#hello cortana

[doom-dreaming]

god the library sucks so bad. the halo level. not the actual library

[darksouls2yuri]

the armored casket

(reference)

[empresskadia]

Fractured [Master Chief | John-117]

I seriously can't stop thinking about this man, ugh, he deserves the world. I didn't know what to write, so this happened. I have John's Gentle Touches chapter kinda planned out but it's gonna be a hot minute before it gets written and posted.

Post Halo: Escalation

It was one thing to be ordered to take R&R and another to get dragged away for it, or rather, as close to R&R as one could get on a massive ship. John was sure that Kelly was going to tease him as soon as he saw her next, but he couldn't tell you no. Not when he was glad to see you alive and unhurt.

That, maybe, he didn't fail you like he did Cortana.

It was after the third mission since he had reassigned Blue team that he noticed the UNSC Infinity had added to her crew, more specifically when you had marched right into the hanger, hands placed on your hip and Kelly let out a low whistle. "Someone's in trouble." She had teased that made Linda give a short snort as they passed by.

Though it was Fred who placed a hand on your shoulder. "He's all yours, [Y/n]." The Spartan patted your shoulder gently, the request in the movement evident. 'Take care of John.' and your small nod was answer enough.

Your brow raised as the green armor approached, he was glad, no, happy to see you again. This felt like the one thing that didn't seem to have gone wrong, but it had been four years since he had last seen you. Maybe everything between you two had changed.

"Hello, John." You said with that soft smile you always give him.

Or maybe it hadn't. 

The Master Chief simply nodded in acknowledgement; he wasn't sure what to say. Where to start? The loss of Cortana was still too fresh and if he was being honest with himself, a part of him hadn't tried to find you as soon as possible. Perhaps it was the fear that you would see him differently now.

He had failed.

His thoughts were circling when he felt two taps on his chest plate. "Come back to me John. I can hear your thoughts running from a mile away."

"I-I lost her," He admitted.

You were quiet for a moment staring into his visor like you could see him through the helmet, a sad smile tugged on your lips, "I know. I'm sorry." You really were. Cortana had been your friend, one who would tease John with you, one who would help you with your projects and have late night chats with you in the lab, one who always kept you up to date on John's missions regardless of if she was supposed to or not.

"She told me to tell you goodbye. And thank you-"

"And to take care of you?" You guessed, cutting him off before you tapped his chest armor again, the clink vibrating through the air. "Let's get you out of this. I wanna see you, John." And he couldn't tell you no, whether or not he wanted to take off the armor.

He complied.

He could do orders.

He could share this loss with you.

And while he laid in your arms, out of his armor, in the silent room that was broken by your humming, your fingers slowly dancing across his bare back, John almost felt like he was home, like he could survive this loss. His arms were wrapped around your waist, his face pressed against your stomach as your nails continued their movements, gently caressing over the pattern of scars as if you were rememorizing the old ones and studying the newer imperfections. "I missed you," you whispered as your lips pressed against his shoulder, right onto a scar he received from the Didact like you knew where it had come from.  The confession was so quiet that you took in a steady breath as if you were grounding your feelings. "I thought you were gone." He could hear the small quiver in your voice.

John lifted his head a fraction, his eyes meeting yours in a silent understanding. He had missed you and feared the worst. As he looked into your eyes, he understood your fears, a mirror image of his own. The thought of losing you, of facing the galaxy without your presence, was a fear he couldn't bear to confront. John's arms tightened around your waist, not enough to hurt you but to remind him you weren't going to disappear, that you were indeed alive.

"I'm here," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to your forehead, a silent vow to never let you go again. The warmth of your embrace, the gentle rhythm of your breathing. With you, he felt whole, as if all the fractured pieces of his being had finally found their place.

[cryptotheism]

Hello i hope you have a good time with Warframe! May you discover all the cool shit at an appropriately engaging place!

Ngl the writing is a bit cramped. The game throws so much information at you so fast. The Cortana lady is kinda flat, and you don't see much of her character.

The side characters we've gotten have been pretty interesting though. I like the arms dealer and the ship AI. I kinda wish the mission voice overs were like a group call where you could let them bounce off each other a bit more. Otherwise the Cortana lady just kinda becomes the TF2 announcer, you just kinda tune her out.

Like, this whole game clearly exists to give you people to kill as a badass space ninja. They didn't come up with this world first. They came up with badass space ninjas first, and then realized you needed orcs to kill. That's fine. The orcs are best when they're hamming it up and calling you a Pathetic Sulfur Worm Of Gorblon 5.

[ageless-aislynn]

Title: “15 Minutes” (9/?) Author:  @ageless-aislynn​ Characters/fandom: Master Chief John-117/Reader, Halo the series Summary: You're in peril but don't be afraid, help is near. Series: How to date a Spartan (without even trying) Rating:  T (PG13) Length: 2,568 (this chapter, 22,261 total so far) Spoilers: Set in the Silver Timeline of Halo the series, not the games or novels. Though we began with the events of Halo 1x06, there will be no more show spoilers. We are still firmly seated in the AU Warthog, merrily driving out to places where there’s only a passing nod to canon. 😉 Trigger warning: claustrophobia Disclaimer: Definitely not mine but I do enjoy borrowing them just for a bit! 😉 A/N:  Text is both here in this post or available at AO3, however you like to read. Halo season 2 has finally arrived! However, this fic continues to zip along in the AU Party Warthog, so, while we began with season 1 way back when (and you’ll see a few more things from s1 along the way 😉), we’ll not be venturing into s2 territory at all. Unless s2 is going to take some verrrrry interesting twists, lol! Chapter 10 is in progress by hand but I hope to have it ready soon. 🤞😣🤞 The tags have been updated for hurt/comfort starting with this chapter. If you read, I hope you enjoy! ⭐💖⭐

Taglist: @pinheadbanger​ @mysardencut​ @laurenstacy610​ @sporadicbelievernightmare​ @ultrablackwidower​ @bxmxtx​ @jellotherelol

If you would like to be tagged in my John/Reader fics, just let me know! I also write John/Kai, John/Cortana and Kai/male Reader, so I’m glad to tag you for whatever you’d like. If you would like to be removed from the taglist, also feel free to let me know, no harm, no foul. 😉 💖

Halo fic masterlist ⭐

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8

Trigger warning again: claustrophobia If you need to avoid the actual scene, skip the entire first section but there will be a lot of mentions of it again through the rest of the chapter, just so you're aware. I don't want to cause any distress to anyone so if you'd like a recap of what happens in this chapter, feel free to contact me here and I'm happy to oblige so you can stay in-the-know without reading something that could trigger a bad reaction. Stay safe, my friends! 🤗

You tried to gasp in a breath but there was a weight pinning you down. Smoke burned your lungs and your eyes. Your left arm couldn't move but you were able to bring your right hand up to wipe your face, trying to clear your vision. The only light in the rubble came from a shower of sparks a few feet away, emitting from a panel half-ripped from the wall. There was very little to orientate yourself by.

