I apologize for the wait. Finals week.

Gluttony the Voidwalker Part II

Toland let a deep sigh upon wakening. A good night's sleep, free of whispering voices and hellish nightmares, was a rarity for him. After the last six months, the last three years really did seem like a dream. He stretched his arms out across the bed, only registering after a few seconds that something was missing.

The sound of running water shutting off for his attention. Vell was leaning against the restroom door frame, wiping his face down with a towel, "And you complain about my snoring."

Toland shook his head, "Have you been awake long?"

"Yeah." Vell started rummaging around for a shirt, "Someone had to keep awake and make sure you didn't suffocate." He found one and threw it into Toland's face, "Get dressed. We're heading out."

"Why, may I ask?"

"I thought we should all spend the day together. We leave tomorrow, remember?"

"Yeah." Toland sighed, "I remember. Where's Eris?"

"You can't hear? She's in the kitchen."

As if on cue, a Ghost appeared in front of the door. Cole, if Toland remembered correctly. "Eris is waiting for you guys. She'd like you to hurry but at least be decent and not smell like…well…each other." The Ghost finished almost sheepishly.

"You could've left that last part out, Cole!" Eris' voice rang out from the kitchen. Toland turned a bright purple and and quickly started to get dressed. Vell fell down into the chair, laughing uproariously. Cole disappeared from the room but it's voice could still be heard, defending itself.

Breakfast between the three was as it had always been before Toland's exile. Vell telling the worst jokes he could think of. Eris and Toland laughing at them anyway with their neighbors probably wondering who had the nerve to be making so much noise this early in the morning.

They did just as Vell planned; going around the City, talking with old friends, blowing whatever money they had. They left the Tower early morning and didn't return till the sun started going down. They wouldn't be back for sometime. They might not be coming back ever.

It almost worried Toland how good things seemed. He couldn't help but feel that with all these undeserved blessings, that it would all be ripped away from him. That Vell and Eris would be taken from him. Even Eriana and Ikora seemed to be warming up to him again. The Speaker, Zavala and Andal were hesitant but Toland meant it when he said he wanted to come home. He would've liked to visit his Ghost's resting place on Mars but the Cabal have probably already overturned it. Maybe after…

"Oi!" He felt a knock on the side of his head, "You're doing that over thinking shit again. I thought we were taking it easy?" Vell grumbled. The three had relocated to the emptying Plaza, watching the City from one of roofs.

Toland leaned back, smiling, "Us Warlocks are far too uptight for trivial things such as…relaxing." He said in mock contempt. "No, we like leave having fun and enjoying life to the lesser minds." Vell began laughing and handed Toland the bottle he was drinking from.

Eris snatched it up first, "Of course you do! Traipsing around like you're anything special in your…"she paused to take a drink, "Dresses." She finished.

"Armor!" Toland corrected defensively, "Robes at the very least!"

"She's just trying to rile you up, Toland." Vell chuckled, wrapping an arm around his neck and pulling him closer.

"I'm not really trying at this point." she smirked as Toland snatched the bottle from her hand and took a swig and grimaced, "What is this swill? Cabal piss?"

"Well, that's rude." Vell took the bottle away, "Eris picked this one out all by herself." He took another drink and handed it to her.

"Yeah and I worked really hard on it too."

"Just like you worked really hard on that plan to become a Fallen Kell, right?"

"What plan? I don't know what you're talking about." She said quickly, her grayish blue skin turning pink with embarrassment.

"Don't tell me you don't remember!" Toland laughed. He grabbed and held up Eris' discarded jacket, "Here's my plan to become a Fallen Kell." He recited in a mockery of her voice, "Fallen seem to respect violence and big capes. I'm incredibly violent and I just found this cape!"

Vell's dark face was turning dark purple as he gasped for air. He was past the point of laughter.

"I was drunk when I said that!" Eris grabbed her jacket back. Toland laughed for a little while longer before calming down.

Nothing was said for a few minutes until Eris broke the silence, "I can't believe you still remember that."

"Why not? Is there a problem? Toland questioned, sitting up.

"No, it was just a while ago. It was the last time we were all together before you left. I mean…were exiled."

He leaned back again, a sad look crossed his face, "No, you were right the first time. I walked away from you."

