Innocence

"Knock. Knock," Daniel announced, banging his fist against the door frame and snorting at the way his brother nearly jumped from his skin.

Tarlowe quickly righted himself. "That wasn't necessary."

Daniel just shrugged. "You busy?" He asked, clearly seeing Tarlowe's eyes return to his computer.

"That's never stopped you before."

Daniel stepped in and let the door close behind him. "At least I asked this time."

Caesar spoke up. "He was coached."

"Hush."

That made his perpetually sour-faced brother finally smile. "You're doing well?"

"As well as I can with the weight of the world on my shoulders."

Tarlowe hummed. "Speaking of, is Aro still here or did he leave already?"

Daniel was grabbing a chair and pulling it towards his brother's desk. "He's around here somewhere. He spoke to you?"

"Barely stopped to say two words but yeah. Wouldn't even come inside." The typing stopped and Tarlowe looked up. "You two doing alright? He looked...stressed."

"We're fine," Daniel answered, maybe a bit too quickly. Changing the subject, also too quickly, he nodded at Tarlowe. "Still wearing mom's ring?" Tarlowe's hand immediately came up to the shimmering gold dangling from his neck. "Any progress on the SUROS Regime?"

He was already shaking his head, his brow tight and furrowed. "The notes for the alloy dad made are lost. I've been studying his ring and how it works in your rifle but…" Tarlowe stopped, pinching the bridge between his eyes. "I'd be more patient with it but I do want dad's ring back." He flicked the one at his chest. "Never much enjoyed necklaces but this thing won't fit around my finger."

"Give it to Christine then. Or Maya."

Tarlowe's lips thinned and he grabbed it again. "Never much enjoyed necklaces," he repeated, "But something is better than nothing." His eyes were distant, even as they remained trained in Daniel's direction. He always did have the strongest memories of their mother. "Maybe Christine, one day. When Shino finally grows a spine and asks the question." That had Daniel laughing again.

"Now about the gala-"

Daniel threw back his head and groaned,

"Exactly."

"Heard from Aro that Z tried to get it cancelled and failed."

Tarlowe fell back in his chair. "He spent a good half hour ranting into my ear about it."

"And you sat through the whole thing?"

"I put it on speaker and just let him talk while I worked." Tarlowe straightened up, sobering quickly. "I won't be going, Daniel."

Daniel's eyebrows raised and Tarlowe chuckled dryly. He was part of the Consensus. He was expected and his absence would turn heads. Even Z still planned to attend. Tarlowe wheeled his chair out from behind his desk and slowly made his way to the ornate wooden shelves lining the wall. He stopped at one and pulled it open, digging through a mess of mainly paper files. More difficult for the unauthorized to get ahold of. "Is the place not accommodating?" Daniel finally asked, watching his brother pause in his search before continuing.

"They could do better," he muttered. Probably more to himself than Daniel. He found what he was looking for and started the trip back, as slow as he left. "It's amazing what you don't think about before it affects you. Then again, no one ever answers, 'never walking again', when asked about their future."

Daniel stared down at his fingers, clasped together. Sometimes, he could still see the blood coating them. His brother's lifeblood, staining the white floors of the Tower plaza as red as his hands. "Does anything hurt?" he asked, his voice barely rising above a whisper.

Tarlowe shook his head. "No. That went away too."

Daniel's fingers tightened. "I'm...I'm so-"

Tarlowe swiftly cut him off. "You need to stop, Daniel. Stop apologizing. I don't blame you, I don't blame Mira. I don't blame Aro or even our uncle. Pride's the one pulling all the strings."

A reminder that much, much worse would be coming intruded on Daniel's mind and his fingers tightened again, to the point of slight trembling.

"Speaking of Pride." Tarlowe's voice had Daniel looking up again, "I have to ask. Is it...difficult? Looking at Aro, I mean."

Daniel was taken aback by the question and his face probably showed it. "Sometimes," he answered truthfully. "Their accents are different though. And the eyes help."

