And here we go again. This chapter is a bit slower then others will be but I had fun with it. Thanks to all who are enjoying the story and giving me the motivation to continue. You amazing people know who you are.
As always, please rate, review and enjoy.
Chapter 3: A night to remember
After Aaron explained what was going on with Jewel to his team, he left them and headed for the Tower. After a few minutes Rex dropped Aaron off in the Tower's courtyard, still clad in all his armor since he was too anxious to bother removing it. Once his armored boots connected with the concrete tiles below him he looked left to the North and started walking toward the stairs that led to the overlook. Aaron ascended the steel staircase and walked up to the railing of the overlook. He looked around but there was no sight of Jewel.
Aaron waited for a little while watching as guardians came and went. He watched as they went about their business. Decrypting engrams, sorting their vault, and receiving and turning in missions for the Vanguard and the Crucible. Aaron didn't know how long he had waited but in time he figured that Jewel wasn't going to show. Distraught by how he had been played Aaron started back toward the stairs. He only took one step downward when a familiar voice stopped him.
"I was wondering how long you would wait." Aaron looked around for Jewel but he didn't see her. "Up here."
Looking upward Aaron saw Jewel sitting on top a support beam cutting an apple with her knife. Her helmet was gone and her long black hair draped over her shoulders
"How long have you been up there?" Aaron asked.
"Since before you got here." She said as she popped an apple slice into her mouth.
"And you didn't say anything? Why not?"
"Like I said, I wanted to see how long you would wait. Do you know how long you waited?"
"I don't know, I'd say about ten minutes." Jewel giggled again.
"Nope, almost twenty-five minutes you sat there watching for me. Most guys would have bailed after like two minutes sitting there. I must say I'm flattered." Jewel took a bite out of another apple slice. "So hot shot you've got me here and I'm ready. Now what shall we do on this gorgeous evening?"
"I don't know." Jewel looked down at Aaron in surprise her blue eyes showing him just how stunned she was.
"You don't know?" Aaron shrugged
"I was a young boy who saw a pretty girl. I only had one thing on my mind and I was not planning for you actually saying yes. It was trying to get you to say yes."
Jewel smiled and shook her head. She returned her knife to its sheath on her arm and hopped down of her beam.
"Well don't worry. I know a nice place we can go to get a drink and just talk for a bit." Jewel dropped the half eaten apple into Aaron's hand and pulled the core from the center causing three neat slices to fall into his palm.
"Follow me." Jewel took a seat on the railing of the staircase and slid down to the courtyard below. Aaron popped an apple slice into his mouth took off after her as she ran southward toward the Tower hanger.
Aaron followed Jewel into the hanger. She smiled and waved to everyone there. She led Aaron down a flight of stairs below the FWC which led into a decommissioned ship on the hanger floor. Inside a few people were sitting among the few chairs and couches. Most were workers in the hanger some were guardians, mostly hunters. Jewel walked up to the small bar and the barmaid smiled as she approached.
"Jewel, it's great to see you again. What brings you by this time?"
"Just having a drink with a friend." Jewel said looking at Aaron.
"Sounds good to me. What will you have?"
"I'll have a bourbon on the rocks." Jewel ordered and looked to Aaron.
"Vodka if you have it." The barmaid knelt down behind the counter and presented them each with a small glass and a bottle filled their drink of choice.
"I'll give you two some privacy. Call me over you need anything."
"Thanks Meg." Jewel said as she sipped her bourbon.
Aaron and Jewel sat together in silence. Jewel sipped her drink while Aaron brought his hands up and removed his helmet. For the first time Jewel saw Aaron's face. His skin was darker then hers but not by much. He had short cut and neatly groomed brown hair and his eyes were a dark green. When Aaron smiled down at her she couldn't help but smile back at him.
"it's weird how this all started." Jewel said.
"You mean that fact that the only reason we're here is because my shoulder charge knocked off your helmet in the middle of the Iron Banner. And I decided that I had to ask you out." Jewel downed her drink and started to refill it.
"You didn't even know me. What brought you to want to talk to me so badly?" Aaron downed the rest of the Vodka in his glass and took a deep breath while he refilling his glass.
"Because for my whole life since Rex brought me back, I have always done what I had to do. I followed Zavala's orders and I fought against the Darkness. I didn't ask questions, I was a soldier I had a job to do. It wasn't until recently when I started to lighten up a bit and started to have a little fun. And then I saw you and…I don't even know how to say it. I had never seen anyone so beautiful in my whole life. I wanted to get to know you at to at least be friends. But I knew that that match was ending soon, and if I didn't talk to you fast then I might never see you again." Aaron took another sip of his drink as did Jewel.
"Well for what it's worth, I'm glad you went through all the trouble Aaron. I'm having fun and I think I can call you a friend." Aaron smiled back her and after a few seconds he started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Jewel asked taking another big gulp of her bourbon.
