Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Young Wolf wakes up inside their ship and takes a minute to stare.

Usually, this is a normal thing for them but what’s weird is that they know for a fact that this ship got destroyed years ago when they rammed it into a cabal ship by accident.

They nearly jump out of their skin when Ghost materializes in front of them. Ghost in turn flinches backward before flying back to where he was. 

They have a silent stand off before the Guardian gives in and quickly looks for a distraction that lasts for all of four second because they can feel the worry in the bond-

Oh.

The nightmares. 

Ghost moved again to be in eyesight before finally giving voice to their worry. “Are you okay? You only react like that when you have a nightmare.” 

They nod, before realizing that they actually used to speak instead of signing and let’s their hands fall to their lap. “Just a weird dream. Hey, what’s the last thing you remember?”

Ghost sends the mental equivalent of a frown. “….rezzing you after you went after another gate lord and rezzing you because you died after missing a jump? Why?”

Yeah okay, they remember that. It was one of the times where they decided to stay in the Reef for a while to keep an eye on the Hive and Vex. 

The Young Wolf debates asking what year it is, before having yet another realization that Ghost was waiting for a response and growing more and more concerned. “Like I said, weird dream. Really weird dream.”

They quickly move to set a course back to the Tower and they can feel the skepticism. 

It almost makes them feel bad about lying, but if it wasn’t  a dream and they got sent back into the past for some reason, they don’t want to risk changing anything or making what happened worse. 

______

So look.

Cayde has seen and done some weird things. But what he hasn’t seen is his favorite Guardian flinch when they see him and make some hasty excuse to leave the Hanger. 

He turns to Amanda looking for help but she just looks as confused as he is. “What’d you do?” She asks. 

 “Why do you always assume that I did something?”  He replies, making his tone as offended as he possibly could.

“One time you made them cry because you told them a story-“ Cayde quickly pushes Sundance away from him. 

Amanda just stares at him until he slowly backs out of the Hanger and makes a hasty excuse. 

What’s also weird is that when he looked for them at their usual haunts, they weren’t at any of them, and when he finally went back to see if their ship was still in the Hanger it wasn’t. 

He tells Ikora all of this and she  just frowns at him and asks what he thinks is wrong. Cayde sheepishly tells her that his first idea was that they were possessed and really doesn’t like the thoughtful noise she let out.

“What was that noise for?” 

“What noise?”

“The- the hum you just let out. Normally when I say things like this you just give me a disappointed look.”

Ikora stares at him. 

“Yeah! See! That’s the look!”  

Ikora then shooed him from her office and said to give Zavala the paperwork he’s been asking for for weeks. 

Later, Ikora sends him a message saying that while it was stupid at first , it might have some merit because they were acting weird when she talked to them too. 

She also asked if he told them about Osiris and sent a “huh” when Cayde said he didn’t. 

Sundance tells him that she thinks they're all over reacting and the Guardian was this weird the entire time, because what normal Guardian kills more than one Hive god?

Cayde agrees and brings this up to Ikora who simply tells both of them that they need to get better at seeing the Light.

He still doesn’t know what this means. 

He also decides to message Ghost. Ghost was unhelpful and Cayde is now back to his original theory of possession.

_

Private Message Log_Encrypted

Cayde: everything alright? I’m askin you because I think you’ll give an honest answer 

Ghost: I don’t know 

Ghost; they woke up weird today and I thought it was nightmares but they’ve just kept on being weird 

Cayde: “woke up weird?”

Ghost: they asked me what I remembered 

Cayde: do humans get memory problems????? Do Human Guardians get memory problems?????

Ghost: I don’t know!!! They just asked and blamed it on a weird dream!!!!

Cayde: ….do humans lose memories when they dream?

Ghost: I’m done talking to you. 

_

Private Message Log_Vanguard

Status: Encrypted (good luck getting in here) 

Cayde: it’s not just me right 

Ikora: for once, it’s not just you

Zavala: ? 

Cayde: the Guardian is… weird.

Zavala: I thought we knew this already

Cayde: not their normal weird 

Ikora: their acting different 

Zavala: how so?

Ikora: did you tell them about Osiris by any chance? 

Zavala: ….no?

Cayde: maybe Osiris possessed them

Ikora: Cayde. 

Zavala: ?????

_

Message Log_

HYW-09: can the Forest send memories back in time 

WO-00E: no??? Who is this???

HYW-09: huh. 

HYW-09 has left the conversation. 

_____

One thing that Wolf didn’t consider is that in this timeline, Uldren is alive. They realized this the moment he started stalking them when they were back in the reef.

They make a thoughtful “ huh” that has Ghost spinning into existence with alarm.

“No. I know that noise.”

They blink at him.

“Don’t make that face at me, what are you doing?”

They make a quick glance to where Uldren is and then looks back at Ghost.

“ Guardian.”

The Guardian gives him a guilty look before moving their hand to their gun. 

“No. No more diplomatic incidents because you and Uldren were taking shots at each other- GUARDIAN- “

Sigh. 

“ Guardian down.”

Chapter Text

By the time they finally get a chance to think about everything and process what’s going on and the fact that their situation is likely permanent, they freak out. 

To them, freaking out means sitting on the edge of a cliff with their face in their hands while Ghost is trying his best to be supportive with no idea what’s wrong.

It ends up going like this: 

“Why was I so stupid.”

“Is this about earlier? It was a joke I promise-“

“It’s always me. Everytime. “Maybe I can take a break.” Idiot.”

“-did Cayde do something?”

“Wha- no?”

“This is usually your reaction when Cayde does something.”

“I’m regretting actions that haven’t happened yet.”

Ghost pauses his frantic flying and takes a moment to stare at them. The Young Wolf stares back. Ghost doesn’t say anything and they feel like their getting scolded by a parent. 

“…who are you and what did you do with my Guardian?”

Uh oh.

Did they get found out that quickly?

“Are you possessed? Is Cayde right?”

Oh Ghost. Buddy. Don’t jump on the possession train it’s still them they promise-

Wait.

what’s that about Cayde being right?

“You never regret your actions when you start thinking about them.”

Ouch.

“You don’t. Did Ikora guilt trip you somehow? Do I have to yell at Ophiuchus?” 

Wait wait no don’t-

_

They have to end up apologizing to Ikora because Ghost was being a little overprotective (when he says he’s NOT and he has every right they quickly shoo him away to go apologize to Ophiuchus.)

“I am so, so sorry.” They say again, barely meeting Ikora’s eyes. “He kind of just assumed and I didn’t have the chance to tell him before he already started.”

When they finally look up Ikora looks like she’s struggling not to laugh and they throw up their hands in mock anger.

“ Everyone is against me today, I take back all of my apologies. Ghost was actually right.”

“Oh so now I’m right? What about earlier when I told you not to shoot Uldren?”

“He did it first!!!”

Ikora laughs at both of them. 

___

The Young Wolf has been staring at their datapad for the past ten minutes trying to figure out how to respond to Caydes message because he broke into their apartment and saw they were out of food again. 

Why does he keep doing this??

Does he have a fascination with their fridge???

Is it an Exo thing???

They nearly jump out of their seat when their pad pings again.

_

Private Message log_Encryped 

Cayde: where are you? 

Cayde: also why is there no food in your apartment again

Young Wolf: I have food!!

Cayde: ACTUAL FOOD

Young Wolf: are you judging my cooking skills? Is that what’s happening right now? 

Cayde: I noticed you never answered the first question

Message could not be sent. 

Cayde: MOTHERFUCKER.

Message could not be sent.

User: HC6:HV02 has been unblocked 

User: HC6:HV02 has changed their name to Cayde 

Young Wolf: HOW??

Cayde: I’ve hacked into your pad before I’ll do it again

Young Wolf: FINE I’ll come back, Uldrens hiding too well anyway. 

Cayde: why are you looking for Uldren????

Young Wolf: I’m not, I’m just in the Reef and he’s been shooting at me from somewhere and I can’t FIND HIM. 

Cayde: ???????

___

The Guardian starts setting course for the Tower, and when their done Ghost flies up and lands on their shoulder.

They absentmindedly start petting his shell a little bit before Ghost nudges their hand away.

“You are okay right?” 

They pause, turning their head in an attempt to look at him and Ghost grumbles when he gets moved before sighing.

“It’s just… you’ve been acting weird and I wanted to make sure-“

They stop, their hand falling to their side.

“…Guardian?”

You’ve been acting weird.

___

They are on the Hunt for yet another Baron, waging a war on the Forgotten Shore all by themself.

They usually are all alone anyway. 

They blocked their end of the bond after Ghost tried to talk to them about the anger he’s  been feeling from them out of concern, and he hasn’t said anything since.

Well.

Since now.  

“Guardian?”

They hum as a response, focused on cleaning their gun. 

“Look, I know you want revenge but don’t you think this is going too far?”

They do not. 

“I don’t like this. Your becoming-“

What? A weapon? Isn’t that what they’ve always been?

“No! I’m just saying to stop and think about this-“

They already have. They would have been sent to kill the Barons eventually. They may as well do so before someone orders them.

“Guardian….”
_

They don’t end up talking about it.

“It” being the flashback.

This is a standard practice that started after Crota. Something sends them spiraling into a flashback and Ghost will just try and uplift the mood and do his best to make sure they don’t go into another one.

He also starts tugging on the bond when they go silent and don’t respond to anything.

“Look all I’m saying is that you don’t have to keep everything in your ship-“

“Are you disrespecting our home?” 

Ghost takes a minute to stare at them. The Guardian stares back and raises an eyebrow, which makes Ghost hover just out of their line of sight and to keep changing heights until they give up the staring contest. 

“The New Lights at the Tower think you're a myth and don’t believe in the Vangaurd.”

“Oh?”

There is immediate regret.

“I didn’t say anything. Don’t look like that I didn’t- why are you messaging Shaxx?”

_

Message Log

Young Wolf: do you think I can officiate a Crucible match?

Shaxx: ?

Young Wolf: Ghost told me that the New Lights think I’m a myth and I want to keep them on their toes 

Shaxx: YES

Shaxx: TODAY!

_

Message log_

WO:00E has added HYW:09

WO:00E: I looked into it just to be sure, but I was right.

HYW:09: huh. 

HYW:09: thanks for looking 

WO:00E: so time travel?

HYW:09: I think it’s just a weird dream 

WO:00E: hm.

_

Message log_Vangaurd 

Zavala: it’s not even that hard?

Cayde: TO YOU!

Ikora: it really isn’t.

WO:00E has been added

Ikora: ????

WO:00E: @Cayde can I have one of your hunters 

Cayde: ??????

Cayde: no?? How did you get in here???

WO:00E: hm.

Zavala: which one?

Cayde: ZAVALA

WO:00E has left Vanguard 

Ikora: ????????

_

When they get back to the Tower, the first thing they do instead of going to their apartment is go to visit Shaxx.

Shaxx is waiting for them, and wordlessly moves aside and lets them take control.

He’s practically vibrating in excitement when they clear their throat and see both teams look startled.

“Shaxx is taking a break for a few matches so y’all are left with me. Make him proud. Welcome to the Jungle.”

They turn off the intercom and watch as both teams dissolve into panic. It’s beautiful. This match is also the best match the Guardian has ever watched.

Shaxx takes over when the match is done to congratulate both teams for a match well played and tells both teams to come see him.

(Ghost has about forty different messages from other ghosts asking about the recent Crucible match.

He tells them all that he doesn’t know anything.)

Chapter Text

The Guardian has a plan now. 

Not a good one, but a plan. They know that if they mess with the timeline too much, it can cause changes and bring threats to them and the city before their ready. (Thank you Osiris for the lectures on how timelines work.)

So the plan is to change nothing directly . Which sounded smarter when they first thought of it. 

It might still need some work. The Young Wolf figured out that if they aren’t directly responsible for any major changes, they hopefully should be able to avoid catastrophe. 

Maybe.

Hopefully.

Yeah actually, the more they think about this the Guardian has realized that this is actually a very bad plan and they should probably reconsider.

Because like, what if they nudge someone in a direction and they find a Ahamkara. 

Yeah no.

They could ask for help, but… no. This is their mess, even if it wasn’t intentional. No one else needs to know about the amount of times that they weren’t enough, that the “perfect weapon” couldn’t do jack shit- 

Back to planning. 

——

When it comes down to it, the Young Wolf has always known that they will never stop being called on to fight the impossible.

They have done it once and succeeded, so they should be able to do it again. They understand this.

The Guardian understands, even if their ghost does not. Ghost argues that they should not be solely tasked to fight gods and nightmares, that it shouldn’t be just them every single time.

The arguments stopped after the Guardian finally asked who else were they supposed to send if not a weapon?

(Ghost had to take a few minutes after that. His guardian shouldn’t be a weapon, shouldn’t consider themselves as one, but they are and they do.

Despite his best efforts, this argument has changed the way he talks to the other Vanguard’s ghosts. He knows Sundance has noticed. Ghost doesn’t know what to tell her when she finally asks.)

____

They have been banging their head on their desk for the past five minutes, and Ghost has been waiting them out.

The Guardian may have forgotten about how Osiris can see bits of the future and gets prophecies sometimes. 

Which they don’t know how they forgot because when they had a mutual bitch fest against the Consensus, he casually remarked that that was around 80% of the reason why he was exiled and the aforementioned bitch fest was halted so he could explain himself.

So Osiris probably already knows that things have started to unexpectedly change. 

They stop banging their head on their desk and reach to where they last put their Data pad. 

_____

Message log

Message log status changed to: private

Message log is now encrypted

HYW:09: you already know don’t you

WO:00E: possibly

HYW:09: I’m so fucking stupid.

WO:00E: no, just unobservant.

HYW:09: it might be time travel 

WO:00E: “might.”

