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Dawning Special: Not Now

Sorry guys, Holiday seasons sucks for those working in retail. But, now that Christmas is over, I should be able to update more often although, weekly is still kind of pushing it.

Anyways, thanks for all the reviews!

Hush wanted to see the Reef for the Dawning. As a gift, to gain better understanding of the Awoken half of her heritage. And Ianos could not bring himself to say no.

"She is your weakness."

Giving the chuckling Pluto a glare, Ianos then rolled his eyes before heaving out a sigh and burying his face into his hands. The Awoken thought that conferring to the Exo Hunter would be a good idea, as such the reason why the pair were currently seated in Galaxy Clan's living area, and Ianos currently telling his previous Hunter mentor his predicament. He thought wrong on the part where he would gain proper advice.

"Hush spends majority of her time within the Tower where access to the history of humanity is free to everyone." Ianos lifted his eyes and gave Pluto a narrowed look, "the Awoken however, are isolated, secretive, and not very likely to share any part of their history with anyone outside of their precious 'home'. Let alone to a half-blood like Hush."

"Are you not the current King of the Awoken?"

Ianos barely suppressed the groan that had threatened to escape his lips, "I merely temporarily took the throne for Mara's sake, to help keep her people together while she is absent. Not to mention the only reason why they listen to me is because the Queen made it clear that she had been the one to 'select' me."

"Then why not use that to your advantage?" Ianos gave Pluto another blank look, "From what I can understand, the Awoken may not like you, but you are still their King. They have to listen to you even if they do not like it."

"You are implying just to simply bring Hush to the Reef and risk her life and safety amongst a bunch of retrieves by simply saying, 'Hello! I am the King and you should let this child look around your precious home because I say so.'?"

"Not how I would word it but, yes."

"…That is a horrible idea."

"Little Light." Ianos turned his eyes away from Pluto, "I understand why you are concerned for Hush's safety however you cannot hide her forever, especially since she is a Guardian."

"She is a child." The Warlock retorted, "she is younger in years than Ora and she is nowhere near physical maturity. Hush does not need to be faced with the realities of the world so soon."

"… She died of starvation, Little Light." Ianos flinched at Pluto's words, "and you have seen how she reacts towards violence against herself. There is no doubt that Hush has experienced prejudice and abuse before." He heard the Exo Hunter momentarily pause, sensing hesitation, "Despite her young age, I think Hush is already knowledgeable just how 'real' the world is, and I think, she already knows the risks when it comes to visiting the Reef."

Clasping his hands together, Ianos kept his eyes towards the floor, his mind soaking in Pluto's words, "But, she is young, and her body, frail. And with her curiosity of the world, if I were to take my eyes off her for a moment…" His voice faded, his fingers tightening around each other, "even with Crystalline by her side, I cannot help that she is vulnerable when outside of the City. But yet…" He heaved out a frustrated sigh, "I could not bring myself to say no."

Another bout of silence permeated from the Hunter, prompting Ianos to simply take in a breath and close his eyes, contemplating on his current situation.

"Then, perhaps you do not have to say no." Ianos lifted up his eyes and gave Pluto a puzzled look, "but, you can cause a delay."

At first, confused at the Exo's words, his narrowed eyes then widened in understanding, "You want me to tell her to wait until she is old enough to venture beyond earth?"

"Or when she gains proper control over her light." Pluto added, Ianos hearing the blind Exo humming softly, "it might disappoint her, but I have a feeling that the idea of visiting the Reef when she reaches maturity will be motivational enough for her to focus."

Hearing this, Ianos couldn't help the snort that escaped his lips although, his smile quickly faded, "That won't stop the fact that she wanted to visit the Reef as a Dawning gift."

"Well." Pluto started, "You still have Petra on call, correct?"

Immediately frowning at the words of the Hunter, Ianos opted to say nothing as he nodded once.

That is when a smile formed onto the black Exo's features, "Then perhaps calling in for a 'small' favor would not hurt."

Xxxxx

When Ianos found Hush on the morning of the Dawning, she was running around with small bags in her hands, her yellow eyes shining brightly as she went around to every figure in the Tower.

Amanda, Banshee, Tess, Hideo, Jalal, Lakshmi, the Speaker, the Vanguard, and even Eris Morn were given these little goodie bags that Hush had seemingly prepared the day previously.

"She has one for you too." Ianos turned in time to see the familiar glimmer lavender shell of Crystalline, the female Ghost lazily making her way towards him, "Hush just wants to give you yours last."

