Chapter Text
Faith sighed, scooting herself that much further from the rambunctious party that was happening only a few yards from her. Of course, usually she was the one causing the most trouble at these things, though now, she felt a melancholy feeling drown out her mischievousness that usually won over. The Guardians were celebrating another ‘great’ victory against SIVA, and of course, showering Recruits with stuff much too good for them.
Drowning herself in her drink, Faith took another sip of the nonalcoholic, but still quite nice beverage she’d ordered. A warm feeling flooded her veins, but did little to ease her pain. Hours ago, she’d remembered what happened before she’d died. Most Guardians remember everything the moment their revived, but Faith was different, and waited several years before they finally returned, though the memories Faith got were horrid. Ones of battle and death, of watching the world blow up around her, and now, she was back in war.
The bright gleam of metal caught Faith’s attention, and she turned to see her favorite weapon in the hands of an male Awoken Warlock. It was her sword, though not just any sword, it was her Young Wolf’s Howl, the proof of her achievements against the SIVA a few months ago.
Anger flared through her as the Awoken scoffed at the weapon, tossing it to the ground, creating a violent clang that silenced the party. Eyes turned towards the two, music coming to an abrupt stop as the band walked over to join the watch party.
“You call that a sword, more like an ancient toothpick!” His voice bit deep into Faith quiet, delicate pride. Her red eyes narrowed as he kicked the exotic away from him. “You must be a rookie, did you’re Vanguard give it to you in pity?”
“Shut up,” Faith growled, but the Warlock refused.
“Bet you she failed so many Crucible matches that Shaxx gave it to her for free!” He laughed, and the crowed giggle with him.
“I’m warning you,” her eyes burned with hate.
“Oh wait, I know, your light was so low, you has to ask a Hunter to help!” More laughter.
That struck a nerve, not because it made her look weak, but because it insulted her class, her fire team, one of the few that contained only Hunters and hadn’t failed a single quest. “How-”
Without allowing Faith to reply, the Awoken pulled out his own Saber, pointing the tip of it at her throat. The blade glinted with indents and swirls as power flowed into it. A misty purple glow began to emanate from the blade, and Faith could feel the sting that came from it.
“You couldn’t beat me missy, don’t threaten someone higher than you.”
Flexing her fingers, The Wolf’s Howl appeared, fitting perfectly into her grip as she swung it up, knocking the Awoken back. The sword gleamed, indifferent to the dark light of shadows. Her rage began to flood her light as a golden blue light appeared around her and she struck out again, only to have her slash blocked by the surprisingly fast Awoken.
Her vision began to tint red as flames erupted from the saber, illuminating her hate. Pulling her Iron Saga Mask over her head, Faith launched forward, Solar Flare Mantle creating a trail of red in her wake. Slash after slash was given and received by the two, though neither could seem to get the upper hand as the battle continued.
Finally, Faith slammed her sword into the ground, knocking the Awoken back with a massive shockwave. Furiously, she pulled the sword from the cracked ground, advancing on the bewildered Warlock, a smirk of victory on her lips.
Though her victory was short lived as a loud bang rang through the tower, and was followed by a howl slipping from Faith’s lips as a bullet slithered through her armor, and into her stomach. But it didn’t stop her as she sped up, slashing again, shattering her opponent's weapon with a single stroke. Blood dripped from her side as she held the wound with her fingers causing her to grit her teeth.
Another flash, and Faith fell to the ground, a bullet from the Thorn lodged into her shoulder. Poison flooded into her veins, making even breath she took agony, and every movement burned with intense fire, but still she pulled herself up.
A blue aura flinging around her viciously as she pulled a glistening crystal blade from nowhere. She lept into the air, spinning around, blasting back several Guardians who had gotten too close. Electricity crackled around her as Faith took a breath, pulling the thorn from her shoulder the pain slowly subsiding, though she knew the poison still coursed through her veins.
With her enhanced movements, Faith sped forward, dodging most of the thick bullets that were shot at her. Closing in on the Awoken she leapt forward, teleporting right in front of him, before her blade sank into his heart, and his bleeding corpse fell to the ground. His body convulsed for a second before disintegrating, nothing left but his Ghost. She almost felt pity, though he’d brought his ‘death’ to himself for being a cocky bass-turd.
“Someone throw him off the tower when he respawns,” Faith growled, dropping her blade before collapsing, feeling the pull of death drag her into its dark cold arms.
Faith felt time pass slowly as she waited for her Ghost, which she lovingly nicknamed Fish after he had taken an unexpected plunge when a fallen hit him like a baseball, to revived her. The pain of death had become familiar as she normally forgot of her friends ability to revive and taken several bullets for them. Meat Shield. That’s what they called her.
Faith blinked as light once again flooded her eyes, pulling her from her daydreams, though it was duller than usual. Hadn’t the sun just been shining?
Looking around, Faith found herself, not at the Tower, but instead the Iron Temple, in the middle of the night. Confusion washed over her senses as she looked around, finding herself on a cot, that was covered in blood, her blood.
“Fish?” she called out, looking around for her little red friend. Though her voice was a whisper, it carried and echoed across the entire empty temple.
“Faith!” An electronic voice yelped. “You’re okay!”
Turning, Faith saw her ‘Little Light’ floating towards her, his eye flashing with joy. Though the red gleam of his shell was duller, as if he’d been in storage for some time, maybe a few months, but Faith knew that wasn’t possible, as she’d seen him maybe a few hours ago before her fight.
“Where is everyone, isn’t the Temple normally… like completely filled with Guardians.” The question left a dry taste in the air as Fish looked down.
“No one has been allowed in the Iron Temple since… well since you died.”
Faith blinked in confusion, her already muddled brain practically collapsing at what she was trying to process.
“But… Guardians can’t ‘die’ in the Tower…”
“That's what we all thought to… till… when… I couldn’t…”
“Ghost, what happened?” Faith asked, her eyes narrowing.
“When I tried to revive you… it didn’t work… and… you weren’t breathing… your heart stopped… Cayde was furious, and Shiro… he took you here an- and tried to help you. But… you were gone.”
“So… I actually died?”
“Yes.”
“And no one knows I’m alive now?”
“No one.”
“How long was I… dead?” As soon as the words left her lips, Faith wished she didn’t say them.
“6 months.”
Bile rose in Faith’s throat as she thought of her body spending 6 months, decaying, dying, turning to ash. The stench of death somehow found its way into her senses and she sprinted to the bridge, letting loose the acid from her stomach. It burned the back of her throat, but she didn’t care. She’d been dead for 6 months, at least this one act made her feel more alive. Dead things didn’t get sick, dead things didn’t feel the burn of acid, death things didn’t breath.
“Careful!” Fish warned, “Shiro-4 is on his way here.”
The roar of a engine made Faith look up, the shadow of a large ship covered the moon, and Faith crouched low to the ground. “Correction Fish, he’s already here.”