Redacted

Liar

I actually made an early update for once! (Happy Dance). Anyways, just a heads up, this chapter is going to hold some dark themes (implied non-consent and PTSD) so you have been warned.

And before I forget, I made an AO3 account. Don't worry, I'm staying here but I am going to work on my AO3 account so that both accounts are on the same page for updates. As such, if there is no update next week, don't be too surprised. I'm just working on getting my AO3 account updated

Thanks to Diamond002 for the review!

Edited:

1/14/2024

If Pluto had a choice in the matter, he would have easily wrapped his hands around the Preceptor's throat, squeezing until the Revenant's life slipped away. To him, a shot between the eyes would be too quick and he couldn't mangle the Revenant leader in front of his followers. But strangling, strangling was the next best option. However, despite his anger, his rage, Pluto refrained and instead glared the best he could at intermingling of light and darkness in front of him.

"If you allow us to get close, then perhaps we may – "

"How many times do I have to say it? No!" Pluto snarled; he heard the Preceptor take a few steps back, "You already have done enough damage as it is."

"But the Harmonization must proceed." The Preceptor protested, "If Ace and Ianos do not completely resonate their light and darkness with each other, then Ace will eventually lose the power to resurrect Ianos when he dies."

A curse built up within Pluto's throat, feeling his core heat within his chest as he grounded his jaws together.

"Not with that Wizard around." He demanded.

"Vultosa is needed for the Harmonization." Pluto suppressed the urge to swing a fist at the Preceptor, "We cannot proceed without her."

"Did you not see how Ianos reacted with her around?" Pluto spat, "He fell to the floor crying for Traveler's sake!" His anger continued to build within his chest, "Either you figure out a way to continue this Harmonization without her or we are leaving!"

"No. No, please."

A plea, so quiet that Pluto almost missed it, prompted him to halt in his verbal assault towards the Preceptor and turned around, fixing his attention to where Ianos laid. He brushed his light forward, ignoring the way the surrounding Revenants flinched at the action, and felt it rebound back.

It didn't take Pluto by surprise for him to sense Knight and Hush kneeling over Ianos, his head laying in the former's lap while the child Guardian sat near his side, holding a hand in hers. Akiva was also seated nearby, shoulders stiff and alert, likely to secure Ianos if need be, and finally, Pluto sensed Orion and the twins forming a protective triangle around the group, acting as a living barrier.

"Please. No."

There is another whimper from Ianos and Pluto felt his anger diminish and replace with concern. More than anything else he wants to be near Ianos's side, cradling him in his arms just as Neptune had done back when they were young, back when nightmares were frequent for the then young Awoken.

"You promised." Ianos' words now sounded borderline delirious, sick, slurred, "You promised that you would leave him alone if I agreed."

Agreed?

"Ianos?"

Recognizing Ace's voice, Ianos' ever loyal Ghost, mimicked Pluto's surprise, he couldn't help but take a step forward. He doesn't like the sound of where this is going.

"You promised." Ianos repeated, this time his voice wavered, almost cracking, "No, stop." Then, Pluto heard Ianos tried to move, a grunt in his voice, as though he was restrained, "Stop!"

Then he started screaming.

"Pluto! He's hurting himself!"

Akiva's shout prompted Pluto to swoop in, practically falling to his knees. And then promptly leaned back when Ianos swung out a hand, narrowly missing his face.

"Little Light, is it me." Pluto leaned over Ianos, placing his hands upon Ianos' shoulders; he can feel the Awoken struggle under his hands, "You are among friends here, there is nothing to fear."

That is when a wail came from Ianos, his voice ringing in Pluto's receptors as panic gripped his core; he can hear the emotion, the raw fear and anguish in his voice. Was he reliving a moment back on the moon? What had happened back there?

"Stop! Stop it!"

Dread plummeted into Pluto's stomach at Ianos' sobs, trying to make sense of the meaning behind his words. But he already knew. He just didn't want to accept it.

Another wail snapped Pluto out of his thoughts, and he found himself struggling to keep his hands upon Ianos' shoulders. Then, the stench of blood reached Pluto's nostrils.

