Work Text:
Splicer - May
~
Sinatra barely recognized the hunter as the buzz and rumor of Eliksni coming to live in the last city were just perking the ears of its residents. The titan realized he must have been staring when he caught Goldie’s look, and felt his chest tighten as the hunter turned and began to walk away. He hesitated before following, suddenly unsure if it was really him.
“Goldie-”
“No-”
The single word was like a punch to the gut. “You leave for months without so much as a goodbye, and-”
He stopped himself, seeing the hunter flinch back from his outstretched hand. Sinatra found himself frozen in that moment as Goldie melted back into the crowd.
~
The next time he saw Goldie was a week later, uncharacteristically subdued armor at least cleaned this time around. Sinatra hemmed and hawed before pulling himself together as he approached, pulling his helmet off. The hunter barely looked up.
But at least he wasn’t bolting this time.
“A warlock friend of ours once told me the only way to work through a problem with someone is to talk it out,” he started, not letting himself halt. “I don’t believe she’s entirely right, of course, otherwise the Crucible wouldn’t exist. But with that said…”
He trailed off as Goldie looked over, expression stony. He sighed and leaned against the wall, half expecting the hunter to disappear again. “So talk to me.”
“And if I’m not in a talking mood?”
“Then let me get you dinner and a drink,” Sinatra was quick to answer, “Your armor is hanging off of you- when was the last time you ate?”
The fact Goldie was having to consider a response weighed heavily on the titan’s mind. The noncommittal shrug did not help matters. “Come on,” he continued, hesitating before offering his hand. Goldie shied back from the gesture, looking for something on Sinatra’s face that the Awoken himself could not have known. “It’s the least I could do.”
The hunter’s mouth was forming a rebuttal that went unsaid as he seemed to think better of it. He didn’t take Sinatra’s hand, but straightened and cleared his throat. “Where?”
“Wherever you’d like.”
The titan found himself with Goldie in a ramen shop not too far away not too long after, the younger guardian working through a third bowl as Sinatra scrutinized him. “Where’s Locke?” He finally asked. He wouldn’t admit he feared the worst.
“Back on the ship,” he replied curtly, mouth full. Sinatra relaxed.
“She doing well?”
“Guess so.”
“Have you checked in with her to make sure?”
Goldie hesitated before nodding.
“And you?”
The hunter’s look darkened, shoveling more food into his mouth.
“... Is it a problem with me?”
“Wh- no-?”
“Then what’s-”
“-Sin’. I’m not talking about it. Not… Not talking about, it- I can’t,”
Sinatra rolled the answer around in his mind before it rolled down to his tongue as a response. “Mission?” He squinted at Goldie’s pause before the slight nod.
“Let’s go with that.”
The titan raised his hands and looked at the floor. “All you had to say.”
Sinatra ordered a second bowl. They ate in silence, Sinatra turning over his next comment before speaking again. “I… Would’ve appreciated a heads up- not the first time a friend’s walked out unexpectedly on me.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Goldie replied coldly. The titan winced and sat back, rubbing the back of his neck.
“You back for good-? Or…”
“I don’t know. Maybe,” he waited a beat before sighing. “Probably.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Could use a hand out on patrols, since Hendrix’s found that Europa crew he’s been running with. You remember Chapel, yeah?”
“Lil’ bit. Think I heard something from Hendrix himself about that titan they picked up before -” Goldie cut himself off, nose wrinkling. “... Yeah.”
Sinatra stayed quiet to let the hunter eat for a while longer.
“... I did miss you, y’know.”
Goldie slowly lowered the bowl, sucking the last couple noodles before sniffing and wiping his nose. “Oh.”
“Did… You not think I would?”
“I don’t know what I thought, or what I was thinking,” Goldie replied too quickly. He sighed and continued to rub his face, wincing as he ran two fingers over the scar on his lip. Sinatra backed off.
“I… Didn’t mean for it to come out that way-”
“-No, it’s fine,” he sighed. “I’ve just had… A rough past couple months.”
“... Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look it.”
Goldie scoffed, leaning back and looking out the window. “Yeah.”
“... Well, if you need a break from tackling Vanguard field missions, I’m sure Vel would appreciate some help with some of her research…?”
“... Yeah, that… I may reach out.”
Sinatra nodded and went quiet again, watching Goldie order another bowl. The titan ordered two drinks as well, stacking the empty containers. “If… there is anything that I can do-”
“-Yeah,” Goldie cut him off. “Thanks for the lunch.”
“I mean it, okay? You… We care about you, you know that- right?”
The hunter pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. “Yeah. Sorry. Gonna… Gonna be a while.”
“... Take all the time you need, Goldie.”
“Yeah.”
The drinks and food order arrived, and after taking a swig Goldie continued to chow down. And they both stayed quiet, Sinatra keeping his attention outside and not pressing on any conversation. The hunter finished the final bowl and sighed, scratching his jaw and not making eye contact.
“... Thanks again. I’ll… I’ll let you know if I’m available for, ah… Any fieldwork.”
“Comms are always open,”
“... Yeah.”
Goldie stayed for another few moments before pushing away from the table, pulling his cloak a bit closer, and moving out the door.