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It was weird, having a normal day. That was what Shin called it at least. With most of the Throne World issues wrapped and Zavala letting more Guardians patrol it there wasn't as much of a need for Wolf and Glitterbomb to be around every moment. It had been about four days since the mission with Mara and Shin had convinced Wolf to get some sleep. Between sleep and watching her new favorite animated show they'd had a few days of quiet. Shin's favorite part was watching her eyes get wide when something exciting happened on the screen. It was unbearably cute honestly.
But today Eris had called in about as frantic a way Eris could be. The Crimson Swarm on the moon were making a move, the spell finally complete to transport Savathun's Throne World to the moon. So Wolf had put on her suit and left shortly after breakfast.
Which was why Shin was back in his, weird, normal pattern of going down to the Crucible staging. He hadn't been allowed to come with. Something about psions needing consistent, familiar, brain waves to create the bridge... or something? He didn't know. Didn't want to know.
Shaxx was busy when he showed up and he wanted to get in and out before being noticed and Shaxx asked if he was going to play a team mode again. He was so focused on keeping an eye on Shaxx and making sure he wasn't noticed by the Crucible handler he was blind to the Guardian that came up on his side.
"Hey, Shin," and Shin nearly jumped out of his suit as Savant sidled up to him.
"Savant-- Don't fucking do that," he punched him in the arm, furious for half a second.
"What are you doing here?" and Shin ground his teeth but didn't push Savant's arm off his shoulders. He had his stupid rabbit eared helmet on so he looked taller than Shin and he knew Savant liked to act taller than Shin too.
"Trying to get bounties, what's it look like?" he growled.
"Really! Us too," Savant said in his bright and stupid way. "You should play with us."
Shin squinted at Savant. "Since when do you play Crucible? You're shit at Crucible," he said, incredulous.
"My boyfriend likes Crucible." Shin just blinked at him. "Drifter and I aren't a thing anymore, smoke for brains," Savant said.
"Smartest thing I've ever heard you say," Shin grumbled and finally picked up the last of his bounties. "Hey-" he complained when Savant also tapped on some Control bounties. "Savant-" he growled. You had to put a down on bounties and while Wolf was bleeding glimmer Shin was not.
"You should play with us," he said again. "Five stacks always roll the enemy you know."
"I don't play team games," he said, eyes narrowed.
"So those couple of games you played the other week with Wolfy wasn't actually you?" Savant asked in his most annoying tone.
"I will play games with my girlfriend; not shit for brains Warlocks," he growled.
"You suuure? I got some ringers," Savant said cheerfully. "Also I got some friends who say I'm lying I know the Man with the Golden Gun. I'd love to rub a clip or two in their faces."
Shin knew Savant was playing to his ego but fuck if it didn't work. "Fine," he allowed.
"Great!" Savant cried making Shin's ears ring. "Orion send Magpie our team link. See you in orbit," and he clapped Shin on the shoulder before leaving.
"Fucking annoying ass Warlock," Shin muttered and left staging. Then he realized... his ship wasn't available. Castaway had it still. Buoy had brought it to Earth at least but it was out over Africa right now. Shin pulled his helmet on and looked at who was in this fireteam. Two names he didn't recognize and then Eric. What the fuck was Eric doing in Crucible? She didn't play either.
What the fuck had happened in the seven months he'd been gone?!
He hailed Eric because like hell he was asking Savant. "Shin," she sounded surprised by the hail. He was so irritated he didn't say anything at first. "Shin? Hello? Earth to Shin."
"Don't ask why but my ship isn't available right now," he said.
"Oh."
"I need a lift to the Gap," he said since that was where today's live fire simulations were taking place.
"Your ship is fine, right?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I'll swing back around."
"You're being remarkably nice about this," he said, eyes narrowed. "What are you getting out of this?"
"The look on my boyfriend's face when you-
"WHAT!? Since fucking when do you date? Am I going to have to shoot him too?" Shin demanded very seriously.
"No," she snickered. "And just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean I haven't dated," Eric said.
"And the last one I remember I wanted to shoot so bad. Well the current one too but he's annoying not threatening," Shin said.
"He's nice," and he looked over when Eric's ship flew around to be at eye level with Shin at the Tower. He knew it was hers without even having to see the cockpit because it was the most garish fuchsia, aqua, and black ship he'd ever seen. "Transmat's open," she said and Magpie transmatted him into Eric's very cramped jump ship. There was a cockpit and the cabin had a bench to sit on on one side and the other side had gun racks and armor mannequins.
