I don't own Destiny.

Cayde paced back and forth in the vanguard room. The last he had seen or heard of Ashura was weeks ago when she had taken Petra and left. He was worried about her. "Cayde, are you alright?" Ikora asked and he looked up at her from where he was pacing in circles. "I know... It is stressful... you have to understand she has the best interests in mind here, so do not fret my friend." She said but he continued his pacing. "What if something happened? What if she found him? They are fighting the fallen...I'm not just worried... or fretting... I'm terrified. The Lucky seven have been coming and going, but I haven't heard anything from her in weeks." Cayde snapped and Ikora watched him with sad eyes.

Zavala and Nina stood at the end of the table, watching him as he paced. "Nina... you haven't heard anything that could rest his worry have you?" Ikora asked the awoken woman, who shook her head and limped around the table. Her right arm was gone and she had it bound tightly, while her left foot was in a brace. "After Skolas began his escape, I chased him down. I fought as hard as I could, but after he ripped my arm from me, I was useless. I haven't been back to the Vestian Outpost since." She said and Zavala placed a hand on her left shoulder and she looked over at him. He offered her a small nod and she looked back to Cayde who was pacing around once more.

"Wait! You have to check in at the dock! You can't just park your damn ship in the plaza dammit!" Amanda Holliday was heard yelling, followed by laughter and chatter of many guardians. Two steps of footsteps were heard and the chatter only increased amongst the guardians. Cayde, Zavala, and Ikora exchanged glances. Once they each nodded, they rushed out to see what was going on. Cayde shoved through the crowd roughly when he saw the large awoken ship parked right on the lower steps of the plaza. Two figures stood before the crowd. One was male and one was female. The male he knew exactly who that was... Uldren.

The woman was clothed in the familiar armor of the awoken, but it was black and white, rather than purple and it more so resembled the Crow-like appearance of the man beside her. The helmet faded from sight and a familiar face was smiling back at him. He shoved the rest of the way through the crowd to get to her. Cayde was caught off guard by the armor she wore, representing the reef. He looked her over and wanted nothing more than to hug her and ask her what was going on. He knew deep down he was losing her to the awoken and it honestly was killing him inside. She looked up at him with those shining silver eyes and he felt so helpless in her gaze.

He felt like he had lost her to the awoken man before him... Well... that's what he had thought before she fell to her knees before him. She bowed down and outstretched her hands as she adjusted to sit on her feet. A familiar cloak formed in her outstretched hands and his eyes went wide as he realized whose cloak it was. The sheer length alone, and then the color of it. "Taniks..." he had barely managed to get the word out. He crouched before her and gently grabbed the cloak from her outstretched hands. He looked it over, seeing the tears in it from her knives. He hit his knees before her and stared at it once more before he dropped it and hugged her to him tightly. This seemed to surprise everyone around them, even Uldren.

"Dammit Ashura, you foolish little woman..." he growled out, but she only smiled at him and hugged him back tightly. "You said you wouldn't go without me..." he grumbled and she smiled at him as he leaned back a little bit. "You were with me Cayde..." she whispered as she pulled the hand cannon she had been carrying when she fought Taniks. It was the first hand cannon he had ever given her. It was painted to reflect the image of his own Ace of Spades. He hugged her once more and she hugged him back just as tightly.

"Cayde..." she began softly and he leaned away to look at her. "Hmm?" "Can you promise me something?" she asked and he rocked his head in an iffy manner. "Will you grow old with me?" she asked and he watched her for a moment. It was such an odd question to ask an Exo... but he understood the significance of it. Grow old with her... become elder guardians in a sense... those who are well respected among the younger generations of guardians... not that he wasn't one already. He understood she wanted to be like him and that was why he nodded.

