|Borderlands| Begin Anew |1-on-1 rp|

He expressed his doubt and she could only part with the comfort that she would, indeed, give up if not a scrap of the old Naira resurfaced. Naeva didn't want to be the type to lose hope but even so, if it came to that she'd put it away.

His words were simple enough and truth rang into them. She spared him a small smile and a shrug of her shoulders. Honestly, he knew her stubborn streak well at this point.

"You're always free to try," she told him lightly, "But that might be more of an annoyance than just watching."

She took a moment to stretch, her limbs certainly suffering from the lack of movement these passed couple of days. It was strange after all these years to just have to sit back and wait on an injury to heal.

"It might all end up fruitless but...At least I'll walk away with the satisfaction knowing I tried."

Rhys shook his head, hearing Vaughn's words but finding himself uncertain about what to do again. Hang up? Say something to the man that might keep him from calling again? It was hard to say.

He glanced down at Naira at those moments. This wasn't her fault inevitably. Helios was a mess since Jack's death and it was only getting worse. He glanced back again, trying to ignore the nervousness in his stomach.

"Look, you can call and give me any angle you want. The answer is still no," Rhys finally shot back glancing down at Naira again.

"Well that's a shame. I would have rather avoided having to make things worse here..."

He had trailed off, a notably questioning look on his face when Rhys had glanced down again. What was he thinking in those moments? It didn't take long to figure it out.

"Are you...? On the phone? Oh my god, you're gross. You know what, forget it. I'm just going to hang up."

And he did just that too quickly for Rhys to even think of a retaliation. He sighed, shaking his head and lowering his robotic hand. Well...that was going to leave an impression...

"God, I hate that guy," he stated softly, annoyance and embarrassment long since welling up in his chest.

Zer0 scoffed. Trying to stop Naeva was like trying to stop an angry skag, only failure or death would succeed in that matter. He'd rather not see the latter happen, much less by his own hands. It was just simpler to let her do as she wished and merely keep an eye from afar.

"Assuming it does. / Your satisfaction may come, / or it may not come."

Despite what Naeva might say it may well weigh heavily on her, or perhaps she had drawn farther from her old friend then she thought and she wouldn't worry much afterwards. It was a strange thing to debate for her, really. Zer0 hardly cared what happened for Naira's sake except only for how it might effect Naeva. Nowadays it was hard to tell if the other woman's death might weigh on Naeva's shoulders or not anymore.

He shook his head then. If this was her current goal than so be it, he'd allow her to do as she wished so long as it did not end in her injured by the end of things.

"But it's yours to have."



Vaughn listened quietly, worry gnawing at him. What was Rhys gonna pick? He hardly believed Vasquez would stay true to his deals but it may buy them time if they agreed, at least Vaughn thought so. Yet here Rhys was, standing firm against Vasquez. The way Vaughn's old friend kept glancing down at Naira wasn't missed either. Was he doing that because he was afraid she'd wake up during this call? Vasquez wasn't exactly being quiet after all. Or was it something else?

He didn't have much time to think about any of that before Vasquez was calling Rhys out on this odd behavior. It didn't take long to figure out what the guy thought Rhys was doing either, the disgust clear in his voice before he hung up. Vaughn shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It'll be a great day when he's gone for good," Vaughn agreed, heaving a sigh.

A moment passed and Vaughn glanced between Rhys and Naira. She hadn't budged at all since that call started, her glasses askew and looking way more at peace than she had at any other time they'd ever seen her since Jack's death. It was weird seeing their boss like this and it was hard to ignore too.

"So, you gonna be okay like that, man? Can't be too comfortable with our boss on you like that..."

It must have confused Zer0 that Naeva would go through all these pains for someone that she might not even be that close to anymore. Naeva wasn't one to just abandon the people she had cared for in the past, even if they had changed. If all didn't go well, only then did she cut those ties.

Still, even that was difficult. Saying 'goodbye' had always been difficult for her, more so than most knew. It was just too much to bare, too much change that she wasn't prepared for.

"I'm prepared for that," she finally answered him, "Even if the outcome might not be something I quite agree with."

Naeva knew things were bound to change. If this didn't go well, she would hurt for a while but she'd eventually recover in some way. Besides, it wasn't as if she was entirely alone here. Of all people, she still had him and she put more than just her trust and love into his hands. He no doubt knew that as well.

"We'll just have to wait and see what the outcome will be," she mused out loud, "Until then, I won't worry about it too much."

For now, they did have bigger things to deal with and while this was more or less something of a side mission, Naeva was trying to keep her mind on the prize. Another Vault and whatever laid within would no doubt be something she would love to see.

"But maybe we should get some sleep tonight."

Worry settled on Rhys' shoulders. Vasquez was trying hard to either turn them against each other or kill them later on. It was a mess and Rhys didn't appreciate being targeted time and time again. He wasn't going to betray anyone.

