Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Not so great news
“Might as well give up. You're never going to make it.”
Rost's voice resonated in her head, the words dripping with disgust. Aloy felt ashamed, she failed again. But, something was off. Rost had never been disgusted with her, and he always encouraged her to keep going. No, the voice inside her mind wasn't Rost, but the creature in front of her. Dervahl was a sniveling, conniving, wretched piece of space filth and she would take him down. As a Brave from the S.S. Nora sent to the S.S. Meridian for their special forces, the Vanguard, she was trained to identify mind traps and mind controllers.
Aloy had let her guard slip, allowing this worthless alien shitbag to manipulate her memories. She shook him away and made herself ready for the next round.
“Dervahl, you're coming with me! The charges against you now include attempted murder and kidnapping. Oh, and your mind tricks? Won't work on me anymore!”
He hissed and turned, trying to scamper away from the huntress. Aloy sighed and raised her pistol. She hated when they ran. She aimed for one of his many legs and fired. Dervahl squealed in pain, cursing and swearing in whatever language his kind spoke. She wasn't very good with linguistics, felt that she didn't need it. She was the type to 'shot first, ask questions later'. She knew of someone else who was better than she was. Best not to think of them yet. While Dervahl writhed in pain, she sauntered over to the desk he'd been cowering behind to pick up a metal rod.
She been told, repeatedly, not to beat her targets to near-death, but she had a habit of not doing what she was told to do. Swinging the rod around, she walked over to the bastard. Dervahl hissed and spat at her, backing himself into a corner. Aloy looked down him, an evil grin upon her face, and slammed the rod across his other legs, breaking more of them. The screams he made only caused her to keep hitting him until she felt resistance on the rod.
She turned her head to find Vanguard Captain Ersa Forgespark behind her, a tight grip on the rod that was now dripping with alien blood. She looked down at Dervahl, unconscious and laying in a pool of his own blood.
Aloy looked back at the captain and, smiling sheepishly, said, “Oops?”
Ersa sighed and pulled the rod out of Aloy's hand.
“Nora Brave First Class Aloy Brightspark, what am I going to do with you?”
Aloy shrugged her shoulders and walked away.
“You know Commander Sun-King won't be happy about this!” Ersa shouted to the red-headed huntress.
Aloy turned and said, “When is he ever happy with me?”
She walked away, smiling and chuckling. Aloy was a rouge, a wild card, and it was something that never sat well with Avad- Commander Sun-King- even though he had personally requested her from the Nora. The Nora's crew had very few men in it and her military was almost made up of women, a stark contrast to the Meridian. Avad had heard the stories of the red-headed, wild huntress of the Nora's Brave cadets. Her fierceness and intelligence, her speed and determination. But, he wasn't expecting her to be so... defiant. She wasn't as accepted on the Nora as he had expected. But on the Meridian, she'd been welcomed with open arms by the Vanguard. Especially by Erend Hammersmash, the Vanguard's second-in-command.
It was no wonder though, she was beautiful and skilled, a trait that was prized by the Vanguard and all from the planet Oseram.
Ersa's brother was an excellent fighter until his crippling injury. Now he trains new recruits and those sent to the Meridian. Erend took to Aloy like a Quarzian takes to their watery world. She was quick, strong, and blunt as shit, so it was easy to see why anyone, especially Erend, would fall for her.
Aloy reached the landing pod and was greeted by Aldur.
“So, how bad is it this time?” he asked.
“'S not too bad.”
A repulsor-lift controlled stretcher carrying the badly maimed Dervahl glided behind her.
“Ya know, Command is going to have a field day with your ass when we get back.”
“Hate to burst your fucking bubble, but when we get back I'm going home and sleeping for half a click.”
“Yeah, I bet you will...”
“Aldur...”
“Aloy, a word if you please?” Ersa called.
Aldur was saved from Aloy's anger, but she still managed to send him a glare of death. Walking over, she saluted Ersa.
“Captain.”
“Aloy, I need to speak to you. Privately.”
Aloy nodded and followed Ersa. Once they were out of earshot of the others, Ersa stopped and turned.
“Captain, I-”
“Drop the title, Aloy”
“Fine. Ersa, you know why I did it. I had to.”
Ersa held up her hand to stop Aloy.
“Yeah,” she heaved a sigh, “I know. But what you did is bad. Really bad. I might not be able to protect you this time. The Council knows that this was the last time-”
“But-”
“No buts this time, Aloy. It was bad the last time you went before them, but this...”
Ersa bobbed her head toward the Arachnoid being loaded on to the prison pod.
“Aloy, this is really bad. He'll be lucky if he use even two of his legs, that is if he lives. Look-”
“Ersa, do you even think I care if he lives?” Aloy responded, a darkness clouding her eyes.
Ersa sighed. “You don't have to remind me. What he did to Erend... to both of us... it's unforgivable. He may have deserved this, but we have a job to do. We are to bring him in alive, not nearly dead. You might lose your post here, possibly get sent back to the Nora. Either way, you'll lose everything on the Meridian. Even...”
“I know. But I just... I had to. For Erend.”
