Chapter Text
It's subtle at first - or at least, he thinks he's subtle in the way his eyes follow her movements in the field. He tells himself there is no purpose beyond mere observation - that it's intended for the sole purpose of mimicking the elaborate finishers, the pinpoint accurate knife throwing, the efficient executions. And yet, he's all too aware of this nagging sentimental edge in the back of his mind. He knows he cannot let it affect his objectives. After all, he is far from her skill level and in attempting these combat tactics, he's ended up on his ass more times than he cares to count and the observation is necessary.
In all his failings, he's come to find that she's surprisingly kind for a Guardian.
While his prowess leaves much to be desired, she assures him that he is still learning and that he will be fine. He is, after all, a New Light - it's what she calls him - or rather, her Ghost calls him - and he's decided he quite likes the term. Before he met her, most Guardians he met were...unkind, to say the least and at most, downright violent when they saw his face. So when they first met, he was apprehensive. He saw that same ironclad rage barely contained beyond the veil of her helmet. But then something changed - she relaxed. Almost like she realized that he was no longer whatever monster he'd once been. Perhaps that's why he likes the term - he's a New Light. A new person. A better person, or at least, that's what Glint likes to tell him. But he doesn't pry at the Young Wolf. She seems...cautious. Careful and deliberate in what information she's willing to grant him, though he has yet to hear her speak let alone see her face.
Had she known him? Before all of this?
It plagues him and yet, he knows he dare not ask. He doesn't want to know who he was - especially not if it means losing her.
She is so many things and all of which, he's come to admire and adore.
Her patience, specifically, astounds him. In the last few months, he's managed to talk her into training him. Weekly sparring matches beyond the watchful eye of the Spider where the only witnesses are their ghosts. It's private - intimate - almost in a way he can't quite describe.
Glint likes to heckle him after each match and the Crow always smiles to himself. His little Light grounds him like no other and it's his ghost's voice that brings him back to the present now, his eyes coming back into focus on the beams above him.
"You do care about her, don't you?" The ghost asks softly as he settles on Crow's chest. The Hunter lays on his cot, one arm propped behind his head as he stares up at the ceiling.
"I think so." He murmurs, looking down at the little Light-bearer, "She's...unlike anyone I've ever met before."
"You should tell her how you feel."
"I can't."
Glint shifts ever so slightly, tilting to the side, "Why not?"
"Because--" he starts to raise his voice above a whisper but one glance towards the doorway softens his tone, "Because she wouldn't be interested in an enforcer."
"But you're a Guardian, too, Crow."
"It doesn't matter." He starts to sit up and Glint alights from his chest, hovering near his face as the Hunter swings his feet onto the floor. "In all the ways that matter, we are incompatible."
"You don't know that for certain," Glint descends and holds a few feet away from his Guardian's face, "You like her, right?"
Crow hesitates before he nods cautiously.
"Then what's the worst that can happen? If she doesn't feel the same way, it's water under the Traveler."
A small smile tugs at the corner of Crow's mouth and he gently pats the top of Glint's shell, "I appreciate the sentiment, my friend, but--" the faint footsteps that echo down the corridor catch his attention and he falls silent, straining to listen.
"Ah! Guardian! My friend! Good to see you." Spider's voice echoes and Crow relaxes, his smile returning as he settles back against the wall behind his cot.
There is no sound from her, the Young Wolf never speaks after all and in all their time together, he wonders if she ever will.
"Come to request a favor? Or to drag my enforcer off for another escapade?"
Crow tries to force himself to stay on the cot. He really tries. But it's her. She's here and he longs to see her. It's enough that he pushes up from the dated cot and paces towards his workbench, trying to decide how best to look busy.
"Nothing to say, huh? Very well. He's holed up down the hall. Be careful, Guardian, he's moody today."
"Moody." Glint scoffs indignantly.
"Glint, it's alright," Crow assures him softly and the Ghost relaxes when he sees the smile on his Guardian's face. Both gazes dart to the door when the quiet clump of the boots stop.
