Redacted
Keep It Quiet
Sorry for the late update guys, but work has been keeping me busy. No time to really do anything really lol. But here it is! :D
Thanks to Diamond002, The Great Wolf 177, and Guest a.k.a Tidalkiller/Reece for the reviews!
Tidalkiller - Thank you! And yes, I do play D2 on Xbox however, with my time, I only have only time to play one game, and, well, let's just say Destiny isn't the one lol.
Edited: 12/10/2023
Orion recalls Pluto's ramblings, usually when it was only the two of them and the young Exo making a promise that whatever he hears, stays in the room. Thus, he knows of the history of Galaxy, its history with Ianos, and Ianos' history with many fireteams; specifically, the one that he lost during the Great Disaster.
Honestly, Orion hadn't put together that they were more than just a team, more than just a group of three Guardians until he witnessed the interaction between Pluto and the Preceptor. So, when he and the twins bumped into him in the Hall, he couldn't help but give the Revenant a narrowed glance, settling over his exposed face and then down to the smaller form standing next to him.
"Hush." Orion called out, holding out a hand, and he couldn't help but be a bit relieved when Hush – after giving the Preceptor a quick glance – slid her fingers out of the Revenant's and trotted over to his.
Feeling her fingers intertwined with his, Orion took this as a sign to give the Preceptor another glare.
"You heard that Ianos is awake?" His optics flickered as the Preceptor nodded, "Then put your helmet back on."
"Orion?"
Ignoring the startled looks from the twins, Orion just kept his glare upon the Revenant, "You know the drill. Pluto said Ianos doesn't want him knowing about you."
This earned him a wince from the Preceptor, but Orion cared little for it, and instead, couldn't help but be annoyed when a soft smile appeared on his face.
"I take it you care for Ianos as well?" The Preceptor asked.
Instead of answering, Orion glowered at the Revenant, gritting his jaw to force himself into silence.
Yes. He did care for Ianos. But not for what others think.
Orion cares only because Pluto does.
He saw the softness, the pride, and the worry in the older Exo's optics whenever he and Ianos would interact. The love towards the Warlock is obvious, even in public, as Pluto always seems to brighten whenever Ianos is around, especially in comparison to the Clan.
Ianos made Pluto happy.
Thus, Orion made a promise to himself that he would help keep Ianos safe. He owes him that much.
"Your helmet." Orion demanded again, and his frustration grew when the Preceptor gave him another smile before reaching down to the headpiece tied around his waist. Turning around the instant he saw the Preceptor secure the helmet over his head, Orion went to move. Only to come to a halt when he saw Hush stumble, hearing her squeak as she fumbled over her steps. Thus, taking a deep breath to calm his anger, Orion resumed his strides and this time, he took smaller steps, allowing Hush to follow next to him comfortable.
"Uh, Hey. Orion?"
Glancing over his shoulder, Orion's pink optics settled over Gemini's blue, and he saw the black and orange clad Hunter speed up her pace, up until she was next to his side. Her brows were furrowed, optics flickering.
"What in the Traveler was that for?" She asked.
No sooner had she asked when Orion then felt Scorpio sped up to his opposing side. He let out a heavy breath.
"If you want to know, ask Pluto." He saw Gemini frown, "He has all the answers."
Turning his optics away from her, Orion didn't have to look over at Scorpio to sense his pout.
"But Pluto tells us nothing." The Hunter protested.
This time, Orion turned and gave Scorpio a frown.
"I promise that once you get Pluto alone and ask him, he will tell you." He then let out another breath, "Especially with what is happening at hand." Then, Orion paused, furrowing his brows, "And whatever you do, make sure that the Preceptor keeps his helmet on whenever he is around Ianos."
"What?" From the corner of his optics, he saw Gemini jerk back, reeling, "Why?"
"Like I said, ask Pluto."
