people are terrified of me

“It’s uh Unity” The hunter corrected, unsure if Jack actually knew his name ; he was yet to use it, after all. He took a moment, trying to construct a viable answer to Jack’s question. He had flown solo as a hunter for at least a year - not knowing where many of them were. 

“I’m…uh…not sure.” He admitted finally. “Wouldn’t you have tabs on them? Like you do on me?”

“ hunter. got it. “ 

jack relaxed back in his chair, leaning on his elbows again.

Unity fitted the chip into his ECHO, nodding. He tried to disregard the point Jack had made about other hunters being killed. He just wanted to stay alive, whatever the cost may be. And if that involved using his power - he would.

“So, what are my hours?” He asked, still under the blind naivety that this would be just the same as any other job. 

“ and, by other hunters i mean the scum under my shoe, the parasites of pandora… the LIST goes on, my friend. “

jack shrugged, completely ignoring unity’s inquiries.

Unity shook as he felt Jack’s breath on his neck, chilling him to the bone. He wanted to live. He swallowed, stepping back. He needed to think.

Handsome Jack wouldn’t let his worker die - would he? He kept that sentiment in his mind as he slowly nodded. “Alright, you’ve got yourself a worker.” He said, regretting it as soon as he said it. 

“What do you need me to do?”

“ good. welcome to hyperion, kid. “

jack thought for a moment before tossing unity a small chip.

His face visibly dropped. Unity thought he’d be in for money, fame, fortune. He was ready to drop vault hunting entirely, imagining a world where he could work for Jack in some sort of partnership. But now Jack was proposing a much simpler offer: “work for me or die”.

“I’m sorry - what?” Unity stuttered. “How am I meant to live? Eat? I hope you’re joking, Handsome Jack. I seriously do.”

“ i think you misunderstood me. “

jack leaned in closer, close enough to feel the other’s breath upon his neck. a scowl appeared on his artificial face - letting unity know he meant business.

Handsome Jack wouldn’t let his worker die - would he? He kept that sentiment in his mind as he slowly nodded. “Alright, you’ve got yourself a worker.” He said, regretting it as soon as he said it. 

“I used the manifestation to get out of fights at school, but since then - I’ve always needed allies. Vault hunting and all. I didn’t want to let it slip that I knew my friends deepest fears. I didn’t want them seeing me as a threat. So I just…never used it” He explained, daring to take a step closer towards Jack.

“So, Handsome Jack. What’s your proposal here?”

“ quite simple. “

jack’s feet s l i p p e d off the desk, allowing him to lean forward onto his elbows. his mask shifted subtly - && was fixed by a quick push with his fingers.

“Handsome Jack - of course.” Unity said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. “Anyways, if you wish a demonstration-”

He stepped back, trying to remember the familiar steps it took to conjure a fear. He slowly fed off Jack’s deep down fear, well hidden, and the image of the grim reaper slowly began to form in his mind. Death was always a hard fear for Unity manifest, so he always tried to do what came naturally. Of course he could have just manifested a rat or a spider, but he wanted to demonstrate his fear detection too - something Jack may not have known about.

He swallowed, and soon a sickly green shadow of death was looming behind Jack. If everything had gone to plan, the businessman would experience the feeling of impending doom.

a creeping dread itched at the back of jack’s skull - but it was quickly quenched by the waters of FASCINATION as the reaper manifested in front of him. he reached out lazily to bat at it before turning his attention back to unity.

“I used the manifestation to get out of fights at school, but since then - I’ve always needed allies. Vault hunting and all. I didn’t want to let it slip that I knew my friends deepest fears. I didn’t want them seeing me as a threat. So I just...never used it” He explained, daring to take a step closer towards Jack.

He couldn’t lie. And why would he, if money was on the table? He nodded slowly - watching videos of his younger self conjuring spiders, grim reapers and rats. He didn’t want to stop and think about how Jack had exactly acquired these videos. Not yet.

Nonetheless, it was all as he expected.

“No, Jack. You have the right guy. It’s been a while since I used my power, though.”

“ demonstrate it for me. “

jack leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together into a tent. he placed his feet - crossed, of course - upon the desk, interrupting the footage for a brief moment before having it continue.

He stepped back, trying to remember the familiar steps it took to conjure a fear. He slowly fed off Jack’s deep down fear, well hidden, and the image of the grim reaper slowly began to form in his mind. Death was always a hard fear for Unity manifest, so he always tried to do what came naturally. Of course he could have just manifested a rat or a spider, but he wanted to demonstrate his fear detection too - something Jack may not have known about.

Opportunity - right. Some sort of sick irony. He could have guessed he would have ended up here. He took in Jack’s presence. In the flesh, he was something else. Intimidating for sure.

Jack’s one fear was screaming in his mind - DEATH. Nothing else. Well, at least it was something he could work with.

Now, if Unity asked Jack if he knew about his power- he would be taking a major risk. He didn’t want to disclose any unnecessary information. He decided it wasn’t worth it. 

