AN: Hello everyone! Once again, thank you SO much for the kind reviews. I'm super stoked everyone is enjoying the story thus far :), it means so much to me. Keep em coming! I just wanted to check in with everyone here following, I know I said I was tossing the idea of a sequel around, but I'm actually kind of getting into a different fandom. Anyone a Witcher fan here? Was debating on starting a femslash Witcher story, if anyone would be into that lemme know in the comments!
Without further ado, chapter 21!
Chapter 21: Thousand Cuts
Maya awoke first. She also awoke with the happy realization that no nightmares had plagued her last night, despite the tragic events that unfolded the day previously. It was still dark in the apartment, but she could tell by the pinkish hues streaking the sky outside that it must be early morning. Lilith was still sound asleep beside her, facing the other wall. She traced her finger lazily around the blue tattoo that wrapped around her shoulder, before pressing a soft kiss to her bare skin. Lilith let out a hum of contentment, spurring Maya to place another kiss. And another.
She slid up until she was pressed against the back of the red head, reveling in how it felt to have her breasts against her warm skin. She snaked her hand to Lilith's middle and was rubbing slow circles on her stomach, inching her way up to her breasts.
"Mmmm, feeling frisky this morning killer?" Lilith said in a low voice, before rolling onto her back and smirking up at her lover.
Maya bit her lip and looked away shyly, "Maybe…"
Lilith wrapped her arms around Maya's neck and pulled her down, taking her lips into her own. She swiped her tongue at Lilith's blood red lips, pleading for entrance. The Siren happily obliged her and were now gently exploring each other. All the while Maya had shifted until she was k on top. She broke the kiss and looked down at her lover, her Goddess. She looked so beautiful laying there, her hair spread on the pillow below, her lips puffy from the kiss. It ignited a hunger within Maya and she dipped down and began to pepper kisses along the red heads jaw, leading down her neck. Lilith mewled in pleasure, her hands flying to the back of Maya's head encouraging her to continue.
She nibbled the surface of her skin lightly at her collarbone, before continuing down her soft chest. She knew what she wanted to do, she just hoped her Siren would like it. She hesitated for a moment before taking one of her soft pink nipples into her mouth and sucked lightly.
"Ahh! Maya…shit that feels good…" she whined. Maya was filled with a newfound confidence, her heart soaring knowing that she had that effect on the Siren. She swirled her tongue around causing Lilith's grip to tighten in her hair. Heat pulsed in her stomach when she dared to open her eyes and see the flushed face of her lover.
"M-Maya…please…"
Maya was entranced with the view of the red head, she would do anything for her. Anything.
"What?" she breathed, releasing from her breast. It stood stiff and swollen and heaved with every gasping breath. "tell me." She desperately needed to know.
"Can I…get myself off, on you?" Lilith said breathlessly.
Maya pushed her hair back, "get off?"
"Orgasm."
"O-on me?" the red head nodded.
"How? I mean, w-what do I do?"
Lilith captured her lips in a brief kiss, before positioning her legs one either side of one of Maya's own. She could feel the heat radiating from her core onto her leg, and the thought of her so close made her dizzy with excitement.
"Just k-keep doing what you're doing, I'll do the rest," Lilith said with a hint of desperation laced in her words.
Maya moved her attention to her other breast, taking her nipple between her lips and ran her tongue over the peak, sucking gently.
"Yes," Lilith breathed, arching her back to push her breast further into Maya's mouth. She let out a groan of her own when Lilith murmured in her ear, "yes, May-aahh, please, don't stop."
Maya was suddenly aware of the placement of Lilith's core to her leg, leaving a slick trail as she rubbed herself up and down in a slow rhythm. It drove Maya into a frenzy and she released her breast with a gasp, "Oh my God, Lilith, you're so….so wet," she whined. She dipped down and took a swollen nipple in her lips once again.
Lilith bucked involuntarily against her, as Maya grazed her stiff peak with her teeth. "Fuck! Ahhh, that's w-what you do to me…ahhh I need more!"
