Sam wasn't so sure about what had him on edge more: how hurt Marina was, or how his heart wouldn't stop it's ferocious beat. They had been silent on the ride back to town, and Sam could sense how Marina felt as they climbed off the parked Mongoose and walked together back to the Apartment District. He thought he blew it when he just couldn't reveal that layer of himself to her, but jolts were felt up his spine when her hand brushed against his as they walked. He eventually grasped it, and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Marina... My scars were from my squad's capture. We all were brutally tortured, and Felix and I were the only survivors. As much as we hated each other, we banded together to fight our way out, and got away just before our area was glassed over. They were monsters, Marina. They took the order without question to dehumanize us, to break us." Just like me. Sam finished. Torture like that wasn't easily forgotten, especially when there were times the memories would flash and the scars would cause searing pain as if it was a fresh cut from an energy sword. "The ones of my face, Marina, are my deepest scars. It reminds me too much of who I was, and how ashamed I am of myself then right now." Marina clutched his hand tighter, glancing at him before turning the corner down her street.
"I'm sorry, Samuel. I shouldn't have prodded at memories that bring you pain. I shouldn't have put that kind of pressure on you." Sam smiled warmly at her.
"Please give me time, I want to tell you everything, but I just can't right now." Marina suddenly stopped, and Sam stopped when he felt a jerk in his arm. He turned to face her, and what centered him was Marina's kind gesture of cupping one cheek with her free hand and kissing his other cheek. Sam was mystified, blushing profusely, and gawked at her smile.
"You're doing great, Sam." He thought to himself as they walked up to her porch. Sam was reluctant as she let go of his hand, and she looked up into his eyes.
"Sam, just know this: You have nothing to be embarrassed about, to be ashamed about. Everyone in Challenger cares about you, I care about you. You are family to us. Everyone had done things they wished they never did, but that's okay. They learn, continue with their lives, and carry on with that experience. Not as a crutch, but more of a new section in their book of wisdom." Sam couldn't stop the big grin on his face, hearing the liberating words from her. Sam couldn't stop himself as he reached for his green handkerchief, and wiped his face away from the mask, and revealed the x-cross scars. He could feel Marina' horrified gaze at the scarring.
Marina felt a rush in her heart the moment Sam took his handkerchief and wiped off the concealer to reveal his true face, his scarred face. It was an x-cross that went across his face, but thankfully missed his eyes. She could hear his breath hitch the moment she laid a finger on his scar, and hesitantly traced it with her fingers. Marina knew Sam was a man with a complicated history, and the scars were only the tip of the iceberg of the trauma he endured. What Marina concluded was no matter what he did, he was still Samuel Ortez, the man she befriended, and cared about with all her heart. Marina traced her hand to his cheek and cupped it.
"No matter what, Sam, you are still Sam to me, and always will be. Scars or no scars, you are still the compassionately handsome man I know." She takes her hand away as she climbs the steps to the top, and upon turning around she saw she was at eye level with sam. "Hee, I've grown Sam. I'm as tall as you now." She heard him let out a hearty chuckle.
"Oh no, I'm so scared. What will you do now that you are a tall and intimidating woman?" Sam teased in return, slowly stalking closer until he was toeing the bottom step of her porch. Marina simply leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck, her lips hovering over his smiling.
"Maybe just kiss you goodnight." She leaned in to kiss his lips, feeling him smirk into the kiss. She then kissed the bridge of his nose, right where the scars intersect. "Goodnight, Sam." She pulled away.
"Goodnight Marina."
---
Sam turned the corner from her street as he was en route to his home. He wasn't walking so much as he was floating, his heart carrying him. It was the first time in a long time Sam had felt such a warmth envelope his body from the heart. While he was unsure of how he deserved everything and Marina, he was willing to take how happy and calm he was as an achievement of growing. He eventually reached his home, but before he unlocked the door, his hairs stood up on end in alertness. Sam quickly turned around, surveying his surroundings, and wishing he had his sidearm.
"No, no more killing. You locked away your pistol for a reason." Sam thought to himself.
"How's that going for you, big guy?" Sam's eyes widened as he heard that voice. Slowly turning around, there was Felix standing in between him and the door with the cruelest smile he could muster. Sam backed away, but fell down to the ground. He reached for his switchblade.
"We need each other." Sam's eyes widened at those familiar words.
"What are you doing here, Felix? You're dead, just a figment of my imagination." Sam could feel his heart begin to panic when the apparition caressed his cheek, feeling Felix's toxic influence invading his mind.
"You need me." Sam switched his blade out and lashed out to strike, only to blink and see that Felix was gone. Dropping the blade, Sam clutched his panicked beating heart, sweat dripping down from his head. He could feel the tears well in his eyes, shaking his head profusely.
"No, I'm not a monster anymore. I-I swore off killing, never to take another life. I won't do anything to ruin my chance at a new life, a new life with her." Sam denied the ghost that haunted him as he struggled to stand himself up, and quickly entered his home to escape.
---
"Hmm..." In the shadows, there was a woman who saw everything. Upon writing the last sentence of her observation, the side of her lip quirked up into the most sinister smirk anyone could ever see. "This may be easier than we initially thought." She opened up her communicator and opened a secure channel.
"This is Gemma."
"Gemma, this is Sissy, I have an interesting update for you."
"Make it quick, I'm nearing Siris."
"It would seem Locus may be easily exploitable. He apparently is battling some old ghosts, and holds firm in swearing off killing." She could hear her employer on the end pondering this new information.
"This isn't like him, but according to his records he had a harsh CO who apparently molded him this way. I wouldn't be surprised if he fought tooth and nail to be the man he was before. Keep a close watch of him, I want to know if he breaks. I at least want to stamp out the remnants before they rebuild into someone stronger."
"Of course, Gemma."
"Locus has been a broken man since the Fall of Reach. I can only imagine how broken he would be if he watched as he couldn't save those he loves."
YOU ARE READING
Running From Your Shadows
Fanfiction(Locus x F!OC, I will address Locus primarily as Sam unless its a situation) Finally, after freeing himself from the toxic partnership with Felix, Samuel "Locus" Ortez has been going about the galaxy in search of himself, of redemption, and a new pu...