There was a Titan sitting on the bench and Shin sat a respectful distance away despite the tight quarters. He had his helmet off and was giving Shin a funny look. "Eric, who's this?" he called up to the cockpit.
Eric didn't reply but Ghostie came out. "Leon, this is Shin. Shin, this is Leon," he said and Shin knew why Eric had sent Ghostie. It was to capture Leon's dinner plate sized eyes at being told this and Ghostie was recording him.
Shin rolled his eyes and leaned back, folding his arms. Fucking Crucible scrub. "Shit really?" Leon asked.
"Yeap," Ghostie said.
"You look taller through my scope," Leon said meaning he was in a similar bracket as Shin. Shin wasn't a short guy so this was a specific dig.
"Sorry, who are you?" he asked and from the cockpit Eric cackled. Leon looked torn between chastised and pissed.
"I play against you all the time," Leon insisted.
"Must not be very good. I don't recognize you," Shin said dismissively.
Leon's chastised look turned to pissed off and before he could go off his Ghost put his helmet on. "We've arrived," said the filigree Ghost.
Eric came out of the cockpit. Unlike Shin and Leon she looked like she fit in the ship and was actually sized appropriately for how condensed the jump ship was. "So I see you boys can't play nice so Leon why don't you go over to Savant's ship," she said with a grin.
"What? But I was here first," Leon complained. "Also Theo's over there. I don't want to be traumatized."
"Babe. Go," she said with little room for argument. Leon didn't move. "Vince please get Leon over to Savant's. I already told him you're coming."
"This is bullshi-
He was gone and that just left the two of them in the jump ship. "That was mean," Shin said once he was gone.
"To who?" she smirked.
"Him."
"He's easy to rile up," she giggled and sat down on the bench next to Shin.
Shin gave her a look, "What are you doing playing Crucible? You and Savant don't play," he said.
"I was roped into a double date Crucible day," she sighed. "I had to get Shaxx to okay what gun I was allowed to bring it was so annoying."
"Illegally modded sniper rifle?"
"Its only illegal in Crucible," she rolled her eyes. "Thankfully I had several options."
There was a long beat of silence. "Savant I get but how'd you end up dating a Crucible meat head?"
"He asked me, duh," she said.
"Just doesn't seem your type."
She gave him a look, "How would you know?" she asked him sharply.
"Isn't a loser," he shrugged. "Toland was a loser. Savant's a super loser. Leon doesn't seem like a loser."
Eric chuckled. "According to some of my friends being a Crucible main makes him a loser," she said.
"Also he can't talk to pretty girls either," Ghostie chimed in.
"Huh."
"They've been together for months and he still asks to hold her hand."
"Traveler what a fucking loser," Shin groaned. "Where do you find these guys?" he asked her.
She just smiled. "He's nice."
"Sure," he rolled his eyes. There was some more silence and then without saying anything because Shin knew how she was he made a circle with his thumb and pointer finger and put the pointer finger of his other hand in and out of the hole.
She smacked his hands. "Not that it's any of your business," she scolded him, flustered.
"I'd just hate for your new boy to have an accident if he's ungentlemanly towards you," was all Shin said.
"He is very kind and respectful thank you very much," she said in a haughty way. "And for your information; no."
"Good for you then."
The silence that fell wasn't awkward as one would have expected. It rarely was when Hunters just existed with each other. Shin was about to pull out his pockit when finally Eric asked, "What was that? In the Pyramid?"
"You'll have to be more specific," he said slowly.
"The Darkness stuff you did. And how you talked to the Pyramid," she said.
"Long story."
"It'll be a while."
"Don't want to tell it," he said, folding his arms.
"What about your taint?" she asked him and he flinched. "Is it gone?"
"It... changed," he allowed.
"But you don't have that green fire anymore?" she pressed.
"... No," he said. His solar abilities turning green had been an expression of the Darkness in him having no outlet. With Hunger it was properly tempered and didn't need to express through his Light.
She looked genuinely relieved. "Good," she said. "But what is that?" He didn't answer her. "Shin."
"Look, I don't want to talk about it okay," he snapped. "I don't fucking like it."
She sat forward and folded her arms, "Fine. Brat," she grumbled.
