Redacted
Why?
(Squints at date) Has it really been 'two' months since I last updated this!? I didn't think it was that long! Anyway, decided that from now on, chapters are going to be shorter for the reason that I can get updates out 'sooner'. I feel like my 6k-7k word limit is really hurting to length of time to get these updated. Hopefully 3k-4k words per chapter will be enough to help get this contantly updated :p
"We can't go back."
Although scowling at Akiva's words, Orion couldn't help but mentally agree. They can't go back to the Revenant base, not after Angel had killed one of their numbers. Thinking about the Guardian, Orion found himself glancing back towards the aforementioned Hunter, seeing him tending to the worst of the Eliksni, the white shape of Abraxos following not too far behind.
It wasn't long after Angel had killed the Revenant Titan that Orion tackled him to the floor, pulling him away from the pile of Dregs that he had taken refuge him and gave him a good solid punch to the face. Orion wasn't sure if that was the proper response but, he did expect Angel to fight back at least, especially telling that he had heard a solid 'crack' when his fist connected with the Hunter's face. However, instead, Angel simply blinked, slid himself out from underneath Orion, and then stalked off as he wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand. The Titan was too surprised to really take it in, but thinking about it now, judging from the Hunter's expression then, it seemed he wasn't too surprised by the retaliation.
Nonetheless, they now have a grieving and angry Warlock in their hands, the latter of which is currently being guarded by Akiva, his fellow Titan standing with an auto rifle in his hands over the Revenant. Their newfound 'prisoner' was seated upon the cave floor, knees to his chest, arms wrapped around his legs and glaring the best he can at them. Orion would have taken it seriously, if it wasn't for the tears that stained his face. It seemed that he and the Revenant Titan had known each other longer than what Orion can guess.
"No, I don't think going back is a good idea either." Orion agreed, heaving out a sigh as he then added, "But what else are we going to do? We can't just let him go, not when the others are deep within the Revenant base."
"But we also can't keep here either." Akiva argued, Orion seeing his fellow Titan move as if to shift his attention towards him but then halted, his wide eyes sticking to the Revenant, "True there's more of us than him, but that doesn't mean he can't do serious damage by the time we take him down."
"Then kill me." The Revenant Warlock suddenly spat out, "murder me, just like what you did to Onosi."
"Oh for the love of – I didn't murder him!"
Frowning, Orion turned around to spot Angel clearly looking their way, his forest green eyes narrowed as he added, "The two of you were attacking 'defenseless' Eliksni and I wasn't just going to sit back and let the two of you 'kill' them!
"Angel, please."
Listening to the Hunter grumble under his breath at Akiva's pleas, Orion was just grateful enough that Angel turned his attention back to the Vandal he was tending to. Although, he can easily spot the side glances that the Hunter was sending their way. This prompted Orion to turn his attention back towards the Warlock, "Look, no matter what you think or how it looks like, we are 'not' going to kill you."
This immediately earned him a glower from the Revenant, "Your 'friend' there killed Onosi like it was 'nothing'."
Well, Orion can't argue with that.
"That's… that's Angel?"
"Really?" Turning his attention towards Akiva, Orion couldn't help but give his fellow Titan a blank look. In turn, he received a shrug, "You have to admit it's really the only answer."
And greatly out of character.
But Orion wasn't going to say that in front of the Revenant, especially not after how easily Angel pulled the trigger on his partner.
"Have a name?"
Sudden change in topic but it seemed to be the right action, if the right action was the Warlock narrowing his eyes and giving him a bewildered look. Nonetheless, Orion didn't receive an immediate answer, instead another glower as he watched the Revenant part and shut his mouth repeatedly. It didn't take much to understand that the question caught the human off guard.
"Taylor."
Orion couldn't help but raise a brow at the name, "No surname?"
This earned the Titan another bitter look, "If I can recall it, I would have taken it but alas, my memory is not like you Exo."
Unsure of whether to take it as an insult, Orion pondered if he should tell him that no, he can practically recall 'nothing' of his former life. But, as he heard the Warlock scoff and turn his eyes towards the cave floor, Orion brushed it to the side.
"Orion-56" He started out uncertainly, his optics scanning the Warlock any reaction, any small movement as he nodded his head in Akiva's direction, "The Titan is Akiva Wahl."
