Redacted
Taken
This was supposed to be a part of the last chapter, but it felt out of place so split it into a chapter on its own.
CW: Beating, Physical Assault
Edited: 1/28/2024
"Have you pinpointed who has been following us?"
Angel heard Hope hum at his question.
"Two of them." She answered, "From the same clan that was followin' us yesterday. Their marks and cloaks have the same symbol."
Angel mused, "Their names?"
"A quick search brought up Archer-20 and Toshak Mere." Hope continued, "Titan and Hunter respectively, and members of the Blossoms of Hope."
Angel paused before snorting, "Okay, seriousness aside, can I say finding a clan that is practically named after you is one of the funnies things I have ever heard?"
"If we were in any other situation, I would have denied it vehemently and kept it stored in my records. But currently yes." Hope agreed, "That makes me wonder if there are other clans out there that coincidentally share our names."
"Put that on our list for later." Angel requested as he turned a corner, looking back to ensure that he was out of sight before focusing his light on his person.
Hearing the familiar hum of his cloak falling over his form, Angel then pressed himself against the wall as he slank into the shadows, just as the two Guardians rushed around the corner. Just had Hope informed him, it was a Titan and a Hunter.
At first glance, Angel would have thought the two were Crucible regulars, mainly from the way their armor was shaded in a pattern of white and red. However, as he took a closer look, Angel noticed the lack of the Crucible symbol, and found shades of pink spotted around their armor, specifically on their mark and cloak.
"Where did he go?" It was the Titan who asked, the broader Guardian looking around before his attention settled onto his Hunter Partner, "He wasn't walking that fast, was he?"
Despite his helmet, Angel can practically see the frown on the Hunter's face, "No."
"Then how did he get away?"
Biting his tongue to suppress a snicker threatening to crawl up his throat, Angel then froze when he saw the Hunter turn to him, and his hand slowly reaching to his belt.
"He did not get away."
That is when Angel saw the familiar flash of a knife being flaunted, signaling him to leap and roll to the side just as the sound of metal crunching into concrete rang in his ears. Rolling onto his knees and then to his feet, Angel turned, only for his eyes to grow wide as he spotted the Hunter already at the wall where just stood, struggling – and failing – to remove the knife embedded in it.
"You could have just said that you knew I was there before trying to kill me!" Angel protested.
"There you are!"
Snapping his attention to the Titan, Angel leaped into the air, pressing his hands upon the rushing Titan's back as he flipped over him, landing back onto his feet.
"What is wrong with you1?" Angel shouted as he turned, finally releasing his cloak; no need to waste light if they already knew he was there, "If you wanted to talk, just come up and ask! No need to stalk me for days and attacking me like a treasure hungry Dreg!"
That is when the Titan and the Hunter came to a pause, their head slowly lifting, and Angel found their eyes settle upon him.
"Wait, you knew that we were following you?" The Titan asked.
Despite himself, Angel let out an exasperated sigh, "You two know who I am right?" He watched as both nodded, "Then you know I was raised by Eliksni, who are expert trackers, and trained by Pluto-99, right?" He waited, and then continued when he received only a stunned silence, "Oh come on you two, really?"
Scowling at the pair, Angel then glanced down towards their cloak and mark, easily spotting the familiar symbol of the Blossoms imprinted upon the cloth; a blooming flower resting within a crested circle.
Simple, but clearly shows who they are.
"Notorious." Angel muttered, "right."
"We heard that."
The way the Hunter snapped at him made Angel look at him, and he gave a fake smile.
"Oh, sorry," He apologized, "Didn't know you were standing there."
The Hunter heaved out a breath before – with one final heave – tugged, and his knife came free. Watching as he wiped the edge of the blade on the leg of his pants, Angel then nodded his head at the hole in the wall.
"You are not going to repair that?"
Smiling at the glare he felt behind the Hunter's helmet, Angel then heard him grumble as he sheathed his knife to their belt.
"What you said earlier, you are speaking the truth about simply asking?" The Hunter asked.
In response, Angel shrugged at the Hunter – Toshak Mere, he reminded himself – before he answered, "Counts on what you ask me."
He sensed another glower from the Hunter, "You said – "
"I did say that you could ask." Angel interrupted, "But I didn't say that I would answer everything." He waved at a hand at them, ignoring the dark look from the Hunter; the Titan – Archer-20 – gave him a nervous glance, "Either you take what you get or nothing at all."
