Redacted

You Kept It

Edited: 9/15/2024

"It has been a while since we have taken the bond from the Vault."

Opting to say nothing at Ace's comment, Ianos instead listened to his Ghost hovering nearby as he rubbed the ruined fabric between his fingertips.

As his eyes traced the burned edges, Ianos recalled the day of Zakai's 'death', remembering the moment when he returned from a mission outside of the City when their shared quarters exploded, and plumes of smoke filtered from the shattered building. It had taken Ianos mere moments to realize the source and forced his way through the crowd only to find their apartment burning and it took them hours to put out the flames. He later learned the reason being that they were darkness in origin.

Later, all they found were charred remains of Zakai's coat and bond, the glimmering energy of their shared light gone from the broken crystals. With witnesses claiming that no one saw the Natural-Born leave their quarters and his light last felt within the vicinity of the explosion, it was only natural that they concluded that he had perished.

And Ianos had mourned him for centuries.

"Ianos."

The call was quiet, almost silent to the point where Ianos had nearly missed it. But he recognizes it.

It was then that he is uncertain if it was fortunate or not that the twins and Hush were curled around his form, the latter of which had laid her head upon his lap, and Scorpio and Gemini pressed against this back. This allowed silence in the room otherwise, Ianos doubted he would have heard it.

"Preceptor."

He decided to acknowledge the Revenant's presence however kept his eyes focused on Knight's form. The latter is still coddling Eidr, the infant already asleep in the blank Exo's arms. If it wasn't for the latter, Ianos would have already snapped. He can already feel the anger boiling, threatening to burst from his chest.

There was a breath, a sigh, and then Ianos heard the Preceptor speak. He didn't bother to pay attention, but Ianos heard the other Revenants protest, quietly arguing against the Preceptor until finally, moments later, he heard footsteps leave. Likely the Preceptor asked for privacy.

Taking in a deep inhale, Ianos then heard steps approach – quiet, slow, and hesitant. Ianos didn't have to look back to know it was the Preceptor, listening to him come to a slow pause just behind him. Expecting him to speak, Ianos remained silent as he brushed his fingers through Hush's hair with one hand, and with the other, he continued to rub the broken bond between his fingertips.

There was a beat, a moment of silence before finally, the Preceptor broke it.

"We need to talk."

Ianos' heart plummeted, gut twisting, and he found his legs moving first, readying to stand to his feet. However, Hush's whimper made him come to a halt, a quick glance showing her shift in his lap before letting out a soft breath, suckling upon her thumb. Behind him, he can feel Gemini and Scorpio shuffle, mumbling out quiet complaints before they went still. This prompted Ianos to take in a shaky inhale, closing his eyes as he let out a slow, even breath.

"Not now." He muttered as he opened his eyes, focusing them onto Knight, catching the steady blink of their optics; he wasn't sure if that meant he was slumbering or if Knight and Nine were consistently shifting back and forth.

"Ianos, please."

Irritation itched at the back of his head and Ianos again found himself moving, slipping out from underneath Hush and rising slowly to ensure she and the twins to not fall flat. Using his hands to keep their heads steady, Ianos slowly lowered them to the floor, waiting long enough to ensure that they were asleep before finally rising, turning, and locked his orange eyes with the Preceptor.

With Zakai.

It was strange. Despite after so many years of seeing his face in his memories and the meager recordings that he could get a hold from Ace, it seemed foreign to Ianos when his eyes settled over Zakai's face. His eyes were the same vibrant pale azure, glowing against his pale skin, and his dark strands still framed the sides of his face. That sense of familiarity and relief that he was alive settled into Ianos' stomach and he couldn't help the warmth settling into his chest. Then, he spotted movement shifting over the Revenant's shoulder, spotting a familiar mist-like pattern shifting on a vermillion shell.

Ianos recognizes the signs of being bonded to the Darkness.

And the sense of longing was replaced with anger.

Before he could stop himself, Ianos rushed forward, reached out, and snatched the front of the Preceptor's robes. He shoved him until they came to a sudden stop, followed by an audible crack. There was a gasp of pain from Zakai.

"Ianos!"

