Nico Pov
"You know that it will be some time before he wakes right". Xavier mutter under his breath as he sits on one of the beds. I notice that he is keeping an eye on Louis who is currently talking in a low voice to Joe. I'm pretty sure I don't want to know what they are talking about.
"I know Xavier" I answer as I shake my head to focus on him. "Xaxa was tell me he put Reaper into a forced sleep. Which with both know he needs it because he is always on the go. I also don't think with everything that is going on with the loss of Cayde that he is doing will. I know that Reaper does not talk about his problems, so all this is going to blow up soon."
"Your right Nico" Xaxa jumps in before I can go on. "The emotion that I remember him showing in when he was crying on the way back to the tower."
"What about his anger" Xavier asks as he glances at reapers sleeping body. "I mean don't get me wrong he always angry at something. Other than Nico I mean." This makes me blush lightly as he goes on. "And that a rare smile if you can catch it. Anyways where I was going with this is he seems to be snapping at every little thing. Don't get me wrong I know I have made him angry a few different times, but I never hear that much venom from him before."
Instead of answering him I let my eye wonder to Reaper face as I sit down on the bed next to him. Even though he is sleeping I can still see the strain of all the pain he has been through. His eyes are looking around frantically even with his eye lids being closed. I call a ball of light to my hand and move to place it on him to help with the pain that he might be in but stop myself before I do. The pain that he might be feeling might not be physical. I let the ball of light fade into nothing as I try to think about what we need to do.
"Nico" I hear from nearby. "Hey Nico, did you hear me."
"I'm sorry Xavier what did you say?" I say as I focus on him.
"How are we going to explain this to Reaper." He questions as he nods his head towards the bed that holds the still sleeping Reaper.
"You mean other than yell at him for disappearing again or that he got hurt so badly." I grin at him as I watch him try find some where to hide. "Don't worry I'm not going to yell at you Xavier. I might ring his neck for how he is acting but I really can't blame him for how he acted. He really does not care for Titans to begin with and with what Louis did it's only worse now."
"I can take my team and leave you here with him." He suggests to me as he looks back at me. I can tell that he is not happy about this, but I understand what he means by suggesting this. I hold up my hand to stall him so I can think for a second. My eye widen as a thought comes to me.
"Xaxa" I snap getting Reaper's to appear from wherever they are hiding. "Xaxa I know you are in the area if you don't show up."
"I'm here Nico" the ghost says as they appear. "What do you need and why do I have the feeling Reaper is not going to like this."
"I will deal with that Xaxa." I tell the Ghost as I get ready to explain my plan. "How long can you keep him asleep for. What I mean how much time do we have before he wakes up on his own. Because that will help with the plan that I have."
"Hmmmm." The ghost thinks for a couple minutes before finally answering. "Well, that's a hard one to answer. Right now, it's not hard to keep him asleep because his body is still recovering his body is mostly healed right now. If I wanted to let it happen, he would wake in maybe an hour. I should be able to keep him asleep for a least four days maybe five. If he was more hurt, then longer but he has already."
I cut him off as I stand up and call a ball of light to my hand. I slam the ball down into Reaper chest causing his armor. Breaking it and causing his chest to cave in as he coughs up blood.
"NICO" Xavier yells as he jumps up and grabs my arm.
"Relax Xavier" I sigh as I let the light fade. "How long now Xaxa?"
"Ohh" the ghost says realizing what I did and why. "I can keep him out for about 15 days now no more then 20. I recommend you use his ship because it's a lot faster and we just upgraded the engines. So, they will not burn out if we push them too hard."
"Nico, I don't understand" Xavier mutters as he releases my arm.
"Get you team up here and have your ghost store your ship we are making a run for the tower to change a couple things." I tell him as I walk up to the cockpit. I being to program the trip to the tower pushing the engines as hard as we can. I hear a hiss as a hatch closes behind me as I feel a thump Xavier's ship detaches from Reaper's. I slowly put power to the engines moving Reaper's ship towards the jump point.
"We are set" Xavier tells me as he drops into the copilot seat. "Do you mind tell me the rest of the plan now? Why do I have the same feeling as Xaxa that Reaper is not going to like this."