"Fine." Toshak spoke through clenched through, 'However, if you lie at all – "
"You have my word; I will tell the truth." Angel promised, "I'm not crazy enough o lie to a Hunter, especially one as old as you."
There is a scoff from his fellow Hunter, and Angel is on his guard now; he had read up on the Blossoms of Hope after his encounter with Liam. Ever since the Great Disaster, their numbers haven't expanded, having lost the majority of them back on the Moon. But that also means that most of their members were old, experienced. Way too much for Angel to handle in a fair fight.
Thus, he waited, looking on intently as Toshak leaned on one leg and crossed his arms.
"Tell us. When did you last see Isamu?"
Despite himself, Angel let out a sigh; why wasn't he surprised.
"If you have not heard from Liam, I met him a little over twenty days ago." He answered and then paused at the scrutinizing looks he received from the pair, "Unless, you want something more specific?"
"We know that you had met Isamu days ago." It was Archer, the Titan who answered, "However, Liam had failed to ask one question of import: How in the Traveler did you find him?"
That is when Angel's mind went blank, panic slowly creeping into his stomach; this was not going to go as smoothly as he hoped.
"Sorry, confidential." He answered.
His hand then went down to his belt as he sensed the air change, static slowly building up as Angel eyed the arc light permeating from Toshak's shoulders.
"What?" The Hunter snarled.
Taking in a deep breath, Angel then hardened his stare, scowling, "I told Isamu that I would keep his current whereabouts and circumstances secret, and I am a Guardian of my word."
Toshak took a step forward, "But we are his Clan!"
"You mean you were his Clan." Angel slightly faltered at the glare he received, "From what I learned from Liam, you all turned him away. All because you disagreed with his ideologies.
"Which were 'blasphemous' during our time," Archer retorted this time, "What have you expected us to do? Shove aside our rules, our oaths, and accept his ideas and words with open arms?"
That is when Angel's jaw dropped, green eyes growing wide.
"What kind of clan mates are you?" The words left his lips before he could stop himself, "if it's not something inherently harmful to others, of course you should accept Isamu and his beliefs!" He then gestured at Toshak and Archer, "Isn't that what clan mates do?"
No sooner had he finished speaking when the anger from his fellow Hunter became prominent, where instinct prompted Angel to wrap his fingers around the handle of his knife, and steadied himself as Toshak took slow steps towards him. Preparing fully to engage the Hunter, relief then flooded into Angel's senses as Archer reached out, grabbing Toshak by the shoulder.
"Toshak."
"What!?" The Hunter snapped back, looking over his shoulder and glaring at the Titan.
"You can't maul him." Archer retorted.
That, that just told Angel just how dangerous Toshak is, especially when the Hunter pulled himself away from Archer's grip and snarled.
"Why not?"
That is when Angel heard Archer take in a slow intake of breath before releasing it.
"You remember that we have more questions for him, correct?"
Seeing the way Toshak's shoulders went stiff, Angel then heard the Hunter grumble under his breath before finally taking a few steps back. This put some space back between Angel and the two Guardians. But it did little to stop the way the older Hunter glared at him.
"From the way you speak, Isamu told you of his beliefs?"
Angel blinked at Archer's question, unable to respond; now that he thought about it, did Isamu speak to him about his theories, his stories, or anything about his past life that would even give a hint of his beliefs?
In response to Archer's question, Angel shrugged, "If you want an honest answer, no, not really." He hummed thoughtfully to himself, "Although I do remember his surprise when I told him Guardians are able to have children freely now." Then he paused, pondering upon his own words, "That was one of the rules, wasn't it?" That Guardians were allowed to have children?"
There is a nod from Archer.
"It was during a time of strife." He clarified, "It was too risky for a Guardian to have children back then, and thus, it was deemed forbidden for us to procreate."
Taking in the Titan's words, Angel couldn't help but give the pair a blank stare, feeling the frustration build within his chest.
"Wow." He said sarcastically, "Isamu wanted to have a baby. What a nightmare."
That is when Toshak sputtered, "I-Is that supposed to be an insult?"
Angel gave him a blank stare, "What do you think?"
"How dare you disrespect –"
"Toshak, please."
