*WARNING: Chapter contains full, descriptive male nudity. Viewer discretion is advised.*

*Normandy Cargo Hold: 2186*

…

"I love you, but I know you. Don't make me an anchor. Promise me, Steve!"

"No, don't…"

Cortez stood in front of the consol, leaning over it with his hands. Tears were flowing freely from his face like two tiny rivers. He didn't even bother to wipe them away. Steve let them fall, he didn't care. So long as he could hear that voice again.

The recording on the console was set on repeat, which meant it would replay on a loop again and again. On the audio was Cortez himself, and one more. Someone he just couldn't let go.

"Lieutenant?"

Cortez turned to his left. Standing there was Shepard, looking at him with a worried expression.

"Commander. Sorry, didn't see you there." He apologized, finally wiping the tears from his eyes. "This is a recording from Ferris Fields… months ago."

Ferris Fields was a human colony all the way in the Terminus Systems, outside of Alliance jurisdiction. Much like most of the human colonies in that space region, it was the victim of a Collector attack that the Alliance covered up. Many people lo their lives there that day. Some were killed on sight, others brought aboard Collector ships and harvested for their genetic code used to create Reapers; a fate far worse than death.

One of the victims just so happened to be Robert Cortez. Steve's husband.

"I lost a lot of friends there on that day… I lost my husband." He admitted painfully.

"You were talking to him when the Collectors hit?"

A slow, sorrowful nod was her answer. "I was organizing construction at a remote station a few clicks south of the main colony. Robert managed to get outside the field the Collectors put up. Instead of running… he called me…"

Shepard frowned. Cortez said he had lost his spouse in the attack before, but she had no idea he carried this level of guilt with him. She couldn't begin to imagine what the pilot was going through. Shepard did know for a fact what it was like to lose those you care about. Her mother and baby sister on Mindoir. Her unit on Akuze. Ashley on Virmire. Who knows what she would have felt had she lost Garrus on Omega, or at the Collector Base.

"I'm sorry for your loss. He obviously cared a lot about you." Shepard said to him condolently.

Cortez let out a pained sigh. "He was afraid I wouldn't let go… But for him, I moved on… or at least I thought I had."

All the things left behind that day, and he grabbed this? A reminder of his failure to save the man he loved? How is that fair? Heck, what was even the point of moving on if the entire galaxy was going to hell, like it was right now with the Reapers?

Cortez tried to move on. He really did. Yet it seems he would always be stuck in the past, haunted by ghosts.

Never had felt more alone than he did right now…

A blinding white light shone before his eyes. Cortez felt himself being pulled towards it helplessly. Before long, he was shot forward with tremendous force, tumbling across the grassy fields until he finally came to a halt… upon hitting a tree.

"Agh… What the fu- GAH!"

And if his luck wasn't bad enough, something just fell atop Cortez's head, hard. He looked to where the object fell to identify it. Was that… a coconut? What was he, in a cartoon?!

Wait, that was t what was important right now. What was, was the portal he was just shot out from. The one that was closing! Cortez bolted back onto his feet and dashed towards it as fast as he could. The light it was generating growing dimmer.

"Shit! Nonono! Liara!"

Despite his best efforts, he failed to reach it in time. Cortez ran into its metallic body in failure, his fist slamming against it hard in a desperate attempt to start it back up again.

"Liara! God damnit, turn back on!"

It was no use. The portal was gone. Cortez leaned back against it and fell to his behind in defeat. He couldn't believe what had just happened. How could he let himself be separated from his crew so easily? That freak, Eramis. What did she hit him with? A Cryo Blast or something?

Damnit. The time for questions would have to come later. He needed to get back and help Liara.

It was only then that Steve realized where he was now. All traces of snow and ice had vanished entirely. In its place, lush green plants and large trees that stood high above the ground. Numerous tropical plants of various colors, and the distinct sounds of tree frogs and birds cooing in the air. Not to mention the heat and humidity.

