Ch. 2

"Jason! Keep up! There are still cute clothes I want to see!" she was yelling at me halfway down the shopping center. She was yelling at me to keep up because I was being slowed by the dozens of bags she's making me carry. She assumes that because I'm a Titan I can handle it. Don't get me wrong, I can. But it's just annoying that she's trying to rush me.

Still, I feel compelled to help her out of my nature. She seems so naïve to the world, completely unaware of the fighting and bloodshed that happens beyond those walls. She's so pure. Too pure for this world. She doesn't know the hell that is being a guardian. I finally catch up to her and she's staring at a dress displayed in the front of the store. The way her face lights up just gives me a sense of relaxation. She's happy, which is what I try to do.

As I'm waiting for her to pick out the clothes she wants, I look outside to see a group of girls – 3 of them, around 16 or 17. They were stopped by older guys, biker looking gang. They tried turning around but were cut off by guys with similar looking clothing. They corner them into an alleyway and vanish from my sight.

"Leslie, I'll be right back, okay?" She turns to me and smiles, "Sure, but don't take too long." I quickly run out and look into the alley. The girls are at the end, looking terrified. I can hear one of the members talking, "So, me and my boys are bored see? And we spotted you three and figured you gals would take that away." The fear in their face sent me into a rage. I approach the thugs with mercy being the last things on my mind.

"Pick on someone your own size wimps!" They turn towards me, obviously pissed by that taunt. "Picking on schoolgirls, how pathetic." One guy steps forward, must be the leader. "And who might our hero be? Some punk not minding his own business that's who! You should leave before…" he pulls out a switchblade "…things get unnecessarily violent." He then charges at me with his knife, then one of the girls screams "NOOOOO!"

Easy stopping for me. I grab his wrist and squeeze with half of my strength. And naturally, he starts to whimper in pain. "Violent, huh? Here's the thing. Things are gonna get violent. Up to – titanic – proportions." I ball my fist and immediately it ignites in fire, then punching him so hard he gets launched back into his goons. "P-p-p-p-please, don't hurt us!" they begged. I smile, then say "Then make like the House of Wolves after Skolas' capture, and SCATTER!" They then book it, one of them dragging the probably dead boss.

I look at the time, and it's almost 4! "Shit I gotta-!" "Mister?" I turn to see one of the three girls staring up at me. "Yes?" "Are you an actual guardian?" "Nah, these flaming fists are all show." She didn't seem amused. Kids these days don't have a sense of humor. "Yes I am. A Sunbreaker titan." The light in her eyes lit up so much, I smiled. "Oh and you kids should probably get home, it's getting late." "Thank you mister Titan!"

One of the girls gave me her number for "security purposes." Pyro popped up on my shoulder as we were walking back to the store. "You can get high schooler numbers but not numbers from women your age huh?" I turn to him and gave him a stern look, "Okay listen here you little shit, I didn't rescue high school girls just to listen to your sass." He gives a ghostly chuckle and says, "I always knew you were into younger women." I yell "SHUT UP!"

We get back to the store expecting Leslie to be mad, but instead she was still shopping. In fact, she was barely paying. She gets her GuardianCard back and turns to me, "Finally you're back. Help me carry my bags please?" "You mean carry them for you?" She smiles and says, "Yes actually, thanks." Great, now back to the tower we go.

Two hours later

I collapse on my bed tired as hell. I can hear Leslie organizing her clothes in her room. Pyro appears next to me and says, "Hey, someone's knocking on your door, you should answer it." Silence hangs in the room until I reply with, "MMMMMMPPPHHHHH." I walk up to the door and open it. "Hey Jason, how was your day with Leslie?" says the Hunter Vanguard. I simply point to the shopping bags still sitting on the couch. "Point made."

I invite him in to sit at the dinner table. "Wanna drink?" I say as I prepare a drink. "Wait do exos even drink?" Cayde just chuckles and says, "It's not essential to our survival but yes, we can. I'll just take a whiskey on the rocks." I prepare him his drink will I make myself the same thing. "Thanks, can't really drink on duty, ya' know?" I simply nod and agree. "So what's up Cayde? Something you need to talk to me about?" He takes another sip of his drink and replies, "Actually yes, tomorrow you two are being assigned to patrol duty, the cosmodrome." I mutter under my breath, "God dammit. I'd prefer the shopping."

Cayde chuckles again and continues, "Okay, we've heard reports of fallen movement in a cave system somewhere in old Russia. We don't have an exact location but we can pinpoint a general area to scope out." "Alright," I shrug, "sounds simple enough." He looks at me and says, "Well no shit sherlock." "Fuck you Watson." We both laugh at our stupidity. He sniffs and says, "No seriously, this will be cakewalk for you, but what about-" "Leslie." He nods in agreement.

Silence fills the room except for the music Leslie is playing from her room. I've never seen her fight. Her shooting is terrible with most of my weapons. Will she survive? She has to, because Cayde trusts me with her. There's no way I'd let him down. "You're right Cayde, but I'll make sure she's back here by the end of the day." Cayde smiles then downs the rest of his drink, "That's why I picked you out of all the Titans." We both get up and Cayde starts to leave. I open the door for him, but right before he steps out he turns to me and holds his hand out in a flexing position. I grab his hand the same way, a handshake between us. "Good luck out there Guardian. Be safe and take care of her." He says. And with that, he leaves.

I finish my drink and head to my room. I don't hear music coming from Leslie's room anymore. I open the door to see that she's knocked out on her bed. I smile then close her door. I enter my room and change to get ready for bed. Right before getting in, I look out the balcony at the Traveler and moon, next to each other like they're the best of friends. "Give me strength tomorrow, alright?" I crawl into bed and knock out immediately

AN: Sorry about the lack of uploads guys. Senior year is a bitch. Thank you thank you so much for sticking around.