Her cries of pleasure shook Maya to her core; she began dripping with arousal herself, and she couldn't help but want to see what happened next. She ground herself into Lilith harder, moving her lips to the other breast. Her own core was pulsing now, desperately seeking the same pleasure as her Goddess was experiencing. Maya dragged her teeth across the tip of her nipple, causing her to shriek in pleasure.
"HAH! FUCK! Fuck Maya i-Im close…"
Close? Close to what?
Lilith had now lifted her hips from the bed, her rhythm growing in pace. "Maya please!" she cried desperately. Maya's free hand flew to Lilith's hip, pulling her harder into her leg. Maya was panting now herself, the breast long forgotten. She wished she could for Lilith, but she was too enthralled watching her. She shifted until they were face to face, Lilith's was alive with pleasure, her pupils were engorged and her jaw slack. She bit her lip, she couldn't tear her eyes away. She needed to see her, to see what happened.
Lilith began to move faster, clutching at Maya, desperate to find some semblance of stability. "I-I-fuck-!"
Her body began to shudder beneath her, and Maya held her tightly. Lilith sobbed and dug her nails into her back, "Maya! Maya, Maya, MAYA!"
She hears a sharp, breathless gasp and Lilith's legs squeeze her own as they trembled and her body quaked. Maya held her tightly as aftershocks ripped through her body, before she slowly settled into smaller twitches. She panted as she buried her face into Maya's neck.
"Oh fuck," Maya moaned. "D-did you…"
"Yes," Lilith breathed, "And it was fucking amazing."
Maya couldn't help but flush at the fond memory of the lovers this morning. She had to force herself to mask her current arousal as they were in the War Room about to be briefed. She found herself getting more and more distracted with every progression of their relationship. The Siren had been on her mind quite frequently before, but now it was bordering an obsession. Lilith was showing her all these new and exciting things, stirring up equally new and exciting feelings. After this morning, all she wanted to do was go back and do it again. Maybe more.
Maybe she was ready to take that plunge. To allow herself to indulge in the acts that were forbidden all her life. She loved Lilith, and was it not best to do it with someone you love?
She chewed her lip and glanced to Lilith who was engaged in an animate conversation with Axton, but she saw Maya from the corner of her eye and looked back at her, displaying a dazzling smile. Maya had to look away in order to maintain her composure.
Roland walked in, and it was time for her game face. She shoved all of her sexy thoughts deep in the back of her mind for the time being.
"Maya, take someone with you to thousand cuts-"
"Axton can go."
Maya was a little shocked at Lilith's willingness to stay behind. She wasn't upset by any means, she trusted fighting by Axton's side. She was, however, a little confused consider the fight Lilith had put up just the other day about going with on every mission to end all of this.
"Gotta keep him sharp," Lilith continued, winking at Axton.
"Hell yeah I'm always down!" Axton said with enthusiasm.
"Good, then its settled. Take this note to a bandit leader called the Slab King. He used to be a part of the Crimson Raiders until his methods got too brutal. I didn't think ripping Hyperion officials limb from limb in front of their loved ones was an effective way to get intel. He disagreed. Still, he owed me a favor, and he can help us get past the bunker outside Control Core Angel."
"No time like the present! Maya, I'm gonna go grab a runner, can you get the ammo on your way out?"
"Yeah, I'll be right down," she answered as everyone dispersed from the room, leaving her and Lilith. Maya put a hand to her hip, cocking her eyebrow. "Why the sudden change of heart?" she asked with a smile playing on her lips.
Lilith sighed and took both of Maya's hands in her own. "Maya, you're a certified badass. Your powers are unique to you, and can do things I cannot. I trust you to be out there, kicking ass yourself. I cant just watch you all the time, worrying myself for no reason. It's not fair on you, I think higher of you than that."
Maya's smile grew larger, "That's very sweet of you. Yes, you have no reason to worry. I can most definitely handle a few bandits."
