Marcus and Baird have confessed their feelings for each other and have entered into a relationship. What else is in store for the two of them and their future?

~*~*~Chapter 7: Just A Little While Longer~*~*~

Five years later...20 A.E.: New Jacinto, Unknown Location on the Mainland...

Baird stared down at Marcus, his face flaming. "You're joking, right?" He was a little anxious. Who wouldn't be? Marcus' request worried him a bit.

"What? You can't do it?" Marcus said, an eyebrow only raising an inch.

"No! I can!" He muttered. But he was afraid. He'd never had to stick Marcus' dick inside of him before. On top of that, he had never taken any control during their lovemaking.

Baird steadied himself on Marcus' lap, palms on the mattress. Marcus had one hand running up and down Baird's leg and was slowly beating him off with the other.

He gritted his teeth. Why did Marcus want Baird to try this now? Yeah, the man was getting older. And at 42, it wasn't like he would be able to perform at his greatest ability anymore. But Baird knew that even when they were both graying, he'd want Marcus inside of him, taking control. Not the other way around.

It did dishearten him to see a bit more gray in Marcus' hair though when Baird still had all of his beautiful blonde locks.

I wish he'd stop fucking stressing. Baird thought, staring down at his lover.

He spit on his hand while leaning over Marcus, reaching behind him to grab his cock and run his hand along it. Holding himself up by his knees and a forearm, Baird pushed Marcus' cock in between his cheeks. He felt the head poking against his pink ring and he forced himself to relax, breathing slowly and closing his eyes. Then he slowly pushed it inside.

Doing this himself was extremely different from Marcus doing it. He had no control when Marcus plunged his cock deep into him. Whatever pace Marcus set, Baird matched. He loved it when Marcus took total control. He took a few deep breaths, feeling Marcus slide a hand slowly up his leg to his thigh and back.

This was now a complete one-eighty. Baird would set the pace and Baird would move. He'd be in control. And in this particular situation, it was a new experience. New happenstances didn't sit well with Baird thanks to his paranoia.

He slowly sat up, putting his hands on Marcus' chest to balance himself, letting his ass slide down his cock. He couldn't keep from gasping as he swallowed Marcus' cock to the hilt. Marcus was now gently pulling on his nipples which made it even harder for him to concentrate. This position was supposed to make it easier on him, but it just seemed the opposite.

Baird could feel the flush of heat coursing through his body, making his usual pale skin turn a rosy color. He was breathing slowly, staring down into Marcus' pink face. His eyes told him that he craved him and he wanted him to move. Marcus gave a few slow thrusts to emphasize his point.

Baird bent forward, fingers intertwined in the sheets. He just couldn't do it. He couldn't get over his nervousness and his paranoia that Marcus wouldn't find him nearly as appetizing if he took control. His COG tag clinked against the one that Marcus wore about his neck.

He could see a bit of a smile on Marcus' face as he sat up, embracing Baird about his waist. Baird let him bring his body on top of his. He stared in his lover's face and a shiver went through him. The man looked like he was about to tear up his ass...and it was exciting.

"No need to be nervous..." Marcus softly kissed him. "Let me calm you down..." At that, he slowly gyrated his hips, pushing his cock inside Baird.

Baird felt him slowly moving inside of him. He pushed his body against Marcus' cock, matching his rhythm. He panted hard in Marcus' ear as he gently pulled at his hair. Marcus was gently sucking and biting his neck, which made him claw at the bed and pull his hair harder.

His dick was rubbing hard between the two bodies and he could feel it throbbing. He was already so swollen...They had just started and he wasn't going to make it..

Marcus began to thrust a little harder and faster, penetrating Baird deeply. He gave a delicious cry that mixed with pain. The constant pummeling of his ass hurt like hell, but he wouldn't want it done any other way.

"...Damon..." Marcus whispered heavily, moving his hands from the small of Baird's back to his thigh.

Baird screamed in delight as Marcus began to hit the particular area that pleasured him senselessly.

"Damon..."Marcus moaned through gritted teeth. Baird could tell by his voice that Marcus wanted him to look at him.

Baird bit his lip as he slowly turned his head. He was enamored with the love that he could see within Marcus' eyes, the desire of wanting to please him and vice versa, and never wanting to let him go. And Marcus' eyes held all the strength that he needed.