Cortez was now standing not in a frozen wasteland, but the middle of a massive jungle.

"What the hell..?" He said, scratching his head in confusion.

Did the strange portal send him here? It must have been some kind of teleportation device or something. This was insane, even for him, with everything he's been through just by being acquainted with Commander Shepard.

This whole situation was absurd, but no good would come from just sitting around, doing nothing. He needed to get back to Liara, and he couldn't do that until he figured out where he was first. Which meant that it was time to get moving.

It had to have been hours since Cortez had started trekking through the dense jungle. He didn't even have a destination in mind. He just needed to find a way out of this oversized green house and reach some sort of open field. That way he may be able to get a better look at the land. Maybe find some kind of settlement, if he was lucky. Though, that seemed unlikely.

Using his Omni-Blade, Cortez hacked and slashed through the thick tree branches and vines that obstructed his path. The holographic blade cut through the foliage with ease. Every now and again, he would see some kind of strange animal he did not recognize. They seemed to keep his distance from him. If only he could say the same for the mosquito looking bugs that were the size of border collies. Thank goodness that Steve had his Carnafex on him.

The heat was overwhelming. Cortez's climate control had shorted after he emerged from the portal, which meant he was experiencing the full force of the weather. The pilot needed to cool down, and fast.

After some time walking, struggling just to keep on his feet in the intense heatwave, Cortez finally came across his salvation after cutting through a large palm leaf. A waterfall and river. Cortez sighed in relief. Finally, his luck was changing. The water looked clean enough. Steve removed his shirt and took no time diving right in. The water was cold. Perfect.

Cortez stood beneath the waterfall to let the clear liquid rain down over him. The water wasn't too rough, that makes it the perfect shower. His hands ran through his buzzed hair, massaging his scalp gently. Any other day, this would have been a great vacation spot. Too bad he needed to find a way back to that frozen helhole and find Liara. He had thoughts on what may have happened after he was thrown through the portal. Either she escaped or she was captured. One way or the other, he hoped she was alright.

Suddenly, Cortez heard something off in the distance of the foliage. A sound, and it wasn't like that of an animal. It was more… digital.

Curiosity got the better of him. Cortez decided to investigate. He stepped out of the water and walked into the bushes, the lieutenant kept low to the ground in order to remain hidden if whatever was making that sound turned out to be hostile. Cortez quietly moved a large plant leaf out of the way. He had found his mystery sound, and it was not at all what he was expecting.

Robots. Many of them, of various sizes and models. Their bodies were sleek brass, and of a truly alien design. Their heads were quite large with a single, glowing red eye in the middle of their faces. There was also another distinct characteristic about these machines. A glowing white… box, was the closest description to what it was. They were filled with some kind of glowing white fluid.

Cortez had never seen these kinds of robots before. They reminded him of the geth, almost anyway. Geth at least acted and moved more like people, since they were highly advanced artificial intelligences. However, these things. They walked more like mechs, or some stereotypical robot from old sci-fi shows. Maybe a quick scan from his Omni-Tool could help him identify them…

"What the hell are those- MPH!"

Something grabbed hold of Cortez. A large hand grasped firmly over his mouth and was pulled off into the greenery. He tried to fight back, but whatever had caught him was insanely strong. Cortez felt his body being forced onto the ground. Something then went up to his ear.

"Quiet!"

It was a man's voice. Deep, and it carried a heavy English accent. Cortez did not recognize who it was. He couldn't even see them as they grabbed him from behind. Regardless, he struggled for his freedom.

"Stop squirming! Do you want the Vex to detect you?!"

The robots suddenly stopped their march. One with a rounded head turned towards the direction Cortez and his mysterious captor were hiding by. Both men went dead silent. The robot began to slowly approach the area, its single eye focusing, trying to find whatever had made the disturbance. Adrenaline was now coursing through Cortez's whole body. Fight or flight response going into overdrive. Had it not been for the man who held him down, he may have tried to run.

