The phantom hovered ahead, always out of reach, face forever blurred in a flickering state like flames, never commiting to one identity. Hunter, Quin and Diana watched it's form as it shifted in place, lazily floating but oddly silent.

"You claim to bring us our greatest fears to taunt us!" Diana shouted, leaning forward, eyes narrowed. Hunter grabbed for her arm but she shook loose and stalked forward, eyes locked on the red ghosts ever shifting face. "Yet what you lay at our feet is our greatest achievements! We slayed the Taken King! We slaughtered his daughters and murdered his son! We tore down the Eliskni Houses and hunted their Kells!"

She could feel the heat of anger, the rise of flame and pride swell inside her as she continued, "We took back what was stolen from us by Gaul and proved that WE are the CHOSEN!" She was yelling now, her voice echoing eerily off the black walls and stones. "We destroyed the Scorn, stalked the Barons and executed the Awoken Prince! We looked into the maw of Riven and walked away!"

The phantom didn't shift away as she took one step closer, "To some, these ghosts you bring back might still invoke fear, but to us--" she clutched her ghosts shell to her chest, gone silent, but the normally blue eye shinning the same red as the phantom, "you simply remind us of how low we once where. How far we have come. And present us a new challenge to overcome!"

Once again she took a step forward, staring into the flickering face of the silent, taunting phantom in the shape of a nameless Hunter. Her next words came as a scream of battle, a promise of war to come.

"With every 'resurrection', you remind us why WE. ARE. LEGEND!"

Focus

Diana stormed off, the clang of her heavy footfalls against the metal walkway made it insanely easy for the Drifter to follow along silently behind her. She made it to the room she called the "winter wonderland of hell" just before Drifters sleeping container and screamed.

Pure, unfiltered rage escaped her as her voice bounced off the still walls back to her. A deep inhale before a second war scream that could have rivaled the Hive Witch Omigul filted through the impossible chill.

Drifter resisted a smile. He was glad to see she still held that spark deep inside her. For too long he had pampered her. Spoiled her. She had gotten too complacent. Too good. She needed reminding that she could always do better, things could always go wrong.

He gathered up some snow in his hand, still silent, still watching as the lights from Diana's mouth flared and dimmed with her angry huffs. When he compacted the snow into a sense ball he watched her as she gripped her fists by her head and growled like a beast, the screams doing little to get out the rage inside her.

When he thought she was going to scream again, he hurled the snowball at her teal head and laughed when it shattered against her. She whirled around and reached for her hand cannon on her hip, only to stop when she saw it was him.

"Cool your gears Darlin'." Drifter warned, "You'll start really steaming if you keep this up."

"I lost." She snarled, clenching her fists and glaring at the ground. "So much, how could you sit there and laugh at me."

"Darlin I don't care if you win or loose." Drifter told her with a scoff, "Ya win some, you loose some. It's the way of livin. You can't expect to win Everytime. It's if you manage to bounce back from things that matters." He walked closer and a hint of a grin appeared on his lips. "And you're still drawing breath."

"What if you decide I'm not fit for the crew." Diana spat angrily. "You'll ditch me. I can't protect you if you vanish on me or shut me out." The heat in the exo woman's voice rose again with the accusations.

"Look kid," Drifter sighed and crossed his arms. "If I thought you didn't have what it takes to be in the crew I wouldnta got you in it to begin with. You're a damn fine fighter. Every hole I get myself in to? Whose there with a shovel to get ol Drifter out?" He moved one arm and poked her hard just under her throat, making her look up. "You."

He studied her for a moment, to see if she was going to arguge, but when she lowered her eyes he continued. "You're spreading yourself too thin out there. Trying to hold up bad teams. You can't just decide to go out and do all the jobs yourself. Find out what it is you want and fight for it. Wanna be the bad guy? Adjust your invasion strategy. Wanna rack up the bodies of enemies of humanity? Stay on your side and wreck em. Teammates can't keep the bank clear? Play the sentry." He started walking around her. "You're gonna get stuck with some lousy players sometimes Darlin', it's the way the world works. But as long as you come back breathin' you got another chance to win. That's all that really matters."

"I don't like to lose." Diana growled, but the heat was gone from her now. She was begining to calm. Drifter's chuckle was the only warmth in the room.

