Chapter 3:
Negotiations
By Gertzz
A story about the relationship between Rhys and Fiona from Tales From The Borderlands.
Rhys awoke. Heavy breathing, heart beating fast. He was in a dark place. He couldn't see further than a metre. Nothing was in view. His mind was blank, he doesn't remember anything. He probably doesn't even know his own name right now. Suddenly a voice was heard.
"You think you could get rid of me so easily huh?" the voice said while laughing. "You think you could get away from me!?"
It was a man. But he couldn't tell who. A blue light came into view. Rhys shook his head in shock and fear. No. it couldn't be. Could it?
"No" Rhys said backing away. He was shaking and was repeating his words, "No, no it can't be!" his head still shaking and his voice full of dread and horror.
"You miss me kiddo?" Jack said, his mouth curling into a ironic smile.
He couldn't believe it. He tried not to believe it. Rhys was starting to have violent visions of him taking over his body, tricking his friends, and possibly killing them. The thought of losing himself. It all scared him.
Jack started to walk towards him slowly. Rhys panicked and started turning round and running into the darkness, hoping to escape him. When he finally ran out of breath to keep going, he heard the man laughing hysterically in the background. Why? Why is this happening?
"you think that your safe now? Hiding behind your own actions? Well guess what? I'm still here. Maybe not in reality, but your head!" Jack shouted, full of rage.
"Your dead," Rhys mumbled to himself. "You can't hurt me can you? Yeah! You can't hurt me you son of a bitch!" he laughed quietly, staring at the floor beneath him. "I defeated you...once and for all."
Rhys walked towards Jack while smirking. "That maybe be so" Jack retorted. "I may not be able to hurt you," he took a step forward, looking Rhys in the eyes. "But I can break you!" his face suddenly dropped.
Those were the final words he said before Rhys suddenly woken up once again. He sprang up, breathing heavily. But this time, he was covered in his own sweat. He looked at his hands, he was shaking. It was just another nightmare.
He looked at the time on his alarm clock, next to his bed. It was 9:26am. He sighed and looked at the floor. His mind trying to process what just happened. But he knew it wasn't real, and that he wasn't actually in his head any more. But it still frightened him.
He got up slowly, and went to the closet to choose his outfit. He went into the shower to remove all of the sweat, and came out the bathroom wearing, a clean white t-shirt, a black blazer, smart black trousers, a black leather belt and a gold watch.
He put on his neck perfume and deodorant, making him smell like a famous celebrity! Which he technically was.
He left his apartment and when down to the garage where he picked which car he wanted to take. He was there for around five minutes, until he finally decided to choose a metallic, black and gold coloured car, that looked really smart for this occasion.
By this time, it was around 10:30 before he started driving out onto the road. He stopped a few minutes after he started driving, he was still in the ATLAS city (yes in this universe Rhys made multiple ATLAS cities, more about it in the notes) to pick up some nice red flowers, champagne and chocolates for the girls.
He reached Hollow Point twenty minutes later (10:54 to be exact) and parked the car next to the caravan. He brought the gifts with him and he locked his vehicle before standing in front of the entrance. He was standing on the steps of the caravan taking deep breaths before knocking on the door. His heart was beating like crazy. It wouldn't stop beating so quickly.
He felt someone moving towards the door. 'This is it' he thought.
The door quickly opened. And before he could say anything, he was pulled into a tight hug by Fiona. "I missed you so much you stupid high pitched...person." she said, holding him tighter.
"I-I missed you too Fiona," he replied, struggling to breath.
She let go of him after a moment of silence, "still shorter then me I see" he teased.
"Still full of shit I see," Fiona said, teasing back at him.
They both looked at each other and smiled, staring into each others beautiful, shiny eyes. They looked at each other with a comfortable silence for a few moments, before Fiona said, "I missed you." his smile widened.
"I missed you more," he retorted, still smiling.
She then allowed Rhys in, closing the door behind him.
"I brought you two some gifts." he said. She smiled seductively at him. Before gasping, her hand covering her mouth. She noticed how gorgeous the flowers were.
"Rhys, these flowers are amazing," she said in a surprised voice. "Where did you get these?"
"I have a gift shop in the ATLAS city," he said "I bought them for you." he continued.
"Wait..." she said. "You built your own city!?" she shouted, being shocked and gleeful at the same time.
"Yes ma'am," he replied, taking a bow.
She felt so turned on right now. She wanted to kiss him so badly. But she couldn't do that just yet, they only just met after a year.
"I..." she was too speechless to even talk properly. "I... don't know what to say," she finally said, her voice becoming more and more tight.
