Kapitel 22: Spicy Ramen Shop
The Nightstalkers roared and cheered as they tossed Void around, smiles were plastered all around as they finally saw their somewhat temporary member snag a win against an old prick that Levi was.
Even Levi who was sprawled over the ground couldn't help but crack a smile of genuine disbelief when he realized what had happened.
"Alright that's enough, you can put him down now." Tevis's voice resounded.
Like clockwork the Nightstalkers shuffled around forming a clean lineup.
Levi struggled to get up as his ghost appeared, starting to heal his injured tendons.
"Thanks zipper." He chirped, limping up.
The auburn ghost circled around Levi and nodded in gratitude before promptly disappearing.
Void who could still not feel the bones in his arms eventually was on the verge of collapse. But to maintain the decorum of his victory, the hunters beside him were already supporting him with their arms intertwined around his shoulders.
"Easy now champ. You got a hell of a beating." Cory commented, helping Void stand as he held his broken arms.
Obsidian floated closer as his scanner picked up Void's vitals, he glowed faintly, channeling light as Void began to regenerate.
"So that marks the conclusion of the our stealth exercise. But seriously, I think you guys took it too far. I can't believe you resorted to a head on duel." Tevis continued scolding the two hunters as he shook his head.
"Aiigh, It's all good captain. The rookie got a chance and finally won, you should let him celebrate it a bit longer don't you think." Levi dusted off the sand on his armor as he spoke.
"I do agree captain, but first I think it's best you pay up." Bandit chimed in with a sleezy look smeared over his face.
A frown appeared on Tevis's face, "Pay up? what the hell are you talking about?"
Tevis brushed Bandit off as he continued.
Just as he was about to lecture the hunters, he noticed the side eye glares he was receiving after rejecting the bet.
Tevis cleared his throat watching as the hunters solemnly turned their gazes towards him, expecting some payout.
"Captain, while I do respect the protocol and I thoroughly enjoy your sensational speeches. I believe you can't go back on your word." Bandit's voice echoed within the base, carrying a sly allure.
"Ah but I see that you might not want to cash out. You know, considering you bet against the winner and all." Bandit added at the end, a sly smirk planted on his silicon lips.
Tevis immediately face palmed knowing what was coming next.
Void looked at his captain with slight disbelief,
"You bet against me?" He cried.
"Listen it's not like tha-" Tevis tried to reason but the mob had overtaken him.
"Haa, so in the end the captain just wants to scam the rookie... I see." Levi nodded.
"I must say captain this approach is quite excessive, I didn't know you were this ruthless." Cory swayed his head.
A few other hunters also began to whisper.
"I heard the captain bullied the Rookie into accepting the job."
"I heard he threatened the rookie because he was the one selected at first."
"Really? I heard he promised the newbie some great weapon, but in the end he was gonna hand out a ballyhoo classic." The anonymous hunter sighed at the end, clicking his tongue. The Nightstalkers around him scrunched up their faces at his words.
Tevis's frown deepened, creases developing on his forehead.
"Hey, do you think if I report this abuse to the Vanguard resources they will let me take a day off?"
"I think you'll get your ass beat but go for it", two hushed voices continued.
Tevis's frown deepened as his eyebrows twitched.
"Oye.." Tevis was about to speak out but the whispers continued.
"I heard the captain told the newbie he was too busy to teach him one on one and that he wasn't worth his time."
"Really? All the captain does is sit up at the lunar tower though. Ahh, I guess he really doesn't like Void."
Tevis's calm façade finally crumbled.
"OYE, I told you bastards to respect your captain. Fine, fine, a payout? Ok, I will give you guys a payout. Let's all have a meal at the spicy ramen shop, my treat". A victorious grin formed on Tevis's face.
Hearing their captain's generous offer, the squad couldn't help but burst out in cheers once again.
On the side, Bandit-3 could be seen with a lingering faint smile as he crossed out the debt owed for the previous bet.
"Alright alright, so ten of us can go back to the tower, but the remaining five need to be on sentry duty. Since Void and Levi fought today, they are not included. So we're gonna pick lots." Tevis declared.
Suddenly, a suffocating pressure emanated from the crowd. The air seemed to halt, as everyone's eyes narrowed, their fickle gaze darting around, glaring at the ones around them.
"You know the rules. Bandit let's go." Tevis snapped his fingers.
The swift exo deftly pulled out a jar containing lots.
"You only get one pick, don't cheat." Tevis reminded.
A flurry of hands immediately jumped towards the jar as the chits were distributed.
Some had sorrowful smiles while others had eyes full of disbelief. There were melancholic farewells and promises of takeout ramen being brought back.
Finally the winners departed on their jumpships, promising a grand return with several orders of spicy ramen. Some believed them, while the others staying back had given in to cruel fate
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[Bazaar, The Tower, Last city]
The squad of Nightstalkers walked in to the bazaar, their group startled the crowd and merchants roaming around. Some civilians were star-struck to the point that the usually crowded bazaar went dead silent.
Naturally, being a guardian was already very eye catching. But Nighstalker's were heroes clouded in mystery. Many could almost swear they didn't exist. However, today as ten hunters walked in tow with their captain, people were stunned to speak.