"Stay silent and perfectly still. That Goblin will shoot at the slightest movements made."

The robot came to a halt. It's head rotated to the right, then the left, scanning its surroundings. It had some sort of rifle in its right hand. Its design was as unknown as the rest of its weirder.

"If it were just me here, I can do away with the lot of them, but right now, you're my top priority. So stay as still and as quiet as you can until the pass."

Twenty seconds. Twenty agonizingly long seconds passed. The robot finally gave up its search. It turned back towards where its group was and marched back over. This was the time to pull away also. The figure quickly pulled back with Cortez still in his hold, running through the lush greenery until they were a safe distance away. They eventually arrived at a secluded spring, some ways away from the waterfall where Cortez had left his shirt.

"We should be safe now." Said the figure.

In that case… Cortez grabbed hold of the mysterious man's hand and yanked it away from his mouth. "Can you let go of me now?!" He angrily requested.

"My my, aren't you grateful…"

The pilot was finally freed from his strange savior's hold. "Okay, mind telling me what that was… that was… Ay Dios mío…" Cortez's savior was… Well, not at all what he was expecting.

In front of him stood a large, powerful, well-endowed, mountain of a man. Skin that was the most beautiful shade of bronze, covering a body so packed with muscle that he may as well have been chiseled by God himself. Arms, thick like tree trunks with bulging biceps, attached to a broad, wide torso accompanied by two, meaty pectorals covered by a thick dark pelt, as with most of his body as well. Moving lower, his stomach was packed with a solid layer of pudge, but not enough to necessarily call him fat. It was more like that of a power lifter's belly, built to support the weight they would lift. Thick and well defined legs supported his massive torso, and also were adorned with a deliciously round and rock hard rump behind him. In the front… I'm sure you know what I'm going to say. ;)

Not only was his body utterly GODLY, but he was handsome. The man's face, perfectly asymmetrical, with a dark and full beard, a smooth shaven head, and a black dragonic tattoo etched into the right of his face and around his eye that also traveled down his neck, and all across his right arm. That was not the only tattoo on him as they covered his torso and left shoulder like stamps. Two silver studs were pierced into his earlobes, two hoops in the cartilage of his left ear, what looked like a barbel nose hoop made up of bone, and two thick silver rings run through his can-cut-glass nipples. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he looked like some kind of barbarian.

Steve could not comprehend what he was seeing right now. This man. This… embodiment of raw, untamed, sexuality had just saved his life, and was standing before him as naked as the day he was born. Though, he didn't seem aware that he was. What he did notice was that the pilot was staring at him.

"Sir, is everything alright? You seem to be gawking."

Cortez wasn't even sure what to say. He was just so transfixed on the man's… Well, everything. Not that anyone could blame him. This guy was HOT. Now, Cortez had snuck a few peaks at James in the locker room from time to time, but even James Vega had nothing on this man right here. Steve wasn't even sure as to how he wasn't ripping off all his clothes and pouncing on the guy right now. He was THAT amazed.

"What's wrong with you?"

Finally, the man looked down and realized what he was wearing… or rather what he wasn't wearing.

"Oh! By the Light, I'm sorry! I was in such a hurry that I didn't even realize." He apologized, laughing.

"N-no, it's uh… It's no big deal…"

That was a lie. It was a VERY big 'deal'.

The large man turned over to the spring. Laying on the edge of the water was a set of heavy plated armor. He walked towards it and bent forward down to the ground. That just gave Steve a full view of the man's rear. Those two cakes were so solid and round that he nearly got a nosebleed from the arousal. Cortez looked away as best he could.

"So, uh. *cough* What were those things back there? You seemed to know a bit about them." He awkwardly asked.

The man picked up a pair of grieves. The right boot was a solid white. The left was also white, but also orange split down the middle. There was a pistol holster strapped to the right thigh.

"First time seeing a Vex, eh? Thought so." He replied, slipping his armor on. "They're a machine race, spread all across the galaxy. Those buckets of rust will gun down anything in their path without remorse. You're lucky I saw you when I did. They wouldn't have killed you… or worse."