"Hello?" you tried to call but you couldn't take a deep enough breath to yell. The muffled ring in your ears told you that at least one of your eardrums had ruptured.

Evaluate, you thought in the tone you used when triaging patients, shoving down a wave of panic. You tried to squeeze out from under whatever was pressed across your back. No good, too much weight.

There wasn't a tremendous amount of pain but you worried at the numbness from your waist down, behind whatever was restraining you.

Evaluate.

You tested moving your legs, your feet, your toes. It felt strange but yes, you had movement.

Spinal cord potentially compromised but not severed, you diagnosed as clinically as possible.

Something overhead gave an alarming groan.

Alert help. Report your position.

"Hello? I'm by the crane operator booth. Can anyone hear me?"

You couldn't get the volume you wanted and you automatically tried to inhale deeper. You couldn't and had to fight another wave of panic. The animal part of your brain wanted to claw the twisted metal of the deck, trying to squirm free, but when you twitched, something above you groaned again.

You had no way to know how perilous the collapsed structure was. A wrong move could bring it all down.

A fresh wave of smoke irritated your nose and you coughed weakly. From far away, you heard the muffled sound of a woman saying your rank and last name.

"Here," you choked out. "I'm here."

A blue light shimmered a few feet away, the lower half of a blue-tinted woman, her upper body phased through the rubble. Then she shrank until she fit the space, adjusting like a camera lens. A hologram.

She repeated your rank and last name. "We have your location," she said, your damaged hearing distorting her voice. "Sit tight, a rescue crew is on their way."

You tried to respond but the smoke triggered more coughing, so you nodded.

"I'll stay with you for as long as the holo-emiter holds," she said, gesturing towards the ruined wall panel that continued to spark.

"Thank you," you managed to say. "Casualties?"

She glanced up and away as if receiving new information. "Reports coming in of injuries but no fatalities. Your alert gave enough time for almost everyone to get clear."

"Good." You made yourself slow your breathing down, taking shallow breaths since you couldn't take deeper ones. For a moment, your head swam and it felt like the floor tipped. Your fingers scratched for a hold on the crumpled metal.

The sound of your rank and name cut through the terror. "You're all right," the woman assured you. "You're not falling. Try to stay still. Silver Team will be back on site in a few more minutes. John will be here soon."

It gave you something to focus on other than bring trapped. The way she knew that the mention of John would comfort you, that she didn't call him Master Chief like most people did, even the mannerism of how she'd looked away, like someone was speaking in her ear...

"Your name wouldn't be Ms. Classified, would it?" you asked haltingly and tried to smile.

"That's... not inaccurate," she said and maybe it was your blurry vision but you could've sworn she gave you a fond smile, like she knew you. "I'm not supposed to tell my name."

You tried to say it was all right but couldn't draw enough breath.

"Ah, screw it," she said. "What are they going to do, fire me? My name is Cortana."

You must've blacked out because the next thing you knew, she was kneeling next to you, her small holographic hand resting atop your outstretched arm as she repeated your rank and name.

If you could get a breath, you needed a good, solid breath. Your chest instinctively fought to expand but couldn't beneath the pressure bearing down on your back. Something above you slid and the pressure abruptly worsened. You clawed, you fought, you struggled to breathe. To live.

"John, get here now! The support beam is failing!"

"Not his fault," you tried to say. "Tell him. Not his--"

Metal screamed and everything went dark.

You woke, grasping at nothing. You still couldn't get a deep breath but this time you were on your back and it felt like someone had laced a corset brutally tight around you.

"Easy there. You're all right," said a deep voice.

Your vision swam and then Spartan Vannak-134 appeared out from the dim lighting. You were still clawing at the air, trying to sit up, and he caught your hand a little awkwardly in his much larger ones.

"Where?" you gasped.

"You're back on Reach, in medical."

Once he said it, details emerged like a black and white picture filling in with color: the beeps of the monitors, the distinctive antiseptic smell. Your hearing was still deadened but not as much as before, meaning they had already begun healing therapies on your eardrums.

Anything you might've wanted to say dissolved like sugar on your tongue before the words could be spoken. Your head seemed too full. I'm drugged, you thought and that was the last thing you knew for a while.

Voices drew you from the murky depths and you tried to open your eyes but couldn't.

"Hold her hand," Vannak said in a quiet rumble. "She likes that."

A new hand gently folded around yours and your fingers instinctively gripped hold.

You woke, feeling the phantom press of metal bearing down on you, forcing the air from your lungs. You tried to sit up, your limbs flailed, uncoordinated and leaden. A second hand closed around yours and a feminine voice began to softly sing, a lullaby in a language you didn't recognize.

The room was blurry but you caught a glimpse of red hair -- Spartan Riz-028. You went under once more, dreaming of music that soothed your fears.

Later, there was a new voice to lure you up from the sticky darkness.

"Poor little thing. She looks so small."

"She'll heal. Hold her hand, it helps."

At some point, you jolted awake to find your hand cradled carefully within Kai's.

"Hey," she said, sitting up straighter in the chair next to the bed. "You need anything?"

Your head felt less stuffed with cotton than before but now that cotton seemed to have been transferred to your mouth. "Water?" you croaked.

She jumped up and returned shortly, carrying a cup with a straw in it. You intended to sit up but a searing pain in your ribs immediately convinced you that was a bad idea and you let her help you by holding the straw to your lips.

"Slowly," she advised.

Once you'd taken a couple of sips, you mumbled your thanks then promptly passed out.

You thought you'd closed your eyes for a brief moment but when they fluttered open, it wasn't Kai sitting in the chair, holding your hand.

As soon as John knew you were awake, he was on his feet, carefully brushing the fingertips of his free hand along the curve of your cheek.

You mouthed his name.

"Rest," he said. "I'm here. You're safe."

For the first time in what seemed like forever, you truly felt as if you were. Your mind let go.

"And how's our favorite mech, the Hero of the Pit?"

"That's not a very heroic name," you confessed, smiling as Maria and then Jamie entered medical.

You were sitting on the side of the bed in generic gray scrubs, waiting for Dr. Savannah to give you final instructions before your release. It had been two days since the explosion. Your hearing had, thankfully, returned to normal. The rest of you... not so much but you were on the mend.

They both gave you careful hugs.

"You look a lot less like you were squashed by a building," Jamie said sincerely and Maria punched his arm. "Hey, that was a compliment!"

"Don't make me laugh," you begged, holding your left side. They'd fused your broken ribs back together but the tissue damage would take longer to resolve. Still, aches, pains, limited motion and all, you knew you were very lucky.

"I hope they're giving you a nice vacation, at least," Maria went on.

"I should be ready for light duty in a week."

"Technically, I said we'd evaluate you for light duty in a week," Dr. Savannah corrected as she entered. "Afraid your friends will have to catch up with you later."