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Ersa saw the pain in Aloy's eyes, knowing how angry and hurt she was over what Dervahl did to her brother. If she had been in Aloy's position, she'd done the same thing. Except, she'd make sure that the bastard was dead. Aloy knew what she was up against, but for her to lose it all? Ersa couldn't even imagine. She, herself, nearly lost someone important too, but Aloy swooped in and saved the day. Again. Ersa was a little jealous of Aloy and her exploits, but she was thankful to her too. She saved her and Avad, plus she helped Erend recover faster from his injury. Aloy was the best damn soldier she had the honor of serving with, even if she was a bit unhinged sometimes. She loved the girl dearly and only wished happiness for her.
“Captain, the prisoner has been loaded and pre-flight checks are complete!”
“Alright, we're on our way.”
Ersa looked at the huntress and said, “Please, be careful. For Erend's sake.”
“Aye, ma'am.” Aloy replied.
Aloy turned and walked away, leaving Ersa saddened by what was going to happen to her friend. She returned to the pod, watching her crew mess around with each other. It saddened her more to know that her crew would not be the same without the Brave. Seeing their captain had returned, the crew entered the pod and left the planet.
Upon their arrival on the Meridian, the band of Vanguardsmen and the Brave were greeted by a massive crowd, cheering loudly. Chants of 'Aloy, Aloy!' rang through the masses and when she appeared at the hatchway, the crowd erupted joyously. Aloy smiled and gave a small wave, but her smile faltered as she scan the crowd. Where was he? She thought. It wasn't like him, he always showed up when she returned from a mission. Saddened, she grabbed her gear and started to walk home.
The people loved her, knew what she had done for them. She saved their Commander, rescued the Captain of the Vanguard, and now she brought in the one who had committed those crimes. She normally would greet the people, to walk amongst them, but her heart wasn't in it right then.
When she reached her apartment, she opened the door. Something seemed off, but she realized that it was just her. The lights were dimmed and flower petals were scattered across the floor. A small side smile appeared on her face as she entered. Putting her gear down, she followed the path of petals until it led her to a split in the path. One way leading to her bedroom and the other toward the bathroom. Shaking her head, she chose the bathroom. Getting cleaned would be the best course of action. She was still stained with Dervahl's blood and smelled really bad.
Removing her suit and her under clothes, she turned on the shower and stepped in. The hot water soothed her aching body and cleansed the grossness from her, a moan escaping her. A whoosh of cold air came and went very quickly and a set of arms wrapped around her naked waist. She turned, only to be pushed against the wall and a pair of lips crash upon hers. The body pressed against hers was one she'd know anywhere. Erend's tongue played along her bottom lip and she opened her mouth to slide her tongue along his. She moaned into the kiss and things went at a fever pace.
Erend reached down and slid his hand in-between her thighs. Releasing his lips, Aloy's head tilted back as Erend kissed and nipped his way across her jaw and down her throat. She felt him brush his fingers across her clit and inhaled sharply. His chuckled and felt it reverberating through her chest. Continuing his way down, he reached her breasts, taking one in his mouth and sucking on her nipple. She moaned loudly, thankful that the shower was running to muffle the sound.
His fingers played with her bundle of nerves and teased her entrance. She groaned and growled. He moved to her other breast, bringing it pleasure too. She felt him dipping his fingertips in and out of her. She was going crazy with passion for him, almost begging him to plunge himself deep inside her. She was wet and slick around his hand and she wanted nothing more than to take him and make them come together. But she knew that he was taking his time with her, making her wait longer, torturing her.
Erend reached her naval the area just above her intimate parts and looked up at her. Aloy looked down and nodded. His tongue slid into her folds and she bucked. He licked at her spot and lapped up her fluids, driving her closer to the edge. He had two fingers inside of her and was slowly sliding them in and out of her. It was maddening what he could do to her, but she could even with him. Oh, and how good it felt to return the favor!
“E-Erend!”
Had his mouth not been busy, Erend would have responded. Aloy's hand grabbed a hold of his hair and pulled. A deep moan escaped him, vibrating her from below and sending a fresh wetness leaking from within. All of a sudden, Erend's tongue entered her, causing her to cry out in ecstasy. She felt the pressure building, but she wasn't ready to release it just yet. Having gotten his fill, he traveled back up to her lips and kissed her deeply. She loved tasting herself on him, it brought out the beast in her.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she hoisted herself up and brought him flush to her body. She could feel his pulsating member against her inner thigh, liquid streaming down from the tip. Erend pulled her legs from around his waist and set her down.
“I have another idea,” his voice husky and deep with lust.
Then, without warning, he turned her around and bent her over. She also loved it when he took the lead. As quick as a blaster bolt, he was thrusting inside her. Fast, deep, and hard movements made quick work of their needs and soon it was over. Aloy slumped against the wall looking at Erend, smiling.
“I was hoping to be cleaner for you, but I guess you like me a dirty.”
Erend chuckled and said, “No, but I just wanted a really good way to welcome my wife home.”
“I think you succeeded. Just wish my husband wouldn't tease me.”
“Eh, you don't always get what you want, darlin'.”