Nothing Could Possibly Go Wrong Right?...right???

nothing could possibly go wrong right?...right???

 ‘Sometimes we don’t notice something until it’s pointed out to us, even when it was right in front of us the whole time.”

I had the biggest smile with this line. 🧡 💙 They’re adorable being all soft and cute to each other. And poor Rhys can’t catch a break in the beginning 😂

Also I was super into the dialogue that I had a double take later on with the constellations names. I reread it and was like

I was like holy shit elsive and daxy????

Rhyiona Week Day Three

Prompt: Celestial

Elevation

'Stop the world it's only you

Oh, my heart is waking

Cause I could be your one and only'

- Heavy by Oh Wonder

“Well, I can fix it,” Ellie drawled. She waddled back a few steps from the open engine compartment of the caravan and deactivated the scanning function on her ECHO device with a click, “But it’ll cost ya.”

“That’s no problem,” Sasha breezily reassured the mechanic. “We just had some repairs done recently, so my sister and I made an arrangement with Scooter.”

“Oh, honey, that explains a lot,“ Ellie chuckled. “You see, Scooter’s a smart boy but he’s not nearly half the greaser I am. Don’t worry, though. I’ll get this sorted for ya. In the meantime, I’m sure we can come to an arrangement of our own.” She turned her attention to Rhys and gave him a wink, “How you doing, Stringbean?” 

He was caught off guard by her sudden shift in focus, offering an awkward nod in reply. Half a step behind, his face flushed as the implication in her interest finally registered.

‘Whoa there, Rhysie!’ a digitized voice shouted in his ear. 

Startled, Rhys yelped, turning quickly towards his former boss’ AI construct. His actions drew the attention of the women standing with him. The sisters gave each other a wary look while Ellie eyed him questioningly, “You okay there, Slim?”

Attempting to regain his composure, Rhys scratched at the back of his head. A sheepish grin curved across his face. “Uh, yeah. I just thought I saw a bug. Like a really big and annoying bug,” he looked directly at the digital figment as he emphasized his words. 

“He’s fine,” Fiona stepped in, dismissing Rhys’ outburst with a wave of her hand. “You know these corporate types. They’re all wound a little too tightly for their own good,” she muttered, subtly swirling her finger next to her temple. 

Rhys pouted at the blatant dig at his mental health. Truth notwithstanding, it irritated him. An easy grin slid into place across the con woman’s face as she effortlessly deflected attention back to the matter at hand, “So, Ellie, about that arrangement…” 

His erratic behavior forgotten, the trio of women quickly fell into negotiations. 

“I think she likes you,” Jack’s projection nodded towards the overweight mechanic and leered at Rhys. “Word of the wise, though, bud,” Despite being immaterial, he feigned placing his hand on Rhys’ shoulder as he lowered his voice conspiratorially, “I’ve heard she’s just like her mother, a real wild one. Rumors get around; let me tell you. Apparently, there was this one poor sap who–”

“Um, uh, it– it looks like you ladies have this well enough in hand,” Addressing the group at large, Rhys rushed to talk over his former boss. “I– I think– I think I’ll just step outside. Maybe get some fresh air.” 

Spinning on his heel, he swiftly exited through the garage’s open bay door. Narrowly focused on ignoring the continued prattling of his unwanted digital companion, he barely registered that nightfall had stolen across the sky, shrouding everything in darkness beyond the bright lights of the garage. 

“And things were getting really hot and heavy when she rolled over on top of him and crushed—” 

At his wits end, he hissed at the AI floating doggedly behind him, mindful of the volume of his tone. “Oh my god, will you shu–” Rounding the corner of the building, he almost ran into Athena. The vault hunter pulled up short, halting in her tracks to avoid a collision.

“A-Athena, hi! Sorry. I– uh, I didn’t see you there,” he scrambled to feign an air of casualness.

“Where are you going in such a rush?” She asked bluntly.

“Um, just for some air,” he answered meekly. “I think the gas fumes are getting to me?” Nerves turned his statement into a question. 

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. Despite having done nothing wrong, her watchful gaze made him feel two inches tall. 

“Hmmph,” she scowled. “Stay close. The perimeter is secure but there’s a colony of spiderants nearby. Don’t go wandering off or you’re likely to become dinner.” She looked him up and down, as if assessing his quality as a meal. The expression on her face made it plain she’d found him lacking. 

