Chapter Text
A loud ring, and then a quiet huff.
What is it with your phone waking you up on days when you’re supposed to be relaxing? Sleepily your eyes flutter open, your hands scrambling to grab your phone and see who’s calling you.
It’s Jack.
You pick up after letting out a yawn, answering with a quiet,” Hello?”
”Pumpkin! What’cha doing right now?”
He sounds too enthusiastic for it being this early, which could only mean one of two things. He’s done something for you or Rhys or killed somebody this morning.
“...Laying in bed. Why? What’cha doing handsome?” You smile to yourself.
You’d fallen asleep at your house the night prior, even though Jack had insisted you return to his with him. You weren’t entirely sure why it made a difference – Jack had bought you this place anyway, so you may as well stay here.
The past year had put you through a mixed bag of emotions, though you couldn’t be happier now. After bringing Jack back, you and Rhys both decided that continuing to attend college would be far too much for your brains, so you opted on dropping out. Your student loans went ‘poof’ thanks to Jack, and he’d bought you a place to stay as well.
Rhys had a place of his own as well, though he spent seventy-five percent of his time over at your place, or the two of you would stay at Jack’s. The other twenty-five percent was spent at Atlas HQ, as Jack had handed him over the rights to the company, and Rhys had been focused on rebuilding things.
The two of them were constantly back and forth between offices when they could be, Rhys having more self-willed free time than Jack. You’d visited Atlas HQ several times and always insisted that Rhys let Jack buy him some better equipment, though Rhys always resisted.
His claim was that he ‘didn’t need all the fancy shit that Jack needs’. You knew he’d enjoy having new equipment either way, though.
You’re stuck between going back and forth between offices and aren’t entirely sure if you’re ready for a full-time job yet. After all, not only were you financially covered but there were always a million things bouncing around in your head between the two companies you were helping. Jack’s offered you a position at Hyperion, and Rhys has offered one at Atlas, though you’d feel guilty choosing one over the other.
You’d asked Zane last time the two of you had lunch together, though phrased it in a way in which he wouldn’t be able to tell who exactly you were talking about. He claimed that you should pick whichever felt right, even if that meant not choosing one at all.
You’re glad that nothing had changed between you and Zane over the past year, though you’re sure that he’s picked up hints as to who you were romantically involved with. The two of you talked at least once every week, whether that be over the phone or over lunch. He’d gone full-time vault hunter, and though he rarely ever had service on whichever planet he was currently inhabiting, he always made an effort to talk to you.
The vault hunter lifestyle seemed far too fast-paced for you, though Zane seemed to be having the time of his life every time you talked to him. He’d joined a group of vault hunters recently, and though the group name was slipping your tongue at the moment, you remember he’d said something about traveling with three other people at all times.
It certainly calmed your anxiety to know that he was safe with these other people rather than traveling by himself.
Jack’s deep chuckle breaks your train of thought, and he answers from the other side of the line.
”Why don’t’cha come see what I’m doing?”
You’re totally rolling your eyes, and Jack can practically hear it in your voice.
“If this is your way of telling me that you’re jerking off in your office and want me to come help, Jack, it’s not very smooth,” You chuckle.
”What? No! I mean…not right now, at least.”
“Mhm.”
”I’m serious, pumpkin. Ask Rhysie, he’ll tell you.”
You hear Rhys half-shout,’ He’s not jerkin’ off!’ in the background, and can’t help the laugh that escapes you.
”See?”
“Mmkay. I’ll be there in ten,” You sigh.
”Great! Also, when you get here, tell me whatcha think of the statue out front,”
He’s already hung up before you get the chance to answer, and you roll your eyes. Another statue? He’d already almost replicated the Hub of Heroism that had been on Helios to lead up to his office, and now he’s replicating more statues?
…You really hope it isn’t the one with him holding a vault key and a baby. Your least favorite by far.
-
You’re not surprised at all as you walk through the Hub of Heroism and see a statue of Jack looking as pompous as ever in the middle of the garden rather than the typical waterfall. The hologram of Pandora in front of it was a nice touch though, you’ll admit. You assume on Helios it was a hologram of the giant ‘H’ like structure – and could only try to picture it in your head.
