Redacted

Stability

Edited: 08/20/2023

Here's the other part!

"Isamu, where have you been all this time?"

Isamu?

Opening his eyes, Ianos gathered enough strength to glance over, his orange eyes spotting two figures in the darkness. Alongside his armor, Akiva's pale complexion is all too familiar. Not to mention that his golden eyes are a stark contrast in the dark. Speaking of, they were wide in shock and Ianos could see Lex hovering near his Guardian's shoulder, his optic mimicking his expression.

Curious and puzzled, Ianos followed their line of sight until his eyes settled over a Guardian seated near his bedside. Although adorned in what he recognizes as another set of Akiva's armor, Ianos reached out, letting his senses touch the light of the other occupant. He cracked a smile.

"Knew that New Light was lying when he boasted about killing you." Ianos managed to croak out, "The Lotus of Incursion killed by a soldier hardly a year old?" He let out a short breath, "Only fools would have believed it."

Waiting, Ianos heard nothing from Isamu and instead felt his hand leave his. It had been warm to the touch and now, his palm felt cold as he watched Isamu subtly lean his head back and press the sealant under his jaw. There was a hiss and with one swift motion, Isamu removed the headpiece. The clatter signaled to Ianos he had simply dropped it and he could feel his eyes lock onto his.

He still looked the same.

Isamu, always so focused on the mission, never cared for his looks and thus, if his hair grew out long, he would simply take a blade and cut it enough so that it stays clear of his eyes. His light brown eyes, usually stoic against his pale skin, are now filled with worry and concern.

"I am going to guess that you are still with the Revenants?" Ianos asked and once again, Isamu said nothing. Instead, he watched as his shoulders slumped, head lowering to the floor. That is when he decided to add, "Some of the Blossoms are still around." He saw Isamu looked back at him, "They keep heading out to the Wilds, in hopes of finding you one day."

There is a pause, a beat of silence.

Then.

"What?"

Ianos decided to continue.

"They regretted turning their backs on you." He said, "Before I got ill, the Blossoms would come to me, asking to keep an eye out for you whenever I left the Tower." Ianos recalls their pleading looks, their begging, "They were hoping to speak with you someday."

Once again, hearing nothing from Isamu, Ianos took it as an opportunity to lay his head back and closed his eyes with a sigh. He prays he will fall back asleep before the worst of the pain returns.

"I can stabilize you."

Ianos opened his eyes again at Isamu's words, glancing over at the Revenant.

His light brown eyes were staring him down, brows furrowed, gaze determined.

"Your condition is too severe for me to cure you." Isamu explained, "But I can help you live, at least a bit longer. Long enough to receive proper treatment."

Ianos looked at him, scrutinizing his words, scanning his eyes over his to see if he was lying, to give hope to a dying man.

He saw none.

Despite it, Ianos's chest twisted, and bitterness set in.

"If you have not heard, my proper treatment died weeks ago." He turned his eyes away, ignoring the looks within the room. He would rather not see, "Any chance that I had died with him."

"Not unless you meet with the Preceptor." Ianos scowled at Isamu's words, "Unlike I, he can treat your condition. Treating it where the Darkness will no longer threaten your light."

"And he can do this, how?" Ace's question followed Ianos' doubt, "As you know, we have known about the Revenants since their inception. We know that you all have the capability to balance the Light and the Dark, but to cure corruption?" He heard his Ghost scoff, "That is absurd."

"I did not say cure, did I?" Isamu snapped, "I said there is a treatment where the Darkness will no longer be a threat, not to be rid of it."

This prompted Ianos to turn his eyes back to Isamu, brows furrowed, "Are you saying that I take it as a part of myself? To become a Revenant?'

That is when Ianos heard Akiva sputter, almost choking, and Lex's yelp followed soon after. More than likely looking over his Guardian.

"Only if you meet with the Preceptor." Isamu clarified, "Only he is capable of balancing the Light and the Dark."

"But you just said that you can stabilize Ianos?" Akiva's question broke through his wheezing, "Is there a difference?"

