Chapter Text
( this was the song I had on repeat while writing Btw )
The battle had finally been won. for the time being that is. they all knew that there would still be threats in the future, but with the Witness dead they would no longer have to fear it being the end of all they knew. they would finally be able to work towards the future they all so dearly longed for and had been fighting their whole existence for.
whilst the guardian had barely made it out a live,had her ghost not sacrificed himself for her to win the battle, she might not be here. once again her mentor Cayde having given one last blessing before finally returning to his place of rest to be one with his Sundance again. back to the light from which he came. having given the last of his light to revive her ghost.
The entire floor of one of the Tower infirmary wards had been closed off to everyone except the hidden and the Coalition. as the guardian wasn't the only one who needed tending to, but was the one who needed the most rest. and her ghost still couldn't heal her completely. he was helping the doctors as he went and doing what he could, but was also recovering himself. one end of the hall was completely littered with flowers and gifts and get well soon and thank you cards that the nurses and hidden would have to rotate them out regularly to make more room so the walk way was clear.
standing in the hall just out side the Guardians door was the Vanguard, Ikora Rey, Zavala, and her Exo friend Ajax with his arms folded talking hushed tone. his ghost hovering over his shoulder with the other guardians before they all looked up as the sounds of clicking boots and heels approaching as Petra and the Queen made their way toward them in a hurried manner. "how is she?" The Queen asked as they all broke their huddle to face and greet her looking behind at the small squad of corsair and fellow Queens guards that had accompanied her, lining the hallway which allowed the Hidden take a break even. if it wasn't really a choice.
"she's stable, just banged up. . ." Ikora answered as she looked worried through the window of the room at the unconscious guardian that had given everything for them to be standing here.
Mara narrowed her eyes a moment in concern " Now's not the time to start withholding information from each other Ikora, we've all come too far; if there is something I should know, please do tell."
Ikora snapped out of her thoughts and looked to Mara and pursed her lips and sighed sadly "but— they don't know when she'll wake up. ghost has been helping as he can, but he is also recovering and is still a little weak from the fight."
Mara clenched her jaw attempting to keep her mask of neutrality and not let the fear and worry rise to the surface. "I see. . .if you guys would like a break or have things to tend to you may do so. Petra, the corsairs and Myself will cover for you and are at you disposal to help alleviate the work load where needed. all you need is ask." she nodded and hoped her false confidence will not only hide her anxiety but help reassure them as well.
the Vanguard both look at each other then nod as a subtle but visible look of relief washed over them both.
"that goes for you as well Ajax we can sleep in shifts. you need your rest as well." Petra smiles to the Tall Exo still in his battle scarred armor littered with singe marks and his Titan mark on his hip, all but torn beyond repair.
"Thanks. I'm good for now but I could use some caff if your volunteering." he said making a questioning motion with his hand as he walked to the small coffee dispenser a short ways down the other end of the hall.
"feel free to check in on her we've all already gone. the med team said talking to them when they're like this can help them recover and encourage them to wake. " Zavala mentions solemnly but hopeful tinge in his tone. as Ikora places a small hand on the Queens shoulder offering a sad smile "shell come to, you'll see. . ." before walking off to tend to other things behind Zavala
"Petra."
"yes, your grace."
"you and AJax are not to move from this door, is that clear?"
"of course, your grace." Petra salutes, her fist over her chest with a small bow as Ajax returns his warm kind voice encouraging Mara as he gives Petra cup of coffee as well.
" go head I'm sure she'd appreciate any words of encouragement and be happy to hear your voice, even if she's unconscious." he smiles tilting his head to the door of the Room with the sleeping guardian inside.
Mara nods" of course. . . I'll be but a moment." before entering the room as Petra gently closes the door behind her to give them more privacy.
the Queen stands over the Guardian in the hospital bed her brows bunched in worry as her mask finally falls off and her emotions floods her face, having never seen the Guardian THIS weak before. Everyone had long left for the night or was busy tending to wounded or helping clean up and organizing. All that was left now were the Guardians Exo friend, Ajax-7, in the hall with Petra sharing their own Hushed conversation and catching up.
The Queen couldn't help but stare as her hand hovered over the Guardians arm and shoulder. Trembling ever so lightly before she stopped her hand falling to grip the small rail of the flat medical bed, that appears at first glance to be floating from the wall but was attached to a sturdy, curved stand of a bigger machine that hummed softly and beeped every so often with blinking lights all over it.
