Tormented

Sympathy

Here's the other chapter that I promised today! I apologize for updating it so late, the reason was that when I reread it, I was not pleased with one part of the chapter so I completely redid it...took me longer than I had anticipated. Anyway, I also apologize if you expected a lot more 'action' or something of that sort but this chapter is going to have a lot of dialogue...at least I think so.

Update: 5/9/2016

Made some changes to this chapter as when I reread it, wasn't too please on how it turned out. So if you come back and saw something different, you'll know why.

Edited: 9/9/2018

Changed some text to make better sense of perspectives and fixed some text.

"What's the plan now?"

Glancing over from her seat, Neve fixed her blue eyes onto Jordan, the lone Hunter of the team, as the latter tossed his knife into the air and then catching it, repeating the action as she felt his hazel eyes stare back through his brown strands, "Do we still go after Black Death?"

Instead of immediately answering, the female Warlock leaned back in her chair as she sighed, placing a hand over her eyes as she felt the rest of her team stare, waiting.

After witnessing the target of their rage collapse to the floor in an emotional state, Neve had thought it best to retreat back to the Fireteam Blaze's quarters and recompose themselves there. However, instead of retreating to their respective bedrooms as she had anticipated, the female Warlock had sensed the confusion, the uncertainty emanating from her team. As such, the human Guardian had called a meeting to the living area, only to be hit by Jordan's question. She couldn't help but mentally sigh at this; she wonders if being the oldest and most experienced of the team gave her the proper rights to be Fireteam leader.

Lowering her hand to gain a better vantage point of her team, Neve recomposed herself in her seat, straightening out her posture as she took in those present.

Spirit-9 was seated next to her on a three-person couched, the Exo Warlock nervously twirling his hand cannon in his hands as she felt his optics upon her from his seat. This reminded her of the rumors she had heard, rumors of his 'hidden' feelings towards her while in truth, Spirit merely saw her as a model, a 'mentor', especially so after she had saved him back on Venus against a mob of Vex. Although a great asset to the team, Neve still needed to find time to help Spirit's debilitating fear of the unknown hive mind.

Ria-15, a Titan, was seated next to Spirit, her white optics clashing against her red plating and easily dwarfing the smaller Warlock. Although the second tallest, Ria is the youngest of the group having only joined Fireteam Blaze a few months prior after the Vanguard assigned her to fill in the last slot of Neve's team. Despite the short amount of time she had spent with the older Guardians, the female Warlock was impressed on Ria's compromise on teamwork and her gradual growing loyalties for Fireteam Blaze.

Jordan, the lone Hunter of the team, was seated next to the female Exo, the former now fiddling with his knife in his hands as he still waited for an answer. Second in command, Jordan was also the second oldest of the team albeit, by a few months, and like many of his fellow Hunters, he had spent most of his years out in the Wilds. This lead to many believing his time outside had made his skin dark although, he retorts that it is indeed his natural skin color and claims it helps him blend in better with the surroundings when his helmet is absent. Despite his relaxed attitude, if Neve were ever to come to a decision to watch the team's back, and to take her place as leader, Jordan would be the first to come to mind.

Seated on a two-person couch opposite of Spirit was Alyx, a Titan and the Defender of the group. Neve recalls him always running headfirst into enemy lines, using himself as a living shield to ensure the safety of the team and neglecting his own. Despite being the tallest and the lone Awoken, Neve knows no one else as gentle and kind as Alyx, easily seeing the softness in his luminescent green eyes against blue skin, and how well kept his white strands pulled into a low ponytail. Although this doesn't mean he does not know his way around the Crucible.

Next to him was Leonard, or affectionately called Leo by members of Fireteam Blaze, the third and final Titan of the group. Despite this, when Neve first took him in, she was surprised to see just how lean he was compared to his fellow Titans, but then was quick to learn that this did little to stop him from wielding his arc light and charging into battle. From the way she saw his brown eyes narrowing behind his blond strands, Neve can tell that the fair skinned human was sore about the loss in the Crucible, especially so after she heard him silently cursing under his breath.

The female Warlock found herself sighing once more at this, ignoring the concerned stare she received from Jordan; honestly, the entire team had not expected a loss. With their record of wins in Trials and the Iron Banner, they had expected victory to be easily gained, only for the tide to quickly turn with the presence of Pluto and Akiva, the infamous Bull of the Crucible. This of course sent Neve into a spiral of rage; how was she supposed to avenge the death of her husband and unborn child now? Not even gaining the satisfaction of killing the Awoken Warlock in their Crucible match, the human Guardian thought that the next best option was to kill him temporarily. It may not be enough to sate her thirst for vengeance, but it would be enough to sate her anger momentarily. But that was before she heard him scream, seeing him crumple to the floor quaking in fear as he called out to another Guardian that he had seen burn alive.