Hearing Toshak growl under his breath, Angel simply crossed his arms as he returned his fellow Hunter's glare; his nervous edge slowly faded away and was replaced with anger.
"So you had a falling out with Isamu all because he wanted a baby?" He asked.
"It was more complicated than that, New Light." Angel glowered at Toshak as the latter continued, "Not only did he want a child, but he also spoke of peace with the Fallen."
Angel paused, "Wait, what?"
"He wanted to make peace with the Scavengers." Toshak spat, "said that many years have passed with both sides warring over territory, that it was about time we made a truce and finally share our borders." There is a scoff from the older Hunter, "Like we would trust the Scavengers to agree to a treaty."
"It worked out, didn't it?"
Angel found the words slipping from his lips before he could realize, mimicking the surprised look that Toshak gave him.
"What?" He heard the Hunter say.
Angel breathed out, trying to ease the quick beat of his heart, "Spirits. The House of Spirits?" He flexed his hands, trying to control the burn of arc light against his fingertips, "You remember them, don't you?"
There is a pause, then a huff.
"Oh right, those cowards." Angel barely bit back a curse, "Running away simply because we accidentally killed some of their own." Toshak crossed his arms with another scoff and subtle rolled his head; Angel cannot help but get the feeling that he was rolling his eyes, "should have stuck with their assault on the Tower. That way, we would have been given a good excuse to clear many those Scavengers."
Angel found himself taking steps forward, hands trembling as he closed the distance between himself and Toshak. But then, he paused, hesitant now.
They were both experienced Guardians, having years under their belt. Angel doubts he could take them.
"Angel."
Hearing Hope's voice in his head, Angel tuned in to his Ghost, "Yes?"
"Kick their asses."
Ah yes, his close friend, his Ghost, his enabler. Angel wasn't all too surprised by Hope's bluntness.
Thus, he smiled, and Angel finally took up his knife, removing it from his sheath before leaping forward, and thrusting it into Toshak's thigh; after all, what's the best way to deal with a fellow Hunter than removing the best of what they are: their agility.
Hearing Toshak let out a shout of pain, Angel then tore his knife out, ensuring to leave behind a long bloody cut before leaping back just as he felt Archer's fingers brush against the front of his chest.
Then, he ran.
Perhaps he should have played smart, run to a crowded place so that Archer and Toshak wouldn't be able to fight him, at least, not where many eyes are watching. Many would be suspicious after all.
But the way his anger burned within his chest, his confidence high, Angel instead ran to the stairs, practically flying down them to each floor. Behind him, he can hear one pair of large footsteps follow. His plan to cripple Toshak worked, at least, until his Ghost heals him.
Heart beating loud in his ears, Angel ran by memory, recalling the first time he reached the isolated settlement, back when he first met Echo.
It sent tingles down his spine, recalling at how easily the Exo killed him and Akiva as he leaped down the stairs and headed towards the old doors, and burst through them. They broke easily under his weight, causing Angel to fumble over his feet. Reeling his arms, Angel regained his balance, just as he heard Archer's steps behind him leave the floor.
Turning around, Angel spotted the familiar sparks of arc light around the Titan, his hands clasped together, raised above his while in the air all too telling. Flipping his knife in his hands, Angel waited, focusing his light on his person before, just as Archer got close, he leaned to the side, allowing the Titan to fall past him. Then he swung his blade forward into the first vulnerable area he spotted: the neck.
He felt his blade sink in before coming to a sudden halt and he heard Archer choke, gurgling just as the arc light died around his person, and his body crashed onto the floor. This momentum caused Angel's blade to be jerked out of his hand, leaving behind an ache as Angel watched Archer spasm and twitch. Then, he went still.
Despite killing Guardians before, this sent waves of unease through his senses.
"You would think that particpatin' in the Crucible would make fights like these easier."
Nodding his head in agreement with Hope's words, Angel leaned down to grab his knife from Archer's neck when he heard it; a rush of footsteps approaching from behind. This prompted him to turn and raise his right arm.
That is when an impact pierce the appendage, causing Angel to jerk back as he stared down the point of a crackling arc blade. He looked up, staring into the helmet of Toshak.
"You're not the only one who can'dance', boy." He heard him snarl.
Then, he twisted the blade.
