Through Time and Light [Cayde-6 Fanfiction]

Chapter 11 A Glimpse of Normalcy

The mission to Mercury loomed on the horizon, but before the fireteam could embark on their next journey, the Vanguard had granted them a brief reprieve. It was rare for Guardians to get any downtime, but Liv felt the weight of everything she had been through—the constant battles, the looming threat of the Darkness, and the uncertainty of Cayde’s fate. She needed a break.

Apparently, so did Cayde.

Liv was going over some gear in her quarters when her Ghost, suddenly perked up. “Incoming message from Cayde-6.”

Liv smiled to herself, already anticipating whatever smart remark or joke he was about to send her way.

“Hey, Liv. So, uh, I was thinking. Since we’ve been, you know, fighting off hordes of Darkness, Vex, and whatever else the universe throws at us, I figured we deserve a little break. You know, just you and me. Get some fresh air, maybe grab a drink. What do you say?”

Liv’s heart skipped a beat. Cayde’s voice, usually laced with sarcasm, had a more sincere edge this time. Was he... asking her out?

The Ghost floated over to Liv, clearly intrigued. “It sounds like a date.”

Liv’s face warmed, though she tried to play it off. “Maybe... yeah, maybe it is.”

She sent a reply quickly. “Sure, Cayde. I could use a break. Where do you want to go?”

A moment later, Cayde’s voice came through again. “Meet me in the Last City. There’s this little spot I know. Trust me, it’ll be fun.”

The Last City was a rare oasis of calm compared to the chaos of the universe beyond its walls. As Liv made her way down the bustling streets, she marveled at how alive the city felt—people going about their lives, laughing, sharing stories, and enjoying the warmth of community. It was a stark contrast to the battles she was used to fighting.

She spotted Cayde leaning against a lamp post, his usual swagger in full display as he waited for her. He was out of his Guardian armor, wearing a more casual outfit—still distinctly him, but without the heavy armor of battle.

“Hey, there you are,” he said with a grin when he saw her. “Thought for a second you were gonna stand me up.”

Liv rolled her eyes, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Like I could resist your charm, Cayde.”

He laughed, motioning for her to follow him. “Come on. I know just the place.”

They walked through the winding streets of the City until they reached a small, tucked-away spot—an open-air rooftop bar with a view of the Traveler glowing softly in the distance. Lanterns flickered above them, casting a warm glow over the tables scattered around.

Cayde led her to a table near the edge of the roof, where the view of the Traveler was breathtaking. “Not bad, huh?”

Liv sat down, taking in the peaceful atmosphere. It was strange, being here in a quiet, serene place with Cayde. For once, there was no battle to fight, no looming threat. It was just them.

“This is nice,” she said softly, glancing at him. “I didn’t know you had a romantic side.”

Cayde chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, I’m full of surprises. But don’t go telling anyone, or I’ll lose my reputation.”

Liv laughed, feeling the tension from the last few days finally start to melt away. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

For a while, they talked easily, swapping stories of missions, poking fun at each other, and enjoying the rare chance to just relax. But as the night went on, the conversation shifted to something deeper.

“So, why’d you do it?” Cayde asked suddenly, his tone more serious than before.

Liv blinked, caught off guard. “Do what?”

“Come here. Try to change things. Save me.”

His question hung in the air, and Liv wasn’t sure how to answer at first. She had asked herself that question so many times since arriving in this time. But now, sitting here with Cayde, she knew the answer.

“Because you don’t deserve to die like that,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze. “You’re... important to a lot of people, Cayde. To me. I couldn’t just stand by and let it happen. Plus, not to sound rude, but I didn’t intend on coming to this world, The Traveler brought me here.”

Cayde was silent for a moment, his usual smirk fading as he looked at her with a mix of emotions. “You know, I’ve been through a lot. Seen a lot of Guardians come and go, lost a lot of friends. But no one’s ever tried to change my fate before.”

Liv’s heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. She reached out, placing her hand on his. “I couldn’t just lose you, Cayde. Not after everything.”

For a moment, the playful façade he always wore dropped completely, and Liv saw the man behind the jokes—the one who had seen too much death and pain, the one who had always managed to keep smiling, even when everything else seemed hopeless.

“Thanks, Liv,” he said softly, squeezing her hand. “For trying.”

They sat like that for a while, the weight of their connection settling between them. It was unspoken, but it was there—something more than just friendship, something deeper. And Liv realized, in that moment, just how much she had come to care for Cayde.

After a while, Cayde stood up, pulling her to her feet. “Come on, let’s take a walk. The night’s still young.”

They wandered through the streets of the City, eventually making their way to the base of the Tower, where the Traveler hovered above them, its presence massive and serene. They stopped beneath it, staring up at the mysterious, silent giant that had watched over them all for so long.

“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Cayde said, his voice low. “We spend our whole lives fighting for this thing, and most of the time, we don’t even really understand what it is.”

Liv glanced at him, her brow furrowed. “Do you ever wonder if it’s worth it? All the fighting, all the sacrifice?”

Cayde looked at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers. Then he smiled, though this one was softer, more genuine. “Yeah. I do. But then I look around at the City, at everything we’ve built, and I know it is. It’s worth it. Because of people like you.”

Liv’s heart swelled at his words, and she found herself stepping closer to him, drawn to the warmth in his voice, in his presence.

“I’m glad I’m here,” she whispered.

Cayde smiled, his hand reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face. “Me too.”

And for that moment, under the vast, silent presence of the Traveler, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. It was just them, standing together, sharing something neither of them could quite put into words.

But whatever it was, Liv knew it was real. And that was enough.