“Will do,” he chuckled nervously, fumbling out a weak salute. 

Having said her peace, she dismissed him with a curt nod and continued on her way.

Shaken by the brief interaction with the vault hunter, Rhys realized he was holding his breath, his shoulders tight with tension. Exhaling shakily, he relaxed slightly. To his relief, Jack had vanished, likely spooked by Athena. 

Grateful for the brief respite from the meglomaniac’s incessant chatter, he rolled his shoulders and surveyed his surroundings. To his left a raised platform of solid concrete abutted the building. Taking the few short steps leading up, he leaned a shoulder against the wall and looked into the distance. Mountains of scrap metal clumped with stripped down car frames ringed around the property, forming a protective barrier against the elements. A scattered metallic gleam shining in the silvery moonlight hinted at the maze of rusted scrap heaps and other assorted detritus that stretched for miles beyond. A breeze kicked up, sending sand skittering over the hard packed ground with a soothing whisper. 

Lulled by this pocket of serenity amid the chaos he had found himself in, Rhys began to fully relax for the first time since they had broken down. He took a seat at the edge of the slab, lowering himself down to let his legs dangle over the ledge. Rubbing the tension from his neck, his eyes naturally gravitated to the heavy moon overhead and the H-shaped satellite suspended in front of its fiery glowing surface. 

A pang of homesickness clutched at his heart. Seeing the Hyperion headquarters from this distance reminded him of all that developed since he’d last stepped foot on the space station. The short time that had transpired felt like a yawning eternity.

To distract himself from the encroaching wistfulness, he looked to the stars instead. Billions of tiny points of light studded the night sky like so many diamonds. Comforted by the vastness of space, he began looking for familiar patterns amongst the heavens. 

“Hey, Hyperion,” a woman’s voice spoke behind him.

Lost in concentration, he startled and jerked to look over his shoulder. Fiona stood on the concrete apron behind him; the light from the half shuttered windows at her back cloaking her in shadows. 

“Damn, does working at that cushy office job really make you this jumpy or is it just a natural state for you?” she teased.

Putting a hand to his chest, he tried to calm his speeding heart. “In my defense, the phrase ‘dog-eat-dog’ isn’t quite so literal up there as it is down here. So, forgive me for being a little on edge.” 

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” she dismissed his concern with a gentle scoff. “The things that are likely to eat you around here don’t generally try to get your attention first. At least not the animals.”

He winced at her nonchalant reference to cannibalism; his stomach twisting queasily at the thought. Quick to change the subject, he nodded towards the garage. “So how is it going in there?” he asked. A muted cacophony of tools clanging coupled with an off-key rendition of a country tune filtered out through the window. “Did you guys decide on a price?”

Her shrug was noticeable, even in the gloom that shrouded her. “At first Sasha offered you up for an hour but we managed to talk it down to half that.”

“Me?” A cold finger of dread tracked down Rhys’ spine. He swallowed around the lump that had formed in his throat. “Wh–What?”

“I’m kidding,” Fiona huffed a laugh. “Don’t worry, Hyperion. Your virtue is safe. We agreed on a semi-reasonable amount. For cash. She says it shouldn’t take too long and then we can hit the road again.”

“Good, that’s great. Great– Great news,” he mumbled abashedly.

“So what are you doing out here?” she asked, tipping her head inquisitively. “Waxing nostalgic about crappy breakroom coffee and mounds of paperwork?”

“N–No,” Although he was quick to deny it, the kernel of truth in her question stung. “I was…” he hesitated. He faced front again, embarrassment heating his cheeks. “Nothing. I wasn’t doing anything.”

“Aww, c’mon,” she cajoled goodnaturedly. “You mean to tell me you ran out of there like your pants were on fire just to sit alone in the dark? I don’t buy it.”

“I didn’t run out of there,” he said, quick to defend himself. “And I’m not… Well, okay, yes. I am sitting in the dark.” He sighed resignedly. “Fine. I was… I was stargazing, all right?”

“Stargazing?” She seemed genuinely confused.

“Yes.” His eyes rose once more to the ocean of twinkling lights overhead. “I don’t know. It's just… It relaxes me.”