Shocked at the scene before her, Neve had initially planned to attack, to take him down when he was vulnerable. But then the tears starting flowing, his cries real, 'genuine' in her ears before finally, he was taken away. Despite what he had done, despite the murders he had committed, Neve could not bring himself to attack him in such a state. Her conscience just would not allow it. And now, filled with the knowledge that he had experience horrors that are even beyond the loss of a loved one and a child, Neve found the trickles of doubt flowing into the back of her mind, and finally, she parted her lips to answer her team, "I-"

A loud knock emitting from the door of the team's quarters caused Neve to start, causing her to sit up in alert and snap her attention towards the entry of what Fireteam Blaze call home.

"Neve?" The knocking resumed against after a moment of silence, "We need to talk."

Taking in the familiarity of the voice, Neve found herself standing up from her seat, her eyes blinking rapidly, "Pluto?"

"I was right, you are home." She heard the Hunter answer, "Now I got that confirmed, open up, I am not taking no as an answer." A momentary pause, "I will give you all until three to open this door or I am shooting it down."

That is when Neve heard Jordan let out a choke, "He's joking, right?" She turned to lock onto Jordan's incredulous hazel eyes, "He really isn't going to shoot down the door?"

Fragments of memories of Pluto's outbursts flowing to the forefront of her mind, Neve simply nodded as an answer to Jordan's question, seeing the Hunter's face pale before the next thing she knew, the human Hunter was at the door and swinging it open. There, standing in the entryway, was Pluto, the familiar form of a Scout rifle being loading in his hands.

"Oh, good, you answered," Neve heard Jordan sputter at the Exo's Hunter's words, the female Warlock silently watching Pluto hold up his weapon, a sign for his Ghost, Nix, to take it into his Vault. Or, at least attempt to, as Neve then saw the Ghost in question glide into tip of the weapon, hearing him let out a small 'ow' as Pluto quickly said, "Careful Nix."

"Forgot, scanner."

Raising her brows, Neve opted to say nothing as the viridian Ghost shook his core before their cracked optic flickered, the red light sparking in between the seams before the familiar flash of light of the Scout disappearing prompted the female Warlock to blink, "Done."

This simple action caused the room to go into silence, Neve feeling the eyes of her team go over her shoulders and onto the Exo Hunter and Ghost pair. Then, Leo finally broke the silence, "You have to be kidding me, the two of you are blind?"

Watching Pluto shift his hidden optics over her shoulder, Neve couldn't help but feel like his gaze hardened, watching as his hands folded in front, "Yes, and…?"

"Then how are you able to shoot at us like as though it was nothing?!"

Hearing the frustration in the young Titan's voice, Neve couldn't help but mentally agree with Leo's words, her mind contemplating on how Pluto's sniper shots were able to find their mark despite the lack of his sight. Musing at this, the human Guardian then let a tinge of ire build up in the back of her mind as the Exo Hunter shrugged, "Improvisation?"

"Bullshit."

Agreeing with Leo's statement, Neve then watched Pluto let out another shrug, "Believe what you want to believe." That is when she spotted Nix's viridian form finally glide past the Hunter's shoulder, watching as flashes of light burst through the room before she felt Pluto's blind optics fall upon her, "But for now, I want to speak with you, Neve."

Raising a brow at the blind Exo's words, Neve momentarily contemplated before parting her lips to respond.

"And for what reason?" She glanced over her shoulder to see Alyx standing up from his seat, his eyes glowing menacingly towards the Exo, "Is this about Black Death?"

"His name is Ianos," Neve heard Pluto snap, sensing the glower easily behind his blindfold, "and this matter concerns only Neve."

The female Warlock in question then gave the Exo Hunter a narrowed glance, "What is so important that members of my team cannot tune in on what you want to tell me?"

That is when Neve spotted the slight shift in Pluto's feet, watching his posture straighten as she felt his blind optics turn towards her, "It is about the circumstances of your husband and unborn child's death."

"…. What?" The word slipped from her lips before Neve can regain her composure, tinges of anger slowly filtering to the surface, "If you are here to make excuses for him-"

"I am here to give you the full story." She paused at Pluto's retort, "I believe that despite his insistence on keeping it hidden, that it is time for you to hear the truth." Neve then blinked when the blind Exo threw up his arms in exasperation, "Your attempts on his life are getting out of hand."

At first, giving Pluto a glower, Neve once again paused as she finally took in his words, "Wait? Insistence? Who wanted to keep the 'truth' of my husband and child's death hidden?"

