#SHE MADE A CLOAK FOR CAYDE

[unlucky-corvid]

Home

A little self indulgent piece of my OC phantom and cayde.

Angst with eventual fluff.

This has not been proof read

Enjoy xoxo

Home.

He's home.

Sprawled out on the sofa of my...our flat, snoring softly. One leg over the back of the sofa, head tilted back, resting on his hands like he never left.

His Cloak slung over the coat hook it used to call home until 5 years ago, boots beneth it, still caked in mud and on the coffee table, his holster and ace...ace 2? I glance back to my bedside dresser, caydes ace of spades resting there, the tool of retribution that carried swift justice to uldren sov. My gaze returns back to the other wespon, cracked with an un-earthly glow sitting on the coffee table.

Why can't I be happy about this,Like every one else?

Why can't I welcome him back into my...our bed like I used to, curling up into his side, listening to his inner mechanisms softly working as we simply bask in one another's presence?

I should be elated. I am. Its like every wish I ever asked for rolled together in one. An impossible ask made real, laying on my sofa...our sofa. Back where he belongs. He's safe.

But what about me?

Selfish thought I know but,What about the tears I cried every day for 5 years? The nightmares? The hallucinations? The sleep terrors? The anxiety attacks?

What about my pain!?

I grieved. I grieved for him. The life we could have had. The death of seemingly everything I held dear and now I'm supposed to just...forget that? Forget how much i suffered while everyone else managed to move on.

Envy it an ugly emotion but I feel it nontheless strongly as I do my grief.

Does he even know?

I'm sure he must have some idea. I'm sure zavala and ikora filled him in. I'm sure sundance and midnight spoke.

Spoke about the night I screamed so raw my throat bled. The night zavala found me curled up behind the bust of cayde in the tower, wrapped in his cloak as the snow settled around me, slowly burrying me as i stared off into nothingness. The missions I returned from, battered and bloody only to pick up the next bounty and leave. No food. No rest. No time to remember.

Maybe thats why his eyes followed me with that uneasy concern when I bid him good night. The look of understanding that sent an uneasy shiver down me when I asked him if we could sleep separately for a while as I got used to my dead partner being alive and well back in my...our apartment.

A shiver of frosty air shoots up my spine and sets my teeth on edge.

He's here again.

Not the real cayde.

But the cayde thats been with me since he died.

The cayde that lingers in the shadows, that stalks me in the light of day, that lingers over my shoulder. A waking nightmare.

He first started to apear a few days after caydes death. Only at night. He would hover beside my bedside, bending down beside my ear to whisper.

"I was waiting for you. Waiting for you to run in and put a bullet between that bastards eyes. But you didn't. You were too late. Too late. TOO LATE!"

"Youre sick. Sick in the head. You welcomed my killer into our home with open arms. Crow? Crow?! That's what the sick fucks calling himself now? Are you that desperate to betray me? That desperate to desicrate MY HOME with that murders precence?!"

Then it would vanish as the dawn arrived leaving me sleepless and guilt ridden.

Until it didn't.

Until guardians would give my looks of sympathy and fear when a smokey apparition of the ex hunter vanguard would be glanced over my shoulder. Lips uttering words only I could hear.

I tried everything. Pills, alcohol, therapy, eris's hive magic, maras paracausal influence but nothing stopped the ghastly characature of my dead lovers visage from taunting me.

Ikora began to avoid me. I dont blame her. Being forced to see her fallen friend every instance we spoke must have been hard but...at least she could escape it.

Zavala simply gives me this look. The kind of look you give an animal you know needs putting out of its Misery as it lays dying at the side of the road. The type of look you give sickly dying people when you know they're on their last legs. I know he means well.

But I avoid him to now. I am not dying nor sickly...not outwardly and I don't wish to be treated as such.

With a sigh I turn, heading back into my...our room.

I'll get it right eventually.

I shrug off my clothes leaving them heaped on the floor, tugging on one of caydes hoodie that no longer smells like him before sliding into bed.

"Broken" it hisses.

"You think that's what i want. You think after these years, after what you've become, I'll want you?"

"Deluded"

"Shut up" I whisper holding my hands over my ears but it does nothing to silence the vile vitriol that slips from its mouth.

"Broken little phantom. How many time did you think of crushing midnight and ending it all huh? Monster. Selfish monster even considering that. I deserve better."

I curl into a ball as if caydes hoodie and the blankets will save me from the ghastly manifestations of my biggest failure. But it dosent.

My heart rate begins picking up as further hateful bile is spews from the lips of the creature using my lovers face to torment me. My fingers tremble against my face as my body convulses with each sob that wracks my frame.

"Worthless, selfish, untrustworthy, lying, unfait-"

"Hey"

The voice seemingly interupts itself

A hand on my shoulder jolts me to the present as i turn expecting the face of a nightmare...

2 icey blue optics stare into my own eyes from the darkness. Not the misty red smoke I expected.

"Zavala...zavala told me about...well...me" he says softly. The feeling of his hand on my shoulder, thumb rubbing gentle circles feels...Alien but...also like home.

Cayde glances at the misty apparition of himself with a hard glare. His eyes soften as he looks back to you "this guys a real buzzkill huh?" He says softly in a weak attempt to lighten the mood. He readjusts himself on my...our bed. Placing himself between me and the nightmare.

"Just ignore...him? Me? No not me. Ignore it" he murmurs as he slips under the covers. I cant help my body tense as he moves up beside me. As if sensing my unease he also freezes.

"I can leave, if you want. Go back to the sofa" his voice softly speaks as if I'm a cornered animal, soothing. Safe.

I pause. No. No thats the last thing I want now. I spent 5 years apart from him, I don't want to spend a single moment away from his side.

"No please stay" I mumble, voice horse from the tears that a familiar hand was wiping away. My hand finds the material of his tshirt and I move myself trying to get iven closer despite us already being flush together.

"Always"

His body fits against mine like a puzzle piece, arms snaking round my waist, anchoring me to him. "It wasn't your fault doll. I promise"

My body gradually untenses for what feels like the first time in 5 years as I sink back into he familiar embrace of caydes body. My body trembles with the adrenaline finally leaving my system.

His chest still rises and falls, his exo body's mimic of a heart beat still reaches my ears. Home. For the first time in 5 years, We are both home.

A blue light on my bedside catches my eye. A ghosts eye, 2 of them, watch us. Midnight and sundance. The pillow I keep on the bedside cabinet once for both midnight and sundance may seem unnecessary to some but our ghosts deserve a little love to. Midnight had always looked swammed by the pillow after sundance was blown to shards but now, seeing them both huddled up to one another as they to settle down, it feels like everything is finnaly settling into place.

Cayde-6 the once dead hunter vanguard, friend and lover was finally back where he rightfully belonged.

Home.

Our home.

[phantomwarrior12]

Final Goodbye

It's Cayde.

The crimson silhouette is unmistakable.

She almost reaches for him. She almost takes her hand off of Ace. But she knows, in her heart, this isn't her Cayde. Her mentor. Her closest friend. This is the culmination of her guilt and regret over his death.

"Long time, no see, Guardian." His form becomes a fraction more tangible. Sharp eyes, the subtle details of her Vanguard.

Her head tilts, a sad smile settling into place along her lips.

"Hey, Cayde."