You snort as you watch a couple of bystanders walk up to admire the statue, and make your way to the elevator past the garden. The elevator ride is far smoother than it had been that first day you’d brought Jack back. It’s amazing what half a billion dollars can do to a building.
The doors open with a quiet noise, and you’re off to Jack’s office down the hall. You notice the absence of bots, and mentally note that this must’ve been Jack’s input. He’d told you all about his quarrels with the ‘dancing fucking claptrap bots’ on Helios.
The automatic door slides open in front of you, and you see Jack and Rhys standing in front of something suspiciously as you walk in.
“Pumpkin!” Jack smiles, motioning you toward him.
You return his smile, walking up toward the two of them and enveloping Rhys in a hug. Jack’s still not one for physical contact, and neither you nor Rhys push those boundaries. Rhys speaks first.
“We have a surprise for you!”
They both look far too smug, and you cross your arms in front of you in suspicion. Lifting a brow, you move your gaze between the two of them.
Rhys’s appearance hadn’t changed much within the past year, aside from your fashion advice about making small changes within his wardrobe. He’s about the only person you know that used to think it was acceptable to tuck a tie into his pants. He’s attempting to grow out a mustache currently, and you really don’t have the heart to tell him that it’s not working. It doesn’t seem that Jack does, either. His hair is only slightly longer, though he still styles it the same way.
Jack’s appearance had changed even less, the only thing that changed being the amount of layering that the man partook in. You liked to think that was your doing. You’d also gotten him a new pair of shoes, because dear god, did he need some.
Jack’s smirking at you as he steps to the side, and Rhys does the same. The two of them are motioning toward the glass case behind them, and as you take a step closer, you realize what they’d done.
They’d taken Nakayama’s hard drive and encased it in a special little display. You can’t help the smile that spreads across your face.
You’re sure that it was Rhys’s idea because Jack still isn’t the best at gift-giving. He’d almost given you a plant that smelled like vomit for your birthday as a gag gift, and Rhys had to stop him.
“This is the sweetest gift you two have given me, like, ever,” You hum, pressing a hand up against the glass.
Jack’s pressing a kiss against your cheek as Rhys is wrapping his arms around your waist, and you can practically feel yourself melting right then and there. You’re sure that they’d preserved it because it was the reason that Handsome Jack was back, too, though thinking of it as a small gift to only you made it more sentimental in your eyes.
Jack’s always insisting that he put you on some of those cheesy posters beside him because you were the one to bring him back, after all, but you always declined. You really didn’t want your image plastered everywhere across Pandora. Not only that, but you’d probably get a mark on your head being seen next to Jack.
“Won’t you get tired of seeing this thing, Jack?” You ask quietly, tilting your head in curiosity.
After all, he’d been trapped in that thing for god knows how long, and had to endure talking to Professor Nakayama for probably even longer.
Jack’s thinking about it for a moment, his arms crossing in front of him, before he’s shaking his head.
“Nah,” He decides,” If anything, it’ll be a reminder of, ah…” He pauses.
He can’t bring himself to say the word he’s wanting to say, because he’s sure if he says something that mushy, he’ll throw up, so Rhys finishes for him.
“You.”
You laugh quietly, because it’s very characteristic of Jack to not say so.
You hum quietly, turning to face Jack with a smile across your face.
“The statue looks good, by the way, but don’t you think it’s a little pretentious?” You question.
He’s opening his mouth in fake shock,” Pretentious? Absolutely not.”
Rhys is laughing hysterically behind you because he’d just told Jack the same thing earlier.
You’re laughing quietly,“ Whatever you say, Jack,”
“It’s not!” He’s trying his hardest to justify so,” It’s a statue of me! Everyone knows who I am, so it’s not pretentious. Even if it was, who fuckin’ cares? I’m Handsome Jack!”
You and Rhys are laughing together now, and Jack’s folding his arms, unamused.