"Oh for the love of-" She saw the blind Exo give her a scowl, "Who else, Neve? Ianos."

No sooner had Pluto answered when Neve heard the room go silent, feeling wide eyes staring down the blind Hunter, "Why would he hide this 'truth' that you claim to know? He was my former teammate, a man that I had trusted to keep Ricard and I safe when I was with child. And he betrayed that trust, and I had been after his life ever since. Why would he- "

"That is what I am here for." Neve couldn't help but frown at Pluto's interruption, her features scrunching together as she asked, "How did you know that he was telling the truth? That this so called 'secret' behind the death of my husband and unborn child was not a lie that he fed you."

That is when the female Warlock sensed any sense of anger, any sense of frustration dissipates from the Hunter as she watched his shoulders slump, and saw the tightness of his jaw loosen, "Because Neve, Neptune and I…Neptune and I were there."

"…What?" Neve managed out as the shock permeated through her body, taking steps back as her blue eyes widen, "No, I remember clearly. It was just Ricard, Ianos, and I down in that pit when that Hive ambushed forced us off the edge." She glanced around momentarily, catching the eyes of her team before turning her attention back towards Pluto, "When we tried to escape Black Death, Ianos turned, shot Ricard in the face and then shot his Ghost before turning and shooting me. He ran off not long after." Neve found her hands lowering to her stomach, echoes of her memory screaming to the front as she recalled the pain in the abdomen, followed by the pain of betrayal as she saw the Warlock's weapon aim towards her head, "and with my death, caused the death of my…" Her voice faded, tightening her grip on her stomach as grief finally filtered to the surface, "my child, my baby." Gritting her teeth, Neve narrowed her eyes as she hissed out, "And it was all because of 'him'."

As she finished, Neve expected Pluto to retort, to take the Awoken's side just as he had done previously. However, instead, she saw him frown, crossing his arms as the Hunter tilted his head in thought, "You are certain that is what happened?"

Anger immediately flared within Neve, "Do you think that I would have forgotten details on the death of Ricard and my child?" She felt the familiar burn of solar light linger around the edges of her eyes, "How can I forget such a betrayal?"

"Then I am to presume that your Ghost shows the same when reviewing back on her memory files?"

That is when Neve came to a pause, her eyes blank as she watched Pluto cross his arms, his head tilted to one side, "You have reviewed the files, correct?"

The female Warlock couldn't help but give the Hunter a glare, "Of course, I have! You expect me to simply take the words of the medics that Ricard and my child were dead?"

"And?"

That is when Neve hesitated, the fire of her anger slowly simmering down as she answered, "Nothing, there was nothing but static from Ula's files." She then straightened her back, struggling to regain her composure as Neve added, "She claimed that the Darkness had turned dense during that time, she could not properly store the files as needed."

No sooner had she finished speaking when the female Warlock immediately sense a glare emit behind Pluto's blindfold, feeling his optics linger over her form. At first, confused by this action, Neve thought that perhaps the Exo Hunter was displeased with her answer and as such, had parted her lips to further explain when she felt her Ghost shift in the back of her mind. This sent another wave of bewilderment to settle within the female Warlock. Although she knows Ula likes to keep to herself and hardly speaks, she isn't the type to run away, at least, not until now, easily sensing the unease permeating from her Ghost. As Neve contemplated on this, the Warlock fixed her blue eyes back onto Pluto as she felt he Exo Hunter's hardened gaze dissipate followed by a sigh.

"Then, how are you certain that your memory is correct?"

Immediately, the filtering anger suppressed within burst from her chest, and Neve couldn't help but pull her lips back into a snarl, "Oh? And how are you so certain that Black Death is 'innocent' of his cowardice?"

"As I had mentioned before, Neptune and I were there." She can sense the stern look in the Exo's hidden optics, watching as he held out his hand and his Ghost's viridian form settled into his palm, "It was true that Ianos had led you and Ricard to the Hellmouth however, it was not intentional." Neve felt her throat tighten, "He had planned to venture on his own but the two of you had convinced him to allow you to tag along. Before the three of you were forced off the edge by the Hive, he sent not only me, but Neptune a frequency for help." A heavy sigh then can be heard from Pluto as the Hunter slowly shook his head, "By the time we reached you three, it was too late."

"Too…late?" Neve repeated, watching as Pluto shifted his hidden optics towards her, "What do you mean, 'too late'?"