Up next was the chest piece. A heavy white cuirass with a streak of orange on the left side. Dangling around the neck, a nordic looking necklace.

"Believe it or not, they're not all machine. That glowing white part in their centers, its an organic compound that acts as their brains and true forms. Their bodies are just mobile platforms."

That piece of info actually left Cortez rather intrigued. Those things were machine and organic hybrids? Like the Reapers? The man slipped on his armor and then reached for his boots.

"But I believe that learning more about them will have to wait. What are you doing all the way our here, Sir?"

The metallic boots slipped into place perfectly. Now the man picked up his gauntlets and fur lined pauldrons. Cortez wasn't even sure where to even start. He couldn't just say that he fell through a magic door in an ice field and ended up in the middle of the jungle. Could he?

"It's… We'll, it's complicated. I'm not even sure myself."

Most of his armor was now fastened onto his person. All that remained was the helmet laying in the grass.

"Don't worry too much about it. All that matters is that you're safe. Or you will be, once we get back to the city." The man told him. "I don't believe I caught your name."

"It's… Cortez. Lieutenant Esteban Cortez of the Systems Alliance. You?"

The man reached for his helmet. It was visorless, split into two colors right down the middle. The right side was white with a horn sticking out the side. The left was orange, with a broken one opposing. The man placed the helm over his face before turning back to Cortez, hands at his hips and chest sticking out with stoic confidence.

"Call me Shaxx!"

The two men, now together, ventured into the jungle depths with Shaxx leading. Cortez followed close behind the armored warrior, as he seemed to be familiar with the lay of the land. Normally, Cortez wouldn't just follow some random stranger he met ten seconds ago, but Shaxx saved his life from those… Vex. That meant he was at least somewhat trustworthy. It was not because Steve thought he was sexy. Not at all.

Cortez explained to Shaxx that he had originally come to this place via some portal back on Europa, after his escape pod crash landed on the moon's surface. He also mentioned that his friend, Liara, was still there and was in grave danger, and that he needed to get back and rescue her.

Shaxx listened well to the pilot's words. Though he was skeptical of this story at first, but seeing the worried look in his eyes, the Titan agreed to take him back there. He mentioned that his jumpship was parked not too far off from the spring. They could fly it straight there. Cortez was immensely grateful that Shaxx was going out of his way to help him. Despite his brutish appearance, he was very kind.

"It's not too much further, Lieutenant. Try to keep up." Shaxx urged, cutting through the vibes in his path with a large knife.

"Thank you for this, Shaxx. I know I'm asking for a lot." Said Cortez, gratefully.

The Titan grabbed hold of a large rock that stood before them. He sheathed his knife and grabbed hold of it with both arms. Shaxx then picked up the rock off the ground like it was made of styrofoam and tossed it into the trees. This feat left Cortez amazed.

Shaxx looked back at Cortez. "Rubbish. It's no bother at all. Helping those in need is what we Guardians are all about!"

That term. 'Guardian'… Cortez felt his body lock up in fright. Shaxx was like those strange people Shepard was with. A Guardian. The ones who tore apart the Citadel and the Normandy. He should have realized that sooner when he saw that armor. Instead, Cortez was just so transfixed by the Titan's looks that he didn't even think about it.

At first, Cortez was scared. However, there was something about Shaxx that was different from the ones from before. There was a kindness to him. An aura of protectiveness that put his fears at ease. Besides, if he were an enemy, why would this guy risk his life to save him? So it was safe to say that Shaxx was not a threat.

"Okay… Hey, I didn't ask. Where are we exactly? I mean, I know I was on Europa before, but now?"

"Yes, Vex gates can be quite confusing. You never know where you may end up." Shaxx replied. "We're in the jungles of the Ishtar Sink, on Venus."