"Well" Rhys started, "I can take you and Sasha there after this, if you wanted to."
"YES!" she replied. She was so happy that she just wanted to straddle him and never let go. At some point she hoped to do that.
"Awesome...so shall we uh...get down to business?" he said pointing at the table. She suddenly came out her trance.
"Hmm? Oh yes, please sit down." she says. Taking the gifts and placing them down on the counter. "I want to thank you for the gifts by the way. It really means a lot" she added.
"What them?" he laughed a little, ignoring the compliment, "You and Sasha deserve much more then that!"
Okay. Now she just wanted to move him to the bedroom. He's so adorable and sweet she almost feels sorry for him.
"Your such a flirt," she said while blushing, her cheeks beginning to turn red. She took a seat right next to him at the caravan table. She looked at him, she couldn't help but notice how smart he looked. She felt so annoyed at herself for not wearing such smart clothes like him. She looked at herself, yep still wearing the same old clothes.
"So, where's Sasha?" Rhys begins. She thinks for a moment.
"Probably too busy making out with August." she says, smiling at him.
He catches her eye and laughs.
"Still the same old Fiona I know and lo-" he stops himself. He didn't want to give away that he loves her. It might make her feel weirded out, or she might not speak to him again. But Fiona knew exactly what he said. But she wasn't weirded out, she wasn't going to not speak to him again. She couldn't help but smile even more at the thought of her lover, loving her back.
"Well anyway," he starts again, "shall we get down to business?"
"Yes, of course!" she replies, stopping herself from daydreaming.
Rhys brings out a few folders and hands them to her. She cocks an eyebrow, looking confused.
"They are different jobs for you to choose from" he says. "You can choose which one you want to take and each job gives you different amounts of money," he adds.
She opens them and looks at the info.
Type of objective: gathering data
Objective:
Head to the following co-ordinates: (x) 4629 (y) 2613.
Proceed to awake the lost ATLAS facility.
Head into the facility and move to the command room.
Go to the withdraw terminal and open the blueprints folder.
Gather the blueprint: ET53-1R6N-NANO SUIT-FU6-9L1SZ
Once done, report back to MR. ATLAS in his office.
"I will need to come with you on these jobs because some parts are impossible to open without me." Rhys also adds.
She thought for a moment. Picturing herself with him again, going on their crazy adventures like the old times. She looks at him then smiles.
"I like the look of this one," she waves the paperwork around.
"Good choice," he says, smiling back at her. "I'll come round Monday to pick you up, that sound okay?"
"yeah, all right." she responds.
"Great!" he stands up. "Well, I'm really sorry to say, but I have a meeting in twenty five minutes, so I'm afraid I need to get going. can you tell Sasha I said hi please?"
Her heart stops. "O-okay." she says, looking a bit depressed. He notices and sits back down to hug her, "don't worry. I'll come back and check up on you two tomorrow." he says in a warm and gentle tone.
A warm sensation runs through her spine. His words were like honey to the ear. Those words were so important to her. It shows that he still cares, that he will always be there for them. 'He really does care like family,' she thought.
They both walk to the door. They smile at each other before starting one last conversation.
"What time would you like me to come round tomorrow?" he asks.
"How about 2:30?" she says.
"Sure thing," he makes a caring smile at her. Her heart started pounding rapidly.
She grabs hold of his blazer and does his buttons for him. Then she puts her hands on his shoulders and they catch each others gaze again, "don't stress yourself out at that meeting, okay?" She teases while smiling at him. He couldn't help but return.
"Yes ma'am" he responds, before pressing a faint kiss on her cheek. She blushes and goes as red as a tomato. He notices and laughs, before walking down the steps, unlocking his car, and driving off.
She closes the door, and smiles at how successful the day has went. She sits back down at the table, and looks at the gifts on the counter. She wants to see him again already.
Notes:
I just want to say, thank you for the support so far on this story! I intend on making around five or six more chapters before it's completed!
And yes as i said Rhys became that successful with the ATLAS corporation, that he has built cities in the name of his company. It is meant to be a cool futuristic 5 star city that is safe and contains everything you need. It even has Leisure activities like a swimming pool, spa etc. The houses aren't made of typical broken pieces of metal like in the real game. It's polished and is quite expensive for Pandoran natives.
Rhys is also a multi millionaire that has everything like a millionaire would in reality. Plus a little more cooler stuff as well. He is also now a lot more confident and can fight a lot better. However he still has the same personality as he did in the real game.
With that said, i hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know what you think!
Take care everybody!