Story Overview:
Relationships:
Female Sangheili/Male Human, Original Characters
Tags:
Alien/Human Relationships, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Action/Adventure, Size Difference, Swearing, Humor, Worldbuilding, Alien Culture, Alien Biology
Opening Notes:
A concept that began as a random thought bubble, which turned into a writing exercise meant to alleviate some of the burnout that I was facing with my main story, which turned into the story that you now see before you. This is my first official crack at writing within the Halo universe, which holds a very special place in my heart.
My current plan is to alternate between this story and my main story (both stories are on AO3 if you'd rather view them there).
Updates:
(05/24/22) — Chapter-III Released
Halo: Sands of Time
I: A Line Drawn
Time seemed to flow differently while on Carrow, or Rakoi as the Sangheili liked to call it. Not in a sense that one could pull back its arms in an effort to undo the past, as both sides were stuck with what had transpired, but rather that one was now able to get a few precious moments to themselves, short as they may be. However, only a fool would assume that the problems of old would simply vanish or not foster new ones once the twenty-eight-year war had ended.
Twenty-three billion was a hard number to wrap one's head around, especially once that same person stepped foot onto this desert world. However, maybe that number seemed small when one considered the individual grains of sand that covered Carrow's surface, or better yet the untold number that would have resulted if the Covenant would have reached their final destination. Regardless, twenty-three billion was a lot of body bags and harbored resentment.
While still in its relative infancy, the recolonized planet that once sat on the outer reaches of human-controlled space hadn't yet fallen to ruin as a result of the events unfolding after the Human-Covenant war. There was animosity and hesitation coming from both sides, especially considering that some of the human refugees were forced to relocate after discovering that the Astlehich river had already been occupied by alien forces.
Humanity chose to reclaim the city of Suraka as their centralized hub, whereas the Sangheili dedicated their city of Rak to the once-abandoned human settlement. And while the Uldt desert was situated between the major hubs, trade routes soon formed and additional settlements sprouted from the shifting sands.
One such establishment was Sandholm, which laid directly south of Rak and across the Sangheili controlled Masov Oasis. While much closer to Rak than Suraka, nearly seventy kilometers of sand still separated Sandholm from the Sangheili city, so some humans took it upon themselves to attempt to establish trading outposts even closer to the Astlehich river.
Elias Summers was one such human.
The war had not been kind on his family's lineage, with most inhabiting Earth during the time of the Covenant attacks. However, it was not worth bringing up such wounds, as human and Sangheili settlers alike had chosen to uproot themselves in the hopes of starting over, if that was even still possible.
Thankfully, the past six months had not resulted in further bloodshed. But given the fact that their Addax Outpost now lied on the opposite riverbank of a quickly forming Sangheili keep, Elias worried that his family would soon be driven back across the Masov Oasis and towards less fertile grounds.
He was told that the keep's elder was regretful of the events of the war and ultimately sought peace with his human neighbors, but the war had taught him that the Sangheili were cunning and known to backstab their allies should the opportunity arise. Funny enough, humanity was no different in this regard, and one only needed to look at what was occurring back on Sanghelios to understand that the two species were cut from the same cloth.
Divide and conquer was the name of the game—old habits die hard after all.
As for Carrow, the tension in the air was palpable, with both sides still licking their wounds and coming to grips with the atrocities of the past. Each wanted to move on but was unsure about what that phrase meant to the other side. Hopefully, the dealings made tonight would plant the seed for many prosperous years to come. However, after what Elias had seen over the past decade, nothing was certain and it was better to just take things one day at a time.
"He's late."
"Patience John, he'll show. His honor requires it."
Both men stood under the heavy gaze of Kiriken, Carrow's only moon, which reflected its silver-green light across the planet's fissured surface. Voids of frigid sand separated them from the river that had come to stand as its own barrier between the races. Behind it stood the reinforced walls of the Sangheili keep, which was still in the process of being built within the local rock formations.
"And when it doesn't, what then? The land that you've selected for us is some of the best we've seen on the planet so far, but what's stopping them from steamrolling us once we've outlived our usefulness? Besides, words are meaningless, especially when they come out of a hinge-head's maw."
"You'll refer to him by his proper title as we've discussed earlier or you'll wait back at the outpost with the others. Names carry a great deal of weight to them and should not be trampled on unless you mean to draw blood," Elias chastised.
The other man sighed and shifted the assault rifle in his hands. "Absolutely not, I made Vivian a promise to watch your back the best that I can. And while you may have displaced us to the outer bounds of controlled space, your plans have managed to keep us alive so far. It's just…we're behind enemy lines again, yet this time with no backup."
"They aren't the enemy anymore, John, they're our allies. You need to learn to move past the war."
"I'll move past it when I'm damn well ready to. For now, I want my Lucilia back, and I'm sure that your heart still aches for Vivian and your lost son. As far as I'm concerned, a good Elite is a dead Elite. Furthermore, ally does not equate to a friend, I'd expect you of all people to understand the difference."