HYW:09: IM STILL WORKING IT OUT. 

WO:00E: I’m stealing you from Cayde. Come to Mercury.

Private Message Log_Vanguard (encyrpted)

Cayde: thievery is happening. I know it. 

Ikora: it’s 3AM. 

Cayde: he asked for one of my hunters!!!!

Ikora: ITS 3AM. 

_____

When the Young Wolf finally lifts their head from where it’s been resting on the desk, Ghost has moved from his perch to be eye level with them.

“Hey. How do you feel about Mercury?”

“It’s 3 in the morning.” 

They give Ghost pleading eyes. He immediately moves so he can’t see them.

“It might have to do with Osiris.”

“WITH WHO?”

Chapter Text

Before they explained anything about Osiris or the need to go to Mercury, Ghost banned them from working and said if they didn’t sleep in their bed for at least ten hours then he would have Zavala ground them to the Tower again for a week. 

They quickly went to go get ready for bed, and they sent a soft apology through their bond. They know that Ghost has been worried about the amount of sleep they get, and they try to get sleep, it's just hard when they’ve fought almost every nightmare imaginable.

The Guardian also knows it's a chance for Ghost to see them resting somewhere safe and not on a ship floating through space. He has a thing with them sleeping in their ship that the Young Wolf has never really understood.

Regardless, as soon as they lay down on the bed, they pass out. 

____

They are in a blank space,drifting through a comfortable void.  

There is a gentle caw of a hawk from farther up ahead, and they do their best to move closer to it. The hawk caws again, sounding closer this time. 

When they open their eyes, they aren’t in an empty void like they first thought, they are in a field with flowers. 

Something about these flowers are familiar, they’ve seen them somewhere before. 

Another bird caws in the distance, and this one sounds like a crow. They want to reach out and comfort it, to try and find it because it seems lost. 

The hawk stares at them. A bird shouldn’t look sad. Not as sad as this one does at least. 

The crow caws again, and this time it almost sounds like a voice. It sounds closer now as well. 

When they reach down to pick a flower, they startle when they hear footsteps coming from behind them, almost familiar ones, when they turn around they see-

They see-

The Guardian is startled awake by the sound of the door slamming open and grabbing their knife (that they put on their side table, Ghost refused to let them sleep with it under their pillow.) before finally focusing on the person standing in their doorway with a bag of food and almost dropping knife in confusion. 

“ Cayde?”

The Hunter Vanguard waves with his free hand, not giving a single glance to the knife thats currently being pointed at them. They debate throwing it at him before realizing that it would likely cause him to drop the food he brought. 

“Why? What possessed you to wake me up like this.” 

Ghost snorts from his corner of the bookshelf. They shoot him a betrayed glare. 

“ Someone snitched and told me you haven’t eaten since you got back so I got us food. Can you put the knife down?”

“ Why are you in my bedroom?” 

“Ghost let me in. “

“ Ghost!”

If ghosts could look smug, their ghost certainly would with how much of it is radiating from him in their bond. 

Cayde tilts his head in a way that resembles an Exo raising an eyebrow and give a pointed stare at the knife still in their hand.

They debate throwing it at him one more time. 

Ghost transmats it away before they can.

____

By the time they finally free themselves from their apartment and Cayde strongarming them to get groceries, the Young Wolf is finally on their way to Mercury.

( “I’m leaving later today these are just gonna go bad-‘

“Yeah? What are you gonna do for lunch? I know you lied to me about how much food human guardians eat, I asked Ghost.”

“I’ll grab take out!”

“WE’RE GOING.”)

Ghost has been silently waiting for an explanation the entire time, sending as much passive aggressive confusion as he can to them. 

When they finally get the flight path set up and respond to the final few messages from Eris about their encounter with Oryx a few years ago, they finally turn around.

“I might have time traveled.”

Ghost stares. 

“You what?”

They slowly lean back.

“Time travel. Like, five years older? I think? It might also be a really weird dream?”

Ghost moves to sit in his hammock in their ship to take a few minutes to process what they said.

“You time traveled?”

They nod.

“I’m just glad it wasn’t the possession theory.”

The Guardian processes that before giving Ghost a guilty look. Ghost sees it and hides in their shoulder. 

“Please don’t tell me one of us got possessed.”

Does what the Witness do counts as possession? They think so. 

“I’m not even going to ask what the Witness is.”

It might’ve happened more than once.

“More than once??”

_______

Location: Mercury 

Simulation: unknown

In reality, Osiris probably could have given more context to the Hunter Vanguard after asking for one of his Hunters, but when has the Vanguard ever made anything easy for the Young Wolf?

He knows it’s not fair to pin everything on the Vanguard, that even he himself had been one of the many to ask them to slay nightmares and gods, but after seeing how admentaly they think of themselves as a weapon, he’s held a grudge. 

 (And how much it reminds him of Saint when he was doing his crusades, of how he was being treated as a weapon and a thing that just slaughters -) 

Osiris can be grateful that Sagira is just treating everything like it’s normal, even if he never told her he had a Hunter student before. 

(And Sagira is alive , she is alive, and he may have sobbed when he first saw her again after being thrown back through time. Thankfully Saint wasn’t there, he had a hard enough time explaining to Sagira that it was just a vision that felt a little to real-)

So far, he doesn’t think the Guardian even knows he got put back with them and probably thinks it’s just visions of the future that’s making him… more odd than normal.

He will help them. He will not let them go through this alone.

Osiris owes them for killing Savathûn after all, and while it’s taken him a long time to accept that it was out of a place of anger for him, he’s accepted it.

(Sagira doesn’t know what’s going on with her idiot chosen, but she’ll find out eventually. He’s different, not in a “slightly corrupted with Darkness way” but in one of those “he’s seen the future through a vision” way. 

She hates that even though her chosen is softer, less blunt and tries to reign in his self sabotage, the Speaker still exiled him.)

Osiris summons the vex cubs and leaves the simulation of the Dark Future to wait for the Guardian in the Lighthouse. 

He also starts preparing. 

_____

Message Log:Vangaurd_Encrypted 

Cayde: they just left for Mercury.

Ikora: Cayde, there isn’t any possible way for them to know about Osiris.

Zavala: is he still on this?

Ikora: yes.

Cayde: YOU WOULD BE TOO IF HE ASKED FOR ONE OF YOUR GUARDIANS

Zavala: should we just ignore him?

Ikora: has he ever given you the paperwork?

Cayde: IM RIGHT HERE.

Zavala: no. Also, Cayde please finish the mission reports from last month.

Message Log_Encrypted 

Uldren: say hi to Osiris for me.

Wolf: the next time I see you, I’m shooting you.

Uldren: you’ve tried.

Wolf: I know more than you. 

Uldren: ???????

Message Log_Encrypted 

Cayde: why are you going to Mercury 

Cayde: is it Osiris? He can’t have you he got exiled 

Young Wolf: howd you know it was bc of  Osiris 

Cayde: one moment 

Young Wolf: ???

Cayde: I’m screenshotting this 

Cayde: also I’m banning you from mercury 

Young Wolf: to late, already there 

Cayde: YOU SAID YOU WOULD STAY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

Message could not be sent.

HC6: HV02: I’m gonna kill them 

Message could not be sent 

Message Log: Vanguard_Encrypted 

Cayde: _screenshot sent_

Cayde: SEE.

Ikora: huh.

Zavala: hm.

Cayde: WHY ARE NEITHER OF YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THIS??

__

They are somewhere dark. They can hear someone speaking to them and they are sure they can listen if they just focus-

“It’s been a few months now. Osiris is determined to try and get you back using the Infinite Forest and had an argument with Saint about it the other day because Saint didn’t want him crusading in the Forest because of well- you know.”

There’s a few moments of silence, and while the Young Wolf understands that they're being spoken to, for some reason the words are slipping past them.

“I’ve been dreaming of you. I think it’s you anyway, you're always facing away from me and when I try to reach out you just vanish. ”

They.. vaguely remember a dream like that. Of someone reaching out to them. Wasn’t it a crow?

“I don’t know if you're trying to tell me something or if this is just my brain trying to cope with the fact that you’re gone. I don’t know. I just want to see you and I never even considered that asking you for help with vengeance would make you feel like a weapon.”

There’s a brief pause as the person speaking seems to be considering what they said.

“Ah. I might’ve gone through your things. Glint found a journal and I might have read it to see if there’s anything that I could’ve helped with. I have your cloak. I’m going to bring it back to you, even if I have to break time to do it. I’m not going to be carrying another Hunter's cloak on my shoulders do you understand me?”

The words fade out before the person finishes speaking, and the Guardian can feel themselves sinking into nothingness and they try and break through-

___

“We’re here! Wake up or I’m gonna crash the ship!”

The Guardian quickly scramble awake, almost hitting their head on the wall next to them and scowls at Ghost.

They pause for a minute, feeling like they're missing something that just happened before shrugging it off and going through the motions to land their ship.

When they walk out of the ramp, Osiris is waiting for them with his arms crossed and teaming with light.

They should be a little embarrassed that it’s the fact that Osiris has his light again and it’s reaching out in familiarity that almost makes them break down. 

He snorts softly, no doubt feeling whatever emotion is mixed within their Light before speaking. “Took you long enough.” He says. “I thought I was going to wait for another century.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault some of us can’t just leave the Tower without being attacked by a Vanguard.” The Guardian says. 

Ghost is confused to all hell right now, exchanging glances with Sagira who’s alive. 

It takes them a few moments to realize what Osiris said because hold on wait- 

“Now their getting it.” Ghost mutters. Sagira snorts. 

“What do you mean by centuries-“

“-Why did it take you this long to realize what I said-“

Chapter Text

Osiris is still staring at them in an expectant way that means he’s realizing for them to notice something. 

The Young Wolf is confused because they finally realized that he said centuries but they thought that was because of Saint and his Guardian Savior prophecy so why-

Osiris sighs. 

“You haven’t figured it out yet have you?” He asks, and then somehow looks amused. 

That- 

That isn’t right. He only starts to look like that after they refused to let Osiris isolate himself after they found him because they questions-

Oh.

“Finally.”

Annoyance pierced right through whatever feelings the Guardian will now forever claim to not have about their mentor.

“What do you mean finally-“

___

Sagira is staring. 

She doesn’t know how to handle this. Osiris has been weirder than this and has done weirder things to get his mind where it needs to be for visions but this?

Telling her that oh by the way, he has a student now that he knows from the future and has a debt too??

How long has he been from the future??? 

She side eyes the Guardians ghost who’s been hovering as close as he can to his guardian the entire time. 

Sagira decides to be nice and floats over to give a friendly beep. If Osiris can somehow make friends with another guardian without them actually wanting to kill him, she can make a friend too. 

__

Ghost doesn’t know what’s happening. His guardian was on the verge of breaking down after realizing something and now their talking back to Osiris why-

He gets startled out of his thoughts when Osiris’s ghost- he thinks her name is Sagira? Gives him a friendly beep and nudge. 

Ghost responds in the same manner and almost flies back in shock when he feels Sagira offers a mental link to talk in private. 

His guardian will be fine for a few moments right? 

__

Somehow after not breaking down in tears after realizing that they weren’t alone and that they had someone from their timeline, Osiris ends up taking them to the Sundial.

The Guardian settles down on the floor and watches Osiris pace back and forth as he thinks about their next move. 

They're familiar with his planning process at this point which is why they're completely blindsided when he stops pacing and asks them what they think and what their current plan is.

“Me?”

Osiris stares at them in response until they clear their throat and start speaking. 

“Honestly, I was going to try and silently nudge people to make better choices and to do things differently but then I realized that-“

“-you could accidentally lead someone to an Ahamkara. So then you reached out.” 

They nod, and Osiris hums before resuming to pace. They’re still confused why Osiris of all people asked them for their opinion on something like this.

The Guardian can’t remember the last time someone asked them what they thought about a plan and what they were going to do.

When Osiris gets his thoughts together enough, he finally stops pacing and stands leaning against the console, messing with a few of the settings before turning back around to speak to them. 

“Think of it like this,” Osiris says, grabbing some of the vex cubes from the Guardian. “We figured out how to control Strand by becoming part of its flow. Time is no different in the Forest or in meditations.” 

The Guardian processes that for a few minutes, turning the cube they had left around in their hand.

“So it’s like a box? No, wrong word, doorway. Box’s with a doorway?” They asked. Osiris pauses and they feel profoundly stupid.

“Yes. In a more simplistic way, there are doorways into other timelines.”

Ghost stares at his guardian in complete shock. “Did he just agree with you?”

Sagira snorts from her corner.

“So what happens when you break time?” They ask. They don’t really want to know that’s even a possibility that could’ve happened but here they are. 

Osiris hums before answering.

“Everything shatters.” 

“ Everything what-“

___

Ghost quietly studies his guardian and Osiris as they work together doing light knows what. He’s still not sure what to think about everything but he knows he trusts them.

He’s also never seen them this interested in anything so to see them not only somehow understand how time works and engaging in discussion after discussion about it-

It settles a long held fear about his guardian finding other things to be interested in other than killing. 

Ghost still feels… something. When he watches how much his guardian respects Osiris and how much they trust him. 

He used to be the only one they trusted like that, and now that it’s someone that Ghost doesn’t even know slowly taking over- 

It’s fine.

It’s fine. 

He gets broken out of his spiral when he starts to feel comfort coming from his guardian's side of the bond.

Ghost didn’t even realize he was projecting his emotions but the fact that they noticed and tried to help even while exchanging theories with Osiris-

Maybe he isn’t being replaced after all. 

_

Alright so something is up. Ghost is certain of it. He’s also 80% sure that it has to do with him accidentally projecting how he’s feeling because he and his guardian are staying at the Tower for a few weeks.

The weirdest part? 