"I'm older than you, you can't call me brat," he said.
"Brat's a brat," she said, golden Awoken eyes narrowed slightly. "Does Wolf at least know about it?"
"Yeah. Maniac wanted to learn it."
"And?"
"It's... dangerous. So, no." He didn't want to think about what it'd look like if Wolf had a Hunger. If it'd be like how Shin had it where he could feel his Light but all around the edges was Hunger trying to sink its hungry teeth into it, snapping its jaws closed around it, snuffing it out. What would it even do to Wolf? "And you learned Stasis?" he asked to make it not about himself.
"Yeah. Last year."
"It working out?"
She smiled. "Really well," she said.
"Finally a use for that throwing arm of yours other than knife tricks, huh?" he asked and she laughed.
Quiet came over them again but this time Eric pulled out her pockit first. Shin followed shortly after and they sat in comfortable silence each doing their own thing until Ghostie announced they were being match made. They put away their pockits and Eric pulled on her helmet and yanked her hood up as they were transmatted down to the Gap.
Shin was expecting one big Titan and Savant so he was sort of surprised when there was another big Titan and a third unrelated Hunter. "Holy shit are you Shin Malphur?" the Hunter asked over team comms.
"Nope," Shin said even as Shaxx announced the players for this match and very clearly said his name. He muted the random and they were transmatted to the start position.
"I didn't know you knew how to play objectives," Eric said as Shin did join them all on the first cap.
"I played Gambit, what are you talking about?" Shin asked as they broke up to different lanes.
"That was playing? I thought it was flirting with Wolf and fighting with me on who got to invade," Savant butted in.
"Sorry who usually topped amount of enemy kills both enemy team and fodder?" Shin asked.
"And never banked any motes," Savant teased him.
"Reapers don't bank motes, idiot," Shin sighed as he met his first engagement. The person absolutely was not prepared and Shin took them out with no issue.
The game was an absolute roll and Shin was bored by the time it was over. The enemy were slow to respond, their shots weren't laser focused, and everyone's movement was a little slow. There were also a lot more shotgun rushers which pissed Shin off to no end. This wasn't his usual bracket. Meaning Eric and Savant were pulling him down from the top spot.
Shaxx called a mercy barely half way through the match. "Holy shit," Theo said as the score board came up on their HUDs. Shin was at the top by a mile. He even had zone captures too. At least when he'd played with Wolf a few weeks ago they'd been in the same skill bracket so he'd actually been challenged.
"Is this what Crucible is like in the lower leagues all the time?" Shin asked boredly.
"This is like upper middle," Leon said. "Eric and Savant don't have good enough scores to put us in high bracket."
"Lame," Shin holstered his gun as they were transmatted out.
The next game was also a mercy with similar results. This time Shin had left Magpie on Eric's ship to give him some incentive to entertain himself. But the Guardians in this bracket barely made him sweat and he still almost single handedly mercied the other team and had no deaths while having the highest kill count. At least when he went deathless in his own bracket he was usually near the bottom but it was more an exercise of survival and less of kills because Shin knew he could get kills.
The next two games Shin tried to find the fun in low bracket games. He went sniper and throwing knives only which was at least interesting but boring because of limited green ammo allowed in Crucible. Then he just went abilities only which lead to more deaths, mostly by people with shotguns, but not enough to not win or land at the top of the leader board again.
Shin would rather just go home and watch Crucible VODs on Wolf's bed than keep doing this when he was put back on Eric's ship. "Disconnect the fireteam link," Shin told Magpie.
"Why'd you leave?" Eric asked from the cockpit.
"I'm done with this baby shit," Shin groaned. "Can you take me back to the Tower?"
"We only played a few games," she said.
"Yeah and watching Savant embarrass himself in the Crucible today was enough for a lifetime."
"You could stay until Rumble," she said.
"I'm just done with Crucible today," Shin said.
"Okay. But come look at these."
"Look at what?" he went over to the cockpit and leaned on her chair. Eric had her pockit out and had a video playing on it. "That's me," he said. It was indeed a video of himself playing Crucible, video captured from some other view than his helmet of him getting a triple as he played keep away with some Guardians who's positioning was absolute shit. It looked like he was toying with them and he had been. But the clip was very impressive. Eric scrolled down and there was another short clip of him doing a very impressive knife kill at close range. "Where'd you get these?"
"Savant captured them," she said.