"You believe them to be undeserving of a chance?" Elias questioned.
"I…don't yet know how to rightfully answer that question. However, what I do know is that I've painted enough silhouettes with a sniper rifle to gauge how much a face-to-face confrontation would hurt. These Elites aren't pushovers and that's what terrifies me. And from the stories you've told me, I'm afraid to see what—"
Flashes of light suddenly cut through the darkness on the opposite end of the river and the cold air stirred once again.
"Hush John, their ships are airborne. Get the Hog fired up, it would appear that our evening plans have been altered."
The other man nodded his head, jumped back into the Warthog that was parked next to them on a dune, and started its hydrogen-injected engine. Elias jumped into the passenger seat after stowing his own rifle, then looked to the other human.
"Floor it. They'll be expecting us to be in the courtyard upon arrival."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I know the Sangheili."
"What did I tell you, Elias? An Elite's word is utterly worthless," John scoffed.
"No. He'll have a good reason for moving our meeting location, I'm sure of it. We'll just have to beat him there."
"Just like old times?" John smirked.
"Just like old times," Elias nodded.
The other man let his foot hit the floor and the pair sped off towards the Addax Outpost, which was only a short distance away from their current location. They soon crested the far dune with the moon at their backs, the persistent whine of impulse and gravity propulsion drives grew stronger with each passing second. Elias looked back and confirmed the pair of Banshees leading the convoy, a troop carrier followed closely behind and was no doubt carrying the high-ranking Sangheili and his guards. If he knew the Sangheili as well as he thought he did, the alien would have preferred to come alone, but such was the times that they lived in.
Their Warthog continued to push through the heavy sands and local flora. John then pulled the e-brake to align them in the direction of a group of tall spires and cliff faces, which were illuminated by the moon and a pair of beacons. The red walls had eroded throughout the passage of time and the constant fluctuation of heat on the surface. Naturally, the frontier required a survivalist's touch. They had suffered a great many times over the past few months. However, he hoped that the hardest of days would soon be behind them and they could reap what they had been so desperately trying to sow during that time.
"I'm flipping on the floodlights. There's no sense hiding our position from them," Elias stated.
"You think he'll inquire?"
"I'm sure of it."
Elias then switched on the lights and once again looked back, spotting the pair of Banshees as they skimmed overhead and began to circle the human outpost buried behind the rocks, their purple streams cutting through the crisp evening air. Moments later, the humans were encased on both sides by the red cliffs, obscuring Kiriken briefly before the Warthog was spat out into a large central courtyard. The Phantom then moved into position high above their heads. It was big enough that their landing spot had to be selective but small enough to still allow for an eventual safe touchdown.
The two Banshees performed several additional passes before they broke off and touched down on the tops of nearby rock formations. The humans were boxed in and officially caught off guard—this was a losing battle waiting to happen. Regardless, the Warthog soon found refuge next to the main building in the compound, and the engine was quickly shut off.
"Elias, what the hell is happening?!" A voice called out from a nearby rooftop.
"Stand down, Colts. There's been a change of plans and under no circumstances are you to shoot at our Sangheili guests!" Elias shouted back.
Both he and John exited the vehicle, the latter then made a move for his weapon but was quickly intercepted by an iron grip on his wrist.
"Inform the others and then stand watch from above. Also, have Sonia prepare refreshments and make sure that all weapon caches are out of sight. I want them to feel at ease in our home should they eventually choose to enter it."
"And leave you out here to fend for yourself? Not happening Elias, I made—"
"Remember the last time that we were separated? Well, he still owes me his life, and the Sangheili tend to have very long memories."
John shook himself from the other man's grasp and glanced down at the stowed weapon.
"Damn it, Elias, sooner or later you're going to learn that that cuts both ways. Fine, I've seen enough kill boxes in my time to know that we're fucked should I get a little trigger happy around everyone's favorite lizards. I'll go inform the others, but give the signal should negotiations fall apart." John then moved to put a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Watch yourself out there, the howling abyss waits for no one."
"Feet first into hell."
Elias then pivoted on his heels and carried himself further into the courtyard, eventually coming to stand before a set of bay doors, which began to lower and a row of armored Elites soon filed out, each appearing larger than the last.
The saurian race valued strength and honor, with family history and lineage equally as important. Being a militaristic meritocracy, those holding the highest seats of power came to be revered through proving their worth in countless battles. They were feared by any who chose to face them over open ground.
Heavy footfalls began to make their way down the ramp and then moved towards his position.
And for good reason, since some had likely slaughtered thousands to earn their illustrious titles. However, for whatever reason, there seemed to be a common trait existing between these kinds of Elites.
The footfalls continued to get louder, eventually stopping a short distance in front of the human.
