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“Guardian!” Shaxx barked.
You immediately stopped in your tracks, turning to look at him quizzically. Resting after a dozen Rumble matches would have to wait.
He marched up to you, slapping a hand on your shoulder, the force on your sore muscles made you slightly wince. “Come with me, I need your help for something.”
“You need my help,” you repeated, still cringing from the sting.
He nodded, spinning around and marching away, apparently already expecting your compliance, despite the fact he failed to mention was the task in question even was.
You could only sigh, roll your shoulders back and follow. Better to bite the bullet than drag it out.
The walk took a lot longer than expected. Shaxx took you down stairs and through streets, twists and turns, further and further from the tower. You never asked once where you were headed because… well, you had a somewhat unhealthy habit of blindly trusting Shaxx.
After so long of seemingly endless walking, you ended up in some corner of the city, with a rather large tree surrounded by rather loud children.
“Why are we here, my Lord?” You asked, stepping to the side when a child attempted to ram into you head first, she instead ran into the wall.
Shaxx laughed, pulling out a chain from the bag that was slung over his shoulder. How did you not notice him carrying that the whole time?
“We, dear Guardian,” he tapped on the tree with his fist. “Are making a swing.”
“And you wanted me because..?”
“I enjoy company, particularly yours.”
You felt heat rush to your cheeks, but a part of your mind was crying in agony to being dragged so far away from home and your precious bed, but such was the way of being a Guardian. At least Shaxx wasn’t dragging you into some life threatening mission.
“Ah.” you said, trying your best to ignore the kid now pulling on your wrist.
Shaxx laughed. “They like you already. That makes it much easier for the next time you visit.”
“…Next time?”
“I plan to have you accompany me around here often,” Shaxx began to unwrap the chain as he glanced at you. “If you’re okay with it.”
“I’m more than okay with it.” You quickly replied. “I always enjoy spending time with you, my Lord.” As much as you hated the long walk while exhausted, you always jumped at the chance to spend time with Shaxx.
He tilted his head. “Call me Shaxx, Guardian. There’s no need for formalities.”
You had to bite your lip to hold back a goofy smile. “…Shaxx.” You looked up at the tree; it was large, and the ideal branch was a bit too high for you or Shaxx. “We might need to get a ladder or lift each other up.”
“No need,” he dropped the bag into your hands before turning towards the trunk…
...and he’s climbing up the tree. He hangs off the branch like a monkey, trying to wiggle it with his weight. “It’s sturdy. This will suffice.”
You glanced at the bag in your hands; there was only the swing’s seat. “But we didn’t bring tools. Don’t we need a hammer—“ you shut up as Shaxx used his sheer strength to slam the bolt into the branch, splitting the wood as if it was butter. “…That’s hot.”
“What’d you say, guardian?”
“I said or not.”
Even though you couldn’t see his expression, something told you he didn’t believe you. Still, he nodded before dropping to the ground.
You quickly helped set up the swing, and the kids were enthralled with their new plaything. Despite your body aching, you managed to run around with them for another hour before Shaxx called it a night.
“Tired, guardian?”
“You could say that,” you sighed.
“Allow me to escort you home then,”
“Oh, uh—“ you stuttered. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I dragged you this far out, it would only be fair,” With that, Shaxx gently (as much as a Titan could) gripped your arm, nudging you forward. “Lead the way, Guardian.”
By the Traveler, the more he acted like this, the harder it became to hide your crush. “Yes, Shaxx.”
As the two of you walked, his hand slowly slipped down your arm, to your elbow, then wrist, then finally your hand.
This was going to kill you.