Authors note: Ok…so this chapter…was hard to write. Even just writing it made me sad…so I apologize ahead of time! It's necessary to the story! Sorry for taking it to a depressing place -.-
The Last Hours
Zero laid breathlessly on the shore, halfway in the water and halfway out. Somewhere in the past four hours between recovery times, and intense marathon bursts of animalistic sex he lost his clothing, his sword and pretty much everything else. He lays there panting, breath coming to him in small unfulfilling strings. His arms tossed weakly up over his head, fingers of one hand entwined within his dirty locks, now caked with mud and dirt and spring water. His back was grimy and he had sand in places he did not want to think about. His spent cock lays limply on his heaving abdomen, rising and falling with each breath, fat even when limp. He groans roughly and stretches. He feels filthy but can't seem to find the strength to drag himself to the water to clean off.
Suddenly Maya bursts from the water's surface, flinging her wet hair then running her hands through it to flatten it against her skull. Her breasts bounced healthily as she ascended from the clear waters. A bright smile spreads across her blue lips as her eyes meet with his. Zero looks so tired and spent, it's an adorable look on him.
Maya slowly lays down beside him, propping herself up on her elbow.
"You finally tuckered out big boy?" She teases tenderly.
Zero just breathes out tiredly in response.
Maya kisses his cheek gently, then moves down to kiss his lips, then moves away again leaving a trail of wet kisses along his chin. She runs her tongue up his neck, feeling the muscles there, feeling his plus pounding underneath the skin.
Zero reaches up and strokes a strand of Maya's wet hair softly.
Whatever twinge the beast had been making inside of Zero was now tamed down to nearly nothing. It laid curled up and silent, deliciously fed with sexual delicacies. It was almost like it was not there, for the first time in days upon days, Zero felt almost like he had before the infection. Almost. Not exactly, but close was good enough.
"You know the guys are most likely wondering where we are." Maya sighs finally.
Her eyes flick up to clouding skies off to the west. Dark bellowing thunderheads begin to loom over the landscape. The wind blows and carries the sweet scent of rain to her nostrils. Far away thunder rumbles like the planet has a hungry stomach.
"And it looks like we may be in for a rainy night..." Maya adds.
Zero nods slowly, looking up toward the skies frowning.
Their ominous shadows were already casting across the landscapes.
Zero stood with a protestant grunt and cleaned himself off in the water, the dirt coming loose from his tired body.
He trudged to back to the shore and began pulling on his armor. Maya was already dressed and sat content in watching the assassin pull on his tight leather suiting.
Her eyes were full of admiration.
She had so many questions for him.
They hovered between them like flies that they kept trying to ignore. But they were there, just as persistent as ever.
She bit her lip softly.
She just wanted to know why he had been avoiding her like a disease over the past week and a half. Zero was a man of little words, but this was far beyond the norm.
Maya sighed heavily.
Zero perked up at the sound, his helmet displaying a red question mark in her direction. Sometimes she wondered if the helmet emoticons were just a front so he wouldn't actually have to make conversation with others.
"Something is bothering you. Care to share thoughts. I am most willing to listen." Zero asked in his mechanical tone.
Maya's eyes darted up to wander over his blank faceplate.
It was a great thing to hide all emotion and feeling.
Maybe thats why he wore it.
Not to protect him from battle, but to protect him from really getting close to anybody or anything.
With the helmet on he was robotic. He was a shadow. He was a mystery. Unknown of what he truly was. But beneath it he was flesh, and bone, and emotion. He was alien but he was hers.
"I want to know what you have been hiding from me. I know you aren't telling me something. And you've been shying away from me lately. You can't just go telling someone you love them back...then ignore them...I'm...I'm just confused Zero." She said sighing and slowly rising to her feet.
The woman was so much shorter than Zero. Zero looked down upon her at all times. But then again he towered over most people he came across. Standing at around 6 foot 5 he loomed over her like a shadow.
Zero's shoulders fell slightly and he adjusted his belt, replacing his shields, relics and mods.
"It is difficult to explain. I just want to protect you. From...things." Zero said carefully tiptoeing over his words.
Maya's frown deepened.
"I don't understand." She said shaking her head.
"I don't know if I want you to understand. I'm afraid of myself. And afraid of hurting you." Zero said his words dropping out of the air like stones.