Ignoring Ace's shout, Ianos simply tightened his grip against Zakai's collar, pressing him against the wall as his anger boiled to the surface.

"Talk? You want to talk?" Ianos spotted sickly green around the edges of his vision. He ignored it, speaking through clenched teeth, "You want to talk after countless years of me thinking you were dead?"

He wanted to shout to scream, to let his rage consume him. But the young Guardians behind him reined his emotions in, and instead, he shook Zakai. It was satisfying to see him flinch.

"I grieved for hundreds of years." Ianos continued, "The mere thought of remembering was enough to nearly send me into madness. But all those years, you were leading this faction, these Revenants, caring for a family that all three of us planned and wished for when we were together."

"Ianos. Please, I can – "

He didn't wait for an excuse, an explanation.

Instead, Ianos reared back a hand, gathered as much strength as he could and swung it just next to the Preceptor's head. His punch easily sank into the wall and the next thing Ianos knew, he felt it crumble, falling apart. With all his weight pressed against Zakai, Ianos felt his momentum fall forward, and fell on top of the Revenant.

That is when he felt something snap, feeling Zakai's abdomen collapse underneath him. Immediately, there is a stuttering breath, a wheeze leaving the Revenant's lips before Ianos saw him lift a hand. At first, he thought that he was going to retaliate, and thus, tensed, preparing himself.

"You kept it."

Zakai's words were hardly a whisper but it tingled inside Ianos' ears. Confused behind the meaning of his words, it was only when he followed his line of sight that he realized.

In his hand, gripped tight, is the charred bond. He had momentarily forgotten about it during his anger.

Leaning back, Ianos held it close as he unfurled his hand. The instant he saw the remaining crystals broken, shattered remains embedded in his palm, he found an ache beating within his chest. It was then, only then, that he finally released his grip from the front of Zakai's robes.

Ianos had treasured it, the only memento of his lovers that was safe in his keeping. The three of them had built similar bonds for each other, incorporating their light into crystals and embedding it the arm piece. Ari's was lost when they were forced to leave his body behind, and Ianos lost his when he was a prisoner of the Hive. Zakai's remained and it barely survived the fiery darkness induced explosion. Although it was already beyond repair, to see it further damaged by his own hands, Ianos couldn't stop the spiral of grief.

And rage.

He shouldn't be this upset, this distressed when the one he had been mourned for centuries is lying beneath him, alive, and giving him looks of longing. He shouldn't be distressed over breaking it when the Revenant beneath him lied to him.

And yet, as Ianos shifted his eyes and locked onto Zakai's glowing blue, he felt his anger slowly relinquish. It was promptly replaced with sadness.

"Why?" He found himself asking as he clutched the broken bond against his chest, "Why did you not take me with you?"

It felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, the tightness in his chest slightly relieved at this admittance. He wasn't upset at Zakai's lies. He was upset at Zakai's abandonment.

There was a flash in the Revenant's eyes and he saw him reach out with his other hand. Ianos didn't stop him as it settled against his cheek.

"We knew little of the Darkness then." Zakai started; he felt his thumb brush against his skin, "I had to find a cure, a way to save you before it took away your light. I had thought that you would be safe at the Tower." Ianos spotted the tears brimming around the Preceptor's eyes, his jaw trembling, "Now I realize that it was a grave mistake."

Feeling the edges of his eyes burning, Ianos closed them, feeling the heat trail down the front of his face. And it was then he finally noticed the warmth of Zakai's hand, his touch, and it sent a tingling through his body, prompting him to give out a stuttering breath.

To feel Zakai's touch again, after so many years, Ianos had missed it.

Once again feeling the Revenant shift underneath him, Ianos opened his eyes when he heard the latter grunt, spotting him wince before finally, he had enough room to seat himself, and lean towards him. Ianos didn't move, didn't react when Zakai pressed his forehead against his.

A common action that the three of them used to do out on missions, when their helmets obscured their faces. Their version of affection.

Letting out a slow breath, Ianos closed his eyes once more, letting himself take in the moment.

That is when Ianos heard footsteps come to a sudden halt.

"I-Is this a bad time?" Nix's voice broke through the hall.