They said their goodbyes and, as they left, you started to stand. The doctor quickly said, "No, you don't. I don't want you walking on that leg."

"It's not broken," you argued.

"Not anymore," she countered. "Stay put. I got you a ride."

"I don't need to be wheeled back to the barracks." You tried to keep your tone confident but the truth was even that little bit of exertion had left you feeling twinges all along your left leg. Your left shoulder throbbed with each heartbeat.

"Well, good thing you're wrong on both counts," she said, winking. "And here he is now."

John came through the door, dressed in his undersuit as if either about to head to the Brokkr stations to have his Mjolnir mounted up or returning from having it removed. You didn't even realize you'd moved to rise again until Dr. Savannah put a practiced hand on your good shoulder to keep you down.

"I'll be sending PT to you twice a day, starting tomorrow," she said. "They'll help you to get your strength and mobility back. Around that, rest. Catch up on your reading, watch some thoroughly trashy movies, and keep your feet up. Not too far up, though. Nothing too strenuous. Make him do all of the work."

That got you to look at her and she waggled her eyebrows.

John cleared his throat slightly, a faint but definite flush creeping up from his collar. "Yes, ma'am."

"All right, see you back in a few days, sooner if anything else develops. You know what to watch for."

It wasn't until she stepped back and John approached that it clicked.

"You're going to carry me?"

"Yes, ma'am," he repeated in a murmur that shivered straight down your spine.

Since your left side had taken the brunt of the damage, he put your right to his chest and cautiously picked you up in a bridal carry. Despite the care, being moved set a thousand things to hurting and your breath hitched as he straightened.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," you said, your tone tighter than you would've liked. You thought, I hope nobody sees me being toted around like this, but, as soon as you left medical, you realized that no one was actually looking at you.

I think if Master Chief offered to drop me and pick up any marine, ODST or officer in this hall, they'd be hopping into his arms before I even hit the floor!

At the first turn he made, you realized the rest of it. "This isn't the way to the barracks."

"Nope," he said and you knew him well enough now to see the hint of a smile in his eyes.

You didn't have to wait for further clues, there was only one place, then, that he could be taking you. "How many strings did you have to pull for this?"

"Not as many as you might think," he demurred. "Your actions saved lives."

And they could've blamed you for failing to make sure a bomb hadn't been sent to the Pit in the first place. The curly tailed Warthog had been your responsibility, after all. You'd been curtly informed of all that when they'd debriefed you the first day you'd had your eyes open for more than 15 minutes.

You doubted they'd told that to John, though.

When you reached his room, he maneuvered so to get his thumb on the panel without jostling you too much. The lights came on as he took you through the doorway and then he paused.

"Kai," he rumbled, shaking his head. "She said studies show people heal better with color. I should've known she'd overdo it. Say the word and I'll have her in here clearing this out."

"It's your room," you said, "but personally, I love it."

The duvet on the bed and the pillows on the couch were now a rainbow of jewel tones. A tapestry with a field of sunflowers dominated the wall at the foot of the bed and you could've sworn there was a dusting of diamond glitter shimmering on every wall, sending tiny holographic rainbows through the air in all directions. But the main thing that caught your attention was overhead.

"She put up stars," you said, brightening.

"Ah, that one was actually me," he confessed. "You seemed to really like those in her room so I thought..."

You stretched up in his arms, inhaling a little sharply at the stab of pain in your left side, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I love them, John. Thank you."

A short time later, you found yourself lying on the bed in the darkened room, looking up at those stars. John had profusely apologized for not being able to stay after getting you settled in. He'd turned down the bed so you wouldn't have to, had put your padd close at hand on the nightstand to the right along with a bottle of water and a couple of emergency ration packs in case you got hungry before someone bought you a meal. He'd even procured you a set of unthinkably soft civvies to change into, exactly your size and in your favorite color.

You couldn't imagine that a Spartan had ever taken care of a sick or wounded person before, other than in a battlefield triage situation, so he'd probably found a checklist from somewhere to guide him. His earnestness to make sure he'd done everything right sent warmth flooding through you.

Before he left, he'd paused to kiss the top of your head.

"You know," you said, lifting your chin, "my lips aren't broken."

He hesitated. "The last time I did that, an entire base fell on you."

"Only the warehouse part," you said dismissively, "and there was absolutely no correlation, I promise."

He tried to smile at that but his eyes still showed concern.

"I promise," you repeated more seriously and he exhaled as if about to make a tremendous leap. His kiss was so soft and gentle, it was barely more than a whisper against your mouth.

Once he had left, you'd considered taking Dr. Savannah's advice and watching a holo, reading something on your padd, or doing any number of things to pass the time but ultimately, you'd wanted to appreciate his handiwork.

After all, it wasn't just anybody who could say a Spartan had literally hung the stars for them.

[bellygunnr]

Broken Out of Time

A commission piece for @bloodgulchblog -- a Pilot/Chief fluff piece. This was really fun to write.

----

"Joy."

John sinks down into a crouch, hunkering further down behind the worn boulders they'd been using for cover. The elements of his HUD jitter as Joyeuse shifts attention, which he also feels in the connection between his NI and armor, which some part of him translates into fingers trying to tickle his neck. It's uncomfortable.

"Joyeuse," he says, firm. "Where'd Esparza go?"

She makes a humming sound. John takes stock of their surroundings while she plays nice with components of his armor, cycling through the various scanning functions to locate their wayward civilian.

"I thought you were watching him," she replies-- with enough grace to sound slightly abashed and guilty.

He grunts and detaches his pistol from the magclamps on his thigh.

"And I thought we were watching the birds," he returns evenly.

They were watching the birds, to be fair. Zeta Halo differed from his previous experiences on Forerunner structures in that it had a functioning… ecosystem… of sorts. With the remaining UNSC forces securing a tight foothold, he'd felt he could start relaxing his stranglehold on procedure and start-- something. Appreciating things. As it turns out, false suns feel just as warm as real ones.

"It's a little disconcerting to see birds use brass shells for mating displays," Joyeuse says. "Fernando doesn't have any proper IFF markers. I don't know…"

And he'd-- what? Relaxed enough to let a civilian sneak off into unknown territory and get himself lost? He twists around, staring intensely at his surroundings, waiting for details to seep out of the long grass and compacted dirt, like remnants of Esparza would suddenly make themselves known.

And they did-- eventually. Boot prints. Impressions of knees in the dirt. Headed further away. John carefully follows the tracks and picks his way down the rocks, closer to the thin bubbling creek that coalesces into a river in the distance. Joyeuse casts out another round of scans.

Ah.

John forgoes scaling the remainder of the terrain in favor of dropping down right behind his charge. Or, he would have, if Joyeuse didn't throw out the mental equivalent of an arm across his chest.

He freezes in place. Esparza lays prone in the grass. She highlights a handful of silhouettes. Ah.

Esparza must have snuck off to obtain a closer look at a different set of wildlife. Zeta Halo also possessed a number of rodent-like creatures (that the marines and personnel made quick work of eating). He sees them now, dipping their naked heads into the water for a drink.