He raised himself to rest on his forearms and began to roll himself on and off Marcus' dick, keeping with the pace Marcus had set. Marcus began to cover his face with light kisses. Baird returned the favor by giving him a deep one, his tongue shoved into the man's mouth with extreme passion, playing with his tongue roughly, wanting to convey to his man how much he loved him.

Baird grabbed Marcus' hands that was gently moving Baird's ass along his dick. He intertwined his fingers with Marcus and held both hands down on the mattress, tongue still tied with his lover. He could take control if he wanted to. Baird just needed incentive...and Marcus' affirmation of his love for him was just that.

Baird pulled away breathless and, balancing himself using Marcus' hands, he began to ride him. His cock smacked against Marcus' stomach. He could feel the thrust of Marcus' hips against him as Baird's ass smacked against his thigh.

He tightened his grip on his lover's hands, spreading his legs a little wider so that Marcus could get a good view of him: his cock dripping heavy pre-cum all over his stomach, his hairless body pink with pleasure and glistening with sweat, and his bright blue eyes begging for Marcus to fuck him harder.

Baird didn't ever stifle his moans anymore as he threw his head back to let one out. Whenever he wanted to scream, he did and he loved when Marcus groaned with him. He looked down at his lover, gritting his teeth in ecstasy, when he saw something—a glint it seemed—awaken in Marcus' eyes.

It was as if the man snapped. Marcus immediately raised himself and pushed Baird upon his back. He was now staring anxiously into Marcus' wild unforgiving eyes. Oh fuck..I guess the old man has some power in him still..

"Marcus. Wait..." Baird muttered, a bit helpless. He could still feel the man's cock inside of him. How he hadn't slipped out of Baird was anyone's guess.

He put his arms beneath Baird's legs.

"...No...don't..." Fear was coursing through him. He wouldn't be able to sit for a week if Marcus unleashed his bestial rage.

Marcus ignored him, leaning over him while lifting him up slightly, his fists supporting his body.

"Marc-aaah!" A powerful thrust from Marcus made Baird grab the sheets above his head. The bed was rocking noisily, but the sound was unable to drown out Baird's screams for Marcus to go harder, deeper, and faster. He could feel his balls slapping against him as Marcus began to pummel him without mercy.

"Don't stop! Fuck...Don't! Stop!" he cried out. He put his arms around Marcus' shoulders and gave him an extremely long passionate kiss. He felt Marcus' swollen cock inside if him begin to pulse and immediately tightened his ass around it. He wanted Marcus to shoot his ink deep inside of him and never stop. He didn't want their lovemaking to ever end. This euphoric state was enough to make him happy.

Then Marcus got on his knees then which confused Baird. Wasn't he about to cum? He pulled Baird closer to him, never letting up on his hard thrusts. He looked down at Baird, slowly stroking his cock, still pummeling his pink hole. Never letting his gaze waver from his blonde beau, Marcus bent over and closed his mouth over Baird's dick.

The double pleasure instantly made Baird arch his back, scratching at whatever he could. He didn't think that Marcus would be able to do this. Ever. Baird looked on as Marcus satisfied both his pink ring that he still kept tightened and his cock that wanted release.

He bent over, sucking at Baird's cock so eagerly. In his position, he was only able to get a bit in his mouth. But it was more than enough. Baird didn't know if he should push against Marcus' cock in his ass or push his hips upward to force Marcus to suck him. He settled for doing both as fast as he could, pushing himself over the edge.

It didn't take much sucking for both of them to explode: Baird's cum bursting inside and out of Marcus' mouth, splattering his jaw while Marcus' cum coated his pink walls with his creamy spunk. Baird shivered as he spilled more of himself into Marcus' mouth and Marcus' cock pulsed, filling every inch of Baird's forbidden crevice.

Through tired eyes, Baird looked up at Marcus as he collapsed on top of him, not pulling out until he had softened. He listened to his heavy breathing as he put his arms around him and stroked his hair.

They both needed this, Baird knew, as he winced at the pain of Marcus pulling out. With what was coming tomorrow, it was necessary that both get all of their tensions out-of-the-way to face the following day. It'd be the last time they both saw each other for a while...

It seemed to jump out at him whenever he found it lying out in the open. It would make sense, especially today of all days, since Marcus was mourning the loss of a brother and Baird of a comrade. They were about to go visit the site of Dom's death and he knew that he would be glad when the day was over for the two of them. He would be emotionally drained from the experience.