He knows his answer wouldn't be satisfactory, especially not with the twin's stubbornness – a common trait amongst the Galaxy – but he opted to ignore the looks he received from the twins. Instead, he focused on leading the way back to the Medical Ward, with Hush near his side.
Xxxxx
"What are you doing?"
Flicking his orange eyes at Knight, Ianos then stuck his tongue back into his mouth and kept as much of a straight face as possible when he spotted the incredulous look upon the young Exo's face.
"I was tasting the air." He answered.
From his side, Ianos heard a snort, and he didn't have to look back to see the amused expression upon Pluto's face. Instead, he saw Knight momentarily glance over Ianos' shoulder before fixing his attention back onto him.
"Tasting the air?" He asked.
In response, Ianos simply shrugged, "I have worn my helmet for a few centuries." He gestured his hands vaguely into the air, "It is strange to breath in something that isn't drugs or the light."
That is when he saw Knight flinch before he nodded once and then turned his white optics back onto Day, the latter of which was beaming their light onto the skeletal frame of the Exo's right arm. Despite Knight's protest, Day decided to work on getting their Guardian fixed up, especially since it has been a while since he was injured. It is highly likely that there will be permanent damage to his body where not even Day will be able to fix.
Fortunately, the Ghost got their Guardian's face done and both optics seem to be in good order and had replaced most of the charred plating on his right side. Now it was just the limbs, and not just the arm. Day had just made the diagnosis that damage had been done to the leg as well.
The thought of Knight already gaining permanent scars upon his body and not even half a decade old prompted Ianos to turn to his side, grunting with effort. With his back turned to Knight, he started flicking his tongue out again, ignoring the way Pluto chuckled at him.
Despite the strange and somewhat murky taste of the room, Ianos appreciated it, in awe now that he tasted something else that isn't the sterility of drugs and the heat of the Light. This made him wonder what the Wilds tasted like. It has been a few centuries after all. Ianos wasn't in a hurry though. He has all the time in the world now that the threat of the darkness' corruption is gone. Or at least delayed.
At this thought, Ianos raised his hands to his face, turning around so that he could take a better look at them.
And the dark wisps that lingered above his fingertips.
They only had noticed it after telling Knight about the Revenants and their history with them. To be honest, Ianos didn't take it well, shaking his hands as if it would stop it. It took a combination of Ace, Pluto, and Knight soothing him to get him calm down enough to take a closer look.
The darkness didn't hurt, even though the tips of his fingertips were black, and looking at it now, it was intriguing, and almost made Ianos want to study it if it wasn't for the way his fear gripped his heart.
They did test Ace's light against it however his Ghost beaming their light against it, but, besides a light burn, nothing else happened.
Ianos hopes that the Preceptor has answers to this.
Feeling a hand settling upon his shoulder, Ianos flicked his eyes upward, eventually setting upon Pluto. Although his brows were furrowed in concern, Ianos saw Pluto nod his head towards Knight's direction, prompting him to look.
From his position, Ianos could see that Day had finished their work on Knight's arm and was now working on his legs. Seeing that the young Exo had leaned back and spread out his legs so that his Ghost has space to fix them, Ianos kept watching until, on Knight's other-side, he spotted movement.
It was Akiva, the Titan's towering form obvious as he slowly sat up with Lex hovering from his hands and to his shoulders. The pair yawned, Akiva raising his arms to stretch and Ianos looked on with mild amusement as Lex did the Ghost equivalent, stretching out his shell.
Then, after Akiva plopped his arms into his lap, he turned.
Their eyes locked.
And Akiva scrambled and crashed onto the floor.
Leaning back, Ianos looked on with wide eyes as Akiva leaped to his feet, rounded around Knight's bed, and then suddenly felt himself being pulled into a bone-crushing hug.
"You're awake!" Akiva practically cried as Ianos wheezed, feeling the Titan's grip tighten as he was lifted out of his bed, legs dangling in the air.
"Akiva! You're killing him!"