"H-Hey."
Seeing Akiva give a subtle wave to the Revenant Warlock, Orion then quietly debated with himself before adding in, "And Hunter is Angel."
"Anand. Angel Anand."
Glancing over his shoulder to track the movements of the Hunter, Orion couldn't help but blink in response to Angel's outburst, unable to form words as the aforementioned Chosen stood up and finally proceeded to check on Vraldyks. Seeing this, the Exo then scanned the cave and couldn't help but let out a breath of relief as he spotted all, even the Captains, seem to regain strength. Even the Dreg that had been shot, seemed to be able to push themselves upright despite the bandages pressing against their chest. Now just need to get the Baron back on his feet to help gather order into this small pack.
"Anand?"
The whisper from Taylor was barely audible to Orion, but it was enough to catch the Titan's attention once more, "What?"
Instead of gaining a response, Orion stood at ready as the Revenant Warlock gradually pushed himself onto his feet, staggering a bit but nonetheless was able to keep his footing. It took Orion a moment to realize that his eyes now upon Angel's form.
"Are you telling me that that 'murderer' is an Anand?"
Orion couldn't help but pause, staring blankly at the Warlock as Akiva voiced, "Wait, you heard that name before?"
"Who 'hasn't'?" Taylor hissed out, his fair features scrunching together to show his frustration, "Who else helped Clovis Bray build the Exo?"
No sooner had the words left his lips when silence permeated through the cavern; even the clinks of Angel messing with Ether cannisters was absent.
"Build?" It was Akiva who broke the stunned hush, "What do you mean 'build'?"
Another scoff from the Revenant Warlock, "Do you think that something as intricate and advanced as the Exo were created by one person? One house?" Taylor paused, as if waiting for answer, only for his shoulders to slump and displeasure once again flashing in his tone, "Tower history cannot be 'that' misinformed?"
"They're working on it."
Seeing the Warlock roll his brown eyes in response to his words, Orion opted to remain quiet, especially telling when the Revenant continued, "Anand is another distinguished family that played a large role in the advancement of the Golden Age, it was even said that they were on par with the Brays, a friendly rivalry according to the texts." That is when Orion saw Taylor turn and glare at Angel once more, "To think that 'he' is one of their number, what a surprise-"
The Warlock's words were suddenly cut off as a knife embedded into his shoulder, Orion jumping as the Revenant then let out a startled shout. Seeing Taylor stumble back until he pressed himself against the cave wall, a hand gripping the handle of the weapon, Orion took the opportunity to turn his attention towards Angel, parting his lips. Only he paused as his optics locked onto the Hunter's forest green, seeing the anger and bewilderment lingering in his eyes.
"How was I supposed to know that my mother and I were part of this 'distinguished' family?" He heard Angel snarl, Orion spotting a mix of both arc and solar light lingering near his eyes, "from what I can recall, it was just and always have been 'us'."
Stunned silence permeated throughout the cave, Orion unable to form words at this revelation. Then, moments later, Akiva broke the silence, "You remember everything, Angel?"
The Titan's words struck a chord within Orion; he had always presumed that the Hunter was just like them or at least, like Akiva. Fragments of previous life forgotten or forgotten completely, the only remnant left is his name. Then again, it should have occurred to Orion that Angel had regained memories; why else would he be adamant on using 'Anand' in his name despite going nearly five years without it? The Exo paused momentarily; 'when' did he regain the memories of his previous life?
Curious, Orion pulled himself out of his thoughts, turning his optics towards the Hunter in expectance of an answer. However, to his disappointment but understanding, Angel simply remained silent, his eyes narrowing, tightening his lips together as if to rein in his silence, and then turned his attention back towards Vraldyks. Hearing the Baron let out a low rumble before giving the human Hunter a concerned look, Orion took this opportunity to turn his focus back onto the Revenant, ignoring the glare that the latter was ending towards Angel's way as he pulled the knife from his shoulder.
"Your partner, Onosi, correct?" This immediately caught Taylor's attention, "What kind of rites does the Revenants perform for their dead?"
Xxxxx
"It has been a while since we have taken the bond from the vault, correct?"