He was looking at a picture that showed Marcus, Dom, and Dom's brother, Carlos, in a bar. It was lying on top of Marcus' dresser as well as Dom's knife that he hadn't ever retrieved from Marcus and Marcus' gloves. They were young then and smiling. And not one that Marcus had forced for the picture. It was a genuine large one.

I probably won't ever see him smile like that... Baird thought, envying Dom and Anya for such memories. And that thought degraded him further. Dom was dead. Why would he ever envy him? "Remember when people used to know how to smile." Baird whispered to no one in particular.

"Yeah. I do." Marcus walked up behind him, staring down at the photo with him. His voice was barely audible. And extremely anguished.

Baird tore his eyes from the young Marcus to the man who was eighteen years older. The man who hardly smiled, that had a gash on his right cheek, that was nearly a hundred pounds heavier than the photo. The man who had more gray streaks apparent in his black hair than before, his jaw rough with lack of shaving, crows feet visible, and a weary worn out look in his eyes.

Marcus' gaze was still on the photo as Baird realized that he would never want the Marcus of his prime and glad that he didn't know him then. His body was stiff, fists curled into a ball, which meant that he didn't want to be touched. But Baird ignored it. He couldn't keep all the pain inside of him. Especially not when he—Baird, his lover—was so willing to bear the burden for him.

He put his arms around Marcus and felt him jolt. Marcus would have to learn that it was okay to touch. That it was okay to let people try to ease some of him pain. And Baird was willing to do it, no matter the cost.

He felt Marcus slowly put his arms around him and pull him closer to him. Baird's cheek rubbed against Marcus' unshaven one, dwelling in the moment for a few seconds. "We have to leave." he whispered. "They should be here by now."

Marcus nodded, pulling away, and both headed out of the small building that held the barracks of the slowly growing COG forces.

Three years since the ending of the war and humanity had a long road ahead. Today, the COG was celebrating the conquering of the Locust. They both watched as military vehicles rumbled towards the center of the square, bringing in Stranded that wanted to live under COG rule once more and setting up for the new Chairman's—Chairman Hoffman—speech as well as the supposedly uplifting parade.

Yet, to Delta Squad, there was no celebration. The day that the war ended was also the day that they had lost a vital member, Dominic Santiago, and when Marcus had lost his father. Who could smile during such a day? Even for those who didn't know Dom or Adam Fenix, they would have known Chairman Prescott had also died. But having left the COG eighteen months before the end of war and frying the world using the Hammer of Dawn didn't leave his memory as one that was truly well-respected. So people would still celebrate.

Baird briefly placed a hand on Marcus' arm. He stared at him with a very forlorn look, although he was struggling to keep his emotions inside. Baird nodded, telling him that he was pretty tired of the festivities as well, but it was necessary to keep hope among the denizens alive and to show them that humanity can, will, and did prevail.

Their relationship was even more of a secret than Marcus and Anya's had been. Everyone knew about Marcus and Anya essentially even though Marcus himself didn't acknowledge it in public. Hardly anyone knew about Marcus and Baird.

Marcus and Baird had told Bernie in private after she had commented on how close the two of them looked one day. She had been shocked at first, unable to believe it. It wasn't until Marcus-which surprised both Baird and Bernie for how forward and public it was-pressed his lips against Baird's in front of her that she accepted the truth.

The news was kept from Hoffman. Hoffman was a military man in every strict sense of the word. He stuck by COG rules when he shot Geril Atar for stealing food at Anvil Gate and was about to shoot a man named Simon on Vectes for trying to take a fishing trawler to escape. Sacrifice a few to save many seemed to be a motto of his.

And their relationship was sacrificial. Their sperm was still useful, so why wasn't it being spent on the women? It was nearly treason to enter into such a relationship when the world was at the brink of extinction. Not to mention the abundant rules against such acts as they were doing.

With one of the men that he deeply cared for gone and knowing the toll that it took on Hoffman, both Marcus and Baird thought it best that he didn't know.

Their relationship was five years strong and relatively simple. They made love to each other, respected each other's spaces, but communicated often. They never left the other angry, consoled one another, and told each other how much in love they were.

