A/N: The last prompt was a tear jerker, so I decided to go with fluff on this one. This takes place roughly 8 years after after Jahara left Zavala and the City. I'll get into more detail on that in another prompt or story. But basically Jahara left not realizing she was pregnant with Zavala's daughter. Fast forward to after Forsaken, Zavala is more withdrawn from everyone after Cayde's death and no one can get past that self-imposed wall of his. Jahara gets called back from her exile and comes back with a surprise for the Commander.
Prompt 3 - Dearest Wish
Vala propped her head up with her hands, while leaning on the window sill. Life in the City was vastly different than her home in the mountians with big brother Brelisk and the other members in House of Bear. For one it was noisier. Often Vala would lay awake under the covers of her bed, when a strange new sound would startle her awake and try to ponder it's cause. Fortunately the smooth deep voice of her Ghost, Jazz, would eventually lull the half-awoken child back to sleep.
Momma said she'd get used to it soon enough. Momma'hara went through the same thing Vala was experiencing when she first came to the city years ago. It's alsowhere she met papa. Vala finally got to meet papa as well, when mama brought the child to the City just three months ago.
The child stared out over the city in the late hours of the night. The Traveler hung silently, watching over it's charges. Papa still hadn't come home yet. He was very important to the City and very busy.
Vala sighed. She wished and wished to the Traveler every night. One day. She just wanted one day to have papa all to herself.
Movement in the next room drew the young child's attention away from the Traveler. Heavy footsteps thudded across the living room with painstaking slowness. Vala crept towards her bedroom door with as much stealth as a 7-year-old could muster and peered through the gap of the open door.
Commander Zavala slouched against the back of the couch, his eyes closed shut . His Ghost, Rosetta, had already transmatted away his armor plating, leaving him with only his red and leather under gear still on. He didn't appear to notice the small icy blue eyes watching him.
Vala slipped away from her bedroom, pausing next to the couch uncertain. Rosetta bobbed in the air with an encouraging gesture, prompting the child to swiftly climb into the Commander's lap. Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling Vala closer to her father's chest.
The awoken man shifted sideways, laying down lengthwise with Vala on his chest. He grunted in surprise, when a heavy weight jumped and settled between his legs. Zavala cracked open an eyelid. Jahara's female pet war beast, Mocha, had made herself at home at the other end of the couch. The Titan Vanguard sighed, resting a warm hand on his daughter's head and caressing her auburn braid.
Vala wrapped her short arms around Zavala's neck, feeling drowsy all of a sudden. She sighed happily. She might not get her wish anytime soon, but she was content with this for now.
Jahara allowed herself a smile at the sight of the sleeping pair. Today had been a particular taxing day for Zavala: mediating arguments between faction representatives at a Consensus meeting, pouring over countless scouting reports of strange Hive activity brewing on the moon, overseeing rebuilding efforts still in progress since the Red War, missing food shipments from the Farm, running tactical for strike operations….The list went on.
Quietly, Jahara grabbed a crocheted blanket off a nearby chair and laid it over the two Awoken. The Ace of Spades symbol was visible on the blanket in the dim light provided by the luminated city outside. The Sunbreaker female tucked the blanket around them and kissed each goodnight.
Jahara scratched Mocha on the head and returned to the bedroom she and Zavala shared. Her Ghost, Dipper, hovering over her shoulder. Jazz and Rosetta zoomed in hot pursuit, before the door shut.
Father, daughter, and warbeast slept soundly through the night.