Stranger
Vive La Viveca
Disclaimer: I do no own the Gears of War series (books or games), nor do I earn any cash from this adventure. Though that would make up for the $100 I spent on the books and the 3rd game this month if I did.
Prologue: Stranger to Love
Marcus Fenix was no stranger to pain. He had lost everything; his best friends, his family, and some where along the way, even a bit of his sanity. Not that one necessarily needed their sanity in these days. There were so few humans left... quite a few Stranded had been wiped out by the Locust, even more by the lambent plague. Most of what was left of the COG and the URI had banded together on the isle of Azura, turning it into a safe fortress that could house what was left of both of both of their governments. There had been a few skirmishes between the soldiers but nothing that had gotten out of hand, and most of it really was personal.
Marcus was doing everything he could to keep it together; deep breathing exercises, getting involved with every project he could, whether he was experienced in the trade or not. Anything to keep his mind occupied.
Of course, one couldn't always be working, as much as they wanted to. At night he was forced to retire to his room, try to sleep the 8 hours away... it wasn't easy. He hadn't slept a full 8 hours in nearly 18 years. There wasn't enough time to. He was needed to protect what was left of humanity, and as a Gear, he had learned long ago that sleep was little and far in between. They got everything else they needed after all.
He tossed. He turned. He murmured in his sleep. Every battle, every life lost... Dom, Carlos, his father... All of them... their faces haunted him in his sleep, whispering words of disappointment and abandonment. He felt like he had let them all die, like he hadn't tried hard enough to keep them alive. He hated that feeling more than the emptiness in his heart after waking in a cold sweat, vomiting up everything he had eaten for supper earlier. Stress and nerves were getting to him. It was hard suddenly turning into a civilian after so long of being nothing but a hardcore soldier.
Life had seemed to move on for everyone else. Rebuilding humanity was going to take a long time, lots of work and effort seemed to go into every vegetable grow, every chicken raised. Children were the heart and soul of the new society, and they were finally free to run around and play. They seemed to enjoy their newfound freedom more than anyone.
Baird and Sam had gotten together, against all odds. They still bickered back and forth like an old couple... Speaking of old couples, Colonel Victor Hoffman had retired to the quiet life of barking orders at construction workers, Bernie Mataki barking orders just as loudly at the men hauling stuff back and forth. Hoffman particularly liked yelling at Marcus if he was the supervisor of any job he was doing. And frankly, he made sure he was. Marcus didn't mind much, he just tuned him out unless it was important.
Cole had started two Thrashball teams... old COG members and civvies vs. URI members and some of the Stranded that had made it to the island. They played on the beach for the most part, though they hoped to be able to build an actual field some time in the future. There was a mass of mainland near by that was perfect for it, in all reality.
Anya... well... Anya had stuck by his side through it all... Every ounce of grieving he had done, she had been there to hold his hand, to sooth his raw soul... He had long since memorized every curve of her body, every sound she made, from the indecisive "hmm" she made while inspecting something, to the soft moans she only shared with him when the lights went out.
Marcus had lost everything he held dear to him. Yet, every morning when he woke up to that beautiful blond head of hair on his chest, he felt as if he had the entire world in his hand. He was no stranger to pain... he was just a stranger to love.
A.N: Any fans of mine, that are waiting to see one of my other stories updated, I AM working on them currently, this is just a new series I'm starting based off my new obsession. College has been brutal lately. Most things will have an update SOON. Thank you for your patience, and hope everyone enjoys! R&R!