Author Rambles: Greetings my lovies! Thank you all ever so much for the feedback for 'Caged'! I was very smiley for ages afterwards, and still am guys. Thank you all again. You've made a girl very happy. Go raibh maith agat!
This is the second for my dear Sardonic Request. Blame her for getting me totally obsessed. :L
Set after the book, Jacinto's Remnant, and slightly AU.
Warning: Contains swearing – blame Baird and Marcus, and injury-related gore. Yum.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Gears of War. Not even a little Lancer or a tiny grenade. It's sad, but what can you do.
Beddy Byes
In which Damon Baird realises why he needs a good nights' sleep - Marcus won't always be there to save him.
"Ow! Go away!"
"Shut up, Baird!"
"Will you stop bloody poking me! That fucking hurts!"
"I'll make it hurt more if you don't shut the fuck up and let me work!"
Marcus Fenix supposed that his latest threat worked, because his unwilling patient mutinously shut his mouth. Oh, he threw him such a glare as he did so, but he did shut his mouth. Forcing himself to keep his cool, Marcus surveyed the damage before him.
It had meant to be such an easy task. Something that they could do without even thinking about it. Hoffman had been ordered by Prescott to step up the amount of patrols taking place, especially at night. Too many raids by Stranded were making the civvies worried, he had claimed during a meeting. It would look good if more Gears were seen out doing their job, and being generally reassuring. And all that shit. Anyway, everyone had been then forced to pull their weight, and that was how he and Baird had been sent out tonight. Normally, of course, it would have been himself and Dom, and Baird would have been with Cole, but they had been pulled to monitor the stores.
To say that he hadn't been thrilled with the pairing was an understatement. But hell, he had put up with the blonde for a long time now, and had a huge knowledge base in pressing his buttons. He could cope with what was thrown at him. Dom usually commented that Marcus had the patience of a Saint when it came to dealing with Baird. Personally Marcus believed that a whole Heaven full of the halo-wearing bastards would find it tricky coping with the man. Yet he had gotten used to him; knew how to retort to his comments. But that didn't mean that Marcus Fenix wanted to spend several hours of his time doing patrol with the annoying smartass.
"Oh, great. I'm with you tonight?" The blonde asked grumpily, rubbing a hand over his eyes, trying to fight a battle with exhaustion.
"Apparently so." Marcus replied, slinging his Lancer over his shoulder in one fluid movement. He looked around at the deserted shacks nearest them, before starting to walk. He wasn't fully focused on the task ahead. He was still thinking about Dom. The man whom he regarded as his brother had had another bad day, and Marcus wished that he could be with him now.
Granted, he wasn't good with sympathy and all that shit, but he knew that Dom just needed to have his one remaining family member near him sometimes. Yet here he was, on patrol at this godforsaken hour with Baird. Who had just been pulled from the latest ship the navy had him working on. And a tired Baird means a cranky Baird. Which means he'll be bitching all night long, Marcus thought with an inward sigh.
"What a bloody good plan this was. More patrols. Less sleep. Oh, Prescott. You big genius."
So he got a ten out of ten for predictions, Marcus thought wearily. And the night had only just begun.
"Baird, he did what he had to do. Would you rather have the civvies bitch, and then run off?" He said, looking at the younger man now beside him. He didn't like Prescott as a rule either, but he had to conclude that this time the man had done the only thing possible. Too many people were frightened and complaining, and already a group had left to join the Stranded. Why join those who steal from you, Marcus had no idea, but apparently those who had absconded were operating under the, 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' theory. Upping the amount of patrols so far seemed to have worked, so Marcus grudgingly had to give the thumbs up to the Chairman. For now, anyway. It was something Baird would have to get, however. For one so smart – and he was smart – Baird surely did lack in common sense from time to time.
The younger man shrugged, breaking into a yawn. He too looked at the shacks that had become their home, shivering slightly as a fierce wind attacked him. Personally, he believed that those foolish enough to run out of this zone that offered shelter and protection in order to join up with the scum that robbed them deserved all that they got. But he didn't really care about them. As long as he was set up within life, then all was good in the world. His self-survival instinct was what had got him through fifteen years of hellish fighting. He'd be damned if he was to give it all up now.
"Whatever. The man is still a retard in my opinion." He muttered in reply, causing Marcus to roll his eyes. Yes, it was going to be one hell of a long night. And it had only just started at that. Wonderful.
The two Gears continued walking until they were out of the hastily constructed settlement and heading towards Sector 12, which led into what had been christened, 'the Wilderness.' They stopped at the checkpoint, signed in and kept going until they were in the Sector.
