Hey preceptormyth101 here! So this is ch.3 of my Borderlands fic. Sorry it took so long, but actually it came out a little faster due to the reviews and suport people have sent me via pms and reviews. Thanks for the support guys, I really do apprcaite it. Also, I wanted to post this up before Borderlands 2 arrive so I can get some time playing it :). Really excited about the game and hope you guys are to. Anyway enough of my blabbering and on to the show!
Chapter 03: Knowing a Goddess
Mordecai blinked, watching the girl tear apart a dead Skag as she dug in to eat it. Heart, livers, and intestines were thrown about the place as she continued to feed upon the beast. Her sleek body was covered entirely in crimson blood as she ripped apart the corpse with her razor sharp claws.
"Damn it!" the girl, Bloodwing; Mordecai mentally corrected, yelled in frustration as she spat out the organs. "This tastes disgusting!"
Unsure of the sight before him, Mordecai, shaking his head, asked hesitantly, "You are Bloodwing right?"
The girl blinked, wondering as why the hell he was asking such a dumb question. "No, I'm the shitty pheasant who's been sitting in your pocket this whole time."
Mordecai continued to shake his head in shock. First, Bloodwing who should rightfully be dead was alive. Second, Bloodwing was a girl. Third, Bloodwing was a fucking girl! Guess, he should've checked the gender after all.
Pushing away the bloody carcass, Bloodwing, disgusted by the taste, asked angrily, "So why the hell am I human anyway?"
"How the shit would I know?" Mordecai retorted, his voice suddenly filled with emotion that had once disappeared. He didn't know why but just talking and being with Bloodwing made him feel like his old self again. Not like that was much of a change from his former self granted. No...even that was wrong. It made him feel like he could really open up to someone. He was even having a regular conversation. Imagine that.
"You're human, aren't you?" Bloodwing said, still angry. She said it as if those simple words explained how he should have known exactly with every single detail what was happening to her.
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" the hunter demanded indignantly, his earlier surprise replaced by an annoyance of being yelled at by who-knows-what for God-knows-what.
Bloodwing shrugged, her impressive slightly bouncing causing even Mordecai to take a small look. "Hell, I don't know. You humans are weird. You rape each others' butts."
Caught off guard by her unusual comment, the poacher blinked, trying to rearrange his thoughts to fashion a response that would somehow answer such a peculiar reason. Hell, he just wanted to figure out what she was saying. "What?"
The ex-bird shrugged again, causing another bounce. "Don't think I haven't seen you and that clown going at each other like Skags in heat. Disgusting." There was something in her voice that wasn't revulsion, but Mordecai didn't really know nor care at the moment.
Clown? What clow-... "Moxxi? You mean Mad Moxxi?" Mordecai asked, piecing what Bloodwing accused together. Why the hell did she come up?
Giving him a look that the answer should've been obvious, Bloodwing rolled her eyes. "Trust me, even as a bird, I know things are suppose to go out from that end not in it." Great, so she had seen them. "Raping her asshole, disgusting," she muttered darkly, revolted by the thought.
Mordecai motioned Bloodwing to stop with his left hand, his other grasping his forehead in thought. "Wait...you watched me and Moxxi fuck?"
"Yeah? So what?" she asked, giving him a slightly curious look while she crossed her arms across her breasts. "I'm a bird you know. I don't give a *squawk* when you guys rut each other."
Mordecai sighed, trying to figure what the hell was wrong with this situation. Well, guess the only thing he could do now was deal with it. God, he hadn't felt this much annoyance since...never mind. "Well, first, let's see if I have any clothes for you and maybe something for you to wipe all that fucking blood off."
Bloodwing tilted her head in a bird-like fashion, her red eyes examining him. "What is 'clothes'?"
Oh god, this was going to be a long night.
-Smooth Transition-
"So now, I have these...'clothes' and watch where I take a poop? *Squawk*, being human is annoying," Bloodwing complained loudly, standing with her arms crossed. "I even have to leave my food on a shitty fire to eat it?! *SQUAWK*!"
Mordecai rolled his eyes. This was Bloodwing, his Bloodwing? Well at least she wasn't a naked guy or things would be really awkward. "Yeah, that's called cooking, and-Don't mess with that!"
Slightly annoyed at both her current predicament and being ordered around, Bloodwing stopped fiddling with the edge of the brown cloak that had been wrapped around her neck to her knees, hinting at her curves well still protecting her from the wind. "God, how do you *squawk*ing live with this? It's so itchy!"
Sighing, Mordecai crouched and used his hands to fumble in his traveling pack, trying to find something. "You'll get use to it." After a second of searching, the poacher's hand finally found the familiar cool grip in his hand. "You'll also need a gun," Mordecai said as he pulled his hand out of the bag, revealing a small pistol. "Here."