There's a faint twinge of blue creeping at the edges of his form. She knows, after seeing the same effects on Uldren, Safiyah and Ghaul. She knew this would happen.

How couldn't it?

Fighting her way through the Leviathan, whispers nipping at her heels. It had made her guilt a bit worse, just when she thought she was past it, or at least, on her way to getting past it.

"You know, that Prison break could have gone a lot better. You coulda rescued me…why didn't you?" There's an accusatory edge in his voice despite the casual nature of his words.

The Guardian takes a deep breath, shaking her head. She could push past this. She could ignore him…but perhaps, perhaps this is her chance to say goodbye.

She couldn't get it out the day he died.

"Nothing to say, huh? Typical." He scoffs.

The Guardian looks up at him, her hands draw her hood back and removes her helmet before she kneels down.

"What's this? Some kind of re-enactment?" The Nightmare floats closer, peering curiously at her.

"I miss you." She says softly, "Every mission, I board your ship and every time," she looks up at him, "It hurts."

"Yeah, guilty consciences tend to do that, kid." He snorts, taking a seat opposite her.

It's so familiar.

Her eyes drop.

"Yeah, there's the shame we both know drives you. Can't have anyone else end up like ole Cayde but hey, it was fine to let that one time go."

"You told me it wasn't my fault," she looks up at him. "You told me not to blame myself."

"The dying say a lot of things."

Her hand settles along the Ace of Spades, the Nightmare notes the gesture.

"Hm. Yeah, using that? You don't deserve it. You got the guts, kid, but not the kind it takes to use my gun. It's more like…audacity."

She bristles, tightens her hold on the gun. Her eyes search the ground in front of her, anger welling in her chest.

"Stop."

"Aw, come on, Guardian! You're tougher than that!"

More goading. His voice, his eyes, his - not his. Not him.

Her eyes wrench shut, her jaw clenching.

That's not Cayde. That's you.

"Aw, shuttin' down again." He tsks, leaning toward her. "Just like the Prison, eh, Guardian?"

She shakes her head. Her voice is caught in her throat, her eyes rapidly searching for something, anything about him to still her racing thoughts.

The crimson has reclaimed the edges of his form - she's losing it.

"Cayde–" Her voice falters, her hand balls into a fist.

"Come on, kid. Out with it." It goads.

She surges up to her feet, storming away a few feet before she stops. Tears have gathered in her eyes, slipping unnoticed along her skin as she leans against the wall.

"I did all I could." She breaks down, dropping to her knees. "I couldn't get to you in time."

"No, you couldn't. You can't save anyone, can you?" His voice is cold and it makes this harder. He's beside her then, a chill sweeping over her form. "You use my gun. You fly my ship. You wear that cloak but you're not honoring me, Guardian. You're making yourself feel better about failing. About abandoning me."

Her head jerks up, sharp emerald bearing into searing crimson. She wants to scream at him. Remind him that she tried but it's no use.

Her eyes close and she sits back on her heels, trying to gather herself.

"No words?" He taunts.

She reaches out, pressing her hand against what would be his chest. The energy courses between them but there is nothing solid there, nothing tangible.

She wishes it were because she only wants to hug him right now.

"I'm sorry, Cayde." She manages at last. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you but I did…all I could to get to you in time. I tried..." Tears slip down her cheeks and she looks up at him, "But you were right. This wasn't on me." Her head lifts a fraction, features hardening as her Light surges.

"Your death wasn't my fault."

His form ignites and when that vibrant light ebbs, his form is a brilliant blue - pretty close to his eyes when he was alive.

She manages a smile, albeit a small one.

Her hand hasn't moved and she can feel a faint tingle as his hand hovers over her own.

He's smiling.

"It wasn't on you. It's been a few years, but I'm glad you get that. No more tears," he chuckles and her eyes drop as her smile broadens a fraction. "You keeping up with Ace?"

She nods, pulling the weapon from the holster and holds it up.

"Would you look at that? Looks better than new. Banshee taught you well." Cayde kneels down. "You're doing great, Guardian."

She meets his gaze, the silent question in her eyes: You mean that?

"With all you've done. How you've protected the City, all of it. I'm proud of you."

She chokes out a sob, her head dropping. She can't put into words just how badly she needed to hear that.

The next instant, he's hugging her. His form solid as her head settles against his shoulder, his arms bound around her and holds her tightly.

"I know," he says softly, "I miss you, too, kid. But you gotta keep going, right?"

She manages a shaky nod.

"That's my girl."

She'll keep fighting, she always does.

But this time, this time it will not be out of fear of losing someone as she lost Cayde.

This time, it will be because she knows now, she didn't fail.

It wasn't her fault.

And as Cayde’s form slowly dissipates, she manages a smile. She looks up and he shares it, gently squeezing her shoulder.

"Get back out there, Guardian."

For Cayde.

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A/N: Hi folks! There was supposed to be an art piece to go with this but the art brain fled in that regard so I decided to just post it before it got any further away from Season of the Haunted. Hope you enjoyed it! <3

Taglists are open! Send an ask/leave a comment to be added!

Forevers: @halo-2 @reaped-winnower @forgotten-by-the-stars @sugarcoated44 @cayde-6 @avrosaetos @niemands-bibliothek @paracausal-hunter

[ahungeringknife]

365: May 10

Ikora rose an eyebrow when Cayde came around her side of the table. He didn't say anything just sort of hummed and made noise as he looked over her papers. Zavala was engaged with something along the wall that monitored the City's defenses. "Did you need something, Cayde?" Ikora asked once she was tired of his snooping.

"I think... I think something messed up happened," he said.

"What do you mean?" she asked not looking like she was giving him her full attention but actually doing so.

"I had lunch with the Guardian today," he said. "She said some things that... worried me."

"What of?"

"Something big happened. She said," and he signed the next part, knowing Ikora would understand, 'They're fine. Kaley and Rigel finally went on a date. Life and death situation you-'

"Well they are Guardians," Ikora said mildly.

"We haven't sent Glitterbomb on a mission since Kass disobeyed a direct order not to go into the Black Garden," Cayde said. "There's been no 'life or death situation' since then. Right? Unless you're not telling me something?" he put his hands on the table and looked at her hard. Cayde could be a real funny guy but you did not mess with his Hunters. He might have hated being Vanguard with every circuit in his body but he took the job very seriously. More seriously than most people realized honestly.

"I tell you everything," Ikora said.

"We both know that isn't true but I appreciate the attempt," Cayde said, not taking it personally. "Zavala's said nothing?"

"Zavala leaves Hunters to you and Xander. He's got no need to strong arm them," Ikora said mildly.

"You don't think Xander's done something behind our back?"

"I'm sure he has. But this? No," she said casually. "Since Saladin returned to Russia he's been much more agreeable." Yeah no shit. Saladin and Xander got along like oil and water and had since Cayde had set foot in the Tower for the first time. Xander was at least polite when he told Saladin to go fuck himself. Usually at any rate.

"So what'd they do?"

"How would I know-- don't give me that look, Cayde," she tutted.

"You're the spy master. Know some spy shit," he said bluntly, not impressed.

"I have a lot to do. Go worry yourself somewhere else," she said dismissively.

Cayde huffed and walked off, arms folded. "Sundance call up the Grey Dawn," he said as he wandered around the Hall, not looking at anything specific. He just thought better while walking.

