New Chapter so quickly its like magic. The magic of imagination, boredom, and loneliness

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Bekenstein - 1 week later

"Why do I have do this, I hate dressing up!" Axton complained. His frustration apparent to Kasumi who was working to refit the suit she had originally bought for Shepard. Kasumi gave him a small jab with a pin.

"Ow! Watch it!"

"Honestly, I don't know either. I needed Shepard for this. HE's got some semblance of class. But noooo~~. He drops me off at an apartment a week before my perfectly planned heist to go chase after more teammates and I'm stuck with Mr. Moron who can't even use an Omni-tool!" Kasumi replied venomously, annoyed with the frat boy of a soldier. Cooperating was easy; this was just another mission for him. Convincing him not to follow her plans and dress up was horrendous.

"Whatever, least I get to stretch my fully healed body for once. I'm sick of that ship and its piece o' shit design. Who the hell thought a slow-ass elevator was the best way to get around?" Kasumi smiled a little at that. He had a point, and she got around faster using the vents anyways.

"There. All done. And not too shabby if I say so myself." Kasumi looked at Axton's fully suited form. She was quietly impressed with herself for making such a drastic change in appearance. Her mood would be killed swiftly.

"How do you know how to sew anyways?"

"Please, Axton, Do you think stealing is all I do?"

"Isn't it?" Kasumi put her hand to her face and sighed in despair. And she was supposed to deal with him for the entirety of this mission? If it weren't for Keiji's graybox as the prize she might've quit then and there.

"Alright... Let's just get going. I'll explain everything on the way."

"...and from there we grab the weapons in the statue and head to the vault. Got it?"

Axton blinked absentmindedly before replying.

"Huh? We're not just storming the place?"

"Storming? I'm not some bandit Axton, a master thief always has a plan." Kasumi would have called everything off because of that statement, but the greybox was just too important; Keiji was too important.

"Okay, okay. Geez... all this cloak and dagger stuff ain't exactly my forte ya know."

"Yeah, kind of figured. I already forged you a reputation - papers, witnesses, an article in Badass weekly- just keep calm and don't talk business."

"I'd feel better with a something that goes bang instead of a flimsy cover like that."

"I've stored the big guns in the statue for the vault, but they won't hassle you over a sidearm as long as it's concealed."

She opened up the glovebox and offered him the Carnifex inside.

"Here, you didn't bring any right? Of course, I have no idea why a mercenary wouldn't try to bring at least a couple, it's practically a stereotype."

Axton looked at the weapon in skepticism but took it anyways.

"Oh I've got more than a couple, sweetheart. I've been meaning to test them out too but... I guess just in case."

Kasumi looked at him in disbelief. She hadn't seen a single weapon in this man's possessions, and he didn't look like the type to carry small ones either.

They landed at Hock's estate, which seemed to have more guards than most embassies on the citadel. Kasumi's statue, some kind of Turian dude, was being checked by security. Axton looked around nervously, going over his cover identity under his breath.

"Stop that, you're going to blow it before we even get inside!" Kasumi hissed at him, silencing Axton as they approached Hock who was greeting his guests at the door.

"Mr. Axton I presume, I've heard about the work you've been doing out in the Traverse. Very impressive if the extranet is to be believed."

Axton composed himself as well he could. Slaughtering a couple bandit clans he could handle. Killing all powerful alien beasts was manageable. But this? Fancy suits and cocktail parties were something... unusual.

It's fine Axton, just stay away from business. Small talk remember? Just turn on that charm you've been lacking in lately.

"Well I don't like to brag but... yeah I'm pretty great at what I do. The best, even."

Suddenly the guard scanning the statue double-checked his Omni-tool in a way that made Axton's hairs stand on end.

"Sir I'm not picking anything up on the scanners."

"And why should you. I don't think our guests would come all the way from the Attican Traverse just to make a mess of MY party. Do you?"

The guard shook his head and waved the statue inside.

"You may head inside Mr. Axton. However, I must ask your companion to stay outside. You understand, I hope."

Shit.

"I don't understand actually. Care to explain?" Hock scowled even more so than Axton thought possible with a face like his.

"I don't like the look of your friend so she stays outside. Simple as that."

Well what the fuck am I gonna do? I was just supposed to get her inside right?

He brought Kasumi aside and spoke to her in a harsh whisper:

"What the hell! There goes your plan master thief. What now?"

"Relax Axton, he's probably just being paranoid. Rich criminals usually are. I can cloak and get in just fine, but you'll have to do all the mingling now."

"That's insane! I'm new to this whole covert stuff remember?"

'Hey, I have a lot of respect for Shepard, and he paired me up with you for some reason so I have to trust him with that. And besides, I am NOT turning back. Not now. Not for this." Her voice broke slightly, under all the emotion behind her statement.

They stared at each other for a few seconds. Axton could see the resolve in her posture, and how her hand closed around the gun on her hip. It was familiar to him, this was clearly personal. This wasn't for money, or for revenge, or at least it didn't seem like it entirely. What could be so important that she couldn't just let go? They may not be on the best of terms, but hell... he never could resist a damsel in distress.

"... Okay. I'll do it." He looked into her eyes and she nodded back. Kasumi cloaked out of sight and opened up a radio channel.

"Let's get to it then."

Addressing a few of my concerns with the plot:

Weaponry from Borderlands: Effective? Fatally so. Ridiculous? Why the hell not. Quantity? However many I damn well please.

Romance: If I can write it well, yes. Although I don't know who with or how so. After all, according to the reviews this story is pretty good and I don't want to muck it up with a badly written romance to the face.