"Of course, Ashura... I think I can do that for you. As long as you never forget the reason." He said as he helped her to her feet. "Cayde... My reason is because you are human too." She whispered as she turned away from him, holding a hand out to the man that arrived with her. No... he hadn't lost her to the man, she would always be his best friend... but she had found her Ivara. He thought this over as his beloved ghost hovered around him. He watched as the man grasped her hand so gently, as if she were glass. Cayde couldn't help the amusement that escaped him at this. "Man, you and I both know she isn't fragile." He joked and Uldren smirked. "Oh... Ashura... You didn't tell me you already had a boyfriend." He said and she blinked up at him in confusion.

Cayde chuckled and joined in on the taunting. "Yeah, I mean... I thought I was your one and only. Now you show up with some other dude?" Cayde said in a dejected tone and she lost all amusement for the situation. "Look here you damn metal unicorn. I was never dating you. You were the one jealous from the moment you found he even set a hand on me when we first visited the reef." She bit back and Uldren couldn't help the smirk that crossed his lips this time. "Oh, so you thought you were a challenge to me?" he mused to Cayde who stepped up to be face to face with him. "Man, I can't help it I have stunningly good looks, and then I have a sense of humor to boot... I am one hell of a catch. I mean, if Ashura would give me the chance to prove it, I'm sure once she's had me she'll never come running back..." Cayde said defiantly, and Uldren leaned forwards to defend himself and Ashura grabbed each male by their cloaks and yanked them down to her level.

"Enough. If you wanna continue this testosterone versus oil fest later, that will be fine. But right now, Cayde... In your dreams. And uldren... you keep it up with my mentor and you'll be dreaming too." She snapped and released the taller males. Uldren only smirked as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. "Now, you have another job to do." Ashura ordered, using her new mechanical arms to pry the offending hand from her hip.

"Go." she urged, seeing Zavala and Nina standing in the crowd as well. Uldren nodded and pulled the case from the ship, only to walk back to Ashura and motion for Nina to come to him. She stepped up to him and he motioned for her to unwrap her shoulder. When she did, it was revealed that there was a metal connection plate already previously embedded into the stump. Uldren had already been working on helping her. He crouched before her and opened the case he had pulled from the ship revealing a cybernetic limb like Ashura's leg. She crouched before him, but he made her stand. "Nina, you are not to bow to me." He said and she looked at him in confusion.

"The queen and I have decided that it is of our best interest and your own if we leave you here in the tower. It seems you fare well here." He said as he urged her to stand, only to begin working on securing the limb into place. It didn't take long before he was finished and she began trying to use the limb. Ashura smiled when he backed away from Nina and watched her using the limb with excited eyes. "My prince, thank you." she said and he shook his head. "You must forgive me, but it was not my idea." He said and jerked his head to motion for Ashura. Nina rushed over and hugged Ashura, only to whisper something in her ear, what it was, Cayde didn't know. However, from the look of it... Ashura didn't like it.

Uldren was watching the two and it seemed that he saw the sadness seep into Ashura's eyes as well. Uldren placed a hand on Ashura's shoulder and she looked up at him and whispered something. He nodded and looked directly at Cayde. "I am afraid we must depart. Something of grand importance has to be handled." Uldren said and escorted Ashura into the ship. Cayde turned to face the crowd who was still murmuring amongst themselves. "Yeah yeah yeah. We get it. Ashura is with the Prince of the Reef. Come on guys get a move on. Disperse." Cayde grumbled and Zavala began urging them to disperse as well.

"Cayde, what is wrong?" Zavala asked him and Cayde sighed as he turned to face his friend. "She is still injured and clearly doesn't know how to fully control her cybernetics." He said and Zavala nodded. "I take it you haven't seen the footage the crows took..." Nina whispered and both Zavala and Cayde looked at her in confusion. "Come let me show you the damage that was done to her." She said as she pulled a small beacon from the pocket of her pants. A small crow landed on her shoulder and blinked up at her. "Lets show them, shall we?" Nina asked the bird, who opened its mouth to project the video that startled them all.