"You know they hate being summoned."

"Oh well," he shrugged.

"Cayde," Grey's sultry voice came out of Sundance. If the Grey Dawn didn't scare the pants off him they absolutely had a voice that'd make him rip his pants off around them. "Is there something you need?"

"How's your rookie?"

"Wonderful. I don't enjoy social calls from the Vanguard. What do you want?"

No, he supposed they didn't. The Grey Dawn didn't really do authority. They only hung around as a courtesy to help train the rare Nightstalker that showed up. And of course now they'd taken on a rookie. Cayde had looked at their file when they had. Most Hunters eventually became a mentor, took on a rookie under their cloak to show them the ropes. The Grey Dawn had been training Nighstalkers for centuries but had never taken one as a rookie until a few months ago. It was... odd. Very out of character for the ultimate loner on the hunt.

"You guys do anything fun recently?"

"We always have fun. You'll have to be more specific, Cayde," and that made him shiver. Fuck that person freaked him out so much. Shouldn't. They were a Guardian. Talking to old Guardians was always unsettling and Grey reveled in it. You'd think Cayde would have a worse time talking to actual problems like Ana or Shin but no. Shin was just a petty brat with a chip on his shoulder and Ana was just manic in her search for who she had been. But they weren't... off. Maybe that was why the Guardian liked Grey. They were both a bit off.

"Something dangerous. Real fun around real death, that kinda thing," Cayde said casually, standing in front of a display of the EDZ. Lights marked different fireteams in the zones doing strikes or running patrol. A triangular mark were their herd hunters who helped the wild predator populations keep the deer and bison herds in check so they didn't starve themselves come winter. His glowing eyes tracked each beacon, Guardian or not, on the map, attaching it to a report or mission brief that had come across his desk.

The Grey Dawn didn't answer him but they also didn't hang up. "Did she say something?" they said after a solid minute of tense silence. "What did she say? She-- hasn't spoken to me about it."

"She said your Warlocks hooked up," Cayde said. "What happened?" he glanced at Sundance who'd moved closer to him to keep the volume quiet, the conversation private. He made a motion with his eyes and she slid into the hood of his cloak so she could whisper it into his ear.

Again the Grey Dawn said nothing but didn't hang up. This time the silence stretched for a long time. "Come out to the tree in the back," they said and Sundance closed.

Cayde immediately turned and left the Hall of the Vanguard.

He found the Grey Dawn sitting on a planter backed by a shrub that had just been in bloom but now was full of wilting flowers. Characteristically they were dressed all in gray and white and everything about them was washed out like someone had taken the saturation slider and slid it down on them.

He sat next to them. "What happened?"

"What'd she say?" the Grey Dawn asked right back. Cayde repeated the sign to them. They sighed and looked up at the clear sky above them. "There is no report. This didn't happen."

"But it didn't?"

"It doesn't make any sense."

"What happened?" Cayde pressed.

"We went into a Vex stronghold. That's the best I can describe it without sounding like a madman. We were in there for-- too long. We fought a lot of Vex. We died a lot of times. We were drawn down into the heart of the stronghold where a great Vex Mind who could control the flow of time was waiting for us."

"Did you kill it?"

"... I assume so?" they sounded unsure. Cayde didn't feel fear often. But hearing someone like the Grey Dawn sound unsure? Someone he knew for a fact was powerful and capable. They didn't know? It made him... uneasy. He didn't want to call it fear. "When we came out of our deaths it was gone. Kassandra said she shattered it."

"And then you came back out?"

"We climbed back out," they looked off into the middle distance. "It almost got us so many times even after we'd killed the time's conflux," they said. Cayde didn't know what that meant. He knew Sundance was recording everything they said. If and when he'd share it with Ikora. Their eyes snapped back to the present. "We haven't really talked about it. That's all she said?"

"That was it," Cayde said.

"I'm worried about her," they said.

"You haven't before. Why now?"

The Grey Dawn's face grew drawn and thin. "You know how you told me she killed that Devil Archon her first day or something?"

"Yeah?"

"And I said that was fucked up? How'd someone so young show that much power?"

"Yeah?"

"It was fucked up," was all the Grey Dawn said.

"She was fucked up?" he clarified.

"Never seen anything like it," they said quietly. They crossed themselves in an old traditional Hunter's mark over their collar bone. A warding against danger. Cayde hadn't seen it used since before the Great Disaster over two centuries ago.

"You guys okay?" Cayde asked.

"Tsk, me? No," it wasn't about the dissent and Cayde knew that. "The kids though? Probably. They're strong."

"Should we be worried about the Guardian?" Cayde asked.

"Did she seem okay to you?" They didn't answer the question.

"Quiet but she seemed fine," he said.

"I'm her mentor so I worry but... I'm supposed to, you know?" they shrugged. "But she did seem okay?"

"She wasn't screaming mad. Should probably eat more," he said mildly.

The Grey Dawn huffed, "Trust me. Me and Ghost harp on her all the time about it. She just forgets. Gets excited about something, focused on the mission, and food becomes an after thought." They sighed and looked back up at the sky. "Don't tell Ikora, will ya?"

"I don't know why you think I would," Cayde pretended to be insulted.

The Grey Dawn made a finger gun right at Sundance in his hood, trying to hide behind his neck. "I see your little brain cell in there. She's smart. I don't need Warlocks or the Hidden getting in our business," they said.

"You haven't told me anything interesting enough to tell Ikora. You guys just fought some Vex."

The Grey Dawn chuckled and if Cayde didn't know any better it almost sounded like a sob, or insanity. "Yeah. Just some Vex," and they pushed off their knees and stood. Cayde watched them walk away, their long white cloak had strange markings on it he'd never seen before, metallic and almost like a mechanical spine that flared and became wings at the shoulders.

"On a scale of one to fucked how much do you think I should be worried about this?" Cayde asked Sundance once they were gone.

"Hmmm," she thought about it seriously. "I'd say somewhere around not enough to keep you up at night but enough we should still tell Ikora."

"Yeah. That's about where I thought too," he said. He got up and headed back to the Hall of the Vanguard to do just that.

[poorlytunedukulele]

Prompt 14 - Modern Myths

March 20, 2874; The Last City, Earth

Mattathias stopped dead in his tracks.  “Holy shit!”

Reyha just raised an eyebrow and cast a glance around.  There wasn’t anything around she could see that should elicit that response.  The Tower Concourse held just its usual crowd of Guardians and civilian workers- it wasn’t even busy.

“Get down,” her Hunter friend hissed, pulling her, protesting, behind a row of bushes.  “That’s Andal Brask!”

The name didn’t ring a bell.  The Titan sighed and crossed her arms.  “I’ve no time for celebrities, Mathy.”

Mattathias was barely paying attention, peaking over the low hedges. “That’s not a celebrity, Reyha, that’s the leader of one of the most legendary packs of Hunters around.  They’re called the Crew.”

Reyha rolled her eyes and sat.  There was no stopping him when he got like this.  “The Crew of what?  That’s dumb.”

Mattathias seemed to be deep in the mystery.  “You don’t need any other words.  Someone tells you the Crew blew up a House of Devils nest in the Cosmodrome and made off with all of their stuff, you know it’s them.”  He turned back, eyes shining in excitement.

