"Hey, Cayde?"
Kasia spoke through the intercoms. She was with the Hunter Vanguard, Cayde-6 and a friend of his who was the jailkeeper on the Tangled Shore - Petra Venj. The prison was having a riot, at least that's what they thought when they started. But with the new found information that the high-security prisoners are gone, the trio realized this was a break out. Petra said the escapees were going to bust out the bottom floor. The thing was, no one was even near there. Lucky for Kasia, she was quick on her feet and even quicker in mind.
The stakes were high, she needed to find away to get down to the bottom and fast. That's when she saw her golden opportunity.
"Kasia? What's up? Have an idea?" Cayde questioned as a response to her grabbing his attention.
"How many shots do you think it'd take to break that big wire there? The one holding that flaming hunk of metal in the middle."
"Uhh 3 or 4, give or take I mean depending on some stu-- wait. Kasia, no. Do NOT do what I think you're about to do." It was too late. Kasia had already jumped on to the metal and pulled out a fusion rifle, aimed, and took three shots. One right after the other. She began to feel weightless as the structure began to fall. She reached for a wire and gripped tight.
Adrenaline filled her veins as she fell. Kasia let out hoots and hollers laughing in the thrill. It was a feeling she was not unfamiliar with. She came upon a landing sticking out. Time seemed to slow as she met eyes with Cayde and Petra leaning over the edge. Kasia gave a big wave after freeing a hand as she sped towards the bottom. She would stop the breakout, if it was the last thing she'd do.
---
Everything hurt like hell. Kasia had landed on the very bottom of the prison and fought of waves and waves of scorn. It wasn't new, being a Guardian meant throwing yourself in the line of fire. It's because of the fancy little thing called a ghost, that Kasia was able to come back every time no matter how overbearing the pain could be. So, she summoned her little buddy to help her out. Little did she know, someone was waiting in the shadows for just an opportunity like this.
"Spence! Hey little light, mind helping me out a bit? I just need an extra boost then we can go home after wiping the floor with these guys" Kasia's voice was broken, the endless scorn really did a number on her. Yet, she braved it out - promising a future.
A shot rang out - quite, yet piercing. Spence burst into shattered pieces of a shell. Kasia's head spun. She achingly straightened her shoulders as she was previously hunched over from her wounds. They weren't done.
Kasia looked around, she felt exposed. Her armour, once matching with a strong elegance around it, was worn, battered, and brusied. Scuff marks from skidding on the concrete and metal, jagged edges from falls, and color faded and chipped from heat, knives and bullets. She felt like the word "shatter". She was utterly surrounded. This was her end. Spence, her only hope, was nothing more then the debris that already littered the floor. A Guardian cannot come back if they have no ghost.
Kasia closed her eyes. Millions of thoughts raced through her mind. She thought of her boys. Titan - he was such a young guardian and didn't nearly get enough time to see the joy of everything. He had his newly found light ripped from him just as he got it. Yes, he has it back now, but he's still learning. Kasia wanted to be there for that. She still had places to take him, like awesome hiding spots and the planets with the best loot--! Then Edwin, oh Edwin. She knew him too much to know he wouldn't take this well. He'd bottle it up until he burst. Edwin would run wild and become so distant. Would he still keep in touch with Titan? Kasia hoped they'd take care of each other. This was her end and there was no way out, all she had now was hope for the others and their future.
"Goodbye, guys," She whispered under her breath, "this one's for you." Her hands burned up as she called down all the light remaining in her to douse the area in flames.
Then, THWACK! Her body was tossed limp through a wall. When she came to her senses, she saw the face of Prince Uldren with all his lackies around him.
"This will only hurt, a lot." The distinct sound of a handgun popping through the air made Kasia's ears drum. A searing pain ripped through her chest. It was more then she could bare. She didn't even hear what he said as he loaded up the elevator with the other prisoners and himself - making his grande escape. She desperately wished the pain would stop so she could have tossed a grenade as a last ditch effort, but she had at some point fallen back on the ground.
"Kasia? KASIA!" A voice shouted through the now quite room. Kasia would never find out who it was, her last breath had left her long before they came to her side.
---
Edwin sat, hands folded in his lap. In front of him was a small stump of a tree delicately holding a picture frame that showed the image of an Awoken Warlock. She had bright pink hair in a mohawk, a truly defined fashion statement. Candles surrounded the stump and frame, the wax cascading down the candles and even stump like a molten lava from being burned so long. There was no breeze or sound of anything rustling in the woods. The world had seemed to go silent for her, as it should be.
Then the silence was broken. A fizzing sound behind Edwin got him to stand up and turn to face whoever was interrupting him. It was Washington. His book friend (as was called by Kasia) and fellow Hunter.
"Mourning doesn't look good on you." Wash said. His face as stoic as Edwin's own. There was an underlying respect, though. He knew Wash meant well.
"What other face should I don, then?"
"Honestly?"
"Yes."
"A face of peace." Washington stepped closer and rested a hand on Edwin's shoulder. "She's gone and it's awful, I know. I've been through this so many times, too. But this had happened before and will happen again. It's been two weeks. I know she would hate for you to be doing this. She's enjoying the glory and attention of all this mourning for maybe three days before she'd probably tell you to get off your ass and move on." Washington took a deep breath. "Have you thought about Titan? How he might be handling this?"
To be quite honest, Edwin hadn't even thought of him. Guilt now flooded him. Titan was very new to being a Guardian and had just Kasia too. He had to go check on him. He had to sit and be with him as someone to lean on. Edwin turned to look at the frame of Kasia. His friend lost to the hatred of another. She made things brighter and now she was lost. But Edwin shouldn't separate himself like this. He needed to be there for his other friend who was alive and here. Or he might just lose him too.
Wordlessly, Edwin parted from Washington and the alter.
---
Not a sound escaped Edwin's lips. In a far secluded part of The Tower, Titan was gazing off into the distance. Edwin approached the Guardian and leaned on the railing next to him. The healing process would be a long one, but they have all the time in the world.
Kasia felt her chest bloom in warmth as she watched on from The Traveler. Not from the gun shot, but from the love of friends. Her boys would be alright, they'll be there for one another, and they'll be alright.
Both Edwin and Titan swore they heard the giggle of Kasia that evening as they watched the sun go low and The Traveler loom over head.
-------
"You've made a place where I'm welcome
And although I give voice to it seldom
Know I love you
Nobody's above you
And if you love someone then you tell them"
-Love Letters by Watsky
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Phew, finished. Enjoy, @guardians-social-network 💗💗
