AN: This story takes place between the end of "A Not So Simple Patrol" and "When the Sun Winds Down" and also before the formation of fireteam Painted Truth.
The Date
Titan Claney Beamard strode into the Vanguard command room, his eyes casting about the room, searching. A palpable look of relief washed over his face when he spotted his quarry, Hunter Vanguard Cayde-6, to the left behind a monitor. Normally, Ikora didn't let Cayde near that particular computer, but the Warlock Vanguard was not present and apparently the phrase, "When the cat's away, the mice will play," was in effect today.
When Cayde noticed the footsteps approach, he popped up with a guilty start.
"I'm not doing anything!" he called out, then relaxed when he saw who it was. "Oh, hey, Guardian. I thought you were Zavala for a second there. What... uh... what's up?"
"I am so glad to see you," the Titan exclaimed, striding over to the Hunter.
"You are?" Cayde questioned. "You know, people don't say that nearly enough."
"Well," Claney replied, "I will tell it to you every day from here to eternity if you can help me out. It's Celeste and Astrid."
An expression Claney didn't quite catch flashed across Cayde's face, then disappeared. "Oh? Did Wild Child sneak out again?"
"What? No. That would be easier to deal with." Claney shuffled about uncomfortably as he searched for the right words to say next. He whispered, "No, they're trying to set me up on a date. Mainly Astrid."
Cayde-6 laughed out loud at this response, while the Titan's face turned a bright shade of red. Claney waved his hands furiously in a shushing motion, trying to calm the Hunter Vanguard down.
"This is serious, Cayde. They won't stop. Pretty much ever since I've been back up and active, Astrid has been hounding me to find a girlfriend. She thinks I'm lonely or something."
"Are you?" Cayde asked.
"No," the Titan shook his head. "Well, not exactly... I don't know. The point is, I want it to stop and I was hoping you could help me."
"Me? Now what could little old me do?"
"You can talk to them. Celeste is one of your Hunters, and you have a special bond with Astrid. Tell them to leave me alone."
"I'll see what I can do," Cayde said with all the seriousness he could muster. "You go on back to teaching the new Titans how to punch stuff and I'll have a word with the two of them.
Cayde patted Claney on the back and sent the Titan on his way. As soon as the red-headed man was out of the room, Cayde burst out into gales of laughter.
"Oh, this is even better than what I was going to do to Ikora's computer," the Exo said before asking his Ghost to contact the two girls. He just found the answer to today's boredom.
…
The next morning, Claney stepped out of his quarters to find Celeste leaning against the wall opposite his door, arms crossed over her chest and a suspicious smile on her face. Claney glanced up and down the hall, but didn't see Astrid with her. It was possible she was with the Anusky's, though she rarely left Celeste's side when the Hunter was in the Tower.
"Mornin', Old Man," Celeste greeted him, straightening up.
"Good morning," Claney said, suspicion clear in his voice. "How long have you been standing out here?"
"Oh, just a few minutes," she replied. "Thought I'd see if you wanted to get some breakfast before you start training the kinderguardians today."
"Breakfast sounds good," Claney admitted and started down the hallway. Celeste fell in step beside him.
"Soooo... I got the oddest call from Cayde-6 yesterday," the Hunter said. "It seemed some cranky old Titan was complaining about me harassing him recently. I, of course, professed complete innocence, not knowing what he could possibly be talking about."
"And?"
"And what?" the Hunter asked, batting her eyes at the Titan.
Claney sighed. "You're not going to stop, are you?"
"Nope," Celeste grinned. "I happen to agree with Astrid on this one. All you do is train the newbies or stay in your room. You need more of a life than that. Besides, I'm sure having a woman in your life could do you some good."
"I'm starting to think I might have too many females in my life already," Claney muttered, which brought a laugh from Celeste. "Besides, Astrid's ten. What does she know about it anyway."
"Let no one despise you for your youth," Celeste stated in a stern voice. "Pretty sure you quoted that at me when I was worried no one would take me seriously as a Guardian when I first arrived at the Tower."