Tevis had his arms wrapped around Void as he led them all to the famed Spicy Ramen Shop. Void was slightly excited as although he'd been here for a few months, he'd never gotten enough time to explore the bazaar.
Their group continued to walked down the bazaar as they finally reached a shady crumbling corner store manned by a droid and an exo with a big yellow vending machine at it's entrance.
The exo looked up, it's blue eyes glowing in surprise.
"How's it going Maurice, we'll take ten orders of Spicy Ramen. Large. 5 stars. Extra dumplings. Tevis extended his wrist to show his smart tag for glimmer transfer as the small cashier droid stepped in."
The small droid circled around Tevis, like a lost puppy who found it's owner.
"Hey Aym, you're doing great. Great job helping maurice out." Tevis immediately reciprocated, brushing the droids grey metallic frame.
Maurice smiled faintly as he shook his hands
"No, no payment for you guys. It's on us today, the Nightstalkers don't come to the Bazaar that often. So it must be a special day." The Exo laughed.
"Yeah it's special alright. Our newbie here won his first fight." Tevis's immediately patted Void's head like a proud teacher.
"Hey not my hood, you're gonna mess it up." Void immediately slapped his hand away feeling annoyed.
Maurice's eyes widened.
"A new member? My, I didn't know the city had a new Nightstalker. Please, please, have a seat." Maurice gestured as Aym directed the hunters to their table.
"Keep it down Maurice, it's not something anyone else needs to know." Tevis chuckled.
"Please, you know I am tight lipped. If not then at this point you and Cayde would already be in a lot of deep shit." He shook his head reminiscing of the old times.
"Ah, I really miss those days you and Cayde were quite rebellious always trying to strike pre-emptively. Andal, he would often complain about you, you know he almost pulled his hair out some days. But when you two got that fallen bounty cleared up, he was so proud he couldn't stop bragging about it the whole night." Maurice's eye's dimmed, his voice cut off, a soar lump in his throat as old memories flashed through his mind.
His hands which were always working to clean out some glasses halted abruptly. For a brief second there was silence in the shop.
Maurice seemed lost for a few seconds, but then he looked towards Tevis and broke himself out of the melancholic trance.
"He would be so proud you know, that's just what he was like." He continued, picking up the glass as he continued polishing.
"I know Maurice, I know." Tevis replied with a calm smile.
Void who was sitting at the table shivered slightly. His squad members might not be fully aware but he was one who knew the story first hand.
'Andal Brask, the old hunter vanguard.' He could remember that name.
The man who trained two elite hunters, Cayde and Tevis. The man who mentored Ana Bray. The man brutally murdered by Taniks. If anything, Andal brask started off a generation of hunters. He was a hero and a leader.
Void didn't think he would hear that name today but it did remind him that guardians lived long lives. After all, Andal Brask had been around for hundreds of years. Yet it also reminded him of the dangers they faced. Despite being one of the strongest hunters, he was still tracked down and killed by Taniks.
Void resolved himself to never end up like that. He didn't want the one's around him to suffer the same fate. He could tell that despite Tevis playing it down, the sorrow and grief in his voice never seemed to fade.
He knew the reality. That Taniks was still alive. That Cayde had tried to kill him off a few times already but failed.
At the end of the day Void swallowed up these thoughts, it wasn't yet time to think of the future like that. He had bigger problems in front of him.
He sighed as the Aym dished out the bowls of ramen to their table.
The hunters perked up, as Levi, Bandit and Cory immediately jumped in to indulge.
Guardians didn't need food. But spicy ramen was a delicacy they could not pass out on. Void had never tried it himself since he was mostly out of town. But today, he was almost drooling as his nose caught the smell.
"This stuff....is." He couldn't help but cry out.
His spoon didn't stop moving as he began stuffing the hot noodles down his face.
Spice was one flavor that guardians could indulge in, and it brought them great pleasure. Void could definitely agree as although his mouth felt like it was on fire, his body felt warm. A strange bubbly warmth spread throughout his chest and it made him feel ecstatic.
"Haa, you guys eat like animals. Calm down there you can just get seconds." Tevis shook his head.
Hearing this, everyone immediately roared as the crowd riled up. The hunters continued stuffing their faces until they could almost swear their armor wouldn't fit.
At the end most of them had passed out because of a spice overload. Their body not able to deal with the overwhelming capsaicin, had began shutting down. Naturally, their regenerative abilities meant that it would only knock them out for ten minutes.
Void and the others were sprawled over their tables in the shop as Tevis continued chatting with the owner.
Void's vision was slightly blurred as he held his stomach tight, unable to take even a single step.
His eyes faced the door as he saw a vague figure stepping closer.
"Huh.. you are."
His mind felt fuzzy as he was about to sleep, but then the figure poked him lightly as a jolt rushed through Void's body. The pain immediately forced him to scream out.
"UGH. What...What happened." He held his head as it throbbed.
His vision refocused as the whole shop looked towards the figure.
"You...Sai Mota?" Void recalled that face.
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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please Leave a review!!! Comment and discuss what you liked and let me know how it was!
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