CHAPTER 19

It was well into the Pandoran night when Montayva woke again. As she lay on the well used mattress, she let her eyes adjust to the pale flickering light coming from the main room. She sat up, rubbing her fists into her eyes. Her head was still a little dizzy, but she had made a vast improvement, she noted. Her stomach also felt calmer, no doubt the emptying of its contents aided in that.
She stood tentively and took a few steps toward the door. Mordecai was in the same position that she had last seen him, though his head had lulled back as he had fallen asleep. He snored softly, as did Junior beside him! Montayva smiled at the pair. She remembered how often she had found her father asleep in front of the television, the thought warmed her heart. Maybe that was the reason she felt a draw towards the hunter. There were alot of similarities between him and her father. It tore her apart seeing her father plummet into the horrid depression in their last few years together. Maybe that was the reason she felt she should help the hunter, if she could. He had a kind heart. But Pandora's harsh clime had a way of changing people. Imprinting itself upon them, forever leaving its cruel mark.

She sat carefully beside them, as to not wake the pair. She curled up in what little space she had left on the couch, using Mords lap as a pillow. She fell back into a dreamless, but peaceful, sleep.

She woke up feeling much better, and it only took her a moment to realise where she was. Mordecai was awake, his hand rested lightly on her shoulder.
'What time is it?' She asked drowsily, not moving.

'A little after midnight' He replied. Montayva sighed, drawing a last piece of comfort from his touch before sitting up. He had taken off his goggles at some point, she realized, and his piercing blue eyes gazed at her wearily. She could feel his confusion, his frustration, but still his sadness at the forefront of it all.

'Guess we had better get ourselves organised then?' She stretched slowly, trying to wake her tired limbs.

'Yeah, spose so' Mordecai was the first to stand, he made his way down to the little kitchenette, and switched a gas burner on. He jumped at the voice behind him, not realizing Montayva had followed him.

'You are so confused, why?' Montayva broached the subject with him. Mordecai slumped over the short counter.

'Well, I dunno. You! This whole, situation' He couldnt think of a way to express himself. Montayva stood opposite him, and took his hand in hers.

'Me?' She asked, not quite understanding which part or the situation he referred to.

'I just..., this whole touchy-feely business. I just dont deal with this sort of crap well' He spoke softly, his past hurts reminding him why he didn't like these situations.

'I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable' She apologized gazing at his hand. Mordecai shrugged as if it wasn't that much of a big deal.

'I just dont know where I stand with you, is all' He, too, was watching their hands. He turned her palm facing up, he traced his thumb across the blue tattoo that ended in a spiral on her palm. It shimmered as if responding to his touch. 'You turn up and act all mysterious like, you read me like an open book, then I'm here left in the dark.' He sighed 'I've never been any good with the ladies anyhow'

'Well, perhaps I should clear things up for you?' She asked. Mordecai scoffed.

'Saying that kinda thing already does' He chuckled at the irony.

'No, far from it' She began. 'You remind me alot of my father. He too, fell into a void, no one to help him out. The whole time I knew it was because of me. Because I was the reason my mother wasn't there for him anymore. He had lost the love of his life because of something that he felt partly responsible for. And as I got older, he had no idea how to explain to me what was happening to me. Or how to tell me that I had killed my own mother' She paused, Mordecai frowned, and for a moment was glad he had no family. His family were the others vault hunters. They had stuck by him, through everything. And he suddenly realized what a dick he had become. He had shut them all out for his own selfish reasons, and they continued to be the rocks they had always been. Ignoring his cranky moods, even when they had been through times of hurt as equally difficult as his had been. As Montayva felt the weight lifting from within him, she smiled encouragingly. 'I wanted to help you' She whispered. 'From that very first moment I felt your sorrow. I wanted to help you because I was never able to help my father.'

'I think I understand now' He sighed, but smiled his thanks at the girl. She smiled back, and she knew that she had achieved what she never had with her father. She breached the distance between them, and hugged him instinctively, tucking her face into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her in return, and for the first time in so long, allowed himself to feel happiness. Montayva drew back when she felt the rumbling in his chest that indicated he was trying to suppress laughter.

'It's that funny?' She queried. He burst into a fit of laughter as she looked at him, puzzled.

'No!' He pointed to her face 'But your nose is' And she reached up to gingerly touch her slightly swollen and bruised nose.

'Oh' She smiled 'I had forgotten about that' She admitted, taking a seat at the small square table across the room.

Junior had made his way down, and pulled himself up her leg to perch on her lap. She patted him gently.
When Mordecai's fit of laughter had subsided, he set to boiling water in the kettle. He found two mugs, and a powdered substance with a strong smell, in a nearby cupboard.

'What is that?' Montayva asked curiously, having never encountered it.

'Coffee' He started 'Or at least its Pandora's equivalent' He added. 'Miracle hangover cure, I also call it'

'Hangover cure? Do you still feel hungover?' She asked.

'No, but i'll drink it anyway' He shrugged. 'That Tina' He began, shaking his head. 'Crazy as batshit, but usually harmless enough.'

'She was just lonely' Montayva said defensively.

'You know, you really are too soft hearted' He told her truthfully.

'Nah, I am plenty tough enough to take care of myself' She took the mug that he offered, brimming with the hot brown liquad.
The hunter sat opposite her, and his pet crawled onto the table and curried across to greet him.

'I cant decipher that thought' Montayva frowned as Mordecai stared off into space. He chuckled.

'Ha! Thats me trying to figure out how I will be able to work with you in the morning when every time I look at I get a vision or you in your underwear' He said cheekily but truthfully. Montayva shrugged. He could be thinking about worse things, she supposed.