"Yeah but where are they posted?" he reached over her shoulder to scroll up. "Ghost and Light... what's that?" he said reading the top of the app. It wasn't any Crucible clip app he recognized.
"It's an Eliksni app," she said. "Not House Light but the crew of the Scarred Baron had something like this for their ketches. Since they set up a comm array in their district they've expanded it. It's not exclusive to watch but is exclusive to post."
"Okay," Shin said slowly. "Why?"
"Eliksni don't like shitty Lightless memes I guess?" Eric shrugged. "It's basically exclusive to Guardians, some Eliksni, and some Lightless allowed to post. It's only been around a few months," she added, seeing Shin's complete confusion.
"Right. And who's this Scarred Baron?"
"Friendly Eliksni who were living out in the Oort Cloud from what I understand," she said thoughtfully. "Glitterbomb has an account," she added.
"... What?"
"Yeah," she showed him. "It was how a lotta Guardians got to see the Throne World until recently," and she showed him a few videos. Most were just of empty Throne World spaces.
"... This is why Savant pestered me to come play today," he said slowly, realization dawning on him.
"Oh really? He said he just missed playing games with you," Eric said even as Shin was getting annoyed. That tempered his irritation actually.
"What's it called again?" Shin asked.
"Ghost and Light."
"And GB has an account?"
"Mhm! Theo and Leon share an account too."
"Do you have one?" he gave her a look.
"I have a viewing account. I have nothing I want to post. Also like I need more creepy Warlocks showing up wanting to talk about Toland with me," she made a face. "Bad enough they can send me mail, I don't need them in a private message. Why? Want one?"
"No," he said quickly. "That looks so stupid."
"There are lots of Crucible plays on it too," she said knowing that appealed to him and that did interest him. "It's like an endless clip show. Leon loves that kinda stuff." Shin also liked Crucible clip shows be it great plays or someone dying in a hilarious way. "You can just download it since we're in City limits," she said and he looked up and out of the cockpit window. They were indeed over the City now. "But if you want to post you need to get permission."
"How do you do that?" Shin asked. "I don't plan on needing it but if I change my mind," because he really didn't plan on posting anything. Behind him the transmat fired and he looked over his shoulder. "What are you doing here-
"Eric I told you not to tell him!" Savant cried. He'd shown up helmetless.
"He asked! Geeze don't be such a cry baby," Eric rolled her eyes.
Savant came up and it was tight squeeze standing behind Eric's pilot's seat but there was just enough room for them both to stand and not be touching. "How'd you even know?" Shin asked.
"Ghostie tattled," he told Eric.
"Ghostie," she scolded her Ghost.
Savant looked at Shin. "Did you want to check it out?"
"Eh."
"I have an in with some Eliksni down in the quarter if you wanted to get a real account," Savant said.
"Not really my thing. I've done the self grandeous thing."
"But it's fun! You already have a fan club they'd eat that shit up!" Savant cried.
"Yeah. Exactly," Shin said, arms folded.
"Stand to be an interesting living legend," Savant flapped his hand at Shin. "You should have a real account."
"I'm not-
"Eric fly us over to the Eliksni quarter," Savant said, leaning over the chair.
"I said I don't need a posting account," Shin insisted.
"Yeah but you should because you're fucking Shin Malphur," Savant said and honestly that was one of the nicest things Savant had ever said to him. "Glitterbomb has one and so do tons of other high profile Guardians. Who knows, if you post you might actually make more than two friends; both of which are on the ship here."
"Excuse you. This ship only has one friend of mine," Shin said, arms folded.
"Aww, I didn't think you cared-
"I meant Eric you annoying idiot," Shin growled and from the pilot's seat Eric laughed. Savant was absolutely unphased.
"We're here," Eric said and when Shin looked out of the cockpit window the district was completely alien. The entire place had been leveled and was in a state of rebuild with a handful of buildings already constructed and a surprisingly amount of infrastructure and even new paved roads. What the fuck had happened while he'd been gone?
"Great! Orion, take us down would you?"
"I keep saying I don't-
They arrived down on the LZ of the Eliksni district. The LZ was now raised up on a well made metal platform near the wall. There were also way more Eliksni down here than he'd seen before and they all seemed very busy. The dilapidated quarter he'd once had to watch was completely torn down and new short Eliksni buildings had replaced it in some places but in more places were just a rainbow array of tents as housing. "What the fuck-" Shin said slowly, looking at all of it. "What happened?" he looked at Savant and Eric.