Elias Summers tilted his head skyward to meet a pair of reptilian eyes shining through the darkness. The average Sangheili stood somewhere between 220 and 260 centimeters, but much like any other species, outliers tended to crop up from time to time.
"Good evening, gunnery sergeant. The cold night's stars grace us with their presence." The massive Sangheili then placed an armored fist against his plated harness, its golden finish matching the desert sands beneath them.
"And watch over us until the warm day breaks once again." Elias then mirrored the alien's gesture. "But until that time comes, their stewards also stand watch. What is claimed as mine shall also be yours."
The human and Sangheili then bowed their heads in unison.
"You have my sincerest apologies; the delay was unintentional and I will explain my rationale for moving our meeting to your outpost shortly," the Sangheili began, adopting a more relaxed posture yet still making the human feel like a child as a result of the sheer difference in scale.
"It's alright, Xytan 'Rotam. We double backed in the Warthog once your Phantom took to the sky. I had a hunch that you'd want to meet here anyways," the human replied truthfully.
"Hmm. Surveying our defenses from afar as well, I'm sure." Xytan made his way towards the parked Warthog, which looked more like a toy once he stood next to it. "You were quick to pick up on the habit patterns of my fellow brothers, so why should I be any different? Yet…you weren't without your own habits." He then ran a large hand across the shield of the Warthog's rear chain gun.
"I suspect that this is the one?"
The gunnery sergeant ran a hand across the back of his neck. "The very same one. I'd offer to give you a ride in it for old times' sake, but then I'd probably have to replace the suspension…again."
Xytan took his hand off of the shield and turned to stare daggers at the smaller human. But any apparent hostility soon gave way to thunderous laughter as the mask slipped clean off and his jovial personality shone through.
"You humans always built things better suited for younglings. Was hoping that you'd have grown since we last spoke, but you appear to have only shrunk with time." The mandibles shifted into a Sangheili's version of a smile.
"I believe that it might actually be the other way around. If the war was still hot, I'd wager that they'd have to outfit you with a specialized drop pod."
"Hmpf. They were always coffins to begin with." Xytan looked back to the chain gun. "I always hated riding in your vehicles because of the scale. They were also too slow, unrefined, uncomfortable, but…certain aspects did catch my eye."
"Getting sentimental in your old age, general? I thought that personal weapons weren't anything more than the tools of war."
The Elite gave another huff before turning back to the human.
"Enough of the past, I now wish to discuss the—"
"Ethan, get back here this instant!"
"Father!"
Both parties turned to find an adolescent boy exit the central enclosure and make his way towards the other human, throwing his arms around his father once the man knelt to his level. With their hug out of the way, Elias grabbed onto both sides of the child's arms in order to hold him in place.
"I told you to stay inside until I returned. The matter that the adults wish to discuss is very important and could very well bring an end to our hardships."
"I know that father, but the Elites are everywhere. I don't want the same thing to happen to you that happened to—"
"Enough boy, times have changed. The Sangheili that stand in this courtyard are our guests and have names much in the same manner that you do," Elias corrected his son and then looked up to Xytan, who was silently observing them in the distance. "You have my sincerest apologies general; the boy knows not what he says."
"Yet still the youngling's words cut straight to the heart of the matter; the boy is wiser than he knows," Xytan countered. The Sangheili slowly made his way towards the humans. Each armored footfall shook the earth and echoed across the courtyard until he came to kneel before the boy, who failed to acknowledge the alien's presence and instead sought comfort in his father's embrace. "I mean you no harm youngling, but your father is correct and names are very important to my people. Would you mind telling me yours?"
The boy's father lifted him back to his feet and spun him around to face the Sangheili, which still managed to tower over the child despite his hunched posture.
"Please answer his question," Elias pleaded to his son.
"I'm…Ethan, my name is Ethan Summers," the boy finally replied. His response earned him a smile from the behemoth that stood before him.
"Hello Ethan Summers, my name is Xytan 'Rotam. And believe it or not, your father and I once served on the frontlines together. We were allies both striving towards the same goal and despite overwhelming odds against the Covenant and the Flood, we were successful in the end. We sowed the seeds for your family's future as well as mine."
The reptilian eyes then shifted up to meet Elias'.
"Your eldest I presume?"
The human nodded, causing the alien to break out into an even wider smile as he pushed himself back up to his full stature. The Sangheili then barked an order in his native language and shifted his attention towards the Phantom. A pair of guards soon made their way back into the dropship.
"Despite Rojka 'Kasaan's reservations about human involvement on Rakoi, he remains sympathetic to your cause and the joint agreement between the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios still holds strong. Regardless, final say in the matter has been passed down to me, given that you've insightfully chosen to move into already claimed territory, our territory."