Rolling her eyes at Mordecai's outstretched hand that held the gun, Bloodwing commented, "One problem with your big shitty plan here. No hands." She shook her talons in his direction, emphasizing her point.
Mordecai stared at her talons, lost in thought at how she would hold a gun with only three 'fingers'. "Just hold on to it for now," mumbling, Mordecai tossed the gun toward Bloodwing.
Instinctively, Bloodwing grabbed the gun in midair with both claws, seeing that one wouldn't be enough to hold it. Yet, it wasn't the talons that caught it. It was a human hands. Two long, lithe, and smooth five-fingered hands.
"*SQAUWK*!" Bloodwing yelped, dropping the gun just as quickly as she had caught it. Moving her hand closer to her face, Bloodwing gazed at it wonderingly, turning and twisting it so as to see every inch of smooth skin. Bloodwing looked to Mordecai who was just as equally shocked as she was.
"How the hell did you do that?" Mordecai asked, his eyes following her hands as he bent to grab her gun.
Bloodwing shrugged slowly, unsure of herself how she did it as her eyes still studied her newly made hands. "I don't know. It just...happened."
Giving Bloodwing's hands a last glance, Mordecai, giving Bloodwing her gun who placed it hidden within her clothes, sighed and said, "You know, I can't keep calling you Bloodwing forever. You need a name."
Dropping her hands to her side, Bloodwing tilted her head, confused at Mordecai's meaning. "What? What the hell is wrong with my name?"
Rummaging in this sack again, Mordecai brought out a pair of goggles. "Here, these will shield your eyes from the sand." Waiting until Bloodwing put them on, Mordecai continued, patiently, "As a human, you aren't called 'Bloodwing' cause 'Bloodwing' is a name of a bird not a human."
Bloodwing rolled her eyes. "Oh, when did you get all *squawk*ing smart, Mordecai?" Yet, despite her comment, Bloodwing uncomfortably shifted her weight form each foot and asked, hesitantly, "So what's my name going to be?"
For a second, Mordecai drew a blank in his head, never really thinking of any good female names. Well, Busty Beatrice and Slutty Susie didn't count. They were whores. Yet, one name did come to mind. An old name that he once remembered back in his childhood when he had been some crazy geek with a passion for mythology instead of guns, alcohol, and women.
"Athena," Mordecai spoke softly. Athena...The beautiful Goddess of wisdom, courage, and, above all else, war. A name that still meant something to him...odd.
Somehow though, Bloodwing heard his soft utterance. "'Athena'? Well, guess it's better than Furball." With a slight shrug of her shoulders, the newly christened Athena toyed with the gun in her hand a bit, waiting for Mordecai to get ready.
Holding back a slight genuine smile, Mordecai was surprise that he even could do that anymore. It was weird, but he felt whole again. Not completely socially active, granted, but whole. He hadn't felt like this ever since he had been rejected by her...
For once, her face didn't haunt his thoughts. Now there was a new face. A face of an old companion and friend who he knew and trusted. Surprising isn't it? He found it easier to trust an endangered, hostile puffball than any other human alive. That wasn't in the plan.
Still remember that? The plan? Well, Mordecai finally found it once again. He opened up the plan, smoothing the edges with Athena's name in the middle, and now he was ready to finally complete it. Now he had everything he wanted. Guns, Freedom, and, perhaps; most of all, a puffball now christened Athena to share it with.
-Smooth Transition-
"Why the *squawk* are we back here, Mordecai?" Athena, her goggles resting at the base of her smooth neck, asked, annoyed for some reason as her arms were crossed in the now stopped car.
Mordecai shrugged as he turned off the ignition with a simple twist. "I still need to collect the pay from Mad Moxxi." Well, he had killed the Professor, but Moxxi would forgive him. She had a soft spot for him.
Athena rolled her eyes. "So, what, did you forget at all what happened just a day ago? One of her own *squawk*ing guys just tried to kill you and sell me off as some sort of pet!" Shaking her head, Athena with anger continued, "She's going to try again, and next time I might not be able to save you."
"She's wasn't trying to kill me," Mordecai said, defending Moxxi due to the knowledge that Moxxi wouldn't have thought of a complex and irregular way to kill him. "She would've done a much simpler job like pushing me through a tree shredder or run me over."
Again, Athena's eyes made another circuit. "You're just saying that to protect your anal buddy." Grumbling, the ex-bird turned away from Mordecai. "Hell, I get it. She wasn't trying to kill you just trying to set you up to *squawk*ing die!"