He couldn't help but agree with Vaughn on that matter. The sooner that guy was gone for good, the better. If ever there was a chance just to get rid of him where he stood, they needed to take it.

"Yea, for real," he answered quietly, "Think we could get Zer0 to do it?"

It was an entertaining thought but that might be a little difficult unless the man stood in there way. Who knew. The way things were going now, that might actually happen. Rhys didn't say that out loud, however. No need to worry Vaughn anymore than he already was.

He spared a smile at his friend at the brief bit of concern. If anything, it was an awkward situation but Rhys figured he would bite the bullet and just let it work out tonight.

"Yea man, don't worry about it," he told him, "What's the worse that could possibly happen? If anything comes trumping around through the night, we've got Loader Bot and Naeva's skag, so I'll be fine."

A little reassurance went a long way. While Rhys might not entirely be alright with sleeping outside for the night, there wasn't much that could be done about it. If anything, there was at least a little protection around.

She claimed to be prepared though Zer0 knew first hand that such things could hardly be properly prepared for. Whatever may come would hit and it would hit hard if it did not end as she wished it to. Nonetheless, Zer0 did not mention this. Instead he shook his head, moving to sit more comfortably. For the most part they would remain up top the caravan after all. There was no reason not to, seeing how cramped the caravan could become inside it.

Instead, he merely said, "So it will be then."

He gestured her to come closer then, more properly at his side. With the loader bot and her skag in commission they'd hardly need to stay fully on guard that night. The only worry would be Rhys and Naira, further from the caravan as they were. Zer0 hardly worried, however.

Sleep sounded like a fine idea anyways and they'd been up late enough as it was. They'd need every ounce of rest if they were to make it in one piece to the Vault with everyone involved. There were too many mixed personalities to make it a comfortable affair after all.

"Then sleep we shall do."


Vaughn offered an amused sound and a shrug of his shoulders. "Well, maybe if we had money for him!"

It was an entertained thought at least though neither had that kind of cash to throw away. What they did have was limited, given their blacklisted names up at Hyperion now. God, Vaughn hoped they could fix that eventually... What more could they do, though, but to follow along?

Nodding along to Rhys' words, he hoped Rhys was right. Anything could come romping up to take a bite of Rhys or Naira in the night if they weren't careful. Still, staying out here and worrying about it wasn't doing anybody any good. Heck, maybe they'd even get lucky and nothing like that would happen in the night. It was already weird enough as it was.

"Yeah, you're right. Just... y'know, shout if you need help or something," Vaughn said, turning to head back to the caravan for the night. Better that one of them be in there in case the girls tried to ditch them he supposed. They seemed nice enough for Pandorans but who knew what would happen in the long run.

Whatever else had been thought was left unsaid. Zer0 had motioned for her to come closer and she had. Naeva always felt more comfortable sleeping closer to him. She knew he probably had figured that out a long time ago.

Sleep had come easier that night, perhaps the lack of worry floating around in her head. Naeva didn't question it. Sleep was sleep and they both needed it.

Rousing was an easy thing to do. They were both accustom to waking early, always on the move at first light. These days, they were waiting on others, however, and that threw the routine off a bit. Even so, Naeva glanced down from the caravan roof, raising an eyebrow as she saw Loader Bot already up and about, wandering the camp site.

"I wonder what it's doing..." she mused, motioning toward it briefly, "It didn't just up and start moving around on it's own the other day, did it?"

She found she couldn't quite recall. Rhys and Naira hadn't been up to give it an order so maybe it was Vaughn? Yet, she didn't spot him either. Surely she would have heard something last night if there had been any threat about...

Rhys found sleeping a little difficult that night despite any best attempts to get comfortable. Naira laying so closely was awkward but he hated to admit that there was some comfort in her body heat. It just felt odd knowing she was his boss and was sleeping on him...

When he woke, it was to the sounds of heavy footsteps and whirling gears. Loader Bot was wandering about for some reason. Rhys sat up a little, staring at the bot but otherwise was uncertain as to why it was moving around.

"What in the world?" he muttered, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

The camp was still clear, obviously the others weren't up yet. Jack was notably missing as well. Maybe he disappeared when Rhys slept. He wasn't quite sure and didn't know how a lot of this worked just yet. Figuring it out in the days to come seemed best.

"Hey, uh...Naira?" he started instead, putting his thoughts on the bot to rest for now, "Think it's time to get up and moving? You know...travel and all that."

Whether she would stir or not remained to be seen. Regardless, there was still a morning haze around them. If she needed more sleep, he'd let her sleep.

It wasn't difficult to rouse himself upon the gray morning light's arrival. Already Naeva was moving as well, bleary-eyed but awake. Her curiosity on the loader bot was not missed and in fact was shared with Zer0. Why it had started rooting around the camp like that, looking as if it was seeking something or someone out, he couldn't say. As far as he knew none of the Hyperion workers had woken up to order it around, had they?

He shook his head. "I wasn't paying / attention then. There was much / more going on then."

