Chapter Text
Ever since Helios fell, Rhys had been staying at the Atlas facility located in Old Haven in. It was a simple story, I woke up without an arm after killing Jack, I got the rights to Atlas, then dragged myself to Atlas. From there, I repaired myself. but it wasn't quite as simple. No, it wasn't simple at all. Nothing in the story made sense.
Rhys had been lying on the ground after Helios, waiting for death. He was quite sure he had died, actually, even if it had been for a few seconds - and Rhys was sure that he would've stayed dead if he hadn't found a way to patch himself up.
His arm was missing, blood was spilling out like crazy, and his ECHO-eye ripped out - surviving was, to put it lightly, a goddamn miracle. Even when he was ripping Jack out of his systems, Rhys knew that he'd probably end up dying - sacrificing everything just to prove to Jack that he was everything Jack wasn't.
After passing out in the middle of Jack's office, arm and various other things missing, Rhys woke up inside the Atlas facility with the Atlas rights beside him.
He didn't know how he got there, or how he got the rights to Atlas, but all he knew is that he wasn't dead and someone had patched him up. Not all the way, of course - he still had his ECHO-eye, port and arm missing, but he wasn't bleeding and he did feel much better than before.
So, Rhys had gone from there. The last part of the story was the only true part. He spent weeks making schematics for his new arm, then actually crafting it, then going to a nearby surgeon and spilling the contents of his wallet into their hands. He woke after that with a new eye, arm and port -- then he was on his way to rebuilding Atlas.
Until, of course, he was kidnapped, and his plans were derailed by helping Loader Bot rebuild Gortys.
Rhys always questioned how he got to the Atlas facility - questioned it every time he returned, looking at the spot he awoke in and muttering to himself. Though Rhys would much rather ignore it right now, as he saunters into the facility with his jacket hanging from his arm. He merely glances at the spot, and then hits the elevator buttons to return to his room.
Rhys being Rhys, he had managed to hack the entire facility and give himself access to everything. Rhys had clearance as CEO, and therefore had the rights to the best room in the building. Though since it had been abandoned for years, Rhys had to clear out every animal living in there and clean everything in it. It wasn't anything as good as what Jack's office looked like, or his penthouse, but it was still Rhys', and was better than his Helios apartment.
The doors slide open once Rhys has scanned his eye, and he throws his jacket onto a nearby chair without another thought, heading to the bedroom.
Sleeping itself was lovely, but the process was harrowing. Tossing and turning all night, Rhys could only think of what the day would hold.
What would a date with Zero be like?
What should he wear?
Should he get flowers?
Does Zero even like flowers?
What if they're allergic?
...Can Zero be allergic to things? Does the helmet block out that stuff?
Wait, what is Zero even?
Rhys tries to block out the thoughts as he crawls back into bed after getting some water for what seemed to be the fifth time since he got back. He lays on his back, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression. It eventually twists and screws up as his thoughts take over his mind, and turn it into an anxious mess.
Calming himself down isn't as easy as it usually is - he closes his eyes, telling himself that everything would be okay.
But will it, Cupcake? You're not really going out with a, uh, regular guy there—
An all too familiar voice rings out in Rhys' mind, causing him to sit up, looking around the room frantically.
He searches for the familiar blue haze around the room, but Jack is nowhere to be seen. Tense, Rhys begins to move back to press his back against the bed frame. His heart is racing, and it's worse than before - blood is pounding in his ears and he can't seem to focus.
He should be used to it by now. Ever since ripping Jack out of his head, there were moments.
Moments where Jack slips into his mind, when he's vulnerable and empty. It's never more than a few sentences before it glitches and fades out, but Rhys can never help but wonder if Jack is truly remaining in his systems.
He wasn't even sure how deep the AI ran — his cybernetics were all torn out, but if Jack had managed to take complete control of his body, would ripping out his cybernetics suffice?
Who knows? Maybe I'll be back tomorrow. Maybe the day after tomorrow. Maybe the next day maybe the next day maybe the next day maybe the next day maybe the next day maybe the next day maybe the next day maybe the next—
"Shut up!"
Eventually, the weight of insomnia is dragging Rhys back underneath the blankets in the bed. His head hits the pillows, and this time, falling asleep is easy.
_
Rhys wakes with a start, alarms going off throughout the Atlas facility.
"Shit! Bandits, already?" He shouts, jumping to his feet and scrambling to throw on some clothes.
He's rushing to the stairs instead of the elevator this time, flying down the steps a bit too fast. Though the thought doesn't cross his mind until he misses a step, and the bottom of the stairs is suddenly getting closer much faster than it should be, and fuck this is gonna hurt.
He's gonna die, falling down the goddamn stairs. Bandits are gonna swarm the Atlas facility and find him with his skull cracked open 'cause he didn't wanna take the freaking elevator.
Good goin', Rhysie! Friggin' fantastic. We're gonna die because you fell down some goddamn stairs.