There is a nod from Isamu, "There are a few such as I that is capable of temporarily balancing the Light and Dark within an individual if they are in danger." His eyes hardened, "However, if they are truly to be in equilibrium, they have to meet with the Preceptor." Then, Isamu closed his eyes, slowly breathing it, "Originally, I had planned only to help you where you have just a bit longer to live." Then, Ianos felt his hand in his again. The warmth returned, "However, knowing that you, old friend, are still alive, I am willing to bring you to the Preceptor to help bring balance back to your body."

Ianos blinked at him, "Alive?" He repeated back, "You thought I died?"

There is a brief sense of hesitation, a beat of silence before finally, Isamu answered, "Nearly everyone one of my brothers and sisters knew of you when the Revenants were formed, and all of us heard about your excursion to the Moon not long after the Great Disaster." That is when Ianos saw the way his right hand twitched against the arm of the chair, almost involuntarily, "It did not take long for the news of your death to spread amongst our number."

Ah. Yes.

When Wesley returned and announced that he was the only survivor of his Fireteam. Guess the Revenants have not received news of his survival.

And his mindset wanted to stay that way.

"Ianos?"

Flicking his eyes towards Ace, Ianos couldn't help the guilt, the shame as his Ghost gave him a concerned look. It is easy to forget that a Ghost and Guardian can read each other's thoughts.

Nonetheless, he didn't want to change his mind.

Ianos closed his eyes.

"Then it shall remain that way." He finally said and he heard the room go silent, feeling all eyes upon him now.

"Are you implying…?"

Isamu's voice faded, filled with disbelief and Ianos opened his eyes again.

"I am done, Isamu." He said. Suddenly, he feels tired, "I was resurrected during the Dark Ages, lived through the time of the Risen, through the conflict with the Fallen, through our failures against the Hive, and through our continued war against the darkness." Ianos avoided his gaze to the others, "I am tired. And I want rest."

Waiting, Ianos heard nothing, he slowly started closing his eyes. Traveler, he is tired. Sleep sounds good.

That is when he felt the familiar cold sensation of Ace's shell press against the crook of his neck, and he breathed out, a sigh. It felt nice, cooling the area of skin.

"You just can't give up like that!" Akiva's voice rang out. It did little to ease the sleep setting in.

Turning his eyes towards him, Ianos can see the wide look in his eyes.

"You fought off the corruption for so long." Akiva said, "why give up now?"

Because he was tired. No mortal man can stay sane after living as long as Ianos did. At least, that is what he wanted to say. But, Ianos knows that they are not just mortal men. They are Guardians. Chosen. Selected by fragments of a dormant God's power. It is not so simple.

"I was living off of borrowed time." Ianos decided to say, "Matt was only delaying the inevitable."

"Doesn't mean you throw your life away like this!" He couldn't help but flinch at Akiva's shout, "You were given borrowed time for a reason, Ianos! Take it!"

Taking in Akiva's words, Ianos then saw a flash of lavender, a familiar shifting shell, and he found Crystalline's yellow optic locked on with his.

"Don't you dare abandon Hush!"

He jumped but then winced as pain reverberated throughout his body from the movement. Nonetheless, he kept his gaze steady. This earned him a narrowed look from Crystalline.

"Has it ever occurred to you on how Hush would feel if you just gave up and died!?" Her shell shifted angrily against her core, "There is a reason why she calls you papa, idiot!"

That is when Ianos paused, blinking at her.

"Papa?" He repeated back.

The anger that was in her optic vanished and was quickly replaced with one of surprise. He saw her optic shift over to Ace, and Ianos can feel his Ghost shrug sheepishly against his neck.

"I can hardly understand Hush myself."

This earned him another look from Crystalline, a flicker of her tendrils as she said, "You mean, you didn't know?"

Instead of answering, Ianos thought back, recalling a gesture of Hush's hands that he saw her repeatedly use. Limited in the knowledge of her language, not once had it occurred to him that she was calling him anything else but his name. He simply thought it was a gesture of endearment, of love. Thinking upon it, he wasn't completely wrong.

