AN: Sorry for the wait! I was dealing with some depression and now I recently found out I'm pregnant haha. So you know, just life. Anyway, I have not abandoned this!

Warning it's a tad fluffy. As I stated previously I now ship Reyna/Marcus. (Is that even a ship? Did I just create a ship? Lol)

Marcus and Reyna both grew tired of the somber mood hanging over them like a depressing rain cloud. Although, Marcus was in a bit higher spirits than Reyna which spoke for itself. Both of them wished to break it but neither knew how.

Years of leading the people of Umsom had helped Reyna learn much about the human race she was a part of. She was able to see the subtle signs of discomfort and anxiety where others could not. As she glanced beside her to Marcus, she could sense he was uncomfortable. She might have been more than willing to sit, skulking and angry, but there was no reason he should have to suffer as well. Besides, it was her bloodline that was the cause of all this mess to begin with. Was it not?

"So how did you end up here?"

"What?" Marcus replied hastily. Not prepared for her to start speaking, and lost in his own chaotic thoughts, he missed the question asked of him. He felt a little embarrassed not having heard her.

But Reyna understood him.

"I asked how you got here. You spoke of being in Oscar's village, but not why you were tossed in this cell like fish for market."

As dumb as it sounded, he wanted to avoid bringing up anything close to New Hope so he wouldn't have to bear this woman's wrath again. He learned from his somewhat, brief encounter with Reyna that Kait's temper came undoubtedly from her mother- he would not dare say it aloud though.

"After Kait and Del decided to head up north, the rest of us took the Ravens back to New Ephyra. James was in a hurry and left a while before me. He was being an idiot and I was mad at him. But in end, I'm glad he went ahead and left. Soon after my bird took off we started taking heavy fire. We ended up having to make an emergency landing. It was like they were waiting on us. It wasn't just one or two stragglers. No. They planned this. They were everywhere. So, we did what we do and gave 'em hell. I got separated from the others and then one comes up from behind and jumps on my back! I hit the ground hard. Thought my damn spine was cracked. Before I could knock it off another one walked up. Next thing I know, his ugly foot is whacking my face against the ground, and of course we didn't land in no field of daisies. Next time I opened my eyes I was being thrown in this lovely place. The reason for that is beyond me."

Reyna listened to his story attentively; genuinely interested to know how in the world he ended up down here with her. When she heard his last sentence she couldn't hold back the laughter. Her sudden laughter confused Marcus. He was pretty sure he hadn't said anything that funny, but he enjoyed hearing her laugh.

"I believe you were brought in here to keep me warm. At least that's what big and scaly implied." She said gesturing to the door.

He returned her small with a faint one of his own.

"I can think of worse ways to spend my time."

Reyna's eyes widened almost imperceptibly. She swore she could almost feel warmth rise to her cheeks, but that was impossible. This man was just a Gear.

He could tell he had made the situation awkward. He regretted it. He was sort of enjoying the banter they started. He was unprepared when she recovered and quipped back again with a twinkle in her eye.

"I don't think you have a choice in matter."

"Well pardon me, princess." He replied with a shallow mock bow.

Reyna's smile slowly faded. Marcus knew he said something he should not have, but what he did not know.

"Don't call me that."

"But you were in some weird way. Or was that not a thing? I mean I guess I kinda just assumed since Myrrah was the Locust Queen, you were like a princess." He was rambling and he knew it. Maybe it was stupid to assume the Locust were serious about titles. Actually thinking about it now he regretted his explanation more than calling her that. She clearly did not want to be associated with the Locust or her mother and yet here he goes spouting off nonsense about Locust hierarchy! This is why he didn't talk to people.

It was almost endearing to see the gruff military man flustered, well his equivalent to being flustered anyway.

She released a sigh and continued to grant him information no one else was privy to. The thought made her stop and consider. She had went the majority of her life without disclosing anything related to her past or connection to Myrrah and the Locust. Yet, here she was bearing everything to a practical stranger. She did not understand, but there was just something about him that made her want to tell him about it. Maybe it was because he was so accepting. Most people would be reviled at the knowledge she was Myrrah's daughter let alone anything more about her. Most of humanity would try to kill her on the spot, yet this man seemed almost sympathetic towards her- not that she needed it. She had long since accepted the screwed up cards of life, she was dealt.

"No, you're right. They really did call me princess. Although, I don't think it carries much weight anymore. Then again, I am still alive."

She appeared to be in deep contemplation for a moment. "Wait, does that mean you're a princess too?" She asked with a sly grin.