"Why is everyone afraid of him?" I sigh as the ship begins the jump to the tower. "We are going to return to the tower for about 2 days. One is for you to talk to the Vanguard about Louis and what he did. Hopefully they give you someone else to replace him. While we are talking about it what do you think of Joe? Do you think he will listen to Reaper or myself or should we fix this problem now?"
"Hmm I have to think about that." Xavier tells me.
"You have until we leave the tower to figure that out." I tell the titan as I look in his direction. "Part two of the plan is have a talk with the Vanguard about what to do with the pissed hunter. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with hunting down Cayde's killer but want to make sure that."
"That not going to work Nico." Xaxa cut's in as he appears. "There is nothing that they can do that will keep him at the tower. Even if they order him to stay in the tower, he will find a way to leave without telling anyone."
"Xaxa has a point." Xavier jumps in before I can counter the ghost.
I sit looking at the two of them in shock. Then it clicks on what they are saying to me. Reaper has never really liked being ordered to do anything. A bunch of the missions that he has always gone on have been requests. Whenever he is ordered to do something, he normally fights it for as long as he can or until Cayde talks him into….
"Shit" I mutter as I close my mouth to rethink my plan. "Xavier how far are you willing to go with following me."
"Until the end if I need to." Xavier hisses in anger. "I own him my life and the life of my fireteam. With you being on his team that falls onto you also. So, all you need to do is say the word and you have my rifle or abilities."
"Okay here is what we are going to do then. We are going to go to the Vanguard together and tell them about Louis. We will also be going to lie to them we are going to tell them that we could not find Reaper and need to go back within 2 days. We are leaving no matter what on the second day no later then when the sun sets." I take a pause to catch my breath and see if he has anything to added.
"Sounds good to me." Xavier tells me with a nod. "Who are we going to try and rope into the team though. Don't get me wrong I know that we don't want any more titans than what we have."
"I was thinking about that. I have an idea about that." I tell him as a grin crosses my lips. "Sam, can you reach out to someone for me and have her meet us at the shore if she is able to. Also, Xaxa can you reach out to the Vanguard and let them know we are coming in. I would like to try and get one more person if we can. Hopefully someone who will listen to Reaper."
"I have a message from the Vanguard saying to come straight to them when we land." Xaxa jumps in before I can go on. "I also might be able to help with finding one more person thought I don't know if they are in the tower. I also need to warn you that they might be a little weird."
"Weird how" Xavier asks with a worried look.
"Let me reach out to them and see if they are in the Tower." Xaxa tells us as he disappears.
"Not going to lie Nico that a little worrying to me." Xavier tells me with a worried look on his face.
"No, I have the same feeling." I tell the Titan as I think about who this person might be. "But we should try and get some rest before we go deal with the crazy hunter that is sleeping."
"Agree go get some sleep and I will fly us." Xavier tells me with a grin. "We both know that you need it in order to deal with Reaper."
I let out a laugh as I go to stand letting him take control. I just shake my head as I walk back to the sleeping area where I see the rest of Xavier's team already asleep. A smile crosses my lips as I walk up to where Reaper is sleep. I slowly bend down and place a kiss on his cheek before I sit down on the floor next to him and let my eyes close. Honestly, I'm just happy that he is near by and is still in one piece.
"Nico" Some on calls causing me to jump up and reach for my rifle. As my hand grabs something I pull as hard as I can causing a loud thump. I pay no attention to the thump as I begin to form a ball of Solar light in my hand getting ready to slam it into something. My hand stop as laughter reaches my ears. As the sleep finally leaves my eyes, Xavier comes into view laughing so hard that he is bent over.
I let the ball fade away as I look around trying to find out what is making him laugh so hard. I see both Louis and Joe laughing as they sit in the beds that they used. I still can't see what they are laughing at, so I turn to check and make sure they did not wake Reaper. When my eyes fall Reaper bed it's empty, I search frantically. Only to stop when I finally see him, half of his body is hanging off the bed. The upper half of his body is off the bed with his head on the floor.
"Nico" I hear again bring my attention to Xaxa. "Did you really have to do that. I mean you pulled his arm out of the socket. Now I must keep him out of a couple more day." The ghost floats towards Reaper body. I watch as the ghost scans Reaper shoulder to being the healing.
"What happen" I mutter as I blush.