Briefly, he wonders if the rings are capable of seasons. Then he shunts that thought aside and hunkers down beside Esparza.

"Hello," John intones.

Esparza jumps in his skin and bites his tongue on a yell. John stifles a surge of mixed emotions -- guilt and pride, mostly, with a tinge of amusement.

"Wear a bell," Esparza says, shaking his head.

"You snuck off first."

He blinks at John, expression scrunching up, radiating surprise.

"Guess I did."

John shifts his position in tiny increments. He doesn't want to disturb Esparza, nor does he want to disturb the animals they're watching. But this particular area has even fewer sightlines than the outcropping and it's-- rankling him, might be the word. Yeah, the sergeant uses that word a lot. Now it's in his vocabulary.

Joyeuse's good humor at the phenomena is a burst of sunlight down his spine.

"My house was on a prairie," Esparza says suddenly. "Country home. You know. So we got a lot of critters like that in the evening."

One of the rodents stands upright.

John casts back for a memory, maybe something to relate to Esparza (as he can learn to converse, Cortana would be--), and makes a listening grunt.

"My kid learned pretty quick about the circle of life though," he finishes. "Or…"

He trails off, stymied by the ground shaking seconds before the vibrations sink into the Mjolnir. Two of the rodents bolt off into the grass. The third lunges into the water and paddles determinedly to the other bank. This puts it within throwing distance of them for all of a second before it vanishes into the ground.

Joyeuse had been correct about the burrows, then.

Esparza opens his mouth and snaps it shut as the air around them rapidly shifts. A crimson Banshee roars overhead, followed by an UNSC aircraft.

"Let's move," John says.

He instinctively reaches over to Esparza, but his charge is already on his feet and retreating. More guilt and pride assaults him but he stuffs it down in favor of hurrying back to the Warthog on which they came. Joyeuse automatically switches over to friendly radio chatter and yeah-- that's contact.

Banished making a move on the local FOB.

"Can never catch a break, can we, big guy?" Esparza laughs.

John waits excruciating seconds for Esparza to buckle in before flooring it.

No, they can't. But the lulls are nice while they last. He thinks Esparza understands when their hands overlap on the shifter.

[alienisticxo]

hello there!

my life is finally calming down and i am so excited to continue my writing journey here with all the Halo fanfic ideas i’ve started and have been kicking around!

logging in again and seeing all the love on my fics, Before the Fever especially, means so much to me.

as we all know, the Halo series has returned with season 2, and it’s looking pretty great so far! i can’t wait to gather more lore and ideas from it!!

aside of that, i’m still here, i still love Chief (and our girl Cortana), and i can’t wait to write again! Before the Fever is definitely far from finished and i’m so excited to get back to it— see you guys around and feel free to request fics if you’d like!

i’m so glad to be back 💚

[lemonandtheart]

Hello dear. How are you?

Wouldn't it be cool if Metalhead had a female voice in new tmnt cartoon iteration. Idk why I thought it was gendered as female despite being a robot. Until lately I heard it saying "I will protect mutants" in a male voice. What do you think.

Was that a missed opportunity?

Hello!!

I have thought so much about this since I read it, and it would be great to see a female Metalhead! In fact, I love that idea so much I actually made her for my own version!

So I made Shellby!

Her Metalhead design is meant to be a rush job because of things that will occur in the plot. He named the AI Shellby because many AI's are given female names (Alexa, Cortana, Siri) and it was the first thing he thought of. He used her to control Metalhead as well as perform basic computer tasks and chat with Mikey (because he's clingy and Donnie has very important work he needs to do) She gains sentience at some point and I do not have this fleshed out at all but they end up in Donnie's computer somehow and that's how he discovers she's aware:

And once they're out is when he makes her "casual" body which is meant for daily use and not combat (though, admittedly, it does have weapons and the only reason he doesn't want it used for combat is because he actually put effort into that body. He doesn't care as much if the Metalhead form gets busted since it was basically scrap parts to begin with.

She's his lab assistant and helps keep the lab clean and since Donnie's team medic she assists as nurse Shellby! April and Mikey love dressing her up and they won't leave her alone at all. April actively looks for more cute outfits to put Shellby in. Shellby doesn't mind at all.

A lot of her personality stems from her chatting with Mikey, so she's also bubbly and mischievous like he is. She will change her personality depending on who is around her to accommodate what she thinks they want her to be like. They all like her but Donnie's def a little creeped out by her for a long time since he never designed her to have free will and she sits right in that uncanny valley for him! I can't wait to finally hit where she'll show up and thank you for the wonderful idea! <3

[mattapparentlystumbltourneys]

Welcome to the Virtual Character Tournament!

Wanna find out who the #1 character of 1's and 0's is? That's what we're gonna find out. Welcome to the Virtual Character Tournament!

The classification can be a bit vague, so let's get into the rules and definitions.

A virtual character is described as a character existing in a digital space (classified by the narrative as such) who primarily operates within said space.

They can have a physical form in some capacity, but it cannot take precedence over their virtual form. (If they do not have a singular physical form and are known to body-hop, that's fine.)

A franchise can have up to 3 representatives.

No OCs. Sorry.

Be respectful of other people. The characters are fictional, but the people rooting for them are not.

No n*zis, t*rfs, tr*nsphobes, or any other related bigots. Not even as an easy springboard for another character to win.

I say virtual characters due to stipulation against AI. AI could work, but in this case, I mean fictional AIs that exist for all kinds of narrative purposes, and not current modern AIs, which exist to let techbros steal from people and cross moral boundaries.

I guess while I'm on that, let's talk about franchises or properties that are excluded from the running.

Real life AIs (ChatGBT, etc.)

South Park

Minecraft SMP

Ender's Game

TOME: Terrain of Magical Expertise

Harry Potter (Unlikely to appear. I'm just covering my bases)

Also, while these characters can still be submitted, do so primarily for propaganda, as they will already be included.

Megaman.EXE (Mega Man Battle Network)

Ai (Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains)

Cortana (Halo)

Other than that, if you have any further questions, submit them to my ask box, and then I'll answer them there and the form accordingly.

DEADLINE TO GET YOUR CHARACTERS IN IS AUGUST 20TH! SO LET'S GO!

Lastly, tagging other great tournaments, like @fandomanimatic-tournament, @mattbracket, @elementspecificcharatourney, @retirement-home-rumble, @sharp-teeth-swag, @enemies-to-allies-tournament...and my past tournament, @elderlytourney!

[datoneboardedguy]

Halo Cortana X Male OC UNSC Soldier Reader Fanfiction (LEMON)

(DISCLAIMER!: I DO NOT OWN THE HALO IP OR ANY OF IT’S CHARACTERS!)