That is when Pluto took his hands off his shoulders and grabbed Ianos' hands, pulling them away from his face. Splatters of warmth hit his face and he grunted as Ianos writhed, crying out. Then, Pluto sensed a flash of movement, the familiar sound of a fist colliding into the side of a face, and then Ianos' cries suddenly ceased.

Pluto paused at this before slowly turning his focus onto Akiva.

"Akiva." He started, "Did you just punch, Ianos?"

"I – I…" Akiva's voice wavered, tight, "I'm sorry but, he was screaming, crying like I have never seen him before, and then he started clawing at his face and chest, drawing blood, and I panicked and I just reacted the way I did and – I'm sorry Pluto, but I just…"

Although unable to see, Pluto can tell Akiva was on the verge of tears and it didn't take long for him to understand; Ianos wasn't the only with a harrowing experience with the Hive, and there was no doubt that being in the dark with his friend screaming agony wasn't helping Akiva's nerves.

"It is okay, Akiva." Pluto accepted and then he gently placed Ianos' hands upon his chest, folding it together neatly. Then, he carefully and slowly scooped Ianos into his arms and then slowly stood, "It might have been for the best."

Despite this, Pluto can sense the obvious anxiety, the nervous edge from Akiva. This prompted Pluto to say, "Come everyone, let's us leave here. We will resituate ourselves elsewhere."

Hearing the others move, readying to leave the darkness, Pluto then turned his attention to the Preceptor and gave him a glare.

"We will finish this later." He warned.

Then, without saying another word, Pluto left.

Xxxxx

Despite Pluto saying there was no need for him to apologize, Akiva couldn't help the guilt, the shame of punching Ianos in the face. He had reacted mainly out of instinct, his mind screaming at him to find a way to silence the Warlock's wails, and in his panicked state, physical violence seemed to be the answer. Thus, he flinched when he saw a bruise bloom on Ianos' left cheek as Pluto laid him onto the bed, prompting him to scrape his teeth against the tip of his thumb.

"I'm going for a walk." Akiva found himself saying and he felt everyone's eyes turned towards him; he could spot the puzzlement and the concern. However, Pluto's expression softened, and the Exo Hunter gave him a single nod. Returning it with one of his own, Akiva ignored the looks from the others and exited the Medical Ward, continuing to nibble the tip of his thumb.

"Stop that." He heard Lex scold before from the corner of his eyes, he spotted the familiar flash of light and the yellow and white shell of his Ghost appeared, "The others are already worried as they are."

"Right." Akiva stuttered as he forced his hand down, flexing his hands near his sides as he took in a deep breath. Despite his best attempt, his mind wandered back to the attempted ritual.

Akiva hadn't been taken aback by the Wizard's appearance, although, it is true that she had startled the living light out of him when she stepped out from the darkness. But that was it, for her appearance was different, Akiva almost mistaking her for another type of Hive.

She was pure white, practically bleached, and her glowing green eyes were clearer, paler, and her garments were clean, well-kept in contrast to the ones Akiva had seen on the moon. It almost made her look harmless. Almost; Akiva had learned through the decades to never judge a book by its cover.

No, her appearance isn't what made Akiva panic, to worry. It was Ianos' screaming.

Hearing the normally stoic Warlock cry, begging and pleading, it had thrown Akiva back, and he saw nothing but his failed raid against Crota. Marcus' screams as the Thrall tore him apart, Anna's war cries as she tried – and failed – to cut down incoming Knights, Layla and Kathy trying to force Wizards back to give them cover.

And Maylea.

Shaking his head, Akiva brought his hand up to his lips and started biting down on his thumb, ignoring the way Lex groaned as he dug his teeth in. It did little to distract him from his previous Fireteam.

The Chargers name may have been known, but they had wanted to outshine other Fireteams, other clans, especially the famous Galaxy; not an uncommon goal. Many had wanted to outdo the clan consisting mainly of Exo. Akiva just could not understand why his fireteam agreed to take on Crota when Marcus brought it up. He just could not understand why they thought they would succeed.

