Dredgen

The Guardian’s form looms above him, waiting. The Warlord leans back in his chair and she climbs into his lap, thighs framing his hips. His arms bind around her as her head settles along his shoulder, pressing her face against the side of his neck.

"Osiris may have returned but are we sure he's thinking straight?" Shaxx questions though he knows she'll offer no response. She's been charging through bunkers all day, recovering fragments for the Brays.

His hand traces up her spine, gently threading up into her hair. She presses into him, her hand cradling the other side of his neck as she snuggles in. Shaxx barely has the space to nuzzle the top of her head but he doesn't mind.

He loves her close. And given she is exhausted, he has a sense she won't be up for a conversation tonight.

That leaves him to his thoughts. His worries and fears for what's to come. They know so little of what exactly that is - the black fleet, the Witness, Erasmis, Xivu Arath? So many unaccounted for variables beyond them and all of them - his gaze drops to the Hunter resting peacefully in his arms - are coming straight for her.

Will she be able to manage all of that?

Lord Shaxx can feel that nagging worry welling in his chest - the same he'd felt before the Young Wolf had gone to confront Savathún that final time. That tangible fear that he will lose her whether he wants to or not. That she will fall and he won't be there to save her.

The Warlord nuzzles the top of her head and she pushes against his chest.

When did his embrace turn crushing?

Shaxx eases his grip and the Guardian settles back in. But she doesn't rest this time; her head angles back and he gazes up at him.

What's wrong?

"Rest, dearest. Nothing you need concern yourself with." He tries to reassure her. She doesn't need another thing to fret over, least of all him.

But, as persistent as ever, the Young Wolf starts to sit up and Shaxx’s shoulders sag. Her hands brace against his chest, her head tilted expectantly for him to explain the bear hold…or rather what brought it about.

He hesitates. How does he explain without setting her own anxieties alight? Surely she's had enough for the day, she doesn't need to be stressing about the future.

Her touch registers against the side of his neck; the warmth of Solar, a subtle pressure against the leather wrap bound around his throat. He reaches up, undoing the clasp and she smiles warmly before shifting her fingers beneath his neck guard.

Every touch is like a first time, isn't it? That wonderful brush of calloused fingers against his own skin. The tenderness by which she traces muscle so delicately he wonders if she thinks him glass.

And her eyes.

Emerald glittering with adoration and a whisper of worry.

Tell me what's wrong.

She never has to utter a word and yet, he can hear it all the same.

Lord Shaxx angles his head into the contact, his nerves revealed in the seeking touches along her waist and hips.

“I only worry over you. You've…quite the roster to face in the coming days.”

Her free hand lifts, cupping the edge of his helmet delicately.

I'll be fine.

She's always so damned sure. So confident in her ability to conquer everything thrown at her.

The will of a Godslayer is not easily broken. 

Lord Shaxx wonders if she mirrors the same confidence of others during the Great Hunt. A time when Lightbearers were so confident and powerful. A time where nothing could possibly stand against them.

A simpler time to be sure. 

The Warlord leans his head down into her touch, before his head lifts and he pries his helmet off. He sets it upon the console before angling his head back into her hand. He kisses from her palm to her wrist and then turns his head to seek proper affection from his beloved Godslayer.

Every worry seems to ebb beneath her lips and Lord Shaxx finds it easier to relax with every caress. He strokes her hair back, taking comfort in the strength his other hand finds in her form. No matter where he touches, her Light is a powerful force, her muscles solid and sculpted, reassuring him that she is capable of shouldering all that comes her way.

When they break apart to breathe, he feels monumentally calmer about this whole ordeal.

Better?

She asks with a playful tug to the corner of her lips, a sweetness in her gaze as she strokes his cheek lovingly.

“Your tactics of soothing are improving.” He chuckles softly and she breaks into a grin.

The Guardian leans in, stealing one more kiss before settling back against his chest and closes her eyes as she nuzzles into the side of his neck.

She’ll be fine. He’s certain of it now. 

His Hunter is nothing if not a force of nature that bends essence itself to her will.

The Witness won’t know what hit them.

Fight forever, Guardian!

—

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Idk if it was better to write other than "My Guardian Knife". It was only in the trailer (without "My" ofc) and so I was not sure if it would be right. It already felt a little awkward even with other options for some reason. It's not the look of his Echo but his Ascendant form with the design from episode's armor. Here he behaves like his Echo tho

I finished this one sketch page underneath where I drew that design for the first time long time ago. But then I got too anxious when I found out that my sketch accidentally had a similar composition as in another person's art, and so I was sad to change and redraw things at that state, and so I thought abt not posting it here, unlike on other sites. But maybe now I could show it like this at least under the cut. So not a lot of people will see it. Or maybe will delete later if will be too anxious abt it. I'm sorry for my stupidness, slowness and inattention. I think I could be over stressed in that time that I got that much anxious bc of such a thing and idk how it would be perceived. That's the things that I'm often worried abt. Drawing smth and not knowing that someone could do this, and so you either leave the idea or scrap it if the thing is already finished, and being paranoid abt it. So I'll add the text that I wanted to write under it in that time

Might be not completely happy with it. But I didn't want it to lay longer in my files and being scrapped then. I know what could happen to it. There're two different helmets. And not sure which of them I like the most, what is better. Tho not sure about his horn. Tried to leave some of his original design parts. But I can't remove the heels. Idk how navigation and compass look for the space, so he's just holding some Taken orbs as planets with Hive runes mystically. Wanted to give him changed Willbreaker as a fusion with Abyssal Edge. But wasn't sure how hard to distort it's look. Maybe after some more time I could come up with smth better. If it needed to have to look closer to the armor itself and not to that heretic sword. I'm not good with designing weapons.

(to the screenshot below) And I knew there're some strange connections between killing and love in the Hive, but I still don't completely understand these. Alright, if you say so