Reyha sighed.  “This is important?”

Mathy nodded vigorously. “You have to know your coworkers, Reyha.”

“Alright,” the young Titan relented.  “Let’s at it, then.”

The Hunter immediately hunkered down, listing off facts like he was a Crucible commentator giving a pre-match report.  “Like I said, that’s Andal Brask.  Man’s an old protégé of Tallulah Fairwind.”  He paused for a second.  “You have heard of Tallulah Fairwind, haven’t you?”

“The first Hunter Vanguard,” Reyha listed automatically.  “I’ve heard of her.”

“Well, she was a genius. Crafty.  And she taught Brask everything she knew.  He’s led more successful hunts and heists over the years than Dead End Cure, with a fraction of the people.”

“Sounds like someone whose bad side you don’t want to get on,” Reyha commented.

“He’s actually really nice,” Mathy‘s Ghost said.  “Don’t start a prank war, though.  He’ll win.”

Mathy himself gestured impatiently.  “The point is, man’s got a keen eye for strategy and keener one for what makes people tick.  And he’s got some real heavy hitters behind him.”

Reyha took her turn to peer over the bushes.  “They just look like normal Hunters to me.”  A motley crew, to be sure, with mismatched cloaks.  They appeared to be arguing about something.

“Looks can be deceiving,” her Ghost replied.  He was always spouting off philosophical sayings like that.

Mattathias pointed out a horned Exo in a beige cloak.  The man walked with a certain amount of swagger.  “So you got Cayde-6.  Real flashy fellow, but he knows his stuff.  Word is he’s got a winning record against Shaxx in the Crucible.  He’s that good.  One of the best Gunslingers alive.  Nice guy. He can talk you into anything.”

Next- a tall Human with a curly head of hair and what seemed like a perpetual scowl.  He had his arms crossed, watching Cayde-6 with an air of skepticism.  “Tevis Larsen.  Dude’s old. Like, older than Zavala old.  I’m not sure anyone really knows where he comes from.  He’s the Nightstalker.  Like THE Nightstalker.”  Mathy hesitated.  “…But he bites.  I’d keep your distance if I were you.”

His finger moved to the next in line, an Exo wearing a golden cloak.  “Shiro-4.”

“He’s short,” Reyha judged.

“Yeah, so?  Guy speaks better Fallen then the scholars back at the Reef.  You want any intel, go to him.  Unlike Larsen, he’s happy to answer questions.  Has a rap sheet probably a mile long at this point. Dude’s spilled more Ether than Saint-14. Not to mention he’s a hobbyist mechanic and a top-tier gunsmith.”

He moved on to a middling woman with pale skin and a green cloak.  She seemed a bit restless.  “Azra Jax. She’s young, but Andal has a real eye for the talent.  You heard tell about an Arcstrider?”  Reyha nodded. She’d dismissed it as just a rumor. “That’s her.  Only one around, but damn does she make a show of it.  There ain’t a map in the Archives doesn’t have her fingerprints on it.  She’s got more than what’s in the archives.”

“There are plenty of maps she hasn’t touched,” a voice said from behind them.  “Don’t you know it’s rude to talk about people behind their backs?”

Both Guardians nearly jumped out of their skins. Looming behind them, arms crossed and scowl still affixed on his face, was Tevis Larsen.  Reyha hadn’t even noticed him leave his group.

Beside her, Mattathias stammered. Tevis glared.  Reyha’s heart pounded in her chest-

Then, like a ray of sunlight through the clouds: salvation.  “Oh.  My God. Tevis, what did I tell you about intimidating the general public?”

“They were talking about us,” Tevis reported.  

Azra had jogged over.  “You’ve already scared them half to death.  Look at them.”

“Maybe next time they should think before turning people into their own personal TV drama.”

“It’s called people-watching,” Reyha said.

Tevis just raised an eyebrow at her.  “You’re not doing yourself any favors.”

“Cayde’s nearly convinced Andal to take his side in the dinner debate,” Azra complained.  “The Burrito Position is becoming untenable. We already did Ramen this week.”

“Fine,” Tevis huffed. The two walked away, Azra confidently, Tevis turning to fix Reyha and Mattathias with one last stern glance.

The two Guardians sat in silence for a minute, too stunned to speak.

“I guess even legends have to decide what to eat for dinner,” Reyha mused.

AO3 Linky!

[have-some-heals]

Kuraokami & Khione on Friendship.

(Inspired by, and staring @aceofcaydes01 )

“Guardian Down.” The voice echoed through the warlocks helmet. His shot missed his target the arrow flying by the thrall’s head. A rush of fear consumed him for a moment, it was familiar, like he had felt it before. A ghost haunting him from his past life.

Ahead the body of the hunter and a hive knight lay side by side. Well… sort of. The hunter was laid between two halves of the same knight, her sword still dripping with the hive’s insides. Her ghost fluttered around her in a worried manner.

The warlock took a breath and took out the last of the foot soldiers around them before rushing forward to aid the hunter. Her body was still sparking with arc energy from her final few moments. The warlock did a quick check of the area to make sure there were no enemies- no snipers- lingering about.

“It appears that your partner took your question as a suggestion.” Khione said as they appeared above the warlocks had to assist in bringing the fallen hunter back.

“Yeah yeah, let’s blame me for using the hunter as a meat shield. This relationship he have is pretty cut and dry. I can’t be held responsible every time she takes a question I ask as a command to run head first into danger” he huffed trying to mask the worry he actually had that the hunter had so blindly attacked the knight.

“And you know what I was going to say, wait until we had chipped away at it a bit more… this is just like that time in the spire when I said I needed the power of that Minotaur to power the elevator and she tried to punch it to death” he huffed and pulled the hive knight away from the hunter not wanting her to comeback in a pool of hive goo. He then took her sword and used his cloak to clean it off before putting it back in it’s hilt. Once she was a bit more situated he sat next to the hunter arms crossed letting the ghost do their work. The darkness was thick here, he could feel it pulling at his own power, earlier when he had used his sword to protect them the darkness had relented and he realized just how slow he had been feeling.

“It’s okay to admit you worry about her” Khione said circling the warlock for a moment. “I know you worry she is to similar to Cayde-6, that she will rush to aid someone and not realize the true danger…”

The warlock looked at the hunter’s body. It felt like hours since she had fallen. “It’s not that I think I’d be able to stop her from running off solo like he did… it is more likely I’d be the reason she faces a permanent death” he kicked at some of the dirt in the path. “The number of times she should have left me… you would have gotten me eventually… there have been to many close calls…”

“Then why don’t you leave?” Khione paused to ask causing the warlock to stiffen.

“Why are we even talking about this again. It isn’t like she is the only hunter that studied under him.” He huffed deflecting the question.

The pair of ghosts made a sound that Kuraokami felt was teasing in nature.

“Hunters are loners right, this is just a job for her having me here to do the things just make it easier. This is just a means to an end.” He said half believing the statement. It was easier for them both. In truth even with a bow he still couldn’t hit half his shots and the hunter seemed to like that he would do the technical things. It isn’t that either of them couldn’t do the others job it was just faster this way.

“And plus I’m still not sure we can trust that crow guy… she seems to be fine with him but we all know what he did to the last hunter he was left alone with” The warlock stood and put down a rift as he saw a group of thralls heading down the stairs towards them. A few arrows and the hall was clear. Granted it was on fire, but it was clear.