Sensing hesitation emit from the older Guardian, the Warlock found herself repeating, "Pluto…"

This prompted the Hunter to tilt his head in her direction, Neve hearing him take a steadying breath, "Ricard's light had been devoured by the Darkness." The female Warlock struggled to keep her face blank, although, she found her fingers trembling against her sides, prompting her to curl them into fists, "This caused him to turn corrupted and he attacked both you and Ianos." She sensed both hesitation and grief emitting from the blind Exo, "When Neptune and I got there, he had already gotten to you, and he…" Neve heard him take in another calming breath, "He had torn you apart, and Ianos was trying to fend him off of what was left of your remains, trying, yelling at him in order for him to regain his sense of mind. But, he was too far gone." Looking away and turning her aqua eyes towards the floor, the Warlock remained silent as she heard Pluto continue, "I did not want to do it but the Ricard we knew, the Ricard 'you' knew was beyond saving. He even killed Retro, his own Ghost." Hearing the Hunter pause, Neve forced herself to fix her gaze back onto the Exo, seeing that he had lowered his blind optics to the floor before hearing him continue, "Ula was able to put you back together however, the intensity of the Darkness and the fact that you had carried another life within you, she couldn't resurrect you and your child. She could only save one. And Neptune and I convinced Ianos that yours was the best option to save."

Taking a few unsteady steps back, Neve found strong but gentle hands linger over her shoulders and arms, and the next thing she knew, she found herself back onto her seat, the room a blur around her.

"I don't believe you," She whispered, curling her fingers into the arm of her chair, "I don't believe…"

How can she believe the words of the Hunter before her when her mind vividly remembers the sounds of shots being fired, her husband crumbling to the floor in a heap, and the Warlock standing there, with weapon in hand? Nothing like what Pluto had described she can recall in her mind.

A sigh can be heard from the Exo in question, "Nix."

Lifting up her eyes in time to see the viridian Ghost nod once, Neve then followed Nix's movements as the latter made their way to the middle of the room. That is when she saw the Ghost's cracked optic flicker, "Normally I would play the recording however, with my optic in its current state, I need a volunteer."

Watching as Nix's broken optic continue to flicker red, Neve couldn't help but give the Ghost a blank stare, wondering how the Hunter's Ghost was able to survive such an injury before she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Momentarily glancing to her side, Neve saw that Spirit had gotten up from his seat, holding out his hand to allow the familiar green shell of his Ghost to materialize into his palm. Watching him walk over to the viridian Ghost, Neve continued to remain silent as the Exo Warlock hesitantly held out his hand, jumping as Nix's broken optic flickered and light then steadily streamed into his Ghost. Not long after, Spirit's Ghost beamed a light of their own however, this one expanded, projecting their light to the middle of the room. It was then the female Warlock spotted several forms taking shape, and although the light from the Ghosts glowed brightly, the setting around the individuals seemed to darken, and the background looked as though it was carved, the stonework making it clear that they were underground.

"We cannot save them both, Little Light."

A voice permeated through the room and immediately, Neve's green eyes grew wide as the setting before the Guardians focused, revealing a familiar form of a Warlock clad in black and blue kneeling over another, his black and white Ghost hovering just over his shoulder. Watching as the former reached out and placed a comforting hand onto his fellow Warlock, Neve's body then went rigid when she finally recognized Ianos, the Awoken having his hand out, and the black and orange shell of Ace can easily be seen as they were held. According to what Neve can see, the Ghost's placement was intentional, a gesture for them to act however, whatever Ianos was trying to do was not working, as he kept holding out his hand over whatever his body was obscuring from view.

Neve remained silent as she watched Ianos shake his head, and kept Ace in their current position, the female Warlock watching Neptune's shoulders droop and a sigh following soon after.

"I-I have to save both." Neve couldn't help the shock that permeated through her body at the tremble in the Awoken's voice, "If Neve wakes up to not only find her husband dead but also her-"

"Her Ghost said she cannot resurrect them both, she can only save one, and the child cannot survive outside of their mother's womb. We did everything we could, Little Light." Neve watched as Neptune's voiced turned somber, his shoulders slumped, "We did everything we could."

It was then a sigh could be heard out of view, quickly reminding Neve that the tragedy before her was taking place in the Exo Hunter's perspective before it quickly shifted, and immediately, the female Warlock took in a breath. There, before her was Ricard's body, his red and blue armor scratched and dented beyond repair and his visor cracked and broken, a singular point near his forehead showing obvious signs of a gunshot and ensuring a quick death.

"We will do what we can to comfort her." Neve can only stare mutely as the attention was back onto the two Warlocks, "However, for now, we have to get out of here. Resurrect her and we will tell her everything back at the Tower."