"My student... has endured much pain..." Eris whispered from behind them, seeing the young woman talking to the crow and formulating plans with it. The video had gathered the attention of multiple bystanders. Shaxx was included in the group that had gathered to watch the video. It got to the part where Ashura encountered Taniks for the first time and Ikora had to take a step back. "She held herself well... I' m not sure I could have faced him like that." She whispered and Shaxx chuckled. "She hides her fear well." he commended and Zavala nodded.

That was also the moment Loki and Lion had made their way into the room, just as Taniks had slammed his hands down to try and intimidate her. The seething rage that was felt from Loki seemed to be directed towards Lion. This only intensified when she was caught within his grasp. Loki walked right up to the crow and glared angrily at the video before him. When it got to the part where she was trying to dissuade Colt from attacking the much larger fallen, if Cayde had skin he would have had goosebumps. The sheer rage and anger she was screeching at the large fallen when he had killed the small dreg was so... terrifying.

"Where did she learn to fight that way?" Loki asked, seeing Ashura fighting off fallen with her bare hands to get to Taniks once more. "I am going to assume Uldren." Cayde said and Lion nodded. "If you think she is the one we need to worry about... you are wrong." Nina said as the lights began flickering in the footage. it was hard to see what was going on at first, but when the crow homed in on the person who had just entered the room, chills fell down Ikora's spine.

"What the hell was that?" She managed and Nina looked over at her. "I don't know. I don't think he knows either, but he is terrified of it." She said and they paused the video there to see the glowing amber of his eyes, even in the near pitch black of the room. His cold gaze as he took down Taniks was haunting. "We need to do everything we can to separate her from him. I do not trust him." Loki snarled, but Cayde and Zavala gave him apologetic glances.

"Loki... There is really no more we can do at this moment. I would pull her away if it seemed like she was in danger... However... It seems the safest place for her right now is by his side. When she is no longer safe there, we will pull her by force if we have to." Zavala said and Loki stared at him in anger. "He saved her life, Loki. More than once. It seems he does genuinely care for her though... so I doubt he will ever hurt her... anyone who gets in between however... may not fare as well." Ikora said and Loki gripped the table. "He has one life... he is not a guardian. So I could murder him in crucible and say it was an accident." He ground out and Shaxx gripped his shoulder tightly.

"If you want to lose your other sister as well... go right ahead. If you value her... we will see how things play out." He said and Loki nodded, however he was still seething. "Loki... we believe your sister might be the Queen of Kells." Zavala said and Loki nodded at this. "So there are two ways this could play out." he sighed and looked over to Cayde. "Either she saves him..." he began as he took a deep breath, trying to steel his nerves as he thought over what his younger sister was going to have to do.

"Or she will kill him. Either way she is saving him from whatever he will become."

:-:-:-:

Uldren watched the younger woman as she rushed around, grabbing things she thought she would need. He chuckled lowly as he strolled over and scooped her up, causing her to drop all the things she had been gathering. She looked behind her at him and he couldn't help the amused smirk that tugged at his lips. "What are you doing, woman?" he asked and she blushed lightly. "I don't know" she whispered and he chuckled. he set her back down and she reached up to touch his hair gently. "Why don't you ever grow this part out?" she asked and he shrugged as she quit fluffing the shaved side of his hair.

She leaned back and tapped her chin lightly as he ran his fingers through the longer side of his hair. "This could grow out a little too." She whispered as she stepped closer and ran her fingers through his hair on that side. "If I didn't know any better, Ashura... I would think you are just trying to find ways to touch me without it being obvious." He chuckled and she blushed a pale pink. "No, not at all." She whispered, but then smirked and hooked her fingers behind the top of his chest plate to pull him down to her a little. "Now if I could think of anyone who was just trying to find reasons to touch me..." She began with a whisper, only to smirk up at him.

"It would be you and every time you think I need help walking around." She said and he brushed his nose against hers gently, causing her to blink up at him, the whole haughty demeanor she held had vanished and this made him chuckle. "Oh, you wish you could be as sly as me... instead the moment your intentions come into question, you reveal them yourself. And I don't believe you even realize how easy it is to reveal them..." He whispered and he watched as her eyes became hopeful. He knew she wanted nothing more than to kiss him, but he wasn't going to give in to her yet.