He didn’t even have to badger them at all about sleeping in a safe place for once because despite what they say, Ghost doesn’t trust a ship floating in the middle of space as safe .

Maybe Cayde did something? Should he reach out? 

Message Log_Encrypted 

Ghost: do you have anything to do with us staying here for a few weeks?

Cayde: YOUR BACK??

Ghost: oh no. 

Maybe that was a mistake. 

__

The Guardian is staying in the Tower for a while. Something is wrong with Ghost and since they can’t be mad at him for not telling them what he’s feeling because then they would be the biggest hypocrite to ever exist, they can still try and fix whatever it was they did.

Hence their choice to stay in the Last City for almost a month because they can’t really do anything about, well, anything at all unless they want to risk the timeline being shattered, they can still try and make it up to Ghost.

They also know he’s starting to get suspicious of them actually staying true to their word and living in the tower for a while. He once asks them if their possessed when the Young Wolf finally starts moving stuff out of their ship.

(Ghost is staring at them when they walk back into the apartment with a few bags of their stuff. 

He ends up zooming over to scan everything to make sure they actually have stuff in the bags before asking them if they got possessed.

Ghost clearly doesn’t believe them when they say no.)

They're in the middle of ordering take out and spamming Cayde to get an answer out of him because they need to know what he wants since he’s coming over anyway (they only found out because he never removed them from the Vanguard group chat when he added them there as a joke. Cayde still hasn’t realized. He’s still asking them how they found out he was coming.) when Ghost settles down next to them on the couch.

They absentmindedly pick him up and put him in their lap instead and they try to ignore the surprise they feel from him. Maybe they have been a little distant. 

Private Message Log_Encrypted 

Cayde: how do you know???

Young Wolf: Cayde please I want to order food what do you WANT 

Cayde: TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW FIRST

Young Wolf: I’m ordering food without you.

Cayde: wait no

When Cayde finally tells them that he wants spicy ramen, they put their data pad down on the table before turning their attention to Ghost.

“I haven’t been talking to you as much have I?” They ask him. 

The guilt surging through the bond from Ghost is the only confirmation they need and they cut off what he was about to say.

“I’m sorry. I forget that you didn’t travel back with me and I-“ they pause.

They never really planned on voicing this out loud but after feeling what they felt from Ghost earlier this week, they think they need to.

They can be strong for him.

“I don’t want to push you away but I’m trying to keep you safe as well. I don’t want to fuck up and almost lose you again- ow! Ghost!”

He had flown up fast enough to slam into their forehead to cut them off. They glare at him and he glared right back.

It’s a silent stand off before Ghost finally admits that he was being worried about being pushed away and he was also maybe a little jealous but it’s fine-

This time it’s the Guardian that interrupts by telling him that if they can’t blame themselves for something that hasn’t even happened yet then Ghost can’t repress his emotions and pretend everything is fine.

There is yet another silent standoff before Ghost grumpily agrees and the Guardian finally orders food.

They both ignore the happiness coming from the other and pretend to be irritated. 

Private Message Log_Encrypted 

Ikora: next time you go to see warlock as dangerous as Osiris, tell me please.

Young Wolf: I think he likes me 

Ikora: I wouldn’t be surprised.  Is Cayde with you?

Young Wolf: he never gave his paperwork to Zavala huh.

Ikora: he did not.

_

Osiris needs to focus.

It’s taking everything Osiris has to not go looking for Saint in the Forest.

He knows where his beloved is and he could prevent his death but he can’t because it’s not the right time yet and he’s already most likely ruined the timelines beyond repair with his stunt.

Osiris knows this, but it doesn’t make anything any easier. Even knowing that Saint is alive in the future doesn’t make it better because he still knew about it and let everything happen anyway.

He knows that Saint will be more than forgiving when he eventually comes to track him down on Mercury after he’s freed from the Forest, and that just makes it worse -

No.

He needs to focus. 

Osiris has made a promise to save the Guardian, to ensure that the Young Wolf and the Crow will find each other again at the end of all of this.

Osiris needs to focus.

___

Location: unknown

Simulation: Ư̶̱̝̬̥̹͖͉̈́̌͆̿̒̒̏̒̎n̴̡̟̰͇͕͔͙̣̩͚̈́̿̈́͆͒͜͠ḳ̶̹̬̻̮̲̭̤͓̥̝̃̿̒́̚ǹ̴̨͎̱̽̽̄o̴̧̨̤̠̰̱̞̤͈̒̔͂͆͛̀͘͘w̶̢̛̬͈͕̓͘ņ̴̩̼̫̬̤̉̄̀̊

An Exo Titan is hunting in the Forest. He  knows what he’s hunting for, who he’s hunting for and this time he knows how to find his idiot lover who thinks he has to do everything himself.

This Titan has already lived through everything once. He refuses to let his beloved suffer centuries alone again and to be caught and tormented by that witch-

Saint-14 refuses. Never again.

He also refuses to lose the Young Wolf after seeing what it did to Osiris and the Crow. 

He refuses to be the one to lower the Wolf into their grave. 

Never again. 

Chapter Text

The Guardian is dreaming 

 They are in the field. 

They know they are, they can hear the crow calling out for them again and they try to find it but they can’t move-

They hear the footsteps behind them again. They still can’t move.

Distantly, they feel a hand cup their face and they struggle to open their eyes and they finally do.

It takes a few moments for them to recognize who it is and it’s-

“Crow?” They ask, and he looks devastated.

He’s saying something but they can’t make it out, their vision is fuzzing in and out and suddenly there’s pain and they can see clearly again.

“-Glint! Do something please, anything-“ “-I can’t! I’m trying but something’s wrong! They keep fading!”

They don’t know what that means and everything just hurts-

The Guardian wakes up. 

For some reason, their side hurts when they move and Ghost instantly teases them about being old. 

They throw the blankets over him in revenge and the startled screech they hear in response makes them quickly escape their bed before Ghost retaliates. 

By the time they make it to the kitchen to heat up leftovers from the night before (Ghost does end up retaliating by telling them to watch out and then proceeds to slams into them on purpose.), someone knocks on their door.

“I got it!” Ghost calls, zooming over to unlock the door. “Oh! Commander Zavala!”

Sorry who?

They look down at their clothing choice (sweatpants and a tank top) for the day and just decide to roll with it and invite the Titan into the apartment. 

Zavala looks visibly startled at the sight of them not in their armor or helmet  (they don’t wear it that often do they?) and clears his throat before greeting them.

“Is this about Cayde’s possession theory?” They ask. Ghost whisper shouts at them to please don’t. “Because I’ve told him a thousand times that I’m not possessed.”

The Titan snorts. “I’m well aware when it comes to his theories. No, I was concerned.” He says.

“Huh? Concerned about what?” The Guardian asks.

Zavala looks like he’s struggling to phrase his words and they give him a few minutes before he just sighs.

“The past few years have been a lot for you and I realized I never once asked if you were alright with the pressure that’s been put on you since you’ve been revived.”

He’s-

What? What ?

Zavala must have misread the look on their face because there’s a look of panic that after this incident they will forever treasure. 

“This isn’t me doubting you,” the Titan quickly continues, “I’ve just been concerned lately because I’ve seen guardians faced with less nightmares than you have and crumble.”

Awww.

Awwwww .

“You were worried about me?” The Guardian asks.

Zavala quickly tries to escape them and the hug when he notices them walking closer.

He doesn’t.

(The Guardian ignores every bit of mushy feeling they have about this interaction when they're finished being what Zavala calls “a Cayde 2 in all forms.”

They also ignore how they didn’t know that people worried about them like this, to notice the little changes about them ever since they got thrown through time. 

They ignore how it makes them feel more like a person.)

_

When they get the message from Osiris that he’s found a way to locate Panoptes and a way to kill the vex god, they immediately leave the Tower.

They think about Saint along the way and wonder if there’s a chance to save him in the process because Osiris has to miss the Exo Titan.

He’s already helped them so much just by being here the least they can do is bring back someone important to the Warlock.

 The Guardian resolved to ask first and then work on it anyway if Osiris says no.

Ghost starts eyeing them warily when they start to make plans. 

“What are you planning?” Ghost asks. 

The Young Wolf shrugs before replying “trying to figure out how to bring Saint back.”

Ghost sighs.

“Of course you know who that is.”

How bad could telling Ghost one little thing be?

“He gave me a shotgun.”

“He did what. ”

____

Location: infinite forest 

Amount of Simulations ran: 49. 

They hate the Forest.

They hate the stupid, stupid jumping platforms that they still have to do because someone thought it would be funny.

They also hate the vex hydras and their stupid, stupid shields and if they misfire their Super one more time they might actually go insane.

Osiris isn’t even here because while they're off causing a distraction for the vex to make it easier for him to hunt Panoptes, he’s left an Echo behind to keep an eye on them.

They can tell the Echo is judging them. They eye the Echo and debate shooting it in the face. 

Almost like it’s reading their mind, the Echo disappears and reappears further down the path in an attempt to encourage them further and not shoot at it.

“Would you forgive me if I died because I shot at the Echo?” They ask Ghost.

Ghost gives them a deadpan stare.

Since it appears that Ghost wouldn’t forgive them, they sigh before just giving up and moving forward. 

They know they have the vex cubes in case of an emergency and they need a quick escape, but they don’t think Osiris will forgive them for using the cubes to escape the Echo after they shoot at it. 

_

At this point, if they haven’t made anything easier for Osiris they’re going to be offended that this is all the Vex have been sending after them.

They're in the middle of fighting their way on what they think is their 60th simulation and they’ve fought enough at least a large army of Vex at this point.

They cast their super to take down the final Vex Hydra and leans down to collect their knife from a Vex goblin when the simulation glitches.

Ghost materializes by their side. 

“That isn’t normal right?” Ghost asks. 

The Guardian is tense, watching for any sign of it happening again. “I don’t think so. I’ve never seen it happen- Ghost!”

They grab him when they hear the sound of gunfire and that isn’t right because they’ve killed everything on this floor they know they have.

They look around for the Echo and their certain they saw it fighting alongside them a few minutes ago so where is it and then the simulation glitches and- 

“ Shit.”

Panoptes is blocking the way to the next floor. 

Ghost is panicking in their grip, trying to understand what’s going on and they make a split second choice.

“Ghost. Get to Osiris. I’m getting you a path there using the Vex cubes, tell him-“

“-I’m not leaving you!” Ghost snaps. The Guardian quickly forms the vex cubes into a portal while Ghost continues speaking. “If you think I’m leaving you here with this thing-“

They love him, they love their best friend and they know what doing this will do to him but they can’t let him die in the case that things go wrong

“ Guardian!”

They throw him through the Portal.

(The last thing Ghost sees before he gets teleported out of the simulation is his guardian raising their weapon and starting to fight the vex and their god.

He’s never been more afraid and angry in his life.)

___

Location: Infinite Forest

Simulation: floor 60

Saint is wary. He knows how this goes, has known ever since he got his memories back after defeating a hoard of Vex when he first entered the Forest.

The Vex should be sending another wave at him right about now, but he’s made it to this floor and everything is dead already.

He doesn’t think he’s cleared this floor yet. He asks Geppetto just to be sure (and Saint loves his ghost because she’s been so understanding of him and his need to find Osiris even though Saint’s gotten them trapped here twice now) and she tells him that he hasn’t.

Saint shrugs and decides to move on because this isn’t the weirdest thing he’s seen in the Forest and he knows it won’t be the last- 

Geppetto interrupts his thoughts, asking if he also feels another lightbearer ahead of them. 

___

Osiris has been wary for a long time. He knows that the Vex think the Guardian is the bigger threat out of the two of them, and he doesn’t understand why he’s been getting the amount of Vex that he has.

The Echo he left with them reported smaller numbers than anticipated, and also apparently an urge to shoot the Echo in the face. 

(Sagira had laughed at that when he told her the latest update and said the Guardian should have gone through with it. 

He reminded her that he would have felt it if they did and she told him that was why they should’ve shot the Echo. Osiris just sighed.)

Sagira has told him multiple times to relax and the most recent scolding is that he and his ego should be proud that the Vex now consider him to be the bigger threat.

He’s about to respond when he abruptly feels the Echos connection to him snap and the feeling of it drives him to his knees. 

The wariness gets replaced with dread and fear that gets worse the moment he spots a portal made by the cubes and the Guardians ghost flying out of it almost like-

Almost like the ghost got thrown .

What did they do now?

____

The Guardian is leaning against one of the pillars and breathing heavily.

They haven’t gotten shot yet but it’s only a matter of time and they know their going to run out of energy soon.

They’ve fought waves after waves of Vex and simulated Hive and on the rare chance that Panoptes moves and tries to shoot him but it hasn’t done much.

They can’t fight like they normally do without Ghost and the reassurance that if they die they’ll be able to get revived and fight again and again. 

They’ve had to be more careful and not recklessly run straight into the middle of the fight and shoot their way out like they’ve done so many times,

(And they always get scolded by Ghost after because even though they can be revived it still gives him a heat attack when they do and can they please not-)

The Young Wolf knows they’re on their own until Osiris shows up with Ghost (and they already know Ghost must be so pissed right now-) and they don’t really have much of a choice besides fighting their way out and not dying until Osiris and Ghost gets here.

They decide to give it their all and jump out from behind the pillar to destroy the closest wave. 

The Guardian freezes when they hear a familiar roar and see a Titan shield smash into the Vex they were going to shoot at and whip their head around to see-

“ Saint?”

Chapter Text

Osiris and Sagira watch Ghost tumble through the portal and immediately try to go back through. 

He doesn’t manage to make it in time before it closes and the ghost zooms over to where Osiris is and starts ranting about how much of an idiot his chosen is and they have to go back for them.j

One of them has to control the situation so he represses any fear and emotion that’s going to distract him. Osiris already knows that Sagira is going to scold him later if the stink eye he gets in return says anything. 