She was so used to seeing the Guardian so stern faced, and hard to read, at least when she wasn't laughing with a sly smirk at a witty comment.
but now. . .
As horrible as it was to see them in such beat up shape in a hospital bed, they also appeared to be the most at peace she had seen them in. well ever. the Queen tilted her head finding her self lost as the thought she just had in mild confusion before sighing as her eye widened a moment looking off in the distance before they fell back to the Guardian.
She enjoyed the thought of having such a privilege to be trusted enough to see her in such a state. Mara scoffs at her self and moves her hand to pet the side of the Guardians head gently pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and leaning over to kiss her forehead gently. she stayed like that a moment. letting the kiss linger a moment as she closed her eyes and Breathed deep. whispering to her self, "Come back to me, my wolf. it is not your time yet. We both know you are far too stubborn to give up now." before she makes her leave.
and so for the next week or two the Coalition would each all take turns watching over the guardian, the Queen doing he part as well a Ajax and Petra regularly finding a routine together. the Queen would return with a book and Petra would stand guard with Ajax out side sharing a coffee as the Queen sat and waited. watching over her most loyal of Guards and Friends. Hoping for them to wake soon. every week changing the flowers in the room sitting in the silence beside the Sleeping Guardian.
approximately 3 weeks later:
the ghost sat hovering over the Queens shoulder reading with her before perking up and flying over to the guardian and scanning them quickly. as the guardian began to shift and groan softly as they began to stir from their sleep.
the guardian felt like a stone at the bottom of a lake. stiff and heavy. every ounce of her being felt as if she was being risen for the first time again. her body alit with aches and pain and sore as if every fiber had been pulled apart and snapped back together in an instant. "urgh. mhmmf,"
the guardian winced as she slowly tried to clench her fists and stretch her fingers and struggled to open her eyes as she fluttered her eyes a soft beam of light over her face from the window. her left arm lifting to block it out as her right lifted to rub the sand from the corner of he eyes. before sitting up further in the bed. "you're finally awake! you actually back!" her ghost said in excitement zipping around her making her huff in amusement and wince as she chuckled in confusion" what are you talking about moon beam I wasn't out that long besides you're the one that rezzed me what—"
her ghost nuzzled himself against her head making her stop and carefully lift her hand and held him close smileing "what's got into you buddy ? what happened?" before she looked over and saw a familiar Awoken Queen standing in shock as she dropped the book she was reading to the ground as she held a hand to her chest wide eyed the sound causing both Ajax and Petra to rush in
"My Queen?! is something-. oh. oh oh my I'll get the doctors right away. " Petra looked in shock at the guardian as well before running to get some doctors as Ajax rushed to the other side of the bed "holy shit girl you had us worried for bit there." he said hugging her, all but crushing her as she winced and coughed tapping The Exos large arms around her shoulders.
"ah oof, ahem. thanks buddy but what are you talking about I was only out a few minutes . . . I jus-"
"3 weeks."
as Ajax apologized pulling away Mara interrupted the Guardian. "you were out for 3 weeks. Guardian. . ." the Queen swallowed thickly as the Hunter in the bed before her had a wave of every emotion cross her face in confusion and shock.
"no, hah, no that- that can't be right we were in the traveler. we. . . we Did kill The Witness right? we won? didn't we?" she asked panicked in horror and confused before the Queen made her way and gingerly placed a hand on the guardians shoulder to calm her and nodded "yes, we won. but, you collapsed after Crow and I picked you up, as you were running from the Witness' forces. . ."
"you were leading the fight, ghost saved you, Cayde saved ghost then you got ran off after by what must have been remnant's of nightmares and collapsed shortly after defeating the witness When Mara and Crow found you." Ajax clarified as the Guardian sat back, listening intently as she pieced together the gaps in her memory.
that's when they heard a hurried shuffling outside the causing Mara to take a few steps back to let the medical team do their job as Petra returned with Crow and the rest of the Vanguard. making a quiet leave of the now very crowded room. taking a small walk with some of her guard till things calmed down.
after the check ups and a few drawing of blood and other tests and all the doctors pestering poking and and shining things in her eyes. as Crow was leaving last with the vanguard to leave, the guardian stopped him.
"Crow. . ."
the Awoken man turned lifting a brow "yes guardian?" he said mildly confused. the tiny bit of Uldren left in him, buried in the back of his mind, worried he'd done something to offend them again but pushed it down.