When no obvious derision was forthcoming, he hazarded a glance her way. Unable to make out her expression, he tried to read her body language. That, however, remained just as inscrutable as her face.

In the absence of a reaction, a looming sense of shame hung heavy in his mind, threatening to overtake him. He turned away and hastily explained, “Sometimes when I was stressed, I would visit the observation rooms on Helios and look at the stars. It helped because it reminded me that I’m just a small part of a much larger existence,” he babbled, the need to elaborate forcing the words out of his mouth mindlessly, “and that made my problems seem smaller. Eventually, I started to recognize the constellations and finding their patterns brings me peace when things get hectic.”

Finally, he trailed off, swallowing the stream of words in order to force himself to shut up. Humiliation burned like a stone in his gut as he waited for her response. His inability to keep his mouth shut had, yet again, left him a flustered mess. Internally, he kicked himself for his innate lack of poise. 

Her continued silence dismayed him more than any taunt. Rhys prayed she would let him off easy, tossing her hands in the air in dismissal and walking away. The scrape of her boots against the concrete was his only alert to her movements. To his profound surprise, she appeared beside him and lowered herself to sit, letting her legs hang over the edge in a position that mirrored his own. From this new angle, the light from the garage shone on the left side of her face. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

A memory surfaced, one of her wearing that exact quizzical expression as she commented on his sock’s design way back in Old Haven. The remembrance soothed his ruffled nerves, setting him more at ease.

“Can you show me?” she asked, brushing her fingers through her bangs.

“Show you what?” Dumbstruck by this turn in events, he had forgotten what they had been talking about.

“The constellations,” she clarified. “I only know the one that’s supposed to look like a bucket with a long handle. I can never find it though.” She turned her eyes towards the sky.

“Um, sure. That one’s actually really easy to find,” he said as he pointed it out to her. “It’s so small.”

“Okay, Mr. Know-it-all,” she teased, bumping her boot gently against his. “Well, show me the bigger ones.”

“Hmm.” He searched the night sky for the telltale patterns of a constellation.

“Oh, it’s so easy,” Fiona quipped, mocking him amicably when he wasn’t quick enough.

“Give me a break, okay?” he said, amused. “It looks different from down here. Oh, there!” He pointed out in the distance, his arm extended fully. “There’s Ribella, the Muse.”

“The Muse?” she questioned as her eyes followed his finger.

  “Yeah, all the constellations have stories behind them,” Delighted by the possibility of her interest, he warmed to the topic, gushing as he continued, “Each one is based on a myth, likely derived from other folklore brought here by the early Dahl miners who colonized Pandora. There’s also Sansin, the Goat; Elsive, the Emissary; Daxy, the–”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” she laughed, “Slow down. One at a time, okay? Now what am I looking for here?” 

“Right. Uh,” he chuckled nervously, “The overall shape is, well..” He trailed off, struggling to explain the blocky geometric outline that seemed so clear to his own eyes. He gestured ineffectually as he tried to trace the configuration with his hands. “It’s kind of like, um…” Tongue-tied, an idea occurred to him. “Oh, hang on.” 

Activating his palm interface, he navigated his way to a star chart of Pandora’s constellations and made a selection. Ribella’s dot-to-dot celestial formation projected out in brilliant digital blue. Enlarging the image, he attempted to align it as closely as he could to the stars in the sky. 

She scooted closer and leaned into him slightly to get a better view, eyes flicking between the image and the sky beyond. He tensed momentarily, uncertain how to react with her so near. Pointedly ignoring the heat of her body as she crowded into his space, he, instead, focused on tracing the imaginary connection between the stars' alignment with his free hand. 

“See?” he asked. “If you can find these two stars first, the rest follow along.” Once he was certain she had the formation, he turned off the interface and lowered his arm.

She spotted it quickly, her eyes widening in surprise and recognition. A elated grin spread across her face as she looked to Rhys, wonder shining in her gaze. His heart skipped a beat, a warm rush of satisfaction washing over him. 

“It’s funny, ” she said, settling back. “I’ve lived on this planet my whole life and I never thought about the stars before.” 

“Yeah, well,” he shrugged, “Sometimes we don’t notice something until it’s pointed out to us, even when it was right in front of us the whole time.”

A companionable silence lengthened between them as they both drank in the tranquility of the evening. 