"I understand, Xytan. Our wish is to establish trade routes between your keep and Sandholm. There are many humans down south and out east wishing to bolster each of our races through trade, and Addax may very well become the key to all of that. However, we're also looking for a place to settle down and call home. With that in mind, I can understand if you wish for us to retreat beyond the Masov Oasis once more," Elias finished.
The large Sangheili had yet to take his gaze off of the alien dropship.
"You've given me your honest proposal and I'd be willing to hear it in further detail later. However, our peoples' future depends on what we do in the present and the relationships that we foster each step of the way. I mentioned earlier that our previous plans had changed for a reason. With your permission, gunnery sergeant, I would like to show you why."
The alien then turned back to face the older human, waiting for his response.
"You may proceed, general," Elias answered, already sensing what Xytan had in mind. He made sure that his son was watching the Sangheili as Xytan nodded his head and transitioned himself back to the bottom of the ramp leading to the Phantom.
A final command was then issued.
The same pair of guards soon descended from the ramp, however, this time they stood on either side of a third Sangheili, which appeared much smaller yet still donned a combat harness. Once they reached the bottom, Xytan took hold of the third alien's hand and slowly guided them towards the humans.
"You have unwittingly shown me a glimpse of your family's future. As a show of good faith, let me return the favor and show you a glimpse of mine."
Xytan let go of the third Sangheili's hand. He then lowered his voice, whispering something to them in their native language, and then moved behind them in order to adopt a similar posture as Elias and his son.
"This is Xeva, she is my niece and the eldest youngling of our keep. She's become the apple in my eye as you humans would phrase it. I'm afraid that she's still in the midst of learning your language but has proven quite adept at picking up similar skills."
The female's emerald eyes shifted from the older human down to Ethan, who stood about a head shorter despite what seemed to be similar ages. One of her clawed hands then lifted into the air and remained suspended in place in front of the human boy.
"Xeva. Pleasure to meet human."
The boy hesitated to shake the dark blue appendage, instead looking up into his father's eyes for support.
"She means you no harm, Ethan. You've been given a rare opportunity here, so I'd advise against squandering it," Elias stated.
Xeva appeared to huff in annoyance but kept her four-fingered hand outstretched and emerald eyes locked on the small boy.
"I would heed the wisdom in your father's words, youngling. Few humans have ever laid eyes on a female Sangheili, fewer still have been given the opportunity to interact with one directly," Xeva's uncle rumbled from above.
Ethan turned back to look the female in the eyes and slowly stretched out his own hand, meeting the Sangheili halfway and making contact with her own. Both flinched due to the unique texture of the other, but the female recovered quicker and allowed her larger hand to collapse in on the other.
"I-It's a pleasure to meet you too, Xeva," Ethan replied, managing to crack a smile.
The Sangheili and human then completed the awkward handshake and pulled away from each other, each staring at their respected hand as though it were about to fall off. The giant alien above them seemed to purr at their successful first interaction.
"Peace may yet prosper on this desert world." Xytan shifted his attention to Elias. "Now, I wish for you to give me a tour of your outpost. I needn't know everything down to the last detail but would like to get a sense of how you intend to use the land and develop the area. If successful, I fully intend to send my people your way when the need arises."
Elias nodded, "Ethan, please return to the others and wait until my guided tour with Xytan has—"
"Nonsense, the youngling may stay and keep my own ward company. I'd rather not have her confined to the ship any longer," Xytan suggested. "Of course, they'll be under the protection of my personal guard."
"That would work too," Elias nodded a second time before turning to his son. "Ethan, is that okay with you? I'm sure that Xeva and you can find something to talk about now that you know each other's name."
"I guess that would be okay, I mean as long as it's okay with her," Ethan quickly added in the last part.
The boy observed the female Sangheili who looked equally as uncomfortable about the proposition, but seemed unable to voice her opinion on the matter and simply nodded her head as a reply.
"Excellent. I expect to hear how things went upon my return. Now, let us see this operation of yours, gunnery sergeant."
With that, Ethan's father directed the larger Sangheili towards the opposite end of the courtyard, leaving them behind amongst the remaining guards. The boy immediately shifted on his feet as he suddenly realized that he had no idea how to talk to the female outside of a simple greeting, which had already been done. Fortunately, it appeared that she was equally as lost on how to proceed.
"Uhm…would you like to sit down, Xeva? There is a wooden bench just over there that would give you a chance to rest your legs."
The female only nodded her head and set off towards the bench, forcing him to catch up with her longer strides. By the time Ethan made it to the bench, she had already chosen to sit on the very edge of one side. Clearly, he was supposed to do the same on the opposite end.
After he sat down, the air of awkwardness returned as each faced forward towards the Phantom in the middle of the courtyard. Ethan chanced a glance at the Xeva several times, eventually catching her gaze and causing both of them to whip back around in order to avoid the other's eyes. Finally unable to take the silence any longer, the human male decided to be the first one to pierce the veil.