To pay attention to the loader bot then wasn't a significant concern when it wasn't shooting at them, after all. For all Zer0 cared it could do what it wished, if it could even do that much, so long as it wasn't being troublesome. It seemed harmless at the moment.

Zer0 gestured at the camp around them, a silent question as to what she wanted to do now. Fiona, Sasha and Vaughn were not in sight, perhaps still asleep in the caravan. Even Naira and Rhys still seemed asleep at the moment. If that was the case they weren't quite in a rush just yet. They could remain up top like this if they wanted to, or they could get things ready for the others while they rested. It was all a matter of which they preferred now.

"Let's not worry now," he commented further, regarding the loader bot.


She was warm, despite the chilly air and that was more or less what Naira knew first and foremost when she first began to rouse. The next was that she still wore her glasses, askew but still on nonetheless, and that she was resting against someone's lap. Curious as that last one was, she was not yet ready to see who it was, the gauntlet still worn enough to tell her that it couldn't be Jack, that all of the last few months had been a bad dream...

Eventually the mystery of who she'd fallen asleep on came to light, the voice that of Rhys. Naira grunted, less out of sorts than she'd been before falling asleep last night, yet still not ready to move about and face things just yet. Just a little longer, that couldn't be too much to ask. Right?

"No," she grunted simply. "It can wait."

If Rhys was uncomfortable then he didn't say anything but he could well just ask her to get up. She wasn't going to go forcing it on him, not even if it was a temporary reprieve from Jack's death...

The thought didn't last long, pushing it aside for later. She could hear the loader bot moving around though it seemed to merely be walking from the sounds of it. If things escalated then she'd find out what it was up to.

Zer0 didn't seem to know why the loader bot was moving about either. Regardless, it seemed unimportant for the time being. As long as there was no trouble and it wasn't causing any grief, she figured it was fine.

"No point in dwelling on it, I suppose," she murmured.

He gestured to the camp, no doubt asking what she wanted to do next. Naeva certainly found herself a tad unsure. She was used to getting up and moving right away, not waiting on others. Still, her limbs were stiff and needed to move about.

"Let's go ahead and get on down there," she finally parted with an answer, "I'm stiff and it's probably best to move my leg a tad here and there."

It was improving, she had no doubt. The swelling and bruising were not as bad as days before. She simply needed to remind herself to take it easy these next coming days.

She had roused, if only for a brief amount of time, telling him that things could wait until she was ready to move. Rhys repressed a sigh, laying back in those moments.

The sky above was pale with morning light, something he might have actually enjoyed if it wasn't for the fact he knew why he was here at this time. He found himself worried that all of this might end up fruitless at the end of the day.

"Alright, if you say so," was his simple answer.

If anything, she combated the chilly air, something that he would have never thought he'd actually put into thinking. Rhys really found himself uncertain and awkward in those moments but tried to brush it aside.

"As long as we're all comfortable, I guess," he continued a moment after, tucking an arm behind his head.

Really, if it wasn't for the giant mess he was in right now, he would have probably been more panicked. Right now, he just tried not to worry about it too much.

He was glad that she was not going to go out of her way to wonder about the loader bot's machinations. It wasn't important and would only waste time. When they were finished rounding things up and cleaning up their tracks then they could wonder, if they had the time. Until then Zer0 wasn't fully content with the idea.

When she agreed to getting an early start for everyone Zer0 began to move, careful of her leg. Though luckily not severely injured it was still clearly sore for her. The way she held it now, waking up, told him that much. As such he'd make sure to head down first and catch her on her way down. It would be the easiest method.

"As you wish, Naeva."

Already he'd swung himself over the railing, landing with only the slightest of sounds. He would turn then, holding out his arms to catch her in turn. It was faster this way and there was no sudden alarm to go check out as there had been the night before, false as it had been.


Rhys didn't try to argue against her simple command, merely moving to lean back where he sat. At the very least he wasn't freaking out over something, that much was a blessing. Even so, his next comment was a surprising one, if only a little. She hummed very briefly at first.

"And are you comfortable?" she prodded quietly. Knowing what she did of Zer0 and Naeva in recent years, well, it wouldn't be a surprise if they were already up and wandering about. There was no need for them to be overheard.

If he wasn't then she'd force herself to wake more fully and get a start on the day and on combatting not only the world but herself too. If not she'd rather have even just a few more minutes in quiet where she didn't have to face any of that. It left her wondering just how much longer she could take it all onto her shoulders.

What little comforts she still had left she would hold onto tightly at least.

Zer0 was already moving when she had requested they got up and about for the day. He made a simple jump off the caravan, turning to catch her.

While she was no fan of heights and even less so of falling, this distance wasn't too high. She easily pulled herself over the edge, allowing herself to be caught before she hit the ground.

"Thanks," she said as she was placed back down.

She spared a quick glance around camp. Apart from the loader bot, nothing else was moving. Killer notably remained where he had been the whole night, a good sign. Nothing had tried to ambush the camp.

