Crochet Class: Eight Stitch

--- “So the Reef has asked for our help.” Herro asked, drumming his metal fingers on the table. It rang like a bell. “More like the Queen has called in her marker.” Knight corrected. Alia shook her head. “I nearly forgot about the ‘favor’ we owed her for her help with the Black Garden.” “Well, we can be certain that she didn’t forget about it.” Knight shook his head. “I get the feeling that she doesn’t forget much. Or anything. At all. Ever.” Alia smiled at him. “Careful, you almost sound like you admire her.” Knight huffed, sharp red eyes narrowing in his silver chrome face. “I admire her mind.” “Very Warlock of you.” Alia made another loop on her hook. Herro looked on in fascination. “What are you making now?” She smiled to herself. “I thought I’d make a scarf for your birthday.” “Birthday?” “Birthday.” She agreed. “I think she’s losing it.” Herro said aside, sotto voice, to the other EXO. Alia rolled her eyes. “What does it matter? Pick a day.” She gestured. “Voila, happy birthday.” “And what if I said it was tomorrow?” “Then I hope you’ll like your potholder.” Knight cleared his throat. “If we could please get back on track.” He glanced around the table. “Good, everyone? Okay. So we need to head to the Vestian Outpost and talk to a fallen that lives there.” Herro raised his hand. Knight closed his eyes briefly in annoyance. “Yes, Herro?” “So this fallen isn’t going to try and kill us?” “Yes.” Herro looked impressed. “Huh.” He raised his hand again. “Careful, Herro. If you give Knight an aneurysm you’re going to be the one to explain it to the people at the repair shop.” Alia told him mock-seriously. “Just ask.” Knight growled. “Fallen can talk?” Knight groaned and buried his burnished metal face in his hands. Alia set down her crochet to pat his shoulder. “There, there.” “May 18th.” He murmured. “What was that?” He looked up at her with the one eye not covered by his hands. “That’s my birthday.” “Only a few weeks away.” She shook her head. “Guess I’m making this for you instead.” “Hey,” Herro protested. Knight raised his head just enough to give the other EXO a triumphant smile. --- “That’s a new cloak, isn’t it?” Alia grinned and twirled to show it off. “Got it off a Fallen rebel.” Zavala approached from behind his table, giving the awoken woman a long once-over. He nodded, reaching up to tweak the folds of fabric at her throat. “It suits you.” “And it takes orange perfectly.” Zavala smiled one of his rare smiles as she leaned forward and captured his mouth with hers. --- Alia looked out into the space beyond the Dreadnought’s shields. The wreckage of Reef ships floated lazily, slowly drifting to become part of the ring system around Saturn, making it into a graveyard, a memorial to a hopeless battle bravely fought. Her jaw set, fury simmering. Herro and Knight stood behind her, discussing their options in low voices. Something about this place made you want to whisper, as though anything louder had the chance of waking something better left sleeping. She spun, cloak floating behind her, and strode to her fireteam, unholstering her pulse as she approached. “We ready?” She asked. “Ghosty says his scans have found a couple ways we could go.” Herro told her, “But this place is kind of a maze.” Knight jerked his helmet in the direction of the large doorway leading inward. “I say we follow the light.” “Are you being figurative?” Alia asked. “No.” Knight gestured again and this time Alia could see the ball of light hovering a short way off the floor. It looked remarkably similar to the one they had seen on Phobos. It danced in place, seeming almost impatient. “Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt.” She shrugged. “Oh, I’m thinking it can.” Herro snorted. “A lot. Lots of hurting.” “Just be alert.” Knight told the two Hunters. He held up his hands defensively as they both turned their helmets to stare at him. “Being alert is kind of what we do.” Herro complained. “What he said.” Alia agreed. Knight shook his head. “Just forget I said anything.” --- “Hey, Zavala, want to see what a beacon on the Dreadnought looks like?” Alia winced at Zavala’s reply, feeling just a little bit sorry for Cayde. Knight facepalmed. When the transmission cut off Herro turned to Alia. “I think the Commander was just a smidge upset.” “You think?” She asked, mouth twitching. “I can’t believe the mission was unsanctioned.” Knight complained, lifting his head. “We’ll be lucky not to get restricted to the Tower for this.” “I doubt it.” Alia shrugged. “Zavala’s reasonable enough to realize that this was Cayde’s idea.” “Besides, you can talk him around if you want to, right?” Herro supplied, throwing in a teasing elbow. Alia glared. “You’re giving me the death stare, aren’t you?” “Yes, yes I am.” “You could shoot him a few times if it makes you feel better.” Knight added helpfully. “Tell Ghosty to get ready for revive.” “Hey,” Herro backed off, hands held up. “Stop ganging up on me.” Alia shook her head, wondering why it was taking so long for their ships to arrive. Finally she sighed and decided to head this off. “Work is work.” She sighed. “We keep them separate. I wouldn’t want him to hesitate to send me into danger because of…our relationship. He knows that.” “Compartmentalization.” Knight provided. “Yeah, that.” She sighed. “I wish I had had more time to think up a better excuse for missing our lunch date.” “You were never a good liar, anyway.” Knight told her. Herro shook his head in agreement even as their ships swooped in and they were trans-matted away. --- “You’re mad.” “He sent you in there unprepared.” “I don’t think there was a way to truly prepare for that place.” Zavala took Alia’s outstretched hands and leaned his forehead against hers. “I...worry for you.” “I know.” --- Ninth Stitch: https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/226372523/0/0 Master List: https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/226373948/0/0