Knight's cry was enough for Ianos to feel Akiva's grip leave him, and he fell back onto his bed with a cough, and a deep inhale.
"I'm sorry." Akiva apologizes, feeling strong but gentle hands shift Ianos on his bed, fixing him onto a more comfortable position.
"Traveler, he just woke up." Pluto's words were stern but clearly amused, "You could have put him back to sleep."
"I was just excited to see him awake, okay!"
There is a sputter from Pluto, "You're one to talk! You just woke up yesterday!"
Evening out his breath, Ianos decided to prop himself up with his elbows, allowing him to look up and see Akiva sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. In contrast, Pluto was scowling, arms crossed, but Ianos can also sense the amusement behind his hard expression.
"I see that everyone is awake."
A voice, one that sounded familiar but foreign, prompted Ianos to look over at the door of the room. However, before he could have a clear look, he found himself holding out his hands as Hush practically jumped into his lap and he felt her bury her face in his chest. Giving her a quick glance, Ianos looked up to see Orion, Gemini, and Scorpio walk in, the three immediately taking to Pluto's side. And behind them, a Chosen clad in Warlock gear entered.
And Ianos took note of the way Pluto tensed, hands tight against his arm, and the brightness in his optic faded and instead, turned dark.
Raising a questioning brow, Ianos then noticed the twins giving Pluto the same look, and he decided that he will question the older Exo about it later. However, right now, he is more intrigued by the red and black clad Warlock that had entered the room.
If the Chosen had noticed the dark stare that he received from Pluto, he didn't show it, as Ianos could sense a soft smile behind his helmet.
"You gave everyone quite a scare." He said, "Nearly twenty days you laid unconscious. We were worried that you were never going to wake."
"As I have been told." Ianos worded carefully; Pluto was clearly scowling at the Warlock now, "I take it you are the one who stabilized the Darkness within me?"
The Chosen nodded.
That was enough of a clue for Ianos to know he was the Preceptor. He did recall Isamu saying that only he could completely balance the Light and the Dark within an individual. Whatever that means.
However, before Ianos could voice his thanks, he noticed the Preceptor's head tilt down subtly. He realized he was looking at his hands.
"I can see that the balance is agreeing with you." Ianos couldn't help but blink at his words, "The Darkness from the fingertips." The Preceptor lifted his head, "That is a good sign. It means your body is expelling the excess, balancing itself."
"Oh! So that is what it means." The sigh of relief from Ace is prominent, "That is good to hear. We were worried that his condition was getting worse, not better."
There is a chuckle from the Preceptor and again, familiarity rang out to Ianos, a distant memory threatening to surface but frustratingly out of reach.
Thus, Ianos decided to brush it to the side; his memory will allow him to remember eventually. Instead, he decided to help Hush adjust in his lap, allowing her to be more comfortable.
"I have been told that despite my condition, that I have to maintain it myself?" Ianos asked.
This earned him a nod from the Preceptor.
"Stabilizing you is only the beginning." He explained, "Once you are in balance, it is now your Ghost who has to undertake the darkness."
There is a beat, a stunned silence.
"I beg your pardon?!" Ace finally broke it, practically sputtering, "Me?! A fragment of the Traveler?! Taking the darkness in!?" From the corner of his eyes, Ianos saw his Ghost look around the room, as if searching for an answer. Or a punchline to a joke. "How is that not going to kill me!?"
There is a sound of offense; Ianos looked over to spot Crystalline's shimmering shell.
"I'm still here, aren't I?" The lavender Ghost sounded legitimately offended, "And don't forget that every Revenant who had undergone the Harmonization, their Ghost has gone through the same."
"There are still risks, however." The Preceptor intercepted, "It takes years of training and discipline from both Chosen and Ghost before they are ready, and even then, it may not be completely successful." Ianos then felt his eyes settle back onto him, "However, since your life was in danger, I had to take the risk."
