#rhackweek2023 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

phenikas · 1 year ago

Text

Rhack Week 2023 | Day 5 - Night Out

Words: 1623

Warnings: Mentions of depression and death "mild" alcohol consumption, very vague descriptions of sexual stuff (it's as vague as it can be, although still not recommended for minors)

_______________________

Blinding neon lights, music that drowns out every bleak thought, and most importantly- a never-ending tab at one of Meridian's hottest clubs- The Supernova.

Jack had never been one to dislike such distractions, especially when he needed to get his mind off work. But being a floating hologram stuck with a depressed CEO of a multimillion-dollar weapons giant meant that he had no work. His only source of entertainment was watching Rhys eat, sleep, work, and drink himself away.

Maybe Jack should've said something earlier. Maybe he could've prevented this slow and agonizing spiral into borderline alcoholism. But time and time again, he had been reminded that he was a nobody to the Atlas CEO. Endless strings of code kept up to date by the kindness of Rhys' heart.

"The Supernova? Again?"

"Shut up."

He had no say over how Rhys should live his life. Jack kept his promise that he'd watch Rhys wither away, wait until the perfect moment to strike, snatch his life and all that kept him going.

The problem was, Jack didn't know what kept him- them- going. Was it a principle? To survive despite all odds? Rhys' willingness to fight his way out of whatever turmoil he could? Or did he have a higher purpose Jack didn't know about?

"Maybe we could-"

"I said shut up!"

Jack sat back, as he always did, and watched with concern in his mind. Kept his mouth shut as Rhys poured unknown contents into his mouth. Held his gaze, green-eyed, resentful towards any who plastered their physical bodies against Rhys' in an uncaring manner.

Being an observer was torture. "Think you've had enough for tonight, cupcake. I know you can't handle-"

"You don't know shit, alright?" Rhys snapped his head at the hologram, oblivious to all who gave him concerned looks, "You don't know me. You don't know what I want. You don't care. So stop pretending like you do."

Jack backed off, offended, scared for the first time since- since- "Why did you bring me back, huh? So I can watch you ruin your life? Because you were lonely? Because you didn’t know what else to do with me? Why am I still here?"

Rhys lowered his head, his attention on the half-empty glass in front of him. This was not a conversation they were meant to have at a stupid dance club, Jack knew that very well. But when else would he get his answers? If Rhys' avoidance of the topic when he was sober was as clear of a sign as Jack thought, then maybe Rhys’ drunken self would be more open to letting his feelings float to the surface. "Shut up."

Or not.

"Alright, how about this. You get me out of your cybernetics, I get out of your hair. Put me in a new body or destroy me. At this point, I couldn't give two shits what happens to me. I mean, anything's better than this. And you clearly don't want me around, so why the hell should I still be here."

"Fine." Jack didn't know what to make of this answer. Everything was better than living like he didn't exist. Even being sent into pure oblivion. But he didn't know if Rhys was taking his words seriously, or just trying to get rid of him for the night. "Remind me tomorrow. Now get out of my sight."

Remind me tomorrow. That phrase used to bring a smile to Jack's face. It was meant for trivialities, easily forgettable things that just couldn't stick around long enough for Rhys to remember.

But the more he used it, the more Jack realized that they were no longer in the territory of “triviality“. Rhys had been forgetting, his mind shutting down and only focused on the "now" rather than the past and future. He was dooming himself each and every second he spent in those stupid clubs. Numbing his mind. Forgetting how to feel.

Jack disappeared out of his vision, but he was still there, watching Rhys waste his night in the presence of like-minded individuals. Strangely enough, Jack didn't feel compelled to get out of Rhys' hair yet. It was a hypothetical question, the one he had given him; meant to get a reaction out of the man. But if Rhys didn't care enough to remember, then maybe it was finally time for Jack to leave.

_______________________

"Stupid-" Rhys whispered to himself, unable to meet the eyes of whoever was currently on top of him trying their best to rid Rhys of his current distraction. He came into the club to rid himself of troubles, and yet one seemed to just love lingering around, his name like sweet venom on his tongue, "-Jack."

"Not my name, honey."

