Author's note: I should probably clarify, see, the exosuits that Leon and Carter have are based off of the exosuits featured in COD: Advanced Warfare and Leon's augmentations resemble the ones in the Deus Ex series. That being said, these pieces of technology, including the DNI's, are based off of real life experiments and the only thing I based off of the before mentioned titles are the basic designs and such, so it's not a copyright problem. Now that that's out of the way, to the story.

Back to the other Vault Hunters

"It's a legitimate strategy, but…" Axton finished his explanation. He noticed Gaige's mood as she picked up Leon's bloodied frame-like exosuit. Axton walked over to her and saw that tears were running down her cheek. He placed a hand on her shoulder, she looked up at him, her eyes were watering and more tears fell. "Hey, I'm sure he'll be alright. He's a fighter, I know it." She wiped her eyes and cheeks. "Do you really think so?" She asked, with a shred of hope in her tone. "I know so, after all, he said he's a soldier, right? Well, they are some tough dudes, especially from Earth. Before Gaige could say anything else, Maya came out. "Hey, he's stable now. Carter said you can come visit."

Axton stood up. "Come on, let's go visit him." Axton helped Gaige onto her feet with her still carrying Leon's exosuit. They walked into the house and saw Leon resting on the table with a towel laid over his waist for the sake of decency. Everyone with the exception of Maya, Hammerlock, and Carter had an expression of shock on their faces. They saw that all of his external wounds have healed and that a large portion of Leon's body was cybernetic in nature. Gaige was the first to speak. "What's with all those prosthetics?" "They look more like augmentation." Axton noted.

"Long story short; he was in the military, he was wounded, captured, then tortured, we rescued him, he received augmentations to serve as prosthetic so he could go into mercenary work." Carter explained.

Maya: "So, every piece of cybernetics he has is to repair or replace an injured body part."

Carter: "Limbs, organs, bones, you name it. Most of it is for repairing or enforcing instead of replacing."

Axton: "How did it happen?"

Carter paused: "I don't know if he would be comfortable with me sharing that."

Maya: "We understand."

Gaige: "Can you tell us why would he hide this from us?"

Carter: "Where we come from, Augs. (augmented people) aren't really persecuted, however, because of our line of work, his specific augmentations, and a certain terrorist group making a bad name for augs., some people viewed him as a warmonger or a potential terrorist."

Gaige: "That's awful."

Carter: "Yeah, it's getting late, we should get some rest."

Axton: "What about Leon?"

Carter: "He's fine, he just took some force to the head. He should be awake in the morning."

Zero: "Or now."

Everyone looked at Leon, who was beginning to stir. He moaned as he became animate and sat up. "Ow, where am I?" Leon finally spoke in a groggy voice. "You're in Hammerlocks house, there was an armed explosive on one of the bodies. Now, your external wounds have healed, but I want you to take it easy so I can check on everything else." Carter answered. He rubbed his head and tried to remove the fatigue and gunk from his eyes. That's when he noticed that his cybernetics were exposed.

Carter: "Are you alright?"

Leon: "My head hurts and I'm sore all over but, other than that I'm fine."

Carter: "That's good to hear."

Leon: "So I guess y'all know about me then, huh?"

All: *Assorted gestures of affirmation*

Carter: "I told them why you hid your augmentations, sorry."

Leon: "It's alright. Are you guys are alright with this?"

Maya: "As far as we're concerned, you're just like the rest of us."

Leon: "Ha, well thanks."

Axton: "No problem."

Leon: *Rubs eyes* "I could use some sleep."

Axton: "But, you were just sleeping."

Carter: "There's a difference between sleeping and healing."

Axton: "That's true, we secured the other houses and they have enough beds for each us."

Carter: "How many beds?"

Axton: "Eight; four in each of the houses that have one."

Leon: "What a convenient coincidence."

Everyone waited outside so Leon could get dressed. About a minute passed before Leon stepped outside. He was wearing a pair of tan combat boots, a dark-grey pair of khaki like pants, and a grey, loose fitting polyester tank-top that dropped just below his belt, the collar hugged the base of his neck, leaving his arms fully visible from the shoulder down.

Gaige: "Hey Leon."

Leon: "Hey Gaige."

Maya: "I'll admit that that's a good look for you, though I'm not sure it's cold oriented."

Carter: "Look who's talking."

Leon: "My augmentations don't feel harsh temperature changes and they maintain my body temperature."

Gaige: "Really? Now that's pretty cool."

Leon: *lightly blushes* "Uh, thanks."

Carter: "So let's discuss about the sleeping arrangements."

Maya: "Well, me and Gaige should at least sleep in one of the houses together, being the only women."

Gaige: "I'm good with that."

Axton: "Then that means that two of us guys has to share a house with you." Axton said in a flirty tone.

Maya & Gaige: "Carter and Leon." Without hesitation.

Axton: "Why them?"

Gaige: "They seem like the most gentlemen-like, so we don't have to worry about anything."

Maya: "Plus, with Leon in his current state, it's best not to separate him from the healers; Me and Carter."

Carter: "Aww, I'm flattered."

Leon: "I'm fine with that."

The Vault Hunters separated into their respective groups and entered the houses. Once inside, Gaige was the first to comment on their living situation. "Ugh, it stinks in here." "Well, that's to be expected when the previous owners were low-lifes." Maya chimed in. "I've slept in worse." Leon added. "Well, we have to make due. Sorry guys." Carter apologized. "Well it's better than nothing." Gaige said, trying to put things into perspective. They found two sets of bunk beds, Gaige and Maya took one with Maya on the bottom and Gaige on top, while Carter and Leon took the other, with Carter on the bottom and Leon on top. Once they laid down and got settled, Gaige spoke.

"Hey, we're going to be ok, right?" Leon looked at her and gave a reassuring smile. "Of course we will. I mean you got: two Earth mercenaries, an ex-Dahl commando, a Siren, a ninja as far as I know, a scary yet friendly psycho, a Pandoran native (need I say more), and you." Carter chimed in. "Speaking of Sirens; HA! In your face, Leon. What did you say on the train, 'The chances of meeting a Siren are zero.'? Welp, boom! In comes Maya." "Well Carter, mathematically speaking…" The girls looked at then gave each other amused smiles to the brotherly bickering. Maya chuckle, "Alright, you two. We should get some rest." Gaige giggled "Yeah, who knows what tomorrow is gonna be like. Goodnight everyone." Everyone answered with a goodnight. Leon looked up at the ceiling and thought about the events of that day and about the friends he had made, especially Gaige. She was the last thing he thought about before his HUD dimmed and fell asleep.