(He ignores the thought that Saint would be so much better at this than he is) 

“If they aren’t dead by the time we get there I’m going to kill them myself- don’t tell me to CALM DOWN- “

Osiris sends a gentle rebuke to Sagira through their bond and a request to let him handle this. She send a grumble back at him and subsides.

He offers his hand for Ghost to rest on and to feed off of some of his Light.

“We’re going back for them.” He promises. “And when we get there I’ll let you yell at them first for trying to fight a god alone. Again.” 

Ghost is silent in his hand. 

“They shouldn’t have had to fight a god alone at all .”

Osiris sighs.

“I know. I’m not going to let it happen again.”

Ghost fixes him with a challenging stare. Osiris forgets just how protective this ghost is over his guardian and it’s times like these that remind him.

It’s a good thing. The Guardian needs someone as stubborn as they are to be able to guide them successfully. 

“I promise.”

____

The Guardian stares at Saint-14 stalking towards them. They never met him when fighting in the Infinite Forest before Osiris requested that they help the warlock find him so how -

Saint grabs at their shoulder and pulls them behind cover before taking his helmet off.

The Titans light is mingling with their own, full of fury and worry and recognition- 

Why is he grieving?

“Do I want to know? The Exo asks, pulling them back from their thoughts, and he gestures at the general direction of Panoptes.

“Probably not.” The Guardian says, shoving Saint to the side and taking a blow meant for him. They don’t even register the pain before Saint shoves the Guardian behind the pillar again and tells them to stay there and then takes off to slam into the Vex Goblin before coming back to demand where Ghost is.

“I threw him into a portal.” 

Saint sighs.

“Of course you did. Do you have a plan?”

“Does shooting things and not die while waiting for backup count as a plan?”

Apparently it doesn’t, if the way Saint slams his head into the wall before telling them to stay there or he’ll kill them himself and then he charges into battle again. 

They eye the surrounding area and debate for three seconds about actually listening and then shrug before casting their Super, using their knives to dance across the battlefield.

When they finally catch up to Saint, they throw a knife at the Minotaur sneaking up behind the Titan. Saint whips around when he hears the sound of the Guardian running nearby, and even though they aren’t close enough to hear it, the Young Wolf knows he’s grumbling in Russian right now.

He shouts something at them in panic and they dodge out of the way the moment before the Hobgoblin behind them takes a swing, leaving it stumbling.

They throw their last void knife at it and feel their Super fade, and they stumble for a moment before getting back on their feet.

They’ve already used so much of the Light and it’s not exactly ideal to be spam casting Supers like they are (and by the way Saint swears when he sees them almost fall like that the Guardian knows they're gonna get scolded.) but they don’t really have a choice.

The Guardian shouts “Sorry! Yell at me later!” At him before casting their Super again, vanishing in Void Light. 

A request for a comm line shows up in their helmet feed a moment later and when the Young Wolf answers it’s Saint yelling at them in Russian.

_

The fight is going well, not great . They can’t get a direct hit on Panoptes without being incredibly reckless, so Saint has assigned them to taking care of all of the other Vex while he works on killing the god. 

(There’s a memorable moment of the Guardian yelling “catch!” at the Titan and diving off the top of a pillar.)

Saint has also told them that they are going to be grounded to the Tower for weeks.

Somehow, it’s their Saint which was made clear after he referenced something he wasn’t even supposed to know about-

(“If you're this reckless on the field without Ghost, I now know why Saladin told young Crow that he couldn’t be on mission with you.”

“ Hey! ”

“Am I wrong?”)

-They don’t know how this is even possible (there’s a sneaking suspicion it’s because of Osiris.) but they don’t get a lot of time to ponder it because.

Battlefield.

The Young Wolf casts their super again and spins around the Hydra that was in front of them, swiping at it with their knife and then taking out the four Hobgoblins behind them.

They vanish into the Void light again before reappearing behind a Minotaur and killing it.

The Guardian uses the burst of energy from their Super to climb higher, trying to get a shot at Penoptes.  

Saint starts saying something before he’s cut off by the comm crackling and they turn around to see-

“Oh hell.” 

Panoptes raises his hand and smacks them off of their perch and they go flying into a concrete wall, smashing their head and possibly every bone in their body against

Ow.

Their vision fades out.

____

They are on Io, waiting for the Witness.

The Guardian knows it will come, seeing as it has a chance to end the conflict and win.

They don’t plan on letting the Witness win of course, but they do plan on dying. They know it’s going to happen. They would have known even if they didn’t see their grave in the Corridors of Time.

The Young Wolf has been at peace with their death for years. 

They never told anyone, not even Crow and they know he’s going to be devastated after this, but he’ll be able to move on. The Guardian hopes he will at least.

They're thankful that at the end of it, they had the chance to become a person instead of a weapon.

_

It doesn’t take long for Saint to notice that his beloved is finally on the battlefield.

His love makes a rather spectacular entrance by jumping out of a portal and casting his Super, cleaving one of the gods arms clean off.

Saint can see him scanning the battlefield and he can see the exact moment that Osiris sees him.

The request for a comm line that appears also helps with that.

Gepetto accepts it without asking him and he’s treated to finally hearing his loves voice after centuries. 

Of course, it’s Osiris. So he’s yelling at him.

“What are you doing here?” Saint would be slightly worried to hear that much anger coming from Osiris if he was anyone else, but he knows his beloved and he knows that’s how the Warlock hides his fear.

“Saint!” The Warlock shouts at him. 

“Hello my love.” He says, “Two things. Looking for you and helping the Guardian.”

There’s a panicked shout and he turns around to witness the Guardian on the ground, Ghost desperately trying to get them to wake up after healing them.

__

The Witness stands in front of them, and they are not afraid.

“Are you ready to die?” It asks.

The Guardian laughs.

“I am at peace with my death. I have been ready.”

The Witness takes a moment to study them.

“Allow me to ask you a question.”

The Guardian pauses before tilting their head. The Witness takes that as a go ahead.

“Why are you willing to die for people who made you into a weapon?”

___

Saint rushes over to the Guardian and his love (this foolish foolish man) beats him to it, kneeling on the ground in front of them.Saint reaches out his light to feel the Warlocks and it is a wonderful thing to let them mingle again after so long.

Panoptes had tried to flee the moment after Osiris appeared. Osiris and Saint didn’t let the god flee. 

Said god is now in a smoldering heap of metal.

“What happened?” Osiris asks, looking at him.

Saint sighs, annoyance coming back after he remembers what the Guardian did.

“They used much of their Light. More than they should have.”

Osiris lets out a string of impressive swears in Hebrew, and both of them jump when they hear Ghost yell “that idiot!”

_____

When the Guardian finally wakes up, it’s to Osiris and Saint hovering over them.

Ghost is already scolding them, “I can’t believe you. I can understand wanting me to be safe but overusing your light? What did we learn from Oryx?”

Osiris slowly raises an eyebrow and the Guardian opts to pretend that neither Osiris and Saint exist and focus on Ghost.

“To not do that?”

Ghost sends as much annoyance as he can down their bond before replying. “Why did we learn to do not do that?”

The Guardian pauses. 

They look for a possible escape route to that question and end up cloaking themself in Void before vaulting behind Osiris.

“Guardian! What did I just tell you not to do-“

Ghost starts chasing after them instantly. 

_

It takes longer than it should have to stop playing what is essentially chase with Ghost.

Ghost makes them promise to never do anything like that again. 

The Young Wolf asks if they mean overusing their light or throwing him in a portal to protect him.

Ghost tells them to hold that thought and goes to talk to Sagira.

He comes back after five minutes and tells them he means overusing their Light like that. They agree, and he goes back to Sagira and Geppetto. 

This leaves them with Saint and Osiris, and both looking at them with their arms crossed.

The Guardian sighs. 

“I’m sorry for being reckless.”

Saint looks at them for a moment and shrugs, uncrossing his arms. 

Osiris continues staring at them.

“I’m sorry for not having a plan?”

“you didn’t even have a plan?”

Oops.

___

It takes the Guardian promising both of them that if a situation happens like this again then they will make a plan. 

They finally move out of the simulation and go back to the Sundial, and it makes them smile to see Osiris and Saint holding hands.

The three of them get interrupted by Ghost who asks how they’re going to explain this to the Vanguard.

Everyone pauses.

“Do we?” Saint asks. Osiris turns to stare at him in disbelief and the Exo raises his hands in surrender.

The Guardian tells them they got it covered and picks up their Datapad. Both of them hover over their shoulder 

Private Message Log_Encrypted

Cayde: it’s been days where are you

Cayde: are you fighting another god 

Young Wolf: yes

Cayde: ????

Young Wolf: Panoptes is dead 

Cayde: WHO?

Young Wolf: Vex god

Young Wolf: also Saint is alive 

Cayde: what.

Young Wolf: he says we’re bringing Osiris with us.

Young Wolf: Osiris just reminded him that he’s exiled 

Young Wolf: Saint is now asking you to ask Zavala and Ikora to unexile him

Cayde: one mo

Message log: Vanguard_Encrypted 

Cayde: their alive

Zavala: we told you.

Ikora: I’m assuming there’s more?

Cayde: they killed a vex god, Saint is alive and he’s wanting Osiris’s exile to be repealed.

Zavala: Saint-14??

Ikora: shouldn’t we ask the Consensus 

Cayde: do any of us like the Consensus?

Zavala: what would they say?

Cayde: no

Ikora: no

Zavala: I think we should say yes.

Private Message Log_Encrypted 

Cayde: he’s allowed in the city 

Young Wolf: k thxs 

Osiris tries to escape going to the City by claiming that he has work to do. Saint asks him if instead, he wants to talk about how reckless he was doing whatever he did to get sent back in time.

The Guardian asks both of them what they mean but never gets an answer because Saint threatens to carry the Warlock to the City anyway if he doesn’t.

He then also asks if he wants their family to be split up again so soon.

Osiris ends up coming to the City. 

It’s on the flight there that in their few weeks in the Forest, the Guardian learns that the Barons escaped, and Uldren was killed when he attempted to stop them.

This is when Petra Venj asks for their help to kill the Barons and to avenge their dead prince. 

Chapter Text

When the Guardian lands their ship in the Hanger, Cayde is waiting for them with his arms crossed with Ikora and Zavala beside him. 

Osiris is tense besides them and Saint, and the Guardian knows that he used to not being welcome in the City and probably thinks that reaction is aimed towards him.

There is clearly only one thing they can do then.

The Guardian brushes past Saint and Osiris and jumps down the ship before it even finishes landing and lands in front of Cayde, and reaches behind him to pull his hood over his head before sprinting away.

The game of Death Tag begins.

(Osiris and Saint are left with Ikora and Zavala, who both just sigh and welcome the two of them to the city. Ikora also tells them that they should be wary of the Death Tag game that's just been started.

When asked what exactly Death Tag is, Ikora and Zavala both say that they’ll understand when they see it.

When the small group leaves the Hanger and heads to the Courtyard, instant understanding is found when they see Hunters chasing after each other and yelling Tag before trying to run away.

There is almost instantaneous death from about five people not making a jump from panic.)

__

Death Tag is one of the Guardians favorite games to play. It’s not an official one by any means, despite Shaxx begging the Hunters to let him put it in the Crucible.

The game of high stakes tag started when some of the Hunters had gotten put on leave in the Tower for longer than normal, and they had to satisfy the urge to chase something . 

More rules have gotten added slowly over time, and it quickly became a general understanding that Death Tag was a game for those currently in the Tower.

(This has nothing to do with the fact that the last time a game of Death Tag was played in the Field, it got so widespread that Hunters on a strike heard about it on a different planet and got involved. 

Zavala had to drink four mugs of coffee for that strike alone. 

Why are Hunters like this, he asks himself. What have I done to deserve this, he sends to the group chat. 

Cayde just sent a smiley face.)

For this current game of Death Tag, the only rule that was shouted by Cayde is that it’s a free for all and the first one to tag the Young Wolf gets out of patrol for a week.

“What happens if they get us first?” A Hunter yells from a perch… somewhere.

“Get better at the game?” Someone else yells from the other side of the Courtyard and then shrieks in alarm when they see Cayde vault past them.

“You get my patrols for a week!” The Guardian shouts from some presumably hidden area of the Courtyard seeing as no one can actually figure out where they are. 

“How many patrols do you take again?” Someone yells, chasing after another Hunter who’s desperately trying to outrun them.

Everyone quickly scrambles out of the way when they drop in front of Cayde and take off sprinting. 

__

Death Tag can and has lasted for hours and on one notable occasion days because no one realized the Guardian was off on another planet.

(“ How did no one realize? Shouldn't at least one of you have figured out they weren’t in the tower?

“Look, you think that we would know but sometimes we don’t even know if they're in the tower and the only way we find out is because someone saw them at the ramen place with Cayde.”

“Ah.”) 

Today, Death Tag is rather short when the Guardian misses a jump running from Cayde and ends up having to get revived from Ghost. 

Ghost was not pleased about this and informed them that the Young Wolf is grounded to the apartment.

The Guardian is too embarrassed to remind Ghost about the future trip to the Tangled Shore.

____

Ikora is sitting with Osiris and Saint-14 in her office, and it’s a strange feeling to be the one behind the desk.

Something about her mentor seems… relaxed now, less anxious, and she’s relieved.

Osiris is explaining the current situation with the vex in more depth than the Guardians simple message to Cayde about how the trio apparently killed a Vex god and revived Saint.

Saint interjects from time to time, and then fills in the missing pieces of the Guardian apparently getting trapped in the same simulation that he was in. 

It makes her smile when she sees how much Osiris respects the Guardian with their little time spent together.