Khione moved back to the warlock as they finished working on the hunter.

“Not my best moment” she said with a laugh as she swapped out her guns having been brought back. She held up the Krait and nodded in the direction they had been pushing. “Ready Mr. Kuraokami”

“Okami is fine… we are friends after all… right?” The warlock stated as he stood, he hoped the insecurity wasn’t so clear as Khione vanished into him. The duo began internal banter as the ghost teased the warlock who had sworn to be partial and neutral in all his new found relationships.

Only the warlock had not expected to find friendship in his new life. Not after being pulled back to life surrounded by death.

[thefangirlthatwaited]

A Destiny Story - New Light

Cayde x Female Guardian

My energy wavers as I run out of arc, and the Archon smiles as I look down the barrel of his gun. I return the smile, throwing my last grenade, killing him and sending me flying. I pick myself off the ground groaning in pain as Stell heals my wounds, and I grab the Archons cape and hold it proudly. "You.. you just killed an Archon." She says, her voice full of amazement. "I guess I did."I laugh, unable to process the moment. I pick up some stray glimmer as Stell locates the warp drive. "We got a warp drive. Now let's get back home." I nod, pocketing the glimmer and cape before Stell transmats me back to my ship. My adrenaline was still running high when I got back to the Tower. My first stop was Amanda to drop off the drive. "Holy shit." She breathes as I drop the drive on her workbench. "Will it work?" She examines it quickly and nods. "Perfectly. Give me a day, and you'll be good to fly anywhere in Sol." "Don't rush. I need a few days off after what happened out there?" "Care to share?" "Later, for sure." "Drinks?" "Sounds good." Her face lights up before she returns to her new project.

Now it was time to gloat to Cayde. I dropped off some bounties on the way, pocketing even more glimmer before pulling the cape out and striding into headquarters. All eyes are on me as I head to the table at the centre of the room and place the cape down right in front of Cayde. "Is this?" "An Archon cape," I confirm. Zavala joins us, examining the scrap of fabric. "This isn't just any Archon cloak." Zavala brings it to Ikora, who nods in agreement. "Mind telling who I killed?" They all turned to face me, and Cayde's mouth hung open in shock. "You killed Riksis?" "Was that his name?" "I've sent Hunter after Hunter after him. Some came back empty-handed. Few didn't come back at all." I swallow a lump in my throat at the thought of the dead Guardians. "He had my warp drive." I point out nonchalantly. Zavala smiled, handing me back the cloak. "You've just begun your Guardian career, and you've already slain an Archon. Impressive." I feel my cheeks burning—pride burning in my chest. "I say it's more than impressive. She is going to be a great Hunter." I turn to see Cayde leaning on his chair, giving me a thumbs up. I suppress an eye roll and scoff, deciding on a simple nod of acknowledgment.

"Well, let's see if you can maintain your tenacity. I'm sending back into action." I want to say no. I just want to rest my adrenaline wearing off, but I know by the look Stell gives me not to argue. "Fallen forces are strengthening their position at the Jovian and Terrestrial complexes in the Cosmodrome. Scout the area, then report back to me." He adds, and I nod. "Yes, sir." I turn on my heels and leave, letting out the sigh I was holding. "I just want to eat and sleep," I grumble. "Not-" "Ruby!" I groan, turning to see Cayde and Stell huffed that she got cut off. "What?" "I wanted to tell you again. Great job on the Archon kill." "That's all?" "And-" He pauses, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm sorry." I raise an eyebrow waiting for him to elaborate. "I shouldn't have doubted you." "No, you shouldn't have." "I- I honestly don't know what I was thinking. I never got to see you in action before I made my judgment." "You also made that judgement after I confided in you on how difficult all this was. I trusted you." I could see that hit its mark.

Full Chapter on Ao3

[corruptlight]

My Young Wolf

Disclaimer: This is for my guardian (The one I use for everything except Crucible because lmaooooo).

Guardian Name: Nora [Unknown]

Class and Gender: Hunter, Female.

The Fit:  Frumious Mask,  Meridian Constellation Tunic,  Iron Fellowship Grips, Orpheus Rig, Memory of Cayde-6 Cloak.

Shader: Monochromatic, on all except the cloak.

Exotic Weapon: Ace of Spades, barely uses anything else.

Backstory: The Backstory of the Guardian in the name, with a slight twist. It is suspected by the Vanguard and those around her that she somehow is part Awoken. This is due to her sky blue eyes glowing whenever you see them and her unique senses in Awoken Areas. 

Subclass of Choice: Nora very rarely strays from Nightstalker, only doing so in dire needs.

Fireteam/Friends: Nora strays away from most Guardians, not feeling comfortable considering her track record being a Guardian. However, aside from the Vanguard *cough* Cayde *cough* she has five friends (Before Forsaken).  There’s one Exo, three Awoken, and one other Human.

Favorite Places: The EDZ and Cosmodrome, The Farm, Io, Tangled Shore, Dreaming City, Europa, The Eliksni Quarters, the Helm (to an extant).

Least Favorite Places: The Tower, Titan, Nessus, Moon, Moth Woman’s Throne World.

Favorite Things To Do: Tracking useless things, exploring the EDZ, star gazing, exploring in general, spending time alone.

Ghost: Nora calls Ghost, Draugur, which is ghost in Icelandic. His shell is the  Sanctified Vigilance Shell, which Nora made as a thank you gift.

[breakneckpeixe]

“Secure the lucent hive.” Peixe said to herself.

She didn’t know the Guardians she’d be fullfilling the mission alongside, but considering she’d assumed she’d be going it alone, she was reassured. Even if the Hunter’s tactical experience ranking for this combat season was only nine. She seemed confident enough.

They tore through the hive, Peixe hanging back on occasion to snag some Thousand Yard Stare shots for Banshee. She saw the lucent wizard screech.

‘Alright,’ she thought to herself, ‘lets take it in.’

Then the titan supered it, crushing its chitin into a fine paste as the hunter finished off the ghost.

She grimaced, although secretly, Peixe was happy she hadn’t been the one to squash it.

‘Okaaay so not THAT lucent hive, I guess.’ 

Something crunched underfoot, something that didn’t sound like chitin, and she glanced down.

The exo hunter was half-wrapped in their cloak, eyes dark. The shape of their mouth and how the hood set reminded her of---

There was no electronic ping. No chime from Ghost to Ghost requesting a revive.

“Guardian’s drained of Light...” Crow’s voice was horrified.

Peixe made a small sound at the sight of the hunter, a whimper muffled by her helmet.

“Strengthen your stomachs.” Caital growled, and Peixe’s cheeks flushed at the thought the Empress might’ve heard.

She pressed a brief palm to the Hunter’s brow, then rose to her feet.

They’d put a stop to this, one way or another.

After much portal jumping, they’d found their target.

‘He’s a hunter.”.Peixe barked out a laugh at disbelief as she watched the Light-Drainer, looming like a vulture over a cacaphony of hive.  ‘Well, his self-esteem’s fine.’ She thought, sourly. He was clearly larger than life in his mindscape.

 She swapped Nightwatch for an icy blade decorate with a snowflake, determined to cut him down to size.

Her next thought, striking quite suddenly, was

‘Holy hell that’s a big psion!!!!’