"Scarred Baron crew came in," Eric shrugged.
"Who the fuck is that?"
"Did you not see the like fifteen ketches in orbit?" Savant asked.
"No?"
"Right you're too busy making googly eyes at Wolf I forget," Savant said dismissively. Shin narrowed his eyes at him. "Come on," and he grabbed Shin's arm and dragged him down from the LZ to Shin's displeasure.
"Savant, did you tell Leon and Theo what you were doing?" Eric asked him as they walked.
"I told them to go back to the Gap, they could use my ship. You and I would meet up with them later," Savant said.
"Wow you actually planned ahead. I'm so impressed," she said approvingly and the lights on Savant's heads all brightened. It would have been cute if it wasn't nauseating.
"So they're usually around here," Savant said as they came up to a building that was wasn't near the other buildings but had a very tall radio tower sticking out of it as well as a bunch of dish arrays. The base was a fat, rounded, shape with circular openings. Savant finally let go of Shin's arm and went into the building.
"How'd you let him do this to me?" Shin asked Eric as she came and stood next to him.
"It's good for you," she elbowed him making him grunt.
"I liked him better when he was just your annoying friend you'd tell me about," he grumbled.
Eric giggled. "I think you need an annoying overbearing friend," she said and he gave a long suffering groan.
Savant came out a few minutes later with a very tall, gangly, Eliksni with four arms with some very intricately made clothes he'd never seen on an Eliksni but actually he'd seen them while being dragged around by Savant just now. Their helmet was very sleek and had weird... plugs in it was the only way he could describe it. "Oh, little Hunter friend," the Eliksni said at seeing Eric.
"Zip this is my friend Shin," Savant said indicating Shin. "This is Zipys but they're cool being called Zip."
The Eliksni blinked at Shin curiously. "You are also a Hunter?"
"Yeah," Shin said trying not to sound bored.
"Were you here for long night?"
"Yeah?" What the fuck were these questions?
"One moment," and Zip went back into the building.
"What's that about?" Shin asked Savant.
"No idea?" Savant said, scratching his bald metal head.
They all started when an Eliksni scurried out of the door on all six and Shin clenched his fists so he didn't grab his gun. Fucking Eliksni! Then Zip came back out but he no longer wore his helmet, only rebreather. "Friend Savant said you wish to unlock full access on G n' L," Zip said.
"I guess," Shin said.
The Eliksni held out a hand. "I will need to access your account."
Shin slowly pulled out his pockit. "I haven't made an account yet," he said as he handed it over. He had a feeling Magpie had already downloaded it.
"I will make one and open it," Zip said and with great delicacy operated the pockit. As they did they hummed cheerfully to themselves. "What shall your name be?" Zip asked him.
"Uh-
"I got one," and Savant took the pockit and typed something out quickly before handing it back.
"You better not have done something stupid," Shin growled.
"I just put who you are," Savant assured him but in such a way Shin was suspicious.
"You will have to change your password later," Zip said. They fiddled with the pockit for a few moments. "Do you wish for it to be open to adult videos?"
"... Like what?"
"We allow some graphic harm on the app. Many Crucible and Gambit clips are restricted behind this wall. There's also porn."
Shin blinked. "Sorry you allow graphic Crucible kills and porn?"
"Yes."
"Sure? I guess? I assume I can turn it off?"
"Yes. But to turn it on you need admin permission," Zip said. "Our own children use this service so we make them have to come and ask. It keeps them to the filtered videos." Well that was certainly a way to keep your kids from seeing stuff they didn't need to see. "All done," Zip said after a few more moments. They handed Shin back his pockit, "Your account is set up, Hunter Shin," they said nicely.
"Thanks," he said slowly still not sure he even wanted this on his pockit. He looked down at the pockit and checked the profile and- "Savant! I'm going to fucking kill you!"
Savant laughed when Shin did actually lunge at him to grab at his stupid brightly colored coat. They played keep away for about six seconds and then Savant just jumped up and out his reach. "Savant! Get down here so I can beat you up!" Shin said, shaking a fist at him.
"What'd he do?" Eric asked over Savant's laughter as he just floated in the air mockingly.
"He put my fucking username as Man with the Golden Gun," Shin said, furious.
"Oh!"
"I told you I just put it as who you are," Savant said and had landed on top of the array building.
