Page 115 WOW I can’t believe I REACHED THIS PAGE AND ON A DAY LIKE THIS! It’s FINALLY here, the page where Shadow and Variks get together! It’s been like four years since I started these stories (happy anniversary, story!) I’m so appreciative of you guys, and bungie. Thank you so much for giving this story life! So, without further delay, I present to you the page that everything has been leading up to these past 4 years! 💕 -much love, Shadow The door opening sends Shadow's heart into overdrive. She pulls in a deep breath at the sound of his voice. It sends shivers down her spine. "You are awake?" "Awoken," she murmurs, laying with her back to him. "Joke...?" "Yeah. Joke." She can't help but smile, turning onto her back to look up at the ceiling. She can't meet his eyes. "I have heard Guardians say, if you have to ask, it was not very funny." Shadow sighs. "Well, I guess you better think of some good jokes, to help me out." The room is silent for a while, and then from the corner of her eye, she sees Variks lower himself to the floor. He kneels beside her bed, his face close enough for her to faintly feel his breathing. "You are feeling better?" he burbles in question. "I'm alright." Variks's eyes narrow as he shifts around, looking like he wants to say something. The waiting is killing her. "I do not recall... discussing this old tradition with you. Where did you learn it?" The hunter almost hoped they could avoid any conversation about the whole thing. Just go back to the way it was. Whatever it meant to not ruin the years of relationship they had already built between them. "I talked to Wolf," she responds honestly. Variks scoffs under his breath. He looks away, flexing his fingers as if he were imagining wringing the ex wolf's neck. "Of course," he mutters. Variks rests his real arms on the edge of her bed and gazes at her. Shadow can't help but turn her head to look at his face. He blinks glittering blue eyes at her. Her heart skips. "May I ask you something?" "Of course you can," the hunter replies, slightly pulling herself into a sitting position. "Why did you do it?" Eyes closing, Shadow sighs. "Variks, you already know I want to be more than your friend and you know why. If you want someone to keep repeating it for your entertainment, find a dumber Guardian." While her words are edged, a fond smile tugs at her mouth. Variks blinks, his eyes widening in surprise. He chuckles deep in his chest and is reminded of one of the many reasons he enjoys her company. "That is not why I asked." Silence presses around them until she decides to speak again. The hunter stares at the ceiling. "I wanted them proud of me, you know. So when you ask why... It wasn't an easy choice," she whispers, voice cracking. "But I was starting to fall in love with you. I knew I could never be what they wanted. Not while I cared about your people. They weren't ready for change." Variks lowers his head, his voice tainted with guilt. "I took you from them." The hunter looks back at him. "It's not your fault. I did want to be here." Variks meets her eyes. "Not anymore?" Hope soars in Shadow's chest at his concerned, uneasy tone. "That's up to you." She swallows, finally coming forward with her concern. Since she had lost, what would she be now? And now that she had offered such a thing between them, would he tell her to go? "I'm not asking you to leave." He almost seems to frown, offended. "You are my fr—" he pauses, correcting himself. "Well... I suppose you are more than that now," he admits, his eyes meeting the floor almost shyly. Shadow nearly chokes on air, a sharp pang tightening her chest. "B-but I lost!" "Not the fight I watched," he objects. She sits up fully now, head swimming. She's breathless, completely lost for words. "You have won," he adds again, folding his real hands together. "Whether you would debate it was by default, I do not care. I will honor the tradition. It is my own choice." His mechanical hands gesture in the air as if brushing her anxiety away. What did he expect her to say in response? She decides to think about something else. Anything to cure the tension stinging the air around them.      "You know, when I first met you, I didn't like you," she blurts.      Variks feigns surprise. "And why not?" he clicks.      She shrugs with a smile, answering anyways. "I don't know. I sucked in the prison and I needed someone to blame. And you didn't know personal space." Mandibles opening incredulously, the eliksni jabs an accusing finger at her. "That is very funny coming from [i]you[/i]," he says, a dry laughter in his throat.      "And your voice, I didn't like that either," she chuckles, her golden eyes softening with the memory.      "Ah, you do not seem to have a problem with my voice now, hmm?" Variks chatters smugly.      Shadow turns her face from him, hiding a smile. "I tried to convince myself I didn't like you. That I wasn't..." Her smile fades. "[i]Interested[/i] in an eliksni. I couldn't be feeling..." She averts her eyes down at her hands, heart aching. "Turns out you're quite difficult to resist."      Variks's teasing expression is replaced with a somber, humbled stare as he considers her words. "Love is difficult to resist. Perhaps... it is best not to fight these things." He strokes her arm gently, an awkward attempt at comforting her.      Shadow's stomach twists. After yet another drawn out silence, she takes a quick glance towards her Kell.      "Variks?"      "Yes?"      "Why did you decide to let me stay here? I never asked."      "You listened," he replies very simply, but not without the strain of emotion in his words. "And I meant when I said you should have been eliksni."      He pauses, his hands moving closer to her, gently brushing against her. "I want to thank you."      "For what?"      "Changing your mind about the eliksni... about me." (to continue reading, it’s too long for one page: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/257178131/0/0 )