"Yeah. I can tell!" He shook his head, not denying the large toothy grin now. "But it's like I always tell ya." He tapped his ear and mouthed as Diana spoke the mantra she would hear him feed her during the match.

"Focus your fire."

A free to read post I made about crazy ass, connected nightmares that I probably will turn into a short story or a novel! Give it a look if it suits your fancy and let me known what you think!

This Hunter goes by many names. Ask anyone in the tower and you'll hear them.

Diana-3 , Di-3, D-3, Di, but almost never you'll hear Diana. Unless you know where to look.

This Hunter despises the number after her name, it reminds her of the darkness that threatens to swallow her everytime she reboots. Only those closest to her know to strike off the 3. Yet only three have been allowed to call her by her original chosen name, and get by with it. Now, only 2 call her by it. It leaves a twist in her gut that reminds her of sorrow.

It's how she distinguishes trust. How much it bothers her to be called, and what to be called, by other people. Citizens and guardians alike.

“Mel...” Grayson watched as she paced through the kitchen when she passed him a third time he pushed off from the doorway stepping into the kitchen and follow along behind her at a distance, watching her carefully, “Melodi.” She was mumbling to herself, packing a dishtowel as she went, wiping down counters and straightening out of place objects as she went.

“Melodi.” Still, she didn’t answer, stopping her cleaning to put her hands on top of her head and take a shaky breath. Grayson reached out and touched her shoulders gently, which startled her into jumping and turning to look up at him with worry filled eyes. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“You scared me.” She snapped, rubbing her eyes with her hands as Grayson turned her to face him. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

“Melodi I’ve been trying to talk to you for three minutes. Didn’t you hear me?” He watched as she shook her head, nervously putting locks of hair behind her ears. “You’re nervous, what’s wrong?”

“I’m not nervous,” She snapped, slapping away his hands.

“Okay, maybe that’s the wrong word...” He watched as she shifted on her bare feet and put a hand to her mouth, under the bright kitchen light he could see a vein in her neck pulsing. “You’re anxious. What’s got you worked up?”

“I don’t know...” She mumbled to herself, putting a ail between her teeth, which Grayson promptly took out with a gentle hand. “My heart won’t stop pounding and I just feel like the house is a wreck.”

“Claire was just here on Tuesday,” Gray told her, taking her other hand as it wandered to scratch at her neck.

“What day is it?” She asked, looking for the clock.

“Wed---” Gray found the clock under the cabinet by the window and stopped himself with a sigh, “Thursday....it is three am on Thursday.”

“I just want to sleep,” She complained, head dipping down. “I haven’t slept well in days.”

“I know, I’ve heard you pacing,” Gray have a soft laugh, “You’ve kept me up.” When she didn’t respond by smacking his arm or jerking away her hands he sighed heavily and pulled her out of the kitchen and down the hall to her room by her hand. He didn’t stop outside her door as usual and instead pulled her toward her bed. When he flopped down onto the overly lush comforter and stretched himself out Melodi stayed standing beside her bed.

“What are you doing?” She asked as he adjusted a pillow under his head. He pat the left side of his chest with his right hand and stretched out his left arm.

“Come on. Just one night. Just till you fall asleep, you need rest or you can’t work. You’re run down and looking a bit green---no offense. You’re getting sick from lack of sleep.” He closed his eyes and shifted into the bed to get comfortable. “Come on.”

He looked up at her, how her eyes seemed weak and how she seemed to twitch with the slightest movement. Despite her daily shower and her makeup, he could tell she was disheveled and weak. To Gray’s surprise though, instead of demanding he leave or throwing one of her world-class fits, Melodi climbed in beside him.

Cuddling up with her head over his heart, Gray wrapped an arm around her and began stroking her hair, taking care that his breath was slow and relaxed so that she matched him. Although he had promised her it was just until she fell asleep, Gray could feel his own fatigue settling in, his eyes getting heavy. Even though he promised it was just one night, as he felt himself slipping into sleep he thought of how nice it was to share a bed with someone else again.

Superhero

So I'm not one for superhero stories but been watching My Hero Academia and it bled into my dreams. Decided to share the bones of the dream here to keep from losing it.