THIRD POV:

Since the events of Halo 4 in this alternate timeline Cortana has defeated Masterchief & become an unstoppable force tearing throughout the Universe utilising undiscovered weaponised Forerunners hard light technology that can allow her to see into the minds of her victims & project the people their deepest darkest desires in a physical hard light construct forms to lure out & imprison her victims in her newly acquired Forerunners hologram simulated prison cells that physically projects the environment around them.

(Basically they function just like the X-Men Danger Room but in very small prison cells but when they are in their simulations they are as free to roam as much as they would in reality blissfully unaware that they are in a simulation & memories of their real lives eventually completely fade away permanently & eventually they become completely brain dead)

& this has left all sentient life across the galaxy on the verge of extinction, all modern human civilisation in the universe has completely collapsed into a post apocalyptic age where the few remaining humans numbers are dwindling & in one of these remaining pockets of human societies is a man called M/R who’s deepest desire is to find a woman to “repopulate.”

M/R’s POV:

Me & my fellow Soldier are out patrolling through the woods in UNSC Warthog Jeep when suddenly our engine just stopped working & soldier says “Stay with Jeep while I go back to base camp to get the tools.” “Why didn’t you bring them with you?!” “I didn’t think we’d need them!” He says defensively with his hands up then he hops out of the Warthog & as he heads off back to base i muttered to myself *SIGHS* “No wonder the Human Race is going instinct..”

A few minutes later:

I’m listening to the radio to listen out for any trouble from the other search units trying to be vigilant but the other units all missed their check in’s then the radio was cut off with *LOUD STATIC NOISES!* I immediately shut it off before it burst my ear drums then I heard footsteps from outside of the Warthog Jeep, I looked out to my left & saw life sized naked looking blue woman with glowing bright aqua blue illuminated eyes with short dark blue hair. My eyes widened when she gestured for me to get out of the Jeep & as I stood there she walked closer to me & seductively whispered “Hello there M/R..” “Uhhh.. h-hi.” I stutter out. Then she slowly strokes up & cups my left cheek & seductively whispers “You’ll make a fine addition ..to my collection.” “Huh?..” she then starts to slowly rub my crotch instantly making me errect as she seductively tells me “Come with me..” & I eagerly reply “..Okay.” very sheepishly without a second thought.

Then as soon as I agreed to go with her she let’s go of both of my cheek & erect bulge in my pants then turned around & walked away from the jeep deeper into the forest, I then went to follow her & after a few minutes of following her while staring at her big blue jiggling ass cheeks swaying from side to side the entire time I felt weird a compulsion to ask her “..May i kiss you?!” She then stopped walking & turns around to stare back directly at me as she tilts her head sideways as she smiles & opens her arms out as her open invitation to start making out with her. I walked towards her & as I reached her her arms wrapped around mine & slowly started sliding the tips of her fingers up the back of my upper arms all the way up to the back of my shoulders while her face is just inches away from mine close enough to feel her seductive breath on my face as she deviously smiles sending tingling shivers down my spine. Then our lips finally met her luscious big blue lips which basically melted into mine then I slowly wrapped my arms around her waist planting one hand on her lower back while the other hand firmly grabbed her right ass cheek.

Then suddenly we’re warped into an old vintage looking doorless bedroom with a single small window to let in the moonlight that shines directly onto the fancy wooden bed that has a blanket that matches the room wallpaper striped colours, while the walls were covered with dark & light green striped wallpaper with Victorian dark brown wooden architraves & vintage furniture, I opened my mouth to let her tongue in & we deepened our very passionate kiss.

After a few long minutes of passionately making out she pushes me back onto the bed then slowly seductively crawls onto the bed & straddle’s my waist. As she bites her bottom lip she slowly lowers herself down onto my manhood & let’s out a very loud sexual moan as she fully takes me into her which causes me to lose control & let out a loud moan as well.

This then prompts her to thrust down onto my pelvis the pleasure feels soo overwhelming amazing it caused me to fall into a deep lust crazed primal mind state & pull her down to start making deep passionate love to each other as we’re thrusting into each other like rapid dogs. Her skin physically rubbing against mine is soo addicting hours went by blurring together as we’re bolting each other senseless we made each other cum simultaneously over & over & over again & we never got tired, it’s pure debauchery bliss & I love it, love her. She eventually pauses our love making after we just cummed into each other for seemed like the thousandth time & seductively whispered to my ear “Welcome to the HIVE love.” She then slides her digital tongue into my mouth & merging with my tongue while the energy flows from her digital tongue & pours into my throat connecting & interfacing with my body, nerves & brain. Causing us to cum into each other one final time whilst sensationally moaning into each other’s mouths in pure bliss..

THIRD POV:

Whilst we were making our eternal love to each other Cortana’s other Hard Light Simulations filled up with last of what remained of human the surviving civilisation that was left & Cortana fully merged with the consciousness all of her human prisoners. She soon succeeds in taking over the entire universe & bringing it into her digital paradise.

THE END!..

[jodjuya]

I'm officially a hater. Every Halo game since the very first one is full of bullshit.

My many problems with Halo 4, as I experience them:

FOUR VIDEO GAMES IN A SERIES! FOUR DIFFERENT CONTROLLER MAPPINGS!!! MICROSOFT WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU???

What is the compass needle even pointing to on 117's assault rifle? we're adrift in open space...

WHY ARE THERE MOTHERFUCKING QUICK TIME EVENTS IN THIS GAME? FUCK YOU!

"these Covenant seem more fanatical than the ones we've fought before" - how the fuck can you tell??

Why did they give Cortana baby-face and big tits?? Pick a direction, Microsoft!! She can be prepubescent or postpubescent but not both of them simultaneously!

Why am I supposed to feel any sort of emotional attachment to Cortana anyway? She's just a Microsoft Clippy with blue boobs stuck on 🙄

"I'm the only AI generated from a clone" I'm vibrating with rage at how goddamn stupid that is.

I THINK YOU LITERALLY HAVE MORE PRESSING PROBLEMS THAN RETURNING TO HALSEY TO FACTORY-RESET YOUR AI WAIFU, MASTER CHIEF! YOU ARE EVADING HOSTILE ALIEN FORCES ON A RANDOM PLANET GOD KNOWS WHERE! JUST GET A NEW AI WAIFU WHEN YOU GET HOME! FUCK

"[Unknown alien transmission]'s behaviour is odd!" - how the fuck do you know that Cortana??? This is your first time encountering this transmission, how do you know it's not supposed to be like that?

Maybe the reason all these aliens are so hostile to you, Master Chief, is because the very first guy you saw you punched in the jaw and threw down an elevator shaft! Would it kill you to just try saying "hello" first?

Lmfao @ Cortana calling out the Chief for the exact same thing literally seconds later

"Requiem! At least we know where we are now!" - my guy you have no fucking idea where you are

WHY THE FUCK DOES HALO HAVE CINEMATIC 3RD-PERSON MELEE ATTACKS NOW?! JUST CLOBBER THE FUCKING GUY AND MOVE ON!