Naeva allowed herself a much needed stretch, limbs complaining after sitting still so long. This was far from normal and she started to understand why Zer0 might feel so antsy now. She'd certainly grown accustom to moving now.

"Let's hope the day goes as well as the others," she mused, starting forward a moment after, "And by that, I mean the quieter ones."

He more or less was quiet until Naira spoke up again, asking if he was comfortable with the position they were in now. Rhys hesitated for a moment before brushing it off. He didn't want to make her feel bad for this.

"Pfft, me? No, I'm completely fine," he answered, trying to how some kind of cool to him.

If anything, he figured the more rest she got, the easier the day might be. He didn't want to see a repeat of what happened days before. There was no need to draw guns when more or less, everything was currently peaceful.

He tried not to worry about it, glancing at the caravan to see Zer0 and Naeva up and moving. They both were the early birds, it looked like, maybe more accustom to waking early than the others.

"Besides, I like a few moments of peace before we're thrust into whatever dangers might end up happening today," he mused afterword, sparing a glance at the sky again.

A small grunt left him as he caught Naeva though it hardly was a strain on him to do so. He let her down quickly after, making sure that she was steady on her feet before he stepped away. The first order of business was to stamp out those coals that might yet be burning in the ashes. After that it would be tracking down everything else and making sure nothing was left out on accident by Rhys or Vaughn without thinking.

The loader bot was still wandering, back and forth, stopping here or there and peering around. If it was alive Zer0 might have attributed curiosity to the thing's movements.

"At least among our / numbers. A good fight would be / a nice change of pace," he admitted. Assuming any bandits were out this way anyways.

Nonetheless, he dutifully took to stamping out what few embers remained of last night's bonfire. It had been kept alive through the nice only by its own stubbornness, burning out slowly. There was hardly anything near it in this wasteland that could catch fire and so none of them had needed to keep an eye on it as one normally would have. Thus the only blessing of the badlands.

Only once this task was complete did he turn to Naeva, watching her stretch for a moment. She definitely seemed happier to be moving and not nearly in as much pain as the day before.


It didn't escape Naira's notice how he'd grown silent in the time before she'd asked him of his comfort. He was a squirrelly one, who seemed to like holding conversations, so it was a little strange now. Unless he, too, wanted to catch a few minutes to doze though she wasn't sure enough of his personality to say with certainty if that was the case.

His answer was simple enough yet Naira thought she could hear a bit of unease in his voice. Nonetheless she didn't point it out. It wasn't like she had time to before he was commenting on a bit more time to his own thoughts anyways. As such, Naira shrugged it off.

"If you're quite sure," she murmured.

He wasn't Jack but it was nice to at least be close to someone at the moment. It was a distraction even if Rhys wasn't aware of it. Besides, it was probably better that Rhys didn't know. He already seemed intent on trying to sway her plans for herself in the future anyways, at least he had been earlier. Naira half-hoped that he might yet forget with everything else coming their way on this trip to the Vault.

He'd moved to stamp out the coals of a once hot fire, a bit of smoke raising into the air as he did so. The charcoal left smelled familiar and somewhat comforting. It reminded her that she wasn't entirely out of her element here.

The comment wasn't surprising. No doubt, he was growing a little bored of the same song and dance these passed days. He was one for action, not sitting about and waiting of something to happen.

"Getting restless?" she commented as he turned back to her. It wouldn't quite surprise her if that answer was a simple yes, "Something could come about in the blink of an eye. I'm sure it'll happen sooner or later. It's been too easy lately."

Naeva felt that was the truth. Nothing went well for long, she'd learned that a long time ago. The moment one let their guard down is when this planet and it's people would strike.

She glanced over at Rhys, an eyebrow raised as he stared at the sky. It seemed he was up but Naira was unwilling to move. She found herself tempted to give advice but thought better of it for the moment. Naira might simply be dozing.

She instead decided to gather up whatever meager things that had been used to cook the night before. Leaving them lay any longer would attract rakks and skags eventually.

She spoke simply, in a matter of factly way that he'd come to know. Naira didn't beat around the bush and if someone said they were comfortable, it very well seemed she had every intention of letting it be.

Still, he could't deny that his heart raced a little, a constant beating sound in his ears. There were very few women he'd been confident with in this past. His boss just falling asleep on him and cuddling on him now? He would have never believed it could happen.

"Ha...yea, don't worry about it," he pushed a moment after.

Loader bot still moved about as if he was anxiously waiting for something or someone. Rhys wasn't sure what was going on with that but he'd ask the bot when they were all up and ready to go. Right now, he could hardly think to do that.

"You uh...you wouldn't have come off as a person I'd guess was into this kind of thing," he commented off handedly, wondering if she was even still awake to hear it.

There were few embers left burning, the red-hot ones crushed under heel easily enough. Only wisps of smoke rose from them, fading into the air within seconds. At the very least it wasn't a difficult task, leaving him free to see to the other few tasks left to do. Even so he stopped to watch Naeva for a moment, grateful to see she could walk without much of a limp this morning.

