Homecoming

Story by TheXenoFucker on SoFurry

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#4 of Haloverse

A certain Sangheili has fond memories for a brief time.


Den walked through the bustling crowds of High Charity, passing through crowds of the many varied species that formed the Covenant. He stood tall and proud amongst the bustling crowds of methane wheezing Unggoy, and strong and commanding amongst the Kig-Yar. But he wasn't interested in the sights or the sounds, the changes that had transpired in the market district since he'd last been here. He was merely passing through, on his way to one place, and one place alone. Home.

Amongst the massive dome of High Charity, in the center of everything, sat the Holy Temple, a gift from the gods, giving power to the entire station, and still even to this day, new discoveries to further their path after the gods. Far below, even from here, he could see the ornate temples that formed the first ring around the holy construct. Then the second ring, boasting distinct San Shyuum architecture, and what he had really come for, the third ring, the Sangheili quarters of the station.

The trip through each ring belonging to the various species was rather fast for Den. Although he may have looked a stern and foreboding Spec Ops trooper, truth was, he was almost as excited as he was the day he first joined the ranks of the Covenant army. In fact, he was more excited for this than anything else in his life. He was always excited for this. The purple spires and constructs of the Sangheili district loomed above him, as he walked the quiet streets down a path he'd always known, and always would remember.

He approached one of the particular buildings, stopping outside the entrance. The building itself wasn't particularly eye catching, just a simple assemblage of the usual Covenant technology and architecture, but it was the peaceful setting inside that he had built that was special. Even more special, was the person inside that had built it with him. He faced the door, sliding a purple panel open to reveal a scanner. He placed his hand on the scanner did its work. If he were anyone else he would have the displeasure of having to go through the houses lone Unggoy servant if he wanted to be let in. For one of his species, the Unggoy was unusually bold and aggressive, perfect to watch their home.

Den stood waiting as the scanner finished, opening the door for him. The purple door slid apart, revealing Den's home. Instantly, the smells of his home greeted him, inviting him in. He stepped onto the ancient wooden floor, admiring the comfort of being back home at last, when he was interrupted by the snarl of the houses Unggoy, before he promptly realized who it was. The old Unggoy approached, speaking in its wheezing voice.

"Master Den! You home now! It good to see you!"

Den waved the Unggoy off.

"It has been some time, hasn't it, Gam? Tell me, where is my wife?"

The old Unggoy rapped his knuckles excitedly on the floor.

"Mistress Ria in her lab, have important job from San Shyuum politician, said not to bother!"

Den stepped past the Unggoy.

"I'm sure she'll make an exception Gam. Go out, take the day off. You're dismissed until tomorrow."

The Unggoy teetered on one foot back and forth excitedly, continuing to rap his knuckles against the floor.

"Thank you master Den! Me go now!"

The Unggoy happily trotted off elsewhere, while Den went down to the lab. Making sure he kept quiet. He found the purple doors, sealed shut to keep anyone from entering. Den knocked on the door four times, slow like Gam usually would have. From inside Den heard the distinct sound of his wife, a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Gam, I told you, if it were anybody but the Minister himself, you keep them out! This is an important task! And I know the Minister wouldn't be seen in parts such as these!"

Den formed a smile on his mandibles as he spoke.

"I wasn't aware you were so temperamental with your guests, especially ones that have traveled so far to see you."

Den heard the distinct sound of something clattering to the floor, and rushed footsteps towards the door. In a flash, Den's wife had unlocked the door, and stood before him, an expression of shock on her face as she stared at Den, unbelieving.

"You were due eight months ago..... I thought you were dead."

Den stepped forward, his arms held wide, bringing his wife close. It felt so good to be back home, with Ria in his arms. Now more than ever he appreciated everything about these moments. The feel of her exposed skin on his hands, the warmth as he held her tight to him, the smell of the fragrant perfumes she used when dealing with San Shyuum politicians.

"I know. I'm sorry I couldn't contact you. Things were more difficult than expected."

Ria placed a hand across Den's black armour.

"You've gone so far up the chain of command since I saw you last. What did you do out there?"

Den smiled.

"I will tell you my tales later, my wife. Have you been out yet today to the temple district?"

Ria shook her head.

