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They didn't like most humans. They didn't even like the human currently nestled in their arms, at least at first.
But he somehow managed to worm his way into their heart. He nuzzled closer in his sleep. They let out a low rumble, almost resembling a purr, in response.
Axton surely would've pointed it out had he been awake, grinning and making some sort of joke about it. They've grown accustomed to his jokes during the time they've known him. They weren't annoyed by them as much as they used to be, and they even found some of them funny. Not that they'd admit that to him.
They'd been like this for hours. Zer0's normally cold exoskeleton had long since warmed up from his body heat.
In the past they would've considered themselves soft, or weak, for doing this. To curl up with one and doze off with a human.
A part of them still thought that of themselves.
They tried to push it aside. They found their current group of huma- friends. They found their current group of friends and enjoyed being around them, despite everything. They enjoyed hunting and killing things together when in the past they wouldn't have even looked their way to begin with.
In the past they would've scoffed at sharing food with Maya and Gaige. They would've rejected Salvador's offers to drink together. They would've ignored Krieg's offerings of flowers and viscera, gifts from someone who's long forgotten what most people like but who still tried. They would've ignored Axton's jokes and banter and would've never bothered with the man at all. They would've stayed away from the others entirely, not seeing them as worth the time or effort to befriend.
They wondered when their priorities changed. When they turned from a cold blooded assassin to... this. Someone who leaned on people for protection. Someone who willingly cuddled with humans. Who enjoyed physical contact with humans when they were raised to simply snuff out their lives. They didn't need this. They didn't need any of this.
There was still a part of them that saw themselves as above this. There was still always a sort of shame to this for them. They were a warrior, an assassin! They were handpicked from their kind to be raised to do nothing but kill!
They didn't need to be protected, and they didn't need any help to survive before now. So why did they-
The man in their arms moved closer in his sleep, clutching their clothing and pressing his face against them. They let out a breath. They calmed down slightly as they softly ran their fingers through his hair. They could've sworn he smiled.
Their heart warmed. They were completely and utterly torn. They didn't need this. They didn't need to be around him or the others at all.
But they were pretty sure they wanted it.