“Have you noticed anything odd about them?” She asks. Osiris tilts his head and she takes that as a sign to continue. 

“Sometimes they know more than they should or they know things they shouldn’t know. It reminded me a little of you when you’ve had your visions.”

Osiris hums, thinking for a moment and then asks if she’s noticed how their light is different from most Guardians their age, and it’s more than they should have. 

“Yes. I tried explaining it to Cayde but he just told me he didn’t know what I meant.”

Osiris sighs. “I was hoping to mentor the Guardian while I’m here. I think they need it.”

“You know Cayde is going to try and claim you're stealing them from him?” She asks, and then raises an eyebrow at the snort her mentor let out.

“He thinks I already have.”

Ikora can’t help but laugh.

_

When the Guardian finally gets to their apartment, the stress and exertion of the past few days finally catch up to them and they collapse on the couch.

Their light seems brittle, like it could snap at any moment and it’s probably due to how much they overused it in the fight against Panoptes.

It’s an uncomfortable feeling.

“ Now do you remember why we don’t overuse our Light?” Ghost asks from nearby.

They pick up a throw pillow and throw it him. Ghost dodges it with an affronted squawk and the noise of the pillow hitting the wall.

They fall asleep quickly after that.

___

They are something incorporeal. They are flying through the Tangled Shore, and they can see sharper than they ever have before. 

They can see miles ahead of them, and when they look down they can see a Hunter fighting some of the Fallen in the area.

Something about that Hunter seems familiar, like they know them almost as well as they know themselves.

The dream changes before they can get a clear look, but they know that Hunter.

_

They are back on Io, and they are answering the Witnesses question. 

They know that there was a question asked but they do not remember it. (They do.) 

“I fight and I’m willing to die for them because I trust them. I love them, and they are my family. They trust me to be able to stop this threat.” 

The Witness looks intrigued. “You're willing to sacrifice yourself for trust?”

The Guardian nods.

“It’s about a balance. Much like the one you're trying to destroy.” 

The dream changes again and they are-

They are somewhere new.

They do not know where they are, only that they are somewhere that they dont think they should be but it is welcoming and kind and they want to sink into it and then-

They see Light. 

_

Once again,the Guardian wakes up to Cayde announcing his presence and holding food and this time they do throw a knife at him before Ghost can transmat it away.

(“Why did you throw a knife at me?”

“Why are you in my apartment?”

“ Why did you throw a knife-“)

“Why can’t you at least  wait until I’m awake ?” They ask, glaring at him from the couch. 

There is something wrong about this, they think, and it’s only the fact that they just woke up and that they are hungry is the reason why that thought slips away from them and they take the offered bag of food.

Cayde shrugs. “If I wait until you're awake you’re probably gonna be gone from the Tower by then.” 

“It’s true!” Ghost says from the other side of the room. The Guardian grumbles but sits up so they can eat. 

Cayde continues sitting on the table in front of the couch, already used to their piles of stuff on it.

There’s an unusual intensity that Cayde has and it makes them eye him questioningly because they don’t remeber him being this tense…

At all.

Never.

Cayde clearly is aware of them being confused and eventually puts down his cup of ramen.

“Petra messaged me about going to the Tangled Shore with you.”

They freeze . 

Cayde is watching them with that intense look again before continuing. “She’s worried about you taking on the Barons alone and I agree-“

“-I’ve Hunted worse than the Barons before.” They interrupt, trying to ignore the fear they have and the questioning from Ghost. “You know I have.”

They are suddenly quite aware that this is not their friend they are speaking to, they are speaking to the Vanguard. 

Cayde continues as if they haven’t spoken and it’s only now that they realize that the intensity is anxiety .

“-so I’m going with you.” 

They thought they avoided this, that with Uldren actually attempting to stop the Barons from escaping the prison meant that he would be safe -

“I know Zavala talked to you earlier about feeling worried about the pressure that’s been put on you since you’ve been rezzed. We’re working on fixing that.”

The Guardian gives Cayde a look of complete disbelief. 

All at once, the only thing they feel is annoyance because they only just realized now? After they started acting a little odd, odd enough for them to notice it and it’s now ?

Not when they’ve broken down out of stress of not being enough to fight what’s coming or the nightmares they’ve had if they fail?

“I work better alone,” they say instead of the million other things they finally want too. “I wouldn’t be able to have the focus I would want for a mission like this if you're there.”

Cayde fixed them with a stern look.

Their still reeling over how they could lose their Vanguard again and they haven’t even gotten to process the fact that Uldren died earlier than he was supposed to which means they get to see Crow again soon- 

“Osiris and Saint told me about what you did in the Infinite Forest.” He says, and it confuses them because when did that conversation happen. “I’m worried about you doing that again with the Barons, and I want to keep an eye on you.”

They can’t let this happen. 

“You know I’ve done things like this before.” They say instead of screaming at him that they don’t want him to die because they couldn’t do anything-

(Ghost is silent from his place on the bookshelf. Something is wrong and he can’t ask them what it is because Cayde is right there and all he wants is for his guardian to stop grieving over something-

“If this is about how I’ve been.. off lately, it’s just weird dreams. Nothing more.” 

And Ghost wants to smack them over the head with something and it’s one of the reasons why he wishes he had hands  because it’s not just “weird dreams”-)

They don’t-

They don’t know what to do. Even when Cayde originally wanted to go with them to the Prison of Elders he told them that he understood if they felt like it would distract them to much if he was there so where is this coming from-

“I already cleared it with Zavala and Ikora.” Cayde said, and they can’t let this happen they can’t .

“When are we leaving?” They say instead.

If they can figure out when he intends to go they can just leave for the Tangled Shore beforehand.

Cayde will be upset with them but if they can get a head start on hunting the Barons-

“I’ll let you know.”

Damn.

“Is there a reason your so insistent on this?” They ask instead of grabbing a pillow and screaming into it.

Cayde thinks for a few moments and it’s enough time to give them anxiety-

“A Hunt like this could destabilize the Reef and the Tangled Shore. It’s better to do it when there isn’t vengeance in play, and I want to keep an eye on you. I know that you and Uldren were friends.”

What.

Cayde continued even though he can no doubt see the complete confusion on their face-

“And I know that the last time something like this happened, it destroyed you.”

What does he mean by the last time he wasn’t even there? Why is he looking at them like that?

“I’m trying to prevent you from causing yourself to self destruct and I saw what the first time did to you.”

He-

__

Crow wakes up to Glint hovering over him anxiously.

He- 

He’s back in what was supposed to be his grave why is he here he should be in the Tower about to wake up for meeting in HELM-

“Please tell me you remember everything.” Glint says desperately, “Because it’s going to be really awkward if you don’t-“

He sits up, confused about, well, everything really-

“Yeah, yeah I remember- how did this even happen?”

If he’s here in this place then is he in the past? Is-

Does this mean the Guardian is alive?

Glint takes a moment to send comfort through their bond before replying.

“I don’t know, but I think Osiris did something.”

Well, that’s a given.

Chapter Text

The Guardian is still trying to figure out what Cayde means because they know they didn’t take any other Hunts (besides Tevis. They haven’t thought about that in a long time.) and they don’t know what’s going on .

“What Hunt?” They decide to ask.

Cayde is still staring at them and now that they're paying attention, it’s knowing. Almost like he knows something they don’t but they don’t know what -

He’s clearly waiting for them to figure it out and their trying too but it doesn’t make sense, they never took a Hunt out of vengeance before-

Before the Barons.

Their shock and confusion must be mixing with their Light by now, given by his satisfied look.

“I knew you were going to out do me someday, but I didn’t think it was going to be with Time Travel as well.” Cayde said, and suddenly he switched from being their Vanguard to their friend, “I also didn’t think you’d go on a whole Hunt for me.”

“How? ” The Guardian asks, reeling from the information that he remembers somehow and knows about their Hunt. 

(Ghost is sending worried pulses through their bond. He can feel it, their light still hasn’t recovered yet from when they’ve overused it and that’s not normal-)

Cayde is watching them carefully, no doubt picking up the maelstrom that is their emotions right now.

“I don’t know,” he says, “but I remember everything. I watched you for as long as I could after everything but then something blocked me from seeing you.”

He-

He was watching them?

“I think you went slightly overboard with your Hunt.”

They-

___

The Guardian knows that they are the Monster in this hunt, and they do not care.

The Barons killed their Vanguard and one of their closest friends and they refuse to do nothing about it.

They leave the hideout behind them in flames.

___

“You back with me kid?”

They blink their eyes open and Cayde is in front of them, holding their arms. When did he get so close?

“Hey. Don’t go back to wherever you were.”

They try to focus on what he’s saying but all they can think about is that he saw how they acted during their quest of Vengeance and he knows that they killed the Barons and Uldren-

“I don’t care about that, those little shits got what they deserve. Light knows I can’t judge you for that.”

They know they shouldn’t have done it the way they did, that the Guardian should have waited for orders but they were angry and tired of being told to wait when someone they cared about has died-

“Ghost, they keep slipping, is this normal?”

Their vision is fuzzing out slightly but they know Cayde is in front of them, but he’s dead and it’s because of them and their failure-

“ They have flashbacks sometimes but never like this!”

“What helps?”

“I don’t know they never told me, I think Osiris knows-“

“Get him here.”

__

They are back on the Tangled Shore and they are hunting. 

They have missed messages from the Vanguard and people in the Tower that know them but they are focused on their goal. 

They can see where their Hunt is leading them, and they are following the path.

The Wolf is on the hunt.

They pause because they can feel the flare of Solar Light and that isn’t right because it feels like Osiris but they know he isn’t here right now-

_

Trying to use his Light to bring the Guardian out of a series of flashbacks isn’t the most ideal way to fix the problem but it’s the only way he can think of to reach them.

The Hunter Vanguard is watching him intently, trying to figure out what he’s doing and he sighs because he can quite clearly feel the protective mistrust that’s running rampant in the room.

“I’m using my Light as a anchor.” He says, “I’ve done it before for Saint during the Dark Ages.”

There’s a hint of curiosity in Cayde’s Light now which is better than just mistrust.

“How does it work?”

He can work with this. Osiris can answer questions while trying to bring the Young Wolf back to reality.

(He’s worried about them not coming back. He shouldn’t have been, because he sees the moment they feel his light and they start to return to the present.)

___

They are back in their apartment.

It takes them a bit to get out of the endless string of flashbacks but they remember feeling Osiris’s light and when did he get here-

He’s right in front of them.

“Uh.”

Osiris is giving them a deadpan look, still bringing his Light as close to the surface as he can.

“When where you going tell me that you got flashbacks?” Cayde asks.

He’s sitting back on the table now, and they don’t remember him moving back at all-

“Eventually?” They try. 

Osiris just sighs in front of them before frowning. 

“Your light still feels off.” Osiris says, “how much of it did you use -“

Now that he’s mentioned it they can tell that it still feels too brittle and maybe that’s the reason they stayed in the flashback longer than usual.

“Uhhh, a lot? I remember using my Super around ten times-“

“-you what -“

“-Before Saint found me and then I casted it some more after that.”

Osiris lets out the most annoyed sigh they’ve ever heard before getting up and telling Cayde that he’s dealing with it.

The two of them sit in a few moments of silence before the Guardian remembers everything in a brief flash of clarity-

“You knew this whole time?”

“Not the whole time, just recently.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

Cayde pauses for a moment before looking at them.

“You never said anything either.”

That’s fair.

__

Cayde leaves after he and the Guardian figure out an actual plan for going after the Hunters, and decide to wait until the end of the week just to make sure their light will be normal.

They also tell him that Saint and Osiris have their memories from the future too. 

Normally he would be going back to his post at the Hanger to bother Amanda and greet Hunters as they come back from missions and patrols, but he needs to talk to Saint and Osiris.

He knows that they died but he doesn’t know how  because something stopped letting him see them, almost like they were shrouded in Darkness.

Cayde really doesn’t want that to mean what he thinks it means.

__

Ghost is watching his guardian carefully. He doesn’t really know what just happened but he was about ready to kick Cayde out of the apartment when they started having another flashback.

He debates for a few moments and then flies over to where his guardian has been burning a hole into the floor and nudges their head gently.

“Are you okay?” Ghost asks, gearing up to scold them for trying to pretend they aren’t-

“I-”

His chosen pauses and Ghost can tell them trying to figure out how to formulate their sentence. He gives them an encouraging nudge again before settling on their lap. 

“No. I don’t think so.” 

That-

Ghost is panicking. This is uncharted territory they never just say they aren’t okay-

“I will be though. “

Ghost knows they will. He doesn’t know how to help yet when they have flashbacks about things he wasn’t there for, but he can attempt to make them feel better. Maybe Death Tag can work? 

“Hey,” Ghost says, “What if we start another game of Death Tag. I think Saladin is going to come to the Tower later today- don't run so fast you almost hit your head-”
_
Crow is in hiding. 

Glint keeps telling him that the Hunters who are watching him are just concerned because he isn’t in the Tower yet , (“where did you even hear that?” “I overheard them.” “oh.” ) but he doesn’t know why they want him there because didn’t Uldren kill Cayde at this point?

He’s watching the fireteam of Hunters run around the area trying to find him and then jumps down (not too far down) to hear what their saying.

“He just vanished this is like, Cayde or the Guardains level of bullshit what the fuck-”

Do they not know Cayde’s dead?

“-We need to get a hold of either one or both of them.”

“We’ve been trying but neither of them are answering comms.”

Is Cayde alive?

“Why are they like this? Why is HE like this? He hasn't even met Cayde yet and this is prime Cayde behavior.” 

Crow stares at Glint. His ghost is staring at him and he can feel the regret and sheepishness coming from him in their bond-

“I may have forgotten to tell you Cayde was alive.”

HUH?

