Chapter Text
Faith disappeared into the shadows as she held onto the cliff with a death grip. She could hear the crunch of dirt beneath feet as someone walked past. Her breath was becoming shaky as her arms ached with the strain of holding her, and several pounds of armor to the side of a mountain.
Her fingers burned as she pulled up to see if Shiro had left, peeking over her small hiding place, Faith could see most of the Temple, and instantly spotted Shiro walking into the Temple, a sluggish drag in his step. Curiosity pulled Faith from her hiding place, she’d been Shiro’s friend since she’d entered the Temple grounds, though she’d never thought how he would feel if she ‘died’.
“Best not to let him see you,” Fish warned. “He’s been pretty torn up after your… well you know.”
Nodding, Faith slid silently down the mountain, her boots barely bringing dust up from the ground. Crawling up the steps, Faith managed to avoid the wolves that guarded the entrance, slipping quietly inside allowing her small frame to sink into the shadows of the great arch.
Creeping forward, she heard the hushed voice of Shiro, though couldn’t make out the words. Despite not knowing how much time passed, even his presence made Faith feel calmer, more settled in her own body. Ever since her ‘revivement’, Faith had never felt right, but whenever Shiro, and sometimes Cayde was near, her senses calmed, and she felt like herself.
Taking a breath, Faith felt her light shroud her in the shadows, an invisible aura turning her transparent. Rolling into the cavern, Faith instantly dove behind a statue, one that wasn’t there before. Carefully looking it over, she realized what it was. It was her, in her Iron Lord Armor. She remembered Saladin saying they honored the Iron Lord dead with the statutes, and she’d felt pride to be one of the few to live, but now, she was among the dead. Or, was among the dead.
“You just had to be stupid, didn’t you,” Shiro sighed, pulling Faith out of her day dream. The exo stood in front of her statue, close enough that if she wished she could tackle him to the ground. “You had to get into trouble.” A dry laugh escaped his metallic lips. “I should have been watching you, but I was being stupid too I guess, had to play a prank on your Vanguard.”
Tears formed in Faith’s eyes, she wanted to reply, she wanted to hug him, she wanted to do anything but listen to his words. But she couldn’t, if he knew she was alive, it would just hurt more when she died for real.
“I know I never told you, but you were my favorite Guardian.”
The dam in her eyes broke as crystal liquid spilled down her face, making her heartbreak as claws began to shred it.
“I’m-” His voice cracked with pain. “I’m so sorry.”
‘Me too’ Faith mouthed back, though he would never hear it, he’d never see her again. Pain caused her to trip, and she forgot her need to be silent as she let out a quiet sob, though it wasn’t loud, it echoed in the hall louder than a Gjallarhorn.
The air grew tense as Faith heard footsteps coming towards her.
“What the he-” Shiro stopped, his glowing blue eyes blinking once as if to remove a mirage, but Faith still sat there, tears in her eyes, red showing the pain she’d gone through.
“Faith,” Shiro inhaled.