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A Tale of Two Guardians XVIII

Part 1 of the Destined Series. Chapter 18 : The Breach masterlist

word count : 2.4K tag list : @mail-me-a-snail @basically-nacl

After a short walk down another hallway we came out to a giant hole in the Dreadnaught, and a crashed Cabal warship. There were bullets flying everywhere, but most of the fight was centralized where the ship had crashed. We look around in both shock and awe at the spectacle.

“A Cabal ship, Skyburners colors. Must have deployed from Phobos,” Maverick observed.

The Vanguard channel lit up but only from Cayde’s end. “Cabal? We’ll deal with them later. Secure that transmat zone,” the Hunter Vanguard said.

We all headed toward the breach and planted the transmat beacon far enough from the fighting to go undetected and a large enough area for full fireteams to be able to land. As we start to head back, we all heard the distinctive screech of Hive rifts opening up. Tomb ships start pouring into the breach. At least five or six ships came in to drop off a small strike force of Hive. When the rifts reopened and the Tomb ships began to leave, alarms rang out from the Cabal ship and it let out a small defense force, which included a Goliath tank, to repel the Hive attack.

“Transmat zone is up and running, Cayde,” Skinner said.

“I’m going to bring our ship around.” Maverick’s Ghost said, to which Skinner’s and my Ghosts agreed and brought our ships around as well.

“Hey Zavala, want to see what a transmat zone on the Dreadnaught looks like?” Cayde said smugly.

Zavala joined the Vanguard channel and his voice was thick with frustration and anger. “You landed a Guardian on the Dreadnaught without authorization?!”

“And not just a Guardian, a whole fireteam, but that’s beside the point. Oh, and can I have authorization?”

“We’ll discuss this later,” the Awoken Vanguard grumbled. “Guardians, destroy that tank, or the transmat zone won’t matter.”

“I’ll bring down some ammo crates down from the ship. You’re going to need them.” My Ghost said.

“Alright, Storm,” Maverick said and turned to me. “Have you ever fought a Goliath tank before?” I asked.

“Once… I think. Honestly, I’m not totally sure.”

“Alright then, Skinner, you take a vantage point up on the broken hull up there. Storm we’re going to get closer to that tank.”

“But why do we have to get close to that tank?” I asked. I would think that we wouldn’t want to get close to that thing.

“Because Skinner is the only one that has long range weapons. Even then, we’re going to hang back a little and let the Cabal and Hive kill each other. Who knows maybe they’ll destroy the tank for us.”

Maverick and I hung back behind some Cabal shipment crates and Skinner took position up above the cabal ship, where he was just barely out of sight. The battle between the Cabal and Hive raged on, but we mainly kept our focus on the Goliath. Two or three Tomb ships entered the battlefield and buffed the Hive numbers with reinforcements. It dropped out four or five Ogres and a handful of Knights.

“That tank isn’t going to hold up against those Ogres.” Maverick commented.

“You really think so?” I asked.

“One Ogre sure it’s an easy win for the tank. But four or five like right now? I doubt that the tank can kill them all. Besides, those Ogres have Knight support.”

“Well I hope not,” Skinner said. “I really want to shoot something.”

“Let’s not attract attention we don’t need,” Mav chided.

“Fine.”

It went on for what felt like hours but after a little bit some of the Ogres began to fall but the tank was beginning to struggle to stay mobile.

“Can I take the shot Mav?” Skinner asked. We looked up at him and saw the red flare that was his scope. He was staring down it, likely with his finger already on the trigger.

“Not yet, Skinner. There’s still too many of them.”

“Ugh. You’re no fun,” the Hunter complained.

“Fine go ahead get yourself killed. Then I’ll laugh at you.”

“Okay then, I’ll…”

Before he could finish, the tank began to overheat and then began to explode.

“YAY! Finally I can kill things!” Skinner said with glee and began to pick off the stragglers

“Alright let’s go and kill the rest, Storm,” Maverick commanded and I nodded. We headed toward the ship, cutting down the remaining Cabal and Hive with ease. They were worn out from fighting each other and they certainly didn’t expect to see Guardians coming in to join the battle. As the last fighter dropped, Zavala came through.