Feeling his arm jerk, Angel found the arcblade tearing through it, the sound of metal screeching in the air and wires sparking ringing through the air. Slowly realizing what had happened, Angel then leaped back, tugging his arm free before stumbling over his steps. Then, he looked down at his arm. And cursed under his breath.
The prothesis that had taken him months to make was now in ruins, nothing more than a stump of metal and sparks. With the damage it was currently in, it was going to take some time to repair barring death, even with Hope's help. Although grateful that instinct had prompted him to use his right instead of his natural left, Angel still couldn't help but lament the loss before muttering prayers under his breath; he was fortunate that Salziks was adamant on practicing being ambidextrous.
Hearing rapid movement, Angel tore himself out of his thoughts before he dodged to the right, barely feeling the swipe of a blade brush past his ears. Scowling, Angel calculated the placement of his opponent before swinging around and throwing out a kick. A sense of triumph bloomed in his chest as he felt his foot connect with Toshak's chest, hearing the older Hunter let out an audible oof. However, the sense was victory was quickly torn away when Angel suddenly felt hands wrap around his ankle, and he yelped as he was tugged off his feet. Instead of impacting the ground, Angel then felt himself being spun, and then thrown.
Focusing his light on his body, it did little as Angel felt his back impact the ground, stars fluctuating around his vision before he found himself bounce and then land upon his chest. He wheezed as the air was knocked out of him.
"Angel?"
"I'm okay."
Using his good arm to push himself into a kneeling position, Angel again heard movement, a rush of steps running towards him. This prompted him to look up. And found a knee promptly slammed into his face.
Without his helmet, Angel felt the full impact, pain bloom around his nose and jaw, feeling his teeth rattle as they slammed together painfully. The taste of copper settled upon his tongue.
"You think you could take us on?" He heard Toshak growl, "Take on members of the Blossoms?"
If it wasn't for the fact that Angel was spitting out blood, he would have laughed, chuckled at the use of their clan name; it didn't sound much of a threat, at least, not to him. But with the way his face ached with pain with each minuet shift of expression, Angel instead looked up at him with a blank look.
"With a name like that." He sputtered, "It's hard to take you seriously."
It was satisfying to see the look of fury on Toshak's face. Less so when Angel received another kick to the face, pain spiked across his cheek. Planting a hand onto the floor to keep himself upright, Angel then felt a kick against his shoulder, forcing him onto his back.
Dazed, Angel turned to his side, readying to push himself up. Only for an impact into his side caused to fall back, curling in.
"You. Disrespectful. Traitor." Each word that Toshak spoke through gritted teeth, there was a kick, sending renewed pain blooming against Angel's side, "How. Dare. You. Speak. That. Way."
"Toshak! Stop!" Archer's voice rang out, "Lumir said to bring him back! Not to kill him!"
"Just this once!" Another kick; Angel groaned, "Let me kill this Scavenger so he can learn his place!"
"Toshak!"
"He could be one of those Revenants! A spy!"
"He is too young!" Archer argued, "There was no possible way for him to know about them! And you know the treaty!"
"That doesn't they couldn't recruit!"
There was a scuffle, the sound of a struggle, and the blows ceased, at least long enough for Angel to try to put a hand to the floor to get himself up. Only for another blow to take him off guard, and this time, he screamed, crying out as he fell back to the floor.
He soon heard Hope do the same.
"And the Guardians call the Eliksni brutes!" Angel heard Hope cry out before the familiar hum of light and a flash and she was in the air next to him. Then, she whispered, "Hold on, let me take care of this."
Angel coughed, sputtering as he parted his lips to respond, only to feel an impact slam into the side of his head, causing it to bounce off the concrete with a resounding crack.
Hope let out another scream, "Stop! Don't you see that he's had enough!"
"Not until he's dead!"
"Toshak! Stop it!"
Angel heard genuine concern in Archer's voice, and he prayed, prayed that the Titan would do something. This wasn't something that he could shrug off; he had never been assaulted by another Guardian, at least, not like this, not even in the Crucible.
"He attacked us, Archer!" Toshak argued, "And Lumir said to bring him back with us! How else are supposed to bring him back when he's resisting!?'
Hearing the two argue, Angel took the opportunity to steady his breath, feeling blood from his nose and lips, causing him to sputter as his green eyes locked onto Hope's. Laying his head upon the floor, Angel then gave her a small smile, "I messed up."
