Zer0 was still stuck in Gaige's room, clothed in his sweatpants and boxers from the night before. He was sitting up in her bed as she was getting dressed, and that's when his morality hit him. What had he done to her? His hair was no longer in a ponytail, the long, dark tresses reaching his mid back. He casually glanced at Gaige, who in turn smiled at him before stifling a yawn.

Zer0 couldn't think of any certain thing. Did he steal her last piece of innocence, or give her something to latch onto and help her stay sane in times of need? Did she really need him, or was last night lust, desire?

He couldn't get it straight in his head. Nothing seemed right anymore; Zer0 was so used to being cold, calculated and a thing. Not a human- a warm, in the flesh man who had just suddenly slept with the person he would care for and protect. She was dealt a shit hand, and he'd tried everything in his power to protect her, make her happy.

Did this make her happy?

He could tell she was certainly… gleeful. She was arranging her ponies, humming a tune he couldn't recognize, and he suppressed a chuckle. He stretched, his pale form entering her vision once more. She turned to him, her hair still down from the night before. "Zer0, what's your real name."

Zer0's eyes widened at the question, which sounded more like a demand, and he shook his head. "I don't remember…" He half-lied. "I remember my codename because that's all I've been called for a little over a decade now." He sighed, never thinking being open to someone would be so difficult.

She whispered something he didn't quite catch, before she sat next to him, and wrapped his arms around him tightly. "It's okay. You'll still be you, even if all you remember is your assassin's name."

This confused Zer0. Still be him..?

"What do you mean?" He inquired, his olive eyes catching hers. "You know what this means, right?" She almost purred, sitting in his lap. His morality struck a chord with his heartstrings, but he continued on despite his guilt. "Spell it out for me." He said plainly.

She leaned against him, head lying in the space between his head and shoulder, her hair tickling his chin and jawline. While she was now dressed in her usual attire, minus the ragged jacket she used while exploring colder areas like the Tundra Express, she looked and felt different. Maybe it was the look in her eyes, or just how he couldn't see her as a girl anymore.

She was a woman, something that sparked fire in his soul that he thought was long forgotten. He couldn't decipher if this was love of a couple, or the love of someone like family. Her arms were wrapped firmly around his neck, her legs locked behind him. She kissed him once, twice, before his guilt rose and he had to let it out.

"Gaige, I can't." He sighed suddenly. "I don't know if this is right." He looked away from her, the pony figures he nearly chuckled at before becoming far more interesting. She let her head fall back onto his shoulder.

"Does this make you… happy, Gaige?" He asked sincerely, his eyes glancing down at her. She shuffled, and he felt her nod into his shoulder.

"Then I'll be happy." Zer0 said, and she rose her head from and looked at him. They stared at each other for a few seconds, before he kissed her on the forehead.

"I need my armor now. You have to keep this a big secret. Locked and key thrown away." He spoke to her seriously, and she giggled.

"Scout's honor." She said, and he grinned widely. "You have honor?" He chuckled.

Thus began the royal beat-down of the assassin.