As Celeste spoke, the two of them emerged from the corridor into daylight. Whatever reply Claney would have offered was cut short as a weight slammed into his back. Caught off guard, Claney staggered a little. Small, scarred hands covered his eyes.
A voice demanded, "Guess who!"
"Good morning, Astrid," Claney said as he regained his balance.
"We have a winner," Astrid announced, uncovering his eyes. The young Titan scrambled up Claney's back until she was perched up on his shoulders. "Onward, my noble steed! To breakfast!"
Claney couldn't help but chuckle, reaching up a hand to pat her shin. "Sure thing, Little Bit."
That brought a playful slap to back of his skull. The three of them continued onward, taking a lift down to the Last City. They settled on a place Celeste suggested, with the Hunter claiming that it had the best pancakes.
Claney lifted Astrid from his shoulders and set her down as they reached the door. Stepping inside, they could hear the chatter of patrons enjoying their meals. The restaurant was lively, with wait staff bustling from table to table, but not so busy that they had to wait long to get seated. Celeste's eyes were roaming over the crowd as if searching for something. A small smile creased her lips as the trio was lead to their place.
They settled down into their seat and Claney picked up a menu. Celeste silently caught Astrid's eye and pointed at someone across the way. Astrid turned to look, then whipped her head back around and nodded. The motion caught Claney's attention, and he looked up from the menu as the child. Astrid gave him the cheesiest grin she could manage.
Claney glanced between Astrid and Celeste, then set the menu down. "Okay, what's going on?"
"Going on?" Celeste echoed. "Why, nothing at all."
"Spill."
"Okay, okay," Celeste said, raising her hands in surrender. She gestured toward the opposite corner of the room. "You see her over there?"
Claney followed the gesture. Seated alone at a table was a woman with short black hair that was pulled back away from her face. Her eyes were a bight blue that stood out from her pale skin.
"Yes..."
"We set you up with her. You've got a date on Friday," Celeste said with a grin.
"You did what?"
"Cayde helped," Astrid added loud enough that several other patrons turned their head to their table. Including the woman in question.
"Of course he did," Claney grumbled. "Excuse me a moment.
Claney rose from the seat and started to move the woman that the girls had indicated. Astrid scooted to the end of her seat so that she could peer around and watch what was happening. Celeste leaning in with interest as well. The older Titan strode across the room, painfully aware of the two of them staring holes in his back.
"Excuse me," he said again as he reached the table. The woman looked up at him. "I'm sorry to bother you, but may I speak with you a moment?"
"Certainly," the woman said, indicating the seat across from her.
"My name is Claney," he began.
"I know," she replied. "I'm Dallyce. Dallyce Lua."
"Hi," Claney cleared his throat and shifted slightly in his seat. "I... sorry, this is a little awkward."
"It's okay," Dallyce replied with a crooked smile.
"It seems my daughter and her-" Friend? Ward? "-sidekick have set us up on a date later this week."
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it."
"Well, I... You are?"
"Yeah. Crimson Doubles are starting up again, and I need a good partner. I thought it might be a fun way to let off some steam."
"Oh. Well then. Doubles sounds fun."
"And then perhaps dinner and a night in the City?"
"I think that could work. It was nice to meet you, Dallyce."
"You too, Claney," the woman said. "See you Friday?"
"See you Friday," the Titan said before rising to return to his table.
"So, how'd it go?" Celeste asked as Claney sat back down.
"Apparently I have a partner for some Crimson Doubles."
"Yes!" whooped Astrid, jumping up in her seat.
That brought every eye in the restaurant in their direction. Claney just tried to hide his reddening face behind a napkin.
…
AN
Thanks to midnightshadowknight for the story follow and favorite!
Not much substance here. Just a fluffy little palate cleanser after some of the less happy stuff going on in my other story. As always, Astrid was created by Daydreamer. (Formerly Daydreamer B.A, now listed as DaydreambcrnHasMoved since she left this site.)
Next entry – a story suggested by a reader. I actually started on that one first, but then had this idea after thinking about an old conversation.