"I'm…sorry that I make you feel uncomfortable, Xeva. You seem really nice, but I've just not had the chance to talk to many girls before." He consciously chose to leave the word 'successfully' out of the sentence.
The human then felt her burning gaze shift his way.
"Is it because female or also because Sangheili?" Her voice was somewhat higher pitch and much more musical compared to her uncle's, yet still contralto and far deeper than any human's voice that he had heard in his life.
Ethan finally gathered enough courage to look her straight in the eyes, which caused both of them to flinch again.
"I-I guess it's a bit of both. I've seen Elites up close but never this close," he admitted.
Xeva's eyes narrowed at the confession. "Dirty word. Sangheili, not Elites. Human would not like if called nishum instead."
"Oh! Apologies, Xeva, I've grown up around that word and it seemed less confusing up until now. Also, 'nishum,' what does that word mean?"
The Sangheili's gaze softened and her mandibles shifted into a small smile—she knew a word that he didn't. "Means worm and used as insult, like Elite."
Ethan failed to hide his confusion. "How is 'Elite' an insult though? The Sangheili always were the ones in charge and the word superior could be used instead. Also, I really look like a local kali'thra?" He pushed his arms out in front of them in order to acknowledge his honey skin, baked as a result of countless hours spent in the sunlight.
The female beside him suddenly began to make sharp staccato noises that almost sounded like some kind of exotic bird. He soon realized that this was how she laughed. The girl next to him was currently laughing. Of course, it was also being directed his way like it had been so many times before.
"Much too small and soft for kali'thra. More like little…" The Sangheili's mandibles twitched as if their owner was unable to find the right word. "Parakeet? No…parasite," Xeva confirmed as a smile once again found its way onto her face. He could practically feel the smugness radiate off of her alien body.
"Hey, I'm not little! You're just big you oversized…scaled lizard," Ethan retorted, picking the first local creature to come to his mind, then crossing his arms and tightening his gaze. The female immediately matched his posture.
"Am not scaled lizard. Are Rakoi pests and cause trouble. Take back now."
"Make me."
Xeva suddenly shifted her entire body in his direction, now wearing what seemed to be a smirk on her face. She then brought up her clawed hands to bear against him. He tried to retreat from her larger frame but was left with little space to work with.
"Hey, I thought that we were supposed to stay on our side of the bench. What are you—"
Ethan immediately found himself pushed with a frightening amount of force off of his end and into the cold sand, eliciting a groan as he was left sprawled out on his back in shock.
"Ow. What was that—"
He was cut off by shouts in another language as two of the closest guards made a move on his position, seemingly convinced that he was the one who acted as the aggressor. However, another Sangheili soon blocked their path and stood directly over him. While Ethan had no idea what was being said, he could still pick out the inflection in Xeva's voice: she was absolutely pissed. Eventually, her large guard dogs stood down and fell back to their original spots, allowing him to finally sit up and brush off the torrents of sand that had now taken up residence in his hair.
The human soon found a clawed hand descend from above and park itself right in front of his face. He looked up to see that it was indeed Xeva who was currently offering him a means back to his feet. Her mandibles were spread apart in such a manner that proved unreadable to him. Regardless, the boy allowed the four-fingered hand to close around his own once more.
He was suddenly pulled with a strength that nearly tore his arm out of its socket and carried him much further than she had likely intended. He then proceeded to bash his head against the combat harness in front of him, letting loose another grunt of pain. Eventually recovering from his daze, he pulled back to find a pair of concerned eyes looking down on him.
"Human lighter than used to. Guards not allowed to touch you. Ethan is okay?"
"I…I think so." He appraised his body momentarily, shaking some additional sand from his ears in the process with his free hand. "Thank you for protecting me. Also, you're really strong for a girl!"
The Sangheili turned away in what appeared to be an attempt to hide her face from him, in spite of the helmet that covered most of it. "Spar with sisters and known for strength. Hadn't had male say so though." She then looked back to the wooden bench that they had occupied earlier. "Would Ethan like to sit and rest legs?"
"Sure Xeva, I…" Ethan trailed off as his mind finally registered his father's words in relation to the status of her uncle and the fact that her hand was still firmly latched around his own. Her surprisingly warm skin was rougher than his own but not uncomfortably so. She had apparently picked up on his distress and released him from her grasp, allowing him to add some additional space between them.
Not knowing what else to do, he bowed his head in shame.
"I'm so sorry, Xeva! I take back my earlier offenses and ask for your forgiveness."
This earned him another giggle and the taller alien reclosed the distance between them in a single stride. She then delicately brushed an unattended patch of sand out of his hair, stopping midway through the act to feel its unusual texture and causing him to look back up in surprise.
"It is okay, got back afterward, remember?" Xeva smiled at him and then quickly latched onto his hand once more. "Come Ethan, want to talk before uncle returns."
