Title: In the Dark
Author: LongRun
Pairings: Marcus/Blair
Rating: K+
Words: 500
Warnings: minor spoilers for 'Terminator Salvation', dark-ish themes
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. ^_^
A/N: My sincere thanks to my beta, T-R-Us, who not only corrected my mistakes, but also kindly answered my numerous questions. Thank you!
IN THE DARK
He's a machine. She knows that now. Nothing could convince her more fully than seeing him week after week, alive - or should she say "functioning"?
She had stopped bringing him food and water long ago, after she noticed that he could go without it. Food was a commodity and good food - a luxury. You couldn't waste it on a machine, however much you loved it... him.
She touches his brow tenderly, almost reverently. He's beautiful, still is, even with his eyes growing duller with each passing day. She touches his face, enjoying the feel of his strong cheekbone, covered with stubble. It stopped growing at a certain point, must have been one hell of a clever design to make it grow just long enough to make him - it - look like a real man, but not long enough to burden him with the usual human chore of shaving.
She kisses his chapped lips. Warm, still warm.
He has stopped asking her to let him go, has stopped asking her why she did this to him, because he knows now, he cannot pretend that he doesn't.
She loves him, loves him more than anyone else in her life and she can't let him die. That is, if a machine can die. She won't let them tear him in pieces. The idea of using his "spare parts" revolts her. It seems almost... cannibalistic. She presses her ear to his mangled chest, listening to the steady thump-thump of his heart. He's hers, and he's safe here. For now.
Kate is still both angry and fearful. She's been sending out searching crews and checking the perimeter along with their best men, even when they tell her that she belongs in her hospital ward, not on the battlefield. She's afraid that he'll come back, worm his way into their midst.
John is quiet, thoughtful. This worries her more than Kate's frantic activity. He watches her. She's sure he doesn't know, but John's steady gaze unnerves her anyway. As does the fact that he let her go after Marcus' artfully staged "escape".
Why did he do it? She was fully prepared to die for her treachery, for her love.
Was there another way? No, she won't think of it now. It doesn't matter, because he's here and everything else can wait. Until what - she's not sure. The end of the war? The deaths of everyone who know about him?
She wills herself to stop worrying. She'll think about it later. Later.
Chains clank behind her as she starts up the decrepit concrete stairs, towards the light. She looks back. He's watching her face intently as if he's trying to see something. His own face is a pale blob in the dark. She smiles at him and hopes that he sees what he's searching for. She hopes that she can make him happy.
She continues smiling on her way back to the base, the sun-heated wheel warm and solid under her palms. One day he'll understand. Until then, she'll wait. They have all the time in the world.
FIN
PS. Um.. Reviews, anyone? :) This is my first fic, guys, please tell me what you think.