The look that Hope gave him was an expression he couldn't quite explain; to him, it looked like a mixture of guilt, of concern. But through the tears, the pain, made it difficult to discern.
"Angel." He heard her breath out, "I should have coaxed you out of attackin', not encouraged it."
Ah, guilty then.
Spitting out blood building up within his mouth, Angel then brushed his tongue against the back of his teeth, tasing familiar copper, "I guess that's why you are my partner." He flashed her another smile, "We both like to get into trouble."
A mournful look glossed over Hope's optic at his words, and perhaps she would have said something, if another kick hadn't slammed into the side of his head. His vision went black, darkness pulling at the edges, but Angel reached out a hand and somehow, his fingers wrapped around something. Judging from the touch and Toshak's cursing, it was his ankle.
"Let go!" Angel tightened his grip at Toshak's snarling, feeling him kick his foot around in his grip, "I said, let go!"
This time, an impact slammed into his chest and Angel yelped and then let out a rattle gasp as he felt his chest piece break, collapsing into his chest. This allowed his grip to fall loose from Toshak's leg. And then he let out a choked cry as he was hit again.
"Stop." Angel begged, "Please."
He hadn't meant for the words to leave his lip, but the pain, it hurt, and he grasped at the floor as the blows came to a pause. Then, he heard Toshak pause.
"You're finally showing respect." The Hunter scoffed.
Then, another impact came into his side, sending waves of pain throughout his body; Angel screamed.
"But too late for that now."
"Toshak!" Archer's voice rang out again, "Enough!"
"He needs to learn his place!" Toshak shouted back.
"Not like this!" Archer argued back, "Not in the Tower! Not when he says he's done."
Once again, hearing the two clanmates argue, Angel took in a bated breath before scraping his fingers against the floor, groaning between his teeth as pain reverberated throughout his body. He just wants to place distance between himself and the Titan and Hunter pair.
"Look!" Toshak yelled, "He's trying to run away!"
"Wouldn't you if someone was beating the life out of you!?"
Hearing steps approach, Angel found a whimper escaping his throat, burying his face into the cement.
Please, leave me alone.
That is what he wanted to say, but he found his throat locked, his tongue failing. Angel is afraid of what they will do next.
Hearing the steps pause in front of him, Angel waited, expecting another blow, expecting more pain. Instead, he heard movement before a hand – gentle and careful – touched his cheek. Angel flinched away, whimpering again as he scraped his hands against the floor, trying to scramble back. His body protested in response.
"Wait, no." Archer's voice made Angel pause, "Toshak is done." He was speaking in a whisper, soft, "I promise you he won't do you anymore harm."
"What?" Toshak snapped, "Who says I wouldn't?"
"Lumir said to bring him back in one piece!" Archer snapped back, "Not to break him!"
"Not my fault that he attacked us!"
Again, the two were arguing. Despite his fears, Angel couldn't help but wonder how the Blossoms of Hope were able to last this long if this is how their clan mates are.
As he pondered upon this, Angel then felt the familiar brush of light hum against the back of his neck, and he recognized Hope's gentle touches. He wanted to reach out, to seek out her comfort. Then, a hand suddenly latches onto his shoulder and Angel immediately shrank back, half expecting another kick. Instead, he felt strong but gentle hands caress the sides of his face. Angel tried to lift his head to see. The world spun instead.
"I apologize on Toshak's behalf." It was Archer again, his voice low and Angel noticed the way his hands felt: tender, apologetic. Guilty. "It shouldn't have reached this far."
Feeling fingers then brushing gently through his growing tresses, Angel found himself relaxing, leaning into the touch as a soft hum permeated from the back of his throat. Although instinct was telling him to run, to sprint away when their grips were lacking, the yearning made him stay.
Echoes of a soft voice sang in his ears, lulling him to lower his guard. He couldn't recognize if it was his mother or Salziks who was singing, brushing their hands through his hair as he had laid in their laps. Or, had he experienced both of them, soothing him from his nightmares and tensions? Nonetheless, Angel found himself missing their touch, their presence, and he soon closed his eyes, completely falling into the dream.
"I'll make it quick."
He then felt something cold pressed against the side of his head.