Silence can only be heard from Ianos although, Neve noticed the way his shoulders slumped as Ace shifted their work, watching their light stream off screen although this time, the familiar glow signified that whatever they were trying to accomplish was now successful. It was then Neve finally spotted Ula's red form hovering barely out of sight.

"No, do not tell her the truth."

Neve snapped her attention back onto Ianos, seeing the Awoken stagger onto his feet, sliding his hand out from underneath Ace's form; the female Warlock saw Neptune reel back in confusion, "What?"

"Let her mind wonder and fill in the gaps. I do not want her to wake up knowing that her husband had turned dark and taken away their child."

"But the darkness here already gotten to her! Might not have tainted her light, yes, but it has affected her mind! Who knows what it will do! It might even make her think that you were responsible for this!"

The scene then showed Ianos glancing back and forth between the bodies of Ricard and herself before a laugh escaped from him although, this one was devoid of any joy, and Neve heard the obvious grief and guilt lingering in the back, "If that is what she wants to believe, then let her. I want her to remember her husband as a Guardian, not as a monster."

That is when the light finally faded from the Ghost's optic, allowing Neve to see the vastness of the living area as she sank into her seat, her eyes wide as she attempted to comprehended on what she had witnessed. Pluto had been speaking the 'truth' and now, seeing it for herself, the Warlock's mind whirled back to her attempts on killing the Awoken, calling him a traitor when in reality, he was none of that.

"Neve?"

Snapping her attention towards Spirit, Neve then noticed not only the looks of concern from the Exo Warlock but also from the rest of her team, easily seeing the worry in their eyes.

"I need time alone." She muttered, and she swiftly stood up and exited the room, ignoring the calls of the Guardians behind her.

Xxxxx

"Traveler, what did you do to her?"

Narrowing his blind optics towards the human Titan of the team, Pluto simply responded, "I revealed the truth." He easily sensed the glare he received for his answer, "What did you expect me to say when I came here? That she was right? That the loss of her husband and child gave her the right to throw accusations around?"

"But look at her now!" He heard Leo snarl, hearing him stand abruptly from his seat only for Pluto hear him stop short; he wouldn't be surprised if one of his teammates had latched onto him, "She's in shock! No thanks to you!"

"Would you rather let her live in a lie then?" The Hunter retorted, giving the Titan a glare, "Let her falsely believe that Ianos was the one who took her family away? Let her believe that if she kills the one supposedly responsible for their death that it would give her peace?"

"But it kept her going!" Pluto couldn't help but jump at Leo's roar, "She had a reason to stay! But now who knows what will happen now that there is nothing keeping her attached here!"

No sooner had the younger Guardian finished speaking when fury built up within Pluto's chest and the next thing the Exo Hunter knew, he had closed the distance between himself and Leo, staring down into what he believes to be the Guardian's features, "What makes you think that she will give up on life? That she has nothing?" He scoffed when the Hunter received silence as an answer, "She has you. All of you." Pluto turned to the rest of the team, "Her Fireteam. Her family. That should be enough to keep her here." The Exo Hunter then scrunched his features together, "If not, then she has never considered you as her comrade in arms."

"How dare you incite-"

"If you are really concerned for Neve, then keep a close eye on her." Pluto ignored the glare he received from the younger Guardian, "I will be back."

"Wait, what?" It was Spirit's voice that lingered in the back as Pluto started taking steps towards the exit, "Where are you going?"

Momentarily pausing, the Exo Hunter mused on the younger Exo's question before finally turning and answered, "Grabbing a friend." He then turned back around and continued on before the team could further question him.

Xxxxx

The female Ghost hovered nearby as her blue optic glanced over her Guardian worriedly, the Warlock in question lying on her side on the bed, and her back turned towards the door. Earlier, she had heard the familiar accent of Alyx tentatively calling out to Neve followed by the occasional knock, although now, it was quiet. This doesn't mean that the Titan was standing outside of the door, more than likely ready to barge in if the female Warlock does anything drastic.

"Ula?"

Shifting her thoughts back towards Neve, the Ghost glided over until she was leveled with her Guardian's face, and immediately, she saw the tired gaze fixating onto her form, "You knew, didn't you?"

Ula couldn't help but recoil from her Guardian's question and instead of answering, she stayed silent, her green optic turning towards floor in shame. Immediately, she heard Neve let out a weary chuckle, "I thought so, from the way you reacted earlier."

"I…" Ula hesitated, forcing herself to lift her gaze and stare back into her Guardian's eyes, "I promised Ianos to stay quiet, no matter what happens. Even if you believed…" Her optic lowered to the floor once more, "I'm sorry."