"That's a relief, but I think that I should still—Oof." While it seemed that he had finally made a positive impression on the Sangheili and her true personality was starting to shine through, she was now practically dragging him towards the bench. "It's okay really, Xeva, I can walk by my—"
"Human too indecisive." She then placed a heavy hand on each of his shoulders and directed him back into the seat. "Have questions and hope for answers." Xeva then made sure to plant herself immediately next to him, looking down at him with an even wider smile across her mandibles. She almost seemed giddy at this point.
"Okay…shoot."
Her expression suddenly morphed into one of confusion. The Sangheili looked down to the plasma pistol attached to her side and then back up to him. Confusion then transformed into what appeared to be concern.
"Shoot?"
"Nononono. It's just another way to say that I open the floor to questions."
"You wish to dig hole in ground and then I ask questions?" The Sangheili was now more concerned than ever. "Maybe humans share more with worm than I thought."
"What? No. It's just…argh!" Ethan placed his head into his hands and sighed immediately afterward, annoyed at his inability to formulate the right words.
"I've upset you. Apologies, English confusing at times." Xeva's tone now also came off as frustrated, not at him but at her own apparent shortcomings. The emeralds shifted away from him and awkward silence once again ruled over their wooden bench.
Initially not knowing what to do, he chose to focus his attention on the Phantom in front of him. Absentmindedly, the human then placed an open hand on the armored thigh that sat next to him. It responded with a jolt but the alien made no move to pry it off of her body.
"It's my fault, Xeva. I always say something stupid or don't know what to say when talking to girls, especially the pretty ones." After finishing his sentence, he took his eyes off of the alien ship and back towards the Sangheili, who now appeared to be staring straight into his soul. She was also giving him another expression that he had never seen before.
"What? Did I get a bunch of sand in my teeth?"
"Did you call me p-pretty?" The larger alien finally replied, coming off as almost bashful as she once again shifted her armored head away from him.
Ethan's juvenile brain had no idea how to respond, so he just decided to answer truthfully and let his mind wander like normal.
"Yeah, I guess I did…but you probably get that all the time back at the keep, given that you're probably royalty. Also, based on that cool-looking armor of yours and what you've told me earlier, I'm guessing that you're training to become a fierce warrior like your uncle. After all, you had me on the ground faster than—"
"Ethan?" His already derailed thoughts careened off a cliff and then came to an immediate halt by the Sangheili's voice.
"Yes, Xeva?" His gaze once again found her green eyes.
"How much do you know about Sangheili culture?" The question was articulated as though it had been practiced several times beforehand.
"I…actually very little. I've asked my father on occasion but he always said that it was complicated and best left to the adults to decipher."
Xeva looked between her digitigrade legs, her timidness taking hold once again.
"Once no female warriors. Very rare today but still looked down upon."
"But I thought you said that you spar with other Sangheili?"
"Spar with other sisters. Taught to defend self and keep, but still no warrior. Uncle claims to relax some traditions because of hardships…but not that one, so stuck at keep or on ship." Xeva shifted her attention to the Phantom in front of them.
"I'm sorry Xeva, I didn't know and feel bad for bringing it—"
"No!" Her leathery hand moved to envelop his own, which still sat atop her closest thigh. "Not your fault. Like your father said, Sangheili culture complicated…very complicated."
The way she stressed the word made Ethan wonder if she had lost her father during the war. He questioned whether he should say something as he too had lost family due to the war. In fact, he was still angry at her kind for what they had done, but perhaps maybe she felt the same? Regardless, the boy figured that it was best that he kept his mouth shut since he had already said hurtful things as a result of his childish ignorance.
Why were girls always so hard to talk to?
"I've still made you feel sad with my words. I…just wish that there was a way for me to understand your culture better."
Both looked back at the Phantom and much to the human's surprise, a heavy weight suddenly leaned into him for support, their hands still coupled on her thigh. Despite their proximity to each other, the guards remained silent and stood at attention. Ethan wondered just what words she had chosen to use in her own language.
It was weird going from disliking an entire race to allowing one to lean up against his shoulder over the course of a single night, and she was the scariest girl that he had ever successfully talked to. He shifted his attention to the Sangheili next to him.
"Xeva, you said that you had questions for me?"
"Questions can wait. Ethan gave idea and I will speak to uncle. You're warm and soft, wish to stay like this now."
He felt her hot breath as she transferred even more of her weight onto him. The Sangheili was apparently really heavy too. Luckily, the grunt that he had let slip from his mouth went unnoticed and it appeared that she had finally settled on a position.
"I can answer questions like this as well," Ethan offered.
He didn't receive an immediate response but was almost too afraid to shift positions and risk forcing the Sangheili to settle in once again.
"Xeva?"
The boy then felt the girl's warm breath on him once again, yet this time they were measured and gentle. It was as if she was...sleeping. He finally risked a glance in her direction and confirmed that this was indeed what had happened. An alien girl was currently using his smaller body as a pillow.