He definitely enjoyed teasing her because it was so simple to do so. He felt her wrapping her arms around his shoulders and he smirked. She thought she was going to get him this time, but he knew her plan. It wasn't that he didn't want to be physically intimate with her... because he did. He was lucky he had the self control he had at that, because the damnable woman seemed to like to sleep in very revealing clothing and it admittedly caught his attention every time. He saw her start to move and he smirked. When she saw that smirk, it was over. He grabbed her and lifted her off the ground, causing her to pull her arms from around his neck and her scramble to try and retrieve the footing he had caused her to lose.

He looked at her when he sat her back down and he saw the sadness in her eyes, which caused his chest to tighten a little. Was it that hard on her not being physically intimate with him? He brushed the back of his hand over her cheek and she closed her eyes and pressed her face into the back of his hand. His eyes softened as he reached to brush his thumb over her cheeks. It seemed to physically upset him when she was sad or in pain. Was this what love was? Being so angry and scared when someone close to you was in danger?

His heart began to race when he thought about how Taniks had sent her flying around that room like she were weightless. He tried to control his rapidly beating heart, but the more he thought about it... the more that... fear? He supposed fear was what it was. But the more he thought about it, the more that feeling set in and he worried about her. He brushed the bangs from her eyes and she looked up at him with those sad eyes. Those sad eyes were going to be the end of him. He opened his arms to her and she slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, burying her head into his chest.

He brushed her hair down with one hand while the other made its way around her shoulders to pull her closer to him. He had to admit... he did care deeply for her. He knew what it felt like to love a sibling and be defensive over them... worry for their safety. He knew what that felt like. he would do anything for his sister, and he would have done anything and everything for Kira... but he had been too late for her. This... feeling... it was definitely different than that. He wondered if all he would ever do would be hurt her... but it seemed she had no fear that he would hurt her...

He brushed her bangs out of her eyes once more and forced her to look up at him with a gentle hand under her chin. "Ashura... I have a question." He began and she blinked up at him with those soft eyes. "What is it?" she asked softly, prodding ever so gently just in case he decided not to speak. She seemed to be able to pick up on these things very easily with him. He tried to avoid the urge to swallow and bite back the words, but he needed to know. "Ashura... What do you feel for me?" he asked and she stared up at him in confusion. It seemed she either didn't fully understand what he was trying to ask, or she was trying to figure out how to word it.

"It would be so much easier if you would let me show you..." She whispered as she traced over the pale markings on his face. He closed his eyes and reveled in the feeling of her gentle touch. At a first glance, he never would have guessed that this broken woman... this marred and completely imperfect woman... would ever have such a gentle and caring side. All he was ever used to was the strict and disciplined awoken women. "If I do tell you what I feel... you have to tell me what you feel for me." She countered softly and he watched her with soft eyes as her fingers trailed over the soft white marking on his cheek once more.

"Of course..." he said softly as he closed the door to his room. It was genuinely amusing, he realized. They had given her a room, but it seemed she spent all her time in his. Everyone in the outpost knew they were involved and as it came to pass, some women had been increasingly jealous of the wretched human that spent every night in his bed. He rolled his eyes at this, seeing as he damn well knew if he were to get involved with her in that manner she would be very difficult to not conceive with. From what he knew of the human guardians of the tower it was... Taboo to sleep with the awoken... although judging by the human/ awoken half breed that Ashura had following her around... it still happened. It nearly always resulted in a child, usually twins.

He could not handle a child at this point in time, and considering she has a duty to her traveler... she would not be able to carry it because she would be needed by the tower. He looked the woman sitting in his rolling chair over, it wasn't that he didn't want that commitment with her... he just didn't think either of them would be able to face it if they had lost their child, or one another. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Ashura began snapping her fingers in front of his face. "Are you done playing in LaLa land?" She asked and he raised a brow at her.