Wait. Did Cortez just hear him right? Venus? The inhospitable planet known for its molten temperatures, sulphuric acid clouds, and crushing carbon dioxide atmosphere that only has a handful of Alliance research stations built there? That Venus?

How could there possibly be a jungle on this planet? How was Cortez and his companion now, you know, suffocating, imploding, or bursting into flames where they stood? Shaxx had to have been lying. This couldn't have been Venus. South America or Africa, maybe, or maybe some jungle planet. Regardless, Cortez decided to play along.

"Alright then. Well, what are you doing out here?" He asked the Titan again.

"Why, that's obvious! I'm here on vacation!" Replied the Guardian with a boastful laugh.

They stopped before a large fissure in the ground. Shaxx looked down. It was as steep as the top floor of a condominium, and the jump was much too far for Cortez to handle. Luckily, Shaxx had a solution to that problem. He squatted down and scooped up Cortez in his arms bridal style. Naturally, our Alliance operative blushed like a madman at this act. He looked up at Shaxx's armored head. Rays of sunlight just beaming down on him like some kind of dreamy knight in shining armor. That only made Cortez even more mesmerized by the man.

Shaxx took a step back, then charged full speed. He left across the cliffs almost like nothing. Landing on the other side, Shaxx finally put Cortez back down on his feet. Shaxx smirked and patted the Lightless human on the back.

"Venus is a hotspot for Guardians who wish to take time off duty and just relax. Its tropical climate makes the perfect getaway destination, so long as you stay clear of the Fallen and Vex."

The two continued to track their way through the harsh jungle. Cortez just couldn't seem to get his focus off of Shaxx. The way he could effortlessly lift heavy objects like nothing at all. He pictured the muscles on Shaxx's back tensing up upon doing so. His biceps and triceps bulge as he would throw a log out of the way. How that raspy voice of his grunts from the exertion of energy. Just thinking about all that was enough to send the blood in his body further down south.

Cortez wasn't sure what had come over him. To lust over a man he had only just met wasn't like him at all. Though, in all fairness, Shaxx was perhaps without a doubt, the sexiest man he had ever seen in his life. James, Jacob, Kaiden, not even Thane had anything on this guy. He was just so… heroic, and… burly, and… and…

"Something on your mind, Lieutenant?" Asked Shaxx, looking back at the pilot behind him.

Steve gulped.

"…YES, YOU BIG WITCHER-LOOKING IDIOT! I WANT YOU TO FUCK ME, RIGHT HERE AND NOW, AS HARD AND AS ROUGH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN WHILE I SCREAM YOUR NAME AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS!!!"

…or at least that's what he wanted to say.

"Uh, no. Nothing."

Shaxx looked at him with a curious gaze beneath his helm, but shrugged and kept walking.

Thank God he didn't say that out loud. Cortez wiped his forehead of sweat. He needed to get a hold of himself or he'd say something he would regret. Perhaps this behavior was because he hasn't been with a man since… Robert. With his death, the war, and coping with Shepard's passing, Steve never really put himself out there. It made sense as to why he was this pent up. How embarrassing. He felt like a horny teenager again.

"Enjoyin' the view?"

The sound of a new voice caused Cortez to jump in surprise. He looked to his right. Floating next to his head, a small robot with a single eye. A Ghost. Its shell was black all across, but it was also lit up with red energy in its front, and around its core. (Crimson Shell) The Ghost's voice was male and English, like Shaxx's, but a tad higher.

"Well 'ello there! Sorry for scarin' you like that." He greeted. "Meliodas is the name. I'm Shaxx's Ghost."

The Ghost was very friendly, reminding Cortez of Liara's info-drone, Glyph. Just less robotic.

"I see you eyein' my Guardian. Don't worry, I won't tell 'em." Meliodas gave Cortez a wink before vanishing out of sight. Cortez sighed. Was he being that obvious?

"Not too much further now!" Shaxx stated loudly.

They had finally arrived in an open field. There was a large jumpship sitting in the middle of it. Likely Shaxx's. The large Titan looked at his vessel proudly with his hands at his hips.

