Hey Hannah! Thanks for sending this in! This would have been out sooner, but my browser crashed and I had to re-write this from the beginning.
Number Generator says: 41! On a scar/wound!
I still have Borderlands!AU brain rot, are we really surprised at this point?
The steady hum of Sanctuary III’s engines has become something of an odd comfort to Gabe, bringing rise to many different forms of peace. A locked door meant they had a moment to breathe, to relax knowing they were in one of the safest places in the borderlands. Hitoshi and Ava talking animatedly outside about picking pockets meant he finally had someone he could call a friend. And the man cuddled up to them, while they hid away in Gabe’s room from the wandering CL4P-TP unit, meant they finally knew what ‘home’ felt like.
“I’ve never known a Steward Bot to talk that much. Is it too much to ask, that we modify his vocal processor to respond to a remote so we can turn him off? Even Hammerlock sided with me…” Dabi pouted, idly drawing circles on their hip with his fingers. Claptrap had recently taken to cornering the poor, hapless Pyro so he could ask him about his scars. Incessantly. “This ship needs more stairs…”
Gabe chuckled, bringing their hand up to card through his hair in sympathy. “If you figure out how to take him offline long enough for Ellie to do it, let us know.” The telltale whirring of Claptrap’s wheel motors outside the door had the pair tensing up in panic.
“Hey Hitoshi, Ava! Have either of you seen Dabi? I’ve got a question that I’ve been meaning to ask him, but every time I try to find him, he mysteriously goes missing! I’m beginning to wonder if he’s even actually real! Like a ghost! Or a fault in my coding!”
Gabe quickly ducked their head down into Dabi’s shoulder, smothering the snort of laughter that escaped them into his shirt. He looked down at his partner in disbelief, shaking his head slowly. He whispered out in faux-anger, “Are you serious? He’s questioning my existence and you’re laughing?” The question only served to make Gabe shake harder, slowly losing to battle to keep their laughter silent.
“Sorry Claptrap, we haven’t seen him. Have you tried checking with Tannis yet?” Ava piped up, finally.
“No! I just came from Tannis’ clinic, and he wasn’t there either! Argh! I’ll try asking VR-0N1CA, maybe she’ll know.”
Gabe finally calmed down as a knock sounded at the door. “He’s gone, for the moment. You can relax now.”
“Thanks Ava.” Dabi smiled at the door. He settled back down into Gabe’s arms, rubbing his nose against theirs. “You’re so mean to your boyfriend…”
Gabe beamed at him, leaning forward to gently press kisses onto the staples on his face. “It’s only cause I love you so much.”