"I think the better question is what isn't funny. I mean the only reason we're sitting here is because I knocked off your helmet with a shoulder charge. I honestly think that if that didn't happen we wouldn't be here right now hanging out. I would probably be doing some missions for Zavala, doing something with my fireteam, or sitting in my apartment sleeping or trying to beat Rex at Chess. In the end this friendship that you, for some bazar reason that's beyond me, decided to give a try wouldn't be a thing if you were like pretty much every other girl in existence."
"Well then lucky for you I'm no ordinary girl." As she finished another glass
"Just my luck indeed." Aaron said holding his glass out toward Jewel. She smiled as she tapped it with her own glass and they both downed the drinks in seconds.
Aaron sighed as he let the burn of the alcohol melt away some of his stress. He looked at Jewel was smiling a goofy smile he hadn't seen yet.
"Something funny?" He asked.
Jewel just giggled some more as she shook her head. She set her glass down and reached out to re fill it but her hand missed the bottle slightly and after another try she grabbed the neck of the bottle in a rather shaky grip. As she poured herself another glass of bourbon some of the liquid missed the glass and spilled on the counter which made Jewel giggle more.
"Umm Jewel, you alright?" Jewel smiled back at Aaron.
"Oh ya I'm fine. Trust me I am nowhere near being drunk yet."
"Right." Aaron said as he examined the bottle of bourbon Jewel was using to refill her glass. After look at the remaining contents Aaron looked over his shoulder to the barmaid.
"Hey Meg, how full was the bottle of bourbon you gave Jewel?"
"Full, just opened it for her. Why?" Aaron held the bottle out to her. Meg walked over, looked at the bottle and her eyes widened a little.
"My god woman how many of these have you had?" Jewel thought for a bit.
"Umm four maybe five."
"Really girl? I've never seen you sip down more than two and a half. You're such a lightweight." Meg turned to Aaron. "You must have a way to hold her attention. That's the only way I can think of why she would drink so much. As little as so much is for her I mean."
"Well then I think I should get her home then." Out of the corner of his eye Aaron saw Jewel reaching for her glass so he grabbed it and slid it away from her.
Jewel whined as Aaron stood up and pulled her to her feet. Once she was standing she held herself up for a good half-second before she leaned on Aaron for support.
"Nowhere near drunk my ass lady." Aaron said under his breath. "Thanks for the drinks Meg. Just send the bill to my ghost and I'll take care of it."
"Don't worry about it pal. This time it's on the house." Aaron smiled back st he before reaching back for his bottle of Vodka.
"Well In that case." Aaron grabbed the bottle of liquor and chugged what remained in a matter of seconds before setting the empty bottle back on the counter.
"Damn it boy don't you go and get drunk on me to." Meg said as she disposed of the bottle.
"Don't worry; I actually have a high tolerance to alcohol. One of the perks of being a Titan I guess." Meg laughed and grabbed Jewels glass that she wasn't able to drink.
"I'll drink to that pal. You make sure she gets home alright kay?"
"No problem. I see you around Meg." With that Aaron left the bar with Jewel leaning on him saying something about cyborg bunnies from Neptune.
"Opal?" Jewels ghost appeared for the first time all night. "Can you direct me to Jewel's apartment please?"
"Why certainly guardian. Follow me."
Aaron followed Opal through some halls and up some stairs until he reached a door which opened for him. Inside was a cozy little apartment. There a small kitchen in the corner with a table nearby. She had a closet at the foot of her bed. She had various items that she had collected over the years on shelves around the room. Aaron noticed a Cabal helmet, some fallen weapons, what looked like a Vex eye and a Hive Knight's clever propped against the wall. The apartment was fairly clean as no clothes were strewn across the floor and he only noticed a few dishes in the sink that had yet to be washed.
"Damn she's making feel like I live in a dump. I hope she never has to see my apartment." Aaron approached the bed, lifted the covers and laid Jewel down on the mattress before pulling the sheets down over her. She had fallen asleep shortly before he reached her home so once she hit her bed she curled up into a ball and smiled in comfort.
The sight made Arron smiled as he turned to leave but before he left Opal stopped him.
"Thank you very much for taking care of her guardian. I'll make sure you receive something for your troubles."
"No trouble at all Opal. Happy I could help. Just make sure she knows not to drink so much. And if you can make sure she has some water was an icepack ready in the morning. She's going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow."
"I'll keep that in mind. Good night guardian."
"Good night Opal."
Aaron left and started back toward his own apartment. Once there he walked out onto his balcony and enjoyed the cool night time breeze that struck his face.
"You look happy." Rex said. "I assume it went well?" Aaron opened his eyes and looked downward to the mountain side below.
"Rex, stand by for a resurrection."
"A resurrection. Why do you need me to…" Before Rex could finish Aaron hopped the guard rail on the balcony and plummeted toward the rocks hundreds of feet below.
"Oh, that's why." After a few seconds Rex's shell expanded into a blue orb and moments later Aaron was back where he started.
"So did you get that odd display of happiness out of your system?" Aaron looked at Rex before hopping the rail once more.
"Of course not."