“Oh, and Uldren tried to stop the barons from escaping-”

“He what-”

One of the Hunters' heads whips around towards him and he drops to the ground in front of them in panic. All of them are staring at him so he just decides to wave. One of the Hunters just sighs. 

“Hi?”

Another one of the older Hunters stare at him in despair. He thinks he recognizes them actually, he’s pretty sure this one is one of the ones that just throws the Guardian in Death Tag because they kept making puns-

“Why are you like this? Did you meet Cayde already and he sent you out here? Is this the Guardians fault?” 

Hmm. Nope. 

He takes off running,

“This better not be a game of Death Tag.”

Crow grins.
__

By the time the Guardian returns from another game of Death Tag, they have about twenty messages on their datapad and five missed calls on their comm.

All of them are about a New Light Hunter who’s in the Tanged Shore for some reason and he’s politely refusing offers to come to the Tower. Please help.

They raise an eyebrow at Ghost who just sighs and says he’ll get their ship ready 

Message Log: Idiots with Guns_
Onions: please can someone get Wolf

Onions: I’m pretty sure the New Light started a game of Death Tag

LostinSpace: he did 

Fruits: @GodKiller Where are you

LetMeOutOfHereCaydePlease: HE JUST DOVE OFF OF A CLIFF

Fruits: HUH

Godkiller: I leave for five minutes

Onions: FINALLY

Godkiller: why do you want ME there

LostInSpace: because this is prime Cayde behavior and we dealt with Cayde last time 

Onions: please for the love of the Traveler come HELP

FreeMe: whats this about a New Light Hunter?

LetMeOutOfHereCaydePleae: Oh NOW he answers

Godkiller: we can go, we were planning on going to the Tangled Shore anyway 

FreeMe: speaking of, can we hurry with that? I think Zavala just found out I can hear him storming up to my office. 

Godkiller: CAYDE

Onions: LOL

Fruits: Good luck with that. 

LostInSpace: hey guys

LetMeOutOfHereCaydePlease: where did he GO???

FreeMe: @Godkiller WHY DID OSIRIS JUST TELL ME HES HAD YOU AS HIS STUDENT LONGER THAN ME 

Godkiller: uh

Godkiller: oh wow, look at that! A distraction

FreeMe: don’t start Death Tag to get out of answering me-

Chapter Text

The Guardian is the match of Death Tag that someone else started when they spot Saint out of the corner of their eye and waves at him.

When they turn their head to look, he’s pointing to them and then the ground in front of him and they take off in the opposite direction.

They don’t manage to make it very far because Saint somehow catches up to them and picks the Guardian up to throw them over his shoulder.

“Saint! Put me down!” 

“Osiris needs you for something about the Sundial.”

“ Saint!”

(Everyone playing pauses to watch Saint just. Walk away with the Young Wolf. No one knows what to do. The Hunters shrug and just carry on with Death Tag.)

_

Osiris doesn’t even bat an eye at the sight of Saint carrying them. Saint just drops them on the couch in their living quarters and the space has already slowly been taken over by books and experiments.

“Saint said you wanted to talk?”

Osiris nods. 

“Do you know how any of this happened?” He asks. They pause for a moment. 

The Guardian has the brief memory of something involving the Sundial, and Osiris looking for something but-

“ No. I thought something went wrong when the Witness took the Veil since everything after that is fuzzy.”

Saint braces himself against the wall and they watch in confusion as Osiris closes his eyes for a brief moment in what looks like- 

Pain?

“We can get into that later,” Osiris says, (and it’s bad if Saint doesn’t even object-) “I wanted to let you know that this is a different timeline. We have our memories of the future because of the Sundial. There’s a working theory that those who died also have their memories.”

Ooookaaay? Their quickly getting antsy because they have to go on a Hunt and its been delayed twice now- 

“Some of your memories might be different too because you have two timelines in your head. It depends.”

Huh.

Wait.

“How did you manage to put us in a different timeline?”

Osiris doesn’t meet their eyes when Saint huffs from the corner. “I’ve been asking him all week,” Saint tells them,”He just says not to worry about it.”

They look at him with a raised eyebrow and he just sighs and continues like nothing happened. 

“Some people are alive in this timeline that would’ve been dead by now in ours. I’m not exactly sure who yet.”

Yeah they totally understand. 

“Guardian. Where are you going.”

Oh look, Cayde needs them. They better get going!

(Osiris and Saint stare at the window that the Guardian just dove out of and then look at each other in disbelief.)

  __

They managed to get to their ship and escape the Death Tag match that was accidentally started when some Hunters saw them running to the Hanger, and take a moment to just. Sit there.

The Guardian isn’t exactly ready to go hunting after the Barons again, but they’ll have back up this time. They won’t be alone. 

Ghost is nestled in the space between their neck and shoulder. They think he’s sleeping (it’s hard to tell sometimes) and take off as quietly as they can.

The minute they do, an invitation for a comm line shows up on their dashboard  and they accept it.

“Hey,” Shiro says, “Cayde said you guys are on the way.”

They nod before realizing he can’t see them. “Yeah, sorry it took us a while. I may have overused my Light just a little.”

There’s a small beep coming from their dashboard, and they can see that Cayde’s been added to the comm line as well. 

“How bad was it this time?” Shiro asks. They wince when Cayde sighs. “That bad huh?” 

“ Anyway ,” the Guardian says, trying to interrupt the lecture before it starts. “What’s the situation with this Hunter?”

(They already like him just with the chaos he’s started since he’s shown up. They can’t wait to meet him.)

Shiro sighs, annoyed at the entire situation. “He keeps running away and when we offer to take him to the Tower he just says no.”

“Did someone do something?” Cayde asks. “The Tangled Shore isn’t a good place for New Lights to get rezzed. Some of the Awoken are, well, not pleasant when they see one of their own as a Guardian.”

The Guardian gets up to place Ghost in his hammock in the hopes that he’ll stay asleep since it’s farther away from them speaking. 

“Not that we can tell. Tevis just says it reminds him of you.”

The Guardian nods. “Has he adopted Cayde Behaviors?” They haven’t actually met Tevis, (as far as they can remember, at least. Their memories of this timeline are a little fuzzy like Osiris said they would.)

Cayde makes an insulted noise and both the Guardian and Shiro ignore him.

“Yeah. Tevis already wants to bring him into the fold. Something about dousing the fire before it starts.”

……

“Don’t do it.”

They don’t know what he’s talking about.

“Guardian I swear to the Traveler-“

They haven’t even done anything.

“ No-“

Yet.

“Better light than never?”

“ Stop.”

“ Everything will be all light Shiro, we’re on the way.”

“ Cayde!“

It takes five minutes for him to join them. 

(Ghost wakes up during the pun war, witnesses it happening and then promptly goes back to sleep.

He does get woken up again during the middle of it when Zavala makes the unfortunate decision to join the comm line.  He then starts recording. For no reason. None at all.) 

_

It’s been five minutes of being in the same comm line that Cayde and the Guardian are in with Shiro, and the three of them are already making Zavala want to bang his head on the hardest surface available.

If he hears one more pun about Solar Light instead of either of them answering the question he’s going to the Tangled Shore and killing them himself.

“Can one of you just please answer the question?” He asks, hoping to the Traveler that they finally will.

“Petra asked me to help her with revenge-

“-she asked US -“

“She asked ME and Cayde sabotaged my time to get away from him-“

“- rude-“

“- don’t take it so lighterally-“ 

Zavala facepalms.

“ -and Shiro and his fireteam are having a problem with a New Light Hunter-“

“-he keeps running away and sparking new Death Tag matches-“

Zavala stares in despair at his datapad.

“- so we’re dealing with that and the Hunt for the Barons.”

“You guys are Hunting Barons?”

His ghost isn’t even trying to keep his amusement to himself anymore. Traitor. 

“Yeah?”

“Oh hey Tevis found him-“

“-was he hidden in plain light?”

“What have I done to deserve this?” Zavala asks himself. “Is Cayde penance for something I did in my last life?”

“-nope we lost him.”

“Is it something I did? Am I being tormented for actions I committed?” Zavala continues, 

“Does he know he’s not muted?”

He looks at the Traveler for guidance. “Why would you give me two of them to deal with?” 

“I don’t think he cares.”

“I don’t.”

“That’s rude.”

“When are you guys leaving again?”

“ Hey-“

“ Spark my words-“

Zavala slams his head down on his table. There’s a few seconds of blissful silence before the cackles start.

(The fireteam outside his door all look at each other and then as one proceeds to back out. 

There’s a mutual agreement to come back later.) 

___

They are floating in that pool of Light again.

They can’t see it but they know it's Light. 

Can you hear me?

? 

Can you hear me?

Who are you? 

Listen

Listen to what? 

Hello?

Look .

Look for what?

See what I see.

I don’t see anything.

You will.

_

His guardian spots the New Light the second they land and take off after him mid- landing. Cayde shouts something after them but they just wave the arm that has their comm on it. 

“Shouldn’t we wait for them?” Ghost asks. 

The Guardian shrugs. “I think that would just slow us down.” Ghost considered that for a few moments and then shrieks at them to look out because there's a CLIFF- 

“Guardian down.” 

Ghost rezzes them a few moments later and sighs as they watch them dive off the cliff again (making the jump this time) and slam the poor New Light to the ground. 

He's then very confused at the excited “Crow?”

__ 

Cayde watches in despair when the Guardian just takes off after the New Light and doesn’t even give him a chance to introduce them to Andal and Tevis. Andal’s not even trying to keep his amusement to himself.

Shiro watches them curiously. 

“Can they even see him or are they just running in a general direction?”

Cayde sighs and both Andal and Tevis choke on a poorly hidden laugh. “Probably the second.” 

All of them startle when both the Guardian and the New Light pop up from behind them. 

“Found him!” They said, “Can we Hunt the Barons now?”

The New Light pauses and stares at them. He looks familiar somehow, and Cayde isn't sure where's he seen him-

“Your hunting Barons?”

Shiro points at him. “That’s what I said!”

“Does no one listen to me? Crow I told you that-“

Wait.

“ When-“

“-lighterally five minutes ago-“

Crow?

“Hey-“ Cayde tries to say and then gets quickly interrupted, 

“-I’m going to throw something at you if you keep making puns-

“- Guys-“

“Match me-”

Crow ends up throwing his knife at the Guardian, and then throws another one when they dodge it because they taunt him for missing the first. Andal and Tevis watch with interest while Shiro pats his shoulder when he sighs. 

Is this how Zavala feels? 

Chapter Text

It takes about twenty minutes for the group of Hunters to settle into something that’s slightly more calm.

Controlled chaos, if you will.

“There’s eight barons and…” Cayde does a quick headcount “six of us. Right? Yeah. Six. So either we do solo’s and one of us is going to have to take on two groups or we all go and take them out one at a time.”

The Guardian shrugs. “I don’t mind taking two of them. I’ve got dibs on the Rifleman and the Mad Bomber.”

They ignore the worried look Crow gives them and nudges him gently in reassurance. 

For a moment, they see the Hawk circling above them and when they blink it’s gone-

“I’ll go with you,” he offers, “give you support from above.”

They appreciate it but…

“Probably best if you stick with one of the senior Hunters.”

There’s always a chance they’ll slip into what they were when they first hunted the Barons. They don’t want him or anyone else to see that.

Crow is still giving them that worried look but agrees.

“If you need backup, call and wait for one of us.” Andal tells them. They nod.

Something about this entire thing feels.. off. The Guardian isn’t sure what it is but their hoping that it’s nothing.

They listen to the others pick what Baron to hunt and smile slightly when Crow nudges their hand and takes it.

They then have to hide a laugh when Ghost sends ?????  

(The Guardian just sends mischief in return.)

_

There’s something off about the Guardian. Crow doesn’t know what it is but he knows they're hiding something.

He doesn’t know how to bring it up to them but he wants to them to talk about what’s bothering them-

“What’s going on with you and my guardian?”

Crow blinks and stares at Ghost.

“What?”

The Guardian quickly snatched him out of the air much to Ghosts annoyance and quickly apologizes before escaping.

Huh.

___

By the time they manage to get far enough from the group on their own Hunt to release Ghost, he’s sulking.

They snort.

“He’s just a friend, Ghost.”

“Mmmm. So friends hold each other's hands?”

“ Ghost-“

They’ve thought about it but there’s never been anytime to talk to him and there was the whole thing with the Witness so they just assumed they never got the chance-

“I’m just saying it seemed more than friends to me -“

“Ghost!”

“I saw the smile too.”

(He doesn’t stop teasing them until they get close to the Rifleman’s nest.)

_

By the seventh decoy, they’ve started to lose patience. They know this fight, it replays on the back of their head when they think about the Rifleman’s taunts, but it’s different .

They almost lose it when he taunts them about Ghost-

(“Maybe I’ll use your Ghost as target practice.”

“Maybe I’ll use your head as target practice!” They snarl back, forgetting themselves for a moment.

They only remember when Ghost sends a pulse of concern so strong it breaks them out of their anger.)

They don’t sink into that anger. Not yet, anyway. If the Rifleman taunts them about Ghost one more time well-

He’s asking for it.

(Ghost is- 

Worried. He hasn’t felt this much anger from his guardian before and it keeps getting worse the more the Rifleman keeps taunting them (and he can’t blame them because if someone taunted him with his guardian-) and it’s… 

He’s not scared of them. He couldn’t be. But he’s scared for them. )

Killing the Hive and the Scorn helps, even if there’s more of them than the Guardian remembers and has to take a moment to find cover because they forgot to check in with the rest of the Fireteam.

“Has anyone heard from them?”

“I haven’t-“

“I’m alive! Also, there’s Hive!”

They have to end up leaving the voice channel to concentrate on the fight. They also don’t want anyone else to hear the taunts. 