He remembers coming back as the lone survivor, hearing the condolences and to his shock, congratulations; he soon discovered that not only have many Fireteams failed to kill Crota, but many never made it back. Thus, his returning alive was seen as an accomplishment himself. But Akiva couldn't accept that, wouldn't accept that, knowing that his team fought so hard, fought beyond the fumes of their light just to accept the congratulations on trying and dying.

Akiva paused; perhaps that was one of the reasons why he stayed on Mars after the Chargers' deaths. To avoid the sympathetic looks and sheepish smiles of those who thought that dying for an attempt to assassinate a Hive God was enough for an achievement.

"Akiva. You're drawing blood."

Pulled out of his thoughts, Akiva pulled his hand away from his lip and saw that Lex's words were true; he had someone gnawed his way through the leather of his gloves and bit into skin, causing a small stream of blood to flow down his thumb and around his wrist.

There is a brief falter in his steps, a pause, and then, a sigh from his Ghost.

"Come here."

Turning his eyes to Lex, Akiva blinked at him before slowly held out his hand, palm up. This prompted Lex to glide over, and the familiar flow of light emitted from the Ghost's gold optic. Half-expecting a scolding, Akiva appreciated the silence instead, listening to the hum of his Ghost's work as he mended the ragged end of his thumb.

As the last of the blood faded away, Akiva found himself looking up at his Ghost, locking his golden eyes with Lex's. He saw the Ghost do the same and a warmth settled into his chest.

"Thank you, Lex." He said; Akiva saw Lex blink at him, "I mean it."

And he did, and not just for healing his thumb.

Akiva recalls Lex always being there; from when he led Akiva from the wreckage of a colony ship to the failed battle against Crota, and up until now, pushing and pulling him along. If Lex had not been there when his daughter and the Chargers died, Akiva doubted he would be standing here now.

And Lex must have heard the sincerity, for Akiva saw his Ghost's optic widen subtly followed by his shell enclosing around his core, and his light brightened. This sent another wave of warmth throughout Akiva's chest, prompting him to hold out a hand. His eyes brightened as Lex hovered and settled into his palm.

"Your friend, was that an act earlier?"

The introduction of a new voice roughly pulled Akiva out of his reverie, and he pulled Lex close to his chest before turning around. His eyes settled upon a human Warlock and it was then that Akiva took notice of his surroundings; somehow, he had failed to notice the approach of a team of Revenants – six of them, including the Warlock before him – and now the seven of them stood, alone, in the hall.

Remembering their assault when he and the others first came to their base, Akiva's senses went alert and he found himself taking a step back, trying to gage as much distance between himself and the team of Revenants. In turn, the Warlock Revenant took a step forward.

"Your friend, the Awoken." The Revenant clarified, "He was acting, correct?"

Akiva blinked. And then blinked again.

"Acting?" He repeated back, "What made you think that he was acting?"

There is a scoff from the Revenant, "The Harmonization is a great honor, but we know you Tower Guardians." He jabbed an accusing finger at Akiva, "You are wary of the Darkness, fearful of it. We know you will find a way to pass over the ritual."

Akiva took a deep breath; more than anything, he wants to tear the human Revenant a new one, especially from the smug expression upon the Warlock's face. But he bit his tongue; despite the Preceptor's welcome, Akiva is still in hostile territory. Thus, he reeled in his frustration.

"What you have witnessed was not an act."

The Revenant's expression faltered, "Lies."

Akiva, again, had to reign in his anger, taking another deep breath before releasing it.

"We came here to save his life." He started, "why would he try to bypass a ritual that would help treat the corruption of the Darkness?"

"To target the Preceptor of course." More than anything, Akiva wants to give the Warlock a good punch to the face, "Since he is the only one capable of initiating the Harmonization, it is to get close, get his guard to lower."

Akiva breathed through his nose and release a breath, "I can assure you that what you saw in that room was legitimate."

No sooner had the words left his lips when Akiva heard a scoff from the human Warlock, watching as the latter crossed their arms and subtly leaned back. He found his patience waning.

"You still do not believe me?" Akiva asked; the way the Warlock lifted his chin was enough, "Why do you not believe me?"

The way the Warlock rolled his eyes, the scoff, it made Akiva wonder how many years this Revenant has been alive. They seem young in his eyes. Or perhaps, it could be his maturity.