"Eager to discuss are we?" he asked and she gave him a dirty look as she shoved him to sit on the bed. He watched as she removed her chest armor and crossed her legs in his chair. He did the same and tossed it to the foot of the bed. "So what do you want to know?" She asked and he watched her for a moment before he replied. "I want to know... everything. From the very beginning. When did you realize you were attracted to me? And... I want to know what changed and how you feel for me now." He said softly, he would prefer if none of the prying or nosey ears could hear him as he bared his soul to this woman he cared for so dearly.

She seemed to think it over for just a second. "I am going to be completely honest here..." She sighed and he nodded, understanding if she had some things to say that were brutally honest. "When Kira came to me... we talked and talked for what felt like forever. Mainly about the reef." She said and that piqued his interest. She looked up in thought then smiled softly. "I don't know if you would want to hear this, but... Kira thought you were the holiest thing to walk the Earth." She laughed lightly, but he could see the sheen of sadness in her eyes. he reached a hand to her and she reached for it with both hands, one on top and one on bottom. She then proceeded to caress his hand gently.

"She thought you were the most attractive man she had seen in this life. Even pausing to tell me all about her favorite features you had." Ashura laughed lightly and he blinked at her. He had honestly had no idea Kira had found him attractive. This was definitely news to him, and it seemed Ashura could tell because she laughed lightly. "Yeah, my twin had a crush on you, but she knew that she would never get the chance." Ashura sighed and he offered an apologetic look. "Don't stress over it. She had already been married once and she knew she was still loyal to that husband. His name was Shelby... odd for a guy to have a name like that, but she loved it." Ashura sighed blissfully and Uldren smiled softly.

"You speak of her like she still walks with us." he said and she smiled. "I have to, or else I would lose my mind." She sighed and he nodded in understanding. "But... from the moment she told me about you... I was excited to meet you." She said and that caught his attention. "I was eager to meet the man she dubbed so hot he would melt your socks off with a glance." Ashura laughed lightly and he didn't hold back the chuckle on that one. Yes... that sounded like Kira. The Fangirl. "I was so excited to meet you, that I didn't realize it was only because she said you were hot. When I actually met you... I felt like I wasn't worthy." Ashura sighed and he listened to her with curious eyes.

"I saw you and it actually hit me that you were an actual prince and you deserved the respect you were owed. I was terrified internally because I thought I had screwed up in the highest of ways when I charged you through the door." She said and he chuckled. "I thought... I thought I had disrespected you and the Queen so greatly that I would never be here where I am now." She whispered and he brushed his thumb over her hand. "At first, I was scared of you. Scared to overstep any boundaries that I didn't know were there." She sighed and leaned back in the chair slightly. He knew where this was going now.

"When you first started coming to see me while I was out on missions, I was excited. You were aware of me, of my existence." she whispered and he couldn't help the amused look that flickered through his eyes. "I was so thrilled that you wanted to teach me the things you knew... so astounded that you thought there was something I could teach you." She said and he raised a brow to her. He was intelligent but he didn't know everything, did she think he was some strategic genius? "I really liked you, and it most definitely wasn't for your amazing personality." She said with a smirk and he rolled his eyes.

"I was definitely attracted to you from the moment I met you." she said and he watched her curiously. "You definitely are easy on the eyes and you seemed to have known it, but now that I think of it... maybe you just have this cocky personality because you are royalty. Which brings me to my next point. Why me? I want that answered when it's your turn." She said and he nodded. "Do not judge a book by its cover, Ashura... you may think you know something about someone, but maybe your assumptions are actually wrong." he said and she nodded.

"Oh... I definitely know that now." She sighed as she locked eyes with him. "I thought that you were some jerk because you wouldn't help me. I thought you were conceited and not at all worth the time. However... when I thought it over... I realized that fear affects each and every one of us differently. I knew how it affected me, my brother, and Kira... but never once did I ever stop to think of how it affected you. When I did, I realized that maybe, you were trying to protect me from what didn't work for Kira... Maybe the thought of me knowing what exactly happened at the Battle of Twilight Gap disgusted you and made you think I would run away." She whispered and his eyes slipped shut.