He cocked his head to one side as she answered, observing still as she glanced around towards where Rhys and Naira remained. Zer0 did not follow her gaze, seeing no need to.

"Too easy but for / Bossa Nova and tracking / him down for so long," he agreed. The tracking of the bandit lord had been a trying task, even more so to pry any information he might've had from him. Even so they'd managed.

Already Naeva took to collecting the cookware, leaving Zer0 to glance about again. The Hyperion robot still paced to and fro, its steps slow and almost quiet for its weight. For a moment he entertained approaching the loader bot and asking just what it was doing but thought better of it. The last robot he'd had a conversation with had been none other than Clap-trap... It was not quite an endeavor he wished to relive.

Instead he moved to help Naeva, gathering up what she did not. "Let me help you there."


It didn't take Rhys long to comment further, brushing aside her concern. Strange that might be, Naira chose not to dwell on it. What good would it do when he was intent on this little spiel of his? He certainly seemed to want to keep her in eyesight at least. Odd, that, but then it only proved further that he had something of a big heart.

Admirable, but a little counterintuitive to her end goal.

For a few minutes it was quiet between them again, the sounds of Zer0 and Naeva speaking and of Loader Bot wandering reaching her ears instead. It was enough to doze to, if she had half a mind to. Even so it might appear she'd fallen asleep again with her eyes closed and unmoving as she was.

When Rhys spoke again she debated on not answering. What was the point? The only one that observation had mattered to had been Jack and if there was no way for his digital self to gain a new body... But even that wasn't quite right, was it? It wouldn't be her Jack, not entirely, as hard as that was to admit to. That AI just acted so much like him that it hurt and...

Would it really be so bad if...?

Naira halted those thoughts with a sigh, turning to peer up at Rhys. She noticeably had yet to lift her head from his lap, however, perhaps intent on staying until the others arrived from the caravan to announce heading out.

"Into what, sleeping?" she pushed, knowing full well that wasn't it.

She nodded in agreement to his words. Bossa Nova had been something of an elusive bastard, though she still had trouble figuring out how. The mans music could have caught everyone's attention, blaring it as he did.

"May he and his god forsaken music rest in peace," she joked after a moment as she gathered cookware.

She spared him a smile, handing off cookware that would be stored away for tonight. Naeva made sure to handle them with some amount of care. Even if some were beaten, they were still items that belonged to Sasha and Fiona.

For a moment, she paused to watch Loader Bot move back and forth and tipped her head. There was no way he was malfunctioning...was there? She tried to shake it from her mind, trying to pick up the rest of camp before the others woke.

"You know if the bot if faulty, maybe they'll let me tinker with it," she brought up lightly, "Might be asking too much though..."

For a long moment, she didn't say anything. He had thought maybe she had fallen asleep again. Eventually, she did shift, glancing at him with bleary eyes. There was a heaviness to them that he hadn't quite noticed before...

Shaking that off, Rhys focused on her question. He tried not to chuckle at those words but notably, a smile tugged at his lips. He couldn't help it, that had come out so dry it was a little funny.

"No uh..." he started, glancing at Naeva briefly before his gaze quickly fell back onto Naira, "L-laying on people."

From what Naeva had said the night before, this must have been a common occurrence. Then again, she had claimed Naira did it to people she 'liked' as well. At this point, what did that even mean?

He cleared his throat awkwardly, trying not to think too deeply into it. Why Naeva had said those things he could hardly guess but she had and it left him feeling rather odd about the current situation at hand.

An indulgent chuckle was his answer to Bossa Nova's fate, brought to light once more thanks to Naeva. It was a much more peaceful Pandora with his passing, if only due to the lack of his headache-inducing music. Truly, it had not been to Zer0's liking at any turn. In fact, it had only made Bossa Nova's death all the sweeter after so long of hearing it.

A minute or so passed before Zer0 turned to Neava, taking the cookware she handed him carefully. He'd rather not have to get an earful from Fiona or Sasha because he'd treated their things with little care. Besides, who knew what they might need to cook on their journey. Keeping things in good care was ideal.

"I'd imagine so. / You have much of their tech now / as is from Naira," he reminded.

With the identity of the sender now revealed to be Naira, well, it made all the more sense as to why Hyperion technology had been inside to be used in Killer later. A curious thing for the other woman to do and yet she'd done so nonetheless. Out of obligation or friendship perhaps, either didn't matter, only that it had been done. In that, at least, they owed her.

He gestured towards the caravan with a nod of his head, signaling he would be but a minute inside. When he was sure Naeva understood this he strode inside, taking care not to drop the cookware and wake those inside so rudely, before moving to place them in the little sink.


Despite the fact that he said he didn't mind, he still looked rather awkward, his face a little redder than usual. Even so he managed a small smile as he answered, his words stammered a bit. So many differences indeed despite those common traits... It was strange.

