#spider!jack

There was definitely motion just above him where he fell. He was almost certain Jack had seen him.

“Jack? Jack is that you? I’m stuck! Hey!”

He waited for a reply only to hear the steps trod away in the grass. Did Jack just leave him? Rhys desperately tried to wrap his head around what was going on. After all, death pits weren’t exactly Jack’s thing. Though Rhys did know the spider to get a little ‘creative’ whenever he was exceptionally ticked off.

“Jack!” yelled the socializer in a fit of panic as he tried to swing himself toward the near wall of the pit, “I know you’re up there! Jaaaack!”  

Not that he was really sure what he’d do once he reached it, but it gave him some semblance of false hope in the meantime.

“Jaaaack!!”

A familiar scuttling sounded from behind and he turned his head to see the banana spider himself climbing out from one of the dark openings within the red earthen wall behind him. From what Rhys could see as he still swung back and forth, the Handsome Spider did not look happy.

In fact, he looked a little more on the ‘murderous contempt’ side.

“Uh… H-Hey, Jack. I’m a little stuck here so-”

“I know,” snipped the arachnid coldly as he purposefully stayed put against the wall, watching his partner struggle at the single line of golden webbing that ensnared his wrists together just above his head.

“You, you do? Oh, well… Um,” Rhys started yet as he caught sight of Jack crossing both pairs of arms, he could already tell he was in for some deep trouble.

He knew there was only one way to figure out what was eating at the expensive specimen - even if that way would probably cost him his life anyway...

Taking a deep breath, Rhys asked, “Is... something wrong?”

“Wrong? I don’t know, Rhys. You tell me.”  

“Don’t play dumb with me, cupcake! I know your skin was never that tan to begin with! Clearly you have an STD which means you’ve been cheating on me!” 

Rhys’ mouth fell open as his eyebrows furrowed in complete disbelief. 

“I- I what?” 

With an angry growl, Jack grabbed the single line that kept Rhys from certain death, yanking the socializer to him while another claw gripped at the human’s throat for good measure. 

“You. Cheated.” 

”J-Jack… I… didn’t…” Rhys choked out while wishing he could reach for the banana spider to calm him down to no avail. 

This was it. Jack was going to kill him. And all over a stupid misunderstanding. 

Well, it seemed that way up until a peculiar scent wafted around the arachnid’s nostrils, causing him to dip down and search Rhys’ pockets. It was in this distraction that his grip loosened on the younger man’s throat, allowing him a short moment of respite to breath again. 

“The hell is this?” 

Jack retrieved a small yellow plastic bottle from within one Rhy’s pockets. He tilted it around between them while thoroughly examining its shape as well as the label. 

“Is this where the smell is coming from?” Jack demanded while pulling Rhys higher by the golden webbing that still surrounded the socializer around his arms. 

“…That’s… um..” 

“Cologne. Really, Rhys? You had to seduce them?” 

“Them? Jack, that’s for-” 

“No! I’m done! I’m done, Rhys! First, you take off without telling anyone. Then, you suddenly come back with an STD and cologne. What the hell am I supposed to make of this besides that you- you-!” 

Rhys’ eyes widened as he quickly squirmed in Jack’s grip. It all made sense what had happened. Somehow Vaughn didn’t relay the message of his having to go on vacation last minute due to some admin issue. But now Jack was under the impression that he was trying to hide some scandal. 

“Jack! Jaaack! Wait! I can explain!” 

“I highly doubt that.”

Rhys could feel the hybrid’s claws slacking in their hold of him and it finally made him give up the surprise.

“Jack! I got that for you! Look at the label! It has a banana on it for crying out loud! No one else cares more about bananas than you do!” 

Jack’s re-tightened his grip, consideirng Rhys’ words but his face remained unconvinced. 

“Yeah right… You betrayed me, Rhys. Just… Just admit it.” 

“Oh yeah? Well tell me the name of this STD I have.”

“…What?” 

“Tell me what it’s called. But I’m telling you, I just got a tan.” 

“…” 

“So what’s the name, Jack? Since you seem so sure of yourself.” 

The spider searched for an answer, growing all the more agitated that he couldn’t come up with a solution. It was then Rhys tried to awkwardly nuzzle the claw closest to him with a knowingly smile. 

“It’s okay if you missed me… I thought they would’ve told you they were sending me away for a mandatory vacation.” 

Jack’s brows rose, not having considered that maybe Rhys wasn’t able to tell him. He coughed awkwardly, withdrawing the claw Rhys was showing too much affection too as he silently withdrew them both from the pit. Rhys felt himself cut free and quickly massaged his neck, glad that Jack still cared too much about him to off him so hastily. 

Rhys turned to find Jack standing a small distance away with a pair of arms crossed while the other pair still fiddled with the cologne. A fond look stretched across the spider’s face which allowed Rhys a sigh of relief. 

“Wh-What? I’m not… You know, you’re not actually off the hook, pumpkin,” Jack insisted though his threat came off a little weak.

It was easy to tell why though. Just like Handsome Jack, it was hard for the hybrid to ever admit when he was wrong. 

“Hey, Jack?” 

“…What, Rhys?”

“Want me to try it on?” 

Jack didn’t even hesitate. 

Hope you liked iiiiit!