I saw these two superheros: one male, one female (only know the girls super name, no idea on eithers powers) and they look vastly different from their secret identities. After a long hard battle (the guy was injured pretty badly) they change out from their super forms and are lost in the on looking crowd, worried for their partner.

Then they spot one another and dodge through the crowd, no one really taking notice as they embrace and have a moment of relief, realizing the other was alive.

They were older, and while the day was saved, they realize how hard it is getting for them to keep up with newer, younger heros.

They were in the living room, Grayson stretched out across the couch, saxophone in hand and playing random notes or small sections of songs he knew when Melodi asked, “Why did you pick up the sax?” Gray stopped playing and looked over at her, one brow raised in question. “You’re really good, was just wondering why?”  “When I was still in school, they made us choose an instrument to learn.” He answered with a shrug.  “Yeah but...why saxophone?” “It’s not a douche-bag, wanna-be instrument.”  “A what?” Melodi laughed, leaning on the coffee table.  “Well, when a guy decides to learn sometimes like..guitar, it’s because he wants to get girls attention...like a douche-bag.”  “Okay, why not piano?”  “Wanna-be-rich-boy,” Gray replied, shifting his shoulders until he was comfortable again. “Plus, I like the way it sounds.” He played a few notes, pleasing to the ear but unrecognizable.  “You know not every guitarist wants girls attention don’t you?” Melodi asked as he finished his playing. “And pianists aren’t rich boy wannabes?”  “It’s just stuff I got told to me when I was thinking about what to pick.” Gray explained, “My background, learning a guitar meant I was trying to be some sad, casanova pinning for girls attention. Learnin’ piano meant that I wanted to appear sophisticated and well off. Like I was more than a piece of shit.” “Your dad said this to you?” Melodi guessed, watching as Grayson’s eyes looked away from her at the mention of him.  “Some snobs at school too.” He lifted one shoulder before sitting up, “Oh well, doesn’t matter. Helps out with the job and it sounds pretty damn cool if I say so.”  He played a few more notes, slow and passionate as Melodi closed her eyes to listen. She smiled absentmindedly and nodded. 

Tim

Grayson stopped under a large tree, as he placed his hands in his pockets he looked up into the branches and called out.  “Get out of the tree Tim.”  The branches shuffled and twitched for a moment before a pathetic owl impression called back to Grayson. Grayson dipped his head before he looked back up into the darkness and said.  “I know you’re up there...” The owl mysteriously became a cat in that moment, it’s call sounded more frog like than cat.  “Don’t make me come get you Tim.” Gray threatened without heat as he looked down at the tree’s base.A branch snapped and a large body tumbled from higher branches before it caught itself on the last branch and dangled there helplessly. It was a young man, in his early twenties, dressed in a windbreaker jacket and blue jeans. “Not much further, let go.” The young man looked over his shoulder at Grayson, his plain face pale with fear. “Go on.”  Tim let go of the branch and groaned as he hit the ground on his back. Grayson helped the young man to his feet and assisted him in brushing off the dirt and tree debry from his jacket and hair. Tim had a crop of brownish hair, and at a glance Gray could tell it had been styled once to look similar to a young pop artists, for a discount price.  “You can’t keep showing up like this Tim,” Grayson warned, he backed up and glanced over his shoulder, back to the house.  “But Grayson,” Tim started to protest, holding out his arms. Gray silenced him with a raised hand.  “You can’t.” Gray repeated. “I get it, you like Melodi but you’re stalking her and you are making my job harder. Instead of doing what I need to do, I’m fishing you out of trees.”  “I’m sorry it’s jsut she didn’t show up for work and no one would tell me why so I got worried and I wanted to come check up on her!” Tim’s voice squeaked as he spoke in double time.  “We have a doorbell Tim,” Gray shook his head, “If you are worried than come knock on the door or something and I will tell you. Don’t go climbing trees and tresspassing. I could have you arrested.” “Please Grayson don’t!” Tim pleaded as he placed his hands together in a prayer like form. “I’m not,” Gray waved his hand to stop the pleas and panic, “You mean well, you’re just creepy and weird as hell man.” The elder man shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his hand. “Melodi didn’t show up to work because she’s feeling a bit sick. She got dizzy and sick to her stomach. She took the next few days off.” This seemed to worry Tim who opened his mouth to speak but Gray cut him off. “She will be fine with some rest.” “Is she...” Tim croaked out the words, as if he was getting choked on the words. Despite being in the small woods around the side of the house, he lowered his voice to a loud whisper. “Is she pregnant?” This caused Grayson to burst into laughter, he turned circles as Tim watched nervously, wringing his hands together in wait for an answer.  “God no!” Gray bellowed with laughter. “She’s not knocked up!”  “Are, are, are you sure?” Tim stuttered, “You’ve been careful?”  Grayson’s laughted died instantly, he dropped his hand from his eyes and gave Tim a strange look. His brow furrowed, his thin lips tugged down in a scowl. Tim took three steps back and held up his hands, stammering, unable to get his words free from his throat.  “What he hell do you mean have I been careful?” Gray growled, slightly bending so he was eye level with Tim and stalked forward. He tilted his head slightly to one side and narrowed his storm cloud eyes. His steps were measured and slow, his body tense. “I’m sorry!” Tim croaked out as he ducked around the tree and peeked from around the trunk. “Please don’t look at me like that! The way you move, you look like a big dangerous cat and you’re going to rip me limb from limb!”  “Without an explination I just might.” Gray growled as he straighened his spine, towering over Tim by a foot. “I’m her body guard Tim, not her boyfriend. We don’t...” “I’ve seen the wya she looks at you...when you’re not looking!” Tim spoke in his rushed and desperate way. He retreated behind the trunk more as he continued, “You might not realize it, but...she doesn’t look at you like you’re just a guard.” 