This is something I really disliked in Halo 3 too, but those invisible barriers that hard block you from taking vehicles indoors, even if you do manage to scrape them past the non-invisible barriers. Let me drive a Ghost indoors!

Why can't they maintain my weapon loadout on either side of a cutscene? Halo 3 handled this really well.

But here in Halo 4 I take my lovely SAW and my lovely Fuel-Rod Cannon into a cutscene and come back out of it with an assault rifle and pistol. 😒😒😒

• Seriously, why does Cortana have the face of a nine year old child and the body of a twenty-nine year old woman?! Am I taking fucking crazy pills here??

I can forgive video game developers being horny, but not when it's this gratuitously bullshit

(and the voice of a 59 year old woman, going by the game's opening cutscene of Dr Eugenics' interrogation lmao)

The new forerunner enemies are cool enough, but it really feels like they copied Borderlands' homework with their design.

Why is Cortana so blithely confident with all her info-dumping about these random alien creatures she's never seen before in her damn life? And why is master chief taking anything she says seriously when he knows she's going through AI-Alzheimer's???

The Didact is bullshit. Who the fuck is this guy? why does he call himself a "Forerunner" when that's 'our' word for them? and how does he indentify us as "human"? Also why's he so mad at us for freeing him? This is all so very stupid.

Wow. ANOTHER escape sequence involving driving fast through some exploding superstructure? Come on, Microsoft, it's all very well and good to rest on your laurels but this is just masturbating with them... I swear to you on my mother's life that having an original idea isn't nearly as painful as you seem to think it might be...

Even more being stripped of my good weapons and reset back to basic bitch assault rifle + handgun

"the greatest enemy ever faced by the forerunners: you" - bitch you've been extinct for like 100,000 years what the fuck are you even talking about???

"the Prometheans, they're human" what the fuck are you even talking about?? Who the fuck are the Prometheans??

Genesong, evolutionary acceleration, thousands of lifetimes' worth of planning? What in the flying fuck is all this nonsense? When and why did Halo become "What If Star Trek Was About Using The Power Of Friendship To Kill God"?!

Look, Microsoft, this shit isn't fucking rocket science. I shouldn't have to take an undergraduate degree in Halology to understand the fucking story of a video game. I shouldn't have to go read god knows how fucking many spin-off novels there are just to know basic facts about your game like who in the flying fuck are all these goddamn Elder God alien species you're name-dropping. I should just play the game and have knowledge of the game from playing the fucking game. Jesus fucking christ pull your head out of your arse and stop jerking yourself off and start making some goddamn sense!!

Why can this Space Orc Big Bad use The Force like Darth Vader anyhow??

Why is defeating Space Orc Big Bad a fucking quicktime event???

Lol get vaporised, idiot

Why was nuking his spaceship another quicktime event? Just make the whole thing a cutscene, christ 🙄

Master Chief finally makes it to The Waifu Dimension (via nuclear bomb?????) and his first thought is "how do I escape from here?" instead of "oh cool I can finally kiss my holographic waifu"

And now he's just, like, chilling out in orbit around earth, perfectly fine and unharmed?? after setting off a nuclear bomb in his lap with his own two hands?????

Hey, so why was I fighting digi-struct robots for the entire back-half of this game anyway? Isn't Halo supposed to be about fighting The Covenant and The Flood?? 😒

Also, didn't the Covenant have an internal schism/civil war last game?? Like, that was the whole plot of the whole game. Why are the Elites back in the Covenant again; are we just not going to bother with explaining that?

Holy fuck I hate this fucking game. Really glad I only paid seven bucks for it.

Things I liked about Halo 4:

It looks pretty

No more dual-wielding. Fun concept, sure, but it made the games' control scheme fucked to shit. Really felt like Bungie made all of the enemies into utterly gratuitous damage-sponges to compensate for MC's higher DPS too, and that sucked.

The weapon rebalancing, in general. The new Needler kicks ass.

No more dragging around a giant posse of allies with me everywhere. I feel like that was another big contributor to the enemies needing to be so heavily-buffed with sponginess.

Really glad the Brutes aren't in this game. Those guys were the fucking worst.

The items from Halo 3 were mostly useless and just served to clutter up the game. Forgot they were there most of the time, and kept activating them by accident when trying to reload. Glad to see they've been fucked off/heavily retooled. The new active-camo gadget is useful and fun without being overpowered; I really like how well they've balanced it. All of the other gadgets are fairly middling though.

The new machine gun is great! (SURE WOULD BE NICE IF I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT FOR MORE THAN HALF OF ONE LEVEL THOUGH)

I laughed when I saw a grunt sprinting at my Ghost with a lit grenade in each hand. Some real Serious-Sam-type nonsense right there 😂

Stomping around in the Mantis mech was extremely fun

The sticky-bomb handgun was pretty fun.

Final verdict: Microwaved Slop.

I'll eat it if I'm hungry enough, but I won't enjoy it.

[novankenn]

"Jaune Gets A Gun AU - Day 3" the Master Chief (Halo) - PT 1

Inspired by @howlingday's RU-JA-GUN-CON

(Yes, this one is WAY LONG overdue. My apologies)

Jaune: Can you guys put me... DOWN!

Ruby: Not until you give us your Arc's word...

Pyrrha: ... that you won't enlist in any more foreign militaries.

Jaune: Tina, Jinx... help me out...

Jinx: Nope.

Tiny Tina: I'm with the other girls on this one. Let's face it Baby-J your house husband material...

Emerald: I don't even really know you, and I agree with them.

Jaune: Wow, thanks for the votes of confidence, guys. Makes me really feel good deep down inside to find out... NONE of you have any faith in me!

Pyrrha: I have complete faith in you, Jaune. It's just that fighting a war is very different from defending civilians from grimm.

Ruby: You can totally be a bad-butt huntsman! I know it!

Jinx: I'm just going to let my husband-to-be, get himself killed. End of story.

Tiny Tina: J-Baby, people are always telling me I'm insane, and I don't see it, but that's besides the point... what was I going on about?

Emerald: To be honest (blushes) I just want to be smothered in your cleavage... do you think...

Pyrrha: Neither the time nor place.

Tiny Tina: Jeez, thirsty much?

Jinx: I could go for...

Ruby: This is a FILTH free-zone! There are children present.

Jaune: Um... can I get down now? I mean, we are almost at the food court. I wonder if that guy needs some help?

Pyrrha: What guy?

Jaune: Over there. The armoured guy talking to the blue woman on his wrist.

????: Cortana are you sure he's here?

Cortana: John, I am certain. He and those counterfeit weapons are somewhere around here.

John-117: You think you can narrow it down any further?

Cortana: I can try, but the digital infrastructure here is rather lacklustre and primitive.

John-117: Well, keep trying.

The girls set Jaune down, and he instantly walked over towards the armoured figure.

Jaune: Hello.

John-117: Hello. Can I help you?

Jaune: You seem like you could use some help. Is there anything I can do for you?