But in public they were nothing more than comrades: a man who begrudgingly accepted the other's leadership and a man who tolerated the antics of a man bloated with his ego and sense of superiority. And that was fine with Baird.

He could handle all the stress of a secret relationship. The fact that he had Marcus for life was more than enough to handle anything. He never wanted to be in the public eye with his personal life anyway.

A Junker pulled up to them as they walked to the curb. When the door opened, Anya and Sam got out as well as Cole. They were all accompanying Marcus to visit Dom's grave site.

"Jace is driving." Sam said as she approached the two men.

"You ready to head out?" Cole asked the both of them, but he was looking straight at Marcus to make sure that he was ready.

"Mercy is a few hours away." Anya added. "We have to get back in time for Baird and I to head back to Azura."

Marcus nodded slowly. "Yeah. I don't feel like going to the parade today."

All of them piled into the Junker, Anya patting Marcus in reassurance, Baird biting his tongue to keep from telling her to stop touching his man.

The wench.

All were silent as they picked their way around the rubble that was Mercy. Baird could see, out of the corner of his eye, that Marcus was remembering the pain that had happened here. But this was Baird's first time seeing it. Sam and Cole as well.

It was hard to imagine that the place had crawled with Formers and other types of Lambent. But he could see the excessive damage that was done to the place. He just didn't know if Marcus would be able to take it once he saw the tanker that Dom had sacrificed himself in.

It would be the first time anyone had gone to Mercy since Dom's death.

Baird was still a bit tense, not having gotten the instinct of war out of his body. He was wary of the fact that anything could happen-hell, they'd just gotten through a fifteen year war with creatures that had lived underground and who knew for how long-and he wouldn't be surprised if a Drudge burst through an emergence hole in front of him. The thought of such a thing happening suddenly just like Emergence Day made him pull the strap on his gun that he had grabbed from the Junker a little harder.

"What? You don't trust my dad?"

Baird's eyes widened as he looked over at Marcus who was scowling at him, clearly aggravated. He knew what he meant.

Adam Fenix had found the solution for the Lambency problem by the use of the Imulsion Countermeasure Weapon. Once activated, the targeted radiation eradicated all the Lambent cells within a being. The man had sacrificed his life in order to form the weapon. So what was the need for a gun if all the Locust and Lambent were dead?

Baird could have made a snappy come-back about the possibility that there were other things about Sera that they didn't know and should be cautious-but he knew that such a conversation would upset Marcus...especially today. "Habit." he said quietly.

Marcus looked away before quietly responding. "Yeah."

Baird followed Marcus through the town, being respectfully silent to the deaths that had occurred here. He faintly wondered when it would be inhabited once more...or if it ever would.

He was able to see Sam, Anya, Jace, and Cole a bit away, talking to each other in quiet tones. They were all being respectful as well, staring at the overgrown moss crawling over the destroyed buildings, the mess that would needed to be cleaned if it was to be lived in again, and the realization that this was one of many places around the world where a great loss of life had occurred.

Baird bumped into Marcus' hard body then and casually stepped back. His quick rude remarks towards Marcus was happening less often, and it would be because he couldn't verbally hurt the man who held him at night. He didn't want to. He only wanted to encourage him and let him know that he would always be there for him.

Yes, he was forced to masquerade about the city that was being rebuilt with an air of his common arrogance to keep up the facade that the two were barely tolerating each other. But he had stopped throwing degrading words at Marcus and he him. They cared for each other too much to do that.

People had recognized that he had stopped being caustic towards him, asking him if he had suddenly grown a heart. He'd only respond with the fact that if he did, he would actually care for them.

Baird pulled himself from his thoughts, coming to the realization that Marcus hadn't react to his body running against his. He stood next to him and his eyes followed Marcus' gaze, slowly widening.

The fuel truck that Dom had supposedly driven was still where he had crashed it, completely blackened due to the flames of the explosion and upside down. He dared to look at Marcus and his throat seemed to close up.

He was staring at the vehicle, motionless and helpless, tears silently falling down his face, shoulders sagged.

It made him feel that he was intruding. This moment was between Dom and Marcus: Baird had nothing to do with it.

But as much as he wanted to leave Marcus so he could have some time alone, he knew that the man truly didn't want to be left alone. It was an awkward situation.

