hallarider | And the Light Shines -- Destiny AU

And the Light Shines -- Destiny AU

[for

pavus_redemit]

The Traveller was always meant to be a safe haven for what pieces of humanity still remained. Though their numbers had actually been increasing over the last several years, there was still darkness that needed to be kept at bay. There was still so much that needed to be reclaimed, so many enemies that continued to beat at the doors and threaten what remained. That was why the Guardians always fought so hard. Whether it was tactical strikes, routine patrols or special assignments, the Traveller was home to all sorts who stood for what was Good. The Guardians swore to protect their home at all costs, venturing planets over with their Ghosts lingering nearby, their direct connection back to the Traveller and to the Speaker.

Bramen was no exception. The Awoken Hunter was always eager to serve, ever since he recalled waking up to the Light. Though he tried to be cautious, a number of routine training exercises proved he was often a bit too over-enthusiastic, the poor man facing a number of embarrassing defeats in the Crucible tournaments. Good thing that something like that could be overlooked, particularly for someone so dedicated to aiding the vanguard. There were plenty of others like Bramen - but there was one person in particular that he found himself more than willing to fight alongside. One person could get him to go right into the bowels of Venus and straight into enemy fire on Mars. There was always one man he could trust to watch his back, one Warlock who just needed to look his way and the Hunter would be ready to go at a moment's notice.

That particular Warlock could often be found down in the tavern beneath the hangar, out near where Dead Orbit would congregate. The Awoken of that faction would often glance every time Bramen walked back, follow his movements - it was unnerving but they always kept a close eye on everyone who would come and go. He'd heard from a reliable source they were seeking out new talent. Bramen couldn't help but wonder if his Warlock friend knew about it.

Bramen made his way down to the tavern, taking the steps two at a time as he looked around the modestly crowded area, his bright yellow-green eyes glowing in the dimmer light. He caught sight of his friend, the man seated on a couch with a drink in hand, drinking and chatting with a very bulky Exo Titan - I-R0 N. Bull if Bramen recalled the man's name. One of the more acclaimed raiders that he knew of, a man who commanded his own unit of men and women, his own raid faction. It was an impressive sight to see when they all went off and recorded their run, bringing back what information the city needed. The Exo knew just about everyone in this city - it was no surprise he was friendly with Bramen's own companion.

"Dorian," the Awoken called out, raising his hand in greeting before moving closer to where the men sat, greeting them both, "I've been looking for you."

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As Dorian's ghost calculated up the numbers, Bramen's lip turned into a bit of a disappointed sneer. The numbers were close but Dorian was the clear winner. Those Knights he'd picked off had put him in the lead, despite the second Bladedance the Hunter had managed to pull off.

"Huh. I suppose you're right..." He could demand a recount, he could insist his own ghost interpret the data as well - but even if ghosts tended to have their own personalities, when it came to facts and figures, they weren't liars. The Hunter sighed, letting his shoulders sag.

"I guess your drinks are on me tonight - if I can pull you away from your research long enough."

"Oh the data can wait. You and I are going to drink ourselves back to the Golden Age," he said with a laugh.

His ghost looked pleased that his Guardian was so happy with him and happily returned to his belt. Dorian didn't have any time scheduled with the crucible or any missions for awhile. He was going to research until the data was deciphered.

"Unless you have something important to do?"

Bramen did manage to smile, knowing it was cause for celebration in a lot of ways. They'd recovered a warsat, gathered up important data that Dorian would be able to decipher, fought off quite the army - they deserved a moment to relax and celebrate.

"For you? I've got plenty of time," he said, beaming a little at his friend. So what if his pockets might be a bit lighter after all of this? At least he was going to spend longer at Dorian's side. It was nice to be able to enjoy some downtime, especially with a friend.

"Plenty of glimmer for your drinks too. We'll enjoy ourselves tonight."

"You're damn right we will. Do you metabolize alcohol better or worse than humanity? Bull can drink me under the table because he's a damned AI with a mechanical body and doesn't get drunk but I've never gotten drunk with an Awoken before."

Bramen looked vaguely human. At least, they share some similarities but he knows that his friend is not and never will be human. What sort of differences did they have when it came to booze.

"Awoken metabolise most things pretty well. Alcohol's considered a poison, our bodies filter it easily enough - we can get drunk though I can't recall any times I've had an actual hangover. Those seem to be a uniquely human thing," Bramen explained as he looked to the man, canting his head a bit. He smiled again though, chuckling softly.

"I'll try to make sure you don't get to that point though. Let's enjoy ourselves but let's not put you out of commission for too long."