Appreciated. Either way, if Ianos hadn't taken it, he would likely have been a dead man. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, at least, not to him.
"Then why could we have done this Harmonization with, well, me, while Ianos was unconscious?" Ace's question pulled Ianos out of his thoughts, "Would have saved some time, don't you think?"
"Perhaps." The Preceptor agreed, "However, it also requires the Chosen's participation." He then gestured a hand at both Ianos and Ace, "It requires your consent for the next step."
"Consent?" Now that was the first for Ianos, "Why is that?"
That is when he sensed another smile from the Preceptor, "I say it is better to see it for yourself. Many Chosen, especially those who have lived through the Great Disaster, get a bit." He gestured vaguely with his hands, "anxious when it comes to the Harmonization of their Ghost."
From his side, Ianos can feel Ace give the Preceptor a wary look.
"That does not worry me." He heard his Ghost mutter, "At all."
A chuckle can be heard from the Preceptor, "Worry not, it is not unpleasant. It does, however, take a bit of time and meditation before you are properly linked with your Chosen once more."
Ianos narrowed his eyes; what does he mean 'properly linked'?
"But I am already bonded with Ianos," He heard the questioning tone in Ace's voice, "Aren't I?"
"To his light side, yes." The Preceptor confirmed, "However, your Chosen is now balanced with the Darkness. If you want your previous duty as his Ghost to remain, you must be balanced as well." Despite his helmet, Ianos can sense the Preceptor look his way, "Otherwise, without it, if your Chosen dies, then he will remain dead."
Eyes growing wide, Ianos found himself unable to speak, unable to fully comprehend what he had just heard. He had lost his immortality as a Guardian?
Beside him, Ianos heard Ace sputter, "What!?"
"Do not fret." The Preceptor raised a hand, as if that would ease the panic building within Ace; Ianos can feel it through their bond, "All Ghosts who have underwent the Harmonization were successful." There is a comforting smile from him, "I do not doubt your Ghost will be the same."
"Thanks?" Ace said.
Hearing the doubt in his Ghost's voice, Ianos couldn't help but be amused despite his worry.
"Is it possible if we could perform this Harmonization later?" He asked, "I would like to rest."
Or more like to better prepare himself for the ritual. Ianos gut was twisting at the mere thought.
Much to his relief, the Preceptor nodded, "I say that is for the best. We will have the ritual prepared when you are ready." Then he gave a subtle bow, a hand against his breast, "I shall take my leave."
The announcement seemed abrupt, almost rude, and Ianos would have taken it that way if he had not flicked his eyes over to Pluto. And saw the way he was practically drilling a hole into the Revenant's head from the way he was glaring at him. Thus, he decided to wait, watching as the Preceptor disappeared through the door before turning to the Exo Hunter.
"Tell me." He started, seeing Pluto jerk his optics away from the door and towards him, "What is going on?"
Much to his annoyance, he spotted the way Pluto's shoulders ease, the grip upon his arms relaxing as the Hunter answered, "What do you mean?"
"Did the Preceptor say something? Do something?" Ianos decided to bypass his question with one of his own; he narrowed his eyes when Pluto shrugged, "You cannot bluff your way out of this one. I saw the way you and Orion have been glaring at him." Despite how heavy his body felt, Ianos sat up straight, crossed his arms, and glowered at the two Exo, "I maybe down, but I am not blind."
Orion – Traveler, bless him – looked away, unable to keep a straight face. The guilt is prominent in his pink optics. In contrast, Pluto expression is blank, but Ianos can spot the subtle scowl.
"Do you know him?" Ianos decided to ask.
This time, Pluto flinched and Ianos gave him a blank look as the former sighed. The look in his optics showed he struggled, contemplating, mulling things over before finally, he answered.
"It is better if you do not know, Little Light."
Frowning at the answer, Ianos then turned his attention to Ace; he could spot a suspicious look in his Ghost's orange optic. Then, he sighed.