Opting to say nothing at Ace's comment as the Ghost hovered nearby, Ianos simply rubbed the ruined fabric between his fingertips, his eyes tracing the burned edges.
He remembered the day of Zakai's 'death' easily, recalling the moment when he was returning from a mission outside of the City when their shared quarters exploded, plumes of smoke filtering from the shattered building. It had taken Ianos only moments to realize the source and forced his way to the crowd only to find their apartment burning and it took them hours to put out the flames for the reason that they were of darkness in origin. All they found afterwards were charred fragments of Zakai's coat and his bond, the glimmering energy of their shared light gone from the broken crystal. With witnesses claiming that they never saw the Natural-born leave their quarters and with his light last felt in the vicinity of the explosion, it was only natural that they concluded that he had perished in the blast. And he had mourned for 'centuries' over that.
"Ianos."
The call was quiet, almost silent to the point where Ianos had nearly missed it. He was unsure of whether it was fortunate or not that the twins and Hush were curled around his form, the latter of which had laid her head upon his lap as she rested, allowing nothing but silence to linger in the room. Otherwise, he doubted he would have heard it.
"Preceptor."
He decided to acknowledge the Revenant's presence in the room, keeping his eyes focused on Nine's form as the latter continued to coddle Eidr, the infant already asleep in the senseless Exo's arms. If he hadn't, Ianos would be unsure if he would be able to keep his anger in check. He can already feel it boiling, threatening to burst from his chest.
It wasn't long after when he heard footsteps approach, quiet, slow, hesitant. Ianos didn't have to look back to know it was Zakai, listening to the Revenant come to a slow pause just behind him. Expecting him to speak, Ianos remained silent as he kept brushing his fingers through Hush's hair as he continued to rub the broken bond between his fingertips, barely taking in the way she had stuck her thumb in her mouth, suckling on it in her sleep. He has to find a way to break the nervous quirk once they return to the Tower.
Moments of silence passed between himself and the Preceptor, the only sound that Ianos can pinpoint are the steady breathing of the children around him and the Revenant who fidgeted behind his back. Then, finally, the Preceptor spoke, "We need to talk."
Instantly, Ianos found himself going stiff, shifting his legs in an attempt to push himself onto his feet. But then, he heard Hush let out a quiet whimper and felt the Gemini and Scorpio shuffle near his sides, breathing out quiet complaints as they slept. This prompted Ianos to pause, his eyes scanning the slumbering forms of the younger Chosen before forcing himself to relax. He doesn't want to disturb their rest just because of something personal.
"Not now." Ianos managed to mutter out, lifting his eyes back towards Nine/Knight, catching the steady blinking in their optic; he was unsure if that meant that the pair were slumbering or consistently shifting back and forth.
"Ianos, please."
Irritation itching at the back of his mind, Ianos found himself moving despite himself, slipping out from underneath Hush as he gentle cradled her head in his hands before slowly lowering her to the floor. Then, keeping an eye on the twins, Ianos stood up from between the children, stepping over their forms before finally turning and made eye contact with the Preceptor.
It was strange, after so many years of seeing his face in his memories and recordings, it almost seemed foreign to Ianos when he looked onto Zakai's features in person. His eyes were the same pale azure, glowing against his pale skin and his dark strands still framed the sides of his face. That sense of familiarity and relief that he was still alive settled into Ianos' chest and he couldn't help the sensation of warmth filtering into his body. But then, he spotted movement shifting over the Revenant's shoulder, prompting Ianos to glance over and spot the familiar mist-like patterns shifting onto a familiar vermillion shell. Tell-tale signs of being bonded to the Darkness.
The sense of longing was immediately replaced with anger.
Before he can stop himself, Ianos reached out and gripped the front of the Preceptor's robes, easily lifting him off his feet as he forced him back and shoved him against a wall. An audible 'crack' can be heard as Zakai's back slammed against it followed by the Chosen in question letting out a short yelp of pain.
"Ianos!"
Ignoring Ace's shout, Ianos simply tightened his grip against Zakai's collar, his eyes wide as his contained anger bubbled to the surface.
