Author's note: This story, (not this chapter in particular, just the whole idea for my story) is partially inspired by the songs Bad Things by Jace Everett and Trigger Happy Jack, by Poe. If for some reason you are interested enough to want to get a feel for kinda where I got this from, give' em a listen. Plus they are pretty great songs anyways :-)

As Jack piloted the buzzard over some bandit camps out in the depths of the arid Badlands, he had a minute to think. What was he doing flying off with this siren? He just met her. All he knew was he was feelings things he hadn't felt since...well he didn't want to think about that right now. He had a smokin' hot, powerful siren sitting next to him. There was only one logical thing to do. Take her to New Haven, the home of those scumbag Crimsons Raiders, and burn it to the ground!

"You like blowing things up right?" He smirked at Celosia.

"Well, yeah," she replied. "But I guess that depends on what exactly I am blowing up. For example I didn't mean to blow up Moxxi's arena. She was good to me and I felt terrible about that."

"Haha!" Jack threw his head back and laughed a deep rumbly laugh. "I have been meaning to blow that thing up forever. You did me quite a favor." Celosia gave him a reproachful look.

"Oh, I mean, bummer that must have sucked for you." He attempted a sympathetic look. Celosia could tell his face wasn't exactly used to that expression. She burst out laughing.

"Oh Jack," She crooned impulsively, "Let's do something fun. I haven't had any fun in a very long time."

"Fun like blowing stuff up?" He asked.

"Oh geez, is that all you ever think about? There are other ways to have fun you know." She gave him a sideways half smile that she hoped was seductive. Apparently it was, he abruptly turned the buzzard into a gorge with an abandoned shack. He made short work of a few bullymongs wondering around the area with his pistol and then practically dragged her out of the buzzard into the shack.

"I'm don't usually do this on a first date." She grinned coyly as she drew closer to Handsome Jack, she knew it was a cliché but hoped it would clarify her intentions.

Jack had a dozen clever retorts on the tip of his tongue, but suddenly he found his tongue otherwise occupied as the petite siren slid her smooth, delicate hands around his neck and pulled him down to her mouth and closed her lips around his. She found the mask to be perfectly molded to his face and it moved with him, as if it wasn't even there. She forgot all about it as his mouth responded to hers.

He picked her up effortlessly as her legs closed around his waist. The warmth from her body permeated through him and he was very aware of her supple bosom crushed against his chest, his breath quickened as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Just then, a round of gunfire outside broke his mood and he dropped her suddenly. Damn bad timing, he thought.

"Stay here Cel." He ordered sharply. Through the cracked walls of the shack, he could just see a rather large bandit raiding party approaching his buzzard outside.

"Yeah right." she retorted, "You stay here, if they see you this will escalate pretty quickly. If they see me, well, at least the last thing they see will be a siren. It could be worse!" Jack chuckled as he admitted she was right.

Before he could move a muscle, she was outside. He peered out through the cracks. She was amazing. She moved so quickly, so smoothly. Every muscle in her body perfectly trained in her arts. He thought her motions were like a seductive dance, as her fire turned bandits and psychos to ash and they blew away on the wind. Suddenly a giant vortex of fire whirled like a tornado through the group tossing some aside like so much scrap paper, and drawing the rest up into it and spilling them out, charred to a crisp. Jack's jaw dropped in awe. Where had she been his whole life? Together they could be unstoppable. Within moments, the raiding party was decimated, and as the smoke cleared he could see Cel, crouched over, in the midst of the bodies.

He ran out to her. "Are you okay babe?" He asked, genuinely concerned, she looked very pale, well, more pale then usual.

She had taxed herself pretty good whipping out that fiery tornado. Knowing Handsome Jack himself was watching her, she had decided to show off a little and use some of her best moves from the arena. Snapping her fingers and lighting something on fire was one thing, but creating a moving object of fire itself and controlling it's movement was something else entirely. She could really use an Eridum fix right about now, but for some reason she felt too embarrassed to let Jack know about that.

"I just need a minute, I'll be fine." She tried to smile, but it was a weak attempt.

Jack's ECHO lit up and a message started coming through. "Uh, I'll be right back. You'll be okay for a sec?" He asked. Cel nodded, grateful not to have him staring at her awkwardly in her weakened state. He took the ECHO into the shack and she couldn't make out entirely what was going on, but Jack sounded very serious, almost angry, but when he came out, he was smiling.

"Well, Pumpkin, uh, I mean Cel. I just got some very important news on a project I've been working on for a while now. I have loved meeting you sweetie, but I've gotta go. Unless," he paused. Cel had managed to stand up, but looked as if she could topple over any minute. She wouldn't be much use blowing up a city right now, and oddly enough, he found that for a second he actually cared about her well being. He shook off the feeling quickly, like cold water after a shower. "I'll drop you off anywhere you like on my way out."

"Thanks Jack" Cel sighed slightly. "It's been fun." She managed a coy half smile, and he helped her back into the Buzzard and took off. In a few minutes they neared the camp she had made outside a small village.

"I'd better drop you off here," said Jack. "Wouldn't want to excite the locals too much."

"I get it." She held back the bitterness in her voice that this "date," if you could call it that, hadn't gone anywhere near according to plan. "See you round." She tried to sound cavalier. She knew she'd never see him again and for some reason that thought gave her an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I have loved meeting you my fiery siren, I'm sure we'll meet again." Jack winked as he took off in his buzzard. Yeah right, Cel thought. She walked into her cabin and flopped down on the hard, scratchy cot and was asleep before she knew it, dreaming of Jack and their almost-romance.

It was killing Jack to leave her behind. He had felt so alive with her, so whole. Watching her wield her powers was the most entrancing thing he had ever seen, and that kiss, wow. But he couldn't let some stupid personal feelings get in the way of his greater mission. He had to wipe the Crimson Raiders out of New Haven, and had to do it now, everything was in place and if they waited another day, it might be too late. If only she was not so weakened, she could have come along and shared this great moment with him, but as it was, she would only be a distraction. He would find her again, he promised himself.