"Well," Xavier laughs out as he tries to catch his breath from laughing so hard. "I called your name to wake you and you jumped. I'm guessing you thought we were under fire because you grabbed for a rifle but instead of a rifle you grabbed Reaper's arm. When you tried to raise the rifle to use it you pulled Reaper out of the bed." He is unable to finish telling me as he begins to laugh again. I feel my face heat up even more as Joe walks over to left Reaper back into the bed. As he gets Reaper placed Xavier manages to get his laughing under control again.
"We landed" Xavier tells me. "The Vanguard are waiting for us."
"Let's go then." I mutter as I walk to the ramp of ship. I lead Xavier, Joe and Louis toward the Vanguard leaders as the ramp of Reaper's ship closes. I glance around to see a familiar race walking towards us. I stop the meet the head of the hanger, Holiday.
"Hi Holiday" I wave as she gets closer. "What can I do for you."
"Hey Nico" Holiday waves back. "I got a call from Xaxa saying Reaper's ship need to be looked at." But she stops as Reaper's ship take off. "What the hell."
"God damn it" I growl. "Sam, I want you to reach out to Xaxa Right fucking now. He has ten second to turn that ship around."
"Umm Nico." Sam starts as she appears.
"Nico, I'm not in the ship." Xaxa tells me as he appears. I turn on the ghost with anger in my eye causing him to sink away.
"You're telling me that he woke up with out any of us noticing and waited for us to leave it." I snarled at the ghost. "You better fucking connect me to the com unit right this second or I'm going to rip you god damn eye out."
"Working on connecting you now" Xaxa replays with a shaky voice. "Okay you are connected."
"GOD DAMN IT REAPER, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! YOU ARE STILL HEALING FROM THE FIGHT YOU JUST FINISHED. WHY WOULD YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA? THIS IS A TOTAL SUICIDE MISSION. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S HE'S DEAD, BUT DO YOU WANT TO FUCKING DIE TOO?" I take a deep breath before going on. "WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU HERE AND YOU JUST UP AND LEAVE US. YOU BETTER TURN THAT SHIP."
"Umm Nico the com unit is not working." Xaxa cuts in before I can finish.
"What" I growl.
"I'm not getting a signal anymore." Xaxa mutters
"Oh shit" Xavier whispers before turning to face me. "Nico take a deep breath please. I'm sure he has a reason for."
"SHUT UP XAVIER" I snap at him.
"Nico" I hear from behind me. I whirl around ready to bite their head off only to see Ikora and Zavala standing nearby.
"Fuck" I whisper before I approach them. "Ikora, Zavala sorry about that but I just got bad news."
"Would that be why you are standing here and not in Reapers ship that we just watch leave. Causing you to yell at him." Ikora smirks causing me to blush a little.
"Yeah, we will get into that but first." I answer as I turn to Holiday. "Is my ship ready to go?"
"Yes, it is." Holiday answer with a nod.
"Thank you, Holiday." I tell the Hanger manager as I turn back to the Vanguard. "So, we found Reaper and needed to come back to the tower for help when he was healing from a fight. As you can see that did not go as planned."
"Yes, we can see that." Zavala sighs as he looks around. "That also explains why his ghost is here and not with him. Xaxa can you please head towards him but don't pass on any messages please just head towards him annoyed that he left you."
"Understood." The ghost answers. "Nico just be warned that the other helper is almost here." I nod in response to this remembering that the ghost was going to try and find someone else to help us.
"Thank you" I growl still mad at the ghost for letting Reaper escape. The ghost disappears as the vanguard look at me, so I begin to explain. "Reaper is currently hunting down a group of prisoners that escaped the prison with Uldren Sov. In short, they are a very strong group the manage to kill Cayde's ghost. The plan was to come back to the tower and ask for help."
"I also want Louis off the first team sir" Xavier cuts in before I can go on. I glance at Louis, but he is stone face at this.
"May I ask why" Zavala question.
"He has caused problem with Reaper and then proceed to disorder the Titan code." Xavier tells the Titan leader. "He actions almost cause the death of the Vanguard hunter."
"Understood" Zavala sighs. "Louis you are removed from the fireteam from this point forward. You are to report to Lord Shaxx to get your new position on the tower watch." Louis just nods and turns to leave the hanger. "It will take a few days for us to find a replacement for Louis."
