[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/197415283?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=1]Catalogue of Art and Fics related to Fireteam Daybreak[/url] [i][b]Word Count[/b]: 401 [b]Summary[/b]: Laila has endured a near-death reset, though it has again stolen away her memories of her former Fireteam, of her friends, and her love. In her new life she has traded her Arcblade for the Void Bow, a symptom of her changed personality. In light of the weight of his guilt, Cayde takes it upon himself to bring back the friend who has helped him through so many hard times. Part 1 --- (currently reading) Part 2 --- [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/219825893]Thanatonaut: The Deep Stone Crypt (Memory 1)[/url] Part 3 --- [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/227373339]Thanatonaut: The Deep Stone Crypt (Memory 1.5)[/url] Part 4 --- [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/227633976]Thanatonaut: The Deep Stone Crypt (Sideshow 1)[/url] Part 5 --- [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/229905165]Thanatonaut: The Deep Stone Crypt (Memory 2, part 1)[/url][/i] Part 6 --- [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/243496257?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=1]Thanatonaut: The Deep Stone Crypt (Sideshow 2)[/url] ------- His face was clear as day- Cayde’s cheek and brow plates had contorted into the same look he’d worn the day that Andal died. It was disbelief, painted by grief and coated in passive, simulated strength, like he was bracing himself for that which might destroy him at heart. Cayde’s hand was stiff beside his thigh, fingers nearly touching the grip of his hand canon, unsure, unprepared, in comparison to her more passive demeanor. Laila knew what came next and she was ready. She had faced death many times before but had never [i]allowed[/i] it to take her, much less at the hand of a friend. She briefly wondered what she would see in her final moments, before she traveled to the deep stone crypt for the seventh time, and what she would be like if she awoke again. Hopefully someone different. Hopefully, she would be the person she’d kept hearing about, the person her friends had known and adored- the one who laughed and loved with all her heart, who embodied light itself, not the frigid weapon the Void had brought back. Laila watched the flicker of remorse in Cayde’s eyes before she closed her own and quietly hoped that he would be able to forgive himself for what he had to do. Although she couldn’t remember just how much his friendship had meant to her, she’d grown to like Cayde and didn’t wish him to suffer more than he already had. She could see that the thought of it was making him twitchy, anxious; but more than that, she could see his instincts winning the war against his feelings, his wavering faith, his cruel sense of support. This wasn’t [i]just[/i] about Merric and the rest of Daybreak, Cayde needed her back too. Maybe soon she’d understand why. “Do it.” There was a quiet groan from his chassis ([i]a resigned sigh[/i]) as a hot flash illuminated his cheeks and throat; eyes flickered her way and he pushed back the sickness in his gut. “Are you sure...?” he asked uncertainly, more to convince himself that he was doing the right thing than to solidify her decision. Laila nodded without a hint of hesitation in her and he grimaced, steadied his resolve. “Alright then… deep breath.” The gears in his jaw froze as his hand gripped the weapon tight and snapped it up between her eyes. There was a flash, a loud clap, then the grinding of metal piercing metal.