More enemies. That's what she found. After getting the life knocked out of her a few times, she'd finally made it through, dragging the bloody rifle behind her at this point. Yes, she had used it as a club several times, why do you ask? And there were still…more…fucking…enemies. At this point, Yetta was getting pissed. Wasn't the Traveler supposed to be all light and life? With a roar, she charged the largest one, her Arc clicking into place, a staff of static and lightning coming to her hands as if it was meant to be there.
In her humble opinion, he fell fairly quickly. At least, that's what she'd say. What actually happened was her being used to wipe the floor until it was coated in golden tinted red. But, it was dead now, and she ripped her shattered helmet off, spitting out leftover blood on the body. "Fucking bitch," she snarled. Cherry nudged her hand again, growling affectionately. She scratched behind his head, raising her chin.
Jason floated over her shoulder. "Carman would be proud of you if she could see you," he promised. "You don't give up, that's for sure." Closing her golden eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose. Her head pounded from the constant revivals. "Come on, let's go find Crow. Glint's worried sick."
. . .
She had a new helmet on now, planning to push forwards until she heard Crow's footsteps. Yeah, she had her crush's footstep pattern memorized. What of it? "We've been watching you," the air hissed around her. It was the same voice from the city. "The student, trapped under her mentors shadow. We know this pain, and we would take it from you."
Yetta called her sidearm to her side. "Who are you?" she shouted. "I at least deserve to know the name of whoever's ass I gotta kick next."
The strange voice seemed to hesitate. "You're filled with determination, we must admit. So much strength, and such spirit. We hate to see it going to waste"
"You don't know shit," she argued. Yetta felt a little stupid, arguing with the air, but Cherry was snarling again, crouched low to the ground, as if he anticipated a fight. And she would always trust her war beast, and her ghost. Jason was already in hiding. The sidearm was loaded and readied.
"But we do know. We've seen you fight with her, with your mentor. You and us, we could take all of it away, that anguish. Together." Yetta didn't let it finish its statement, firing at the ceiling above her.
"Yeah, no. I don't trust what I've never seen before." She didn't even think before she aimed at the running figure behind her. Crow held his hands up, stopping mid stride.
"Don't shoot?" he tried. Yetta put the gun down, sighing in relief. Crow looked around, obviously looking for Carman, who, admittedly, was the smarter of the duo. "Did you…come here alone?"
"By accident. Got yoinked in. Carman came after me, she's still a little touchy."
"By touchy, she means pissed and ready to murder Yetta," Jason added helpfully. Yetta nodded. "Because Yetta can never stay in one place when she's told to." And for that, he received a glare. Too far. Jason was right, of course. But still, too far buddy.
"Glint's worried about you," Yetta continued, striding over. Crow pulled her into a tight hug. "I was too."
"You are absolutely covered in blood. How many times did you die just getting here?"
"Lost count after five. You should see the other guys." Yetta nestled into his shoulder. He still smelled good, by some witchcraft. Smoke, and a little sweat. A little bit of blood. He'd been hurt a time or two. "Let's go back to camp, before Glint worries himself too much." She reluctantly pulled away, turning and walking back towards Carman's signal, which was rapidly approaching.
. . .
It was common for Yetta to sit a ways from the camp at this point, staring daggers into Carman's back. She wasn't dealing with a pissed off warlock, not when she finally had a break from fighting for her life. Carman was right. Yetta knew this. She just…wanted an apology. She just wanted Carman to acknowledge that she was also wrong, for once. Yetta wasn't dumb, or stupid, or brainless. She was reckless, and there was a small difference. She was still smart. For fuck's sake, she'd managed to impress a Cabal empress by trying to raise her war beast right. She'd made it through to here, purely by accident and sheer dumb luck.
And somehow, Carman blamed Yetta for that. Yetta wasn't dumb. She knew what she did was wrong. She picked at her bread, still musing. She wasn't dumb. She could be smart, and badass, and she could do things that Carman couldn't, like summon her Arc staff. Like jump while she was in the air. A crumb fell. Yetta sighed. She had to face it eventually, however. She'd never amount to Carman's worth. Carman, who had killed gods and turned them into guns for fun.