Rhys barely notices the masked figure rushing towards him. Oh, great, we have an audience.
Gloved hands catch him like nothing before he hits the floor, stopping him from the brutal impact. Instead, he feels someone shift under him and winces when their knees nearly buckle from the impact of Rhys landing in their arms. Somehow, they manage to stay upright and just stumble a bit.
Rhys lifts his head to look at his savior, and finds a reflective helmet staring back at him.
A :3 displays and Rhys' face is suddenly getting warm.
"Zero?"
"Hello to you too. / Quite an entrance that was, Rhys. / You're lucky to live." Zero says, monotone voice somehow managing to sound amused.
"I, hah... Yeah, thought I was a goner."
"It would be a waste, / Of a perfectly good date / If you died first thing."
There's a moment of silence, and then, "You may get down now, Rhys."
"Right! Right, sorry." Rhys scrambles out of Zero's arms, landing on his feet and brushing himself off quickly. "Thanks, for that, uh... I owe you one."
"I believe you owe /more than one at this point, Rhys. /But I won't count it." Zero states, displaying a <3, "Out of appreciation."
Rhys' hand rubs the back of his neck. "Gee, thanks, Zero. Nice to know you care," He states, and Zero nods before gesturing to the ceiling.
Rhys looks up as well, though not seeing much. Then he realizes Zero was gesturing to the alarms going off.
"Your turrets were not a challenge." They state, and Rhys looks back at them with an extremely red face as Zero displays a 0 as Rhys needed convincing, "They will need repairs."
"Yeah, uh... That's not a problem. Can probably just reset them..." Rhys states, and Zero nods before beginning to walk away. Rhys is quick to follow. "So... I didn't really... put on a date outfit. 'Cause I thought you were a bandit, and that you were about to kill me, so..."
"A little troubling / that you chose your death outfit / with Handsome Jack socks." Zero states, nonchalant. It takes Rhys a moment to realize.
He glances down at his exposed socks, and bites his lip. "They were closest." He mutters, and Zero glances back but doesn't say another word until they've arrived at the room used to control the turrets.
Monitors cover most of the walls, some disabled, and they're flashing red instead of a dimmed blue to alert of an intruder. Rhys moves over to one of the monitors resting on a desk, tapping at the keyboard for a few minutes, and the alarms stop near instantly.
"It's endearing, Rhys. / I didn't mean any harm, / I was just noting." They say, and Rhys turns to face them. After a beat of silence, they add, "I could find more pairs of socks, if you do not wish to have only Handsome Jack themed ones."
"It's fine, Zero. I know." Rhys states, waving a nonchalant hand, "I find it weird as well. Also, uh... I have more than one pair of socks. Really."
Zero nods and gestures for the exit, and Rhys takes the hint and begins walking. Zero follows easily, falling into step beside him.
"So, what do you have planned?" Rhys asks, and Zero looks at them.
"Adventure of sorts, / I suspect you'll enjoy it. / I chose nice locations."
"Alright. So, uh... I kinda need shoes before I go."
Zero flashes a ! and turns to look at him. "You could have said something sooner."
"You seemed pretty eager to leave." Rhys replies, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't wanna ruin that. But it's kinda gross outside."
"There's quite a bit of dirt." Zero agrees.
"I'll be back in a moment."
. . . "May I come up?"
Rhys stares for a moment, before flushing red and nodding. "Yeah! Yeah, of course, god, sorry — I should've, ugh, yeah. Come on."
Zero shrugs, not bothered, and follows Rhys to the nearby elevator. Rhys taps his foot as they wait for it to come down, flashing Zero an apologetic smile. The assassin doesn't even react and Rhys isn't sure if he should be offended or not.
He steps inside, Zero ducking as they step inside. Rhys bites his lip as he leans forward to select the top level, and crosses his arms when he leans back against the wall.
"You seem bothered." Zero states, out of nowhere, making Rhys jump.
"I just didn't expect to be woken up by alarms." Rhys says when he's regained himself, rubbing the back of his neck.
... "Oh." They state, before continuing, "I am sorry. / I did not mean to wake you. / You could've disabled them."
"I kinda assumed you'd just call my echo." Rhys replies, looking at them with a raised brow.
"I did not give you my information. You would not have answered."
"Is that implying you have my echo?"
/// display on Zero's helmet at the slip up, shoulders hiking up to their neck. "I may have asked Fiona... / I thought it might come in hand, / too scared to ask you." They say, pausing between lines, hesitant to explain themselves.
Rhys flushes red and looks away, hand falling from his neck to his shoulder. "Geez, Zero. I didn't expect you to be the shy type."
"Usually not." They state, the blushing lines disappearing from their helmet. "I find it hard to explain. / You are different."
"I am?"
The elevator doors open with a chime, and Zero doesn't reply, instead gesturing to the hallway ahead of them.
"Shall we?"