My ship isn't much, but I guarantee that it will get you to Europa in minutes." He stated.

That fast? That's good. "Thanks, Shaxx. I owe you for this." Cortez said graciously.

Shaxx laughed. "You owe me nothing, Lieutenant! Like i said-"

But just before the Titan could finish his sentence, the ground beneath them started to shake and rumble. Cortez ended up falling forward, right into Shaxx's chest. Shaxx caught him, of course.

"What is that?" Steve exclaimed.

The shaking grew stronger. Before long, the earth bursted open right in front of them. What surface was a creature one could only describe as monstrous. It had a large, serpentine body, covered in thick plating and insectoid appendages, like pincers and antenni. It's mouth was split into four mandibles and a long blue tongue protruded from inside its mouth. This beast was enormous. It had to have been as big as seventy five meters long. Cortez recognized this creature.

A Thresher Maw! On Venus?!

The colossal worm unleashed a deafening roar powerful enough to generate a shockwave that blew away the beaches of the trees around them before it looked down at the two humans below. Live prey.

"At least it's not a Vex Mind." Shaxx said. He let go of Steve and approached the goliath. Looming up at the Maw, Shaxx showed no fear. No caution. He viewed this beast like some irritating rodent that needed to be exterminated. "Stay there. I'll handle this!"

Cortez's eyes went wide. "What?! You can't fight a Thresher Maw by yourself, Shaxx!" He objected.

"I've fought worse by myself!"

Was this man brave or stupid? Cortez really couldn't tell anymore.

"You'll die if you do!"

Slowly, Shaxx rose his hands up over his shoulders, his palms wide open, as if he were about to grip something.

"That news is old."

Two selections were made it the helm's interior HUD. "Raze-Lighter", and "Dark-Drinker".

Two massive swords manifested along his back. Shaxx's hands took hold of both and he drew them each slowly. In his right, a jagged and gruesome looking broadsword with an orange crystal that seemed to emit an intense heat. In the left, a gargantuan claymore with a purple crystal, the edge of the blade finely honed with a swirl pattern engraved into the flat. Shaxx rested the purple sword over his shoulders while he point the orange one at the Thresher Maw.

"Time to go to war!"

The Thresher Maw roared. It started gagging profoundly, soon upchucking a sickly green fluid from its mouth right at the Guardian. Acid. Shaxx twirled Raze-Lighter in his hands before swinging it upwards like with an uppercut. The blade seemed to generate a torrent of flame while he swung. The fire instantly burned away the acid before it could even touch him.

Rising up from the ground, six of the Thresher Maw's tendrils emerged, flailing around in the air. The honed in on Shaxx in an attempt to capture him. Now it was time for his other sword, Dark-Drinker. He twisted his body around with the blade outreaching. Shaxx generated a kind of vortex of pure dark energy from the sword which cut the tendrils to pieces.

When Shaxx stopped spinning, that was his moment to charge. He dashed toward the Thresher Maw at full speed, both swords at his side. The Thresher Maw growled. Two more tentacles rose up from the dirt. They swung downwards at the human. One strike could be fatal, but Shaxx cut them down to size with his mighty blades. The Thresher Maw shrieked. It was getting irritated, so it whipped its entire body down towards him.

Shaxx jumped upwards before the beast crashed into the ground. The Titan was now high in the air above the Maw. It was wide open for an aerial attack. Shaxx raised both arms, then tossed his swords down towards the Thresher Maw. The blades sliced deep into the monster's hide and gave off a burst of flame and dark energy on impact. The force of the attack caused extensive internal damage.

Cortez could only watch. He was completely at a loss for words by Shaxx's ferocity in the face of such an overwhelming opponent. The only people he knew were able to take on a Thresher Maw without a tank were Shepard and Wrex.