"Control, this is Patrol Four checking in. We've reached Sector Twelve, and about to do a sweep. So far, all's quiet. Over." Marcus kept his finger firmly pressed on his earpiece, waiting for Control to reply. Baird snorted at the sight. The day Marcus Fenix went for an hour without using the earpiece had yet to come. But he knew why Marcus liked tuning into the comms link so much. And she was replying right now.
"Rodger that, Patrol Four. This is Control. You are reminded that there is a high risk of Stranded attack in that area. Caution is required. Over." Anya's cool and clear voice sounded, before fading out. Baird spared a glance at this fearless leader, the beginnings of a smirk playing about his lips. He wondered whether to make a remark, but Marcus, who was used to this scenario, was already looking in his direction with his, 'shit is gonna go down' scowl. That made Baird snort again. When did Fenix not have that look on his face?
"We lost a man here last week." Marcus said, his gravelly voice breaking the silence that had fallen after Anya had closed the link. He briefly closed his eyes, remembering the face of the fallen Gear. He had only been a kid, really. Some kid who had thought that he was gonna be okay now that the war was over and the Grubs were gone. But it was not to be, not since a new enemy had emerged in their fellow humans. Marcus sighed, shaking his head. He still didn't understand how that had happened – men fighting men. He opened his eyes, the image of the kid still hovering before him. He forced himself to focus on Baird instead. "And we've had many more casualties besides. Stranded are armed and dangerous, so take them seriously. For once." He added as an afterthought, knowing full well how Baird thought about the Stranded. In response, the blonde rolled his eyes, and started walking ahead again. Every so often he would stop and stamp his feet, presumably in an attempt to warm up.
Marcus glanced around them before following the younger man. It was quiet and still, the only noise being their footsteps and a bitterly chilling wind that howled every once in a while. He tightened his hold on his trusted Lancer, his companion for so long. He checked it was fully loaded before walking.
No matter how clear the area looked, no matter how silent the place was – Marcus couldn't shake off this nagging feeling that something wasn't right. He stopped once more, peering through half-shut eyes. A lone wind howled, causing a few scattered trees to rustle.
"Oye, Fenix! Quite dragging your ass and get back here! I'm not gonna wait forever!" Marcus sighed, not even bothering to rise to the very clear verbal challenge that Baird was issuing him. Turning his back on the distance view of their base, he strove ahead until he was beside the blonde man, sighing again when he realised that Baird was still bitching.
"Dragging your ass 'cause of late night activities, Fenix?" The blonde quipped, a smirk playing about on his lips. Marcus counted to ten in his head, fighting the urge to punch the younger man and wipe the said smirk off his face.
"Cut the crap, Baird. We have a job to do." Was all he said in response as a frown was once again etched unto his forehead.
"Fucking hell- " The silence was broken as a whine escaped from the blonde man, who screwed his eyes together shut.
"Look, will you hold still!" Marcus ordered with a growl, pressing his hands down on the younger man's shoulder, ignoring the cry of pain that erupted as he did so. He was too busy trying to halt – or at least slow – the bleeding, and Baird scuffling around certainly wasn't making his job any easier. Once again Marcus paused, looking at the bleeding wound. He knew what he had to do, but it was going to be nasty. And Baird wouldn't like it at all. He sighed. Better get this all over with.
"Baird, I'm goin' to have to find the bullet and pull it out." He said in his gravelly tones. He spared the blonde a glance, his sharp eyes taking in how pale the younger man had gotten. He still had his eyes shut, too.
"Fuck that shit. Fenix, just leave it. I'll be fine." Baird replied hastily, trying to ignore the unrelentless waves of pain that were attacking him so fiercely. He refused to let Marcus Fenix see him giving in to the pain, however. He would never be able to look the man in the face again. Baird didn't like anyone seeing him in a state such as this, and the fact that it was Fenix himself who was here right now was really killing him. He attempted once again to wriggle away, the action causing him to move his shoulder. He bit his lip furiously, refusing to cry out. "Just patch me up and I'll wait 'til we get back." Baird cracked open one eye to see a pissed off looking Marcus glaring at him. "Or, of course, I could let you screw around with my shoulder, 'cause you actually have a medical degree." He muttered, and the throbbing headache he was currently experiencing forced him to close his eye once more.
"Baird, I need to get it out. Once I get it out, I can patch you up and stop the bleeding. Otherwise, you'll kneel over with blood loss, and I ain't draggin' your sorry ass all the way back." Marcus retorted, keeping one hand on the wad of bloodstained bandages that were pressed on the blonde's injured shoulder, whilst with his other he tapped into his comm link.
"Control, this is Patrol Four. Control, come in, over." He waited, but it was clearly the same response as he had received last time – naught but fuzzy static ringing in his ears. Either his comm link had been damaged during the fighting, or even more simply there was a breakdown resulting in a lack of communications. It wouldn't be the first time it had happened. But right now it was more important to try and get into contact with Control and order an Evac team. If they had any time left in which to wait for the system to get fixed.