“Guardians, Cayde just briefed us on your… unorthodox mission. Your victory no matter the method is a Vanguard victory. You have our thanks.”

“Everyone loves a bad idea when it works.” Cayde said. “Now, excuse me Guardians, I have to go have an uncomfortable conversation with Eris about her ship. Get home safe.”

We all headed back toward the Hull Breach to call our ships to head home. As we got up to the Transmat zone, I saw Maverick run off into a little crevice. I followed him, mostly to make sure he didn’t get himself killed. This place was crawling with Hive still.

"Whatcha got there Mav?" I asked him when he stood and turned around.

"Oh you know a small souvenir for home" He said and waved a small piece of something in front of me.

"Yeah… okay sure.” I let it slide as we walked back up to the trasmat zone, but my voice was obviously cynical.

We all got in our respective ships. I collapsed in my chair and pulled off my helmet. “Ugh, I still smell like Hive,” I complained to my Ghost.

“Something else is bothering you, isn’t it?”

I paused for a moment and sighed. “It’s just… what Maverick said back there. That’s all. I can’t stop thinking about what he said, that he thought he killed Crota. He said that his team failed and that was why he lost them. I don’t know…”

“Don’t worry about it, Guardian,” my Ghost said. “I’m sure it was just a slip of the lip or something.

The private channel lit up and Maverick started talking as we entered slipspace back to the Tower. "Good shit guys, now let's go home and take a much needed break."

"I couldn't agree more." Skinner said.

“I just want to shower,” I said disdainfully. “I smell like Hive from that stupid ship.”

Maverick and Skinner both laughed loudly. “Yeah, I think we all do,” Maverick said. “But at least you two can do something about it.”

We all exited the channel as we got into range of the City. We landed in the Tower and were greeted by Cayde.

“There’s my favorite Guardians!” He exclaimed as we gathered. “Now that we have other Guardians landing, we can do a little more to find out about the Skyburners that crashed into the Dreadnaught and how to take down Oryx. Zavala agreed to let you guys get a few days off since you just risked more than your lives to do this for me. Now, I have to hide before Eris kills me for letting her ship get destroyed. Bye!” He waved off and started to run away.

We started to walk back up to the Tower plaza, and Skinner wrapped an arm around each of our shoulders. “Look at us, getting ready to kill a Hive God. It feels great to be back in the field again.”

“Yes, it does,” I agreed and pulled Skinner’s arm from around me.

“I’m going drinking tonight, who wants to come with me?” Skinner had an excited look on his face like a kid in a candy store.

“I’ll pass,” Maverick said.

“Same here. I’ve got a painting to finish up and some pent up aggression to let out on the annoying white walls of my new place.”

“Okay, I get it, no one wants to get drunk with me.” Skinner waved off and took the elevator down to the City, and closed the doors before we could get inside.

Maverick and I stood side by side now, and the silence between us was a little tense. I shifted a bit uncomfortably.

“What’s wrong?” he asked me quietly.

“It’s nothing,” I said in a soft voice. “I just… can’t stop thinking about what you said about Crota. You told me you and your team failed, so wouldn’t that mean he’s alive?”

Maverick sighed. “Yes. We did get to battle him. That’s how I knew we had to use the sword. But… it’s complicated, okay?”

I laughed softly. “I understand complicated, don’t worry.”

I started to walk away, but Maverick grabbed onto me. I stopped and turned to face him. His crimson eyes stared into mine and his mouth was opened a bit like he wanted to say something, but the words just wouldn’t come out. “Genny…”

“Yes?”

“How would you feel about going away from here for a few days?”

I stared at him in both shock and disbelief. I could feel my cheeks warming with blush. “I’m sorry?”

“Do you want to get away from the Tower and the City for a few days? With me?” His voice shook for a moment like he was trying to get the words out right. Was a senior Guardian really asking me to go out on a date with him and just disappear for a few days together?

