Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews as always :).
A word to the wise - things get a bit more towards the M rating in this Log.
Entry Log 125 - 00:18:53
It's much later in the day when the feed flickers back on, past a normal dinner time at the very least. The sun is just barely peeking out from the horizon shown by the window. Cayde's in his quarters again, pacing around the main room like some trapped animal. Sundance chirps slightly, moving closer to him.
"She'll be here soon, her ship landed twenty minutes ago," she told her partner who just huffs, agitated. He hasn't cooled off much from a few hours ago despite everything he'd done in between. "You need to calm down."
"I'll calm down once she explains a few things," he gritted out and his Ghost sighs, the sound sharp and loud so close to the mic. It's only two minutes later on the clock when a series of knocks rap on the door and the Exo stops short, turning on his heels and heading to it without delay. The feed follows, staying a distance back as he opens the door and let's the amber haired women in without a word.
Entering the main room, the camera focuses on her for a moment. She's tense all over, waiting for her boyfriend to blow up on her. The set of her mouth shows she's expecting it. Her gear is gone, armor and guns replaced with casual wear and her cloak. She's still wearing her boots, which is odd because she always takes them off inside his home. Maybe it's so she can make a quick escape if she needs to. Sterling is not right next to her like normal either, rather he hovers at the end of the wall near the door, watching.
Cayde follows her, leaning up against the back of the couch and faces her, arms crossed. Skylar stays near the wall, not sure if he wants her close-by this time. It's like watching a staring contest, like they're back in their old roles as student and mentor. Pressing her lips for a moment, she sighs and looks away.
"They told me you were upset but..." she shifts her weight, nervous. She doesn't know how to deal with an angry Cayde. Hunters normally weren't good with dealing with people in general. The Vanguard leader's frown deepens, hinges straining.
"I would think I have a right to be. You lied to me Skylar, you went behind my back."
"I know," she answers, eyes skirting the ground. "But I knew you wouldn't have let me go and I had to-"
"You didn't have to do anything!" the Exo snaps, cutting her off. She flinches, eyes widening and meeting his for the first time. His arms uncross, moving as he speaks. "No one made you do this Skylar. You chose to do it. And yeah, I would have stopped you, I don't want you anywhere near The Hive." It's a statement made into ironclad order and Skylar stiffens, bristling, her shoulders hunching slightly. Anger flashes over her face and she takes a step forward.
"You don't get to decide that!" she snarls out, blazing eyes narrowing. "What missions I take are not your choice, or anyone else's except mine. You're the one that told me that." She's got a point the Exo knows it but he's still angry and hurt, braking her gaze and looking off to the side. Skylar frowns at him, staring him down for a few moments before letting out a breath. "I can't just sit here," she said, softer this time. "Not when my Fireteam, my friends - my family are fighting on the front lines of this war. It's the Hive and I know you're worried, I am too, I was scared out of my mind today, but I had to do it. I told you before...I won't let fear win."
Cayde looks at her, and for a moment he looks like he might be cooling off but there is still bite in his voice. "You said you'd take it in steps. I never imagined that I'd walk into a meeting with you neck deep in it," he shook his head, pushing off from the couch and walking forward till he was in front of her. "What if something had happened to you?"
"You should have more trust in me," Skylar grumbles, brow raised. He shakes his head again, face crumpling.
"I do trust you Sky. It's not about that."
"Then what is it about?" she doesn't get an answer from him, he just looks frustrated and she sighs, clicking her tongue. "Cayde, I know you don't like it, but I had to do this, understand?" she's not backing down, not realizing until the words are out that the Exo has finally lost all of his cool. He suddenly pushes her against the wall inches behind her, hands clamped on her shoulders, both Ghosts chirping in surprise though neither move.
"Don't you get that I can't lose you?" his voice nearly cracks at the volume of his shout, arms trembling slightly with exertion as he hangs his head, unable to look her in the eyes. Unable to take in the pure shock written all over her face. Skylar can't seem to find words, her lips twitching but not forming anything as she stares straight at the top of his hood. "I can't," he whispers, his voice nearly sounding broken with the change in mood. "I can't lose you Skyla… please." All of the anger has seeped out of him in an instant, leaving behind a raw, vulnerable sound not heard before. The amber haired huntress swallows, eyes softer than before, her own fuse shorting out at his words. It's the first time they've ever really had a fight and it didn't even last very long. She reaches out with both hands to touch the sides of his face, thumbs running down his jaw line, over the hinge that connects everything together. She makes him look at her again, the blue of his eyes shining over her skin as she presses her forehead against the slant of his horn.
