Tormented
Coping
Okay, I said this was going to be the epilogue but after writing it out, I realized it's not much of one so this is the last chapter and the 'real' epilogue will be out later today. Shouldn't take too long; if I were to take a guess, it won't surpass 2-3k words.
Also announcement.
It's really nice seeing all these characters you submit and I really had fun putting them in. But, as the list I have is starting to get on, sadly, I have to that I am no longer accepting characters. Starting today, March 15, I won't accept any characters. If you submitted a character beforehand, your character will make an appearance in the sequel and once again, I apologize for the long wait for their appearance.
Thanks to Lazypersons, Mantic64, The Great Wolf 177, PashHanin, RainbowOverload, Guest, and Zeak106 for the reviews!
PashHanin - You're welcome ^_^
RainbowOverload - Aaaaaagh! I'm sorry! QAQ
Guest - Yeah, pretty much you're right lol. Don't worry, things get better...maybe :3
Ianos is finally awake, as such, Pluto found himself back in the Awoken Warlock's room, but not for the reason to visit him; it was to give the him news.
They found Aleeza.
Some unfortunate newborns found her body first during the early hours of morning; not even a few hours old and already they're seeing the dark side of Guardian life. According to the Guardians who were sent on scene, they couldn't recognize her; the only reason they were able to identify Aleeza was from the data they can attain from Lena's broken form back at the top. As such, just a few hours earlier, the surviving members of Fireteam Redacted, both former and active, received the news of her death.
Having returned to his quarters by then, Pluto was, at first, taken by surprise; he knew that Aleeza would be deeply affected by Carina's death but he hadn't anticipated the female Warlock taking her own life because of it. But as the swirling emotions settled within him, it slowly started putting itself together. From what he can gather about the female Warlock, she had lost countless others long before she had met her twin and Carina, and Pluto can guess that the female Titan's death is what had pushed her over the edge.
With this in mind, Pluto at first planned to visit Akiva, having expected the human Titan to already have received the news, only for Nix to quickly respond that Ianos had awoken and as such, here he stands near the entrance, his red optics focusing on the weakened Warlock lying on his bed.
Just as Nix had stated, Ianos was awake, sitting upright in his bed with his hands folded on his lap however, he looked haggard, tired, and his vibrant orange hues stared blankly ahead, their glow seemingly dim as Pluto slowly approached his side.
Unsure of how to bring up the deaths of not one but two of their Fireteam members, Pluto decided to start out with a question, "How are you feeling?"
"Like as though I shouldn't be here. Alive." Pluto flinched at Ianos' response, the male Awoken's words holding a tinge of weariness and remorse, "Body is sore and numb, most likely from the drugs that Matt is pumping into my system."
Pulling up a chair to take a seat next to the Warlock's bedside, Pluto decided to add, "Matt just told me that he is upgrading your system. He says it should be finished soon and that you would be able to-"
"Carina is gone, isn't she?"
Pluto paused immediately at Ianos' question, his silence a sign for the Awoken Warlock to continue, "Just because I was half conscious inside of Ace, doesn't mean I am not completely out of touch with my surroundings. I was aware enough to hear the cries of grief emitting from Aleeza."
Quiet once more, Pluto shifted uneasily in his seat before heaving out a sigh, "Speaking of Aleeza…"
"She's gone too?"
The Exo Hunter reeled back from Ianos' words, "How did you…?"
"Remember those drunken nights we would have together? As a team?" Pluto's mind struggled to pull the pieces together, "It's strange really. How being the only one sober enough to remember all the events while the rest of you all don't seem to remember a thing." The Exo Guardian then heard Ianos let out a scoff, "You're lucky, you're the type to let your mind drift off when you're drunk, the others, they rant and let off secrets that they shouldn't be saying."
Narrowing his optics in thought, Pluto stayed quiet, letting his curiosity get the best of him as Ianos continued, "Aleeza, she told me her life story. How she had always wanted a child, a family. However, she is barren, unable to carry children even in her second life. As such, she told me of her envy towards Akiva, and how the only reason she has both a stable mind and relationship with him was Carina. She was the only reason why she wanted to stay."