Baird swallowed hard, his heart feeling heavy. He didn't want to come here. He didn't want to see Marcus go through such pain again, reliving the time that Dom had sacrificed himself for the greater good.

Irony hurt sometimes, didn't it? As many times as Marcus recklessly risked himself to others, he would never get injured severely. But whenever someone did as such for him, they would be caught in the crossfire. Like Dom...

But Marcus wanted to come here. He felt he should finally pay his respects since he couldn't bring himself close to the place the past two years. No one wanted to pressure him. They all had agreed to go when he was ready.

Baird didn't know what he should do to Marcus, but he knew he had to do something. He slowly approached him, but his quiet yet shaky voice stopped him.

"Don't." he whispered.

That struck Baird hard, hurting him greatly. He didn't want to make a scene in a city that was a final resting place for many, but he couldn't help himself. "You can't deal with this by holding it all in." He seethed. "Your macho bullshit is not going to work in this instance."

The slow head turn and look that Marcus gave him told Baird that he had sparked his wrath. "Are you fucking kidding me?" He said slowly, fists clenched, teeth gritted.

Baird crossed the distance between them, heart racing in fear. They were lovers, true, but it didn't mean that they weren't scrapping with each other. They never harmed each other physically anymore though. Not ever since that day in the showers...

"No." He whispered. "I'm not." He forced himself to look into his eyes. "We all miss him, Marcus. And I know that you miss him the most. But you can't go through this alone. You can't bury all of this inside."

His shoulders were now squared back which completed his defensive pose. He was making it aware that he didn't want to be touched. But Baird ignored it.

He slowly put his arms around Marcus' neck and murmured into his ear, "I won't let you feel this pain alone. I love you too much for that."

Baird felt like he was holding onto a brick house, built sturdy but with a weak foundation that could crumble at any moment. Which is what Marcus did.

He felt arms pulling him closer to Marcus' body and the older man buried his face in the crook of Baird's neck. Baird was a bit unsure of what Marcus was doing when he felt his body shaking. He felt wetness in the area that Marcus was occupying and he then realized what was happening.

All Baird could do was hold him tighter. He only once whispered that he was sorry to the silently sobbing man who just kept on. He vaguely noticed the others looking on at the two of them, but their thoughts didn't matter now.

It was a long while before Marcus stopped, the wind casually blowing around them. It was even longer before he pulled away from Baird's embrace, embarrassed. He tried to turn away so that he didn't have to see his face. "Sorry." he whispered.

"Don't apologize." Baird rested a reassuring hand on his arm. He could see Marcus' blood shot eyes and his heavy frown as the man looked down at him. Baird's fingers trailed down Marcus' arm to his hand and he meshed their fingers together.

The look on Marcus' face told him that he was greatly appreciated which made Baird smile. It was not as if Baird and Marcus could make their relationship public. Just because they were both in the same squad and so wouldn't technically be breaking rules did not erase the fact that both were men. Two men engaging in such a relationship while humanity was at the brink of extinction was unthinkable.

So whatever time Baird could get with his lover was one he was willing to risk.

Marcus nodded. "You ready?" He whispered.

Baird turned to view the wreckage of the vehicle one last time. "Yeah, let's—" He stopped short. A silver glint caught his eye in the wreckage. It looked like—

"What?" Marcus said, approaching him, looking at the tanker as well. Baird knew that he recognized what Baird has seen as well, because his body immediately stilled once more.

"Maybe you should stay here." Baird said, his heart fluttering to his throat.

Marcus' grasp on his hand became limp. "You don't think I can handle a dead body?" he growled. "I watched my father die!"

"You watched your father's molecular structure break down as if he'd been incinerated by a neutron bomb leaving no remnant of him." Baird explained. "This may be a burnt corpse."

"And you have experience with this?"Marcus said, anger apparent again.

"I don't want you to get hurt worse! Is that too much ask?!" Baird blurted out, letting go of Marcus' hand. "I'd rather you remember Dom as he was before he died. Not now!"

"And you don't think I can handle him?" Marcus was defensive. And he had every right to be, Baird knew. But he didn't want to make Marcus suffer anymore than he already was.

"I'm just afraid..." he said quietly. "Of what we'll see. COG tags are usually worn around the neck, right? If you look at the angle, it looks like it's suspended in the air. As if—"

"As if someone's wearing it." Marcus finished, staring at the COG tag, a little disillusioned.