Zavala went out of his way to comfort Crow as Peixe returned to the helm. The gentle reassurance that the dead Guardian’s had mattered. They made a difference, and would inspire others.

She thought of Cayde-6, and the dead hunter exo. The dead titan. Her shoulders sagged at the thought of what’ she’d have to do next.

A gloved hand fell onto her shoulder, a moment after the quiet chime of someone transmatting in.

“Hey, there, Peixe. Lookin’ a little rough. You need a hand?” asked Salem-217.

[fireteam-survivor]

Hold on to The Little Things

Destiny 2 Drabble – OC Sera – Amanda Holliday

_____

It had been a fair few months since I had returned from the Tangled Shore, ten months there followed quickly after by a month in the Dreaming City had left me drained and in dire need of some down time.

And therapy.

“Well, look who it is, what can I do for you stranger?” Amanda’s voice asked as I strolled over to her workstation, smiling at the cloak that hung behind her, the red pattern on black was unmistakable to any Hunter who had met Cayde for more than ten seconds.

“I was in the neighbourhood and thought I would stop by, I was wondering if you would want to come to a poker night, it will be at my place tomorrow” I said, Amanda smiling at me and nodding eagerly.

“Of course I would, who else is going to be there?” Amanda asked and I looked to her and smiled.

“It will be us, Zavala, Ikora, Suraya, Banshee, Shaxx, and Lord Saladin” I said, Amanda nodding and smiling, though after a moment her smile faded, and she glanced over her shoulder at Cayde’s cloak. “I am also going to set a place for Cayde, since, from what Ikora tells me, this will be the first poker night since… Since the prison” I said, Amanda nodding.

“He’d like that… I think, you would also like these” Amanda said, turning and rummaging through a very full and unorganised draw that didn’t look like it shut properly. “I have had them in this draw since... the prison” Amanda said, pausing as I had, not wanting to say his name and the word ‘death’ in the same sentence.

“I don’t know how you can find anything in a draw like that, especially something that has been in there over a year” I said light heartedly, though once the words left my lips, we both paused.

It had been over a year since the prison. Since Cayde’s death. Thinking back, I wasn’t in the city for the anniversary of it, I was not even on Earth, I was on Mercury. I had no idea if there had been any kind of memorial service or anything of that nature.

“Isn’t time a funny thing” Amanda chuckled after a few moments of silence, smiling at me. “There are still days where it feels like it was just yesterday” Amanda then added before returning to rummaging through the door. “On those days, I remember to hold on to the little things” Amanda sighed.

“I have a few of his knives, gave Luca a few too. It seems no matter what you use them for, they stay sharp, it is always satisfying to have a piece of him in the wilds with me, and to know others do too” I said, Amanda glancing back at me and smiling.

“Well, you gave me his cloak, and I helped Ikora sort through his stuff, we found several packs of playing cards, a fair few knives, some scraps of cloaks… We gave those to Eva to make a memorial cloak out of… Have you seen it?” Amanda asked, not looking back at me.

“No. I haven’t, but it sounds lovely” I said, silence falling for a second before Amanda abruptly straightened and turned to face me, a wide smile on her face and a deck of cards in her hands.

“When I was sorting through the decks, I found this one and put it to one side for you, it looks like he had them custom made” she said, passing me the deck. I smiled and took them, gently opening the box and letting them slip into my hand.

“They’re beautiful” I muttered as I shuffled through them, each suit had a different style of knife painted on to it, each one beautifully detailed and intricate, whoever made it, must have spent hours creating each card.

“I thought you would like them. And remind me this evening to show you the memorial cloak, it is in the Hall of Guardians below the armoury” Amanda said, and I nodded, carefully placing the deck of cards back in their box. “Thank you, Amanda” I muttered before taking a step towards her, pulling her into a hug. “I always forget how wise you can be, something you certainly did not get from Cayde” I chuckled, tightening my eyes to keep the tears at bay.

[gaygxnslinger]

ANDAL BRASK.

aliases: vanguard codenames, mission codenames-- does he really need to recite every single one? gender: male; he/him. sexuality: bisexual, biromantic, all around demi. very heavy masc lean. species: human. class: hunter.

summary: washing up from the pacific ocean after originally being found by micah-10, andal brask was first resurrected while the first hunter vanguard, tallulah fairwind, was still active. he clicked the most with the void, eventually being taught the ropes by a begrudging tevis larsen.

immediately it was clear that andal wasn’t like most other hunters; not too dissimilar to tallulah, he has the ability and charisma to be able to rally his fellow hunters and unite them, which made him very suited to the position of defacto pack leader of the group of hunters that began to amass around him. later, this applied very effectively to his position as hunter vanguard.

andal brask is a kind soul, always on the lookout for others and brightening the room with his smile. he still indulges in trouble when dragged into it with his pack, but the difference is he goes in with a plan rather than winging the entire thing and seeing how things play out. he is resourceful, an all-round adaptable and smart guy. as charming as they come.

appearance: based off of his concept art, as well as his comic appearance and sylenth-l’s portrayal. andal has long, brown hair, often tied up in a ponytail or a bun if he is out in the field, as well as hazel brown eyes. he has neatly trimmed facial hair.

andal stands at 5′9″ with a more athletic build, and his armour consists of a similar brown leather look that most Hunters sport, as well as a very familiar vermilion-striped cloak and green-brown scarf, worn by cayde-6 after andal’s death. 

verses & aus:

destabilising rounds // andal brask his main verse. follows the events of canon that we know for him, with some headcanon stuff to fill in the blanks.

alacrity // andal lives au there’s multiple different ideas i have for this. first scenario: andal survives taniks’ attack, but loses his ghost. he is found by the pack immediately, rescued, and comes out relatively unharmed physically, but now he has to grapple with the loss of his light and his friend.

second scenario: andal does not survive taniks, but his ghost is only injured, deactivated for years, potentially even decades, while his body is left abandoned, tossed into the ocean for good measure. eventually, another lightbearer finds and reactivates his ghost, who then seeks out her guardian, and the amount of time that has passed causes issues when she tries to resurrect him, as do the multiple deaths he has trying to reach the surface of the water. particularly, his memory is a little skewed.

third scenario: roleswap with cayde. cayde loses the dare and becomes vanguard, only to fall victim to taniks, where andal then assumes his duties (duties that he’s already been helping out with because he feels bad about cayde being stuck in the tower).

shot swap // lightswap andal is a mechanic, particularly interested in repairing sparrows for the underground races that have popped up since the discontinuing of official vanguard-supported srl leagues. and, y’know, maybe falls for a particular racer...

[mercysought]

‘it is right to seek peace for the dead. you and I both know there is no peace for those who live after.’ (cayde @ maxima owo)

@variisis . letter prompts or song of achilles . accepting

She felt sick.

Half because of the thought that Shiro might not return, half because that feeling existed within her body and made her feel uneasy. And clearly, her body language had been transparent enough to be captured by Cayde. Maxima throws him a glance, a silent accusation that he should dare to air such thoughts in a place where anyone might hear them.

It felt wrong that one that had kept her safe for so long should be thought to be dead. Especially one like Shiro, like Cayde one might say. It was wrong and perhaps Cayde did not understand it for the nature of exos - she still remembered very clearly when Shiro when training her in how to shoot demanded that she shoot him instead of the target and how she had hated that.