I blinked a couple of times and smiled softly. “Of course,” I said quietly. “I’d love to.”

His entire composure relaxed and his grip on my arm loosened. “Good. Meet me in the hanger tomorrow morning. I’ll let you go and get whatever you want done.”

“But… Where are we going?” I asked before he could walk away.

He turned back to me and grinned. “Venus.”

I smiled wide. He and I both loved Venus for different reasons. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

I took the elevator down to the Last City and walked home. The moment I walked inside I stripped off my armor and took a nice long hot shower until I couldn’t smell Hive on my hair. I pulled on some loose fitting clothes and sat down at my easel. My painting of Maverick was almost finished, so I called in an order for some spicy ramen from the shop down the road, then sat down and got to work.

About twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. I set down my brush and wiped my hands on my paint-stained pants to clean them off. I opened the door, money in hand, but it wasn’t the delivery guy.

“Maverick!” I exclaimed and my cheeks instantly flushed. I was in a paint stained white shirt and gray sweats, and I could feel the paint that ended up on my cheek and forehead. “I didn’t know you were coming by.”

“Well, I tried to reach you, but your communications must be off.”

I shrugged. “I asked my Ghost to block out all calls, I didn’t want to be distracted.”

“Oh, sorry,” he apologized. An awkward silence fell between us for a moment. “Um… can I come in?”

“Oh! Of course! Sorry, I was waiting for food to get here when you knocked and now everything feels super awkward.”

I let Maverick in, and I could feel my face heating up quickly. I knew he was going to see the painting and my brain was going into panic mode as I closed the door. “Ghost,” I whispered quietly through my teeth. “Why didn’t you tell me he was trying to call me?!”

She just stared at me. “You said you didn’t want to be bothered by anyone!”

“Yes! Exactly! Maverick tends to show up if I don’t answer or call him back! Ugh, forget it.”

I followed Maverick into the living room and sure enough, she was standing in front of the easel, staring at the painting. I bit the inside of my cheek as he turned to look at me, and ducked my head down to hide my flushed face.

“You…. You’ve been painting me?” He asked quietly.

I shifted a bit uncomfortably and pulled the neckline of my shirt back over my shoulder. “Yes, but… I didn’t want you to just find out about it…”

“Storm…”

Just then the doorbell rang and I held up my hands. “Hold that thought, my food is actually here now.” I turned and made a beeline for the door faster than I’ve run away from hoards of Thrall. This embarrassment was worse than being chased by an angry Ogre. I paid the man and took my ramen into the kitchen. I set everything down on the counter, but before I could reach for a bowl Maverick appeared behind me and gently turned me around to face him. I was still blushing madly and I looked away from him. He knows me better, so he caught my chin and made me look at him again.

“Storm… I like it,” he said quietly as he brushed some of my silver white hair out of my face. “I’m not mad or anything like that.”

“I-I know,” I stuttered quietly. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against his hand. “I just… I wanted to show you once it was completed.”

Maverick placed his hands on my hips and lifted me up until I was sitting on the countertop. Our faces were level with each other now and he ran a hand through the back of my hair. “Don’t worry,” he said quietly. “I still want to see it when it’s done.”

“Mav…”

“Don’t speak.”

“Why are you here?”

He paused a moment and gazed down. “Let’s just say Zavala called a meeting with me after you left and I hate sitting in debriefings.”

I smiled a bit and held his face in my hands. “Well, you are always welcome here.”

“Good.”

Before I could respond to him, he grabbed onto my wrist so I wasn’t holding his face anymore, leaned in and kissed me. I stiffened for a short moment out of surprise, but then melted into him, like ice into fire. His kiss was warm and gentle, compared to his grip on my sides, which was like iron. As if he was scared that if he let me go then I would slip away.

When we parted, I placed my hand on his chest. “Mav…” I whispered softly. “I am not going anywhere.”

“Thank you.”

“But I would like to eat something before I keel over from starvation because I am fucking hungry.”

He laughed aloud and helped me down from the counter. “Okay, I get it. I’ll leave you be now. See you in the morning, Storm.”