The Ghost heard a tired sigh permeate from the female Warlock before she suddenly felt gentle hands wrap around her shell, causing Ula to stare as she suddenly found herself being pulled close, and pressed against Neve's chest. Feeling her Guardian tremble underneath her, Ula promptly closed her optic, snuggled closer, and uttered, "I'm sorry."

Xxxxx

Letting out a grunt as Akiva nearly teetered back, Pluto barely had the time to grip the taller Guardian's shoulder and pulling him forward, putting the man back into balance as the latter continued to hum happily.

"Can you not sober him up, even a little?" The Exo Hunter grumbled, easily hearing the sloshing of the bottle that Akiva held in his hand before feeling the Titan in question lean his head back and heard him take large several gulps, "or at least take the bottle away from him?"

"If I was able, I would have done it a long time ago." Pluto heard Lex deadpan, "It was just a miracle that you were able to make Akiva and Aleeza part ways."

Hearing the name of the female Awoken, the Exo Hunter couldn't help but smirk to himself. He knew the twins enough that either refuse to leave the other's side, especially with how emotionally unstable both Guardians were at the moment and after a large intake of alcohol, but, Pluto picked up upon one individual that had caught the female Awoken's interest. Despite the lack of his sight, he can easily sense the way Aleeza would send lustful looks towards Carina, the hum of interest whenever they would make physical contact, and the way the young Exo would gladly accept those responses with a giggle and an invitation. As such, Pluto knew that Aleeza would be more than willing to leave Akiva's side if he were to bring Carina's name up, especially when he gave her directions towards the younger Titan's room, and not long after, she stumbled out of the bar, much to Akiva's dismay. In his drunken stupor, he had called after his sister long after Pluto had dragged the Titan out although, he had quieted down and had taken to drinking the bottle that he had somehow grabbed on their way out, much to Pluto's and Lex's chagrin.

"Where are we going?" Pluto barely caught Akiva's slur before he felt the taller Guardian stumble, prompting the Exo Hunter to lean back to help the Titan settle back onto his feet, "I mean, we're not going to your place, are we? You have a partner to be loyal to, you know?"

At first, confused by Akiva's words, Pluto's mouth hung open when it finally clicked, his blind optics going wide behind his makeshift blindfold, "Fuck no! We are not doing that!" He easily felt the confused look he received from the Titan, "We are bringing you to meet Neve."

Immediately, the curiosity and confusion that he had sensed earlier from the Titan then soured, easily sensing the frown that formed onto the human's pale features, "Neve? Why are we meeting her?"

"Sober enough to understand that much, eh?" Pluto commented as Nix's scans showed that they finally reached their destination, prompting the blind Exo to lift up a leg and slamming his foot against the door, easily hearing it crack against the hinges and slam against the wall.

"Hey! There is such thing as knocking!"

"There is no way I am taking one of my hands off of this lug." Pluto nodded his head towards the drunk Titan as he led him into the room, "someone help me, he still has his armor on and he isn't exactly what you call 'light'."

"I am not that heavy."

"Says the Guardian who weighs a ton." Feeling Akvia shifting his weight onto someone else, Pluto slid his hands off of the human Titan's shoulders and let out a grunt, rolling his shoulders as Nix's scans showed Ria and Spirit lowering the aforementioned Titan onto one of their couches, the latter of which waved them off once he was seated, "Where is Neve?"

"She's in her room, Alyx is keeping an eye on her." Pluto heard the worry in Jordan's voice, "Want us grab her?"

The Exo Hunter nodded, "If you are able that is."

Sensing his fellow Hunter respond with a nod of his own, Pluto then heard the familiar sounds of footsteps rushing out, only for another pair to return soon after. It was then Nix's scans showed Alyx walking in with Neve in his arms, Jordan walking next to the pair as they made their way into the living area and carefully placed Neve on the single person couch. As soon as the Titan and Hunter stepped away from the female Warlock, Pluto immediately sensed the exhaustion emanating from Neve as he heard the latter ask, "What is it?"

Taking note of the weariness in her voice, Pluto then nodded his head towards Akiva, feeling the Warlock's eyes shift over to the Titan in question, "I want the two of you to talk."

No sooner had he finished speaking when a disbelieving snort can be heard from Neve, "Talk? Talk about what? How my husband turned dark and took our child away from me? Or how he lost his entire Fireteam to Crota the instant they encountered him?"

"More than that." Pluto responded, immediately feeling the bewildered stares from everyone as he turned his attention towards the drunk Titan, "Akiva, we need to talk about Maylea."

The sorrow and guilt were prominent from the human Guardian, Pluto hearing the bottle that the Titan had grabbed dropped to the floor and Akiva muttering, "What about her?"