Or their response to it.

“Maybe I’ll kill you and wear your cloak. Or hang it next to Uldrens gun.”

“I’ll let you try and get it when you stop running from me. Maybe you’ll do what gods can’t and kill me. Unlikely as that is.”

This time, it’s the Baron that snarls in rage before disappearing again.

And they see the Hawk just for a moment, and it leads them to where the Rifleman was hiding and when they blink it’s gone- 

They find the Rifleman, and instead of killing it quickly like they intended-

They take their time and make a game out of it. They can forgive taunts that’s about them , but what they cannot forgive is someone threatening Ghost.

(And they end up sending a message of what will happen if someone even tries to hurt Ghost.)

__

Ghost has been silent for sometime and the Guardian is… guilty, even as they are hunting the Mad Bomber. 

It helps ground them, keep them from sliding back into that fury because the last thing they want to do is make him scared of them-

“ I’m not scared of you.” Ghost says in their mind, “ I’m just scared for you. I don’t want this Hunt to end up being something you can’t come back from.”

They take a moment to clear some of the Scorn that appeared after the crates exploded and then send as much apology as they can before replying, “you won’t lose me Ghost. Not because of my anger. “

He feels less worried in their mind and they take a moment to breathe before they jump back in panic at the sight of a Splinter Mine.

“Why does he have so many of these-“

“His title is the Mad Bomber what else would he have-“

“Really Ghost?”

“You asked!”

They are too busy sniping back and forth with him to notice the request for a comm line that’s on their helmet feed and swear when they unexpectedly hear Crow’s voice.

 (Ghost accepted it for them without warning them after he saw they clearly didn’t see it.)

“There’s three of them-“

“-Guardian!” 

“-Fuck, Crow, you gave me a heart attack.”

They defuse the last Spinter Mine and summon their sparrow to ride to Daivins Mine.

“Where are you?”

They didn’t forget to check in right? He seems tense- 

“On the way to the Mine. Should be the last time I have to chase this annoying-“

“-wait for one of us. Cayde just got taunted with your death and something about a mine collapsing.”

Ah.

“I can handle it. Keep an eye on him, yeah? Don’t let him do anything stupid.”

“ Guardian-“

“You know I’ve hunted worse than the Barons and I’m honestly going to be offended if you think a cave in is going to kill me.”

They cut the comm feed when the Mad Bomber appears in the Mine.

The Guardian rolls their eyes when the Bomber starts talking about the fun truly beginning.

_

Cayde swears when the rest of the fireteam confirms that they haven’t been able to get a hold of the Guardian.

He and Shiro are waiting on Crow and if he doesn’t manage to get contact with them-

“The Guardian going to the mine!”

Fuck.

Why do the have to try and do eveything by themself-

“How close are they?”

He asks, already sprinting to his sparrow.

“I think the Guardian is inside it already!”

Fuck. 

___

They might be losing the fight to remain in control of their anger but they can’t hold it back.

They are focused now, and their intent is to make it a bloody kill.

“Uldren betrayed us for you . Ugh. “Can’t kill the Guardian” he said. “I cannot let you.” Ha. We kill you without him.”

They focus on defusing the Splinter Mine before responding. Ghost is silent again and they know their making him worry but they can’t focus on anything else but their anger-

“ I’m going to enjoy killing you with your own bombs.”

When another Splinter Mine appears, they jusf about shout in frustration before working on defusing it and shooting the Bomber.

“City made weapon. Not hero. Hero’s don’t murder .”

They cast their Super to finally take him out when he starts laughing even as they finally get a killing blow-

- and they see the Hawk again just for a moment and they hear it screeching in panic- 

“You kill me? You die as well.”

“He rigged the entire mine! We have to go-“

The mine explodes. 

And they get buried within it.

Chapter Text

Crow is practically flying with how fast he’s going on his sparrow and he knows it’s not recommended at all and it’s probably going to explode on him but he doesn’t care.

He won’t lose them again, he won’t find them dying-

_

His heart shatters when he finds them on the ground, weapons close by and Ghost nowhere in sight.

He feels a surge of hope when he falls beside them and sees them breathing but it’s quickly dashed into a million pieces when he sees-

When he sees the wound.

_

Cayde barks at him to slow down because he won’t be able to get to them if he’s dead and he snaps back to hurry up.

He’s almost at the entrance just a little further-

Crow feels the shockwave from the mine collapsing. 

He was right there , he was going to go in and grab them and get them out of there and now-

“We’re too late.”

____

They are….

Somewhere. 

They can hear shouting, but they can’t move- 

Did they die? It feels like they have, but why hasn’t Ghost resurrected them yet?

___

They cannot see anything. They can hear voices, vaguely but they can’t make anything out at all-

Suddenly, they are connected in this great web, Light and Dark mixing together and everything feels-

Right.

The more they study the web however, the more they notice that the Dark is overtaking the light, shifting those parts of the web into dark blues purples, hints of gold and black. 

|the Balance is being shifted|

There is no Balance. Not now.

|There was.|

They get the vision of a Gardener… Wearing a bucket hat???

|I like them.|

They were also wearing robes that seemed to be made Light itself-

|You found a way to restore it, a sacrifice.|

They see themself in different armor, sitting on their apartment floor with their head in their hands and Ghost is silent beside them, letting them come to terms with their own end- 

(But they aren’t worried about their death, they are worried about the people they’ll leave behind. They know that this will break Crow apart and they know that they can’t tell anyone because whoever they tell will try and stop them-

And they are grieving for the realization that their family will be torn apart by their plan and that they never told anyone about the fact that they found their grave. They are grieving for the people that care about them and not the weapon. 

They finally realize that maybe, they never were a weapon to those they love.)

____

“Why can’t you bring them back?”

If Ghost gets asked that question one more time he’s going to-

Well he doesn’t know what he’s going to do but cursing out the Hunter vanguard seems like a good idea.

“I don’t know ,” he snaps. “Something is blocking me from getting to them.”

Cayde starts pacing back and forth in front of them and when Ghost turns slightly to see Crow and he looks-

He looks haunted.

Like he’s seen this before, like he’s having a flashback and Ghost wants to help but Ghost needs to figure out what’s going on with his idiot chosen-

He’s relieved when Crow’s gost materializes by his side to start helping bring him back to the present.

Ghost starts trying to bring his chosen back once again.

He’s going to keep trying. 

___

They blink, and there was an explosion of Light behind their eyelids-

|Look.|

They see themself standing before the Witness, and they are speaking to it. The Witness looks intrigued by what their saying and they can’t hear it-

They look, and instead of the web of colors being separated, everything is…. Mixing together.

|This is how it should be. This is how you made it. But I felt that perhaps there was another way.|

There is no victory without sacrifice. 

|Incorrect.|

|Not everything has to be a sacrifice.|

Some things have to be.

|Not this.|

Why?

|Truthfully, I would appreciate time being intact.|

Oh?

|The Phoenix nearly tore apart the time streams. I intervened.|

Of course he did.

|Your sacrifice inspired bravery, it is true. But you have always inspired bravery. You did not need death to do it.|

What do you mean? 

|Figure it out.|

They are drawn back into the web, and they can see it getting closer and closer until they can feel the familiar pull of Ghost resurrecting them, no longer obstructed by an outside force-

They can’t feel Ghost. They know he’s alive but they can’t feel any kind of emotion from him.

The world is… distant. 

“I can feel their Light! Let me try and bring them back again, I think I can-”

“Do it. Now. Before we lose them again.”
___

They open their eyes to Crow and Cayde hovering over them, one of them crying and the other looking downright murderous but before either of them can say anything Ghost comes barreling towards them and smacks into their forehead.

Ow. 

Ghost doesn’t even wait for a second without doing it again.

“Ghost!”

“”Oh, a mine can’t kill me,” They said, “I’ll be totally fine!” They said, “Oh wow, a mine collapsed on me and I didn't come back right away like I was supposed to.” THEY SAID-”

“How was that my fault-”

“It’s your fault somehow!”

Rude. 

“Don’t give me that look you know I’m right.”

“I don’t think you are-”

They are interrupted by Crow just collapsing on them and hugging them as tight as he can. He’s-

He’s shaking.

“Never do that to me again.” Crow orders, still clinging to the Guardian as much as he can.  They roll their eyes. “I didn’t do it on purpose-”

“- Promise me.” 

They sigh and move to hug him back. 

“I don’t know what happened, but I promise to figure it out so it doesn’t happen again.”

They wince when he somehow tightens his grip on them and they kind of need to breathe-

“Can you let me breathe a little?”

“No.”

“ Crow-“

“-Let me have this before you go and do something batshit insane again.”

Cayde snorts, and when they move their head to look at him he looks pissed. His eye lights are narrowed and he’s tense, his Light practically being thrown at them in waves 

(Which is a sharp contrast the the relief in Crows light and the way it gently curls around them, searching for injuries-)

Oh.

Shit. 

“What were you thinking?”

Uhhhh….

“They weren’t!” Ghost says for them. 

Ouch.

“That makes it worse.”

Well, he’s not wrong. 

“We tell you to get out of the mine because I got told that there was a plan to kill you , and what do you do?”

….Not get out of the mine?

“ Why.”

“He started threatening Ghost.”

“Don’t blame this on me.”

Cayde looks downright murderous and they silently plea for Ghost to save them via transmat. 

What do I get if I do?

A new shell?

Cayde starts coming closer and Crow abandons them like a traitor and they quickly scramble to their feet-

“ I am going to ground you to the Tower for MONTHS and give you some time to fucking think about what you’ve done so MAYBE you won’t do it again-”

Ghost please!

Hmmm….

Two new shells and a new blanket.

Fine. 

They wave and transmat back to their ship.

____

Crow is watching Cayde shoot at a rock before just giving up and collapsing into a crouch.

He knows why the Hunter Vanguard is angry and it’s because he’s trying to hide it behind his fear but-

He also knows that the Guardian is still in the mindset of how they have to be a weapon and failure means disappointment even though they are so much more than just a weapon.

“Let me talk to them,” Crow says, and Cayde’s attention snaps to him quickly. 

Crow holds his gaze despite being a little terrified at the anger in Cayde’s.

Cayde takes a minute before nodding. Andal comes up from behind him and sets his hand on his shoulder and starts murmuring something too quiet for Crow to here.

Glint silently transmats them to his ship and he sets a course for the Tower.

__

Their comm is being flooded with messages from Cayde promising violence the next time they see him.

Ghost materializes next to them. “You know he’s going to be even more pissed right?”

They shrug and set a course for the Tower.

The Guardian then turns to eye Ghost suspiciously when there’s a surge of mischief from him.

“ Soooo what was that with you and Crow?”

“Ghost.”

“What? If we’re suddenly going to be a team of four I want to know-“

“ Ghost!”

“I saw the way you relaxed into the hug. You would’ve tried to punch Cayde if he did it.”

They mug at him gently and he quickly moved to be out of reach.

“That’s because he won’t move for the next three hours.”

“ Excuses.”

“Don’t act like I didn’t see how happy you were talking to Glint.”

They snort at the immediate embarrassment they get from him.

“That’s different.”

“ Is it?”

“ Guardian!”

“ I don’t think it is.”

“I’m going to tell Osiris how reckless you were.”

“Hey wait-“

Ghost sends a message to Osiris explaining the entire thing. Osiris calls  them and tells them that they better get to their apartment immediately.

They don’t say anything and hang up. He then sends them a message telling them he’ll tell Saint what they did.

They pretend they don’t see that and look at Ghost instead. 

“Hey Ghost?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think the Gardener likes sombreros?”

“Why are you like this.”

“It’s a genuine question!”

“ Why are you like this!”

___

Chapter Text

You are a ghost.

Not a ghost ghost, but a ghost made by the traveler to bring back your chosen guardian.

You search and search and watch as other ghosts find their guardians and you try not to get bitter but it’s been centuries so when is it going to be your turn?

It takes enough time for you to start to get lonely and then you find them! You find your chosen!

The two of you immediately have to run from the Fallen because of course you can’t take a moment to finally revel in the joy that you found your guardian and really that should have been the first sign that everything after this is going to be weird.

Somehow the two of you get roped into destroying the Black Garden and then they actually DESTROY it and you get this feeling that this isn’t going to be the first time they kill some kind of god.

It isn’t.

Your pretty sure at this point that they just like to go chasing after gods because why would they go after Crota-

And then they kill him. And then they kill his father. And then they keep killing gods and things that have been around for centuries longer than even you.

They also cause a diplomatic incident but that’s not important. You're honestly surprised it hasn’t happened sooner because??? Their friends with The Prince of the Reef and they keep shooting each other instead of saying hello like normal friends and harassing each other any chance they get. 

And then you-

You lose them.

Not entirely, their still there but they are different.

Haunted by things that haven’t even happened yet and you remember once making a joke with your guardian about how you wanted a break from them and their chaos and you-

You regret it. Because you want them back you want everything to be normal again or at least the weird chaos that is your normal now but you don’t have that anymore and you can’t even help because they won’t tell you what happened.

And because nothing can go right for either of you, you start to get memories of things you know haven’t happened and you don’t want them to be true because-

Because it would mean you lost them for good. 

And you couldn’t save them.

_____

They have to end up taking the long way around to avoid the possibility of running into Saint and Osiris and are completely unsurprised at the sight of Crow waiting for them in their apartment.

Before even speaking to him, they quickly turn to point at Ghost.

“Do not.”

“I said what I said.”

“ Ghost-“

Crow clears his throat and the two of them freeze.

Ghost makes an excuse and quickly zooms off to the other side of the apartment.

“Do I want to know?” He asks.

They sigh. “Not really.”

Hang on wait.

“How did you even get in here?”

“You never changed your passcode.”

They stare at him and he doesn’t even look guilty. 