"I know, I'm sorry. Sorry I didn't tell you… I should have," she relents, perhaps realizing even if she did what was best for her, that maybe it wasn't best for him, for them. Hunters aren't used to thinking of others like that. The room seems to drain of negative energy, both of them slowly unwinding and relaxing. It's then that after a few moments of time, Skylar speaks again. "Hey," she calls to him, as his eyes start to shift away. "I love you too," she whispers, eyes locked on his, a light, honest smile on her lips. She says it so normally, so easily, like they are just words and not a confession, not something sacred, yet they don't seem cheapened at all, just natural. Cayde stares at her, frozen in time as the seconds tick by and he apparently realises he might as well have just said those words. She doesn't need him to, not with how he's acting, how he's talking. She just knows, and now she's answered, but because Cayde is who he is, it's not enough. Not for him.
He doesn't look like he regrets a single thing, the hand on her shoulder softening, moving in to caress her neck. "Skylar..." he whispers and she tilted her head, not breaking contact from him but still relaying everything that's needed without words. He takes in a deep enough breath that his chest expands and then he blows it back out. "I love you, more than anything. Shit. I'm not even sure when that happened," he chuckles, bemused by his own predicament and she just smiles and shifts to place a kiss to the base of his horn. A tremor runs through him and he shutters, eyes closing for a moment to get his bearings before he jerks his head up and captures her lips in his mouth plates. It's desperate and needy and his hands wander in seconds, pressing up against her.
One fire is gone, but another is quickly taking its place and Skylar seems eager to feed the flames, Arc energy jumping across the back of her hands as she pushes his hood back and grips at his neck. Cayde grunts while pulling back and shifting his hands down to her hips and around grabbing at her ass and lifting. Slender legs wrap tight around his waist and suddenly they're so much closer, her hand tearing at the zipper of his hoodie, head back as he bites and teases her neck. She moans his name and he shudders again, cursing and unlatching her cloak. It flutters to the ground behind her silently and he pulls back, both of them panting, the coloring in her eyes darker behind lazy lids.
It's too much.
"I can't," he starts, mouth working because she hasn't really stopped pulling at his zipper, just slowed. He catches her gaze. "I don't think I can stop if we keep going." Overwhelmed. He's overwhelmed and it's easy to see, but it's not just lust that swamps his eyes, making them glow in an odd dimming way, it's something else, something deeper and so much more meaningful. He wants to show her just how much he loves her, now and for every day that comes after. The legs around his waist tighten and she nudges her nose under his chin, tongue darting out to run up a column of silver cording. If it weren't for the wall he might have very well dropped her.
"Then don't," she breaths, moving back to look at him again, her eyes bright and certain, clear of any hesitation. She's done being embarrassed and unsure. She wants this, wants him. "Please don't."
It's all he needs, all he's ever wanted to hear and he gives a small jerky nod of understanding. She ducks her head again and teeth sink into the side of his neck and he's done thinking about it, his legs twitch as he takes a few steps backwards. "F-fuck," his vocalizer glitches as he glances up towards the feed and quickly shakes his head. He doesn't want this on camera, some things are better left to the viewer's conclusion. This is private and his Ghost knows that and doesn't follow as Cayde half staggers towards his bedroom and Skylar giggles, a well-armed tease on her tongue. Sundance lets the feed run until they finally make it to the door frame and disappear inside, then she turns to look at Sterling who hovers nearby, unmoving and pointed towards where his partner disappeared.
The feed moves closer to the other ghost and then shudders as Sundance bumps Sterling and chirps. The southern accented AI blinks at her and then seems to understand, floating off towards the kitchen. Sundance follows and lets the feed fade to black.
According to my Beta, once they entered his room they played a wicked game of Monopoly.
Let me know what you think!
DROH