Mordecai was about to retort but, seeing Bloodwing's backside that brimmed with rage, thought better of it. He couldn't leave Bloodwing in the car since she was an exotic beauty and a rarity that would have any bounty hunter chasing after her. So it was time for a different approach. "Since you don't want to go, I guess I won't be able to treat you to an expensive drink."
"'Drink'?" Athena asked hesitantly. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What kind of 'expensive drink'?"
Mordecai shrugged. "No, never mind. Since you becoming human gives us a chance to celebrate, I thought that you might've wanted something nice to drink." Mordecai shook his head, doing his best to hide his inward amusement at Athena's love for alcohol. He had never seen a bird drunk before. First time for everything. "My mistake. Leaving the car, Mordecai walked toward the direction of the bar.
"Hey! Wait up!"
It was a good thing that she was following. He needed to keep an eye on her since she was half bird and half human. A hybrid. And something that would sell at a very high price on any market, legal or illegal. Especially with such beauty. No, he needed to keep her close. She was the one of only few things he had left.
-Smooth Transition-
Silently, Mordecai sat down in the wooden chair, nodding toward the same bartender he saw every single time he came. The bartender didn't comment, yet he was surprised at Mordecai's sudden change in seating and his choice of companion.
With a relaxed sigh, Athena collapsed on the chair, tired of using her new legs. Walking was a new thing and, as Bloodwing learned, something that couldn't be taken very lightly. When she was a bird, getting around had been easy. A simple hop and flap and she was there. Now, traveling was now starting to screw her.
That wasn't the only thing that was screwing her. Her looks were just as deadly. Just awkwardly walking into the bar had caused all the patrons to stare at her even if the cloak hiding most of her figure. He had brought her in the bar so she wouldn't attract too much attention outside, but now it seemed that his plan hadn't worked either. There were few women on Pandora and, fewer still, beauties, mostly due to the mobs of bandits that frequently raped and killed the women.
Even without looking, Mordecai could feel all the bar's patrons lay eyes upon Bloodwing, especially since her chest was heaving back and forth. Guess walking was much harder for a bird than he had thought.
Oblivious to all the lecherous stares and leers being sent her way, Bloodwing huffed and then glared at her keeper, daring him to say something about her 'condition'. "What's the *squawk* you looking at?"
Wisely, Mordecai, already callous to such *squawk*s from along Bloodwing's and his ride to the city, did not bother answering her. Instead, he slowly tapped a finger against the scratched table, making a small thud sound every time his finger went down.
Bloodwing tilted her head in a bird-like fashion, trying to figure out what Mordecai was doing.
To Bloodwing's surprise, the bartender appeared out of nowhere, smiling with sweat pouring down his scalp. "Yes, Mr. Mordecai?" It was obviously the first time the bartender had to ever take Mordecai's order in such a manner. The frightened man was more used to a silent and undemanding hunter that would drink simple tea; but, with Mordecai as a customer he was afraid that if he messed anything up or showed the slightest amount of respect...well...the bartender was afraid for any future kids he may want to have.
"You're best whiskey," Mordecai said softly yet hard as steel. It was the voice that commanded respect and perhaps warn people of possible dangers that he or she may be coming in contact with.
"Of course, sir." The bartender nodded, slightly bowing as he shuffled back to the counter.
Bloodwing, slightly impressed by the display of respect, leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. "So what now?"
"Like I said, we get the money." Mordecai nodded to the returning bartender as he shakily placed two cups and a large bottle of whiskey that had been imported all the way from Earth. The bartender had to keep his hand steady as he poured the liquid into the two crystal clear cups. Hiding his relieved sigh, the pourer bowed and placed the bottle of whiskey on the table before returning back to his counter, trying to remind himself that he was still standing.
Athena rolled her eyes and glanced around, finally feeling the stares pointed at her. Shaking her head in bewilderment on why all human males were so ugly compared to a massive hawk, the ex-bird grabbed the glass and slowly let the liquid slid down from the cup and into her mouth at the same time Mordecai, who had decided to indulge in his alcoholic desires, did. A couple of shots wouldn't hurt.
As she drank, she could feel the slight burning sensation running down her throat and the warmth that liquid brought to the body. Licking her lips, Athena was about to pour herself some more, but suddenly notice one of the men behind Mordecai get up. It wasn't a man, more like a boy who had barely begin to shave. In addition, he had a pistol holstered at his waist. Sitting back in her chair, Athena slightly smiled, knowing that she was about to be amused by the foolish boy. She had seen many who have tried to come and prove their manhood by taunting 'Saint' Mordecai. This was going to be fun to watch.