"Most people are afraid of a siren hurting them. What makes you think you could hurt me. I've been just fine so far." She said putting her hands on her hips.
Zero sighed. If ever there was a time for her to be stubborn of course it would be now.
"There is much you do not understand. You are strong. But...I still fear I will hurt you." Zero said looking up at the clouds.
"The storms grow closer. Can we travel while we talk. Unless you want to be caught out in that." Zero said motioning toward the sky as a streak of lightning illuminated the darkening world.
Maya nodded, a frown still clinging to her lips.
"If there are things I don't understand...why don't you make me understand? Why can't you just tell me. I'm tired of you talking in riddles." Maya huffed jumping from rock to rock after her assassin.
Zero swallowed hard.
How do you explain to your lover that you are a monster. Quite literally.
There is no instruction manuel on these types of things. And Zero was at a loss of what to say.
He paused, his feet planted firmly on one of the heavily weather worn stones. Maya felt his gaze upon her and she stopped to look at him.
He was like a vulture standing there. Black as ebony and frightening as death. Silent as the stones they wandered over.
"I am afraid I will eventually kill you." Zero said blankly.
Maya's eyes wavered as she looked at him.
Was that supposed to be a threat? Or a fact...
Maya felt her heart drop into her stomach.
She felt a little sick.
Why would he ever say such a thing.
"Zero...don't say that." She whispered.
Tears stung at her eyes, threatening to slide down her cheeks.
"I do not say it because it is a want of mine. I would never want to kill you. But...theres something inside me, that might." Zero whispered.
"I'm sick Maya. Terribly ill. That is the best way I can explain it to you." He finished.
The wind whispered between the two vault hunters. Blowing the smell of rain into their senses.
Small droplets began to weep from the blue-black sky. It looked to be midnight kissed as the rain drops came. They came slow at first, then began to grow in company.
The rain came down over them. Washing away all conversation.
Maya's tattoos glowed weakly in the shade of the thunderstorm. Zero felt his heart melt.
Those gorgeous blue tattoos that had drawn him to her in the first place. Such power, such glory, such monstrosity. He should have feared her. But he didn't. He only feared what the beast inside him may do to her. All it would take was a small slip. A little episode. A hiccup. And that would be it.
The silence was heavy between their bodies. Glazed with confusion, sadness and all that was heavy.
"I wish I didn't love you as much as I do..." Maya then finally whispered.
Her intense eyes flickered in the rain, capturing Zero's with all the flames behind them.
Zero was at a loss for words.
"You are a puzzle, and you are difficult. You don't know how to deal with your own emotions much less ours together. But I can't stop loving you. It's this ridiculous thing really. I wish I didn't...but I do." She breathed.
"I don't care if you are dangerous. I know you are. I see it there, within you. Festering, growing, waning, existing. But hell what isn't on this god forsaken planet? I've been feared all my damn life. Been considered this being of destruction and power beyond this world. I'm just as much a monster as what you claim to be. Just let me. Just let me love you. At least let me try to love you through all the faults. Let me try to be there for you. Just please..."
She was so strong standing there. Zero felt himself go weak.
Two monsters facing off. Staring through each other's being. There was love, and anger, and lust and the most tainted of needs.
He wanted to take her in his arms and have her. The way he had her that very first time what seemed like so long ago. The way she had been so careful taking his armor off for the first time. The way he took her on that bed, so far out in their own little world. And now, everything was so confusing and fucked up. He was fucked up. He was infected and he was unsure of what was to come. He knew what he had to do...and yet his entire body argued that this conclusion, this solution he had concocted...was wrong. But...his heart...though it argued the loudest, it also knew that this was the only way. Zero watched his siren. She was his. At least for now.
But was he ready to give her away. To let her go to keep her safe from his monsters. She was strong. Oh so strong.
This love of theirs, it was heavy. And dangerous. These two monsters that had found each other were in danger of destroying themselves.
Zero wanted to be destroyed. He wanted her and everything she was. But he could not let himself be the end of her. He could not live with himself if he was to be her reaper. Death would come for her one day, but it would not be carried in his palms. He would not allow it.
But for tonight, she was his. Tonight they were still in love. They were still wrapped in each other like twine.
Zero took her hand, his leather glove wet with the rain, soft with age. The touch was small but it rocked her form. He pulled her toward him. She was heavy in his arms. Heavy with love and emotion beyond what he ever thought he could possibly conjure and feel.