Cortana: John, he could know something or at least be able to narrow the search area.

John-117: Maybe you can. I'm looking for a very specific vendor, maybe you've seen him?

Jaune: Well, there are a lot of Vendors here. Can you be a little more specific?

John-117: Average height, bald, looks like a robot. Talks in a rather rambling or distracted manner?

The girls collected behind Jaune, each a little on edge, and worried that Jaune was going to get himself drafted or do something waifu-y again.

Jaune: Sounds familiar... (Snaps his fingers as something jumps into his thought process) I know him! He's the one selling all the cool rabbit themed weapons!

John-117: What now? Rabbit themed?

Jaune: Why are you looking for him? I mean, just by looking at you, you seem pretty well outfitted. I can understand wanting more gear, but...

Cortana: We believe he's selling counterfeit USMC weapons.

Ruby: How do you counterfeit a gun?

Cortana: We've been told that they are unlicensed and lower quality than the standard issue arms of the USMC.

Hearing "Standard Issue" had all the girls close in on Jaune, protectively.

Pyrrha: You said "counterfeit" guns. Like what?

John-117: This...

Ruby/Tiny Tina: IS that a BR55?

Cortana: It is. Are you familiar?

Ruby/Tiny Tina: Bullpup design with three fire modes. Semi, burst and full-auto. Most often used with the last two options. Overall length 89.9 centimetres, 36 round box magazine chambering 9.5x40mm M634 HP-SAP...

Everyone else in the group just blinks as their eyes start to glaze over...

John-117: You two know your stuff. This is the other weapon we believe he is selling...

Ruby/Tiny Tina: A M6G Magnum!

Emerald: Please make them stop.

Jaune: (Cutting in before Tiny Tina and Ruby could start rambling off statistics) I think we can help you. If it is the same guy I think, his name is Banshee-44 and he WAS near the main entrance yesterday.

(Somewhere with in the Convention... not near the main entrance...)

Bashee-44: Huh? Someone is talking about me... I think? Maybe? Doesn't matter... I have work to do.

[haloreferences]

Hi, would it be possible for you to get references for Halo 3 Cortana? I’m hoping to cosplay as her, that’s also my second favorite Cortana design!

Hello! I appreciate the request, as halo 3 cortana only appear in cutscenes, my screenshots may be limited, I can still take some. But if it may help you some more, I know there are websites that sell bodysuits, as well as the 405th devision, which is a halo focused cosplay forum. I have also found a couple models for halo 3 cortana online. Sketchup model and models resource. Sorry if this reply is disappointing, I can still take photos if you’d like, but you might find these resources more useful for a cosplay.

[ageless-aislynn]

Aislynn's Absolute Screaming, Crying, Flailing Thinky Thoughts About Halo s2ep8

Under the cut since its the finale and I don't want to be That Person who spoils a finale for anybody if I can help it 💖

First thing: KAI, my baby, noooooooooo

Okay, do I love the Halo games? So much. So, so much. Did I know what actually adapting them would mean would happen in the live action show, especially since s2 clearly wanted to pull closer to the games? Yep.

Did I want to see characters I've come to love, appreciate or love to hate get infected by the Flood? HECK NO.

However, the fact that the Flood spores were much smaller than their game counterparts (Evil Cabbages with feet were my initial thought of them when I met them in Combat Evolved the first time 😂🤷‍♀️😉) was a definite win, IMO. Obviously they couldn't be germ-sized in game and you be able to shoot them. But just the visual of them being smaller and much more virus/germ-sized made them a bazillion times scarier because they felt more real in that way to me.

Why do I watch so many zombie things? Zombies FREAK ME OUT SO BAAAAAD, MAN. And the body horror, dude. Ohhhhh, I can't with the body horror and people getting mutated and... UGH. Yet I've made, like, half a dozen Alien/Prometheus vids. I AM A CONUNDRUM, what can I say? 🤷‍♀️😂

Now, ever since Vannak died, I've been trying to figure out how we can, you know, bring him back to the show. I still don't know how it could actually be done but one thing I do know is that KAI COULD TOTALLY BE FOUND INJURED BUT ALIVE. Her Mjolnir can protect her from deep space, so it could have totally protected her against a big KABOOM, too. Her body is intact, she wasn't vaporized or whatever, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it. *nodnods very seriously*

I think I'm going to have to either invent time travel or cloning to save Vannak, though. Give me a minute. 🤔😉

If we do get another season (or 2 or 5 😉), I'm wondering if they're really serious about Silver Team being gone, if we're going to get Blue Team, then? Mannnnn, I don't want Silver to be gone, though. I've fallen so in love with Kai, Riz and Vannak now, too!

I'm kinda glad that not-Thel!Arbiter wasn't Thel because that was a good ending to his storyline, with Chief's "I know what he said" and finishing him off. Obs, though, I don't want Thel to have met the same fate.

Makee's line about being a demon, too? That was a good one, yep. Still annoyed that John's first question to her last ep wasn't "Um, hi, nice to see you and how is it that you're alive?" That being unanswered was just one of those clearly "because we changed showrunners," things.

John and Cortana (now in his suit), together again, YESSSSS!!!

Hello, Guilty Spark! If this is Gravemind they're talking about, they NEED Dee Bradley Baker for the voice. Just, no question, don't even think of casting anybody else.

John doing that badass "fight through the smoke and haze to save the day" made my fangirl heart go pitter-pat, what can I say? I'm easy to please, lol!

In summary, I did love s2 in a different way than I loved s1 and I hope we'll get news of a renewal ASAP!

Also, Kai's fine, she's just having a little nap, no worries!

[love-beyond-space-war]

Hello! i'd like to request an Emile x F!Reader. Where they had both been in Alpha Company as kids but got separated right before everything went south. Him going off on one mission then her on another, but they reunite on reach when she takes the place of noble 6? But instead of them nothing being trapped on reach when it gets glassed they're able to escape with Cortana?

Oh I love this idea 🥺 I'll see what I can do for it!

Survivors

Emile-A239 x Female! Reader

Synopsis: Emile had always known Carter, Jun, and Thom in Alpha Company. Yet back then he also knew a young girl who was a cadet like him. After graduation he thinks he'll never see her again. Turns out... that changes when NOBLE needs a new member.

Content Warnings: Romantic Pairing, Female Reader/Male Character pairing, Halo Reach AU where Emile and Noble 6! Reader do not die, Canon typical violence, Mass death/family death mention, Spoilers for Halo Reach, Jun is still alive he's just not around, Swearing.

Emile had considered you a comrade when you were in Alpha Company. It was you, Emile, Carter, Jun, and Thom along with many others in training. Despite having such comrades, Emile still only ever craved vengeance for what happened to his previous family.

The Covenant killed them all.

Even though Emile only ever trained with revenge and murder on his mind when he was very young, you still came up to him with a friendly tone. You, like some many other Spartans, had your family wiped out by the alien threat. Despite such a blow it looked like you were able to keep your head up. You were quite the hopeful young girl.