"Fuck you!" and for good measure flipped him off. "Fuck you're so annoying."
"Is this a bad thing?" Zip asked with a nervous chitter.
"Can I change it?" Shin asked.
"... Unfortunately we don't allow that for security reasons," Zip said. Shin groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"What did I miss? Why is friend Savant on the roof?" Another Eliksni who wore the same clothes and rebreather as Zip approached them.
"I believe it is some sort of human friendship ritual of mockery," Zip said.
"Ah. And yes, I brought him." That was when Shin realized the new Eliksni was carrying something in their lower arms.
"Oh bother," Shin groaned as the new Eliksni put the small Eliksni they'd been carrying down.
"Wake up, brother," the new Eliksni said and shook the little Eliksni awake. "Is this the Hunter you keep saying you know?"
Shin frowned and looked down at Gasknir, hands on his belt. How was this kid still bothering him almost a year later? He was never going to be rid of this kid wasn't he? Gasknir rubbed his eyes as he woke up more and finally blinked around at his surroundings. He looked at Eric and then his brother and then at Shin. Shin rolled his eyes when the little Eliksni immediately started squeaking and chirping; "Hunter! Hunter Hunter!"
"How sweet," Eric said as Gasknir ran over to Shin and immediately started tugging on his hand and cape excitedly, dancing around Shin merrily while chanting his name. Shin must have been dead inside because he was absolutely unmoved and just had a grumpy, annoyed, look on his face.
"Kid," he finally said and put his hand on Gasknir's head. "Knock it off." Gasknir stopped dancing but he was still vibrating excitedly and looked like he was an inch away from having a good ole' child scream of excitement. The two big Eliksni were talking in their own language to each other. "Does your dad know you're over here?" Because there wasn't anything else around. Gasknir just cocked his head and he didn't need to know how to read Eliksni faces to understand the way the two adult Eliksni wrung their hands anxiously "Why does this always happen to me?" Shin asked himself quietly.
"He's our brother. He's safe with us," Zip said.
"Why don't I believe you're allowed to watch over a child at all?" And they both nervously wrung their hands again.
"So you going to take him?" Savant asked, having come down from the roof.
Shin rounded on him, this time with a knife. "You're so lucky there's a kid here or I'd fucking stab you," he growled, right in Savant's face.
Savant just smiled. "Don't make me tell Wolf you were flirting with me," and winked at Shin making him recoil.
Fuming Shin just grabbed Gasknir's hand and walked off. Why was this always his problem? About a dozen steps in Gasknir started jumping and before Shin knew what was happening the little Eliksni had crawled up his leg and flank. He stopped walking and repressed a full body shudder and when his hand instinctively touched his holster he found Magpie had just removed the temptation. The little Eliksni was only about as big as a large toddler and didn't weigh very much but Shin didn't have a second set of arms so was forced to either shove him back down or actually hold him. And Shin was a lotta things but he wasn't a monster. Gasknir trilled happily when Shin just held him.
Orion and Ghostie both floated by him and he snatched them both out of the air. He brought them up to his face. "Delete it," he growled so darkly Orion started trembling.
"I didn't even record anything," Ghostie said.
"Make sure this dumb bell deletes it," he told Ghostie.
"Hey, don't be mean to Orion," Savant said and Shin sent Savant a withering look. "Oh, so scary," Savant wasn't impressed at all.
"I deleted it," Orion chirped.
Shin let both Ghosts go. Orion sped over to Savant to hide. Ghostie still just floated around him still. Shin sighed as Gasknir started talking at him, only half of it he could understand. "Where the fuck is your dad?" he grumbled to himself.
"Who knew you were so nice, Shinny," Eric said, walking next to him.
"I'd literally rather be dead," Shin groaned. "I should have just stayed in bed." Eric giggled.
"So what do you even like about smelly old Shin, little guy?" Savant asked Gasknir.
"Cool!" Gasknir cried. "And hood. And coat. Now spiky. Not as spiky as my daddy but spiky spiky spiky," and he was poking at the jagged spikes on his armor. "Papa had hood for me too," and Gasknir was wearing a hood. But he'd worn one before. Now the hood was attached to a little cape.
"So not his stunning personality?" Savant asked.
"Hunter nice," Gasknir chirped. Shin rolled his eyes.
"Debatable," Savant chuckled.