He could have shouted for her to wake up, he could have shaken her off of him and let her armored body fall to the sand beneath them, or he could have tried to request the guards to aid him in his endeavor. However, he actually found himself rather comfortable with the arrangement and suddenly dozing off as well. After all, it had been another especially long day out in the sun.
Unfortunately, just as Ethan allowed his heavy eyelids to close, the deepest rumble that he had ever heard in his life forced them back open. Heavy footfalls that shook the very foundation on which he sat upon soon closed in on his position. He felt the extra weight leave his shoulder in an instant, hearing an alien cry out as a golden arm snatched the Sangheili from the bench and forced her back to her feet.
A heated exchange of words soon followed, none of which Ethan recognized. However, he too was forced to his feet as his father's arm descended into view and locked him in place afterward. The aliens continued to argue until Xeva pointed to him and said something that seemed to enrage her uncle even further. Even the guards seemed to shudder in place at the implications of the verbal brawl.
Eventually, Xytan let loose what appeared to be a final set of threats, causing Xeva to shut down and lower her head in defeat. The behemoth then shifted his attention to the other offending party, locking the small boy down with his powerful gaze.
"My niece here claims that you've expressed the desire to learn more about our culture?"
"Xytan, this is entirely unnecessary, the boy—" Ethan's father made an attempt to speak for him.
"Be silent! I wish to hear from your son and only your son at this time."
The grip around the boy's arm tightened, his father standing at the ready should negotiations fall apart. Ethan was terrified of the Elite and now wanted nothing more than to hide his head in the sand, but as the emerald gaze fell back to him, words somehow found him in his hour of need.
"Yes, uhm…Xytan 'Rotam. Your niece—I mean Xeva and I began to talk about Sangheili culture, which I found really interesting."
"Hmm, Xeva has suggested regimented visits in order for her to better understand English, in exchange for you getting an opportunity to learn more about the Sangheili people. Now, you wouldn't have happened to be the one that filled her head with such thoughts?"
The human adolescent momentarily looked back to the smaller Sangheili, surprised that she would even propose such an offer given their limited interaction. While she had shown him kindness so far, even in her rowdiness, he was also still afraid to associate himself with her uncle. However, he suddenly felt compelled to shield Xeva from her uncle and defend her honor.
"Yes, all of this was originally my idea. I thought that it would be best for—"
"She's also expressed that both sides stand to gain from such an arrangement. However, I only see this as another means for your kind to take advantage of my people during our weakened state. You have seen her, but you will not come to know her as the result of a single conversation. She will continue to learn English through our methods and you will continue to stay on your side of the river. Am I understood, Ethan?"
The reptilian eyes tightened and waited for the boy's reply. The green set immediately next to Xytan fell to an inconsequential spot in the sand out of utter dejection.
"Yes, Sir. I…never meant to take advantage of Xeva or the Sangheili race. She just seemed really nice…" Ethan then mimicked the female's defeated posture.
"Chin up boy, yours and my niece's ignorance is understandable. While the idea may yet prove harmless, at this very moment in time, Sangheili blood must come first. Do not forget that your actions have the potential to impact every other human at this outpost, for better or for worse."
Xytan then turned his attention to the other human.
"Thank you for the tour, gunnery sergeant. I'm impressed with what I've seen here so far, given your limited resources and manpower. Let me be clear that I will not allow the younglings' transgressions to spoil our agreement. Your outpost will have the keep's support with time, however, in the interim, you will be closely monitored and allowed to remain on these grounds. Heed the warnings that I've just given your son and no human or Sangheili blood will be spilled," Xytan finished.
"You have my thanks, general. We will honor the agreement that was discussed. If you require anything further from Addax, do not hesitate to send a runner. They will always be welcomed as one of our own." Elias looked back to the central building of the compound. "Should you wish to stay for the remainder of the evening, I've had one of our best cooks prepare some refreshments for your troops."
Xytan finally allowed a smile to return to his face but also held up one of his massive hands in opposition.
"While I'm sure some of my guards would welcome the gesture, I'm afraid that our time here has come and gone. However, do not hesitate to celebrate the agreement in our absence. Also, I fear that I must now discipline my niece for her rather inappropriate choice of words during our…disagreement."
Xeva huffed at the thought, causing both adolescents to look back into each other's eyes. Her uncle's mandibles immediately morphed into a frown as he watched their interaction unfold. A vice grip then fell upon Xeva's arm and she was pivoted towards the Phantom. Judging by the whine of impulse drives and the shuffling of guards, the silent command had already been given.
"Go in peace, general," the gunnery sergeant stated.
The golden helmet swung through the air in acknowledgment and the massive Sangheili then departed alongside his niece, who had to practically be dragged across the sand towards the alien troop carrier. In spite of this, the emeralds continued to look back and watch as the humans shifted further and further away. However, she chose to focus all of her attention on one of them in particular, who also never let the female out of his view.