He knew she had figured out some things about him, but he didn't expect her to figure them out in such a detailed manner. His eyes opened wide when he felt her lips touch his forehead gently. His eyes slipped shut once more when the tip of her nose brushed down the bridge of his and her forehead touched his softly. There was a definite difference between the feeling of her skin and his. Her skin felt so... soft and warm. His however... His felt smooth, like glass. Of course, it was still soft and easy to press upon, but the sheer smoothness of it was like near perfect glass. Her skin was so soft and alluring he enjoyed touching it, but was disgusted with the feel of his own skin.

"I will never run away, Uldren... Because I have come to see that what I feel for you is something I need. I can't run from it. When I saw you laying there, Mara about to cry... I realized that I couldn't lose you. I was so scared... I thought you were going to die on me and I would never get to tell you that the thought of never getting to tell you that I loved you... That thought would have haunted me forever." She whispered and he opened his arms to her. "And to think... I was terrified when I saw the footage of you being thrown across the room." He mumbled into her hair as she curled up in his lap.

"To think, that from the moment I saw you... I thought... this woman is an annoying little shit. This woman is going to be hell on me... I thought that every time I saw you. I thought you were going to be the end of me, but I could never understand why I couldn't just leave you alone. I couldn't understand until you sent that message telling me you were going back into the vault..." He sighed and she turned in his lap to face him, her legs stretched out on either side of him. He felt like they had never been this close to one another and the fact he could feel her heartbeat beating in time with his, it made his eyes droop shut as she snuggled her head into the nape of his neck.

"I didn't realize how scared I was to lose you until then... and then I felt my anger get the better of me when Taniks was hurting you... but I was proud of you... you weren't showing him how much you were hurting..." He said and she leaned back to look at him. He watched her as she sat up to her full height and placed both of her small hands on his cheeks. "Then... do me a favor..." She whispered softly, and he scanned her features for anything that would tell him what she was going to say. "Tell me what you feel for me." She demanded softly as she pressed her forehead against his once more.

"I believe... that I may just love you, Ashura." He whispered as he pressed his lips gently to hers. He felt her heartrate speed up and he felt this overwhelming feeling grabbing his chest as his eyes slipped shut and his lips moved against hers. He couldn't quite describe it, but it was gripping his entire being and it felt... like peace. She leaned back from him and he knew it was because she needed air. She nuzzled her nose against his once more and he offered a small smile before trailing kisses down her jaw and towards the nape of her neck. She released a series of small giggles and he chuckled to himself as he began trying to kiss his way back up to her lips.

That was the position they were found in when his sister burst into his room. Ashura blushed a dark red and buried her face in his neck, but she didn't try to escape the hold he had on her. "Sister." He greeted and Mara rolled her eyes. "I was worried brother. Maybe you should learn to lock your door." She hissed and he released a genuine laugh. "Sister, maybe you should learn to notify someone before entering?" he offered with a sarcastic tone and she gave him a dirty look before leaving the room.

"That is one thing I don't ever think I will ever understand." she sighed as he leaned back on his bed, she was still sitting upright in his lap. "Yeah... I still haven't gotten used to it and it's something we have had since birth." He sighed and she smiled down at him as she gently pinned his hands over his head. That was when she began planting kisses on each of his markings. He couldn't help the smile that found his lips as she placed one last kiss on his lips, then flopped onto the bed beside him to curl up into his side.

He rolled onto his side and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in closer to him. He wanted her to be safe. That was why when his sister decided to launch her attack against the dreadnaught, he was going to go fight. He knew she was going to be fighting against the taken king as well, but they each had their own armies to fight with. He had to relinquish his hold on her temporarily. He was going to do everything in his power to make sure she would be safe. She stared up at him from where she lay curled into his side. He was going to protect her with his life, even if that were something she never wanted to happen. He understood the risks he just hoped she did as well. He couldn't just very well neglect his duties or expect her to do it.