"I hope everyone else is taking this as well as you are."

"It varies. And I know Aro feels it."

"Can't blame him." Tarlowe gave another loose shrug, "Either way, my disability isn't the reason I'm not going. Just don't feel like dealing with that roiling den of snakes." There was venom there. Something more was going on.

"Aren't some of those snakes your own people?"

Tarlowe guffawed, "They're the main ones I'm talking about! As of late, I've been suggesting to other members of the board that it would be to everyone's benefit to cooperate with the other foundries rather than keep this constant competition going. To better arm the militia and the Guardians."

"And...that's angered people?"

Tarlowe pointed a finger at him. "Your victory in the Vault of Glass elevated us ahead of the rest. People know of it, they know you were a part of it, they know your name, they recognize us. My suggestion reads as asking to slow down while we're ahead." He scratched the dark stubble along his jawline. "Even talk of removing me from my position. Claims that my trauma has left me 'unfit'."

Daniel's frowned. Tarlowe went on, "If the idea gains traction and enough people agree, I'd be persuaded. The foundry would still belong to us. I'd just have no control over it." He waved his hand dismissively, "Enough about that. I heard you all were being forced to go."

"The Speaker said it would be best if we did. That and Hideo invited us." Tarlowe's face twisted into a scowl. "Yeah, Ikora made the same face. I'll be honest, I don't know that much about him. Aside from who he is to us, I mean." he went on.

"Do the others know?"

"No. No proper way to tell them.

"Well, Hideo. Self-interested, first and foremost. And very persuasive. You Guardians are political currency in this City and he's good at taking advantage of that. They all are," he explained, "The more famous, accomplished or powerful the Guardian, the more influence over politics their loyalty can give the faction. Always pissed off the factions of old that Guardians like Shaxx and Saint-14 stayed loyal to the Vanguard and the Vanguard alone."

"And what exactly do they think they're gonna change?" Daniel demanded.

"Maybe nothing. Won't stop them from trying and if they can't take you all together, they'll gladly take you in pieces. So, word of advice; watch each other's backs. Aro's especially."

"I watch him," Daniel murmured, his tone becoming low and quiet again. "I watch him very closely."

Every dark thought that had begun to crawl its way into Daniel's mind fled once he caught sight of the expression on Tarlowe's face. "I meant keeping an eye-why does everyone's mind go there?!"

"Because it's the only time anyone ever sees you blush." Tarlowe always did take more pleasure than most needling the young man. "Christine won't be back till later. You staying the night?"

"I will. I'll ask Aro if he wants to do the same," said Daniel, fully aware of how unlikely it was he would agree.

Tarlowe hummed. "Meanwhile I'll get back to work."

"New weapon?"

"Nope."

"Well, what is it?"

"Secret," he said simply, nodding his head towards the exit. "You can probably find him with Maya. No doubt she's needling him with every question that's popped into her head over the last few months."

"Maya. Right." Daniel forced his fingers to unclench again. He stood, once again, too quickly. "I'll go there now."

"Don't get lost."

"Shut up."

Maya was talking about…something. Or better yet, everything, jumping from topic to topic, barely pausing to catch her breath, let alone finish a story. In any other case, Aro would find it endearing, how she was unconsciously attempting to make up for lost time.

Not in this one. In this case, Aro wished he could be anywhere else but here, with her, by himself. He was situated in one too-small chair, practically curled into himself while she talked and moved about the room, shrinking even further away when it appeared as if she might even so much as brush up against him. This was a bad idea. He shouldn't be here. There was no one in the City more dangerous for her to be around than him and the very thought caused him to hurt every time like it was the very first.

Maya had changed considerably in the years since they first met. She was full of her sister's kindness, her eldest brother's ingenuity, even Daniel's hardiness. Aro could already begin to see the kind of person he knew she'd grow to be; the leader who could inspire the likes of Sona, Cole and even the hardened, old, decrepit Aashir to take up arms against such an insurmountable enemy.