A heavy sigh then escaped the male Warlock, "It was just a guess that would she follow Carina into death, and I had hoped I was wrong but from your reaction, it seems I was correct."
Momentarily silent as he took in Ianos' words, Pluto let out a nod, "Yes, you are."
Another sigh from Ianos, although this time, he decided to remain quiet, causing Pluto to keep his gaze on the weakened Warlock as the silence permeated throughout the room.
"How do you do it, Pluto?" The Exo Hunter jumped at Ianos' question, "Every single individual I had met throughout my life, especially Guardians, always seem broken, falling apart when they lose a loved one."
"You didn't."
A dry chuckle escaped the weakened Warlock, "Oh? Then what do you call that time when I asked for a solo mission to the Moon after I lost both Ari and Zakai?"
Pluto remained silent at Ianos' question.
"I had lost many throughout my life, but you, Pluto, you had lost not only your clan, but your brothers, your sisters, your siblings, your 'family, and your lover." Once again, the Exo Hunter remained quiet, "But yet, you remain strong, tethered to the world of the living and continued to take steps forward. How?"
Instead of immediately responding, Pluto waited, watching Ianos taking steady breaths as he watched Ace's orange optic glance back and forth between him and the Warlock. This wasn't the first time the Exo Hunter had seen Ianos in this state; fragile, hopeless, and lost. He had seen him like this on several occasions, although the worst is when he lost both his lovers: one to the event of the Great Disaster and the other scouring the workings of the Darkness in a vain attempt to bring the former back. Although the one he sees now is not as severe, the emptiness he sees in the Awoken Warlock's gaze was enough to tell Pluto to wait, to wait until the boiling emotions of loss and grief stills just enough to finally respond.
"For the reason they wouldn't want me mourning their deaths when there are others out there who need help."
That's when Pluto saw Ianos turn his eyes and saw the haggardness and weariness more clearly in his gaze; the Exo Hunter took it as a sign to continue, "I would imagine them standing next to me during my most vulnerable moment and I would ask myself, how would they react if they see me like this? Debating between life and death?" Pluto watched as Ianos shifted his gaze away, "Knowing my Clan members, they would have wanted me to stand firmly on my feet and continue on, not wanting me wandering in the past especially with their deaths."
"You make it sound so simple."
Concern flashed over Pluto's optics as the Exo Hunter glanced over at Ace, the latter of which scrunched their parts together before gliding over to Ianos' lap, prompting the male Awoken to delicately wrap his hands around his Ghost's shell.
"Death would be less complicated."
No sooner had the words left Ianos' lips when Pluto immediately reached over and clamped his hand around the Warlock's arm, causing the former to snap his gaze towards the latter.
"Don't you 'dare' say that." Pluto snarled out, watching Ianos blink in response, "death being less complicated? How would the others react when they figure out you're dead? Angel? Akiva? Me?" Ianos' eyes fell back towards his hands, "Losing someone to death is hard, yes, but that doesn't mean you take your own life to ease the pain." His shoulders sagging, Pluto tentatively released his grip on the Warlock's arm before reaching up and placing a hand onto his shoulder, "There are friends for a reason, Little Light. They will help you get through this. Do you not think that we wouldn't ease each other's sense of loss after Carina and Aleeza?"
"You didn't have anyone 'out there'," Pluto sighed at Ianos' statement, "You were alone out in the Wilds, how did you get support of 'friends' when you had no one else around?"
"Do you forget about our Ghosts?" The Exo Hunter heard the Awoken Guardian pause, "No matter what you think, Little Light, you are 'never' alone, especially when you have Ace with you." A soft smile then formed onto Pluto's metallic features, "Did you think I got through the death of my Clan alone?"
That's when Pluto noticed Ianos' fingers caress the edges of Ace's shell, watching the black and orange Ghost glance up at the male Awoken's face.
"I had expected this team to be the one I would see the end with." Pluto blinked at the Awoken Guardian's words, "they were not the longest team I have been with but, they held the most potential." A soft chuckle escaped Ianos' lips, "Unless you count Zakai and Ari but maybe that's just me playing favorites."