"Talk? You want to 'talk'?" Spotting sickly green near the edges of his vision, Ianos then narrowed his eyes, clenching his teeth as he continued, "You want to 'talk' after 'countless' centuries of me thinking you 'dead'?" He wanted to shout, to scream, to let his rage consume his thoughts; but then the children settled into his mind and instead, Ianos shook Zakai, feeling both regretful and satisfied at the way the halfling flinched, "I grieved for 'hundreds' of years, the mere thought of 'remembering' was enough to nearly send me into madness. And all those years, you are leading this faction, these 'Revenants', caring for a family that all 'three' of us planned and wished for when we were together."
"Ianos, please I can –"
He didn't wait for an excuse, an explanation.
Instead, Ianos reared his free hand back, gathering as he much as he can into his fist and swung it just next to the Preceptor's head. His punch easily sank into the wall and the next thing Ianos knew, it crumbled, the Warlock easily stumbling forward to follow the momentum. Quickly gathering his composure, Ianos prepared himself as he kept his hold on the front of Zakai's robes, easily landing on top of the Revenant as they finally hit the floor in the hall. Once again, he heard something 'snap', feeling Zakai's abdomen collapse underneath him. Immediately, Zakai let out a stuttering breath, a wheeze leaving his lips before he saw him lift a hand. At first, Ianos had thought he was going to retaliate and as such, he tenses, preparing himself to go into defense, only to pause as he sensed no traces of neither light nor darkness lingering around Zakai's body.
That is when he heard quiet cursing and finally noticed two lights laced with darkness lingering behind him. Ianos had momentarily forgotten about their Revenant 'bodyguards'. And for some reason, Zakai is telling them to stand back.
Glaring at the Preceptor below him, Ianos then lifted his hand again, curling his fingers once more into a punch when Zakai's next words startled him to a halt, "You kept it."
At first confused by the halfling's words, Ianos then followed his gaze only to come a pause at the charred remains of the bond still in his hand. He had momentarily forgotten about it during his anger.
Lowering his hand to gain a better look at it, Ianos then forced himself to open his palm. The instant he saw the remaining crystals now broken by his grip, the Warlock found an ache beating within his chest, prompting Ianos to release his grip from the front of Zakai's robes.
Ianos had treasured it, the only memento of his lover that was safe in his keeping; everything else had been destroyed by the explosion. Although already beyond repair, to see it further damaged by his own hands sent Ianos into a spiral of grief and rage. He shouldn't be this upset, this distressed when the one he had mourned for centuries is lying beneath him, 'alive', and giving him looks of longing and bewilderment. He shouldn't be distressed over breaking it when the Revenant beneath him 'lied' to him.
And yet as Ianos shifted his eyes and locked onto Zakai's glowing blue, he felt his anger slowly relinquish and then replaced with sadness.
"Why?" He found himself asking as he reached out and placed a hand onto the Preceptor's chest, searching his gaze as if to find an answer, "Why did you not take me with you?"
Regret and sorrow flashed over Zakai's eyes as Ianos felt himself shift underneath him, watching him reach out and brush a hand against his cheek.
"We knew little of the Darkness then," He started, "I had to find a cure, a way to save you before it took away your light. I had thought that you would have been safer if you stayed at the Tower." Ianos spotted tears brimming near the edges of the Preceptor's eyes, "Now I realize that it was a grave mistake."
Feeling warmth trailing down the sides of his face, Ianos then noticed the edges of his vision blurring, and as such, closed his eyes in an attempt to stem the tears. That is when he finally felt the sensation of Zakai's hand against his cheek, a tingling feeling permeating throughout his body as he let out a stuttering breath.
He was by no means touch-starved; lingering touches on the shoulder by Pluto and Angel, gentle hugs by Hush, celebrative embraces by Akiva, and even Knight/Nine would on occasion would come by to simply offer a shoulder for him to rest on. But to feel Zakai's touch, to feel him after so many years, Ianos couldn't help but find himself relaxing under it.
Once again feeling the Revenant shift underneath him, Ianos opened his eyes when he heard him let out a grunt, spotting him wincing before finally, he had enough room for him to push himself up and lean in towards him. At first, bewildered by this action, Ianos then understood when Zakai pressed his forehead against his, prompting the Warlock to close his eyes once more and simply take in the moment.
That is until he heard footsteps come to a sudden halt.
"I-Is this a bad time?" Nix's voice echoed through the hall.