She studied the way he looked from her and back, still looking a little uneasy the whole while. Someone like her, much less in her current broken mess, making another act like this... it was weird. Naira wasn't quite sure how to take it all in, merely taking a moment to study this bashful behavior. Rhys must have been all too aware of her gaze on him with the way he scratched at the back of his neck and kept glancing at her nervously.

Finally, she heaved a sigh, turning away and closing her eyes again. She'd already divulged a lot to this man, what was a little more?

"Perhaps it is quite cold at the top."

Naira saw no reason to explain further. With Jack it had been different, he'd been there at least and she was not the big boss of it all. She had responsibilities but she was not the main focus. Now was different and she was utterly alone and scrambling to even tread water so to speak.

It was a short affair collecting the cooking ware. Zer0 would take them in, quiet as he could manage for those still inside. Naeva's gaze soon fell onto Rhys and Naira before she started to stride over to the pair...

Rhys wasn't sure what she would say but it wasn't what he expected. She barely shifted, closing her eyes once more when she spoke. The words hung in the air, leaving his mind to whirl for a long moment.

He opened his mouth to respond, uncertain if that was even the right thing to do before he was interrupted, "She likes it when people play with her hair."

Rhys paused, glancing at Naeva who was grinning widely, pointing at her own choppy short hair. What in the world was she getting at now? He really couldn't tell anymore.

"W-what?" he started, raising a brow. He only received a chuckle in response before she shifted her weight, turning to approach the loader bot.

"Should I be worried...?" he inquired, unsure if Naira was even going to respond.

Naeva's bit of advice was no doubt blunt and had gotten a reaction out of Rhys. Regardless, that tip might come in handy later. There were a lot of things Naeva still knew about what Naira liked. Still, right now some of those weren't important.

She strode over to the bot, hands on her hips when she finally paused. Glancing up at it, the Loader Bot paused only for a moment, a robotic eye peering down at her. Several seconds passed in this manner before it lifted it's hand and ever so gently gave one, two, three pats on her head before it started off again.

Confused by this action, Naeva watched as it took up it's pattern of pacing again.

"What the hell is wrong with your bot?" she after a long pause, "I mean it's...very affectionate?"

"Yea I...don't really know why it just did that..." Rhys answered having witnessed that bit of weirdness. Was there something wrong with Loader Bot? He'd never seen any of them do that before.

Naira moved to get up and Rhys soon followed. Oddly enough, it felt odd when the cold hit him where Naira had laid. He tried to ignore it for now, pushing himself up to listen to what Naira had to say, however soft it might have been.

"I didn't know the loader bots even ran on an AI," he commented a moment after.

He paused, watching as the bot seemed to study all of them. Was it just him or did it's gaze fixate on him quite a few times? He tried to shake it away a moment after.

"Interesting," Naeva started a moment after, "So in some ways, it can learn to be self aware..."

It was in that moment her expression dropped and her eyes seemed to widen. She had lifted her hand, rubbing the back of it against her mouth. What brought that action on? It almost looked like she was really startled...

"You...okay?" he asked, motioning toward her. She waved him off easily, trying to grin again.

"Fine, fine. It's nothing..." she answered quickly. From where he stood, she didn't look fine but it got even worse when the bot finally spoke up,

"What does it mean to love?"

Naira allowed her hand to fall to her side, watching Loader Bot as it glanced around at them all in turn after her answer. It seemed curious enough and though it was simulated it was at least real to the bot. That alone made it real enough, didn't it? Naira always thought so. It had been a shame that the old AI personality, or the shades of it that still remained, had to be subdued with updates to the coding...

It did not escape Naira's notice to Naeva's sudden surprise, nor the way Zer0 shook his head. Though the latter was caught by the corner of her eye it told Naira enough. Always more outwardly affectionate to each other when alone, well... Naira wouldn't be surprised if Loader Bot might have witnessed a thing or two last night if it was with them.

"I'm going to hold everyone to that today. No more freak outs, huh?" Fiona announced, hat placed atop her head once more.

Naira shrugged her shoulders noncommittally. That well depended on the others now, though she didn't say that. No one else seemed to have much to say, or if they did it didn't get said before Loader Bot spoke again. Naira blinked, turning to peer up at it. So it had witnessed something curious then...

"Irrelevant now," Zer0 said. He'd already moved back to Naeva's side as he did so. This act wasn't missed by anyone though probably written off as comfort's sake by most of the group.

Vaughn was the next to speak, brow furrowed while he did. "Uh, it's liking someone a lot. Kind of. I mean... can someone else take the reigns on this maybe?"

"It means to care a great deal about someone, whether a friend, a family member or a lover," Naira attempted, opting for a succinct route.

Naeva's heart beat hard in her chest and she resisted every screaming urge to bury her face in her hands. This wasn't supposed to happen, no one was supposed to know. Yet it was the bot that would out them at this point, no doubt...