Fully armored and silent as ever, the Young Wolf gives a small, friendly wave.
Crow tries to contain the warmth that floods his veins, the silent relief that washes over his features, the tension that drains from his frame.
He had needed to see her today. How did she always know when he needed her the most?
It's only after a subtle bump from Glint against his shoulder that he snaps to, flustered and scrambling all at once to greet her, "Hello, Guardian...I-I didn't know you were stopping by today."
"Smoothe," Glint shakes from side to side and Crow gives him a pointed look before shifting his gaze back to the Young Wolf.
One of her shoulders raise in a half-hearted shrug as her head tilts. It's so damned adorable and he fights back the stupid grin. But then he realizes for the first time - one of her hands hasn't emerged from behind her back. For a moment, there's a flash of apprehension and fear in his eyes, looking from the arm to the Wolf's emotionless helmet.
Had he missed something? Done something? Was she just like all the others--
He hadn't seen her move. His mind had been in such a whirlwind, he'd missed her stepping up to him and laying a gloved hand lightly on his shoulder, head tilted as if in concern. It grounds him. Gives him the assurance that he is safe and she isn't going to hurt him.
Her grip tightens, dragging his gaze to where her eyes would be beyond the visor. She'd stepped closer and his breath hitches for a fraction of a second.
"I'm alright," he manage at last, smiling down at her softly. "It's...just been a long day."
She nods slowly, her hand falling away from his shoulder before gesturing to his cot.
He lingers for a moment, aching for her touch before he takes a seat, staring up at her curiously.
She gestures for him to close his eyes and he quirks an eyebrow before doing as he's ordered. He hears the rustle of her cloak and he stiffens when her hand lightly grips his wrist. She seems to notice as her thumb brushes over the small patch of exposed skin between his sleeve and his glove and he relaxes. The Young Wolf gingerly rotates his hand so its palm up before there's something warm and box-shaped placed in the palm of his hand.
She pulls back and Ghost speaks for her. "You can open them! Happy Dawning!"
Crow slowly opens his eyes, looking down at the neatly wrapped package in his hand. The sweet scent of butterscotch fills the room as he undoes the ribbon and he smiles at the stack of cookies.
"Thank you--"
"Don't thank us yet! How do they taste?" Ghost floats closer excitedly.
Crow picks one up cautiously. It feels as though it's going to simultaneously crumble in his hand and perhaps deal enough damage to an Ogre to kill it in one hit. How she'd managed to get that consistency, he dares not ask. He carefully takes a bite, his initial conclusion of the cookie crumbling being the most correct and it falls apart in his mouth.
It-it's not good, but her hands are clasped under her chin and he can read the anxious excitement in every inch of her frame. He swallows slowly, giving his best convincing smile to veil his disgust.
"So? How is it?" Ghost presses.
"Delicious," Crow assures her and she does a little dance.
For being an Old Light, she has the soul of a child - and the mannerisms to match.
Crow sets the cookie back in the box and replaces the lid, "I'll save them for later."
"So, what brought you two all the way to the Tangled Shore? Just a cookie delivery?" Glint asks, hovering near Crow's shoulder.
"Well, we figured since we hadn't been able to visit for awhile, this would be the ideal time to drop by and check in," Ghost supplies.
The Young Wolf nods in confirmation.
"Well, with all the Wrathborne, Spider has been keeping us busy overseeing the hunts." Crow says softly, gesturing to the spot on the cot beside him.
She takes a seat without any hesitation, fluffing her cloak out to avoid sitting on it.
"Xivu Arath has been busy," Ghost remarks.
"It's only a matter of time before we catch up to her," Glint returns.
"And we'll be ready when you do," Ghost assures them as the Young Wolf rests her hand on Crow's shoulder as if in sync with the remark. It never ceases to amaze him how coordinated the Young Wolf is with her Ghost, how easily his words seem to replace her own.
Will he ever reach that point with Glint?
A subtle shift of one of her fingers draws him back to the moment and its then that the full weight of her touch registers.