Lilith smiled back and wrapped her arms around Maya, pulling her close and taking in everything that was her. "Just be careful please," she whispered.
"Always." She assured her. She suddenly had a nagging feeling in her stomach, something about what Lilith said, she couldn't put her finger on it. She did her best to suppress the uneasy feeling down, and didn't question it.
They had driven up to the entrance of Thousand Cuts in the west of the Highlands. They decided to proceed on foot from there.
Thousand Cuts was a large bandit settlement built high on a mountain; it contained many different levels and winding staircases and makeshift bridges. Judging by the vast amount of bandit huts and buildings-
"-Looks like it could be more than just a few bandits," Maya sighed.
"Yeah, but I mean, they're bandits. Easy pickins'." Axton said confidently.
Maya had to agree. Bandits were clumsy and always rushing themselves. They had no grasp on teamwork and organization, and they merely sprayed bullets with no great aim. Of all the threats they faced thus far, they agreed that bandits were the easiest targets. Even with such a large number.
They made their way through a large skull of a long dead animal following a path that led them to the first set of bandit huts. A few marauders and a bruiser tried to give them trouble, but they didn't have much to say once Maya put them in a phaselock and Axton's turret went to work. They even managed to shoot down a buzzard with ease when it came to investigate the commotion below.
They continued on, and God was the place ever dirty. Junk and steel lay piled up all around, and a hangar with barely a ceiling lay in the distance.
"Wait!" Axton hushed quickly, taking a crouch behind an overturned steel drum. Maya crouched beside him sporting a questioning look. "Wanna have some fun?" he said, gesturing ahead to the hanger. A burly Goliath patrolled in front of it, along with some marauders spread about the perimeter.
Maya nodded and smiled with glee as Axton removed his sniper rifle, firing off a carefully aimed shot right into the Goliaths helmet and knocking it clean off.
"DO IT! TAKE THIS THING OFF!" The now-raging Goliath roared, and he immediately turned on his fellow bandits, sending them flying with his massive fists. Bandits left and right were getting punched into pink mist, and Maya and Axton could barely contain their laughter.
The Goliath had beaten all his comrades into bloody pulps, and had now set his sights on the duo. Maya wipes her eyes, still busting up as she phaselocked the incoming beast and Axton blew him to bits with a shotgun blast.
"Fuck, that was great!" Maya giggled. "What next?"
Axton was still sporting a large grin, "Lemme check-"
As though on cue, Roland began to message through the echo. "Control core Angel is at the top of that mountain." They whirled around facing off the edge into an canyon where a large mountain stood on the far distance. "the Slab King is up on the other cliff. He can help us get inside the bunker outside the control core. Hopefully."
"Guess we gotta get to that cliff," Axton quipped.
They continued on through the Slab town causing somewhat of an uproar with a group of marauders.
"INTRUDER! WE GOT AN INTRUDER!"
A deep booming voice came through their echo, presumably the Slab King himself. "Intruder huh? Sounds like Hyperion sent another assassin! Alright boys, fight like badasses, or die like bitches!"
"You'll have to fight through the slabs to reach the King. Be careful."
But Maya and Axton had already blasted through everyone in the nearby area. These Slabs didn't stand a chance against the duo. If the Slab King wanted to get rid of them, he'd have to do better then that.
It was nearly nightfall as they made their way through the bandit camp, the Slab King taunting them all the way, until-
"YOU LET YOUR BOSS KNOW IM GONNA DO TO YOU, EXACTLY WHAT I DID TO HER, EXCEPT SLOWER! YOU- Wait what do you mean they arent from Hyperion? Ohhhh, must be a new recruit! All right boys, let's put em through the ringer!" the Slab King exclaimed.
Maya and Axton exchanged exasperated looks before Roland chimed in, "Oh yeah, the Slab King wont talk to you unless you join his gang. Just survive whatever initiations hes got planned for you then give him that note."