Zer0 seemed to take it in strides, moving to her side once more. If anyone thought this suspicious, no one said a word, instead focusing on the loader bots words. Explaining the act of love...god, it hard heard every word...

"I uh...never knew a robot would actually ask something like that..." Sasha's voice rang out but it was inevitably Naira that answered.

There was a lot of confusion in the group now, unsure of what the loader bot was up to. Really, he knew these bots were getting smarter but he would have never predicted this! It really surprised Rhys.

Loader bot was quiet as it observed and listened to the answer. Not moments after, it's gaze fell onto him again. Rhys' eyebrow raised as he observed the bot. Already, it was taking strides forward, stopping just short of him.

"Uhh...you okay buddy?" he inquired briefly, watching the bot carefully.

In the blink of an eye, loader bot picked Rhys up, his heart leaping into his throat. Before he could even ask what the bot was doing, it pulled him forward hard, his forehead meeting metal.

Rhys saw stars for a long moment, his head whipping back. Why did it do that? Why did this stuff always happen to him?

"Why...is it always the face?" Loader bot seemed to ignore this in favor of speaking once again, "This is love?"

"I don't know if I should laugh or cry..." Naeva murmured, her heart leaping in her throat as an audible thunk had resounded out.

The loader bot had witnessed every bit of what she and Zer0 had done that night, even going out of it's way to reenact it, though, those were more painful results. She felt embarrassed and what was more, nervous that this was all going to get out in a moments notice...

It was a curious thing to watch. First Loader Bot had remained still, it's focus shifting back to Rhys after a time and remaining there. Naira's head had cocked to one side curiously at this. What was the evolving AI concluding from all this? She had no answer before it had strode forward, picking Rhys up and promptly slamming heads with him.

For a brief moment, Naira's lip quirked up in a smile before it was gone again. It wasn't everyday that one saw a robot try to reenact Zer0 and Naeva's little kisses, after all. Hopefully it hadn't given Rhys a concussion doing that though...

"Uuuh, I'm pretty sure that's not normal behavior for love, no matter who or what you are," Fiona pointed out.

Zer0's fingers briefly brushed Naeva's hip in reassurance. No one knew what that meant or why the loader bot had done it. They could only guess and that was that. There was hardly any worry to have here. Besides, it seemed like focus was on the robot and now on the newly injured Rhys anyways. As such he remained silent on the matter, merely observing.

"Rhys, you okay? That didn't sound pleasant," Vaughn called.

His and Naira's footsteps rang out as they approached Rhys and Loader Bot. Naira beat him there first, gesturing for Loader Bot to put Rhys down on his feet again. He looked unsteady but he was bleeding and she'd rather tend to that now. How hard had Loader Bot misinterpreted Zer0 and Naeva's little affectionate moment?

Only when Rhys was properly on his feet did she reach for his chin for the second time in as many days, her un-armored hand moving to gently wipe the blood from his forehead. It wasn't a large wound but head wounds were known to bleed a lot. Best not let it bleed more than necessary...

"So, are we just not going to talk about that at all?" interrogated Fiona, glancing around at them all.

Zer0 had begun to shake his head 'no' before Naira beat him to the answer. He froze, head cocked to one side as he realized all too late what she was saying.

"That would be Zer0 and Naeva's kiss to one another." A short pause followed. "I wonder, is the sex any more inventive than that, however?"

Vaughn's voice rang out almost in a haze as Rhys was placed back onto his feet. His head seemed to spin for a moment and he played a hand there as if that would help. It didn't but it seemed to steady things just a little.

"Yea just...seeing every star in the world right about now," Rhys commented as Naira grabbed his chin again.

She paused for a long moment before parting with the truth, leaving Rhys a little bit surprised for a long moment. Naeva and Zer0? It was suddenly making a lot more sense why the Vault Hunter nearly killed him after Naeva had been injured...

"Wait...what?" he started, still almost a little unbelieving of it.

"You're...getting a little personal there aren't you?...Not caring much about it, huh?" Sasha's voice rang out as she motioned to Naira.

Even so, word was out and they all seemed a little surprised by that. All except Naeva who looked rather red in the face and not from that of anger.

In that moment, Loader Bot had turned to them, extending a hand before announcing it further, "You have taught me well." it said before seemingly satisfied with the outcome and went along it's way once more, silently observing as they spoke.

A short 'Oh my god' left Naeva as she placed her face in her hands, hiding her expression from all of them but otherwise, said nothing more.

Naira lightly swatted Rhys' hand away from his forehead to better wipe away the blood and gauge the wound. It wasn't much to look at but letting blood dribble down his face didn't quite seem like something he'd enjoy. As such, Naira took to tending to it carefully while Vaughn hovered nearby.

"Yeah, that's... kind of a personal thing to part with from old friends," Vaughn agreed with Sasha, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so. Maybe he expected Naira to lash out at him.

"Not at all," Naira admitted simply. "She is free to choose her boyfriends."