Seeing the look of fondness fade in Ianos' eyes, Pluto couldn't help but let his mind wander back to the two Warlocks. He never knew the two personally but he had met them enough that he knew they kept Ianos happy, bright, and hopeful; more for the reason that the Exo Hunter knew that he was safe. And the more heartbreaking when Ianos lost them both. Soon after, the incident on the Moon occurred and since then, the Awoken Warlock had attempted to avoid working with other teams.
Although he wasn't present, Pluto had heard of the previous Fireteam before Redacted had insulted Ianos; the Vanguard had attempted to force a team on him despite his protests. Apparently, not long after, the two Guardians who he was assigned with then claimed that he had abandoned all his previous Fireteams to their deaths, which was the reason why he would always walk away as the lone survivor. Despite the fact that he wasn't present, Pluto knows Ianos all too well that the two Guardians had said something more than just him being a survivor; it had to directly correlate to the late Fireteams, otherwise, he wouldn't have reacted as violently as he had heard. The two Guardians who had insulted him were lucky that the Vanguard had reacted quickly enough to save their lives.
However, despite his protest of not wanting to work with a team, Pluto can easily tell Ianos had gotten attached with Fireteam Redacted. How he would ensure to be the back of the team to watch their backs or taking frontlines whenever they take heavy fire. Or how he would be the first to check up on them, hiding his concern behind strict words and sneers. He was attached.
And now with Pluto himself absent from the team and both female Guardians out of commission, Fireteam Redacted was down half of their original firepower. With Ianos having experience countless losses already from previous Fireteams, it was no wonder he is struggling to cope.
"You still have Angel and Akiva," Pluto watched once again as Ianos turned his tired gaze towards him, "the two of them are going to need you, especially after House of Spirit's relocation and Akiva's loss of his twin." He then let out a soft snort, "And their 'potential' isn't lost, if that is what you are concerned about."
No sooner had he said this when Pluto spotted the edges of Ianos' lips twitch upward. Progress.
"And even though I am not part of the team anymore, I am still here." The Exo Hunter saw Ianos blink, "So, if you need anything, just come over and ask me." He then let a small smile spread onto his metallic features, "And if I am not enough, I am willing to bet the Clan is more than willing to help. You are part of the family as well."
Seeing Ianos turn his focus back onto Ace's form in his lap, Pluto waited patiently, watching as the Awoken Warlock gently tapped the side of his Ghost's shell.
"We're still keeping the name, right?"
It was subtle, but the joking tone in Ianos' voice was enough to let most of his concern ebb away; it was still there in the edges of his mind but, it faded enough that he knows that Ianos is stable, at least, for now. With this in thought, Pluto finally let his hand fall from Ianos' shoulder as he leaned back in his chair and smiled, "Of course, it wouldn't be Fireteam Redacted without the name, right?"
A faint chuckle was his answer.
Xxxxx
If Hope had known the frequency she received would be the news of Aleeza's death, she would have kept the message to herself; help give Angel more time to grief over Carina's passing. It was unfortunate that thought never crossed her mind as she let the message play from her core when the two woke up to the bright rays of early morning.
The look of shock was instantaneous on Angel's face, the human Hunter's green eyes going wide before he abruptly turned and staggered over the makeshift table in their quarters, leaning his hands against it as Hope quietly glided over.
"Angel?" She tentatively called out, her auditory sensors picking up the heavy breathing of the young Guardian as she watched Angel's hands grip the edge of the table tightly, hearing the scrapping of his nails scratch the top.
"We're leaving." Hope reeled back at his words, watching as the young Hunter turn his gaze towards her, tears freely falling from the edges of his vision, "We're leaving the Tower. Today."
Hope widen her green optic, "W-what? I know we like the Wilds and all but why now? Don't you want to be around for-"
"I can't!" The white and red Ghost recoiled from Angel's sudden outburst, "I can't… I need some time. To grieve. Alone."
Concern flashing in her green optic, Hope twirled her back fins as she contemplated before bobbing once, "Alright, I'll message the Vanguard to ensure they know about our leave." She then glided over and pressed herself against the side of her Guardian's temple, "Let's go to the Wilds. Let's go home."
Xxxxx
They had yet to completely clean the blood.
As such, Akiva had a clear idea where his sister had landed as the workers went around to cleaning up the 'mess'.