Letting a ghost of a smile twitch at the edges of his lips at the female Ghost's words, Ianos was grateful that his helmet hid most of his features, "No doubt she wants to delay my answer on the 'gift' she wanted for the Dawning."

A hum can be heard from Crystalline, "So, I am going to take that as a no?"

"Not exactly." The familiar weight left the back of his mind, and moments later, Ace's black and orange shell shook before answering, "Perhaps a disappointing answer, but not exactly a no."

"…What is 'that' supposed to mean?"

Snickering at the female Ghost's words, Ianos then came to a sudden pause as he spotted Hush trotting over to him, a single lone plastic bag in her hands. It didn't take long for Ianos to notice that the bag was decorated with imprints of snowflakes upon blue and tied with a little red ribbon to keep the contents within safe.

This is for you.

Watching as Hush lowered her signing hand to give out her gift, Ianos knelt down on one knee and tenderly took the plastic bag in into his hands, using the edges of his fingertips to feel inside.

No doubt it was a treat of some kind, judging from the way he can feel small circular objects within and he can smell the freshness of its contents through the bag. Perhaps she had made these this morning and not the day previously as he originally thought.

"Well." He looked up to look into Crystalline's impatient optic, "open it up."

Raising a brow at the lavender Ghost's giddiness, Ianos turned his attention back towards Hush, only to see the same beaming look in her eyes. Flashing the child Guardian a wry smile behind his visor, Ianos glanced back towards the bag in his hands and started to untie the ribbon. Although, easily can be opened with one swift movement, Ianos couldn't help but pretend to struggle, letting the small ties slip through his fingertips, and chuckling to himself as he sensed the impatience grow from the younger Guardian. Finally, held a decent grasp onto the ribbon and pulled, letting the string fall to the hearth as opened up the bag. Inside, were cookie shaped Ghosts, all colored the same shade as Ace.

Blinking rapidly at this, Ianos plucked one of the Ace-shaped cookies from the bag and held it up for his Ghost to see, the latter of which also blinked at the image.

"Very accurate." The Ghost commented, "Although, I am not sure how I would feel to see my Guardian eating me."

Choking back a laugh, Ianos regained his composure when he spotted an expectant look upon Hush's face, her hands clamped together in anticipation, "Thank you, Hush. I appreciate this gift."

A small squeal immediately permeated from the child in response to his words, prompting Ianos to let out another smile before pocketing the treats, "I believe it is my turn to give your Dawning gift."

The excitement in Hush's eyes tripled at his words, causing guilt to build up in his chest as Ianos reached to his side and pulled out a knife.

Immediately silence permeated between the pair.

Ianos forced back the guilt into the back of his mind before taking up one of Hush's hands and placing said knife into her palm, "It is from the Reef."

And it was true, unlike the knife of Hunter's this one lacked the hook nearing the end and instead has a dip near the handle, the latter of which was wrapped in leather to help the user keep a better bearing. The blade was like of polished silver and Ianos had ensure to instruct Petra to craft an ornate sheath, the blue and violet colors of the Awoken clear upon the cloth wrapped around its leather body.

"I apologize, Hush." Ianos finally decided to say, "But you are not quite ready to see the Reef." Disappointment can immediately be felt from the child Guardian, "But that does not mean I will never take you here." He saw Hush's eyes immediately perk up, "When you are stronger, more mature, I promise you I will take you to learn of your Awoken heritage, but for now," He took her other hand and placed it on top of the knife, "This is the best I can do."

Feeling her hands slip away from his, Ianos watched nervously as Hush held up the sheathed knife, turning it around in her grasp before finally unsheathing it, her yellow eyes growing wide as the silver glinted under the light.

"I can teach you how to use it." Ianos saw her snap her attention back towards him, prompting the Awoken to motion for her to come close. Taking her hands once more in his, the Warlock focus his eyes on hers, "And remember how you said you wanted to learn how to be a Warlock?"

Seeing her eyes grow bigger, the edges of Ianos' lips twitched as she nodded rapidly, "Well, I did say that your light is more attuned to being a Titan, that does not mean we cannot try to incorporate Warlock techniques in – oof!"

Feeling Hush's weight slam into his chest, panic settled into Ianos' mind as he quickly but gently patted around her shoulders and back, only relaxing when he simply felt the child Guardian snuggle closer to his form. Patting her back gently as he felt her wrapped around squeeze him as hard as she could, Ianos turned his attention upwards towards the Ghosts, smiling wryly as he saw the look of shock upon Crystalline's. For Ace, Ianos can see his Ghost's shell turned upwards, an equivalent of a broad smile as their optic shined brightly.