Pluto couldn't help but scowl at the Titan's response, "You always talk about her, talk of how no one will understand your loss." He then nodded towards Neve, easily sensing the confounded look permeating from the female Warlock, "Here is your chance."

A momentary pause then permeated into the room, prompting Pluto to cross his arms and wait.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

The Exo's frown deepened, "Akiva, you know as well as I do that not many things get pass me without me catching word it."

"And?"

"I know of her bloodlines, Akiva," Pluto retorted, hearing the Titan go silent at his words, "I know who her parents are?"

Another momentary silence passed over the room, which was soon followed by the sound of Akiva pushing himself up from his seat, "What makes you think that she was born?" Pluto couldn't help but let frustration build at the Titan's stubbornness, "You know as well as I do that Guardians cannot be born, they are resurrected."

"Unless they are born with a Guardian as a parent." Pluto snapped, clenching his jaws together as he continued, "Maylea was my student, Akiva. Did you think that I would have not seen the signs when I tutored her? Her face, her eyes, her smile. They are all an exact replica of you."

"That means nothing." He heard the human Guardian spit out, "So what if she looks like me? That doesn't mean-"

Pluto had it, "She told me, Akiva." This immediately caused the Titan to go silent, "She told me that you were her father."

That is when the blind Exo heard audible gasps emit from the members of Fireteam Blaze followed by their murmurs of shock; Pluto promptly ignored them, "May told me how you went into the City and how you saved her mother from a bunch of thugs. And about that night the two of you spent together. That night that sired May."

He then went silent, narrowing his blind optics behind his blindfold as he waited before gesturing with one hand where Neve sat. At first, scowling as he heard nothing but silence, the frustration then slowly dissipated when he heard a sigh permeate from the human Titan.

"Her name was Darnell." Pluto barely caught Akiva's whisper, "I met her during one of my many trips to the City. At the market of all places." The Exo then heard him let out a soft chuckle, "She sold fish on her stall and as you know, fish is rare around these parts. So, of course I bought several and I have to say, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made." A sudden pause then permeated through the room before Akiva continued, "I visited her every day after that, buying more of what she had in stock and having an idle chat, if, of course, time permeated it." Another sigh then can be heard from the Titan, "Then, one day, a bunch of thugs came by and decided to bother Darnell, asking for certain 'services' if you know what I mean?" Pluto let out a mental scoff at that, "Cowardly lot, picking on the weak. Just one punch to the face and they were off like a bunch of Dregs. After that, I helped clean up shop and brought her home." Akiva then chuckled, "You know, May wasn't completely telling you the truth when she said it was one night." Pluto couldn't help but imagine a broad grin upon the Titan's pale features, "After that day, it was many nights, and I have to say, if it wasn't for the fact that my duties as a Guardian came first, I would have asked her to marry me." His smile seemed to shine as he continued, "But she was patient and kind, always tending to me whenever I came over with scrapes and bruises, scolding me when I tell her stories my mishaps." However, just as quickly as the joy permeated from the Titan, it also faded, Pluto hearing Akiva let out a sigh, "Then, one day Darnell just upped and left. No note, no sign of why, she never gave me a reason." A short and sad laugh can be heard, "At first, I was hurt. I thought perhaps I had done her wrong, that I had done or said something that caused her to leave me. But, then a few years later, when I exited the Tower to head into the City, May was standing there, bags in hand, a determined look on her face." A laugh then escaped the human Guardian, "She latched herself onto me, claiming over and over again that she was my daughter and refusing to quiet down until I brought her into the Tower. If anyone asked, I just told that I was taking May on a tour, up until I finally managed to hide her in my quarters. From there, I took some strands of her hair and took it to Matt and sure enough, it was a match." A sense of melancholy settled over Akiva's shoulders, "That's when I realized why Darnell left. If I had known that she was with child, I would have abandoned my duties as a Guardian, left the Tower completely to help care for our child." Akiva then sighed, "She didn't want me to be distracted."

Hearing Akiva pause, Pluto opted to remain silent as the familiar hum of a Ghost's light permeated through the room, Nix's scans showing Lex having moved over and had started beaming his light over the Titan's form, more than likely sobering him up. It became more apparent when the human Guardian then continued, "I knew the dangers of children born from Guardians and as such, I kept her secret from everyone by hiding her in my apartment, only letting her out to gain some sun." A guilty chuckle can be heard from the Guardian, "I know that may sound cruel but, I didn't want 'anyone' to know, even my closest friends, in fear that somehow, they will let slide that she was my child." Akiva paused momentarily, "I thought she would despise me, for hiding her away and practically keeping her imprisoned. But, to my surprise, she held no hate for me and instead, said she completely understood my decisions, my choices. As such, I promised her that I would find a way to let her outside, to be out in the open without fear of anyone discovering her identity." The warmth that Pluto had sensed earlier then faded, slowly being replaced with grief and sadness, "I just did not expect the solution to be a Ghost that had found her way inside our apartment."

