A day late I know.

Have a good read. Reviews welcome.

Also I do not own Destiny or any recognizable characters.

Zavala POV

It has been two weeks since anyone has seen Tia. Jotun and Hatti are both worried about their friend since she left so suddenly and has been gone so long without any contact.

Jotun actually came close to attacking Cayde after he was finally able to speak again; He admitted to drugging Tia and myself as part of a prank. He claims it was just a short-term knock out drug and that the effects would have worn off a little while after he was able to get us into Tia's room. A day later another Guardian came forward and admitted to helping Cayde and, that it was her drunken idea to strip us and put us in bed together. She at least seemed more apologetic than Cayde did. Then again one of his hunters did get the drop on him and dealt him the beat down of a lifetime. So physical punishment topped with public humiliation should keep Cayde humbled and quiet for a little while at the least.

I am getting ready to leave the command center when Lazarus and Nova come swirling in. I am thrown off to see them together sense Lazarus is Tia's ghost. Could she have returned? Is she okay? "Lazarus, how are you here? Where is Tia?." I ask with urgency.

"Calm yourself, Zavala. Tia is fine." Nova soothes.

"Yes, she sent me to deliver a message and to lead you to her if you are willing," Lazarus adds.

"Tell me the message as you lead me to her," I command. The little blue ghost tilts forward as if nodding before gliding ahead to the ramps that lead to the plaza. He leads me to the north tower towards the bazaar and then up a flight of stairs that lead away from the main tower.

"What is the message, Lazarus?" I prompt. "Right, well, the message is really a moot point since you chose to go to her anyway but really it was an apology for what you witnessed during her attack on Cayde-6." Lazarus spins a bit then adds, "She also wanted me to tell you that you won't be getting your shirt back."

The last comment made me smile. Oh really, depending on what happens after I see her, I can think of a few ways of getting it off of her.

Lazarus informs me that I will need to climb next. "How close are we getting Lazarus?" I ask.

"Just up this wall a short walk across the rooftop then a brief drop, So five minutes depending on how quickly you can scale the wall," Lazarus explains.

I look at Lazarus and then up the wall and the surrounding area. I begin removing my gauntlets and chest armor." Nova starts spinning quickly seemingly panicking. "What are you doing Zavala!" she reprimands.

"If I am to climb then I may as well do it comfortably," I explain to my little ghost. Besides, I would rather see Tia again as the man that I am rather than the Commander she follows.

After I remove the remainder of my leg armor I am left in a thin t-shirt, thick cloth pants, and my boots. I begin my climb. l manage most of it climbing up crates and beams. The rest was a bit trickier since I had to use small bundles of wires and the pipes that were there as hand and footholds. Once at the top Nova asks If I want my armor back which I answer no to.

I watch Nova and Lazarus spin and weave ahead of me. At least they have always gotten along well. Lazarus and Nova both stop and swirl around one another while floating over the edge of the wall. "This is the part where you jump commander." Lazarus states. I glance down and see that it is about a five-meter drop to what looks like a patio landing. "We will both be staying up here commander," Lazarus informs. I nod and after thanking them I take a deep breath, to calm my nerves, and leap.

Tia POV

I sent Lazarus to deliver my message to Zavala a little over an hour ago. I stand and begin pacing the small room. I am starting to regret this decision with every minute that passes. Before I have time to ponder more on regrets I hear something heavy land on the deck behind me. Startled I turn sharply to see Zavala staring at me.

Why do I feel naked under his gaze all of the sudden?

He approaches me slowly reminiscent of a predator, his muscles ripple beneath his tight shirt.

My pulse quickens, my mouth goes dry and my throat feels tight. I glance around noting the absence of my ghost. I attempt to speak but for whatever reason, nothing comes out so I clear my throat with a cough and rasp "Where is Laz?" while looking elsewhere, anywhere that isn't at him.

When he doesn't answer I look back up to see him an arm's length away from me; his eyes intense, dark, expressing something I have never seen in them before. His eyes are so beautiful; As blue as the hottest star.

I am pulled out of my thoughts on his eyes when his hand cups my cheek. "Do what?" I stammer.

"I said, Lazarus and Nova, are still up top," he repeats tracing the rough pad of his thumb over my cheek, his beautiful eyes seeming to follow his thumb, his eyes meet my own and he drops his hand back to his side with a sigh. "Are you alright Tia?" he quietly inquires.

I am entranced by how gentle he has been and miss his touch on my cheek. I decide to file the feeling away for later and think about his question.

Am I alright? After what happened between us I was angry because someone I trusted took advantage of a secret I shared in confidence; then I was scared, terrified really, that I may have hurt Zavala or caused him to hate me more, than I thought he already did, by leaving. Now I am confused about my own feelings. I disliked him for so long and now, now he is the main one who occupies my mind when I am not focused on something else.

I realize that I am biting my lip and looking down at his chest instead of his face when he cups my cheeks with his hands again. I don't even realize I am crying until Zavala's thumbs brush the tears from my cheeks. "Speak to me Tia." he murmurs. I don't believe I have ever heard his voice this soft before, especially directed at me.

I can't help myself. I cover one of his large hands with my own smaller one and I move his hand to kiss his palm, after that I claim both of his hands with my own and lead him to a makeshift couch near the patio and sit.

He looks a bit startled so I do as he asked me to and speak to him. "I feel better than I did a couple weeks ago." I begin, he sits beside me and I continue. "I apologize for leaving without talking to you then but, please understand, I felt betrayed by someone I care for like family." I pause and take a deep breath to calm myself before adding, "I may have overreacted a bit but, he played with my feelings, and I was so hurt and blinded by rage I just acted." I squeeze his hand and look into his eyes. "When you pulled me away and I seen you it was like a bucket of ice water was dumped over my head" I close my eyes and turn away "I was so embarrassed and scared that you would be angry with me for exploding an- ..." he stops me from continuing with a finger on my lips and I can't stop the blush that heats my face.

He smiles and my face heats up more. "I'm not upset with you Tia." He says softly and then adds a bit louder, "As a matter of fact after you left and I put two and two together, I threw Cayde through a wall." He chuckles at my stunned expression and then explains. "I was worried about you and Cayde played with my feelings just as much as he did yours." That sentence throws me off.

"Your feelings?" I choke out in askance. He laughs outright that time. The sound is deep and genuine. "I'm going to have to make him do that more often," I say out loud instead of in my head like I thought I did.

"Make me do what?" he says with a cheeky grin. Damn, when did he learn to be cute?

I examine his face and trace the curve of his lips with the tip of my finger. When I glance at his eyes I see that his pupils are dilated nearly consuming all of the beautiful blues that are usually there.

While I am distracted by his eyes; He sucks my fingertip into his mouth tracing my digit with his tongue after a moment he releases my finger with a pop of his lips. Stop being sexy I'm trying to have a conversation with you!

I am so gobsmacked and turned on that I stutter after he asks what I was saying. "Y-you should laugh more," I state. "Your feelings?" I prompt quickly before he does something else to distract me.