Dying Stars.

(PT.2; DISCONNECTED PIECES)

[Authors Note: TW: strong language,]

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The Technical's engine hummed as Brick and Mordecai sat in silence, all too lost in thought to find anything to talk about.

Brick's hands gripped at the steering wheel, still pissed from earlier.

To imagine one's closest friend lying about something so important to him set his blood boiling. If she lied about something this dire, then what's saying she would try to hide something even worse?

As the bandit king drove, his head turned and looked over at his friend.

Mordecai's head rested in one of his hands as Talon sat in his lap, rubbing his beak against his chin to try and comfort him. In return, his fingers thoughtlessly scratched the top of his head, falling off every now and again whenever he stopped focusing.

He couldn't help the wave of guilt and anger that kept washing over him whenever his mind played back the memories from before. How you two fought over one of the stupidest things before you were taken in by Jack's men.

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It was really just because you hated how he was a Vault Hunter, more importantly how much you hated Jack. The threat of him dying at the hands of bandits or psychos always loomed over your head and you hated it. But that feeling only worsened when Jack was put into play.

You'd first met Mordecai while he was on the run for cheating in a shooting competition and having a bounty on his head, giving him a place to hide out and stay at. After that you two were practically inseparable, going on missions together and saving each other from mortal danger all while getting cash for the hell of it. It was like nothing could break you two apart. Unfortunately for him, death wasn't a factor he considered.

Sure you two had your fights every now and again, every relationship did; but this one was different.

You'd found out he was chasing Jack and trying to stop his whole plan of opening the Vault and releasing the Warrior, something you highly opposed.
You were fine with joining the Crimson Raiders with him, and doing jobs that couldn't kill him indefinitely; but Jack was a whole different ball game. The man prided himself on killing Vault Hunters for fun, and now your boyfriend had made it on his shit list.

He might've found it embarrassing when you visited the Raiders HQ and chewed him out on the whole deal, telling him to "cut it out while you still can".

He yelled at you to "get off my back," and that "even if I did live, I wouldn't ever wanna see you again if this is what you want from me", something he'll die regretting.

After that you didn't speak to him again, the only time he heard from you was if Tina talked to him; you'd become like a mother to the young girl.

And after Bloodwing was taken you'd soon fall for the same trap he did.

Brick had heard about some Hyperion forces messing around with his gang in the highlands, so of course you and Tina had to tag along.

You three were outnumbered so Brick and Tina had to book it out, the only problem was them trying to follow them to Sanctuary.

You calmed Tina's nerves and told her you'd fend them off and make it back home all before her tea party that night, and as her and Brick drove off she truly believed you; that you'd pull through.

But never did make it back and ever since then he'll always believe that it was his fault.

His fault for driving you away, telling you that your anxieties were stupid and that he didn't want you anymore. He never didn't want you, he didn't even know why he told you to go away in the first place, but it's something he always regretted.

Even now as you lay in the back of the Technical, still alive and breathing, he'll never forgive himself.

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Brick's hand pressed onto his shoulder, stirring him from his thoughts as he turned his head to face him.

"It's okay," Brick spoke up, trying to ease his friends nerves as his eyes stayed transfixed on the dirt road ahead, looking away only to give Mordecai and reassuring glance; although he wasn't that good at it, "we got 'em and now we're gonna get 'em all better...I'm sure Zed's got something he can fix them with."

Mordecai nodded, looking down at Talon as he rubbed his beak, still lost in thought as his mind kept flashing images of "what was"; how you used to be.

Looking to the back seat, he caught sight of how you actually looked, not how you used to, but now. Paler and dirty, your face bore a thousand scars that he couldn't see but knew you'd felt. Your veins stuck out like purple, sore thumbs and your skin was littered with different bumps and bruises. You looked so sick, so weak, so...dead.

A lump caught in his throat as tears threatened to prick his eyes, his lashes trying to blink them away.

Dammit, he hated crying, especially in front of Brick; he always feared it'd make him look more weak and soft.

As a sniffle escaped his throat, Brick's hold in his shoulder tightened, not harshly, like he was going to shake him, but instead more firmly; like he was trying to reassure him.

"It's okay man," his voice was soft as his head stayed focused on the road, his hold never leaving Mordecai's shoulder as he lightly shook him, "let it out...I know you're hurting."

A weight seemed to lift off of his chest as Brick's hand moved away from him to rest back on the center console, giving Mordecai space as the lump in his throat grew against his skin, glazing his eyes as the barrier broke and tears pooled in his goggles.

His hand reached up to tug the visors from his face, letting the warm tears flow down his cheeks and drip onto his pants.

His head leaned back against the chair-rest as his hands pressed against his face to conceal the sight. Sobs ripped through his chest as his shoulders shook, muffled mumbling and cries of guilt and regret filled the Technical. God he hated himself so much for letting you go, letting them get to you.
He could've done so much more but instead, he let himself believe you were dead.

Why did he let himself go and follow Lilith? Why didn't he go find you himself? To prove you were still alive. Why did he have to be such a pussy?

Even now, balling his eyes out like a little bitch as he kept whining over his mistakes, it wasn't gonna save you, it wasn't gonna help you get any better.

After a few minutes he took a deep breath, his heart starting to calm as he wiped away any excess tears left on his face as he straightened himself out.

No, he wasn't gonna be the lousy, not caring, alcoholic dickhead that he'd been before. He wasn't gonna do that to you.

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Brick's eyes glanced in his direction after hearing Mordecai clear his throat, "You feeling any better?"

"Yeah," he hoarsely spoke up, "yeah I feel a lot better."

"Good...'cause we're almost there. I just hope Tina doesn't get too excited."

Mordecai let out a small chuckle, "Yeah, right."

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