i. “Brother! I need you over here!” It was one of the first times she had met him. Fireteam thrown together, not unusual at all. The patrol had been to seek out and destroy a high value Fallen target. A Servitor directing movements in the area. In another not uncommon way, the whole thing was going a little tit’s up, a Fallen Walker having been dropped unceremoniously on their heads in the mean time.She had stepped up and taken the lead. Already, the other Titan’s presence agreed with her. He didn’t mock her speech [a common occurrence], he didn’t argue not because he didn’t think he could but because he was happy with her direction. Solid. Strong. Dependable. Smart. The sort of man Badb could get used to fighting with. Courageous. Brave. Ferocious. Vicious. “Over here with me, Brother. I have need of you,”ii. Crucible. Her favourite play ground. And again, the Titan, Gabriel was his name was at her side. And it was easy. They coordinated with body language and the smallest of gestures. They read each other, like mirror images and at first, it scared her. Camulus had been the same. But the more it happened, the more it came to be a comfort, to drop into the arena and find him standing next to her.“Gabriel, I need you on A,” the first words she had spoken all match. Sometimes comms had to be used and they had linked their own channel. “I’ve got a few Hunters over here who need a lesson in manners, and I believe you to be the perfect person to teach it to them,” she gave a chuckle hearing his amused breath, knowing he was on the way.iii. “I’m sorry,” She’s sagging on his door way, a door way she has been to quite a few times lately. It was a bar fight gone wrong. It didn’t always happen, but sometimes in the City, tempers ran high and certain targets were singled out. It wasn’t Guardian’s usually, but this time it did seem to be. She was still standing, still breathing and everyone else was flat, but it did hurt. More than she was willing to admit. Her wrist cradled in her other hand, face bruising up a beautiful mottle of colours, lip and nose and eye bleeding. She gave a faint smile. “I just need-” she swayed a moment on her feet, leaning heavier on the structure underneath her. “-I need your help just a little bit. I’ll move on as fast as you need, I just need some help,” and she gave a lame little smile. iv. “I need you,” the words are quiet and nearly non existent down the line. It was stupid of her to call him. To interrupt his sleep. Normally she just dealt with her nightmares, just moved them on on her own. But tonight they were particularly vicious and mocking and refused to be shifted. She felt it; small, weak, vulnerable and useless. A bad wife. A terrible mother. After all, who lets their babies die?“I’m sorry,” her voice hitches and she feels the tears sting behind her eyes. “I shouldn’t have called,” She can hear him objecting as she hangs up the line and curls into herself, a sob shuddering past her lips. She doesn’t know how much time passes but it feels like none before his arm is wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her close and she is apologising and crying all over again.v. She’s been waiting for him to arrive back all day. Pacing and puttering and fixing and primping and prepping. She’s not even in her armour as she waits in the plaza, looking for him with eagle eyes. Her heart flutters when she sees him, but she gives him a little moment to debrief with his Fireteam. It’s when his eyes start wandering that she goes to him, fingers touching his gently and he’s turning to kiss her.“I need you to come with me,” she says against his mouth gently, tugging him along. The table is set and the booze is poured and the bath is full of warm water and she beams at him. “Welcome home,” she says to him softly, pulling him into another gentle kiss. “Thank you for coming back to me,” she says to him softly, just to watch him smile.