Den continued to hold her close, as he began backing away from the door to Ria's lab, bringing her with him.

"I have yet to pray to the gods today in all the commotion. It is troubling to me."

Ria matched the steps that Den was making as he led her around the house, a bounce in her step. She smiled as she followed Den.

"I know you husband. You could care less about the gods and their machinations."

Den shook his head.

"Not anymore Ria. Things are changing."

Ria knew what was going on in Den's mind. More must have happened out in the far reaches than she thought. He was only ever particularly faithful when he had a lot on his mind. She smiled as they traveled through their home together in light strides, almost like they were dancing. Den was happy to be back, even if he had more pressing issues on his mind at the moment. Maybe she could take his mind off things before they went out.....

Den admired his armour as it floated in place, resting among so many other old, war torn suits. He felt Ria's slender arms wrap around the back of his neck as she pressed her naked body against his back, resting her head on his shoulder. She felt Den cringe in surprise at her touch, before relaxing. She felt a deep breath of air leave his lungs as he calmed down. He chuckled, pointing to one of the first suits floating on its display stand.

"Do you remember that suit Ria?"

Den turned his head to watch as she smiled upon seeing the old thing.

"Your old training gear. The one you tried so hard to impress me in."

Den chuckled.

"It worked didn't it?"

Ria nuzzled her head alongside his.

"Not quite. I only noticed you when I saw you away from the others. You were admiring a patch of blooming flowers when out of a nest some small bird fell at your feet. You didn't crush it, like most of the others would have."

Den nodded silently, before speaking up.

"Command isn't what it used to be Ria."

Ria tilted her head. Speaking with an amused tone.

"You'd better not catch yourself speaking like that in front of a superior Den. They might label you a heretic."

Den returned the smile, but continued on.

"20 years Ria. We've been fighting for 20 years. You want to know why I was out there for so long? We found another colony, a large world, a shipyard, highly defended. Our fleet took heavy casualties assaulting the world, but our superiors held fast. We triumphed, eventually, but at such a cost. We lost many good men. I was selected to fill the vacuum of one of them."

Ria listened intently, rubbing Den's shoulders absent mindedly.

"When I looked at the result of our battle, our sacrifices, and the heavy price the Humans paid for defending their world, I felt no triumph in our victory, and no glory for our fallen brothers."

Ria took it all in, watching Den as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"You think you're not fighting for a worthy cause husband?"

"No. Why, after so many battles have the Heretics not been invited into our ranks? Surely they have proven their own strength and resolve to make up for their crimes? We throw ourselves at an enemy I don't believe should be our enemy any longer."

"You know the gods work in strange ways husband. Who are we to question them?"

"Who are the San Shyuum to speak solely for them? Do we not all walk the path?"

Ria pulled away from Den, sliding off the bed onto the floor, moving to face him. She leaned down close to him, bringing her mandibles to his, holding the kiss while pushing Den back down onto the bed. Ria slid overtop of Den, resting her head on his chest.

"You were always different husband. Most times, I love you for it, and sometimes, I pray you never tell others what you tell me. But I support you, Den."

Den smiled.

"And you thought you chose me because I was the odd one out."

Ria slid off of Den, back onto her feet, and began sauntering off to another part of their private quarters.

"Come husband, if you want to make your peace with the gods, we're running out of time for the day."

Den watched her as she walked off. Her hips swayed with every step, as her long legs carried her elegant frame. Den's eyes traveled up her smooth backside, taking note as the mounds of her breasts could be seen even with her back to him. Den smiled. He'd already made his peace with the gods. Ria was as close to one as she could get in his eyes. And now that he'd made peace and gotten things off his chest, it was time to do more than just make peace with one. Den rose up to his feet, walking towards Ria as silently as he could. He'd missed her for more than just her company too.

Den approached Ria, wrapping his arms around her, pressing his now erect member against her backside. He shuddered as he made contact with her smooth skin. Ria gasped in surprise as Den pulled her close, making things quite clear.

"Why the sudden change of heart husband?"

Den watched with satisfaction as Ria's mandibles went slack as he slid one of his hands down her stomach, rubbing her now moist lips.

"I already made my peace. I'm confident that the gods heard me as I spoke to you. They will send me a sign,"

Den parted her lips with his fingers, enticing another moan from Ria as her mandibles went slack yet again and her bright eyes closed in pleasure.