Jack’s impromptu welcome was trailing off, and Unity looked up, meeting the man’s eyes.

“Go on-”

“ YOU have something that i need. “

two fingers slid forward, throwing up a few soundless videos on the holographic screen. it was of the other hunter displaying his acts of power - sickly green recreations of people’s fears.

Nonetheless, it was all as he expected.

“ HEY, you there. “

jack’s rather handsome face popped up in the corner of the hunter’s vision, right next to the mini-map.

“ meet me in opportunity. i wish to speak to you. “

He had a sneaking suspicion that he knew what Jack wanted him for. A haunting power he had kept hidden for so long. He knew everyone’s fear, and could use it against them at a click of his fingers. But he didn’t - he needed allies, not enemies. So he carried it with him, hidden.

jack watched as the hunter’s signature traveled across the network of hyperion fast-travel stations. he plucked the cluster of ones and zer0s and redirected it right into his offices - materializing right in front of his desk from a hidden node within it.

Jack’s one fear was screaming in his mind - DEATH. Nothing else. Well, at least it was something he could work with.

Now, if Unity asked Jack if he knew about his power- he would be taking a major risk. He didn’t want to disclose any unnecessary information. He decided it wasn’t worth it. 

Jack’s impromptu welcome was trailing off, and Unity looked up, meeting the man’s eyes.

“ HEY, you there. “

jack’s rather handsome face popped up in the corner of the hunter’s vision, right next to the mini-map.

“ meet me in opportunity. i wish to speak to you. “

He had a sneaking suspicion that he knew what Jack wanted him for. A haunting power he had kept hidden for so long. He knew everyone’s fear, and could use it against them at a click of his fingers. But he didn’t - he needed allies, not enemies. So he carried it with him, hidden.

Unity tried to hide his relief, a faint smile washing over his face. He brought his head up to look Aaron in the eyes. He didn’t like what he saw. 

He looked distraught, terrified. Unity never wanted to see Aaron like this, but here he was. Unity wanted to cry.

“Aaron I…I never wanted to hurt you,”

“…but… you… did…”

Unity obliged, trying to hide his fear. “We used to split up on jobs, remember? But we always found each other. And I would just sink into your arms. I got scared really easily. I still do. But now I have flashbacks too.” Unity paused, that was beside the point. 

“I remember how we’d dance. One time we parked up the van and listened to music all night. Vivi put on a slow song to tease us, but it ended up being one of the most passionate dances I ever experienced.”

“…I… remember…”

The lesser ghosts retreated, hiding themselves within Aaron’s blue heart.

He looked distraught, terrified. Unity never wanted to see Aaron like this, but here he was. Unity wanted to cry.

Unity sighed as he noticed the flames still. Mere inches from his face, the heat was almost unbearable. But somehow, the memories of him and Aaron filled him with nostalgia, even as he was trying to kill him. He couldn’t help but smile.

“I…I remember how we used to lie in the back of the van. Just talking to each other. The TV was on, but we never watched it. You never liked the quiet.” Unity began, breathing heavily. “I remember the long car journeys, and you would moan because I was busy driving. You used to say I talked to Mystery” He laughed a little at the memory. “You kissed me in the middle of a job - not far from this mansion here. It was so sweet. So passionate. I was in love with you from the moment we first met, Aaron. Nothing can change that.”

“…”

The flames died down, revealing Aaron in his current state to Unity.

“Fuck!”

Unity screamed, rocking back and forth on his chair in anguish. He looked up through the flames, with pleading eyes. He didn’t want to die. Not without Aaron.

“Aaron - please! I’m sorry!” The ghost hunter begged, trying to reach out to Aaron, the bindings at his wrists forbidding him from doing so.

“…give… me… one… good… reason…”

“…”

“Fuck!”

Unity screamed, rocking back and forth on his chair in anguish. He looked up through the flames, with pleading eyes. He didn’t want to die. Not without Aaron.

“Aaron - please! I’m sorry!” The ghost hunter begged, trying to reach out to Aaron, the bindings at his wrists forbidding him from doing so.

“…give… me… one… good… reason…”

Unity wanted to hold Aaron close. Keep him near to him and kiss away the pain he was feeling. He didn’t want to get hurt, though. So he just sat there - motionless.

“Aaron I- I still love you. God or no god. We just need to make this work. We can make this work.”

“…he… abandoned… me!”

Unity screamed, rocking back and forth on his chair in anguish. He looked up through the flames, with pleading eyes. He didn’t want to die. Not without Aaron.

Three words he never expected Aaron to say - Unity looked visibly shook by the sentence. He shook his head. Unity never worshipped a god - but he had accepted the existence of one. How else would demons exist? But, then again, if Aaron - the most christian man he knew - didn’t pass over, maybe the now-ghost had a point.

“Aaron…do you really mean that?”

“If… he… is…”

Aaron got down to his knees, putting ghostly hands on top of them.