Turning his focus back onto Crystalline, Ianos saw that her shell was pressed tight against her core, tendrils brought close, and he could feel her scanning him, looking him over.

That is when he felt Isamu's hand squeeze his, prompting him to turn his eyes towards the Revenant. Despite his face being hidden, he could sense the scowl.

"I understand why you are tired, why you are ready to depart." Isamu said, "However, there are others who would rather take your place than see you pass on so easily."

Ianos didn't say anything. In honesty, what Guardian wouldn't take the place of a dear friend, a comrade, than let the latter pass? It is nothing unusual, thus, Ianos didn't take it to heart, and he said nothing.

In turn, he heard Isamu release a soft breath.

"I am going to stabilize you." Ianos couldn't help but grunt; Isamu is still stubborn as ever, "Then, we shall find a way to bring you to the Preceptor to complete the balance."

"I told you." Ianos managed out, ignoring the pain in his chest, "I am not-"

"I am not doing this for you." Ianos halted in his words, "This is for the Preceptor."

Ianos gave Isamu a look, "The Preceptor? Why?"

He had heard of him, albeit vaguely. Back then, he was a Chosen, young in his years but was able to convince a vast amount of Guardians to his side. Then again, it wouldn't have been too difficult. The Great Disaster had broken many Guardians' faith in the light. So why would Isamu save him for the Preceptor?

And it seemed he knew too, considering that Ianos saw him jerk back, as if taken aback by his own words. Then, he felt the Revenant's hand leave his again. Ianos watched as he folded his hands in his lap; he took note of the trembling in his fingers.

"The Preceptor, he spoke kindly of you." Isamu said, "He speaks of you with yearning, the want of seeing you again." He subtly shook his head, "But thanks to duty and guilt, he could not bring himself to see you."

Ianos couldn't help but frown.

Does he know him, then? Not surprising, considering his age, Ianos had encountered many, Chosen and non-Chosen, throughout his life. The problem is who.

"Who is he?" Ianos asked.

"Let me stabilize you and I shall bring you to him."

Of course, he would. Ianos shouldn't be surprised. And he gave him a nasty look.

"Do you think I would be that curious?" He asked.

In turn, Isamu shrugged, "To me, maybe. But the Preceptor, he will ensure that you live long or as long as he."

Ianos couldn't help but scowl again. Who is this Preceptor?

"And you have to stay for Hush, too!" He turned his eyes to Crystalline; her yellow optic was narrowed, "She has grown comfortable living in the Tower, I dare not want her to experience loss as a young age already."

He stared at her, frowning still before slowly turning his eyes to Akiva. Ianos paused at the hopeful look in his golden eyes. This prompted him to heave out a sigh.

"Fine." He admitted defeat, turning his focus back to Isamu, "However, if your Preceptor is unable to help me, then you all will have to let it go."

There is a huff, a hint of a smile behind Isamu's helmet, "I am confident that won't happen."

That is when Ianos heard Crystalline scoff and he glanced at her to see her shell high and proud. The two are confident in their leader. Then perhaps there is hope.

Saying nothing, Ianos simply gave Isamu a nod, a sign for the Revenant reaches out and presses a hand against his chest.

"I am going to be honest with you," He heard Isamu warn, "The process to stabilize the Light and Darkness isn't painless." Ianos flinched, "Especially with your dire condition. The Darkness has twisted itself into your light. It will not like being forced apart and temporarily balanced."

Ianos couldn't help but give Isamu a look. Semi-sentient then? And it will fight back? He knew it wouldn't be so simple.

"Then let us hurry and get this over with." He said and he saw Isamu nod back.

Taking in a deep breath, Ianos gritted his jaw, sliding his hands to his sides to dig his fingers into the sheets.

That is when he felt warmth permeate into his chest, feeling his light hum contently. In turn, he flinched when he felt a glare of anger, of hate, burst forth, almost like a hiss, as he felt it recoil and snarl. Almost like a wild animal.

That is when his nerves started to burn, fire coursing throughout his body.

And he screamed.