Carman. Hero of the Red War, Hivebane, God Slayer. Carman, who could and had beaten her ass in private matches. And what had Yetta done? Adopted a Cabal war beast. She set the bread down, and laid back, staring at the sky. A heavy thud came from next to her as somebody sat down. "You're spiraling again," Crow reminded her.
"No, I'm not," she denied.
"Yes you are. You have that expression when something's troubling you, and it's all you can think about. Come to the camp, take your mind off things for a while."
"I'm not apologizing."
"I don't expect you to." He laid beside her. "Just come when you're ready. We'll be waiting for you."
"You say as you get comfy." Crow chuckled, and her cheeks warmed.
"I admit, it's not as soft as a bed roll, but it'll do as long as I get to keep you from being lonely." Yetta sat up, turning so she faced him. Picking at the grass, she took a deep breath.
"How do you…how do you manage it?"
"Manage what?" Crow looked at her, curiously.
"All of it. Knowing that you aren't the big hero. Knowing that, no matter what you do, it can't compare to Carman." Crow sighed, heavily. Yetta looked at him, his mouth twisting. Light danced around his skin, and she subconsciously reached to her own face. When she looked hard enough, she could see light of her own.
"It's hard, sometimes," he finally answered. "Then you gotta remember what you can do that she can't. For instance, you have a pet war beast. One that would die for you."
"He's still a pup," she reminded him. "And I spoil him."
"You understand my point. That, bringing him to the tower and sneaking him through, that was impressive. And you fighting? That's impressive too. You made it here, *alone*, alive, and ready to keep fighting. Whether Carman admits it or not, you're more capable than before. So you're reckless, big whoop. You can work on that." He sat up as he spoke, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Carman's just…scared. You remind her a lot of Cayde. She's scared you'll die like him."
Her mouth twisted, leaning into his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, the best sound she'd ever heard. "I won't," she promised. "I think things through enough not to do that."
Crow chuckled again, and pulled away. Yetta followed for a second before straightening. Glint nestled onto her lap, his single, electronic eye staring up at her. Then the Ghost flew up, beeping. "Crow!" he called out. "Don't forget-!"
"I didn't." Crow reached into his pocket, and pulled out a wrapped cylinder. He handed it to her. "I know you've been wanting one, so I may have bribed Drifter to…procure one. Don't tell Zavala or Ikora." Yetta took it curiously, peeling the paper away. "I meant to give it to you when, or if I got back, but…well, you're already here."
She took the knife out of the sheath, the twisted blade glinting in the faint light. The official name was…a little much, but she knew what it was. Tri-dagger. She tossed it around, catching the hilt. A big smile played on her mouth. "A knife? Are you flirting with me?" she coyly asked Crow.
"Maybe I am." He laid back. "I mean, you won't make the first move. Might as well be me."
"Excuse me?" Yetta's head snapped up, her cheeks turning purple. "W-eh-what first move?"
Crow hummed. "Unless I read you wrong. Either way, I'd like to say this. You're cute, it's fairly obvious you think *I'm* cute, which I'm flattered by the way. And you're funny, you're brave, a little reckless, and determined. However, you are easy to read, and really horrible at keeping a secret. So. I know you have a crush on me."
"Shit… Carman told you, didn't she?"
"She did," he admitted. "You caught me."
Yetta laid back onto her arms, looking at the sky. "I know I'm not the best…girlfriend material. I don't even know if guardians are allowed to date."
"Saint and Osiris are married. Trust me, it's fine." Crow chuckled. "The commander had a wife and a son. He has no room to judge either." He sighed. "Of all people, why me?"
She shrugged. "Same reasons. That and you keep to yourself, mostly. Adds to that mystery thing. You've taken me to places Carman didn't even think of, just to show me a bit of your life. That…means a lot to me. You're really the only person I know well, besides Carman."
"And you know how guarded Carman is." Crow shimmied closer.
"Yeah." Yetta kept her eyes on the stars. "So… what now? You know my big secret, what now?"
"Well, I'd like to date you, if you'd let me." Her head snapped around, staring him dead in the eyes.
"Sorry, what?"
"I want to date you. Doesn't have to be anything serious. Not right off the bat, at least. Just dating." His gold met hers, and Yetta looked away, shyly.
"I'd like that, actually."