"No" I cut in with a stern look. "We are leaving tomorrow night with or without."
"Hello everyone." I hear from behind the Vanguard causing them to turn.
"Nox why are you here" Ikora questions. "Last I checked you were on Venus guarding the research team."
"I was guarding them" She responds with a smirk.
'Oh god now I get it.' I think to myself causing my ghost to laugh in my mind.
"Umm what do you mean" Joe demands. "My friend is on that."
"Shut up little baby." Nox's snaps at the titan.
"Why you" Joe growls as he walks forward. I watch Nox just sigh as Joe walks closer. As he reaches out to grab her but for some reason, he grabs air. "What the hell."
"Look I normally don't go around picking fights." Nox sighs out as she appears behind Xavier. "But if you would have let me finish. I was guarding them, but everyone has returned now. The research team has returned to the tower, so all the guards have returned also. Everyone else has left on mission."
"Then why are you here." Ikora starts but gets cut off as Noxs keeps talking.
"I was going to join a fireteam, but Xaxa sent me a message saying Reaper needs help." I watch her face light up as the last part leave her mouth.
"You're the one that Xaxa was talking about then." I ask with as much venom as I can.
"Yes, I could be and who might you be?" Nox answer with the same amount of venom.
"I'm his fireteam leader Nico." I spit back at her.
"Oh, so you're the one holding his chain now." She laughs as she waves a hand in the air.
"I'm sorry who are you again." I demand from her as I take a step toward her.
"Her name is Nox, Nico." Ikora cuts in as she walks in front of me. "She is a hunter who specialize in lone wolf missions like Reaper does."
'So, another hardheaded hunter who is as bad as Reaper.' Sam says in my mind with a sigh.
"Nox" Xavier says out loud as if in deep thought only to come to a sudden realization. "Wait a minute I think I know that name."
"Yes, we do Xavier." Joe helps him. "She is the awoken hunter that Louis was so pissed at."
"That's right." Xavier breaths with a shake of his head. "She killed the Kell that we were hunting."
I look at the titan with a question in my eyes. Why would they be hunting a Kell of all the Fallen enemies they could go after. Hell Reaper took one on alone a few different times and it always damaged him in someway or another. Plus, the only other one I know that Reaper went after was a prisoner of the Queen. For the titans to hunt one down is a rare thing for sure.
"We wanted to capture the Kell and gift it to the Queen." Joe tells me on seeing the look on my face.
"Anyways were the great Reaper at." Nox asks as she looks around. "I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees that I showed up to help the asshole."
"We need to go to him." Xavier tells her as he looks at me. "I will let her know what going on the ship. You should finish up with the Vanguard." I nod my head to answer that, so he knows that I heard him. "Nox if you follow me, I will let you know what going on. Also how is it you know Reaper from what I understand he is a loner."
"Fine I will play along for now." She tells the titan with a small wave. "As for how I know the asshole I owe him a favor after he saved my ass."
I don't hear the rest of it as they walk away, and the noise of the hanger begins to grow. I just keep my eye on them as they walk towards my ship. Once they get onboard, I let out a breath that I did not know I was holding. I'm glad that Xavier took control of what is going on and decided to ask the question that I wanted to know the answer to. Don't get me wrong I know that I don't have to worry about my relationship with Reaper the whole time we have been together as a couple I never had to question anything. My only problem with Reaper is the Vanguard calling him away.
"So, Nico mind telling us what going on?" Zavala demand as I face them. "And why is Reaper calling for help after we sent you with a team. One of which is no longer on the team."
Take a few minutes to gather my thoughts before I talk to them. I really don't know how I'm going to tell them that Reaper made a deal with a Fallen. A deal that will probably backfire on The Spider. With how driven Reaper is with killing the Barens and Uldren I'm not surprised he woke up. As mad at him as I am I understand why he would blow everything off.
I'm sure I would do the same thing if something happened to him. Because I care so much about him. So, Reaper doing this for Cayde is not really a surprise. To Reaper, Cayde was his family with how the two of them acted together, how they always got in trouble together with both me and the Vanguard. Now I just need to explain this to them. The same people who order me to drag him back.
"I honestly don't know how to start." I sigh as I finally look them in the eye.