Eventually, the pair of Sangheili made it to the top of the ramp and inside the cargo bay, where Xeva was released from her binds and given back full control of her body. Guards then filed in on both sides of her as the bay doors began to close and the sound of Banshees once again filled the moonlit sky. However, before she was completely obscured from sight, Xeva lifted one of her four-fingered hands and allowed it to swing side to side through the air—a gesture that Ethan immediately recognized.
The human mirrored her gesture with a wide smile attached to his face.
And just like that, the bay doors sealed shut and the Phantom once again took to the sky, leaving the human child feeling like a part of himself somehow went along with it. Despite everything, Ethan had immensely enjoyed Xeva's company and now he was worried that he would never see her again.
As his father released him from his grasp, the boy prepared himself for the discipline that would surely be dished out on his end. There would likely be shouting, he wouldn't be able to go out hunting for scaled lizards anymore, or perhaps he would be forced to sleep outside in the chicken coop. As the anxiety continued to well up inside him, Ethan closed his eyes and feared the worst, but the worst never came.
He opened his eyes and risked a glance up towards his father, who was currently wearing a smile that traveled from ear to ear. His father didn't look angry…why wasn't his father furious at him?
The older human then chose to break the silence.
"Thought that I'd punish you after holding your own against a Sangheili that was over twice your size?"
"Yes, father. I wasn't thinking when talking with Xeva, which made her uncle really angry and almost ruined everything for our family," Ethan answered.
"Made her uncle angry? Trust me when I say this Ethan: Xytan 'Rotam was not angry because of your interactions with Xeva, far from it actually."
"How can you say that father?! He stated that 'I will not come to know her' and said no to the idea of ever seeing her again."
"Did he now? Because I distinctly remember him also stating that knowing her would not be 'the result of a single conversation.' Over time, you'll learn that Xytan 'Rotam tends to be very particular with his words. He may have said no, but he also said yes."
"I don't understand? I saw the way that he watched us before they both departed into the Phantom. He seemed upset and angry for us even looking at each other," Ethan countered.
"He was testing your mettle boy, as Sangheili are very prone to do, and perhaps rattling a few sabers to keep the rest of us humans humble. The general has his methods and so far, it would appear as though you've successfully cleared the first hurdle. The Sangheili likes you, Ethan, if you were paying attention to him before the bay doors closed, you'd have seen that his mandibles formed a similar smile to my own."
The boy's expression lit up as he registered his father's words and a kernel of hope took form in his brain. "You're saying that I'll get another chance to see her again?" Ethan failed to hide the excitement in his voice.
"Ha! She really made that big of an impression on you after a single conversation? Perhaps I should be more concerned about you two seeing each other again. As for when, I have no idea. However, Xytan tends to plan a couple of steps ahead. Him bringing Xeva here was no accident and he was left satisfied with the result, so I'd expect it to be sooner rather than later.
"In the meantime, I suggest that you start thinking about how you plan to help her with her English. When you two interact again, I want you to take things more seriously and make an honest effort to learn more about her people—this isn't a game."
Ethan beamed up at his father and couldn't help but jump in place due to his bottled-up excitement.
"I will! Maybe I could also give her a tour of our outpost, show her how to trap scaled lizards, or…do you think that I'd ever get a chance to visit their keep?" The thought equally terrified and excited the boy.
His father couldn't help but chuckle at his words.
"Given what I've seen over the last decade, anything's possible. However, let's take things one day at a time." Elias then turned towards the central building in the compound. "Besides, judging by the smell coming from inside, I'm guessing Sonia has finished preparing some refreshments, so I think it's high time that we celebrate our newfound relationship with Xeva and her family."
The boy's father then placed a hand on his back and directed him towards the source of food. The sound of human conversation filled the building's entryway and the warm glow originating from inside pushed itself into the dusty courtyard. Before passing through the threshold, Ethan turned back and looked out into the night sky, wondering if Xeva was currently doing the same.
Circumstances had brought the two species together for the night. And while the boy still feared her kind (especially her uncle), he was beginning to wonder how much of his current knowledge on the Sangheili was incorrect. He suddenly had so many questions for Xeva and was afraid that he'd lose them all if he didn't write them down.
This was the first time in a long while that he was actually looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brought. As Ethan took one final look up at Kiriken and the stars that watched over him, a single question came to stand above all the rest:
Did Xeva feel the same way?
[—]
Closing Notes:
Please note that I'm not an expert on the lore. From a writer's perspective, Sangheili culture is a minefield that tends to limit what is possible if one rides the lore straight and narrow. With that said, I will honor parts of the lore to the best of my ability, but don't be surprised if I make tweaks to better fit the story that I wish to tell.
In any case, I thank you for your time and constructive feedback is always welcomed.