"Ianos is that Awoken's name, correct?" Akiva narrowed his eyes at the Revenant Warlock, "I have heard the stories, of how he escaped the Hive's clutches as their prisoner." There is another scoff from him, "I find it hard to believe that he escaped, let alone on his own."

Akiva found his blood running still, "Let me understand. You do not believe Ianos' actions weren't real because of statistics?" He grinded his jaws together as the Warlock before him nodded, "Just because something is impossible does not mean it is not possible." Akiva took in a breath, trying, struggling to keep his temper in check; he was not in the mood to deal with this, "Ever heard of Eris Morn? She had survived the Hive."

"But not as their prisoner." The Revenant retorted, "She hid amongst their number, blended in until she could find a way to escape. Lost, perhaps, but not captured." He then leaned in, letting out another scoff, "But, according to the rumors, your friend was captured by the Hive and kept prisoner for months. I find it difficult to believe that he had found a way to escape on his own."

"You are basing off of rumors, not truth," Akiva spoke through gritted teeth, "If you know Ianos, then you would believe the stories of his involvement with the Hive." He recalls the distant looks, the jerks of surprise whenever he would approach without warning, the flicker of memory before settling back into the present, "You would believe that he went through Hell and back."

Another scoff from the Warlock; Akiva found him flexing his hands, feeling Lex wiggle in his grip before eventually hovering away. He heard his Ghost settle just behind his shoulder.

"And what? You were there to see it?" The Warlock taunted, and Akiva found himself narrowing his eyes, jaw tight, "Like I thought, you weren't there. You are basing off rumors just as much as you claim I was." The Revenant smirked at him, "Just admit it, your Awoken friend's condition is all a farce so you and your team can get close to the Preceptor and kill him."

"I am telling you, we are not here to kill your leader." Akiva argued, "We are here to seek help for Ianos' condition."

"And you received it." The Revenant snapped back, "I see no other reason for you to stay except for assassination." Akiva then found the Warlock getting close, getting right into his face, "No matter what you say, no matter what you do, the Preceptor is under our protection, and we will retaliate if you or your team tries to harm him."

That is when Akiva's patience snapped.

He brought his hands up, pressed them against the Warlock's shoulder and shoved. Akiva saw the other Revenants posture stiffen, hands subtle lifting. He could care less about them.

"Look you fool ass spark of a Dreg!" Akiva saw the Warlock reel, eyes wide, "I believe Ianos survived the Hive because I survived fucking Crota. And if I am able so live against that prick of a god, then others can live being held prisoner by those decaying husks." Akiva then closed the distance, keeping his golden eyes locked onto the Warlock's; he was practically looking down on him, "So tell me again. Why do you think Ianos was putting up an act in that hell hole you call a room?"

It was satisfying to see the Revenant's eyes remain wide, jaw slightly ajar. Then, the Warlock glared at him.

"You? A survivor of Crota? You must be joking." The Revenant scoffed, "The only one who survived Crota was Eris Morn." The Warlock squared out his shoulders, daring to look Akiva straight into the eyes, "There was no mention of you."

That is when Akiva laughed.

He laughed as he ignored the way the Warlock looked at him, the way the Revenant took a step back away from Akiva.

"Oh? You think I wanted to be mentioned after watching my Fireteam get slaughtered by the Hive Prince himself?" Akiva couldn't stop smiling, grinning at the Warlock, "That I wanted to recount how he mocked, laughed, after spilling the blood of my team in his throne room? That I wanted to remember that I was the only one to walk away from that asshole alive?" He tried to suppress another laugh, feeling it stutter between his lips, "Oh no. Oh no, no, no. No sane Guardian would be willing to recount that traumatic story."

"You're crazy."

That is when Akiva's laughter abruptly stopped, his expression blank as his eyes settled back onto the Warlock.

"Oh, crazy, is it?" The edges of his lips twitched into a grin, "Perhaps an accurate statement since I did spend some time in the Medical Wing at the Tower. After all, anyone who encounters the Hive never leaves the same, don't you agree?"

It was the way the Warlock scanned his brown eyes over Akiva, the way he remained quiet had made him believe that the Revenant'finally' believed him. Then, he saw his expression shift.