He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her tightly, he never wanted to let go, but he knew that he had to. Even if it were temporary. If it were permanent... this is what he would want to remember. The look of pure happiness in her silver eyes. He buried his face in the nape of her neck, breathing deeply to ingrain the smell of her in his mind. He wondered why even though she fought day in and out, she always smelled like she had been rolling in a field of flowers. He had gotten the hint that it was his mind playing tricks on him when He mentioned it to Petra and the woman looked at him like he was insane. 'Uldren... She smells like oil. War and oil.' The woman had said but he shrugged it off. He vaguely wondered if he had a certain unexplainable smell to her. He opened his mouth to ask her, but she was asleep.

Her mouth was slightly parted and he was ever so amused by the soft snores the woman released. He pulled her closer and rested his head atop hers. He closed his eyes and released a small sigh... she was his calm... his serenity, despite her sometimes brash nature. He thought it over and was content with what he was promising. He had no choice in the matter anymore because he couldn't let anything happen to her.

It was far too late to go back to the way things used to be now. He was not going to let her go unless either of them were dead. His eyes slipped shut once more and as he drifted off to sleep, he thought of one thing...

There was nothing that he would not do for her. If she asked for it, he would give it to her.

:-:_:-:

Her eyes locked on the blade that swiped up at her and she calculated the possibility of it missing, but that was a doubt. She swiped her blade up and the slight hook at the end caught the blade that was aimed at her. Silver eyes met with glowing amber, only for the man to smirk as he released the blade only to swap hands swiftly and jerk the blade down. That sent Ashura towards the floor. She spun out of his way and caught the blade as it skittered across the floor. She spun the knife around her finger then lunged for him once more. Their blades clashed loudly and she was trying to memorize the way he fought.

She leaned forwards slightly and began circling him like a wolf does its prey. He released the tension from his stature as well and began circling her as well. She barely had a second's notice when he did lunge for her. He was fast and she had no idea how she never saw it. His blade came down on her swiftly and she reached up to block the hit, but he was stronger physically too. The knife was getting ever closer to her face and she got an idea. Her mechanical arms shot out and punched him in the gut lightly, but even that was enough to send him reeling because the slight impact had winded him.

She threw her knife at him and he caught it between two fingers. It was annoying how easily he had caught it. She supposed he had experience with catching knives due to the multitude of angry women he dealt with on a daily basis. She mused over this lightly only to rush at him once more. If the stealth of the hunter wasn't going to help her here, she was going in with the brash nature of the titan. She shot forward and clipped his side roughly with her fist. He smirked at this and lunge for her as well, her eyes went wide as she remembered how hard he could hit with a balled up fist.

She reared her fist back to connect with his, but at the last moment he changed directions and her eyes went wide as it connected with her gut and sent her flying backwards. She briefly thought about using another of her abilities, but then decided against it. She was trying to win in her fight against him, not kill him. She forced herself to her feet and shrugged off her cloak, she wasn't sure why they were decked out n full armor either way. When she started dropping armor he did as well.

"If you think this is going to give you some sort of advantage, you are wrong." He chuckled and she smirked. When the last of her armor vanished from her and all she was wearing were tight black leggings and a tank top she fell into a hand to hand combat stance. He watched her curiously as he ditched the last of his ammo belts and armor. He was standing before her in similar attire ready for her to come at him it seemed. She kicked off her shoes and he gave her a highly amused glance as she charged for him. He deflected the first few hits with ease, but then he realized what she was trying to do.

She smirked as he backed away from her but still deflected her hits. She spun and kicked him swiftly, he brought up his arms to block it. She gave him no time to recover before she was rushing him again. She had made him willingly drop his armor. It seemed he hadnt realized what she was doing at first, but when he took the first hit he saw what she had done. A lot of the force from her hits had been nulled by his thick armor. Now he was in normal clothes and there was no cushioning or impact protection. "You little shit." he grumbled as he grabbed the leg she had aimed at him. She dropped her hands to the ground then used her upper body strength to send her spinning the other way, freeing her leg from his grasp.