And in the end, that was that. It had led them both down different roads in this universe so many years ago but Naira would hardly interfere. It made her happy from what she could see and though he'd hurt her initially all those years ago, well... He'd filled the void of an old best friend that couldn't be there.

"I'm pretty sure I could have dealt with none of this today," Fiona sighed, shaking her head. "But what's done is done, I guess. Weird as that whole thing was..."

Zer0 huffed, a displeased face shining briefly in red from his visor. Still, as they said, the whistle had been blown much to his disdain. Nothing more to it then making sure the news did not spread further at least. He thumbed the hilt of his sword, glancing at each in turn.

"Let us speak not of / this to enemy ears now. /A fair warning, no?"

Vaughn quickly held up his hands, taking a step away from the assassin despite not being anywhere near him. "Hey, you won't hear any argument from me there!"

Why of all things, of all times, did it have to be now? She had hoped that said information never got out and yet it was Naira who blew the whistle. Did she not care what might happen if bandits or god forbid, skilled bounty hunters found out? It was painting a target right on her back!

Naeva found herself too embarrassed to argue, especially with her last question. She wasn't willing to part with something of a shared kiss, why would she entertain the thought of parting with anything more than that?

Zer0's displeasure was easily heard in his voice, even if it sounded flat to others. She knew that irritation well enough...

"Hey, you'll hear nothing from us," Sasha had proclaimed easily, "I kind of like the act of being alive and all."

Rhys tried not to worry about this brief bit of information that was just leaked. Naira had smacked his hand away from his head, tending to blood dripping down his face. How many times was this going to happen before he decided on picking up a helmet.

"I think you had it in you to stab me back at the arena, so it's not like I'm going to say anything," he agreed quickly with the others.

He resisted a shake of his head as Naira tended to him. Really, there was an uncomfortable feeling in the air all over again. This was not a good way to start the day...

Naeva finally pulled her head back up, shaking it just as quickly. The heat from her cheeks still left her feeling hot and dizzy. A frown lined her lips, not at all amused by what had just transpired.

She swallowed thickly, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked anywhere but at the current people facing. Every bit of her was annoyed and upset. Whatever impatience later rose up, she just hoped she could hold her tongue before she snapped at someone...

It wasn't a surprise that everyone agreed to keep the information a closely guarded secret. That much, at least, was a blessing though Zer0 wondered about why it was Naira who gave the information out so freely. Was it a ploy to keep he and Naeva in line? That information in the wrong hands, after all... He scoffed. Just like a Hyperion woman to blackmail people.

"If that is the case / then we will get along well."

Briefly he flashed a smiling face to them all, duly noting that no one seemed reassured by this. Naira didn't even seem to be paying attention, fussing over Rhys instead. Odd, given that it was only a scratch compared to what the damage could have been.

For a long moment after Zer0 spoke last it was quiet. From the corner of her eye she spotted when Naeva finally lifted her head from her hands, still quite red-faced. It was also pretty noticeable that she refused to meet anyone's eye now. Oh, well.

Pulling her hand from Rhys' forehead it looked as if the bleeding had stopped though it had left a pretty bruise around the cut as well. Once again, Naira hoped he didn't have a concussion on top of it.

"There," she murmured, releasing him from her grasp.

Vaughn glanced between Rhys and her then, perhaps looking for some answer to questions he had running through his head. If this was the case he didn't speak of them right away, instead offering a shrug. Only then did he wonder "So, what now? Are we heading out or...?"

"Well, that depends. Is no one going to kill each other when we're in the caravan? If not I'd rather wait until everyone's cooled off," Fiona answered. "Or I can push them out of the moving vehicle."

Even if Zer0 had tried to express some type of good feelings toward their promises, Rhys had a feeling he might have been rather agitated at this point in time. Whatever reason they had left that relationship secret, having it outed wasn't appreciated. Naeva had notably not spoken up once since that point in time.

Rhys shook his head as Naira finished tending to his forehead. He resisted the urge to reach up and touch it himself. Best not make it bleed again by accident.

"Yea, no, I'd rather not get nearly tossed out of the moving vehicle a second time," he answered Fiona, "The first time was enough for me, thanks."

"Could have been worse. You could have actually taken the fall," Sasha spoke up again, a shrug of her shoulders following.

Rhys thought it best not to comment on that particular bit. He didn't want to get an earful from anyone else, much less worry about getting tossed out in the first place.

Annoyance gnawed in the pit of her stomach. If anything went wrong today, if someone stepped on her toes just the wrong or, heck, even right way, she wasn't sure she could hold her temper.

Even so, she needed to keep cool and cooperate for the time being. A Vault was at stake and her careless mistakes or feelings right now weren't needed.

"Yea, it'll be fine," she finally answered. As she spoke, there was notable exhaustion in her tone, "I'm hardly one to draw a weapon when it's not needed."

In that, it was the truth, regardless of the implications behind it. Zer0 was always quicker to that action, whether it be necessary or not. She simply followed his lead.