"The Speaker kicked you out." Vell reminded sternly.

"Yeah, well he wouldn't have if he didn't have a reason." The whispers in his mind grew slightly louder at just the mention of his old work, "My actions put everyone here in danger. Even after I was warned to cease, I didn't."

"Besides." Toland continued, "We've seen first hand what that kind of power does to people. But sometimes, when I think of Dredgen Yor and everything he did, I wonder…am I any different?"

"You are nothing like that…" Vell shook his head angrily, "3 Guardians and all…all those people. How can anyone do something like that? I don't understand."

"I don't care to understand. All those random disasters and murders and he was responsible all this time…" Eris sighed, "If only we had found out earlier…I'm glad Shin took care of that bastard."

"No one has seen him since though. He disappeared with Ward's old gun and Ghost. I haven't heard much but the Speaker declared him a Hunter before he left."

"I understand the gun but why his Ghost?"

"This is just speculation…" Toland started, "But I don't think it's Ward's Ghost anymore."

"Can Ghost transfer Guardians like that?" Eris asked.

"Looks like."

She let out a tired breath, "Nothing about this makes sense." She gave a low laugh, "Then again, whatever did."

All were quiet for sometime until Vell broke the silence, "Toland. You really don't hate me?" His words slurred slightly.

"Hmm?"

"For…"he swallowed, "For what happened to Adrian."

"How could I hate you for something you had no choice in?" Toland reminded him softly, "If I'm…disappointed, I guess, at anything, it's the fact that you haven't told his children."

"They deserve to know, Vell." Eris said softly.

Vell didn't respond at first but after a few minutes, he nodded his head, "You're right. You're both right. I need to tell them. But I don't know if I'm ready."

Eris smiled, "I'm glad you came around. But it's a bit late to tell them tonight."

Toland had lost track of time. The Tower Plaza was almost completely empty, "When we come back then?" Toland offered, "There's no guarantee that we'll all come back."

Vell frowned, "Toland…"

"I am just being realistic." He defended, "There's no guarantee we'll all come back. So whichever one of us does return must promise to tell them. Here and now."

"That's fine." Eris quickly said, "I've been part way on whether or not I should tell them myself."

"Vell?" The man continued staring at the skyline, lost in thought. Toland repeated his name. Vell gave a resigned sigh, "Alright. Ok. I promise."

The sun was gone but it never really mattered. A strange sound ripped his attention away from the shining City. Eris had fallen asleep on them. The day was over.

"She's out." Toland laughed softly, "We better head back. Grab her."

"Why me?" He complained as he proceeded to hoist her up onto his back.

"You're the strongman, last I checked." Toland shrugged, "Besides, you're getting a bit thick on me. You could use the exercise." He patted his stomach and jerked back when Vell tried to reach for him.

"Whatever. Let's get her back to her room."

"Actually, I think it would be better if she stayed with us for the night."

Vell paused, "You mean on the couch?"

Toland chuckled, "We can share the bed. I doubt she'd want to spend the night alone."

"Alright then. If you say so."

"Just put her on the bed. Get her shoes off first." Toland said once they got back to the room.

"Yes sir." Vell did as he was told and divested himself of his shirt and shoes before roughly dropping onto the bed. Eris didn't even stir. Toland was a bit quieter.

"You say you don't really see me any differently after what I told you." Vell groaned sleepily, "But for sometime, I saw you differently after your exile. I actually hated you for putting us through all of that. But here I am, inflicting the same pain on my own family. I guess I'm just as bad as you. A match made in hell."

"We've all done things we wish we hadn't. At least what you did was for a good reason."

"I still wish I hadn't. But despite everything, these last few months have been the best I've ever had." Vell laughed tiredly and wrapped an arm around Toland's chest, "No matter how things go tomorrow, I'm really glad you said yes to this god forsaken mission. I'd probably never get to see you again otherwise."

"As crazy as it sounds, so am I."

"I…" Vell tried to speak before his eyes closed and his breathing became deep and even. He always had the hardest time staying awake.

Toland closed his own eyes with a smile, "I know. I love you too."

Toland, Vell and Eris are such cinnamon rolls.

I hope nothing, you know, bad happens to them…