Work Text:
It had surprised Zane to see Fl4k volunteer like that. They had often commented on their own inability to understand humans, to connect with social cues. Yet here they were, offering to speak with Ava after her outburst.
On the way to the room, Zane didn't speak. But he felt conflicted. If Ava should be blaming anyone, it ought to be them. The "heroic" Vault Hunters who came out too late to save Maya. The ones who failed her. Too busy in the glory of victory to discover the crushing loss happening just outside.
Zane kept it to himself. He'd drink the guilt away later.
At the doorway to the room, Fl4k stood. Gently, they spoke.
"Ava."
The girl had her back turned. She had been trembling, holding things in.
"Oh. Hey, Vault Hunter." Her voice was trembling with a bitter coldness. "Not much to say, ya know? It's a war. People die."
Tannis' words clearly got to her. Before Zane could speak, Fl4k was instead.
"As they must." Their voice was, surprisingly, very gentle. "But do not fear death... she is a friend who welcomes you, at the end of your hunt."
It was a reassuring sentiment, and an eye-opening one. Zane had, wrongly, assumed their love of killing had been a cruel one, like anyone else. But to see death as a welcome embrace... perhaps Fl4k saw freeing people from the world as a mercy.
"Yeah, kiddo." Zane smiled, offering an extra sentiment. "Someday, when yer old enough, we'll get shit-faced an' sing songs about her till our throats go hoarse."
The little girl had turned to the Vault Hunters upon hearing their words. She took a trembling breath, let out a weak laugh.
"I... thank you, I um... you didn't have to come here and comfort me, I don't... deserve it."
That fragile voice broke at those final words. She began to cry.
"I- I know I shouldn't have yelled at L- Lilith..!! I can't blame her, I'm the one who... It's all my fault..!!" Angrily, she stomped a foot, like the child she truly still was.
"I'm the dumbass who didn't listen, the child who she died to protect..!!
A wrecked sob escaped her. Zane's heart broke in his chest- to see such a scrappy young spitfire, broken down by a close loss. He was quick to hurry up to her, to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don'tcha go an' say a thing like that now." He spoke with a sternness, though not out of cruelty, but an urge to make her hear him. "Maya didn't save ya, didn't work to save all she could, just to see ya fall apart from it. It ain't yer fault... by yer logic, it's our faults just as much. An' if takin' that blame helps ease yer achin' heart, we'll gladly take it."
Fl4k stepped forward.
"We were too late to save Maya, despite our power to potentially have done so. Though you feel burdened, you are not to blame. No one person is to blame alone. No one except the Calypsos, for their own actions. And we... we will make them suffer consequences."
The girl whimpered as she tried to calm her sobs. Those tiny, trembling hands went out to hug Zane, unable to help herself. And he allowed it, hugging her back and patting her head.
"There, there ya go, shush now..."
Fl4k would step aside, but make a motion with their hand. Mr. Chew, their skag, never left their side, and recognized the command. The creature approached the hug.
"When I am aching or pained, I... I find comfort in my companions. You may pet Mr. Chew, if you like. I find it soothing."
Ava peeked out from where she had buried her face into Zane's body. With a weak giggle, it was clear this was all comforting her. Despite the pain and hurt, she was finding joy in this- in the two Vault Hunters, revealing their humanity. She reached out cautiously, placing a hand atop the skag's head. It would headbutt into the touch playfully.
"Hehe..." Ava giggled again, before petting Mr. Chew in earnest. Even with a tear-streaked face, while she wiped her eyes and sniffled, Ava was smiling.
"Thank you... thank you guys."
She looked to Zane, then Fl4k.
"I can't thank you enough for this... I know I need to apologize to Lilith... and I need to do it myself. But, um... until I'm ready. When you go back out there, can you tell her for me..? That I'm gonna tell her I'm sorry?"
Fl4k nodded, and Zane answered.
"Absolutely." He gave a supportive pat to her head. "Now, you focus on gettin' that big smile nice an' ready for us, scrapper. Gonna need all the smiles we can get from here on out."
Ava nodded, a determined fire lighting behind the pain in her eyes.
"I will. Now... don't keep Lilith waiting, okay? You guys are needed out there... I'll be okay."
"You're sure?" Fl4k asked.
"I... I am. Thanks to you."
Satisfied with the answer, Fl4k nodded. They could not emote the same way humans did, but their gaze seemed fond as they looked at Ava. Zane, meanwhile, had that charming grin of his on, while he motioned for Fl4k to follow him out of the room.
"We've got yer back, Ava."
"Take care, young one."
Together, the Vault Hunters left the room. Mr. Chew stayed behind a moment longer for Ava, before she gently shoo'd it after its master.
They'd given her a lot to think about. A lot. Maya was right- she wasn't ready. Yet. But she could be, with help from people like the Vault Hunters.
She would make Maya proud.