“You’re right, you know,” she murmured. 

“I am?” Surprise lifted his brows. “About what?” 

“It is relaxing.” 

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced her way. Admittedly, he was intrigued by this glimpse of the gentler side that had remained hidden under her oft times cavalier attitude towards him. With her attention trained on the heavens above, he took the opportunity to examine her. 

Even in the dim moonlight, her beauty was unquestionable. He found himself mesmerized by the reality of her: from the soft slope of her nose, to the graceful curve of her jaw, and down the elegant line of her neck. Fluttering in the breeze, the feathered tip of the scarlet streak in her hair danced against her cheek. An overwhelming urge to brush it aside flooded his senses. His hand flexed with the desire to touch her, to trace a finger along the smooth surface of her skin, to caress the pillowy softness of her full lips. 

Sensing his stare, she looked at him. He flushed, self consciousness heating his cheeks. An apology sat on the tip of his tongue, about to be voiced, when the return of that quizzical smile silenced him. Snared by the soft look in her eye, he was unable to tear his gaze from hers. Despite the resplendent expanse of space filling the night sky overhead, she was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever seen. 

Something intangible shifted within him at that moment. An enigmatic notion unfolded in the back of his mind. However undefinable, the potential of its intensity flickered across his thoughts, frightening him more than any external threat he’d faced yet. Despite his fear, he was powerless to the effect it had on him. An incandescent lightness enveloped his hammering heart. The unfamiliar sensation was almost as painful as it was intoxicating. 

“Rhys?” Butterflies awakened in his stomach at the soft sound of his name from her lips.

“Hey, you two,” Sasha called out from behind them, shattering the expectant calm. Poking her head out of the window, she slapped the side of the building to further get their attention. “We’re all set. Let’s roll.” 

“B-be right there,” Rhys choked out. His response was unnecessary, however. Just as suddenly as she had appeared, the younger woman had popped back out of sight. He was quick to gain his feet. Self consciousness prickled at the back of his neck. He rubbed at the spot, trying to soothe his frenzied nerves. 

“Uh,” he cleared his throat, scrambling to gather his wits. ”Guess we better get going.” 

Strangely quiet, Fiona stood up and brushed at her jacket. “Yeah, um, just give me a minute.”

“S-sure.”

Jittery with some unusual sense of excitement, he stepped away. His thoughts worried at the new bizarre insight that had settled in the back of his mind like a pebble in his shoe. Stopping at the edge of the building, he looked over his shoulder to check on Fiona. Her back was to him, her head tilted up with her face to the sky. The strange ache that had taken up residence in his chest tugged pleasantly as he turned the corner into the bright lights of the garage. 

Rhyiona Week 2023 Day One

Prompt: Dream

Stars Fading

Stars fading but I linger on, dear Still craving your kiss

- Dream a Little Dream of Me

“Fi?” Her sister’s voice quietly prodded Fiona awake. “Wake up. It’s your turn to drive.” 

Slowly awakening from her slumber, Fiona blinked the sleep from her eyes as Sasha gently shook her shoulder. Yawning, she sat up and waved her sister away. 

“You good?” Sasha asked, brows raised. “You were pretty out of it. Twitching and mumbling.”

“Hmm? Yeah,” Fiona replied, stretching as she got to her feet. “Just having a weird dream.” 

Earlier, the steady hum of the caravan in motion had quickly lulled her to sleep. While she dozed, she had fallen deeply into a dream. However, upon waking, she was left with only the vague memories of half formed images as to the events that had taken place. Now a haunting impression of the warmth and intimacy that had permeated her rest lingered in her mind like smoke. The undefinable, but nevertheless gnawing desire to feel the return of that sanctuary she had briefly experienced echoed through her. 

“As long as you’re awake enough to make sure we don’t run into anything,”  Sasha spoke, pulling Fiona’s attention back to the present, “I’d say it’s best if you give Rhys a break. He’s trying to pretend like he’s not exhausted but with all the swerving he’s been doing…” Sasha shrugged. 

“I’m on it.” 

Fiona stepped around the little table that sat in front of the caravan’s couch where she had been resting. Glancing over, she saw poor Vaughn was still frozen in paralysis. They had tried to make him as comfortable as possible, placing his stiff form onto couch cushions, but there was little else they could do. 

