new queen of hyperion - a borderlands story

[04.] Bad Timing

Aspyn was explaining to Vaughn that he would be training under her to be a vault hunter, he didn't seem to keen on the idea but went with it.

"So Zer0, do we have to right now?" Aspyn asks.

"Yeah, why wouldn't we?" Zer0 asks, glancing at the calendar on the wall. Even with his mask on, everyone could tell he picked up on it.

Today was the worst day for Aspyn to start training someone, it's her birthday. Which also means the anniversary of the last good memory of her father. It might not seem like a big deal, but with Aspyn's depression, it was so much worse.

"We don't have to, maybe tomorrow?" Aspyn nods, leaving Rhys and Vaughn to figure out what was going on.

"Can you all maybe leave? I have stuff to do."

With that, Zer0 leads the guys out so Aspyn can relax.

-Time Skip about 3 hours-

By now, both Rhys and Vaughn are aware of Aspyn's birthday. Now they are sitting in Moxxi's bar, including Jack, who has oddly enough stayed quiet.

"So, Moxxi. Why hasn't anyone said 'happy birthday' to her?" Vaughn asks.

"It's an unspoken rule, today is not the best day for her."

"Why does she take it so hard?" Rhys questions.

Moxxi stays silent for a moment, finally answering after a few moments.

"Let me explain with a story, when Aspyn was sent to Pandora we found her as soon as she arrived. We taught her to be a vault hunter, so when she started going on missions with Roland and Lilith - Pandorans didn't like her. One day they went to a small town and someone called her a murderer and compared her to her father. That added to the hatred towards her birthday, she doesn't want to remember her dad as a murderer, she wants to remember her birthday she spent with him. If that makes any sense."

Vaughn nods, leaving it at that. Rhys glances over to Jack who seems to be looking around, attempting to ignore the conversation.

"If you all don't mind, I'm going in the back to clean up. See ya." Moxxi says, leaving the bar.

Vaughn and Rhys look at each other for a good few minutes before saying anything.

"So, I guess that means we can't throw our new friend a party?"

Rhys shakes his head, "Yeah, probably not in our best interests. I'm gonna go see if I can find her."

Vaughn nods, walking in the opposite direction of Rhys. Rhys makes his way to Aspyn's hideout, as soon as he gets near the doorway he hears the voice of Handsome Jack gently singing happy birthday and a small child giggling. He peaks through the crack of the door and spots Aspyn watching a video on her laptop of her birthday with her dad.

Jack notices too, a smile finds its way onto his face. Rhys knocks gently on the door and hears the laptop shut quickly and Aspyn's voice gently saying, "come in." As he walks in, his eyes go straight to the tears on her face.

"A-Are you okay, Aspyn?"

Aspyn looks offended, "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Rhys didn't know what to say, Aspyn's voice was filled with venom. He looked down at the ground, trying to think of something to say.

"Can you just not bother me? I have stuff to do and I am not in the mood for this."

"What do you mean 'this'?"

Even though Rhys wasn't looking at Jack, he could feel a change in Jack's mood. Jack's facial expression's changed, he looked sad.

"Nothing, it's nothing. Just please, leave."

Rhys did without question and shut the door forcefully. Aspyn just ran her fingers through her hair, hoping Rhys would understand when she attempted to explain it to her.

-Time Skip, yet again-

It's been a few hours since Aspyn blew up on Rhys, and no one has seen her since then. Everyone else was eating supper and hanging out.

Aspyn did end up coming to join them but was silent. Everyone noticed and just kinda glanced at her, even Jack's hologram.

She didn't acknowledge them, she just opened a locker and grabbed her weapons, shield, relics, and gernades. Lilith turned and looked again and tried to ask where she was going but Aspyn was too far into a trance to respond.

Aspyn started to walk away but Mordecai shut the door before she could walk out. Her glare went directly to Mordecai and then to Lilith who was grabbing her arm.

"Get out of my way." She spat.

Lilith rolled her eyes and pulled Aspyn backwards which led to Aspyn raising a fist to punch her.

"I said, get out of my way. That also means get off me."

Lilith noticed the anger in her eye and let go of her, then nodded to Mordecai to let her leave.

Aspyn walked away and everyone stayed silent. This was new.

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