"Ace and I will learn the truth." Ianos decided to say, turning his eyes back to Pluto and Orion; despite his upset, he couldn't help but smile at them, baring his teeth, "Like we always do."
There is a snort from Pluto but Ianos decided to drop it. After all, he had to have gotten his stubbornness somewhere. Thus, he decided to search the room once more before finally, he asked.
"May someone tell me where Isamu is?"
No sooner had the Titan's name left his lips when, from the corner of his eyes, he saw Akiva flinch, and the twins looked away.
His heart clenched.
"What happened?" He managed to say.
Xxxxx
"Make sure to leave a virus there too."
"Traveler, Angel." He heard his Ghost sputter, "I know you want to corrupt the entire database, but let's make sure that is it salvageable after." Angel then felt her tap him on the side of the head, "Some of that data was ours you know."
Glowering at the screen that Hope had conjured up, Angel heaved out a breath, "I just can't understand." He turned to look at his Ghost, "I mean, why else would the Revenants be furious at the Tower even after all these years?" Then, he turned his eyes back to the screen, narrowed, "Guardians live for a long time, Hope. And most don't forget."
"I understand." He heard Hope say, "But no need to completely disengage the entire Tower database to vent out your frustration." Angel is unable to help but huff at her words, "I say hackin' and gainin' answers is enough." She then bobbed to the side, "Alongside mixin' up several files with a tiny little 'surprise' inside."
Snorting at Hope's words, Angel then propped an elbow onto the table the pair had taken refuge on and set his chin upon the back of his hand.
"It would have been fun to see the Vanguard's faces once they open our little gifts, especially when it comes to the files on the Revenants." He then scowled again, "Although, we hardly learned anything besides what we already knew."
"Perhaps we can ask some Veterans?" Hope suggested, "Or those who had been around durin' the fights with the Revenants at least?'
Despite himself, Angel turned and gave his ghost a blank look, "And who are we going to ask?" He gestured with his free hand to the room, "Those who have participated in the fight against the Revenants have sworn secrecy."
Hope shifted their shell up and down, "Wouldn't hurt to ask."
"What do I say?" Angel sat up, "" Hey there! I'm not sure how old you are but perhaps you have heard of the Revenants? Can you tell me about them/" Angel then grumbled, "It would have been better if I had asked Isamu."
"Did you just say, Isamu?"
A new voice, one that Angel did not recognize, tugged him out of his bubble and a yelp escaped his lips as he reached and fumbled for his knife. Eyes wide, he turned, and he connected with narrowed brown.
"Traveler." He breathed out, taking his hand off the handle of his knife, "Didn't anyone tell you not to startle a Hunter?"
That is when the hard look in the newcomer's eyes – a Titan – faded and a sheepish smile appeared onto his dark features, "My apologies, but I could not help but overhear you talking about a fellow Guardian. Isamu, if I heard, correctly?"
Scanning over the Titan's form, Angel licked his lips nervously at how easily the former towered over him; fight wasn't an option. Flight is it.
However, as Angel went to sit up, ready to leap out of his seat when the Titan raised a hand, brows furrowed.
"Look." The Titan started, "I am not here to cause trouble." Angel, in turn, gave him a dubious look.
The Titan raised both hands, "I just wanted to know what happened to Isamu." He lowered them and Angel could spot the familiar sheen of worry in his eyes, "My clan and I lost contact with him when he left the Tower to stay with –"
That is when the Titan came to a sudden halt, eyes wide, and Angel narrowed his eyes, leaning in.
"The Revenants, right?"
The Titan jerked back, "How did – " Then he shook his head, "Never mind that. Tell me." A desperate look settled into his eyes, "Have you been in contact with Isamu?"
Although seemingly genuine, Angel couldn't help but hesitate, eyes looking over the Titan once more.
At first glance, he looked young, especially with bright brown eyes and how flawless his dark skin seems to be, with dark strands cut close his skull.
