Sorry I've been gone so long. I had this chapter written on paper but didn't get round to typing it up until a bit later.

Guardian of all that exists: I'm not even sure what to say anymore.

Antrxx: That is a singularly terrifying notion.

Prophet21: Glad that you think so. I actually had plans to do just that later on.

Don Socrates: That was the goal. Glad you liked it.

Infinitexephos: Thanks. Your review is what got me typing this baby up.

Right, so this chapter will be quite a bit shorter than the last one; not even 1000 words. It's going to reveal a bit about Gen's past. The beginning is inspired by a picture I found on a trawl through the internet.

Also, I'd like to introduce my readers to my good friend Infinitexephos. He's busy writing his first fanfic and, despite the chapters being short, it's actually really good. I advise you check it out. The link is in my profile, near the bottom.

Disclaimer: I got nothing.

Chapter 11: The Reject

Gaige stared at the small picture in her hand. It showed her dad holding her when she was about four years old. She kept it inside a circular locket without a chain that she always carried with her. She started and snapped the locket closed when she felt a heavy hand land on her shoulder. Axton came around the counter and into view holding a mug of hot cocoa out to the red head. The Mechromancer slowly reached out and took the cocoa from him in stunned silence.

She suddenly felt tears start to form as the gesture brought back memories of her dad. She remembered all the times that he had brought her hot cocoa when she worked late on Deathtrap. She bowed her head slightly and gently placed the cocoa on the counter behind her as the first tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"Gaige? Are you okay?" The Commando asked, shocked by his teammate's reaction. His shock only increased when she swung around and started crying into his shirt. A look of sympathy appeared on his face as he remembered the picture that she had been looking at when he'd shown up and he gently hugged the crying girl.

At about that time, Gen poked his head through the doorway curiously. He had been looking for Gaige in the hopes that she could help him with his latest project. He felt a sharp stab of jealousy when he saw the Commando hugging her but he dispelled the emotion with a quick shake of his head. It was only then that he realised that she was crying.

"Besides," he thought, "Axton is way too into Maya to even think about anyone else." The Splicer lightly tapped his knuckles against the door frame and asked, "Are you guys okay?"

Gaige moved away from Axton but otherwise gave no response. The green-skinned Vault Hunter sighed and made his way over to her. He sat down next to her on the counter. "Come on, Gaige. You can tell me. Me and Axton, we're your friends. And I'll be damned if I let a friend suffer without trying to help them. Now, what's wrong?"

She sniffed and he gently placed a hand under her chin, lifting her gaze to meet his. She felt surprised at the mixture of warmth, tenderness and concern visible in his fiery eyes and felt her own eyes fill with tears again. She threw her arms around him and started crying into his shoulder. Gen's eyes widened and he looked at Axton. The Commando shrugged in reply. Gen sighed and tentatively hugged the crying Mechromancer, slowly whispering comforting words to her.

Eventually, he pulled away from her and asked, "Now, once again, what's bothering you?"

"It's just…the cocoa….my dad…" Gaige mumbled. Gen nodded slowly.

"I get it. Homesickness. I can't say that I know how you feel but I can make a pretty good guess." He said sympathetically.

Gaige sniffed and asked, "What do you mean? You come from somewhere, don't you?"

"So? Doesn't mean I have to miss the place." Gen replied, his voice slightly bitter.

"What about your parents?" Axton asked.

Gen snorted and growled, "If I never see those fuckers again it'll be too soon."

His teammates stared him with matching looks of shock. This was a totally new side to the normally easy-going Splicer. Gen sighed and said, "Look, my home life was never great. I was the disappointment of the family because of my interest in genetics. Hell, the only reason I didn't run away sooner was because I felt like I needed to look out for my sister."

He fished around in his shirt and pulled out his own small locket, a silver square on a thick chain. He opened it and pulled out a heavily folded photo. He unfolded it to reveal a picture of four people; a man with short, dark brown hair and severe green eyes behind glasses, a tall, pale, thin woman with long, blond hair and brown eyes, a boy with spiky blond hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes and a little girl with a slightly darker skin tone, brown curls and green eyes. The man had a completely neutral look on his face and the woman had a small, obviously forced smile on her face. The two children were grinning genuinely at the camera and had their arms wrapped around each other.

"That's my dad," Gen said, pointing to the man then shifting their attention to the woman and saying, "and that is my mom."

"And that's you, right?" Gaige asked, pointing at the boy.

"Yep, and, in case you haven't already guessed, the girl is my little sister, Sarah." Gen said, smiling fondly at the girl in the picture. He swallowed and, with his smile fading, said, "It was her who convinced me to run away from home."

"Why?" Gaige asked quietly.

"Because she was the only one who cared about what happened to me." He replied just as quietly, eyes suspiciously wet. He sniffed and gave a shaky laugh. "Great. I came in her to try and cheer you up and instead told you one of the most depressing the things I can think of." He said, wiping his eyes with is sleeve and slipping the locket inside his shirt.

Axton patted his back gently and Gaige rested a hand on his shoulder. Gen smiled gratefully and rested a hand on top of hers. He looked around and suddenly noticed the mug of cocoa behind Gaige. His brow furrowed in confusion.

"Axton."

"Yeah?"

"Where the hell did you get hot cocoa from?"

I couldn't help but throw something slightly funny at the end. Anyway, what did you guys think? Read and Review people.

I plan to develop Gen's backstory in a later chapter. Depending on how I'm feeling, it might just be the next chapter.

Until next time,

Elemental Hybrid