"Hey, Handsome Jack requested you in his office when you get back. Finish up there quick, he seems mad."

The echo message rang out in the silent halls as I navigated the old Atlas building. Recently I've been sent on several "scout missions" where I'm supposed to take out anyone who's taken these old buildings as homes and search for any remaining tech. It's always one after the other, so I never get any time at Helios anymore. Seems as if I will receive a break since Jack has requested my presence once again. Whenever this happens it tends to be one thing he wants, but this time seems different.

I push the thoughts out of my mind, knowing better than to question my boss.

For once one of the buildings I was sent to had people in it.

"What the fuck are you?" The man on the floor shouted as I continued my advances after listening to the message. He had hid during that time but not very well.

One of his partners had got a hit on my helmet and dented it bad in a uncomfortable way, so I took it off. This caused a strange reaction.

"Please die quickly, I'm in a rush."
I hold him still with my foot and aim my gun at his head.

"Oh God, please."

"I am not your God, I apologise for the inconvience."
BANG

With that everyone living in this building is gone but me.

clink

"Hmm?"

My foot hits something on the ground.
It's a small metal case in the shape of a heart attached to a broken chain. It's near the body of the man, so I can only assume it was his.

I pick up the blood-smeared object.
I pry it open and look inside.
There are two pictures of the same two people.
The man dead on the floor, and someone else he seems rather close to. In one of the pictures their lips are connected and the one to the right of it is them hugging with the others head resting on the man's shoulder.

They look... Happy.
I wonder why.

I pocket the object.
I will ask Jack about it, maybe he will know.

By time I get back to Helios it's been two hours since I got the message. I head straight to Jack's office. I knock. "Sir, it's me."

"About fucking time you got here! Get in here!"

I open the door and shut it behind me as I walk in. I walk up to his desk where he sits and stand before him.

"What happened to your helmet?" I was wearing the dented helmet because Jack stated before that wants to keep my appearance mostly unknown.

"They were stronger than I expected."

"Just take it off it's annoying."

I release the contraption keeping the headgear in place and remove it. I rest it under my arm.

We stay in silence for a minute. Him studying my face, not speaking and me not trying to start a conversation.

He stands from his desk and approaches me.

"I don't want you to talk or anything, I just need you to be here... You're the only person that's on my side anymore. Well, the only one that isn't either obsessed with me or wants to be me."
He stops in front of me and leans into me with his arms circling around my waist and his face hidden against my chest.

"Angel... She-... she died."

I don't know who Angel was, but she seemed to be important.

We stand there in silence again. Him hugging me and me standing still.

"You're really bad at being comforting."

I stay silent.

"Fucking hold me you idiot."

I wrap my arms around the shorter man and try to mimic what I've seen others do.

"I can't tell if this is worse or not."

I pat his back as I've seen other employees do.

"Okay, yeah. Definitely worse."

-----

Sunny: ^^^ people who know borderlands lore realizing what I'm gonna do