To live in a space where death was always one step away and always cloaked in the shadows should only be bestowed upon those that are willing to follow down that path.

   "Do not presume to know my feelings, Cayde-6." she finally says, sniffing softly as she turns around towards her desk once more "I have a job for you, if you are willing to take it."

[thefirstknife]

Hey Bungie ok like. Thanks I'm crying.

New sparrow lore.

[phantomwarrior12]

Not Him

"Ikora, please."

"How could you bring him here? After what he did to Cayde!" There's a rage in ordinarily soft brown as they gaze upon the Young Wolf. "You killed him, Guardian. Why is he here?"

Beside her, Crow goes rigid at the mention of his death and her role in it. She turns her head slightly to look at him before her eyes drop as she takes a breath.

"This isn't Uldren Sov. I killed him. He's gone. Crow isn't him."

"A loss of memory doesn't change his face, Guardian." Ikora returns evenly, scowling at Crow and the Young Wolf steps in front of the Hunter as if to shield him.

"No, but it does change his heart. I wouldn't have brought him here if I didn't think his past was behind him...if Cayde were here—“

"Don't!  Don't you dare finish that sentence," the Warlock Vanguard warns firmly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Cayde's gone and it's his fault."

The Young Wolf retreats a step, backing into Crow when a flare of Void energy courses down Ikora's arm into her clenched fist. It's then that she feels Crow's hands on her shoulders, gently guiding her to the side and she looks up at him in confusion, though his eyes never leave Ikora as he releases the Young Wolf and takes a few cautious steps forward.

"You're right. In the time since my revival, I've seen that same look in the eyes of every Guardian I've come across. Now, I know why. I killed one of your own," he looks over at the Young Wolf, whose eyes have dropped to the floor and her hood obscures her face. "When we arrived here, I asked her why there were no Hunters around," sharp orange orbs dart back to Ikora, "She said because none of them wanted to join the Vanguard - to replace their fallen Vanguard. I understand the impact I had, the man I was before Glint brought me back...and I'm sorry. What he-I did, was unforgivable and I will spend the remainder of my new life trying to make up for it. I wish I could reverse time--"

"Which isn't a good idea," Ghost supplies, "Osiris can attest to that."

The Young Wolf steps up beside Crow, laying her hand on his shoulder before she smiles softly at Ikora, "Cayde would want us to welcome him, he's a New Light, after all. Cayde would have been the first in the landing bay."

It strikes a nerve, she can see it in every inch of Ikora's features. Reluctance. Discomfort. Surrender. Acceptance.

Ikora sighs softly, shaking her head. "I suppose you're right, Guardian. Whatever is standing before us, he isn't Uldren Sov." She lifts her head, gazing over at Crow with something like exhaustion in her eyes, "Welcome to the Tower, Crow." She clasps her hands behind her back, giving a short nod before turning and heading back towards the Bazaar.

Crow's shoulders sag in relief before he looks down at the Young Wolf, "Thank you."

She nods, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze, "Come on. I want to introduce you to Lord Shaxx. He'd love to have another Hunter in his Crucible."

The Crow smiles, trailing after the Young Wolf as she guides him through his new home. But as his mind catches up, he recalls something Ikora said and he pauses. She makes it another few steps before she notes the loss of his presence behind her and she pivots to look back at him curiously.

"Did you...actually kill me? Uldren Sov, I mean." He asks softly, a mixture of confusion and fear glinting in aching yellow.

Her shoulders sag ever so slightly before she can find the words, "Yes. I killed him."

Crow nods slowly, "Were you and Cayde close?"

She nods in silent confirmation, her hand subconsciously gripping the edge of her cloak. He'd noticed the weapon on her hip, the distinctly white Ace that matched the larger one sewn into her cloak.

"That was his gun." He remarks after a long moment.

She looks down at the weapon her holster, her fingers settling over it protectively as she nods again.

Crow slowly nods, gazing down at his gloved hands, "What happened?"

"We shouldn't get into this—“

"Please," he returns abruptly, eyes snapping up to her features.

Her chest constricts, an overwhelming sense of dread sinking in her stomach as she nods reluctantly. "Come with me."

He follows her as she guides him through the city, deliberately avoiding passages where many Guardians were until they arrive at a monument. She stops short of it, gazing up at the statue of Cayde-6 that Zavala had erected in his honor.

Cayde would have laughed at it, made some offhand remark about how he looks so heroic.

And yet, she rarely comes to see it - him. His death had been her greatest failure. And now, she stands before it with what was once Uldren Sov, now Crow, at her side.

"This is him?" He asks softly after a weighted few minutes.

She nods, "This was Cayde-6. I was with him when Uldren Sov was broken out of the Prison of Elders. He killed Cayde with his own gun," her fingers latch onto the handle of the weapon in her holster. "And I vowed to hunt him down, reclaim the Ace of Spades and avenge Cayde."

"And you succeeded."

"Yes."

He looks over at her, "Why defend me now?"

"Because you're not Uldren Sov. You may have his face, but you're not him. Not anymore." She takes a few steps forward, resting her hand on the monument, "If Cayde were here, he'd welcome you with open arms without a second thought." A small smile plays at the corner of her mouth, "He knew every Guardian by name, took pride in being the Tower's personal welcome committee." Her eyes shift over to Crow as she continues, "He always encouraged us to let our pasts go, to embrace who we are now - as Guardians. It's only fair you're granted the same opportunity." She smiles softly, lifting her eyes once more to Cayde's face, "It's what he would have wanted."

Crow follows her gaze upwards, the face of the Hunter Vanguard gazing off to the horizon - to the Traveler, "I won't let you down."

"I know you won't."

--------------------------

 @halo-2 @reaped-winnower

[poorlytunedukulele]

Prompt 8 - Trespasser

October 08, 2841; near Old Cairo, Egypt, Earth

How funny it was that such important events could happen on such ordinary days.

Andal and Cayde were after Filchis, a Kings Captain.  There was a decent bounty on her head.  Normally, low-raking Captains were below the Vanguard's notice- but this one had managed to actually kill a few Guardians.  Her head was already on a pike, as far as the brass was concerned.

Andal and Cayde headed to the lair where Filchis was supposedly working- cautious, because Filchis had killed two Guardians, but not too cautious, because... well, Filchis was a Captain and Cayde and Andal were Cayde and Andal.

They arrived at the hideout to find it in disarray.  Doors wide open, broken Shanks scattered all around.

"Turf war?" Cayde guessed hopefully.  Perhaps a rival Fallen had already killed Filchis and this would be an easy bounty to collect.

But there were no Fallen in the hideout, neither Filchis's crew nor her rivals'.  There were plenty of dead bodies, but as Sundance glumly reported, Filchis wasn't among them.

Exactly why wasn't evident until they stumbled upon him.

It was a control room of sorts.  More of a control alcove.  A control breakfast nook.  There were no doors that could be closed (a poor planning decision in Andal's opinion- just anyone could walk up and start messing with things).  A few terminals had been haphazardly shoved into the corners.  At one of them, with their back turned to the hallway, was an upright figure in a House of Kings cloak.  Andal almost drew his weapon before the person let out a frustrated sigh and tapped at one of the screens with a five-fingered hand.  They were human- and apparently the cause of the abundance of Fallen corpses around.