"I'll just have find ways to amuse myself in the meantime while I wait."

Den spun Ria around, bringing her back to the bed slowly, still toying with her nether regions while he brought her closer to him. Ria moaned as Den continued to tease her, now letting his member brush upright against her stomach. Snaking one of her arms downwards, Ria watched with a smile as she grabbed Den's member tightly with one hand.

"It's been so long husband, all those days and nights without you. I bet you thought up a lot of things you'd do with me when you got home."

Den used his free hand, grabbed Ria's ass and pulled her even tighter to him, taking pleasure from feeling her tight, smooth skin, and delighted when her breasts were squished together against his chest, propping them up higher. Ria stroked his member gently, kissing Den briefly before sliding downwards, sliding one of her smooth hands across his chest. Ria let out something like a giggle as she stroked his shaft, looking up at him as she neared the tip of it with her mandibles.

"I know just what you'll love, husband! Consider this one of the many rewards you'll receive for all your advancements!"

Den watched with excitement as Ria spread all four mandibles wide to accommodate him, teasingly inching her way down his shaft until it rested at the entrance to her throat. Her bright eyes gleamed as she closed her mandibles, being careful of some of the sharper teeth she had, and slowly began to use only them to inch herself along his member. Den groaned as he entered her throat, simply watching Ria work, keeping his hands held back. He wanted desperately to clamp a hold of her head, but knew otherwise. Ria would tease him first, and then let him have his fun. But she knew just how to get him worked up. And make the wait as seemingly long as possible.

Both of her hands were occupied down below, pleasuring herself as she inserted more of Den's shaft deeper and deeper into her throat. She took the opportunity to once again squeeze her luscious breasts together with her arms, presenting them to Den, all the while keeping close eye contact with him. Out of all the things she could do to tease him, keeping her eyes on his was the one of the highest. They had a delight in them as she watched him, showed her lust filled state of mind, something that only ever showed itself when she was with him. Her eyes rolled back as she finally hit the base of Den's shaft, moaning as she assaulted herself down below with more intensity. Ria held her position for a good minute, giving time for Den to admire her further. The bulge in her throat as his length sat in her hot, tight confines, the way her mandibles twitched and she squirmed ever more as she began a mixture of heated moans and gags around his shaft, as a mixture of drool and other fluids began to flow downwards, dripping onto her breasts.

And then, she spread her mandibles wide, and Den almost broke his composure as he watched her throat retract back to normal, wanting to impale her again as his shaft slid free, followed by long sticky trails of saliva which broke off and made even more of a sensual mess across her breasts, slowly running down in between her cleavage. Ria gasped for breath, pausing for a moment. She regained her breath and looked up happily.

"I bet that felt good, didn't it husband? You want more? Then here I am, waiting for you."

Den chuckled.

"It's going to be a long night for both of us Ria."

5 Years Later

Den stirred as the dream changed shape, the pleasant memory shifting and fading away to nothing, as he was suddenly falling through a void. In the distance was Ria, followed by a group of Sangheili warriors. Things began to take shape as a familiar scene took place, one that would never leave him. Den was waiting with some of his own men, as an armed Ria hurried across a bridge with other Sangheili. Den and his men were waiting, for either Jiralhanae or the monstrous plague that was now quickly spreading across High Charity.

Although the Jiralhanae uprising had taken many by surprise, Sangheili were all fighters, and in no time at all, battles had broken out all over the massive station. The sky of the dome was clouded with smoke from many raging fires in the various districts, and, even more alarmingly, a thick, growing fog within a few hours of the arrival of the parasite. The district they were in was on failing power reserves, and in the distance, animalistic growls and screams could be heard, with the occasional bout of gunfire. Den and his men had gone first across the light bridge, to guard the way while Ria and others crossed.

As den watched Ria moving ahead of the group, pained screams filled the air as from the fog infected descended on Den and his group. A hail of plasma and human projectiles came from the fog as Den and his men returned fire, and in a flash, changed their tactics as a literal wave of the smaller infection forms came surging at them from out of the darkness, followed by more of the infected. Den turned back for a split second, watching as Ria was full on sprinting with the others across the bridge, which was now flickering, increasing in faster increments. Den shouted to his men as they held off the advancing swarm, but could only watch helplessly as the bridge flickered faster. Ria was far ahead of the group with a few other runners, and dived forward as in the blink of an eye, the bridge disappeared.