“Crow!”

___

Ghost is watching how his guardian interacts with Crow.

It’s… different.

He can’t place it, but they seem more relaxed around the other Hunter. He hasn’t even seen them like this with Cayde.

Glint pops up next to him and Ghost gives him a friendly nudge before resuming his staring. When he gets a request for a communication link from Glint, he quickly accepts.

It’s not often he gets to talk to other ghosts, especially Hunter ghosts. 

Does your guardian know that they have a crush on mine? Because I think mine had gone through the denial stage about four times.

If Ghost could wheeze, he would be doing so.

____

Osiris has been through this so many times that he can’t do it again . 

He used the Infinite Forest when he was exiled this time to figure out where it all went wrong and to see the possibilities of changing things but he thinks he broke apart of himself in the process.

He hasn’t gotten out of bed yet and he knows Saint is worried and he loves him but Osiris doesn’t think even Saint can help.

Osiris can’t explain how he tried to do the same thing the Guardian did one time thinking it wouldn’t matter much anyway because he’s Lightless again and couldn’t stop Savathûn from taking control over his body and just decided that he’s already given so much for the City and it’s people what’s one more thing?

He can’t explain how he saw Saint do it after figuring out what the Guardian was going to do and how it felt to find him dying-

He’s brought out of his spiral when Saint pushes a mug of tea into his hands and then cups his face.

“You are far away today.” Saint says.

He’s not trying to be-

Osiris takes a sip of the tea to avoid responding.

“I don’t know where your mind is taking you but you are here my love. Let me be with you.” 

Osiris is here. 

Not in a thousand different timelines where things went wrong.

He smiles briefly and Saint looks at him like he is the sun.

“I’m here with you,” Osiris says, taking another sip before pausing for a moment and staring at the tea. “How strong did you make this?”

Saint doesn’t even look ashamed. 

“Strong enough to get you out of your head.”

“ Saint.”

“What? It worked.”

“Saint!”

“ You should do it more often.”

“Sagira!”

____

They know that Crow is trying to talk about what happened.

They know and they-

Their afraid to talk about it. He won’t judge them, they know he won’t but everytime they think about how they hunted the Barons (even if it was slightly better this time around) they don’t feel bad about it.

The Guardian knows that they should feel bad about it and should probably feel grateful that they didn’t lose Cayde this time, but all they can feel is satisfaction that the Barons are dead , even if they only took on two of them and let the others handle the rest.

They don’t know what that says about them. They don’t really care, if their honest.

The Mad Bomber was right when he called them a murderer.

What they aren’t prepared for is for Crow to know their deflecting.

They eventually give up and sigh.

“Look,” they say, “I know that the entire thing with the mine probably could have been avoided if I thought things through a little more but they threatened Ghost.  I was more than a little angry.”

Crow has a confused look on his face before the realization hits.

“You think I care about that ? Guardian, what I care about is that we almost lost you.  Be as angry as you want when someone threatens your ghost, but don't be reckless doing it. I can’t lose you again.”

Wait.

There’s a lot to unpack there, but what does he mean by losing them again? They have the vague memory of their dream and some of the things the Gardener said but-

“”Lose me again?”” They ask.

Crow freezes.

“You don’t know.”

They stare at him.

“Don’t know what.”

Crow is pacing back and forth now, pulling up his comm.

“Crow, what don’t I know?” They ask again.

He stops pacing and moves to be in front of them and he’s-

He’s shaking. They pull him into a hug and don’t ask again.

“You died,” Crow says after a few moments, “And I couldn’t stop it from happening. I was right there and I watched you… I watched you die.”

They stare at him. They’ve seen their Grave in the Corridors of Time and they know that he could be talking about their final death but just in case he isn’t- 

“Crow, I think you’ve seen me die before. Remember that one mission on the Cabal ship-“

“-not like that,” Crow says, and at least there’s a little amusement in his Light now and not just grief.  “You Died- you don’t look surprised. Why don’t you look surprised?”

They-

They don’t want to tell him. But they owe it to him with how much he’s stuck by them and refuses to give up on them even when they are the way they are.

“ Guardian-“

“-I saw my grave in the Corridors of Time,” they say, and then hurry to continue when Crow tenses. “It was when Ghost and I were looking for Saint. We found my grave instead.”

Crow looks devastated in front of them and they can’t look at him after that because they caused him to feel this kind of pain.

“I didn’t know how I would die, just that I would. It didn’t matter to me as much, at first because it made sense and then I realized how much people care,” the Guardian tries to explain and they know their digging themself into a deeper grave (ha.) but they can’t stop talking.

“You knew ? Did you tell anyone?” Crow finally asks.

Well. 

You see.

“No?”

“Why!”

“I didn’t think it mattered if I said anything!”

“You didn’t think-  how could it not matter?”

They don’t answer for a few minutes, trying to figure out how to phrase what they were feeling. 

“I was still going to die.” They finally say, and hold up a hand to stop Crow from interrupting.

“Even if I told someone,  the only thing that would happen is that whoever I told would know that someday, something is going to come that I can’t stop. That I failed to kill.”

Crow stares at them.

“You're an idiot.” He tells them with absolute certainty.

Wow.

“No really,” Crow says, “I know that you think that you're supposed to be some kind of weapon , but you're not a weapon. You’re the farthest thing from it. The people that truly care about you like Zavala, Saint, Osiris and everyone else, we all know you're a person.  When you died the first thing we all felt was grief over losing family.”

They stare at him and he looks briefly embarrassed.

“I may have gone through some of your journals when you died.”

Seriously? Is nothing sacred even in death?

Chapter Text

The Guardian has never seen Crow look more guilty and also not guilty in their life and quickly double down on that almost immediately and decide to bully him.

Just a little. 

“I die and the first thing you do was go through my journals? Terrible.”

“I was trying to have some bit of you in the world left-“

“- Awwwwwwwwwww-“

“ I’m going to throw your journals at you.”

“That’s even worse!”

___

Neither of them notice Ghost leaving the apartment with Glint trailing after him, desperately trying to get him to not yell at Osiris for not telling his guardian that they died.

Glint takes one last look at the chaos he knows he can’t stop before just deciding to follow Ghost and try and reason with him.

He just asks Glint what he would feel like if his guardian died and no one told them or their ghost.

Glint struggled with that for a few moments before pointing out that the Guardian also never told Ghost about the entire thing with the grave.

Ghost thinks about that for a minute and then says that his guardian probably had a good reason not to and goes back to hunting down Osiris and Saint after Glint gives him the most judgmental look he can.

(When the two ghosts finally find the Warlock and the Titan, Ghost just demands to know why his guardian was never told about their final death.

They both look at Glint in confusion when he speaks up and says he’s there for moral support.

Saint laughs.

Osiris mutters something about not being about to leave them alone for three seconds.)

___

Crow tries to escape and ultimately fails after the Guardian makes a pun, to which he throws a couch pillow at them.

The pillow fight that starts is nothing less than dramatic and hunters being Hunters to the extreme.

At one point, Crow starts cheating and uses Void Light to hide and sneak up from them from behind. The Guardian retaliates by doing the exact same thing and he calls them unoriginal.

Neither of them hear the apartment door opening and someone’s throat clearing.

“Make another pun I dare you-“

Crow is holding a throw pillow threateningly, aiming at the other side of the couch where the Guardian is mimicking his pose.

They think about the consequences for a few seconds before deciding that it’s worth it and grins.

Crow raises his pillow higher as a threat.

“-I’m running out of fuel to add to this fire don’t worry-“

“-GUARDIAN!”

Crow throws the pillow and it hits his target. The Guardian isn’t as lucky and stares at where the pillow somehow managed to go.

The disappointed face of Saladin stared back at them when he looks at the pillow at his feet and back at the Guardian.

“Are you done?” He asks. 

“ I didn’t start it-“

“ -Yes you did you know the rules!”

Crow immediately regrets speaking when Saladin’s focus snaps to him. He uses the Guardians favorite trick to attempt to escape situations they don’t want to be in.

“I was never here.”

The Guardian can’t see him but they can feel his Light in the space between the bookshelf and the wall.

Saladin is giving them a death stare in an attempt to intimidate them into behaving.  

Crow doesn’t need to know that they can’t actually see him.

“I can see you.”

“ I was never here.”

The Guardian sighs before finally making eye contact with Saladin. He merely raises an eyebrow at them.

“You don't have friends outside of Cayde, Shiro, and Shaxx. Who’s this?”

They have to hold back flipping off Crow when he snorts from the corner.

“I have friends!”

Saladin stares at them.

“Future mistake that I made that never happened this time around?”

“Why?”

“It’s the truth-“

“You don’t have to say it like that. ”

“I’m not going to ask.”

“That’s the correct answer. Hey, when’s Iron Banner starting since you’re here?”

“You’re still banned.”

“Is it because I called you Saladad in front of two fireteams when you were here last time?”

Crow wheezes from the corner he’s trying to hide in. Saladin just walks out of their apartment.

-

Saladin stares at Osiris and Saint-14.

The two of them stare back at him. 

Saint waves.

Saladin startles when he hears the Guardians ghost chirp a greeting from Osiris’s shoulder and then flies into the direction of the apartment with another ghost following him.

Why is the Guardians ghost with him????????

How is Osiris in the Tower????

Saladin assumes the only logical explanation is that the Young Wolf had something to do with this somehow and immediately turns around to go back to their apartment to demand answers.

_

The Guardian watches Saladin come back a few moments later demanding to know if they had anything to do with the fact that he just hallucinated Saint and Osiris in the Tower.

They tell him that they won’t answer unless he unbans them from Iron Banner.

Saladin threatens to make the ban permanent.

The two of them have a silent stand off before the Guardian decides that Saladin is actually serious.

“I had to ask Osiris a question and we ended up having to fight a Vex god in the Infinite Forest and Saint found me fighting said god.”

Saladin stares at them before giving up entirely and walks out of their apartment. He doesn’t answer them when they ask if they're unbanned from Iron Banner. 

Crow has given up hiding and he’s cackling on the floor.

It only takes a few moments for them to join him.

They quickly stop laughing when Ghost comes back and tells them that Osiris knows now and if they want to hide they better get off world now.

The Guardian quickly sprints out of their apartment. 

Chapter Text

In the end, it takes explanations. It takes the Guardian finally breaking out of the mind set that they have to do everything by themselves and that they have to be perfect and telling the members of their family what was going on before they died. 

Osiris didn’t handle the news that they knew about their grave and never told him well, and the Guardian and Ghost made a silent promise with each other to talk to him privately. 

Cayde suggest bringing in the rest of the Vanguard and so Ikora and Zavala are brought to the Guardians apartment, and when time travel is admitted the other two members of the Vanguard-

Swap Glimmer???

“We had a bet.” Ikora says.

Everyone looks at Zavala and he shrugs.

“Who won?” Saint asks.

Ikora grins when Zavala sighs.

Ghost admits that he’s been getting some of the memories of the future as well, but didn’t want to believe any of them out of fear so he never said anything.

This leads to the Guardian kicking everyone out of their apartment so they could have a talk as just ghost and guardian.

It mostly ends up going like this:

“Why were we so stupid.”

“I think we lost our sanity at some point.”

“I think you lost it a long time ago, what happened to me.”

“Hey!”

“You know it’s true.”

(While they talk, Osiris and Saint take Crow aside and get him to talk as well.

He admits how lost he felt after their death, that it felt like everyone was telling him to move on so that’s what he tried to do.

He does admit that perhaps taking on a Hunt in their name against the Witness and Calus was perhaps not the brightest of ideas, but it was the only way that he could deal with everything he was feeling.

The two of them try to apologize for not realizing how he’s feeling and Crow stops them. He tells them that they also had to deal with their death, and he knows how much it hurt them. He doesn’t blame them.)

When everyone is brought back in Osiris finally admits to being the catalyst for this whole thing but that he was planning on doing it alone and was stopped by some kind of entity that looked oddly like the Guardian.

Everyone turns to stare at them and then look at each other.

“Oh that was the Gardner.”

Everyone stares at them.

“The Who?” Ikora asks.

“I’m not sure who they are but I talked to them in a dream before-“

“You what.”

“Let’s move on!”

They don’t move on.

The Guardian has to explain the weird dreams that their having and Ikora just sighs and mutters something about them being worse than Osiris.

They hear laughter and when they turn to look at the source time-

Stops.

|Did you figure it out yet?|

I don’t think so.

|I may have been a bit vague.|

You “may”?

They get the memory of them meeting the Gardener after their death, and it asking to show them something after offering a choice to return that they refused.

They agreed, and it said it would pull them back here when it’s time.

Ah.

| Now you understand.|

I was never here.

| Yes.|

You showed me this to convince me to start again.

|It was to show you that there can be other ways. Not everything is a linear path.|

I think….

I think I want to try again. 

| What changed?|

Many things.

| Now who’s being vague?|

This is what would have happened if I never went back.

| A variation. You made some unexpected choices.|

They cared enough to try and bring me back. I think I’m throwing that in their face if I don’t try to come back for them.

….will I be alone if I go back? Will I have to do everything by myself?

| I do not think you were ever alone. Do you wish to try again?|

Yes.

___

The Guardian wakes up in their ship feeling like they’ve forgotten something important.

They don’t know what it is but it makes them change course for the Tower.

Ghost pops up next to them and they move slightly so he can see where the ship is heading.

“I thought we were going to the reef?”

“I think… I think maybe we should go home. For a little while.”

Ghost spins happily in the air and they smile.

It has been a long time since the two of them have been back to the Tower after all.

___

Location: deep space.

The Witness frowns.

Something has changed.

It doesn’t know what changed.

But for the first time in a long time, it feels fear.

And it is unnerving because it is not not someone else’s fear.

It is its own.