Marcus glanced down at his bloodstained hands. He looked down at the still-shuddering form of Damon Baird, and at the bundle of bloody bandages pressed down firmly on his injured left shoulder. The bundle that was steadily increasing.
Perhaps he was going to have to haul Baird's sorry ass all the way back. Talk about self-fulfilling prophecies.
"I hate snow. And I hate ice." Baird complained, forcing himself not to shiver from the cold. Marcus, the flipping mountain of muscle and man didn't seem to be half as cold as he was.
"So I've noticed." Marcus retorted dryly, watching Baird trying to pick his way through the latest patch of slippery ice. Trying, that is, and failing. Chuckling at the latest round of swearing that was being issued from the blonde's mouth, Marcus realised that perhaps tonight wasn't going to be all that bad. He was getting free entertainment at the expense of Baird, and who doesn't love that idea?
"I'm glad you find this all so amusing." Baird muttered furiously, wincing slightly as he went over again on his sore ankle. "Wait 'til you go down on your ass, and we'll see who'd be laughing." He cautiously tip-toed over a particularly shiny patch of ice, and to Marcus' disappointment stayed upright. Baird threw him a smirk. Marcus shrugged, not wanting to concede a victory to Baird so soon.
"Still, it took you long enough." He said, and was rewarded when Baird glared at him instead. The effect of the glare was somewhat ruined as Baird had to break off to yawn. A faint, spidery smile crossed Marcus' lips for a brief moment.
They continued to walk on in silence, stopping to have a closer look around them on several occasions. There was a real drop in the temperature now, and Marcus watched as Baird kept trying to stay warm. He himself felt the cold, but he was used to it. During his time in the Slab, it was hardly the sunniest place around. But the biting winds weren't helping much either right now.
They were a good thirty minutes walk away from the checkpoint into Sector Twelve, and so far all was quiet. There was nothing to indicate that Stranded had been in the area, but… Marcus shook his head slowly as Baird stumbled on ahead. Something still just didn't seem all that right to him. He peered around at the mess of jumbled foliage to his right and left, and at the burnt out trucks in front of him. Perfect for cover and excellent for snipers if any were around. Marcus hated to even think it, but if there was a great location for a possible ambush, they were walking into it. He pressed his hand to his ear, tapping his earpiece. They were due a check in now, anyway.
"Control? This is Patrol Four, over." Marcus waited for Anya to reply, and sure enough she did.
"Patrol Four, this is Control. What's your status? Over."
Seeing Baird had stopped ahead and was looking at him irritably, Marcus supposed he better catch up. Jogging forward, he frowned at Baird, who responded by rolling his eyes. Marcus turned his back on the younger man, fighting the urge to throttle him.
"Anya, we're good. This place is dead, but…" He paused, feeling Baird's gaze on him. "I don't know. It just seems too quiet. We're gonna go in further for a better look just to make sure."
Anya paused while she took in this latest batch of information. Marcus heard her clearing her throat. "Okay Marcus, but be careful. If you're right, you could be walking into a trap. You're cleared to use all force if necessary, I've been reminded to tell you." Marcus nodded to himself.
"Wilco, Anya. I-"
"Marcus?" Anya interrupted suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"We've already lost one man to these people. Please ensure that we don't lose another…" Anya's voice seemed to fade away, before it was back again and sounding much stronger. "Control out." The link went dead. Marcus dropped his hand slowly and turned around to face Baird, who was looking at him with a knowing smirk on his face. Marcus rolled his eyes. He had a vague idea what it was that Baird was considering saying.
"So…Anya wants you to come back to her in one piece then, Fenix?" Baird remarked wryly, swinging his Lancer onto his shoulder in one fluid movement. He stared at the older and bigger man, a cocky smile playing about on his lips. "What?" He said, seeing the look that was being dished out to him. "Oh, was I not meant to hear all that? Well, I'm sorry Casanova, but your conversation over a comm link is heard by all who have them stuck in their ears. Like me. Moron." He snorted. Marcus' steely blue eyes narrowed. He turned his back on the younger man again and started walking ahead once more.
"One of these days, Baird, I'm gonna send you flying like Bernie did." He growled, stomping ahead. He remembered that time and faintly smiled. He also knew Baird hated being reminded about it – after all, an old lady about twice his age had floored him with a single punch. Behind him, Baird snorted again.
"Yeah yeah, Fenix." He said dismissively. "And one of these days you and Anya will actually get it on." He paused, a smatter of laughter escaping him. "Oh wait, was that a pig that flew over the horizon?"