"Thanks for the heads up," Maya said, slightly irritated. She looked to Axton and rolled her eyes, "come on."
They had finally reached the cliff. Sat atop it was a large building with various scaffolding littering around the outside. Ammo boxes lay scattered along the edges, and they took the opportunity to stock up on supplies before entering.
Maya climbed up a set of metal steps with Axton closely behind. At the top on the catwalk was a hole in the floor leading into the building.
"Ladies first!" said Axton with a smirk. Maya just stuck her tongue out at him and jumped down the hole, landing in a large room with various walkways overhead. Jeering on the walkways stood nearly 10 Slabs, pointing and hollering at the pair, thirsty for blood.
"You made it to my throne room recruit, now it's time for the real initiation! SLABS!"
"Watch out, we got a badass!" Maya shouted to Axton, immediately running for cover behind some large crates Marauders came spilling into the room, a badass one leading the charge.
"Axton deploy your turret and cover me!" Maya stood from the crates and grabbed the badass in a phaselock. Axton deployed his turret which began spraying nearby enemies trying to close in. He stood up using a scoped assault rifle trying to get critical's on the badass still hung in the air, as Maya was shooting with her SMG. A carefully placed headshot blew off the badass' head, and Maya was just crouching down to reload when Axton raised his gun, "MAYA LOOK OUT!"
There was a huge explosion and intense heat as Maya was thrown forward from her cover, luckily landing behind a pillar not far. Her ears were ringing and she saw white spots in her vision, but her limbs were working as she stood shakily to her feet. Axton was mouthing something to her.
"WHAT?" she shouted over the chaos and the ringing.
"I said are you okay?! Fucking suicide psychos!" his voice still sounded far away, but she was glad she hadn't gone dead. Slowly the ringing was subsiding.
"Fuck!" she hissed, shaking her head as she stepped out from her cover to kill more bandits. One by one they were cut down with the duo's calculated shots, their skill far surpassing those of the Slab clan.
Until more flooded through. Maya had thought they would pass the initiation with ease, but she was quickly realizing the sheer number of troops the Slab King had at his disposal. She figured it was still nothing they couldn't handle, though there was a few close calls with some Goliath's and psychos.
Bloodied and bruised, the two stood panting, now on opposite ends of the room. They listened for the sound of more incoming Slab's, though all they heard was their own heavy breathing and the occasionally drip of blood that came off them. Maya still had her weapon raised and was glancing all around her, before looking to Axton to see if he was okay. He looked about as beat up as she did, but he was still standing and conscious.
The Slab King spoke, "you killed some of my best men, just to get to me. I only got one thing to say to you!" he roared, his voice now filling the room. Maya braced herself as did Axton, once again whirling around checking their surroundings. By the sound of it, the Slab King was about to pop out at any minute and try and kill the both of them. Their eyes went upward and saw a large figure sitting upon a throne decorated with lights. He donned a large helmet with horns, and to say he was massive was an understatement. He was larger than a raging Goliath, in fact Maya was sure that must be what he was at first. The walls shook with dust as he stood and slowly walked to the edge of the platform to face them.
"That…was….AWESOME!" he bellowed with great enthusiasm, before removing his helmet to reveal the scar ridden face of a man with short sandy hair. He leapt from the platform, landing in front of them with a mighty tremble.
"So what'chu want? Names Brick!"
Maya and Axron exchanged strange looks, considering this guys bandit clan had just tried to kill them.
"Uhm…Roland wanted us to give you this note," Maya said unsure.
"Ha, I was wondering when Roland would call in that favor. So, the bunker. Now that you two are one of us, my buzzards will help take er down. Go tell Roland I'm in!"
"Great job," Roland echoed them. With Brick on our side, we should have an easier time getting past the bunker protecting Angel. Come on back and we'll see about getting open that door that'll only open for Jack."
"Here, follow me out!" Brick exclaimed in his booming voice.