Every nerve ignites, a warmth flourishing down his arm and into his chest. For a moment, his mind drifts back to his conversation with Glint. It's as if his little Light could read his mind when he nudges him again even as the ghost speaks.
"I'm sure you two have talked enough about bounties and hunts to last you awhile. We should talk about something else."
He's giving him an in. But Crow doesn't want to chance things. Her hand is still on his shoulder and he can't deny the flutter in his chest.
"Like what?" Ghost asks and Crow notes the subtle tilt of the Young Wolf's head.
"...like the Tower!" Crow interjects pointedly, ignoring the the bump against his shoulder from his companion.
"What about it?"
"What's it like?"
The Young Wolf looks toward her Ghost as if mulling over what he can tell him before giving a nod.
"Well, it's on Earth. We call it the Last City. It's really quite the sight, you have a clear view of the Traveler! Whenever we're there for a night, she'll take us up to the highest wall and watch the sunset." Ghost settles into his Guardian's lap, her hand resting lightly on his shell.
"It sounds nice."
"It is. The sun sets around the Traveler and - we should take you to see it sometime." There's an edge of excitement in Ghost's tone and Crow looks to the Young Wolf to see if the sentiment is mutual.
She nods her agreement, two swift downward tilts of her head in rapid succession and it's all the answer he needs.
"Maybe one day we can?" He offers hopefully and she touches his forearm with a subtle spark of lightning. Nothing painful, but there's an odd sensation dancing over his nerves. He's noticed she only ever slips up when she's extremely excited and it sparks a smile at the corner of his mouth. Gazing over at her, Crow notes how there's a warmth to her touch detectable even through the leather of her gloves and there's an almost golden glow around the Solar Hunter's frame.
"Guardian--" Ghost shifts to look up at her and the glow ebbs with a sheepish rub at her neck.
Crow can't help but chuckle softly, "It's alright, Spider's lair could use some more light."
If ever a Guardian could visibly blush behind a helmet, Crow thinks now might be the time. She shifts, glancing around almost awkwardly with another whisper of gold around her helmet and hood. It's adorable and mesmerizing all at once. A light like a star and yet, dimmed as if intended to protect those around it.
"Perhaps, we should get going? Before she lights the lair on fire." Ghost says, only halfway joking and the Young Wolf looks almost indignant as the light sputters out as quickly as it appeared.
"It'd be an improvement. Trust me." Glint supplies as the Young Wolf stands.
Crow almost reaches for her, almost pulls her to him but he forces himself upright and offers a soft smile, "Thank you for the cookies."
She tilts her head and nods. He imagines she's smiling beneath her helmet and some part of him longs to see that - one day, perhaps.
"Safe travels, Guardian!" Glint surges forward a short distance before retreating back to Crow's side.
"See you two soon!" Ghost returns as the Young Wolf leaves and Glint bumps against Crow's shoulder.
"I think that went very well."
"I suppose it did." Crow returns softly, still staring after her with a sort dazed smile.
"...are you okay?" Glint darts up to hover in front of Crow's face and the Hunter jerks back ever so slightly.
"O-of course. I'm fine."
"Uh huh," Glint returns smugly and Crow huffs as he looks towards the cookies she'd left, "You're not actually going to eat those, are you?"
"No. I appreciate the thought, but, I don't think I can eat those. I'm sure the Eliksni here will appreciate them more. They love that sort of...crumbled, burnt taste."
"That bad, huh?"
"Yeah," Crow rubs the back of his neck.
"Guess you'll be in charge of cooking then," the Little Light bumps up against his shoulder again.
"Glint," Crow chides with a soft chuckle as he returns to his cot.
"Just an observation."
"An unnecessary one."
"Says you."
Crow lays down on the cot with a content, yet lightly exaggerated sigh, "Goodnight, Glint."
Glint settles onto his chest, "Goodnight, Crow."
Crow allows his eyes to sag shut, listening to the soft hum of his Ghost as he drifts off to a peaceful rest.
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