Another pause, this one followed by Akiva taking in a deep breath; Pluto wouldn't be surprised if the Titan had closed his eyes in an attempt to keep himself together. After all, it's never easy recounting the deaths of loved ones, let alone a child.

"Honestly, I was hesitant when May reached out and connected with her Ghost," Pluto heard Akiva admit, "but the way her eyes lit up and how the two chattered excitedly, I decided that it was for the best." Another deep breath from the Titan, "We made a false background. Maylea 'May', a Guardian found and resurrected in the Cosmodrome. Like many, she recalls nothing of her past or her surname and eventually took up a mantle as a Hunter." That is when the warmth settled back over Akiva's form, Pluto easily sensing a smile, "She was so happy when she received her first cloak and when we formed a teamed together. She finally got to spend time with her Guardian dad. The rest of the Chargers, they came along not long after." A sad chuckle can be heard, "We were all such a happy family." Once again, melancholy settled back over Akiva, "I never told anyone this. That day, the day of the raid, a terrible feeling overcame me. I couldn't explain it but, something in the back of my mind kept telling me that something was going to happen, something bad. I was confused at first but, then one of the Chargers brought up the problem of Crota, and majority voted to take him down."

Taking in Akiva's words, Pluto couldn't help but release tinges of sympathy, especially so when Akiva continued, "I had asked May to stay at the Tower but, she insisted on going. Her duty as a Guardian comes first, I remember her saying, that the fate of the City and the entire Sol System was more important than her life. So, I relented." Hearing the Titan shift in his seat, the Exo then heard Akiva take in another breath however, unlike the one before, this one was unsteady, filled with emotion, "She thought she could distract him from behind but, Crota … Crota he-" That is when Pluto finally heard the human Guardian's words crack followed by his muffled voice, "I should have made her stay, I should have left her behind." A sob escaped Akiva, "Traveler, my sweet little girl. Why did you take her away from me?"

Hearing his fellow Guardian grieve, Pluto couldn't stop the pungent of guilt building up in his chest, especially so when Nix's scans showed the Titan leaning over, his face buried into his hands. Maybe he shouldn't have made Akiva tell Neve and Fireteam Blaze about May, at least, not like this. As such, Pluto took tentative steps forward, a hand raised to comfort the Titan, only to pause as Nix sent more scans, and this one sent Pluto reeling. It showed Neve standing from her seat, slowly approaching the grieving Titan before taking a seat next to him, and slowly, she placed a comforting hand onto Akiva's shoulder. The human Titan's reaction was immediate, lifting his face away from his hands as Neve then reached out with her other hand and gently pushed his hands down until they were in his lap.

"No matter the age or time of death, a loss of a child is always difficult." He heard Neve say, the weariness still present in her voice however, a tinge of emotion can be heard, "As such, whenever a fellow Guardian offered their apologies of my loss, I always brushed it off. How can they know that sense of loss? The loss of your own flesh and blood?" A sigh then can be heard from the Warlock, "My child may not have been born into this world, but it was enough for me to be blinded by grief and rage that, I have not considered that there would be another Guardian out there, within this very Tower, who had experienced that pain of loss. And, perhaps in a worse tragedy than I." It was then Pluto watched through Nix's scans as Neve took both of Akiva's hands in hers and heard her whisper, "I was never able to raise a child since mine was lost before it could even have a chance to take its first breath. So, if I may ask, how was it? Raising May?"

No sooner had the question left Neve's lips when Pluto took in a hitched breath, shifting his blind optics towards Akiva as his Ghost continued to send scans, waiting for the human Guardian to retaliate. As such, he was taken off guard when the silence was soon filled by a quiet chuckle, "I wasn't present when she was born but, when I took her under my care, she would always ask questions, especially when it came to my life as a Guardian."

Standing there mutely as he listened to the two Guardians converse, Pluto then found his shoulders slumping in relief, a small smiling forming onto his metallic features before quietly letting out a soft whistle. Feeling the eyes of Neve's Fireteam snap towards him, Pluto then nodded towards the other rooms, a sign to give the Titan and the Warlock some privacy. Although he easily sense reluctant stares aiming his way, Pluto then nodded with satisfaction when he heard silent footsteps leave the room, signaling to the Hunter to tune in on the pair a moment longer before finally exiting, closing the door behind him as to give the two some peace.