It wasn't long before the pair reached the Tower again. They turned the warsat over to the Vanguards who would ensure the information was given to the Cryptarchs. The pair were paid handsomely, each granted a few hundred glimmer and a few blue engrams for their trouble. Nothing too impressive, things they'd have decrypted later on. For now, they had a bar to seek out.

And a bar they did seek out, heading to the most popular one for Guardians down near the hangar. Bramen ordered a round of drinks for himself and Dorian, letting the Warlock order whatever he desired. It was just the first round, after all - he knew the man would happily indulge in far more if he allowed it. They downed those ones fast enough, laughing about the fight they'd had with the Fallen and Hive. By the second round of drinks, a few other Guardians had joined to listen in about their recovery of the warsat, enthralled by the story - and laughing a bit at how Bramen now had the misfortune of buying Dorian's drinks now. As most Guardians knew, a man like Dorian could drink quite a bit.

That of course, sparked Dorian to order the next set of drinks. Thankfully, just for them - and not having Bramen buy for half of the bar. As their drinks came, Bramen took his and sipped, keeping good place with his friend, a pleasant buzz going through him from the alcohol. The other Guardians had dispersed, going to fetch their own drinks and meet with their own fireteams, leaving the pair together for now.

"Enjoying yourself?" Bramen couldn't help but ask, grinning a bit in doing so. He wouldn't lie to himself, he was enjoying the evening too.

Dorian adored drinks. He really did. It would be worrisome if he didn't have such good control over his intake.

As the night went on the drinks got stronger and honestly worse but he wasn't drinking for taste at that point. He wanted a pleasant buzz and was getting there when Bramen asked his question.

"Oh, I am lovely." He was slouched low in the couch they were sitting on and swaying slightly towards Bramen when he turned to look at him.

"Your eyes are... well, like galaxies really. How does that evolve? Why does that evolve?" He sat up so that he can get a closer look. "And your skin, it glows. What's the point? Why?"

This was how Dorian's mind worked.

Bramen blinked as Dorian moved closer, glancing down to look at his own hands and the way he did, indeed, have a faint glow to his paler, blue-toned skin. "We're infused with Light," he said with a bit of a shrug, "Or so the stories go. We definitely have a certain bio-luminescence to us though... Our eyes glow for the same reason," he said, trying to give some kind of explanation to his genetic makeup.

"Though unlike a cat's eyes, for example - I can actually see in the dark. My eyes produce their own light so I don't need anything external - except when my helmet's on. Then my vision is limited and obscured, so the light from my Ghost while exploring darker regions is a necessity. But here in the Tower? I can see just as well at night as I can during the day, regardless of how well lit an area is."

Hopefully those answers would be sufficient.

"A cat's eyes don't create light they simply reflect and amplify," Dorian corrected because he had to. He couldn't censor himself right now. It was horrible for him, honestly, but he kept drinking.

"What about sex?" he asked, mostly to himself but Bramen was there and he would hear. "There are animals on earth that have bright, colorful plumage and markings to attract a mate. Do your eyes glow brighter when you're aroused or during sex? What about your genitals? Do they?"

He wouldn't presume that male and female had the same physical distinctions as humans did, that would be silly but he was on this train of thought and couldn't stop himself.

"That's what I said," Bramen said, looking to his friend, wondering if Dorian had already had a bit too much. Or the man might have simply misheard. "As I said, unlike a cat's eyes--" but Dorian had already moved on, to a topic the Awoken hadn't quite expected the man to bring up. Though in this drunken state, perhaps the man was prone to just about anything.

He cleared his through, bringing a hand up to rub at his neck. "We aren't that different from humans, Dorian," he said with a shake of his head, his cheeks and the tips of his ears seeming to glow a bit brighter than the rest of his skin. "Males have a penis, females a vagina, just like humans, we use the same words for it... Though when we're interested in each other, we have a sound we emit from the back of our throats, it's at a pitch that's higher than humans are capable of hearing. Exo can pick it up on their sensors now and then... it's just an affectionate sound in a way. It's not really meant to attract a mate but something coupled Awoken will do. Our courtship really isn't any different, at least not as far as I'm aware. It might be for Awoken in the Reef - but those of us here? Not so much."

He breathed through his nose before taking another sip of his drink, adding.

"Our genitals look a little different from humans though - humans are very... simple in comparison."

"Of course Exos can hear it," he grumbled at his drink. Bull bragged about his sexual conquests all the time. Dorian had to suffer through the stories quite often.

Meanwhile, he was left all by his lonesome because he was an idiot who was attracted to men and kept it very, very quiet.

"How different?" he asked, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Do you have pictures?"