Pedigree

“Actually Grayson, if you don’t mind getting me a refill?” Melodi asked sweetly, using her honeyed tone as she held up her champagne glass, showing it only had a sip left. “Sure thing, be back in a sec.” Gray gave a quick smile and took a step back, nodding to Marco as he placed a hand on the curve of Melodi’s back, “How about you Mr.Roland?”  Marco declined politely and Grayson left, hunting down one of their servers with the bottle and extra glasses. “Well, you have him trained well.” Marco cooed, watching Melodi as she watched Grayson leave. “He isn’t so bad once you get past his barrier. He can even be sweet when he chooses to be.” Melodi smiled and looked back at Marco who scoffed and slyly looked away as he sipped from his glass. “What?”  “Melodi dear, I don’t mean to be rude but he’s little more than a stray dog you picked up off the streets and gave a bath...” Marco chuckled as Melodi froze, the champagne glass touching her lips, “It doesn’t matter if you bathe it and groom it. Hell, dress it up if you wish but a mongrel is still a mongrel.” Melodi’s hand lowered the glass to chin level, her brows furrowing slightly as her rosewood colored lips slowly pursed together. “Really sweetheart you could send him back and get someone...more suited to your quality of life.” She felt Grayson’s hand on her back as he appeared beside her, holding up a full glass of fresh champagne for her. She glanced up at him as she took the full one, Grayson matched her look, one of concern and confusion.  “Everything ok?” He asked, looking toward Marco who just smiled as if he hadn’t just insulted Grayson in his absence. Melodi took the rest of the champagne in her first glass like a shot, swallowing it and handing the empty glass to Grayson without a word. Then she splashed the fresh glass in Marco’s face, causing him to gasp and tense up before wiping his eyes clear.  “Melodi!” Grayson barked at her, starting with slackjawed surprise. “Have you lost your mind!”  “The only ‘mongurel’ here is you, Roland,” Melodi growled through clenched teeth. Her smokey eyes narrowed, her chin tilted up. “I won’t stand here and let you insult Grayson like that. He is a person and he takes his job seriously and has been good to me. You will not stand here and tell me that he is worth less than me because of where he started from.” She turned and put one hand on her hip, “You should leave before I forget my pedigree.” Her voice hissed with contempt and anger.  “You stupid little cu--” Marco raised a hand and had started to swing at Melodi. The singer never flinched. Grayson grabbed Marco’s swinging hand and stopped it, swinging with his free hand--he cracked Marco Roland on the cheek hard, knocking him to the carpet. Several people gasped and more than a few backed away, forming a circle of onlookers.  “You know where the door is Marco,” Melodi said flatly, crossing one arm around her and inspecting the empty champagne glass.  “Allow me,” Grayson growled, grabbing Marco up by his white collar until he stood and jerked him around forcibly. One hand on his shoulder and the other in the bend of his arm, Grayson marched Marco to the door. 