Eyes closed and arms crossed, Athena leaned against the rear wall beside the ladder leading to the roof hatch. It astounded Fiona that not only could the older woman sleep standing up, but that she was steady enough to do so in a moving vehicle. 

“I’m gonna check on the bots up top,” Sasha said, pointing a finger to the roof. “Make sure they haven’t blown away.” She flashed a grin before turning to the ladder. Careful not to disturb the slumbering vault hunter, she climbed up and disappeared from sight. 

With one final jaw-popping yawn, Fiona made her way in the opposite direction, towards the front of the wagon. Rhys turned at the sound of her boots scraping against the short steps that lead up to the raised driver’s area.

“Hey,” he said softly with a sleepy half smile. 

Bizarrely, something squeezed in her chest as she nodded a greeting. The unusual echo that lingered from her dream seemed to grow stronger in the moment their eyes briefly met before his attention returned to the task of driving. Caught off guard by the potency of that mysteriously continuing sensation, she brushed her fingers through her bangs and regarded him quietly. As Sasha had mentioned, he must be exhausted; the dark circles under his heavy lidded eyes and the large yawn he tried to stifle behind his mechanical hand confirming it.

“Come to keep me company?” he asked, glancing at her over his shoulder, a strange gleam in his tired eyes.

“As if.” She was quick to scoff at the notion, despite the butterflies that blossomed in her stomach at his hopeful tone. “I’m kicking you out. We’re getting complaints about the ride. Apparently, it’s not as smooth as expected. I’m replacing you.”

“Are you accusing me of being a bad driver?” His tone was full of false shock. “Unbelievable.”

“Not a bad one,” she corrected, tilting her head as she gave him a soft smirk. “Just a tired one. C’mon. Go get some rest.” 

“Ah, all right,” he relented, huffing out a sigh. “If you insist.” 

She stepped closer, putting one hand on the wheel. He unfolded his lanky body from the driver’s seat and edged around her. For the briefest of moments, the pair brushed by each other. Despite sharing the same space for less than a breath of a second, it was still long enough to awaken a lost memory from her dream. 

Although unclear as to the circumstances, Fiona remembered the whisper of his touch against her body and overwhelming sense of security that had flooded her. Shaken by the recollection, she plopped into the driver’s seat unceremoniously, her butt hitting the cracked leather with a plop. 

“You okay?” Rhys asked, “I didn’t trip you, did I? Curse of these long legs,” he muttered jokingly. 

“Uh, no. No, I’m fine,” she reassured him. “Just, uh, lost my balance for a second.” 

As she readjusted herself, she turned to concentrate on the landscape that whizzed by through the windshield, and tried to push the memory of that lingering dream away. 

Beneath her, residual body heat radiated from the seat, warming her along her back and behind. She squirmed, desperately attempting not to dwell on the idea that it was his body that had generated this heat.  Almost as if somehow he knew of her discomfort and was taunting her, he began to stretch nearby, much to her silent dismay. Irritated at her own internal reaction, she pointedly tried to ignore him but that little annoying ache still persisted within her. The temptation proved too much. 

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. The long line of his body, the arch of his back as he reached up towards the ceiling overhead, completely pulled her focus from the road, causing her hands to follow her eyes. The caravan began to swerve to the left. Quickly, she caught herself and corrected the wheel. 

Thankfully, no one, especially Rhys, had seemed to notice. Shaking her head to clear her obviously still sleep-addled brain, she cursed herself for getting distracted so easily.

Beside her, he finally finished stretching with a soft little grunt that set Fiona’s teeth on edge. Reaching the top of the short steps, he stopped. 

“Fi?” 

The sound of her name spoken in his hushed tone sent a zip along her spine. Poker face firmly intact despite the maelstrom of emotions that plagued her, she glanced his way. 

He gave her a friendly little salute, “Thanks.”

Despite herself, she was charmed. The tension that bunched across her shoulders melted as she realized how ridiculous she was being, letting a stupid, fleeting dream get the better of her. She acknowledged his gratitude with a half smile. 

“Sleep well, Hyperion. And, uh,” her cheeks warmed as she uttered, “sweet dreams.” 

about to turn maliwan into maliwas amiright

︵‿︵ Midnight Swim︵‿︵

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