"Baird, shut the hell up." Marcus growled again, forcing himself to stay calm. Losing his cool with Baird right now was not something that would help with their current problem. Not to mention it would make a hell of a lot of noise, which would easily give away their position. Hell, they had made enough noise already. A sniper could have them both in his sight now.
"Or what, O Fearless One? You'll talk to me, like lovers do?" Baird retorted, smirking. He paused, and started to mimic Marcus' gravelly tones. "You gonna hold me, squeeze me, say you always need me?" He glanced at Marcus while adjusting his goggles with one of his hands. He resumed his normal voice. "Oh, sorry. I forgot that you're Anya's man. No problemo." He sniggered. It was always so much fun, pushing Fenix's buttons. Granted, the man was emotionally retarded, and rarely would respond to anything. And he had a lot of patience, Baird concluded, but still. Once you found that certain something that got him rolling – Anya, for example – then it was priceless and classic entertainment. It almost made up for the fact that he was exhausted and having to patrol at night in fucking freezing weather.
Marcus had stopped, and slowly turned around. His blue eyes were blazing, and his fists were suddenly clenched. Baird grinned. Oh yes. He was definitely getting him all riled up tonight.
"Will you shut the fuck up, Baird?" The older man's voice was dangerously low.
"Aw, I'm sorry. Did I hurt your widdle feelings, widdle Marcus?" Baird replied, looking Marcus right in the eye. He wasn't backing down from this. It was too much fun, now that he had started. He yawned, not even bothering to cover his mouth this time.
Marcus sighed, telling himself that shooting Baird right now was not the answer. He looked around. They were stuck right out in the open now, surrounded by foliage. Everything was quiet, too quiet. He could feel the adrenaline already starting to flow through him, due to years and years of situations like this. He dropped his voice to a low whisper.
"Baird, shut up. Weren't you listening at all to what I was saying to Control?" He mentally congratulated himself on not mentioning Anya. That would have only encouraged the blonde, he thought.
"Oh yeah. Something about it being too quiet." The blonde shrugged dismissively. "I'm not complaining if we don't see any action tonight, Fenix." His blue eyes lit up suddenly. "Of course, you and Anya on the other hand…"
Marcus rolled his eyes. Seriously, how could a genius like Baird be so slow? He shook his head. "No, you moron. Can't you feel it? Doesn't something seem off to you?"
Baird looked around him, before looking back to Marcus. He looked momentarily confused, before switching quickly to annoyed. "Uh, no? Man, I think you're too frigging paranoid now. There's nothing out here, 'sides from us." He yawned heavily, having to rub his eyes to keep them open. Something that didn't escape Marcus' attention.
"Aw shit, Baird. How many hours sleep did you get last night? And the night before?" Marcus asked furiously. Everything seemed to fall into place.
Baird peered out from under half-closed eyes. "I dunno. Navy kept me out later than planned, and then Hoffman dragged me off to look at a disc – Uh, something." He said quickly. "I still got sleep!" He said defensively, tucking his arms around his sides. "Why do you care, Fenix?"
Marcus shook his head. "You've been bloody burning the candle at both bloody ends, you idiot. And it's finally catching up with you. You haven't been focused at all during this patrol, have you?" He shook his head again in exasperation. No wonder Baird hadn't a clue about what was going on. Normally he would have been alert, and would have noticed that something seemed up. But he was exhausted, and hadn't been paying attention. Marcus once more fought the urge to throttle the younger man.
"Sorry, mom. Didn't know you cared." Baird sounded sulky, and had to break off to yawn again.
"Cut the crap. Get behind me and just don't do anything stupid. When we get back, you're gonna go straight to bed." Marcus ordered, realising how like a mother he sounded. Judging by the faint smirk on Baird's face, he had reached the same conclusion.
"Oh, am I grounded?" He asked, to which Marcus refused to reply. Rolling his eyes, the blonde was making his way forward when there was a cracking noise coming from their right. Marcus spun around, gesturing to Baird to get behind him quicker. The blonde rolled his eyes.
"It's nothing, man. For crying out loud…" His voice trailed away when he saw the look on Marcus' face. He found himself yawning again.
"Shut the hell up." Marcus whispered furiously. "Somebody is out there, and we need to get to cover. Stay low, and stay behind me." He ducked, and cautiously made his way towards the nearest burnt out shell of a truck. He looked behind him to see that the blonde man was still standing. He swore violently under his breath.
"Get your ass into some cover!" He whispered harshly. "What are you, a fucking rook?"
"Alright, alright." Baird yawned, "Whatever you say, mom-"
There was a loud shot, a cry, and suddenly Baird was on the ground.
DUN DUN DUN.
How dramatic. D:
Well my little darlings, if you like so far, please could you let me know? Constructive crit is welcome as always.