"Just let me love you." Maya whispered her wet body pressing against Zero's.
"You are the only soul I know that begs to love a monster." Zero breathed.
"Monsters belong together." Maya returned her fingers splaying across his shoulder blades, sliding down his back.
Zero felt so empty and so full all at the same time.
Maya stepped back from their embrace and Zero took her by the hand.
He knew they needed to return to camp, they needed to sleep and dry off by the fire.
A small flicker of orange shone through the rain and the night. Swaying and dancing like a living thing in the shadows, as if calling to them.
Maya's eyes wandered over the darkening man. He was there...and yet he felt so...hollow. Like standing next to a ghost.
She sighed heavily.
She turned on her heel, offering Zero a sad, but understanding glance, and then headed down toward the camp and their fellow vault hunters.
Zero followed behind her.
He knew what he had to do.
What was necessary.
What was needed.
It was all for Maya.
He needed to remember that.
Maya ducked underneath the tin hut where Axton and Salvador sat huddled around the small fire, trying to keep it safe from the storms wrath.
Maya shook out her wet hair and shivered a little.
"It's pouring fucking cats and dogs..." She commented lowly.
Salvador nodded, and lifted a small can up to her.
"Found a lil stash of baked beans, you up for some?" He asked giving her a warm smile.
Maya's lips were but a thing line across her face.
"Thanks, but I don't have much of an appetite." She mused.
Zero finally appeared from the darkness, rain droplets covering his armor like fresh dew.
"You need your strength, food like that is hard to come by, I suggest you eat some." Zero said taking the can from Salvador's hand and shoving it into Maya's protestant fist.
She shot him a dark look over the tin can, but eventually sighed, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
She clinked the spoon against the sides of the can and scooped some into her mouth.
She hated to admit it but it was good.
Zero slowly eased himself down onto the ground beside Maya. his knees drawn up, hanging his elbows over them.
She side glanced at him and then down at her meal once more.
The four of them seemed unusually quiet.
The only sounds between them were the chewing of food, the scrape of utensils against the sides of cans, and the storm pounding against the feeble tin shack.
Even Axton sat as quiet company.
Maybe it was the days events that had them all so quiet. The weeks of rough terrain and awful sleeping quarters. Small rations of food, and too many bandits to count.
They were dirty, and tired, worn from too many days in the battle field.
Salvador's had dark circles under his eyes and Axton's stubble was quickly growing into a beard.
If he didn't shave soon he'd be competing with Sal in the beard department.
Maya looked around at them slowly.
They were all so different, and yet all so very much the same.
They had all come here to this hell hole of a planet for one reason, and one reason only.
The Vault.
The promise of treasure beyond there wildest dreams.
The challenge of the Vault, the riches of it...and for Maya the promise of learning more of her Siren origins.
And now, since the train explosion, their one reason had molded into many.
To take down Jack, to take revenge...to fulfill a higher purpose than just their own needs alone.
They weren't in this alone anymore.
They had each other.
And as misfit, and awkward, and annoying as they all were...Maya had began to consider them...somewhat of a family.
Even Axton and his ridiculous advances on her.
They were home.
Out here in this barren place they had nobody but each other. That was it.
She smiled a little.
Half the time she hated the other three males, but more often than not she couldn't help but to love them.
They were growing on her.
Salvador grunted and stretched slowly.
"Aye, Amigos, I think I'm turning in for the night." He groaned slowly getting up from the fire.
The beddings they had scrounged up were sorry excuses for such but they would do.
Layers of cardboard and rags piled up into makeshift sleeping mats.
It was better than the ground at least.
Axton groaned and quickly agreed.
"Yeah me too. Took a beating today mowing down those bandits. Feels like I got hit by a bandit technical." He sighed.
Maya chuckled.
"Thats not a half bad idea." She said under her breath lightly.
Axton shot her a look of confusion and amusement.
The siren was not one for jokes. Especially not geared to the mouthy commando.
"What running me over with a car?" He questioned smiling as he headed to his corner of the shack.
"Yeah. You might be quieter that way." Maya mused.
Axton chuckled and laid down.
"Yeah, yeah fuck you too." He muttered over his shoulder.
Maya's mat was only a few feet from Zero's.
She laid herself down tenderly, her tired body welcoming the sleep that was to come. Zero sat on his sleeping mat distantly, still seeming to stare into the fire.