He grabbed her fist and pulled her to him roughly, giving her little to no way to escape. "You give in, my dear?" She asked and he chuckled lowly. "You should be the one giving in." He commented and she rolled her eyes at him. Her fingers brushed softly over his cheeks and he closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling, but then he realized his grasp had gone lax. He only realized this when he felt the familiar jolt of falling. She had her hands behind his head as he went down to keep him from smacking it against the dojo floor, but it didn't soften the impact of his back against the floor.

Her mechanical leg pinned his chest to the floor and he glared up at her from the floor. "That was dirty." he growled out, but his sister and Petra were highly amused. "I have to admit, brother... when we reveal our weaknesses so easily we deserve to end up on the floor." Mara chided and he rolled his eyes at her. "She has a point, also... Ashura... Good one. I guess this is revenge for last time?" Petra asked and Ashura nodded. She remembered the last time they had sparred. He had acted like he was going to kiss her then sent her sprawling to the floor. Mind you, this was before he had even told her how he felt for her... it was before Taniks, so you can see where she was hopeful.

The Queen beckoned her brother and Ashura over to her and they made their way to her. "We cannot wait any longer to make our move on the dreadnaught." She whispered and a chill overfell Ashura. She looked up at Uldren, who showed no emotion on his face and even less in his eyes. "We have to do something because he is headed towards us, but Ashura... he has come for the tower." Mara said and Ashura nodded. "I know... I know this because friends of mine killed his son." She whispered and Uldren gripped her hand tightly. "This is no fault of yours, Ashura... You were protecting your people, and that is what we are going to be doing now. Protecting our people." Petra said and she nodded.

"We have to prepare, so we know you have to prepare at the tower." Mara said and she nodded. "As much as I don't want to, I need to. I want to be here with you..." She whispered and Mara reached forwards to brush her fingertips over Ashura's cheek. "My Queen of Kells, you have your own war to wage. Gather your people and do your best, just come back to us." Mara whispered softly and Ashura nodded. She bowed lightly to the queen and made her way over to gather her armor.

She reached down to grab the first piece of armor and a tear streaked over her cheek. She didn't want to leave this place... this beautiful place that had memories of Kira around every corner. She didn't want to leave him. She needed him to be safe. A familiar set of arms wrapped around her from behind and she felt the dam break. The tears began falling faster now and her shoulders wouldn't stop shaking. He turned her around in his embrace and she began crying into his chest. "Don't cry, my dear." He whispered into her hair. She couldn't help it though. She was terrified of how things were going to go.

She gripped him tightly and tried to stifle her tears, but the fear was overwhelming. "Ashura... I want you to promise me something." He said and she looked up at him. He brushed her tears away and smiled at her softly. "What do you need me to promise?" She asked softly as she rubbed her own eyes. She watched him pull his Starshard from its sheathe and he held it out to her. "Keep this safe for me. I will be needing it when you return." He said and she carefully took the blade that matched her own. She ran her fingers over the blade d up the hooked edge. "Can you do that for me?" he asked and she nodded.

"Uldren..." she whispered and he brushed the hair out of her face. "Promise me something too..." She whispered and he nodded. Of course... anything." he said and she looked up at him. "If you have to fight Oryx... Do not engage him directly... Please... save yourself if everything gets out of hand..." She pleaded and he hugged her tightly. "If things get out of hand, I will flee. I have to get my blade back, don't I?" he asked and she nodded.

"Which means I better get that blade back." He bit out and she looked up at him in surprise, there was a demanding tone to what he said. That was when she saw it though... the fear swimming in his eyes. He was scared... for himself and her. He didn't want to get hurt, but he didn't want to lose her either.

"You will, I promise."