The dream was back.

Axton stared from behind a TV screen, watching as Troy Calypso choked the life out of her. He flashed the camera a hideous, evil sneer as his Siren tattoos flared, burning the woman out of existence. Axton pounded on the glass, screaming until his throat was raw, punching the screen until his knuckles bled. Troy just looked at him and laughed. Maya looked at him too, her eyes pleading for help, a silent scream escaping her lips as her skin turned to ash.

"What's wrong, you goddamn has-been?" Troy taunted, his hand tightening around Maya's throat. "Come on. Do something about it."

Maya's eyes fought to stay open. A hand reached out towards the screen. Towards him.

No, Axton thought. I won't lose her again.

His fist punched through the screen, sending glass flying across the floor of the Forgotten Basilica. For just a moment-a brief, glorious moment-Axton saw fear in the Calypso's eyes.

Troy dropped Maya, the fear swiftly fading from his eyes, replaced with a cocky grin.

"I never thought I'd get to kill two Vault Hunters in one day. Let's see how much blood you got in you!" Troy said, his mechanical arm throwing a right hook at Axton's face.

Axton neatly ducked under it, rolling behind the God-King. Axton reached out, grabbing a handful of cord from the mechanical arm and tugging hard. It came out with a satisfying pop, spurting oil onto the floor. The arm sagged to the ground. Troy turned, a flash of anger on his face as his tattooed left arm threw a punch. Axton grabbed his hand, yanking the younger man toward him and uppercutting his exposed torso. Axton didn't talk, didn't taunt the man. He just hurt him. Even unarmed, without weapons or his trusty turret, he was still a Dahl commando. Troy wheezed, the air rushing out of him as Axton hit him again, then again, then gave him a devastating punch to the liver. Troy fell to the ground in the pool of oil, coughing and trying to crawl away with his one good arm. Axton wouldn't let him. He reached out, grabbing a handful of Troy's long hair and bringing his knee into the bridge of Troy's nose. He rolled the suffering half-Siren over, planting a knee on his back, taking his head in both hands and slamming his face onto the stone floor over and over again. He grunted with exertion, driving soft flesh onto unforgiving stone even as the man drowned in a mixture of oil and his own blood. Troy spluttered the horrible mixture out of his mangled mouth, flailing with his left arm, trying to grab something, anything, to get the commando off of him. He never got the chance.

Troy Calypso, God-King of the bandits, had been interrupted, humiliated, and brutally beaten to death on his own livestream. Tyreen screamed, tossing Ava to the ground and teleporting away.

Axton panted with exertion, standing and approaching Maya, who still lay where she fell. He knelt by her side, brushing a lock of blue hair out of her face. Her eyes fluttered open, a weak smile spreading across her blue lips.

"Axton?" she managed as he wrapped his arms around her.

"It's alright." he told her, flashing her a grin. "I'm here."

The two Vault Hunters stared into each others' eyes, both of them leaning in for a kiss. Ava looked on, smiling to herself. Maya had never told her about her and Axton, but she'd always had an idea.

They pulled away, and Maya smirked.

"Axton? Is that thing still streaming?" she said, looking over at the camera-bot, which hovered nearby, camera focused on the pair.

"Yeah. Yeah, I think so."

"I think it was about time everybody knew, anyway."

He laughed. "You're probably right. Once we're done here...you wouldn't want to go out for dinner with me, would you?"

"I'd like that, Buck." Maya said. "Buck." she repeated. "Buck."

His eyes opened and he was alone.

"Buck. We've arrived." Pat said, her mechanized voice blaring over the intercom.

Axton sighed, swinging his legs over the side of the cot and standing up. He walked to the cockpit, staring out at the planet of Hieronymous through the window.
The dream was different this time. Most nights, he never broke the glass. He watched, helpless, as Troy choked the life out of Maya. He'd never fought Troy, never won. Never kissed her again.

He put a hand on the glass, reaching out towards his home planet.

I'm coming for you, gorgeous. he thought to himself. I'll never let anybody hurt you again.

He could almost hear her yelling at him.

I'm not a damsel in distress, Axton. I can handle myself. she'd say.

I know, I know. he'd reply. But I'm a guy. Can't help it.

Then he'd kiss her underneath the Pandora sunset and everything would be alright again.