Rhys rolled his eyes, pushing the stranger off him despite their heated moment. He couldn't deny that Jack got under his skin that night. Whatever the hell he meant by leaving- Rhys needed to stop thinking so hard. "Bring me something hard. Actually, scratch that- I need something that can get me wasted right now. And put it on my tab."

The stranger, a worker of the Supernova, nodded his head in a panicked manner, rushing off towards the bar. Rhys let out a groan of discomfort, sitting back in the booth. As soon as he noticed the blues of Jack's hologram appear right across from him, he started second-guessing his earlier order.

"Not really feeling it tonight, huh?"

Rhys hoped his annoyance and frustration caused by Jack were obvious in his drunken expressions. He gripped onto the seat so tightly; they must've been. But Jack was... Jack. Rhys had no idea how many things he could pick up on. "This would've been so much easier if you were-"

"Gone? Yeah, tell me about it."

"Here," Rhys whispered, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. He didn't know if his whisper was loud enough, or if Jack had read his mind somehow, but as soon as he opened his eyes, the hologram was at his side, concern written all over his features. "Here, Jack." Rhys weakly patted the spot next to him, then pointed at his forehead, "Not- not here."

"Rhys?" Jack's voice sounded distant, like an echo in a dark cave. It came suddenly, the darkness that overwhelmed Rhys. He could not see anything, yet he could feel his body moving on its own, out of his control. Maybe this was it. The moment Jack's been waiting for. A true test towards their gained trust. One that could cost him his life.

"I got it from here." Jack's voice was soft. Almost muted. Warm. Cautious. Safe. Everything Rhys wanted to hear at that moment. Yet the consequences terrified him.

He didn't want to die. Not yet.

"Jack-!"

_______________________

Rhys didn't know what it was that woke him up first; the artificial morning rays that shone through his window right onto his face, his throbbing headache, or the fact that he was still alive.

He was still alive.

He turned around in his bed, wanting to stay in just a while longer.

Just. A. While.

"Mornin', pumpkin."

Rhys' heart skipped a beat, remnants of last night coming up blank. He knew he'd been at the club, where else? But how did he get home? Did he call a cab? Did someone take him?

Did Jack?

Rhys turned around once again; his face instantly met with that of the hologram who had been kneeling near the bed for who knows how long. "Jack." Rhys reached his hand out, his thumb brushing against where Jack's lip should've been.

Jack's eyes followed the motion, silent, observing. And when Rhys’ hand didn't move, only then did he have the courage to speak, "It's been a while since I took control. Gotta say, I'm as surprised as you that I managed to get you here."

"Thank you."

The hologram gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry about it. I mean, it's the last thing I could do since- you know- I'll be going away one way or another."

Rhys' eyes widened, the dread from last night coming to the surface. Right. Jack had asked him to be let go. And Rhys agreed. Why did he agree again?

"I-" Rhys began, his voice stuck in his sore throat, coherent thoughts lost in his foggy mind. Jack watched him struggle with his words, waiting for an answer to their problem, "I don't- Jack, I don't want you to go. I can't-"

"Why?" Jack asked as straightforward of a question as he could. But Rhys didn't know the answer.

He couldn't admit the answer.

"I don't want you to go. Where would you even go? What's out there for you? Who else would you go to?"

"Who- what does that have to do with anything? You wanted me gone. I'm offering you a solution. So, pick your damn mind. What do you want?"

Rhys had hit a new low. Begging Handsome Jack to stay was embarrassing, something he never thought he'd do after everything they went through. But it was true. He needed Jack. "I want you to stay. Please. I'll give you a body, just don't go. I- I need a friend. Someone by my side. I need you."

"You need a friend." Jack repeated, the words feeling alien on his tongue.

"Y-Yes?"

"I'll stay," the hologram agreed, although Rhys could already see the reluctance in his eyes, "on one condition."

"Tell me."

"You stop going to that stupid club. And drinking. And paying for those weirdos." Jack stood up; his back turned to Rhys. Before he had disappeared completely though, there was something else Rhys overhead, perhaps by Jack's will, "Geez, wasting your money like that when I'm right here."

"Huh?"

_______________________

Rhack Week 2023 | Day 5 - Night Out

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 6

#yes this is directly connected to the render from day 1 :-)#rhackweek2023 #rhack #rhys strongfork #handsome jack #borderlands

16 notes · View notes