Tia's POV

I am still in disbelief at the morning I have had. I storm into the hanger gaining strange looks from other guardians as I pass.

Where is that slimy interfering prick! I approach the back of the hanger workshop to see my target conversing with Amanda Holiday while examining something on the table between them. I grit my teeth and make my way to where they are huddled up.

Amanda notices me over Nob Heads shoulder and looks fear stricken taking steps away from the table. Nob head notices and, as he begins turning around to see what frightened Amanda, I charge my fists with arc energy.

I let him see me before I strike. My punch lands dead center to his face and my second knocks him to the floor. "Did you think it would be funny playing puppeteer Cayde! Has life in the tower really become that boring for you!" I shout at him uppercutting his jaw, when he tries to stager his way up, knocking him and the table over. "Never again. You will NEVER have my confidence again."

I am so enraged I don't realize when I knelt on Cayde's chest, just that I began emphasizing words with punches. "NEVER" punch "AGAIN" punch "YOU" punch "CONNIVING" punch "PIECE OF" and before I can land my next punch someone grabs hold of my hand and pulls me away and into an armored chest.

I pull away ready to lash out at whoever it was that stopped me but when I see who it is I freeze.

Zavala POV

Headstrong, cunning, reckless, smart, terrifying, and insanely lucky, these are all words I would usually use to describe Tia but, I have never seen her look as broken and hurt as she does standing before me now.

I look at Cayde, crumpled on the floor and propped against an upturned table and then to Tia, who is hugging her waist and looks close to tears and her hands bleeding. Before I am able to say or do anything else Tia transmats out of the hangar.

Then it hits me, Tia and I were both drinking the night before, we never associated casually because just working together almost always ends in a row; this morning we woke up together in her room. After spending an amazing night together each of us not knowing who the other was.

I close my eyes after realizing what happened and extend my hand down to help Cayde stand. Once he is up I slam him through the wall behind him and leave the hangar. Of all the stupid irresponsible things Cayde has done this is low even for him.

I do attempt work but after awhile of looking at the same line in the report I am holding, for fifteen minutes, I know I won't get anything done today, so I go back to my apartment.

Amanda POV

"Hell Cayde, what did you do now?" I ask as I help him up.

Once I have him standing I can see why he hasn't answered me. His face is crushed like a can, his jaw hanging by a bolt, and one of his eye bulbs are blown out. The look is horrific.

"Thank the light that you're an exo. Let's go get your face fixed and then you can explain what that was about and why it happened." That said I throw his arm over my shoulder and help him to a different workstation.

(Earlier that same morning)

Tia POV

The arm that was around me when I fell asleep last night is still there when I am woken by the sun. At least now I can find out who my mystery man is.

I open my eyes to see the light grey arm that I am using as a pillow. So he is an Awoken, nice to know.

I use my fingers to trace the arm around my waist. Last night was wonderful.

The arm around me tightens as its owner stretches behind me. "Morning Sunshine," I say sweetly as he buries his face between my shoulder blades.

He grumbles something back and then slides his fingers up and down my belly. He's so cute. With a smile on my face I grab his hand, kissing his palm then I sit up and stretch.

Zavala POV

The expanse of goose-pimpled lilac tone skin that greets me when I open my eyes has my blood rushing to my nether regions. The expanse of her back is flawless as she stretches. I reach out and stroke down the soft plains of her back and then back up to her shoulders.

I kneel behind her and lightly knead the muscles of her shoulders and upper back planting soft kisses on her neck and shoulders. I hear her let out a soft sigh and slide my hands lower wrapping around her small waist and having her lean back farther so I can give her a proper good morning kiss.

She tilts her head back, her eyes closed. She is so beautiful.

I connect our lips in a series of sweet kisses which she deepens while she turns to straddle my lap. I fist one of my hands in her silky hair and grip her waist with my other. I could do this all day if I didn't have work to do. I slow our kiss and end it with a kiss on the tip of her nose.

We open our eyes at the same moment.

"Tia?" she is the last person I would have thought to be in this situation with. But am I really disappointed? Definitely not.

I focus on Tia again and so far she has been speechless. "Tia are you alright." I move to cup her cheek but before I am able to touch her she stands and moves away in one motion. I'll be honest that stung my heart.

I hang my head a bit because the look of hurt and betrayal in her eyes cuts me like a knife. Without saying anything she grabs clothes at random and runs out the door.

Taking that as a cue to leave I stand and begin gathering my clothes and armor. After searching for ten minutes I give up trying to find my shirt and focus on putting my armor on.

I lock her door on the way out and take the lift up to the upper plaza trying for the life of me to figure out what went wrong. Once the lift doors open an I take notice of a crowd forming at the hangers entrance. Curiosity rules out so I move through the crowd to investigate.

I round the corner and hear someone shout along with the sounds of crunching metal. The further in I get the louder things get.

I found my missing shirt at least. My shirt looks as though it has swallowed Tia whole. She looks amazing, even as she bludgeons Cayde's face in. That thought startles me into action and I grab Tia's arm and pull her to my chest.