting Lilith's hideout from uninvited guests yet again... And if his smoking beard isn't proof enough, his grim expression surely is... I give him a warm smile as I step between him and Axton, the smile obviously lighting up his mood immediately as he pokes me in the ribs, grinning.

"So... Had fun with your Siren sister while we were gone?" he asks, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Oh, you have no idea...

"What'd you do? Gossip about us guys? Paint each other's toe nails?" he goes on, luckily misinterpreting my grin.

I lightly pat him on the shoulder and nodd. "Sure did, Sal, sure did..."

The Gunzerker nods, satisfied, and remains quiet as Axton shoulders his shotgun.

"All clear." Axton nods at Lilith and she crosses her arms in front of her chest as she steps in front of our little group, facing us.

Her plan is simple: she'll teleport us right into the Bloodshot Stronghold and from there we'll have to shoot our way to Roland. Seeing the guys nodding their heads around me, it seems they all agree with the plan and before there's time for argument, Lilith has already teleported us... well... about ten feet away, which isn't bad for a start... But who am I to judge? I'm barely able to keep our enemies phaselocked for more than a few seconds right now, so I'll just keep my mouth shut while we turn to leave the cave on our own, with Lilith's voice calling after us, "And make sure to bring my boyfriend back in one piece... Well... ex-boyfriend."

I smile, involuntarily shaking my head once more. This just keeps getting better and better... Keeping my head low, I follow the guys down the stairs as they head out of the cave.

And that's when all the real fun began...

. . .

"That bot's taking Roland to the drop-barge! Stop them before they get away!"

I involuntarily squint at Lilith's shrill voice ringing out of our communicator while we hurry down the stairs to follow said bot flying away with our... let's call him "bounty" for now... It's not like shooting our way through the Bloodshot Stronghold wasn't already time-consuming enough, now we have to chase after that cocky ass after being this close to grabbing him and getting the hell away from there...

I growl inwardly and turn my head just in time to see Salvador shake his head next to me.

"Damn, if you're gonna sound that desperate one day too, I think we better never start dating," he announces, grinning up at me.

I roll my eyes and sigh, grabbing the Gunzerker's shoulder and pulling him out of the way just as another bandit races past us and jumps down the cliff to our left to escape the invading Loaders.

"Focus," I remind him and nodd towards Axton and Zero who are already a few feet away, dismembering a few more Loaders.

But he's right... Staying alert because a Psycho could jump out from behind a crate and charge at you any moment is one thing, but being told every five minutes to "make sure nothing happens to Roland" or to "better hurry" – preferably at a time when you're occupied with something else, namely staying alive – is a completely different form of stress... And yep, she did sound pretty desperate...

All for a guy who seems to be so full of himself that makes you wonder where that big ego's coming from... His one-liners, at least, weren't all that impressive, but maybe that's what made Lilith fall for the guy in the first place... Huh, maybe her eyes would get all dreamy when he takes out a few robots before being dragged away by another one because he was too busy sitting on his lazy and cocky ass instead of blowing open the damn cell door-

"Watch it."

I blink a few times in confusion when Salvador shoves me aside just as a grenade explodes where I've been standing only seconds before.

"Feelin' like you could lock that cabron over there for us?"

Furrowing my brows, I look up and my eyes settle on a Loader a few feet ahead. Guess my musing will have to wait...

A faint smile starts tugging at the corner of my lip as I face the Loader fully, inhaling deeply while my tattoos start to glow.

"Freeze!"