Like he was searching for answers in the flames.
"Zero, you should sleep." She whispered softly.
He turned to look at her, flashing her a heart hologram.
"I shall sleep, you go ahead, you need the rest." He whispered to her.
His heart sunk down into his gut.
"Maya..." He whispered lowly.
Maya's eyes flicked up to his.
"Just know, whatever happens, I will always love you." Zero finished, a hand coming to Maya's hip and squeezing slightly.
Maya's eyes sparkled with admiration for the assassin as she looked upon him.
"I love you too." She whispered softly.
"Always." She added tiredly.
Zero brushed his fingers through her wet hair.
He was heavy, so heavy with guilt, sadness, the realization of what had to be done.
He had not choice. This was the only path that could be taken, he had to protect Maya...even if it meant keeping her safe...by leaving her life.
The sounds of sleep invade the shack now.
Heavy breathing and soft sighs.
Rain still pelted the tin roof, beating against it like angry hornets.
Zero's hand still rested on the now sleeping Maya.
He savored every second, every moment, every touch his fingers were allowed. For he knew...these could be the last he would get.
He felt empty.
He had to do this.
Had to.
But that thought did not bring him any kind of comfort.
Only more pain.
So much pain.
It welled up inside of him like a disease.
Filling him, molding him, eating him.
He let his fingers slip through her hair once more.
She was so gorgeous when she slept. The world didn't matter behind her closed eyes. So peaceful, and so graceful.
She was so dangerous, but not to him.
Not to him...to him she was perfect.
Where others feared the siren's wrath, he knew better, he relished in her strength, in her weakness, in her rarity.
And now...he had to leave that all behind.
She may not ever forgive him for this.
He would not blame her if she didn't.
Zero felt a lump form in his throat and breathing became harder and harder.
Emotion was beyond him but this...this one hit him and he knew exactly what it was.
Sadness.
Raw, and unforgiving it racked through his body, shaking him down to his core.
Tears welled up in his pupil-less eyes, threatening to slide down his cheeks.
He bit his lip hard, so hard he tasted blood.
He'd never felt emotion this strong.
He felt sick, his insides twisting up like twine.
It was for the best.
This was for the best.
Zero stood, face wet with tears behind his mask and looked down on Maya one last time.
She was strong.
She was perfect.
She would hate him the rest of her life, that he was sure of...but he...he would only love her for a lifetime.
With that he turned on his heel and was gone.
Into the rain, into the storm.
The storm pelted him, beating down on him with all its rage.
He felt like even it was angered with him.
How could he do this, he was a monster, this proved it.
No, he was beyond a monster.
Love was rare on this hellish planet, and here on this night he threw it away.
Like day old garbage, he tossed it aside.
Zero shook his head as he ran.
No it wasn't like that...what else could he do?
He was not good for her...he had to do this.
He would not be the death of her.
She would recover from a broken heart...but she would not recover from a broken body if the beast inside him ever got a hold of her.
His feet beat the ground harshly, splashing mud up his boots, his breathing coming erratically.
He ran, thats all he could do, was run.
He wasn't even sure which direction he was going...it did not matter anyway.
He just had to put as much distance between him and the others.
They would take care of her, he knew they would.
She would come to realize this was for the best.
She would go on with her life and these past few months would become nothing more than a blip on her journey.
She would forget all this with time.
Forget him, forget what they had...
Zero felt like he had been shot in the chest.
Why did this hurt so much?
He just wanted it to stop.
It hurt so badly.
He ran harder, as if trying to outrun it, leave it behind too.
But the pain was faster, it invaded him and all his senses.
The hours passed, and he never stopped running and he never stopped hurting.
He made it up over a large hill, the night still surrounding him and the sound of rain still kissing his ears.
He was so tired, so winded...so spent.
His legs buckled underneath him and he fell to the ground, into the mud and the dirt.
Zero just laid there, no will to pick himself up out of the filth, no drive to go any farther.
And so he let the pain consume him.
He couldn't run from it, couldn't fight it...and so he just let it come.
With all its strength it came...
It had no mercy on him.
What reason did it have to do so?
Zero felt the sobs rack through his chest, making his body shudder with their force.
He couldn't contain them, couldn't force them down.
They vomited up from his depths and recoiled through him.
And so he laid there, like a broken toy.
In the rain.
In the mud.
In the dark.
Broken.