"thank you. . . I- you saved my life. you and your sister both, but especially you. I wouldn't have made it out of there had you not showed up. so. . . thank you."
crow stopped a moment and huffed shaking his head "don't mention it, it was the least I could do after everything you've done for me. even when you probably shouldn't have. besides I'm not sure I'd hear the end of it from Mara or be able to forgive my self if something happened to the savior of Sol if I didn't at least Try."
his tone shifted to a more teasing and joking manner. one that she had grown accustomed to and had grown on her over the years of him proving himself, not with word, but action that he was not the man Uldren used to be, but a person all his own. and one she's proud to see as the new hunter Vanguard.
The guardians smirked and chuckled "regardless I will forever be in your debt for this one, just try not to abuse it." she joked back wincing at the implied favor.
"you have my word, besides you're on bed rest till further notice, doctors orders." he winked and left the room leaving just Ajax and the guardian behind.
the guardian sighed heavily and laid back in her bed wincing from, the movement as she sighed from all the excitment.
"you know the whole damn city nearly showed up when you got here? the guards and nurses nearly filled the stock room down the hall with how many flowers you got. " Ajax said softly arms crossed leaning near the window over looking the city in the distance.
the guardian simply rolled her eyes and winced as she got up weakly, stumbling her way to the window next to him with some help. "pft! now they care. after it's done and over is when they finally give a shit. " she scoff making her Exo friend hum and gruff in turn.
"hmm. you know, not all of them are like that, some of them revere you. I mean you are the big hero, savior of humanity after all. . ."he said dead pan as the two stared at each other a moment. before small smile broke on their faces and they laughed "I don't ever wanna hear that come from your dumb voice box ever again ." the Hunter said wincing as she wiped a tear of joy from her eye as she held her stomach
"yea well. . . even still. don't scare us like that again— I mean it." the Exo's posture stiffened a bit as he stared out the window. The light of his eye a little dimmer than before as the Guardian stared at him realizing. he was scared. the Hunter was pretty sure if an Exo could shed tears he might have had one in his eye just then.
the guardian sighed and looked down at their feet."I'm sorry. " she said feeling guilty for making her friend worry but also for finally realizing. Perhaps a part of her had almost wished, maybe she didn't wanna make it back from that fight.
the peace, Cayde mentioned. she felt it for a moment. as tired as she was and as much as she yearned for that feeling to wash over her again she knew it wasn't worth it. not yet. she wasn't ready. not yet. she had to see what they could achieve now that they didn't have the witness and second fall of humanity and the universe looming over head.
"don't be. you here now. we all are and its over. you can rest now. enjoy the down time for a bit. focus on recovering. because I know you are not gonna stay cooped up for long"
the Guardian huffed smiling and winced again before nodding and "yea, that's actually probably a good idea " as she slowly limped her way back to her bed. "I'll be on watch duty with Petra tonight. I'm sure the Queen will be stopping by for a visit as well. she uh- well don't tell her I told you but, she hasn't really left your side much. shes been here everyday after what ever it is Queens do and would just sit and read and change the flowers sometimes."
the Hunters brows furrowed in confusions for a moment before lifting a brow in shock. "well I suppose, much like the vanguard, shes just checking on her pet." she chuckled only half joking.
Ajax guffawed at her comment shaking his head "oh, I wouldn't let her hear you say that! "
just as he was heading to open the door the Queen was standing there her eye narrowed, her head held high and her hands folded in front of her holding book as she challenged the titan that cleared a whole foot and a half taller than the Queen "say what exactly?" she hummed lifting a brow as the Exo straightened and bowed holding the door for Mara as she entered the room as if it were her own. making the guardian smirk and cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"thank you Ajax, I'll see you later. try not to give Petra too much trouble, alright? " she smiled as Ajax struggled to find words when faced with the Queen her self, making the guardian laugh more as he exited before he busted a fuse from embarrassment "that's my cue, have a good evening ladies- uh, your grace. " he bowed as he closed the door behind him and the guardian playing with the hem of her hospital blanket on her lap .