A bark of laughter left Marcus. "I've been called a lot of things, but princess isn't on the list."

"Well sergeant, it is now."

They sat enjoying the lighthearted conversation between themselves for a while speaking of the happier times in their lives, until Reyna posed a more serious question.

"Why are you down here? I highly doubt they went out of the way to actually bring me someone to stay warm."

Marcus snorted at the idea. "You're right about that. I don't think it was a coincidence it was me either. I've given it a little thought. The Swarm- Locust- whatever are smart, they deliberately ambushed us. I didn't see anyone else get dragged off either."

Reyna gently grasped at her chin whilst thinking it over. "So why did they want you in particular? Why would you be special?"

Marcus groaned and ran a hand down his face. "I don't know. Maybe the grubs have a grudge?" After a moment of thinking he added, "Can they do that? Hold grudges?"

Reyna rolled her eyes. "You actually expect me to know that?"

"Well you're the expert here!"

"Expert? You've probably spent more time around them than me!"

"Hey I resent that!"

Reyna scoffed at the child like behavior which she believed was limited only to him. "Okay so they captured you because they hold a grudge against you? How does that make sense?"

He froze momentarily. Realizing that it was not only possible but quite likely, Reyna did not know the specifics of her mother's death. He could move on and hope it did not come back to bite him, or he could rip off the bandage. He decided to bite the bullet now.

His tone changed to serious and somewhat grave. "Reyna. It wasn't just anyone that killed Myrrah. It was me. I killed your mother."

Her posture weakened slightly. She was torn. Torn between sadness over the loss of her mother and gratefulness that this man ended the human genocide her mother was enacting.

Telling someone you killed their psychopathic mother is not a task one prepares for. Marcus now believes such bazaar situations should be accounted and prepared for.

"Thank you. You saved many lives. You're a true hero."

He made a sound of acknowledgement though not fully agreeing with his hero status. "Maybe." He turned to look her in the eyes. Eyes which hid much from the world. "But no matter how crappy they are, losing a parent still hurts. I'm sorry."

"Please. Don't apologize."

Marcus knew better than to argue. "Okay."

After the unbidden tension left the room the earlier question was pressed again.

"I doubt your here because of that. If anything they should have killed you already for that. So the question is why would they need you alive? What makes you different?"

Marcus ran over every possible reason. Anything that made him different from others. "Could it be the Hivemind?"

"Hm?"

"Well ever since we were almost changed or whatever, we've been getting flashes through a faint connection with the Hivemind. Could they want something to do with that?"

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. That was the only other distinctive factor and they both had that in common. Maybe they wanted to use them to further evolve? The Swarm did currently have to use humans to further their numbers due to the Swarm's inability to procreate since the loss of the Sires. Perhaps they might even want to use them to create a new sub species.

"I think you might be right. It makes sense. But still the big question remains. Since we are indeed alive, what do they plan on doing to us?" Reyna looked at him searching for the answer.

Marcus reached out and laid a gentle hand across both of her folded hands. "No matter what, is we're in this together."

‐-

Time down here was somewhat fickle. But they both knew they had been down here captive in these caves for quite some time, Reyna longer than Marcus of course. Both were glad that they were not alone and were grateful to have company- particularly of a more human variety. They would even go as far as saying they enjoyed each other's respective company even befriending one another. They ended up having more in common than would appear. Both were rather quiet and serious, yet when they loved, they lived fiercely.

Reyna sat up after being roused from sleep by a commotion coming down the corridor. She reached over to were Marcus lie beside her her and shook his shoulder.

In a clipped tone she commanded him. "Get up. I know you're awake."

He made a sound of irritation but got up as he shook the sleepiness off. They both listened as the sound got closer but was just out of sight. After several moments it moved close enough to make out the sounds of a struggle. The loud movements of a Swarm was present. It sounded as if he was almost dragging something. After several moments some female grunting was also heard.

"You hear that, Reyna? They got somebody else."

"It seems so."

The sounds kept growing closer and closer. It seemed they were going to come to the cell Reyna and Marcus shared. They stopped just outside when she heard the female voice yell, "Get the hell off me! Let me go!"

Reyna's eyes flew open wide at the sound of the voice. It was unmistakable and that terrified her. The door to the adjacent cell was flung open and before she could blink a body was roughly shoved in and unceremoniously fell to the ground.

Marcus' attention was torn between the opposite cell and watching Reyna go ridged.

The air in her lungs failed her. The only thing she could do was choke out one word.

"Kait."

AN: I already have the next chapter planned out, so don't worry I'm not done yet! Thanks for hanging with me!