They made their way to a large garage door, stopping for some health boosters along the way.
"So you and Roland go way back huh?"
"Yeah me, Roland, Lilith and Mordecai actually. We came to Pandora to vault hunt together! Until creative differences lead us down separate paths. Oh well, I'm happy to be back fighting with the Crimson Raiders. Especially if it means taking down Hyperion."
Maya wondered to what it was like in those times. She wondered if she and Lilith could ever Vault hunt together too one day, once the fall of mankind stopped looming above them. Speak of the devil, Jack's sarcastic voice came unwelcoming over their echo devices, "So, the Vault hunters met the Slabs, what a lovely opportunity to kill 3 bandits with one mortar assault! Targeting beacons initialized. Beginning mortar bombardment."
Suddenly, loud explosions erupted all around as the beacons were shot to the earth.
"Aw crap! Slabs, we gotta stop those mortars or there wont be nobody left to help you with the bunker!" Brick shouted to them. He quickly busied himself unlocking the door to rip it open.
Lilith's sweet voice came onto Maya's echo, "Maya? Are you okay?"
Maya gulped, "Jack's set a mortar assault on us. Don't worry, were getting out of here. I'm coming back to you." She said firmly.
"Just stay near Brick and you'll be fine. Hes a good ally on the battlefield. Even if his methods are a little…different."
He tried to get us killed! "Heh, you got that right. Cant wait to tell you all about it."
Brick opened the mighty door, and turned back to them, "We gotta destroy those beacons, and we gotta move fast! Stay close and fucking RUN!"
They ran from the shelter of the building and back down the cliff through the Slab towns. Explosions set off all around them, gun loaders and war loaders were being shot down from the sky, but they just kept running. Now and then Brick would impressively punch one that landed close enough, his arm going right through and breaking the machine in half.
The mortars started coming down, causing large explosions all around them. One wrong step, one wrong move and they would be blown to smithereens. They ducked and weaved through the towns avoiding the mortar fire, and it was terrifying and exhilarating and dare Maya say, fun.
Axton and Brick sported large grins as well, laughing as they made leaps and bounds down the hills. Maya couldn't help but laugh along, pulling out a pistol and shooting scattered loaders along the way. Coming to Thousand Cuts was the most fun she had in awhile, overall it had been a good day even during their bloody initiation. It was a fun challenge.
They found the first beacon in the first little bandit town. A little ways further, they found the second one. The last one wasn't far now.
They kept running through the settlements as hellfire rained down on them, but the dodged it every time. Maya couldn't imagine how pissed Jack must be.
They found the last one near their way out. Brick used his mighty fists and tore down the beacons shield, while Maya and Axton went to work destroying it with caustic weaponry.
The beacon exploded and Jack snarled with anger, "COME ON! How hard is it to wipe out two Vault hunters and a walking slab of meat? GET EM!"
Loaders began to surround them, giving Maya a flashback to how this turned out last time. But this time they were three strong, and Brick jumped from Loader to loader, smashing them into pieces. With newfound confidence she pulled out her shotgun and began blowing some apart herself. Axton released his turret and began firing his assault rifle. Together they were a never ending barrage of destruction, no matter how many loaders Jack sent none of them stood a chance. Jack was silent when they finished the last of them, but they knew it was only a matter of time before his next appearance.
Together they ran back through the skeletal remains of the unknown beast, until they reached the fast travel network.
"Holy shit!" Axton exclaimed. "I gotta say, that was awesome!"
Maya had to agree, "That was the most entertaining encounter with Hyperion I've ever had."
Brick let out a booming laugh. "it was a good time fighting with you two! You guys are some serious badass Slabs. You've earned it. I am sorry though about the whole initiation thing, but hey you guys proved it was a piece of cake!"
Maya was proud to be a Slab today. Looking to Axton, she knew he felt the same. She clapped the two men on the back, smiling fondly at them. "Well guys, it was a successful day, but I could really use a shower. Come on, let's get the hell home."