"excuse the big guy, your grace, he's harmless. well, mostly harmless." she teased as the Queen found her self perched back in the chair, legs crossed as she tapped a finger on the book a few times "yes, so it would seem." The Queen glanced between the small crack blinds and window at the two outside " he and Petra seem to be fond of each other, or at least enjoy bonding over you." Mara said trying to hide any Jealousy that might creep into her demeanor. the guardian laughed again before coughing and curling in on her self as pain shocked it's way through her body form the laughter.
she held up a hand as the Queen shifted about to get up as if on instinct "I'll be fine just can't laugh too hard, still bruised up." as the guardian slowed her breathing and as the coughing calmed the continued. "they don't get to work together as often, but they're definitely entertaining to see in field, I will say that." the Queen sighed leaning back in her chair fighting the urge to help the guardian back to bed, but she also didn't want to over step." I'm glad they're here. Ajax was a given. but I wasn't actually expecting Petra I definitely wasn't expecting the Queen of the Awoken her self either. . ."
she chewed her lip a bit before lifting her brows at the Queen, who had opened her book again and began finding where she had left off. as she narrowed her eyes at the smirking Guardian fighting every part of herself from returning the smile and breaking her facade.
"I'm simply doing my part as a member of the coalition. but . . . I was also worried about a member of my guard.. . and a friend " her voice trailed off a bit at the end growing bit softer as she turned her gaze back to the book pretending to continue reading, ignoring the grin of the hunter in their bed.
"of course your majesty. . . I understand." they said in a slightly teasing tone that the Queen chose not to acknowledge, "it's an honor to have you call me friend." the Queen finally looked up slowly at the guardian unsure how to react not expecting it. so she simply gave a small nod and her professional smile as she does in her court and returned to her book
"uhm. if I may ask, one friend to another, what book are you reading?"
the Queen suddenly felt the heat rise in her cheeks not expecting the conversation. she had been there every evening doing the same thing but now the guardian was awake and it almost made her nervous.
almost.
Mara looked at the cover before answering and smiling "it is a collection of Awoken short stories. not much different than that of your peoples Edgar Allen Poe or other classical writers before the golden age." she said
the Guardian perked up a bit and her eyes brightened for the first time in a long time. which made the Queen stare longer than shed have liked "oh I love Poe's work!" before blushing at the sudden out burst and trying to compose her self again "I- well I used to anyways. I haven't had much time to read, much less the motivation to do so as of late. I didn't exactly get a chance to pack before I left for the portal."
Mara smiled a bit "yes. I find the style of writing very satisfying and intriguing to say the least."
the Guardian hesitated a moment debating with her self before softly telling her self
fuck it.
"uhm... May I ask a favor of The Queen, as a friend of course." she teased trying to hide her embarrassment as Mara tilted her head curiously she wasn't going to turn down the guardian now of all times. not after seeing the glimpse of giddy joy at the mention of her favorite fictional works.
"perhaps, what is it my Queens Guard." she said absent mindedly as she turned the page before meeting the guardians eyes again. this time her heart skipped a beat as she saw the guardian bite their lip a blush creeping on their face and their eyes bright as the warm lamp on their bed side table illuminated them perfecting as if they reflected the stars themselves. A stormy gray, like moonlight that seemed to swirl with the warm orange glow of the lamp as if dancing with the sun.
"would your grace be so kind as to, share the story with me." she smiled slowly at the Queen, her heart racing as she asked the question. the Queens pale, blue eyes seemed to glow a little brighter covered by the shadow as her lamp fall just short, only giving light to the book it's self in Mara's hands.
Mara hesitated a moment before smiling softly "I don't see why not." before she returned her eyes to the pages and began reciting the book aloud, just enough for the guardian to hear till they fell asleep.
and thus for the next few weeks the Two found comfort in this routine. As the sun went down and the Queen would come to the their room and read to them till they fell fast asleep to the lull of her voice. eventually the Queen would find her self sitting in the bed with the guardian as they would want to occasionally read over their shoulder. and she could not find the means to deny them.
one night, as the Sleeping Hunter had peacefully rested against her shoulder. Mara couldn't help but find her self staring as she felt her heart flutter, making her self curse at her self under her breath. realizing she hadn't seen the guardian so at peace. she wanted to see more. to be able to give them that peace. but a part of her was also afraid. the last time she had someone fall asleep to her reading like this, she found them dead, nothing but a strange coin on their body. with only a lonely tree as remembrance in the dreaming city and a statue consumed in the void of the ascendant plane never to be seen.
it made her nervous to say the least. But this was not then. then was not now. and the Guardian beside them was not Sjur Eido. and she was not the same Queen as she was before, not the same Marasenna.
perhaps. . .
she gently move from the bed as not to disturb the guardian and she tisked her tongue at her self and covered the guardian up and kissed their head gently "welcome home. . . my wolf." as she made her leave for the night determined to give the Wolf the peace she had earned.