He had received news of his twin's death just an hour earlier and as such, had rushed down to the bottom of the Tower, arriving just as the civilian workers were at work. He had taken the stairs and elevators to reach the bottom floor, as such the reason why it had taken him so long; normally he would have just jumped off the Tower and gradually slow himself down with his lift, but having been tasked with watching his son while Neve went to the Medical Wing to check up on the status of their unborn children, jumping off the Tower with Ora in his arms was not an option.
Watching the workers spray the area of where his twin had landed with a liquid, Akiva couldn't help but tighten his grip around Ora's form, quickly relenting his tight grasp as the sleeping child let out small whimpers of protest before shifting positions and falling back to sleep; his child was oblivious to the death of his aunt.
Fixating his golden hues onto the red stain in the concrete, Akiva watched as the workers used rags and mops to smear the red around, picking up the blood before cleansing their tool in water and then repeating the process. Soon, the red stain was gone and the human Titan watched as the workers started packing their equipment. Not long after, Akiva found himself alone, his gaze still fixated on the spot where his sister had landed.
Why?
Immediately, Akiva reprimanded himself for asking such a question. He knows clearly why. His twin had told him stories of her years as a Guardian, especially the decade when he had yet to be resurrected; alongside her losses.
Carina was not the first lover she had lost to the Darkness.
According to her, she claimed that she had lost many to the Darkness and that she told him that Carina was going to be her last; his naivety thought she meant she was never going to find another but yet continue her duty as a Guardian. He was foolish to think that way.
And how foolish he was for shrugging his sister's envy to the side.
He had always known about her jealousy; he had first noticed when Ora was first born, how her crimson gaze narrowed as he held his then newborn son in his arms. At first, he had been worried but after how he saw Aleeza care for Ora, he had shrugged it off; it never had occurred to him that she had only hid her feelings of envy behind a false mask. Perhaps if he had took note of it earlier, then perhaps…
Perhaps…
"Staring at the spot where she died isn't going to bring her back."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Akiva turned his golden hues towards the familiar gold and crimson Ghost, the latter of which twirled their back fins as they added, "What are you going to do? Expect the mass of flesh they just cleaned up to reform together and come back to life?"
"Gaia." It was Lex who spoke, his Ghost narrowing his golden optic at Gaia's own, causing the gold and crimson Ghost to let out a scoff, "What? Try and console your Guardian that everything will be alright?" Akiva's Ghost pause was enough of an answer for Gaia, "Sun and I learned years ago that 'babying' isn't going to stand out. Reality is reality."
"Easy for you to say, you hypocrite."
"Hypocrite?!"
"You two please," Akiva felt the Ghosts' gaze turn towards him, "You'll wake up Ora."
It was a lie. Little Oraxsis slept perfectly just fine with the two Ghosts arguing; in retrospect, he actually sleeps better when the two Ghosts are chatting nearby. Akiva just wanted silence; respect for the death of his twin. And time to think once more.
Back before he had met Neve, back before he became a father, Akiva silently made a promise to himself that wherever Aleeza goes, he would follow; even if it means jumping into the abyss of the Darkness. But now, with a family, the thought of following his twin into death made him hesitate; was he being selfish for wanting to live for his family? Or was he doing the right thing? Wanting to be around for his children so they could have a father?
"E-Excuse me?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Akiva forced his gaze away from his sister's area of death and focused his gaze towards a woman, a civilian from the pieces of cloth draped over her shoulders as she slowly made her way towards him. Next to her, stood a little girl, happily leaping as she kept her hand wrapped around her mother's.
"A-are you here to speak to the Guardians?" Sensing the nervousness in the edges of her tone, Akiva blinked before he responded, "No, but if it were any help, you may speak to me."
It was then, he watched the mother fidget side to side before turning her gaze towards the girl, "Mei, would you like to show them Retro?"
No sooner had the mother let the question slip from her lips when the little girl's eyes lit up before gently removing her hand from her mothers and slipping off the pack she carried on her back. Letting out a small smile as the little girl struggled to open the top of her pack, the smile quickly faded as Akiva's golden hues widen as the familiar form of a Ghost hovered out of her bag.
"Hello." It chirped.
K, leaving things here.
Epilogue will be out later today :D
Hopefully XD
