Rorick got what he wanted.
Cayde left the Vanguard meeting after a lengthy discussion with Zavala about fireteam Cerulean's right to follow their mission through to the end. Afterall, they did all the work and they also had their little ace in the hole with Wren. Cayde was confident that they could pull through.
When they stepped out into the Courtyard Cayde put his fists to his lower back and stretched, his cloak whipping back toward the stairs. Overhead storm clouds had thickened, blocking out the midafternoon sun. Wind had picked up and the poor tree in front of Banshee's shop was losing more leaves than it was keeping, the crimson leaves scattering across the Tower.
"I'll get my team ready and leave immediately," Rorick said.
"Yeah, you do that," Cayde said. "Ya know what, on second thought, I'll tell Peacock myself. I have some loot to discuss anyway."
Rorick shook his head at Cayde. "Tell her we'll be leaving in an hour."
"Will do. Any idea where she'll be?"
"The twins have a place they were going to show her out on the wall. An abandoned building on the north east side."
"Gotcha," Cayde said, starting off toward the stairs that led down to the wall. Rain began to patter against the side of the Tower as he descended and made his way toward the abandoned building. He already knew where it was. An abandoned Hunter den, half destroyed a long time ago. Funny that would be the place the twins would give her, away from civilization, away from the bustle and lights of the City to overlook it as an outsider. They understood the needs of a Hunter more than he thought and it made him smile to know the kid was making friends at least.
He heard the music before he got to the stairs leading down to the crumbling building. The sky had darkened and the wind roared over the wall as rain drenched him. From the top of the stairs he could see glimpses of her, flashes of white against the darkness of the old den. A pale light glowed from within but it was nothing compared to the lightning that lit up the underside of clouds.
He crept down the stairs and looked in on her. She danced around the building in a white dress that was soaked and clinging to every curve of her body. Her movements were unsure at times but she danced with the grace only an Awoken can, her bare feet slamming into the wet tiles of the floor with passion matching the voice that came from the speaker that looked all too familiar. His eyes brightened as he watched her, black hair plastered to her face, then creating a halo of water around her as she spun and a light feeling welled up in his chest.
She was in the moment, lost in the strange music that was also somehow familiar, like he'd heard it from some dream long forgotten but itching the back of his brain. It was obvious how wrong he'd been about her to begin with. She might seem a tiny, delicate thing, but there was a fire in her, a hunger he'd missed.
The song wound down and she stopped, panting, eyes closed and lips parted, rain running down her face. She opened her arms to the storm, and he took another step closer, his boots crunching on crushed tiles.
Wren swung around with a startled look, then a flush raced through her cheeks as she rushed to the shelter of the back of the building where the work bench was to turn the music down.
"What is that?" Cayde asked.
"Um, just a weird old music player Franz and Beorn gave me."
"The twins sure are into giving gifts today," he said, picking up the little metal box and carefully inspecting it so none of the wires would come loose. "Did they give you that too?" he asked, motioning to the speaker.
Kiran's shell spun and he glanced between Cayde and Wren.
"No… that was…. I found it."
Cayde laughed. "Yeah, I'm sure." He couldn't help his gaze from drifting down for a moment.
"Please don't tell Zavala."
"I dunno," he said, grabbing a wrench off the work bench and tapping it against his palm. "Those speakers are pretty important.
"Cayde," Wren said and he glanced at her, those big blue eyes begging.
"I might be convinced if you…"
"What?" Now she looked skeptical.
"If you help me sneak out and find that treasure on that map I found."
"And you won't tell Zavala?"
"Not a peep."
She mulled over it and crossed her arms. "I want some of the loot."
"What? Are you kidding?"
"Nope. Helping you sneak out will be a good trade for the speaker, but helping you find the cache? That's extra work."
Cayde took a step closer and pointed the wrench at her. "Now listen here you little thief," he smirked. "Why do you have to be so good at this?"
"Cuz you're aa pushover," she laughed.
He feigned hurt. "What? Me? Never. You're just my favorite Hunter is all."
Her eyes widened a little and he felt he might have said something wrong so he cleared his throat and moved on. "Zavala decided to give Cerulean the go ahead to enter the Black Garden."
"Good. We deserve to go."
"Yeah, you know… it's going to be dangerous."
"Isn't that the name of the game?" she asked, hopping up onto her stool. Goosebumps covered her exposed skin and she shivered a little but overall seemed more interested in getting her work area organized again.
"Of course," he said and she took the wrench from him and put it away. "I just meant that… you know, you should, you all should be careful. All of you. Collectively."
Wren's movements slowed and her attention drifted. "Yeah."
Kiran nudged her elbow and Cayde got the feeling he was trying to coax Wren into saying something but she shook her head and the Ghost gave up. Cayde didn't know how to ask what had prompted the change, so he kept his mouth shut.
"You know that this is a big deal," he said.
"Yes."
"And with mission like these, not everyone comes home."
Wren stiffened, then went back to sorting her things, jaw clenched. "I can do this."
"I know you can, I didn't mean it like that just… never mind. Rorick wants you to meet them in the Courtyard in a half an hour."
"I'll be there."
"Yeah." Cayde took a step backward. Why couldn't he tell her to be careful? That he wanted her to make sure she came home? He opened his mouth but the words didn't come so her turned on his heel and walked away. Halfway up the stairs the music stopped entirely and the lights went out behind him. By the time he reached the top of the stairs he could hear her footsteps behind him and he stopped to wait for her.
She didn't say a word as he walked beside her. The wind pushed her into his side and he took his cloak up in one arm to shield her from the rain.
"If you're not careful you'll blow right off the wall." He laughed, surprised that she walked a little closer to him, let him try to keep the rain off her.
"I can always push you off," she said, glancing up at him with a mischievous smirk.
"You'd do that to me? Your favorite Hunter Vanguard?"
"You're my only Vanguard."
"So I am your favorite?"
Wren laughed and shook her head, then took off running up the last few steps and into the Courtyard. Cayde stopped to watch her as she joined with Beorn and Franz who were equally as drenched. He could hear them joking and talking and wished he could walk right on over and join them.
She took one last look back at him and gave a little wave before walking through the doors to the Guardian's living quarters. He stood in the rain and looked over the City then up to the Traveler.
"Keep that little idiot safe," he whispered.