"Zavala, do you still remember the first day we met?" Cayde suddenly asked as him and his fireteam walked on the streets of the City.

"Yes, I do. I still remember the day I saved you and the group of civilians you were trying to protect. Why?" He leisurely finished a donut after answering. He only really ever let himself loose a little around his fireteam.

"What about you Ikora? You remember the first day we met?" As children pass them, he cheerfully gave one of the kids a high-five.

"Oh yes, very clearly. I also remember you challenge me to a Crucible match later that day, only to be utterly beaten by me." She chuckled.

"Hey, I didn't give it my all because I wanted to see what the great Ikora Rey, Crucible champion, can do. If I had been serious, you would've lost. Big time." The Exo expressively moved his body to make his point.

Ikora smirks, "You keep can keep telling yourself that."

"Why the sudden questions, Cayde? This is unusual of you." The Vanguard commander kept on nodding his head towards those who greeted him.

"Oh, well, I guess I'm just feeling a bit, nostalgic. It's been a long while since the three of us walk down the streets without having to worry about the next apocalypse knocking on our door." The gradually approached the edge of town, which leads to the biggest garden in the City, right beside the walls.

"Indeed." Zavala smiles.

"Is that really all to it, Cayde? I hope you aren't going to tell me you're in need of an 'emergency fund' again."

"Woah, hey, Ikora. I can't believe you think so lowly of me. Do I look like the type of person that runs around and borrow money from my precious friends? Because I'm totally, not that person."

"If you say so." She grinned a little. She totally still haven't forgotten about that particular incident, as much as Cayde wishes she didn't.

"It feels...nice to be able to leisurely walking down the streets and relax ourselves. We may be Guardians, but that doesn't mean we don't get tired." The Awoken realized Cayde has been leading the three of them into the garden, most likely the place where they once frequently visit.

"These few years have been all kinds of crazy. First Luna, then a Guardian that came out of nowhere and solve every single problem we ever had. The Black Garden, Crota, Skolas, Oryx, Siva, and then Gary-"

"Gary?" Zavala raised his barely noticeable eyebrows.

"He means Ghaul."

"Ah. The Red Legion."

"Yeah! Our Guardian took out that big molerat all by themselves. Not to mention the big scary Vex on Mercury and that worm on Mars. The Guardian and their fireteam took them all out like it's nothing. As if they are our savior that has heard our calls."

"Are you feeling jealous that you couldn't join in the fun with the Guardian~?" Ikora laughed out loud.

"Of course I am! Do you have any idea how much I wanted to join in their adventures? Kicking the bad guys' asses and take all the loot? Instead, I'm stuck in a room doing nothing exciting because of that Dare." Cayde grumbles as they reached a small clearing in the garden with a fairly large wooden bench facing towards the Moon hanging in the night sky. All three of them sat down, with Cayde in the middle.

"Your responsibilities as the Hunter Vanguard is important, Cayde. The people-"

"I know, I know. You don't need to remind me. It's just that," He stares at the Moon, "I miss the days when we are still an active fireteam, fighting in the front lines. I miss the thrill of battling alongside you two, risking our lives to protect those who can't do it themselves. As much as I want to protect the Last City, I want to explore what lies beyond these walls." His voice was gentle and longing.

"I agree. I do miss flexing my abilities every once in a while. I still remember fondly of our first mission as a new fireteam."

"Our assault on a Fallen fortress. We were close to not see the Last City again."

"You and I remembered it differently, Zavala. I remember we bust through the front door, guns blazing and took all of them down. I still remember when I used my Golden Gun to shoot your sentinel shield to ricochet towards those Dregs. Fun times."

"Ah, yes. I still recall I had to save you two from a room full of Archons and Servitors because you spent your light right before entering."

"And it was awesome, Ikora. I feel like I'm back in that moment, watching you unleashing a beam of Arc destruction as we take out the remaining foot soldiers. It was glorious."

Zavala chuckled, "Yes, it was. I remember the Speaker was very pleased by the results. Even Osiris and Saint were impressed."

"It's a shame that we only had a few more missions together before the Vanguard leaders before us left one by one." A tinge of sadness could be heard.

"We were the best at the time. We had to be the ones to take on the responsibilities of guiding our Guardians." Ikora tried to comfort the Exo.

"So much had happened since then. All the lives lost on Luna and by the hands of the Red Legion. But we have gained so many victories as well."

"All thanks to our Guardian. Seriously, is no one curious about why they are so powerful? Capable of taking down multiple gods?"

"Maybe you ought to ask them yourself, Cayde."

"Maybe I will! One hundred Glimmer that they won't know what to say." He stares at Ikora, eagerly waiting for her to join in the bet.

"Two hundred that their Ghost will be the one answering the question." She grinned.

"Confident, aren't ya? What about you, Zavala? You wanna bet?"

"I-"

"Wait, stop right there. Forget I ask. You, are going to bet. What are you betting on?"

Zavala sighed, but showed a little smile, "I bet 50 that the Guardian will tell you themselves."

"You're no fun. Welp! I'll ask them about it the next time we meet up. And prepare to pay up your Glimmer after I have a little chat with them because I am going to win, 100%"

The three of them had a hearty chuckle, enjoying this moment where they felt like they were back in the days of being the unstoppable fireteam. A fireteam with a tightly-knitted bond.

Cayde stood up, "Anyone wants a bowl of ramen? I still have three more coupons."

"Sure. I heard they recently added a few new selections."

"I would enjoy a bowl of hot ramen in this chilly night."

"Let's go then! Onwards!" Zavala and Ikora followed Cayde as he marches on to the ramen shop.

Perhaps in time, Ikora and Zavala would be more appreciative of this day looking back. Little did they know, that what they had in this broken world, can be easily taken away without warning.