Andal kept himself from drawing, but he must have made a noise of surprise.  The person turned.  The brief glimpse of an Exo face (black, with red highlights and cerulean eyes) was all Andal needed to confirm that they weren't a threat.  Too late he saw the gun in the stranger's hand.  The Exo automatically aimed and let out a spread. 

Andal dodged.  Two of the bullets missed him, but one ricocheted off of his chestplate and a sting told him the other had penetrated the weaker armor between his shoulder and his neck.  There was a beat of silence as all of the Guardians froze- the stranger's gun rigid and still, no longer tracking Andal's motion- Cayde taken by surprise, Andal with his hand at his hip.

The echo of the gunshot reverberated.  There was a heartbeat of stillness as everyone sized each other up, waiting to see what the others would do-

Then Cayde straightened, crossing his arms.  "Four-burst?" he said skeptically.  "Really?  Excessive."

"Got you, didn't it?" the trespasser replied in a raspy baritone.  The spell was broken- Andal let his hand drift away from his cannon and the trespasser holstered his gun in turn.

It finally seemed to occur to the stranger that shooting someone was something you should apologize for.  "Sorry," he said, businesslike.  He still turned back to the terminal he was working on.

"We're looking for a Captain by the name of Filchis," Cayde said, taking the lead.  "Haven't seen her around, have ya?"

"Filchis?" the other Exo replied, optics flicking from the terminal to Cayde's face, then back.  "She's not here.  I waited 'till she was gone before I broke in.  I'm not after her."

"Bigger fish to fry?" Andal guessed.

The Exo's expression darkened.  "Vokril," he muttered.

"King Baron," Sundance said in recognition.  "Got a hefty bounty on his head."

The trespasser didn't immediately reply, still lost in his data.

"You're not after the bounty," Andal reasoned. 

"It's... personal," was all the other Hunter said.

Andal took a critical look at the Fallen corpses on the floor and came to a conclusion.  "Well, you know, I certainly wouldn't object to some more help on this hunt.  Especially not from someone as skilled in... infiltration as you."  Infiltration seemed a good word to describe the havoc the Exo has wrought here.  "And hey, we'd be willing to split the bounty.  If you're willing to split the one on Vokril for our help with him."

Cayde interjected.  "Not like you were gonna pick it up anyway, right?"

The trespasser just frowned at them for a moment before an orange Ghost appeared and bonked him on the head in chastisement.  "You help them kill one Captain, then they help you kill Vokril and you'll get paid for it," the Ghost said.  

"Alright," the trespasser said, sounding resigned.  "You're the boss."

"Good man," Andal said, stepping forward to shake the stranger's hand.  "I'm Andal Brask.  This is my packmate, Cayde-6."

The Exo nodded at Andal's words and took his hand.  "Shiro-4."

AO3 Linky!

[lxghtbound]

@unlikelyandco asked:

⛓️ Scout + Neith

He definitely shouldn’t have taken the fight alone. It was three against one - a Hunter and two Titans - and there wasn’t much his Golden Gun could do in the face of a tether and two behemoths.

Scout had ended up beneath some debris from a building that had crashed down when one of the Titans slammed into it, one leg trapped, his other leg lost somewhere beneath the rubble. Stasis shards lined his chest, one pinned through the middle of his hand too, shoved into the ground like a stake. The pain wasn’t even the worst part: he stared helplessly at a patch they had torn off of his cloak. Cayde’s patch.

Sobs shook his chassis. He couldn’t lose that, he’d never forgive himself if he did. At least if he managed to reach it, he could keep it safe and sew it back onto his cloak later when he was back home. Fuck, he hoped Neith was safe; her Solar blazed even brighter than his own, so he was sure that she‘d be able to hold her own against the Titans.

Throwing the Hunter in there too? Neith wasn’t invincible, and unless she got their Ghosts, Scout was sure they would just chase after her and decide to finish them both after all. He hated being helpless, hated the feeling of being absolutely useless and weak. Recently he’d been far less ruthless too, unwilling to kill as often and seemingly completely unwilling to kill Ghosts. Would he end up dying for that? Trying to be kind, only for his previous mistakes to bite him in the ass and end with him being thrown to the wolves? It sure as hell seemed like it.

Every decision he made, he fucked it up.

He reached forward, attempting desperately to grab the material, but he couldn’t. What would Cayde think of him now? Or his pack? Scout hoped desperately that the fireteam wasn’t after his whole pack. They’d stand a better chance fighting together, but he didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of him. Hell, enough people had already been hurt or killed because of him.

It felt like hours later when he finally woke up again, a figure in his vision, and despite his best efforts, he cowered from them. Scout ducked his head, antennae lowering as he did so, hoping beyond hope that they’d think he was dead. He didn’t even seem to realise it was Neith, here to help.

[imagining-sio]

GUARDIAN AND KIDS HEADCANONS

- Shaxx is hilariously bad with children, he tries, he really does, but they dont mix. Saint-14 and Zavala gave everybody standards and he can’t compete.

- Saint-14 gives the best hugs. Like, just the most perfect kind of hug. They are just so warm and inviting and for his size he doesn’t give a bone crushing hug. Doesn’t matter what age you are. Even guardians ask for hugs.

- Kids often misktake him for Shaxx upon first appearance, but he is not offended and will joke that he is Shaxx.

- Zavala doesn’t hug, unless its a small child who runs up and clings to his leg before looking up at him. Gets him everytime.

- He’ll just lift them up in his arm and they’ll hug him. He’ll answer their questions for him before they ask to be let down and they say bye.

- Amanda was known for doing that when she was young. She will usually tell children that come through the Tower that Zavala gives hugs if you hug his leg.

- This happened daily when the guardians were relocated to the Farm due to the Red War. Even while he was in a meeting, a kid would run up and grab his leg, he would look down, pick the kid up, and continue without so much as blinking. The child will usually pat his armor when they were ready to be let down.

- Ikora knows Amanda is behind all the kids running up and huggin Zavala. She tells Amanda the how Zavala always smiles and talks to the children.

- Ikora is okay with kids, but great with teenagers. She just gets it. Know one knows how, but she does. Doesn’t matter, any teenager just adores Ikora if they were on the Farm together.

- Cayde.

- Oh boy, Cayde. He claims that he hates kids, that they dont mix.

- LIES

- He’s great with kids, contrary to popular belief. Probably because of all the times he went out with Shiro and Andal in the City kids would often pull on their cloaks. Or if a street kid would try and steal from them they would just pick them up and let them eat, paying for their meal.

- The action got a lot of street kids really happy to see them whe they’d come around. Some even started to work at the shops they were known to eat at.

- The three unintentionally would change these kids llives.

- The kids would grow up and raise their own, and they would spread stories about the current hunter vanguard and his friends. So when Cayde comes by the city for a ramen stop, he still stops by the same places the kids now own and work at.

- These Ramen shop owners almost exclusively employ at risk kids in the neighborhood, continuing the tradition that was held with the hunters.

- The Farm was something else entirely.

- Poor exo was just surrounded by kids all the time, and he loved to entertain them. Anything from doing reports really. His favorite thing was just kids who would hide under his cape.

- He will play hide and seek with eight year olds, he gives them tips. He calls it his crucible. This made Shaxx jealous.