"Where do you live?" Shin butted in as they arrived at the colorful tents.
"Mmm," Gasknir looked around. "Daddy ketch," and he pointed at the other ketch hovering in the sky outside the walls. One was Misraaks' and the other belonged to Shin guessed the Scarred Baron guy.
"... That stupid sibling of yours brought you all the way from a ketch?" Shin groaned and rubbed between his eyes, squeezing the bridge of his nose.
"Evo stupid," Gasknir agreed.
"No wonder they looked very guilty when you questioned them," Eric said.
"Yeah, no shit," Shin growled. "How do we get on a ketch?" he asked either Savant or Eric.
"Beats me. No one's ever been invited on board," Savant said.
"I'm sure there's a teleporter around," Eric said.
Shin sighed and walked down one of the newly paved roads cutting between the tents to the LZ. It had to be around there right? That made the most sense.
Before the LZ, which they'd missed the first time as they'd gone the other way to the array station, was some large central planning tent with open sides. There was a holographic table in the middle of the tent and Misraaks was there along with several other Eliksni he didn't recognize. "Oh! Oh aunty," Gasknir pointed at the massive Eliksni in the tent.
"I bet she's more reliable than Zip and Evo," Eric said.
"Bet she can tell Viksis his kid isn't fucking lost," Shin grumbled and went over to the tent.
"Aunty aunty!" Gasknir cried when they entered the tent.
"Sorry for the distraction," Savant said quickly.
"Oh! That is where you got to," the huge Eliksni said and Shin stared at her. He recognized that voice. It was slightly pitched up but it sounded just like Castaway. It even had the weird, of all things, slight Italian accent to it. She moved away from the holographic table over to him.
"We were just about to send someone to come looking for you. How did you get down here? Papa's worried sick," another female Eliksni Shin didn't recognize said.
"Evo borrowed me," Gasknir said and let his huge aunt take him from Shin. "This Hunter Shin. Friend friend," he pointed urgently at Shin from his aunt's lower arms.
"Is that so?" his aunt asked, eyeing Shin. "Doesn't look the type."
"I'm not," Shin declared, exasperated. The adults all laughed.
"I'll tell Viksis you are safe and found. He can scold Evoldar later," Gasknir's aunt said as she held him securely in her lower arms. Shin couldn't get over how much she sounded like Castaway. It was seriously freaking him out.
"Well we'll get out of your way then," Eric said and she and Savant stepped out. Shin was about to follow them but stopped briefly.
"Sorry. This might be a weird and difficult question but do you have like a brother or maybe a close sibling?" Shin asked Gasknir's aunt.
Her blue eyes narrowed but she didn't answer in hostility. "I did. My fool of a twin brother. He's dead."
"Did... Guardians get him?"
"No. It was the Vex."
"Oh. Well I'm sorry for your loss," Shin said but was honestly relieved. He already had one New Light attached to him with killed-by-Guardians trauma. Didn't need another!
"Why do you ask?" she asked him, curious.
Shin's mouth worked for a few seconds uselessly trying to figure out what to say. "It's a very complicated series of events," he said at last. "I just recognize your voice."
"Hmm. Surprised a human can tell us apart."
"Some Guardians are very good at it," Misraaks objected. "They do not think we all look the same."
"Anyway bye," and Shin left quickly before he could be further questioned.
"You good?" Eric asked him.
"Yeah I just-- now what?" he groaned when Magpie floated up next to him and spoke softly into his ear.
"Crow wants to see you."
"Fucking of course," Shin smacked his hand to his face. First normal day back from the insanity of the Throne World and every person he'd ever met needed his attention! What was next? All the shades were going to show up and start mocking him individually?!
"What?" Savant asked.
"I need to get back to the Tower. A friend wants to see me."
"Wow you have other friends than us?" Savant asked, fake shocked.
"Thankfully," Shin growled.
Eric giggled. "Okay. I'll drop you back off at the Tower then me and Savant are going back to the Gap."
"Great," Shin grumbled and they were all transmatted back to Eric's ship. She dropped him off on the Hanger side as requested and Shin took no time in breaking into the H.E.L.M. Wasn't hard after all. "So where's Crow?" Because he wasn't in his usual spot.
"In his room," Magpie said and Shin went over to the room he'd once dumped a very drunk and touchy feely Crow into and knocked.