He hated it. This should not be her war. She was just a child; a child whose life had been marred by tragedy early on, but a child nonetheless. She was becoming everything Aashir said she would; they were still on the path to that terrible future. And while Aro did not fully know how or when but just that he was the catalyst for her to become what she would become.

His gut instinct was right. He should be as far away from her as possible. Even leave the City, if that's what it would take to keep her and the others safe.

"Aro!"

Aro snapped back to reality. Maya was standing before him, her face coming into focus, full of worry. "I called your name twice but you didn't answer," she told him, "Are you alright?"

Movement off to the side caught his eye. It took him half a second to shift his gaze and see what it was and even less time to jerk suddenly away from it.

Maya's hand drew back. Her face was so full of confusion and hurt, Aro was already apologizing before the guilt could even fully set in.

She nodded and quickly mumbled that it was alright. Aro wanted to believe it. A much quieter and more reserved Maya than the one who was just dashing back and forth across her room, talking her head off, sat down on the bed. Aro forced himself to relax some, turning his head to look out at the setting sun.

"Do you still think about it?"

He turned back. She was watching him with wide, earnest eyes. "The Vault, I mean."

He blinked at the question and didn't answer, at first.

"Daniel had bad dreams for a while," she went on, "And of the Moon."

Aro couldn't say that all of his dreams were premonitions of the future or visions. Some really were just dreams. Rarely were they ever any better. He still dreamed of Sona, cut down by the hands of her own friend. How he barely caught half a second's glimpse of her lightless eyes before Pride vaporized their compound and her tattered remains along with it.

Her friend, her killer, Cole. It was shameful how long it took to dawn on Aro how young the man was. Nothing in his features but his mannerisms. He was wide-eyed and excitable. Not so hardened by battle and loss as his comrades. He was optimistic. He was hopeful. The last Aro and Daniel saw of him, the true him, was before they were taken to see Aashir. The very last of him they saw at all was a shadow; like the Darkness was wearing the young man's body like clothing. The Taken Awoken sped through the base like a bullet, cutting down everything in his wake. Afterwards, he twitched and he spasmed but he did not move or make any attempt at all to defend himself as a rage-blinded Aro charged in to kill him.

Just as his King had ordered. Just as the future Aro had ordered. The younger would kill him, Pride would have the Vex gate brought to them, Aro would return to the Vault, kill Wrath(K) and continue down the path that led them to that future. All according to plan.

And Aashir…

"Yes," he finally answered, croaking more than speaking. He turned his head back to the window, so as to hide any tears that managed to fall. "Every day."

"It's scary." Her admission and how soft her voice had become made him face her again. "I know Guardians are supposed to be brave but…I've never felt very strong. I've never felt very brave."

If only you knew. You'd never doubt yourself again.

Aro leaned forward in his seat, moving just a bit into her space. "Those were very special cases, Maya. Not ones you need worry about."

She shrugged loosely. She didn't believe him.

"I have dreams too," she said, breaking the silence again.

"What about?"

She shrugged again. "Don't really know. I don't really see as much as I…feel things. Does that make sense?"

It did and it didn't. Aro beckoned her to continue.

"It's like before Toland…Gluttony, died the second time. When I focused on the Moon, I'd feel very strange. Drained and tired all of a sudden," she went on. She tore her eyes from her fidgeting hands. "Sometimes I hear a voice. It's muffled, so I can't hear what it's saying but the voice has this…accent."

Aro's nails dug into his leg.

"I've never heard the accent before. Do you know what it is?" Maya asked.

Aro kept silent for a few seconds until he could ensure his voice would remain steady. "I don't know your dreams, Maya. I couldn't tell you."

She blinked. "Right. Sorry," she apologized, shaking her head, "It just…felt like you knew it."