Slamming his hands on the table causing the drinks to slightly rock, the foolish stranger glared at Mordecai, who was placing his cup back down, for a moment, trying to show some bravado, and then shifted his gaze to Bloodwing, his eyes going up and down her tantalizing form which were obviously trying to imagine what was under her makeshift clothes.
"Hey, girl. Why don't you sit with some real men?" the boy asked, trying to make his voice lower.
Bloodwing snorted, still holding onto her filled glass. "Funny, you find any yet? Also, shithead, I'm happy right here." Before downing her shot, Athena glanced at the boy and scowled in disgust before adding, "Besides you're too short."
The men in the pub laughed, damaging the bloated ego of the boy. Fuming, the boy childishly countered, "Fuck you. You're so damn tall and fucking ugly that have you been mistook you for a man?"
"No, have you?" This caused another round of laughter and caused the boy to turn red in anger.
Needing some way to restore his pride, the foolish gunslinger tried his luck with Mordecai. "What's the hell is wrong with you, old man? You look like a fucking masochist with those goggles. I bet you love having her whip you like a fucking dog."
Mordecai sipped his drink, quietly. He didn't turn to even give the boy the slightest amount of acknowledgement. Taking another sip, Mordecai nonchalantly shot the boy.
"AGGHH!" the boy shrilly screamed as he fell to the floor, clutching his bleeding leg.
Two men who must've known the fool stood up with their hands going for their weapons. Both froze as Mordecai pointed his gun at them.
"Get him out," Mordecai told them, slightly motioning toward the cursing, bleeding boy. The unspoken words of 'before I kill all of you' did not go unnoticed by the friends of the boy.
With sullen and frighten looks, the men grabbed their friend and dragged him out of the bar. Yet it did not stop the boy from yelling revenge at Mordecai and other profanities," I'm going to fucking kill you, you fucking retard! You hear me! I'm going to-" He didn't get to finish as Bloodwing took out her gun and fired at the boy's unhurt leg. "AGGHH!" The crying fool was rushed out by his friends before he got himself in anymore trouble, leaving a blood trail behind.
Laughing, Athena holstered her weapon, smiling at Mordecai. "Oh god, did you see his face when I shot him? He looked like he thought he was going to die!" The ex-bird's amusement died down to a chuckle as she poured herself some more whiskey, leaning back in her chair.
Slowly placing his magnum back into its hostler, Mordecai laid his arms against the table, folding his hands. "Nice shot," he replied stoically, a hint of a smile crossing his lips.
Bloodwing rolled her eyes, holding the cup. "You expect anything less from me?" Although Mordecai did not have an exasperated look on his face, Athena could easily tell from years of experience that he was hiding one. It was still odd being able to speak to him after so many years of their one-sided communication when she had been a bird, but it felt like they have been doing this all their lives. She understood everything about him, his flaws, his weaknesses. Though, she had just turned human, he knew most things about her. She was definitely not going to tell him how long her tail feathers were. That was inappropriate.
Chuckling, Athena noticed something preoccupying Mordecai's gaze. Even though she could not see the hunter's gaze, by the slight shifting in his shoulders and grasping of his unusually unsteady hand for his gun, she could tell something was up, and by the hushing from the other patrons in the crowd someone had just walked into the bar.
"Hello, Mordy."
End
So that was the end of the third chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. I know this may seem like a filler chapter since many people have been waiting for Mordecai and Lilith to meet each other again. Yet, believe it or not, this does have importance in some ways. Also, I noticed that this chapter is much smaller than the previous ones. I know I can actually see how many pages there are. But, the next chapter will be filled with their meeting and a surprise guest, Mr. Handsome Jack. It will be one of the biggest highlights of the fanfic so I didn't want to spoil anything in this chapter. Anyway hoped you enjoyed this chapter and R&R! Cause I love the support ..
Also just wanted to ask but what do you guys think Bloodwing's weapon of choice should be? Most reviewed/voted on will be the winner :). If no one reivews or votes...I'll be sad :( and then I'll have to actually think her up one.
BIG THING *spoilers* RIGHT HERE!::::::::::::::::
Ok people, for those who have the courage to look at this page, Gearbox was being a dick and not looking at the fanfic. By an overwhelming count of...who knows what, Mordecaia and Lilith even though most people prefer the negative of the statment ARE NOT...I repeat...ARE NOT...in a relationship. It's Roland and Lilith. Where the freak did Roland come from?! This is so messed up...just messed up. I don't even want to talk about it anymore...
Anyway...that was my rage sequence. Hope you all enjoyed. And just by the way, Roland and Lilith...not a good pairing. Psychopaths unite! MordyxLil all the way! Make the pairing real in Borderlands 3 by writing a ton of Mordecai and Lilith, people. Support the Siren Hunter! Support the LilMord!