Sry it’s been longer than usual everyone, school has been killing me lately. The good news is chapter 20 is already about halfway done! This chapter is a crossover with Blank Slate by KSeth27 (https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/225386550/0/0) and also counts as the next chapter in his series. So expect absolute hilarity every step of the way [i]D:LU Chapter Nineteen: Freehold Blank Slate Chapter 33: Freehold[/i] The setting Sun cast the Tower courtyard in golden light and stretching shadows as I️ transmatted in. As I️ often did when I came to the Tower, I️ took a moment to look over my shoulder at the Traveler, the undamaged parts of its shell reflecting the sunlight so it almost matched our star in hue. This had become almost like a greeting for me; taking a moment to acknowledge its presence and be reminded of the one that had brought me into this world. I️ wondered if it saw me, too, and wished to send me its own greeting. Done with that, it didn’t take me long to spot who I️ was looking for, so I️ walked up the stairs purposefully until I️ found myself at Crag’s side. He was leaning against one of the Vault columns, knife twirling deftly in his fingers. “Crag,” I️ greeted. He responded with only a grunt and a nod, as usual, and continued to stare off somewhere else. I️ followed his gaze to find he was staring at Veronica, who was leaning against the railing above the staircase to the Vanguard Hall with her arm around a female Huntress. The Huntress was human and even from here I️ could see her cheeks were bright red as Veronica spoke to her with a sly smile. She kept glancing over to the Warlock but then instantly tearing her eyes away timidly. “She does this with girls, too?” I️ asked Crag. He grunted in confirmation and left me to think about it longer. “She never flirts with Sierra or Trixie,” I️ pointed out. “Trixie is like a little sister, and Sierra was onto her from the start,” Crag explained, sounding a bit more sour than usual, “Veronica says it’s harder to find a woman to…to close in on and crack open, I️ believe she said. Says they know more of her tricks than guys do.” “Now that I️ think of it, all three of the girls act like sisters now,” I️ pondered. “Yeah, I️ didn’t expect Sierra and Veronica to warm up to each other, either,” Crag nodded. “Then again, every single one of us contrasts pretty violently,” I️ nudged Crag jokingly, both of us knowing our friendship was odd. “Heh, I️ wouldn’t have been caught dead anywhere near a character like Drew before you dragged me into your little circle,” Crag chuckled dryly. “What about Trix?” I️ raised a critical eyebrow. “Or if Veronica hadn’t dragged me into hers,” Crag amended humorously. “But then, of course, no one would’ve found out you had a happy side,” I️ continued. “And no one would’ve found out Drew could be useful…at times,” Crag gave me a big shock by actually cracking a joke for once. “You’re not wrong,” I️ laughed, “I’m glad I️ met you guys; these few months I’ve had would’ve been a lot rougher without you.” Crag stood silent for a minute, weighing his response. “It does feel good to have friends, after so many years,” he uncharacteristically mentioned his lonely past years as a Guardian. “You don’t talk about before you met Veronica and Trixie,” I️ probed. “Nothing to talk about,” Crag shrugged, “It was all boredom and solitude before.” I️ nodded, knowing he meant it. “But if you tell Sierra I️ have emotions I’m gonna erase the friend list,” he threatened, “Starting with you.” “Wouldn’t dream of it,” I️ chuckled, “I️ won’t tell a soul.” “Your Ghost wouldn’t happen to have emotions too, would he?” Rush was suddenly at my shoulder. “No,” Crag’s Ghost appeared in front of the Hunter, “Do not speak as if I️ am not here, ingrate.” “Ouch,” Rush muttered as Crag’s Ghost vanished to return to his seclusion, “Even when being offensive he sounds like a rock.” “Better than sounding like you,” I️ teased. “Buzz off, dork,” Rush disappeared with a good-humored laugh, leaving Crag and I️ to watch Veronica. “So, um…” I️ rubbed my hands together uncomfortably as the two of us watched Veronica wrap her arm around the girl’s waist, “Sierra and Drew are waiting in orbit for us.” “Trixie is in her ship in the Hangar, we’re just waiting on Veronica,” Crag told me. “Okay,” I️ crossed my arms patiently but shifted uneasily on my feet, waiting for Veronica to notice us since I️ didn’t want to interrupt. Luckily, Crag tapped the edge of his knife on the Vault column, making a gentle ring that Veronica, to my surprise, was able to hear. She looked over, her smile widening as she spotted the two of us. Without pause she said one thing more to the Huntress that made her entire face flush and then left her with a stroke on the cheek. As the Huntress zipped away, looking over her shoulder shyly a few times, Veronica took her time strolling up to us. “How’d you know she’d hear that?” I️ whispered. “We have an agreement that I️ do that when it’s time to drop what she’s doing and go,” Crag answered quietly. “My boys!” Veronica came up with arms wide and embraced both of us. “Hi Veronica,” I️ grinned, returning the hug. After a moment she pulled away, and for a second I️ swore I️ saw Crag’s arm around her, but dismissed it as a trick of the eye from all the movement. “Let’s get to the party,” Veronica smiled, “I’ll call Trixie.” With that, she transmatted away. “She sure does have a way of getting people moving,” I️ joked with Crag. “Yep,” Crag surprised me with a positive response rather than a grunt or dismissal, then transmatted away as well. Again I️ dismissed it as him being in a weird mood, then went to my ship to join everyone in orbit. • • • This time six pairs of boots sunk into the sands of Mars. Sand swirled through the air before us as I took in the towering dunes around us and the ruined city in the distance. Just how I left it. “EEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIK!” Trixie squealed from the back of the group. All of us spun to face her, finding that she was standing with her hands over her visor to block something from her view. We all began looking around for threats immediately, most gripping our weapons tightly, but after a moment I noticed an oddity in our little group that Trixie was facing. Link to Ch18: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/242228144/0/0 Link to Pt2: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/245634428/0/0 Link to ToC: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/212710816/0/0