“I know about resiting bitch face okay? I don’t need it explained.” Melodi snapped.  “Really?” Grayson chuckled, “If that’s the case, why do you still suffer from it?”  Melodi gasped and then clamped her mouth shut as Gray looked away. “I guess the same reason you do, ass.” She snapped, making Grayson groan.  “Ooooh, toche, princess.” 

“Grayson, I don’t ask for much--” 

“You ask for the moon, Melodi.”

“Asking for you to pick up your dirty underwear isn’t the same as asking for the moon!” 

“Milady Astra,” Vicorian purred, dipping down into an overly flourished bow, flipping his cape out to his side to draw attention to it. “Still will you not accept my marriage offer?”

“What?” Lenel laughed with disbelief from behind Astra, glancing over to Ranon who watched through narrowed eyes. “He can’t be serious?”

“Oh but I am,” Vicorian straightened himself and shrugged, “I’ve been crazy for Astra since we were children.”

“You tormented me alongside my brother when we were children,” Astra corrected with a roll of her eyes.

“Is it not the way of young men to pick on and tease the one they fancy?” Vicorian smirked at Ranon as if looking for another man to agree with him.

“Not really.” The magic weaver said flatly. “Typically, well-written poetry or a bouquet of flowers is the way to show fancy.” Lenel and Astra both turned to look at Ranon who never took his eyes from Vicorian’s face. “A saying like ‘boys will be boys’ is dangerous, they soon believe they can get away with nearly everything. Like murder, rape, and tyranny.” Slowly Ranon’s head cocked to the side and the slightest hint of a smirk played at the left side of his lips as Vicorian glowered at him.

“You’ve spent far too much time in the company of free-thinking women,” Vicorian sighed and shook his head, “You’ve forgotten what it means to truly be a man.”

“I would rather spend my time with those who think for themselves than blindly accept what is told to them.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest, “Just because it was the way doesn’t mean it was the right way, to begin with.”

Lady Luck

Diana was her name in life. But when she died she lost all attachments to it. When her Ghost  found her, she was damaged and unable to speak due to trama she suffered in her past life. Her Ghost escorted her to the tower where she encountered races she had never seen before: Awoken and Exo.

Terrified of the human like robots and the awoken humans she cowered behind Ikora Rei, the earth human leader of Warlocks.

Ikora taught her a lot about what had happened in her decades of endless sleep, but found her eyes and mind wandering to watch another leader of the "Guardians" with curiosity.

Cayde-6 they called him. He seemed concerned for her fear of him and others like him. He started to visit--Ikora thought it might help her adjust to life in the tower. Gradually her fear lessened until she looked forward to his visits.

When it was apparent that her human body would not heal properly enough for her to leave the tower to work as a guardian, she was offered a shot at becoming like Cayde.... an Exo.

She fearlessly accepted and cast away her human shell. When she was reborn again, Ikora called her Diana, but she didnt answer to it. Cayde spent more time with her, helping her adjust and found that playing with dice helped her get control of her motor skills. Over the course of the year, she regained the ability to speak, among other things that had been almost impossible for her as a human: running, jumping, even shooting weapons. When she offically was labeled a Hutner, Cayde changed her name to Di (die).

Di likes to chance things and curious as can be she can often be found in places she isn't allowed. Like her mentor, Di has a symbol which she marks all her things with: a pair of dice with the lucky number 7 showing.

In her downtime you can find her hanging around somewhere in the shadows, high up from the ground, whittling dice from enemy bones she has collected. She uses them in the field to trip mines and misdirect enemies to avoid confrontation.

She gets excited about treasure chests and while she loves working alone--she has admitted to enjoying the shenanigans of a fireteam. Di's story isn't a happy one, and while she makes many bonds with many people in her new life as a guardian--she realizes why Guardians are cautioned against forming too close bonds with each other.