It was still slightly frowned upon for humans to take up with the friendly alien species they knew. Humanity as dying out, they needed to breed and repopulate. Yet another reason Dorian's sexuality shamed his family.

"I want to see."

Bramen's cheeks and ears burned a brighter white in the low light of the bar, trying not to cough into his drink. His brow creased as he looked to Dorian, noticing the way the man had moved a bit closer to him as he started his questions.

"W-well, I don't really... Take pictures of things like that," he said, trailing off a little in doing so. "I'm sure your ghost could bring up some visuals for you, there's bound to be something in its medical banks about it..."

"You are definitely bio luminescent and it's beautiful. You bastard." Dorian finished his drink and set it aside.

He ran his fingers over his ghost. Yes, it could get the pictures he wanted but it wouldn't be the same. Dorian's curiosity wouldn't be sated until he saw one in the flesh.

Honestly, he really wanted to see Bramen's. "Could I see yours?" he asked, trailing a hand up his thigh. "I want to see it. See you."

"You want to see it? Here?"

Bramen could feel his heart starting to pound in his chest, speeding up as Dorian made that request. Dorian wanted to see him. Whether it was simple curiousity, a drunken dare or something else, it didn't seem to matter to the Awoken right now. That lighter glow still came from his cheeks and ears, the man clearing his throat again, having lost track of how many times he'd done that. He set his drink down, not even caring that he hadn't finished it yet.

"If... If we head back to your place, maybe I could let you take a look at it."

"You are an adorable little firefly." Dorian nuzzled the glowing blush along Bramen's cheek. He's so adorable. Dorian's been a fool for not noticing. How could he have not noticed?

"My place it is." He got to his feet and didn't even sway. He wasn't drunk but very pleasantly buzzed. He held out a hand to Bramen. "Come along then."

Bramen shivered at the feeling of Dorian nuzzling against him, swallowing - and letting out a sigh of relief once the man pulled away. The Hunter rose up to his feet, willing the blush in his face to go away, though that brighter glow was still there. "Your place..." he murmured, heart still pounding in his chest as he took hold of Dorian's hand, allowing his friend to help him up to his feet.

Dorian had been affectionate tonight - moreso than he'd ever been before. Whether it was the drinks or the adrenalin still pumping through him after their fight and discovery, Bramen didn't know for certain. What he did know though, was that Dorian was interested in bringing him home. And that Dorian was interested in seeing what an Awoken looked like out of armour.

He squeezed Dorian's hand a little, finally nodding to the man.

"Lead the way."

"Do keep up, darling," Dorian said with a laugh. He laced his fingers through Bramen's and leads him through the streets and levels of the Tower.

He lived in more well to do area of the Tower, higher up with beautiful views of the sprawling Last City. Dorian's father and his inherited wealth allowed him such comfort.

"Here we are," he said as he tugged Bramen to the front door of his space. His Ghost unlocked the door for him and he led Bramen in by the hand.

Bramen didn't spend a lot of time in the civilian reaches of the Tower. As a Guardian, he spent much of his time on assignment, his own home located within the barracks. His own home was very simple, a single room, his board paid for and finances handled by the Vanguards so long as he remained in the service of the Guardians. To be in a home like this was an entirely new experience, his heart still pounding as he took a look around the elaborate home.

"You live here alone?" he asked, as he stepped through the door with the man. Dorian's family was most certainly well off - and this certainly proved it. Dorian still worked hard though, his drive on assignments more than showed that. He wasn't afraid to get a little messy - but that didn't mean he couldn't afford to enjoy the finer things.

"It's a beautiful home... I don't think I've ever been somewhere quite this elaborate before."

Most Awoken weren't as welcomed in human neighbourhoods.

"I do," he said as he watched Bramen take in the sight of his home. He adores all the open space and comfortable furnitaures. He didn't understand how other Guardians stood the barracks.

Still, as much as he enjoyed Bramen's admiration he came up behind him and wrapped his arms around him.

"I would be happy to give you a tour," he said, his voice warm and seductive against his ear. "We can start with the bedroom."

An alien. His father would hate him for this but Dorian cared very little. He wanted this and he wanted Bramen.

Bramen's whole body shivered as Dorian's arms wrapped around his middle, bringing his own hands down to touch Dorian's own. His own hands trembled a bit, his heart still pounding, wetting his lips as his cheeks and ears started to burn a bit brighter again.

"The bedroom..." he murmured the words, repeating after Dorian. He knew that was why they were here, he knew what he was agreeing to when he'd made his suggestion, when he'd said he'd show Dorian a few things. He knew what he was agreeing to, what they would do here - but there was still anxiety there. He'd never been with a human before. He'd never really done all that much with another man either - or anyone for that matter.

