Through Time and Light [Cayde-6 Fanfiction]

Chapter 19 Morning Light

The first rays of dawn filtered through the window, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. Liv stirred slowly, the warmth of Cayde’s embrace still wrapped around her. The night had been everything she hadn’t realized she needed—intimate, tender, and filled with a closeness she had never thought possible between them. For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn’t thinking about the looming shadow of Cayde’s fate or the weight of their responsibilities. It was just the two of them, lying together in the quiet peace of the morning.

She shifted slightly, her cheek resting against Cayde’s chest as she listened to the quiet hum of his breathing. He wasn’t sleeping—Exos didn’t need to sleep—but he had stayed there with her, his arms wrapped protectively around her as she slept.

Liv’s fingers traced lazy patterns on his chest, her mind still hazy from sleep but filled with a warmth that refused to fade. She didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break the moment. But she knew, eventually, the real world would creep back in.

Cayde stirred beside her, his voice a soft rumble in the quiet. "Morning, Liv."

She smiled, shifting slightly to look up at him. "Morning," she whispered back, her voice still thick with sleep. Her hand came up to rest on his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his core beneath her palm.

Cayde’s eyes softened as he gazed down at her, one hand gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "How’re you feeling?"

Liv smiled, her heart swelling at the softness in his tone. "Better than I have in a long time," she admitted, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. "Last night was... everything."

Cayde’s usual cocky grin appeared, but there was a warmth in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. "Yeah, I’d say we did alright," he teased, his voice light, but the affection behind his words unmistakable.

Liv laughed softly, the sound filled with genuine happiness. "You’re impossible."

He chuckled, his fingers trailing along her back. "That’s why you like me," he said, his voice full of that familiar swagger, though it was laced with something deeper, something more real.

Liv settled back into his arms, her head resting on his chest once more. For a long moment, they simply lay there, wrapped in each other’s warmth, neither of them willing to break the moment. But eventually, reality began to creep back in, as it always did.

"I guess we should probably get up," Liv murmured, though she made no move to do so.

Cayde’s arms tightened around her slightly, his voice low and full of reluctance. "Yeah... probably. But I’m not in any hurry."

Liv smiled against his skin, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his chest. "Me neither."

Eventually, they did get up, though it was with great reluctance. Liv dressed in silence, her mind already beginning to shift back to the responsibilities that awaited them. There were always more missions, more threats to deal with, and the quiet peace of the morning couldn’t last forever.

Cayde watched her with a quiet intensity as she moved about the room, his eyes lingering on her as if memorizing every detail. When she finally met his gaze, she found herself smiling, a warmth spreading through her chest. "What?" she asked softly.

He shrugged, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips. "Just thinking."

"About?"

Cayde pushed himself off the bed, crossing the room to stand in front of her. His hand reached out, gently cupping her cheek as he looked down at her, his expression softer than usual. "About how lucky I am."

Liv’s breath caught in her throat at the sincerity in his voice. She leaned into his touch, her hand resting on top of his as she gazed up at him. "I’m the lucky one," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

For a moment, they stood there in silence, simply looking at each other. The unspoken understanding between them was stronger than ever, and Liv felt a warmth spread through her chest at the thought that no matter what happened next, they had this. They had each other.

Cayde’s hand dropped to his side as he took a step back, his usual playful grin returning. "So, what’s the plan for today? More world-saving? Or can we just skip straight to the part where we hang out and make fun of Zavala?"

Liv chuckled, shaking her head. "Tempting as that is, I think we’ve got work to do."

Cayde sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up in mock defeat. "Always with the responsibilities. Fine, fine. But don’t think I won’t sneak in some fun along the way."

Liv rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips. "I wouldn’t expect anything less."

The walk to the Tower was quiet but comfortable, the sun rising higher in the sky as they made their way through the familiar halls. Liv could feel the eyes of a few Guardians on them as they passed—some curious, some surprised—but she didn’t care. Let them stare. She and Cayde had nothing to hide.

As they reached the main courtyard, Zavala was already there, standing near the Vanguard table with Ikora by his side. His sharp gaze landed on them as they approached, and Liv felt a brief flicker of nerves, wondering what he would say. But before she could dwell on it, Cayde stepped forward, his usual swagger in full force.

"Morning, big guy!" Cayde called out, waving a hand in Zavala’s direction. "Don’t worry, we didn’t sleep in too late. We’re here to save the world, as usual."

Zavala raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he looked between Cayde and Liv. But to Liv’s surprise, he didn’t comment on their obvious closeness. Instead, he gave a brief nod, his voice calm as he said, "Good. We have new intel. There’s a situation brewing on Nessus."

Liv exchanged a glance with Cayde, who grinned and winked at her before turning back to Zavala. "Well, looks like we’re back to work. Just another day in paradise, right?"

As Zavala began to explain the mission details, Liv felt Cayde’s hand brush against hers, a quiet reminder of the bond they now shared. Whatever the future held—whether it was more battles, more threats, or the shadow of Cayde’s fate—they would face it together.

And for now, that was enough.