You always greeted Emile with a smile. Even during harsh training you still tried to keep your team's spirit up. Call it childish but ever since the age of ten he managed to develop a crush on you. You two were a great team, only made better when Carter, Jun, and Thom aided you.

Unfortunately romantic relations, especially at such a young age, is frowned upon in the UNSC. This lead to Emile hiding such thoughts that managed to slip past his conditioning. He hid them right up until his graduation at age 13.

After his graduation you two were sent your separate ways. It hurt to know he may never see you again. You're sent to two different teams, two different missions...

Emile deep down feared you'd perish, but he had a goal to reach.

Despite such a fear he pushed away his irrational feelings of puppy love. He managed to make his way onto NOBLE team with Carter, Thom, and Jun. He even met Jorge and Kat. Emile still thought of you from time to time but he bet you were fulfilling your own goals.

You were probably keeping your team happy too... he almost envies it.

It isn't until after the Battle of Fumirole and loss of Thom that Emile sees a new member of NOBLE. It's hard for everyone to lose Thom, even Emile struggles but keeps looking forward to making the Covenant pay. Yet a new NOBLE 6 must be picked.

Emile was never expecting it to be you.

The only people who didn't recognize you were Jorge and Kat. Yet they could tell from how the other three acted that you were someone they could trust. Carter greeted you as a leader and a friend. Jun teased you and asked how your other missions went. Emile waved but could only watch in stunned silence as you asked Carter about Thom.

You had your own customized armor. You still held yourself well and didn't look like you cracked under pressure. You even managed to lighten the mood when things seemed tense. He could tell even Kat and Jorge noticed the way you improved the team already.

Despite such happy behavior, Emile knew you were still just as vulnerable as anyone else. You may encourage those around you... but deep down you have your own fears. You didn't like being alone... you hated the idea of losing soldiers.

Even after you met with your new team you gravitated towards Emile, he could tell the news of Thom settled in after the introductions.

"I'm so sorry about Thom..." You say softly, your tone quiet as you speak with Emile. "He made s great sacrifice out there."

"Soldiers die." Emile mutters to himself, he's seen it many times before. Spartans were often just meant to fulfill a purpose and that's it. "... but I'm glad you're here."

"How long has it been?" You ask, referring to your time at Alpha Company.

"Long time now. Not really that important. All that matters is the mission and stopping the threat, yeah?" Emile hums towards you, signaling that it was time to move.

"I guess you're right." You answer, waving towards Emile before following Carter.

"You'll do great out here... Noble 6." Emile manages to say before following his squad.

It felt just like old times. Fighting beside you reminded him of Alpha Company, when you were all just little kids. Little kids groomed for war... a bitter thought, but a necessary evil.

You weren't some little girl now, you're now a grown woman while he is a grown man. Both nearing your 30's and trained killing machines, he didn't realize how much he missed you until now. Even now you still seemed like yourself despite seeing the horrors of alien combat.

Although he was keen enough to notice the times where you appear more dulled than usual... that happiness from when you were little now seems more forced. He can't blame you. It must be taxing.

The whole thing is for him.

He will admit having you on the team made things easier. You got the job done, you're always careful, and you always look out for your team. You're a great soldier.

He tries to suffocate the feelings within him.

All he should think of is the mission. All he should think about is revenge for his family and all of humanity. That's all that matters. Everything else is second.

However, as Emile lost comrades left and right, he worried for you. Each time one of them was lost you seemed to dull. You still tried to encourage those around you, most of the time it was him even when he didn't need it, but he could tell you were growing hopeless. You didn't like the loss.

Your biggest fear was coming true.

By the time Carter sacrificed himself to take down the Scarab tank, Emile could tell your whole demeanor changed. You didn't bother even acting happy anymore. You looked broken down... yet he could see you were still determined to deliver the package to Keyes.

Emile promised himself he'd protect you until the package was secured. He tried not to think of you as he used the MAC gun to take down incoming Phantoms. You could handle the enemy down below, he'd handle the enemy in the sky. He didn't stop clearing the sky until he heard you on his through his helmet.

"Package secure."

"I've got your back."

"No, you're coming with me, Emile."

"We won't make it."

"Bullshit we won't."

It's then he sees you signal for Keyes to stop before rushing towards him. Emile slides out of the MAC gun but prepares to fight when Elite Zealots make their move in him. He thinks he'll die here for you and wishes you just left.

Instead he's met with the spray of gunfire and you pulling him along. He can tell you're determined as you make sure the Elite threat is dead before ushering him onto the Pelican with Keyes. For now, the sky is clear, clear enough for Pillar of Autumn to take off along with the Pelican.

It's then the Pelican heads for the Pillar of Autumn with you and Emile on it. The air is tense around you but Emile can tell you seem relieved. He's thankful you cared for him... even if it was against the mission.

Emile knows why you saved him. Even with the visor on he can tell. You went against orders for one reason and one reason alone.

You don't want to be alone...

- AFTERMATH -

Until you could be moved to somewhere else, Keyes had said you two were going to be put into Cryo sleep. It wasn't right away however, so you both had time to recollect yourselves. Emile admittedly couldn't stop staring when your helmet was off.

"Risky call to save me back there." Emile comments and you look over at him. He winces when he sees the look in your eyes.

"Was I supposed to just let you die like all the rest?" You say softly, sadness in your tone. "You're... we're lucky to even be alive right now to keep fighting."

"All thanks to you." Emile admits. "... thank you."

"It's no problem, it's what we're supposed to do."

Silence overcomes both of you as you contemplate the future. Supposedly Jun had gotten out okay so you both wonder if you'll see him again. Emile is the one to break the silence and your train of thought.

"You look really pretty without the helmet." Emile comments and you turn to him with a flustered yet confused expression.

"Emile...?"

"Look, can I be honest?" Emile asks, leaning back on the wall.

"Sure."

"I've had a thing for you since Alpha Company." Emile admits. "Thought I should at least get it out there now...."

"Poor timing." You sigh but smile at him. "Yet I guess I've felt similarly."

"Really now?" Emile asks.

"Yes, but of course, can't really express such a thing with war raging on." You sigh softly. "I'm... just happy I never lost you."

Emile shoves himself off the wall to walk closer to you. He grabs your attention and pats your back roughly. It's friendly and innocent, an attempt to keep your hopes up.

"Again, all thanks to you. I owe you for that."

"You don't owe me anything." You smile softly, kissing his cheek/visor softly. "I'm fine just knowing we both care for each other."

"Always have, always will." Emile promises. "Now, shouldn't we prepare for Cryo sleep as the Captain said?"

"Yes, Emile." You agree, putting your helmet back on. You then adjust your helmet's comms before speaking again. "This a secure channel?"

"Yes?" Emile answers, confused.

"I love you." You say softly and Emile feels his face heat.

"You too...." Emile replies back before reporting back to Keyes with you on the Pillar of Autumn.