He swallowed audibly, fingers carving painful grooves. If he wasn't careful, he'd start drawing blood. "I haven't heard it as of late. Other times, I feel sand beneath my feet," she described, "And cold water splashing on my face. Like rain." Her face broke into a small smile while she explained. A happy dream. That was good.

"Sometimes you're there."

"On the sand?"

She nodded. "And other places. And it makes me feel better." Her smile slowly lowered, "But those don't come as often anymore either."

Slowly, Aro slid from his chair and dropped to his knees before her. He put his hands to her shoulders, so tiny in comparison. "What dreams do you see now?"

She didn't speak but her eyes darkened.

"It's not unusual for Warlocks to have dreams like this." It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the truth either. "Tell me. Maybe I can help you understand."

"Dark," she said. "Not like…no light. But like a thick black cloud covering the entire place. Makes me feel like if I started walking into it, I'd never find my way out again."

She intertwined her fingers again. Beneath Aro's hands, her shoulders shivered. "I'm standing but my legs and knees feel weak. And my shoulders, they feel really heavy. It's a bit hard to breathe too."

A Darkness Zone. 'Dark, as in no Light' indeed.

"I can see something through the fog, though."

"What?" Aro knew he sounded too forceful, too urgent but he could no longer help himself.

"Red," she replied. "Red lights all around the cloud. Like…"

"Eyes."

She nodded. "Watching me."

"Sound, Maya." His volume was climbing. "What do you hear?"

The trembling increased. She remained silent.

"Maya!"

The bark came out so suddenly, it made the young girl jump. "A…a thumping," she stammered out, "Like…like a heartbeat."

There was ringing in his ears, too loud to hear or think of anything else. This was the confirmation, the final nail in the coffin.

She was connected. To him, to his brother. To all of this.

He and his brother would try to kill her for what she knew. Or more likely, what she was capable of discovering. And every single person they both loved would die trying to stop him.

The two of them started when Maya's door suddenly opened, Aro so suddenly that his balance was nearly lost. Still, he pulled back from Maya and rose to his full height. Daniel watched him as he did, eyes leaving his just for a second to flick towards his sister and back. The tension was practically physical.

Daniel opened his mouth. Aro spoke first. "I...something just turned up at the Tower. I need to return right away." He cursed his voice for shaking but he could only hold it back for so long.

Daniel's mouth closed again, his eyes still on Aro, unblinking and so painfully wary. Then he stood to the side and nodded towards the hall, giving him the go-ahead to leave.

Daniel stepped out of the doorway to let him through. Aro sped out as soon as the way was free, sparing neither a last look or last words. Behind him, in the background, he heard a small voice. Maya, probably saying goodbye. Silence from Daniel. He only walked faster.

Movement brought Daniel's attention back to his sister. She was rubbing her shoulders. Where Aro's hands had been. He stepped back into the room and moved her hand with his finger, revealing bright red skin.

"What happened?"

"It was nothing. It was just an accident."

Daniel ground his teeth. "What were you two talking about?"

"Just...some dreams I've been having," she said.

"That's why he grabbed you like that?" Her head snapped over to him, at the way the bass in his voice suddenly deepened.

"He didn't grab me like anything, Daniel." She shook out from under his hand, "He was just…look, it was just an accident, okay?" She said again.

He didn't respond. Maya shifted back on her bed and dropped her head down to the pillow. "I want to go to sleep," she stated, clearly trying to get him to leave.

He acquiesced, stepping back towards the door. "Alright. Dinner's in a few hours."

"I'm not hungry." She kept her eyes facing the window, refusing to meet his.

Again, against his wishes, he decided to leave it alone. "We'll have a plate in the fridge for you, in case you do." Daniel stepped out entirely and the door closed behind him. It locked a second later.

"It was just an accident, Daniel." Caesar's voice was jarring against the silence. Daniel didn't respond. He didn't need to, Caesar always knew what he was thinking. He started his way down the hall and back towards Tarlowe's office to tell him that Aro wouldn't be staying for the night.

Had some reworking of the story to do but everything's settled now