Borderlands one-shots

Handsome Jack

I'm scared.

I'm scared. I'm terrified that when it's all over I'll be relieved. I'll be able to sleep at night and not have to live through this kind of trauma anymore.

When this is over, I know that in my head, it'll never end. Everything will constantly run through my mind and won't let me go.

When the relief comes, there won't be any time to actually relieve myself of it all.

I know it dosen't make any sense, but I barely understand it myself. I want to be able to lay down at night and not stare up at the ceiling thinking about all the mistakes I've made, or the kind of trauma I live with every day.

"Tim?" Jack asked, almost sounding genuinely concerned. It didn't quite snap me out of my thoughts, but I heard him. I ignored him, and thought about nothing more than peace.

"Hey, kiddo. You with me?" Jack asked again this time with genuine concern. I moved my eyes from the desktop screen to look into his identical hetrochromic eyes.

"There we go. You okay?" Jack sat down in front of me, and I just stared ahead, not really looking at him, but more looking at the window behind him.

"No," I said silently, but yet not completely there. I was so numb that I wasn't even sure that anything going on around me was even real.

Jack reached across his desk to grab my hand, and I only sat there, not sure of how to react, and still not sure that it was even real.

"Tim-" He started to say something, but got distracted by something in the doorway behind me.

I didn't realize it at the time, but the person standing there was the one person who I never wanted to see again.

The same person who left me at the vault, alone and traumatized, without a single friend left.

Jack looked almost mortified by what he saw behind me, but tried his best to focus back on me.

At that time, I was nearly broken free of my numbed, blank state, and turned to face her.

"Athena," My eyes widened slightly, but glazed over in anger. I stood up, and faced her, wanting nothing more than to end this stupid war I've waged with myself over what happened at the Vault.

"Timothy," She didn't seem angry, it was almost as if she was remorseful.

I took off my mask, and set it down on my desk. I don't know why I thought it was a good idea. Maybe I wanted Athena to know what happened without having to say anything.

"I'm sorry you had to leave... but I get it. If I could've left with you, I probably would have. I'm not... I'm not mad anymore," I wanted to believe myself, but it was hard. I don't think I would've gone with her. I'm not mad anymore, I'm just hurt.

Athena looked saddened by my words, but didn't say anything. She reached for her Aspis, and threw is across the room, knocking me in the side of the face. My eye split from the force of the Aspis hitting me in tbe face.

I didn't say anything, instead, I laid there, numb and sad.

"Jack, I can't let this go on any longer," Athena didn't sound like her usual self. She was tired and sad and I don't think she's slept in weeks.

"Okay. Go ahead, Kiddo. I don't really have anything left anyway," Jack sat on the steps leading up to his desk and looked back at Athena, who drew her gun.

I watched from the floor as Athena put her finger on the trigger, aiming the gun at Jack's head.

I almost wanted to scream "Well? Aren't you going to pull the trigger?" but I kept silent.

The relief was right around the corner. I couldn't wait for this to be over.

"No," Athena dropped her gun and left, without another word.

"No, wait..." My words were so silent you almost couldn't hear them. I felt the tears start to stream down my face, and I felt my eye sting from the salty tears.

I lied on the ground silently sobbing for hours.

Jack didn't say anything. He just left to give me some space.

I was so close...

I need that relief...

I need you to be gone...