"Quite something, isn't he?" Meliodas appeared right next to Cortez once again. "Shaxx isn't just any other Titan. He's a Warlord from the Dark Age before the time of the Last City. These Lightbearers ruled over their own territories with their own subjects, like a king. His full name is Lord Shaxx"

One tentacle bursted out from the ground at blinding speed, too fast for Shaxx to react and he was ensnared by the waist. The Thresher Maw rose back up from the ground. It brought Shaxx up to its drooling jaws. It was very eager to feast on its captured meal. Too bad the great Lord Shaxx wasn't on the menu. The Titan raised his right hand. "Bolt-Caster" was selected on the HUD. He summoned a longsword with a hollowed out blade and light blue crystal that crackled with electricity.

"Here's a present for you!"

Shaxx swung the sword. It lit up and the energy around it formed a disk-like energy blade of pure electricity which was lobbed at the Thresher Maw. The disk made contact with its tongue; electricity surging throughout the Thresher Maw's entire body, like it was struck by lightning. The mighty beast roared in agony, it released Shaxx from its hold. The Warlord followed up by drawing a large knife from his belt. It was attached to a long rope. Shaxx twirled it in the air before lobbing it at his opponent. The blade of the nice dug into the soft spot of the Maw's hide and anchored itself in place. Shaxx swung on the rope until he had reached the back of the beast, where his other swords were still lodged into its body.

"But Shaxx wasn't like the other Warlords. While they were cruel and ruled with an iron fist, Shaxx was a kind and fair man who protected his subjects. A master swordsmith, monster hunter, and legendary hero of the Battle of Twilight Gap. They call him, 'The Lord of War'."

While Shaxx swung through the air, he sheathed his electric sword before landing in between his other two weapons. His hands grabbed hold of their hilts firmly.

"Let's see how tough you are when you've been cut down to size!"

He flipped over his swords so that he was now facing a downward angle. With a powerful push of his legs, Shaxx dashed down the Thresher Maw's body at full speed. The two swords slicing clean through the monster's flesh like it were made of soft butter. Blood gushed from its flesh, painting the fields a deep purple. Once he was closer to the ground, Shaxx jumped off the beast. He landed some distance away, both his swords in hand. The Thresher Maw behind him split into three separate pieces. The dead monster's segments all came crashing down to the ground as though they were trees being chopped down. One piece landed right behind Shaxx himself. A large cloud of dust was upturned from the impact. This made Shaxx look even more impressive than he already was.

"So…" Thrusting his swords into the ground, Shaxx brought his hand to his helm and removed it. He looks the amazed Cortez straight in the eye. "How was that?"

Cortez was… words couldn't even describe the amount of awe he was in. Never had he seen anyone capable of such an incredible feat, armed with nothing but three swords. Shaxx was like some kind of fantasy hero in a movie brought to life. Rugged good looks and everything.

All things be damned, he couldn't take it anymore. Steve walked right towards Shaxx, who was smiling at him with an intense smugness. The pilot hopped up into the Titan's welcoming arms and crashed his lips right into his in a kiss as heated as the planet they stood on. Cortez wrapped his hand behind the back of Shaxx's head securely, while Shaxx held his consort by his thighs, one hand slipping up to grope his ass. Shaxx then roughly slammed Cortez onto the ground, then proceeded to remove his armor, and Cortez took no time unbuttoning his pants. Shaxx leaned back down to him and-

"Esteban? Esteban! Can you hear me?"

On cue, Cortez snapped out of his fantasy and came back to reality. Shaxx was staring at him curiously.

"Wha?" He asked as though he was born yesterday.

"You're staring again."

Cortez fell silent again. His face was now as red as a tomato.

Meliodas groaned. "Oh, just ask him out already!"

Wassup, everyone! Had myself a fantastic time in Mexico, and I'll be heading home shortly! So many coati at the resort. Loved those little guys. X3

Just a disclaimer to those who haven't played Destiny, no one really knows what Shaxx looks like under his armor. This is just how I picture him in my head… Seriously.

But buckle up, people. Things are only gonna get better.