He swallowed once more. His throat felt dry. "Lead the way..."

He is not used to hesitancy from his friend. Bramen was always so bold and confident on the battlefield and during strikes. He made a good leader so the change was enough for Dorian to step around and stand in front of him.

"You can say no, darling," he said gently, running a finger down his cheek. "I won't be offended."

He might be a little disappointed. He was very curious about Awoken anatomy and very curious about what his friend would be as a lover but he would not destroy their friendship for sex. He was a big boy, he could handle rejection.

In fact, he would rather be rejected now than later after his heart got involved.

With Dorian in front of him now, looking at him and giving him those reassurances, it was enough to get Bramen to take a deep breath. He brought his hands up to Dorian's shoulders, resting them there for the moment before his eyes met the man's own, those brightly illuminated yellow-green glowing in the dim light of Dorian's home.

"No, I... I don't want to say no," he said, leaning closer and briefly letting his lips touch Dorian's. He was nervous - he'd kissed people before, plenty of times. Awoken, mainly. The idea of a human was exciting, though a part of him almost felt bad in thinking that. Dorian had caught his interest long ago though the Hunter was never certain how to interpret what he was feeling. Now he knew what he wanted, he didn't want to back down.

He craned his neck again, kissing Dorian once more, letting his lips linger there a bit longer, against his friend's own. "I haven't... Done something like this before. With a human-- or a man," he admitted, half trailing off as he spoke once more.

"I want this, I want to be with you -- but I don't want to disappoint you."

"Oh, I get to be your first human?" Dorian grinned brightly as he took Bramen's hand again and began to walk backwards towards his room. "I promise that we humans aren't terribly complicated when it comes to sex and sexual arousal."

His skin didn't glow but he did have an excited flush to his dark skin. There was interested, bright and hungry in his grey eyes. He was quite ready for a night of careful, cautious exploration.

"You know I enjoy the thrill of discovery," he said with his voice once again warm and seductive. "I am quite ready to discover you, darling. You cannot possibly disappoint."

Dorian got to be his first anything - but Bramen kept that quiet for the time being, managing a smile as the man led him off to the bedroom. There was something reassuring about the man's words, the man's promise to explore. That's what Bramen wanted, to explore, to understand - and most of all, to experience it with Dorian. He took a quicker step and brushed his lips against the Warlock's own again, that smile turning into a bit more of a confident grin.

"I think I'd like that, exploring you," he said as they made their way into the bedroom, letting his hands move to Dorian's attire. His hands smoothed over the man's chest, unfastening a few of the clasps on his armour. He tugged at the fabric and leaned in for another kiss, eager to feel those lips against his own again. He was good at that much at least, trusted his skill in being able to kiss someone.

He worried at the fabric of Dorian's attire, wringing it in a hand a little as he looked to his friend, his skin and eyes glowing in the darker bedroom now. He met Dorian's gaze, pausing for a moment before asking again, voice quieter once more.

"And if I need to stop for a minute... We can, can't we?"

"Mmm, I certainly enjoy you exploring me right now." He left his hands resting on Bramen's hips while the Awoken dealt with his elaborate Warlock jacket. "And the kisses are very good."

He kissed him deeply, coaxing Bramen's mouth open so that he could run his tongue along his. It wasn't too different from kissing another human. It felt almost the same, really, except for the texture and taste. Perhaps that was just his dear friend.

"Mmm, yes, if you need to just say and I'll stop. We'll stop." He trailed kisses gently along Bramen's jaw. "I would never dream of taking advantage of you, darling."

The Awoken appreciated the man's reassurances and that tongue that pressed into his mouth, eagerly returning the kiss as he proceeded to work at those fastenings of Dorian's Warlock robes again. He trusted his friend entirely right now, knowing the man wouldn't intentionally cause him any kind of discomfort. If he needed to stop, he just needed to say so - but he didn't feel that urge now. Not in the least.

He let go of the man's robes, bringing his hands up into Dorian's dark hair and smoothing through it. He breathed against his friend's face, capturing his lips again. It really wasn't very different from kissing another Awoken, taste and texture was purely Dorian, however. Purely Dorian and purely addicting.

Bramen's fingers moved through Dorian's hair, scratching at his scalp as he pushed the man towards his bed. "Warlock robes fasten in too many places," he murmured softly, turning his head to press his nose against his friend's cheek. "You should get the rest off for me... And then maybe I can look into getting off this Hunter gear."

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did we want to gloss over them being at the bar and skip right to going back to dorian's?

that's fine with me unless we wanted to do the whole Dorian asks about his dick thing

To the bar they go so Dorian can make an Awoken blush

Ha ha, this will be funny.

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