No answer. Shin knocked again. "Oi! Kid, you wanted to see me?" he called. The door opened slowly and Shin stared. "Shit, are you okay?" Had Crow been crying? Without asking he just entered the room.
"I fucked up," Crow said quietly.
"What'd you do?" And Shin was surprised when Crow hugged him. "Dude what did you do?" He patted Crow's back awkwardly. Shin wasn't really a hugger unless it was with Wolf.
Crow took a step back and sat on his bed, thousand yard stare on his face. "I just wanted them to stop suffering," he said softly.
Shin was over it and grabbed Crow by the chin, making him look at him. "What did you do?" he asked sternly.
"I terminated the program letting the psion access the minds of the Lucent Hive down there," Crow said and looked down. "I didn't do it right. It fried the psion and the Hive."
Shin let him go. He stood there in uneasy silence. "Who else knows?"
"Everyone. I was hoping to avoid a lecture from someone," Crow said softly, looking at the floor.
Shin rubbed his face with both hands. "Kid. What in the Traveler's name were you thinking?"
"I just didn't want them to suffer," Crow insisted. "And I watched them terminate the program before to no ill effects. I thought I'd done it right. And now it's all fucked up," he wiped an eye.
"What is?"
"It was one of Caiatl's favored psions. She wanted my life."
"Well you're still breathing."
"Saladin stepped in and offered himself instead," Crow said softly.
"Huh!? Really? That's shockingly noble," Shin said. "You sure it was Saladin?"
"Yeah?" Crow looked up at Shin confused.
"Just seems to uncharacteristic to his self importance," Shin said simply. "So what? Caiatl get his Ghost?"
"No. He's just... he's Cabal now."
"Well if that ain't poetic irony I don't know what is."
"What?"
"Dude hates aliens. Now he's working for them. That was a pretty selfless thing he did."
"You're taking this a lot better than Wolf did," Crow mumbled.
"What? She yell at'cha?"
"No," he looked down.
"She said she was disappointed," Glint said helpfully.
"And implied she didn't trust me," Crow said quietly.
"She'll get over it," Shin said.
Crow looked up at him miserably. "How do you know that?"
"Because I was gone seven months after a major fuck up and we're still together? Girl is full of forgiveness, especially to people she cares about. And she cares about you a lot. She wouldn't have put her neck out there for you as much as she has if she didn't."
"I know," Crow said. "That's why it's so frustrating. Zavala doesn't trust me either and Ikora I know barely ever did."
Shin put a hand on his belt. "What'd you call me for Crow? I am not here to indulge your self pitying behavior. I know that's easy and trust me I've done it but I ain't doing it for you."
"I just... wanted to know not all my friends were angry with me," Crow said. "I know you're too blasé to worry about Saladin or the feelings of the Cabal."
"I'm not really in any position to be mad at you for an absolutely stellar fuck up," Shin said. "I've made plenty but I like to think I've learned from them. What'd you learn from this?"
"Let the Cabal turn off their own torture devices," Crow bemoaned.
"Anything else?"
"I'm an idiot?"
"Fucking bingo," Shin gave him a finger gun point. Crow sighed and sniffed, wiping his nose with his sleeve. "Magpie," his brown shelled Ghost floated out of its pouch. "Where's Wolf?"
He was quiet for a moment before speaking to Shin quietly. "Ghost says she's handling the fallout of this." Yeah that made sense.
"Right. Hey Crow want to go play Crucible?"
"... What?" Crow asked, wiping his nose and looking up at him in confusion.
"Some of my friends are playing Crucible right now and its always more fun to run in a six stack," Shin said. "Give you a chance to wear that fucking helmet you never fucking wear."
"Just like that?" Crow asked.
"I got no stones to throw, kid. I got enough notches on my belt to piss off half the Praxic Order and a good amount of Guardians. Now you going to wallow in self pity like a bitch or you going to come and play Crucible with me and my friends?"
Crow looked at Glint. "You should," Glint said helpfully.
Crow looked up at Shin again and nodded. "Great. You got a ship?"
"Yeah."
"Even better. Mine's in use. Let's get out to the Gap," and he offered Crow a hand up. He hauled Crow to his feet. "Glint make sure you bring his helmet," he added.
"I got it!" Glint assured Shin. "And Radiant Accipiter is waiting just above the Tower for us."
"Radiant Accipiter?" Shin asked. "That's a stupid name for a ship," even as Magpie transmatted him out.