But Angel knew better.
Reading past the young features and into their eyes, he can easily read the years.
Followed by sincere worry.
"I met him a few weeks ago." Angel saw the Titan's eyes brighten at his words, "however, I have not been in contact with him since."
The Titan's eyes fell, "Oh." Any attempt to suppress his sympathies were quashed when Angel heard the genuine disappointment in his voice, the way his shoulders dropped. There is heavy breath from the Titan.
"Well, better than hearing nothing from him after centuries." The Titan then gave him a strained smile, "If you do hear from Isamu, please tell him that Liam asked how he is doing."
Seeing him starting to turn to leave, Angel found himself calling out, "Wait." The Titan – Liam – turned to look at him, "What is your relationship with Isamu?"
There is a bewildered look from the Titan, a flash of confusion before his eyes softened.
"We were part of the same Clan, the Blossoms of Hope." The Titan answered, Angel couldn't help but raise his brows at the name, "Isamu was a founder. That is until…" The Titan's voice faded, and Angel saw the yearning expression, "Well, let us just say that when the Revenants appeared, their ideologies aligned with his."
Hearing this, Angel couldn't help but furrow his brows, frowning as he contemplated informing Liam of Isamu's condition. He may not have been conscious when it happened, but Hope had seen enough, and she had filled him in. Thus, he knew fully about Isamu's corruption.
However, although sympathetic, Angel decided to keep it to himself. The Titan may seem genuine, but it doesn't mean that he trusts him enough to tell him everything.
"Ideologies?" Angel asked instead.
That is when he saw a flash of regret and sadness settle into Liam's eyes.
"Isamu has been vocal against Tower rules." The Titan answered, "especially so when it came to the studies of the darkness." He breathed out, "and children."
Angel jerked back at that, "Rules against children?"
Liam simply flashed him a wry smile, "You are young. You would have not known the rules back then." He shook his head, "Back when we were all young and new, when we still thought the Light as all, that the light was everything, us Guardians only had the right to be soldiers." His expression hardened, "Not scholars, not adventurers, not family, let alone a parent, and, well…" Another sigh, "Isamu wanted to be a father, and let is just say that our clan, the Blossoms, we were always, 'by the book'."
Angel couldn't help but flinch; he already knew where this was going.
"Isamu and the Clan got into a fight one day." Liam continued, "He claimed that despite our longevity, despite our near immortality, us Guardians were fragile, fragile as any human under our 'protection'." There is a chuckle, sad and mournful from the Titan, "And as you know, to hear that back then, back before the Great Disaster, it was practically equivalent to blasphemy." Then, a pause, and the smile on Liam's face disappeared, "And his words got louder after we failed to take back the moon, but even then, our clan didn't want to listen." Angel watched as Liam raised a hand, staring at it as it curled into a fist, "Instead we said some things, things that we – I – regret." That is when Angel noticed the subtle trembling in his jaw and the sheen that settled over Liam's eyes, "It wasn't long after the Revenants were formed that he left us to join them." There is a stuttering breath from the Titan, "It was only when the Revenants left the Tower when the Clan and I realized our mistake. That we had driven away our friend, our brother, and that the least we could have done, was listen to what he had to say."
Not knowing what to say, Angel simply watched as Liam lifted his eyes to him.
"Please." The Titan pleaded, "If you see Isamu again, tell him that his friends, his family, want to speak with him. To apologize for the wrongs we have done."
Again, uncertain of what to say, Angel simply nodded, prompting Liam to give him a single nod of thanks and finally, turned and left.
As Angel watched him walk away, he heard Hope speak, "He seems truly sorry." From the corner of his eyes, he saw her shell shift, "Do you think we should have told him what happened?"
Although conflicted, seeing the regretful look in Liam's eyes prompted Angel to slowly nod and answer, "Yes."
Then, he silently prays that Isamu and the others made it safely in reaching the Revenant base.