Ria and a few others made the leap, grabbing a hold of the edge of the drop-off as the bridge fell out from their feet. All the others on the bridge fell so quickly Den didn't even hear any screams. Den dived to the ground, catching Ria and holding her up, turning to the sound of screams of agony from his men as he saw two cut down by one of his own kind, infected, bearing an energy sword. The tide of infection forms were over their bodies in seconds, converting them just as fast as they fell. Den's group split apart now as they were overcome.

Den turned back, struggling to hold Ria up with one hand, firing his weapon into the oncoming infected. Den looked over the edge to see another Sangheili female, hanging on to Ria by her legs. Ria was struggling to climb up as Den held her, but wasn't making any ground. Den yelled to Ria as he fired continuously, watching helplessly as more and more of his men were being overwhelmed by tides of infected. Ria saw it too, shaking her head.

"Den you have to let go! You won't make it if you try to help us!"

Den's rifle overheated as he continued to struggle to hold up both Ria and the other female. His grip was slowly slipping, as he had to fight against sliding on the ground, he turned his shields off so he had more grip. Den pulled with all his strength, to no avail. He turned to Ria as he watched yet another group of his men become overwhelmed. He threw his rifle down, pulling with both hands now. He started down at Ria.

"I will never let go Ria, not you! Even if I have to let my men die, I won't let you fall!"

Ria yelled to Den as a sword bearing infected sprinted over, slashing out with its sword. Den kicked its arm out of the way mid swing, slipping along the ground closer to the edge. Ria was beyond grabbing the ledge now, hanging on to Den's arm. Den felt the strain begin to travel up his arm, and kicked the infected again as it swung, toppling it off its legs. Den slid again, even closer to the edge. Ria was screaming at him now.

"I won't see you die for me Den! I know you! You can survive this if you let me go! You have to!"

Den was shaking as he struggled to hold them up, and ducked his head as the infected took a swing at his head. The blade passed by close enough that part of his mandibles were burned as he narrowly avoided it. He looked down to Ria, ignoring the infected wails, the whine of gunfire, and in an instant, knew everything from the look in her eyes. She was always more strict to codes than he was. To his culture, being slain like this would condemn Den and dishonor him, letting death come to him like this without stopping it. And she would never allow that to happen to Den. But he did not care. He wouldn't let her go.

The words formed on Ria's mandibles, "I'm sorry."

And as she let go, Den struggled with all his effort to hold her as she slipped, right through his hands. He watched as she fell in silence, falling through the fog and disappearing. The sword came down again, and as a deep, unfathomable pain rose up in him, so too did a great rage, as he bashed the infected's arm aside, snapping it with his other hand, and grabbing the hilt of the sword as it dropped. Den ignited the blade, cutting through the infected Sangheili, before turning to face the scene before him, bellowing a great cry before charging into the wall of infected and his own men.

Den's eyes opened slowly, as he moved in the darkness. He pushed the great chunk of steel plate he had covered himself with off of him, standing up in the thick foggy air amongst a pile of rubble. Silence was the only thing to be heard. He clutched his chest, feeling only one of his hearts beat. His breathing was a struggle now, made even worse by the invading fog. How long had it been since the Human and Exemplar had left? He didn't know. Staring out to the dim streets ahead, Den ignited his sword, stalking off into the fog once more. To his sudden surprise, gunfire could be heard in the distance, followed by the wails and screams of the parasite.

Den took a deep, pained breath, before looking off to the direction he had heard the commotion. Who would come to this grave? Who was still alive in this horrid place? No matter, he would find them and see them away from this living hell. And then he would see just how much longer he could go on. He wouldn't stop until everything in this tomb was just that, dead, or, until he finally stopped. He hoped, when it did, Ria, and his men would be there for him. He would atone for his failures. But he knew he would never forgive himself, even if they did.

Den charged off into the fog, heading towards the sound of more screams and gunfire. And if they were Jiralhanae, or any of the other wretched fools that worked for the San Shyuum, he would kill them too.