"No." The Warlock shook his head, "This is all a trick to garner sympathy from us, to gain our trust. You." He raised another accusing finger at Akiva, "You are lying. There is no other survivor of Crota besides Erison Morn. You are a liar!"

Liar.

That resounded within Akiva, golden eyes staring blankly at the Revenant as he felt something inside of him truly snap. It felt like a string, a string that was held taut for too long, somehow keeping itself together no matter how much it was pulled or twisted through the years. But the Revenant, his words had finally made it fray and snap.

The next thing Akiva knew, he had his arm against the Warlock's chest, pressing him against the wall. The latter was looking at him with wide eyes.

"A liar?" He snarled, ignoring the choking gasp as he shoved his arm up, pressing it into the Warlock's neck, "Do you think I would lie about watching my Fireteam, my family, die in front of me? That I would lie as they choked upon the Darkness and I was forced to watch as their life left their eyes?" He further pressed his arm against the Warlock's neck, hearing the latter wheeze, "You do not know what it is like, to hear that bastard laugh as I held one of my family, my daughter, in my arms as she gasped out her last breath." He bared his teeth, feeling rage bubble within his chest, "You do not know what it is like to watch your own flesh and blood die in front of your eyes!"

"Akiva!"

Snapping his attention away from the Revenant, Akiva's gold connected with Lex's optic, pausing as he saw the way his Ghost's expression was wide.

There was a pause, a minuet shift of silence before finally, Lex spoke, "You're crying."

Akiva couldn't help but jerk back, blinking rapidly and felt the familiar moisture around his eyes. This prompted him to bring up one of his hands, using the back of his to brush against them. He spotted the streaks as he pulled back. And the anger quickly dissipated to grief.

"Akiva. Steady breaths."

Taking note of Lex's words, Akiva followed his Ghost's instructions, only realizing his rapid breaths as he slowed them down. The tears then came back.

"I – I…" He stumbled back, choking on his words as he released the Revenant Warlock, looking down at his hands as he heard the latter rasp and gasp, "He called me a liar, Lex. A liar!" Akiva flicked his golden eyes to his Ghost, unable to hold back the years of regret, of shame, "What kind of father would lie about the death of his child!?"

"He didn't know, Akiva." Lex hushed, gliding close, "He knows you as well as he knows the others, and that means he knows nothing." Through the tears, Akiva could see the worry, the concern, "He could know nothing about May, Akiva, and you know this."

Although he knows this to be the truth, Akiva couldn't help but bury his face into his hands, the grief consuming his thoughts, "I should have convinced her to stay at the Tower, convinced her to stay safe." He took in a deep shuddering breath, "At least Ora, Amara, and Nahala would have gotten to meet her instead of hearing nothing but stories."

"May made her choice, Akiva." He finally lifted his eyes, setting back onto the white and yellow shell of Lex, "she knew the consequences of facing Crota and she knew that there was a chance she wasn't going to make it back." He then saw the sadness bloom in his Ghost's optic, "It was just a tragedy that she never did."

Feeling the tears streak from his eyes, Akiva let himself settle onto the floor, uncaring of the judging stares from the Revenants.

"I want to go home." He said quietly, staring down at his lap, "I want to see Neve, I want to see the kids. I want…"

He just wants to go home.

Near him, he can hear the familiar hum of Lex gliding close, "I know Akiva. I know."

Hearing his Ghost's whispers was enough for Akiva's anxiety to ease, at least for him to take in another deep breath and then release it. That is when he felt his Ghost press against the side of his head, prompting him to close his eyes, and taking in his presence.

"You. You were telling the truth?"

Opening his eyes, Akiva looked over to the Revenant Warlock, seeing not only him, but the expression of shock on the other Revenants.

So, the Revenants do have a conscience.

Tired now, Akiva simply nodded once and he could see the Warlock's expression twist, biting his lower lip. That is when he felt a soft tap from Lex and, without looking, Akiva pressed his hands against the floor and pushed himself to his feet. Then, giving the Warlock one last glance, he stumbled past him and his team, making his way back to the Medical Ward.