"Right." Baird affirmed, but he didn't really need to.

"It's been three years." His voice couldn't almost be heard. "Do you actually think a body could be preserved that way?"

"Stranger things have happened." he whispered. "I mean, the possible explosion could have been hotter than two and a quarter thousand degrees. The body would have needed to burn for at least two hours—"

His voice trailed off as he saw Marcus' hurt face. He silently scolded himself. How insensitive could he be?"

"Then we should leave it alone." Marcus spoke quietly, turning away. "Respect his grave."

"But Maria—" He began as Marcus walked away. "Maria's family shrine is behind the church, right? Isn't that what you said?"

Marcus paused. His shoulders slacked and his hands hung limp as his head was slightly tilted up and to the side. "What's your point?"

Baird hesitated. "Wouldn't it be better if we placed the COG tag there? On her family shrine?"

He heard Marcus sigh. "That means that we'd possibly see a burnt body, Baird. Or some remains."

We. Baird loved it when Marcus said it. But, in this particular instance, it wasn't something that he would be excited about.

"I would think that he'd want to be as close to Maria as possible—" He watched Marcus give a slight nod before walking back to him. "But I don't want you to be tormented any more than you are." He added as Marcus stood beside him. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know." he muttered, eyes drifting towards the silver COG tag. "But I know that whatever I decide, I don't want you to be a part of it."

That hurt. "I'm not the one with nightmares." He matched Marcus' voice level.

"And I don't want you to start getting them." He began to walk towards the vehicle. Baird walked quickly to catch up with him. He blocked his path, putting both hands on his shoulders.

"Wait! I don't think this is a good idea—"

"Make up your mind, Baird!" Marcus growled annoyed. "Get the tag and place it on Maria's grave or leave his resting place in peace since it's already in Maria's hometown! Make up your goddamn mind!"

"I don't know!" Baird seethed harshly. "Both make sense, but I don't know what he would want! I think you would!"

Marcus' eyes glimmered with anger, but it passed as what Baird said sunk in. Only Marcus would know what Dom truly wanted since he was closest to him. "I do know what he wants. And what he wants is just as you said, to be closer to Maria." He turned to head towards the tanker again, Baird about to follow him when both were stopped short by Cole approaching them.

"It's...only ash." Cole said softly, holding the COG tag in a hand. Baird looked around to see the others near them. When had the rest of them had caught up to them? "I didn't see anything but it."

Baird's hands slid from Marcus as his lover took the COG piece from Cole. He could see Anya and Sam trying hard not to let their tears show while Jace had his head down. His cheeks pinkened a bit.

He was sure that they had heard their verbal spat. They shouldn't have fought in front of Dom's resting place like that.

Forgive us, Dom. We were being selfish. I was being selfish...Nothing new, huh?

"Thanks..." Marcus whispered, staring at the slightly charted COG tag before slowly turning and making his way to the church.

Baird watched him go and was about to head after him when he felt a soft touch on his arm. Anya was looking up at him, sorrowful brown eyes staring deep into his. "Baird. We'll wait by the Junker, okay?" she whispered.

"You guys aren't going to see the grave?"

Cole and Jace shook their heads as Anya gave a failed attempt at a smile. "Dom passed away here and we want to give him our respects. But you..." She faltered a bit, closing her eyes. Sam approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder which seemed to renew her vigor. "You need to be with Marcus..."

Baird almost choked up. He knew that it hurt Anya deeply to have to surrender Marcus to him and he felt sorry for her. To say those words...

He nodded and headed after Marcus, not looking back. Walking slowly through the church ahead of him, he came out behind it to the cemetery.

Marcus was standing before a huge gravestone, an angel on top of it. It resembled Dom's tattoo when he had been alive. He stayed back, watching Marcus slowly place the COG tag onto the Flores Family grave, on top of Maria's necklace that Dom used to wear. He watched him intertwine the COG tag and necklace together around something...and he realized that it was Dom's commando knife.

He watched him kneel next to it, hand on the gravestone, head down. Baird silently approached him to get down beside him, placing a hand on his knee.

"I'll be there soon. Alright?" he whispered, eyes closed.

"They know." He returned in a soft voice. "But I'm going to be right here with you."

Marcus said nothing, but placed his hand over his.

Baird had been right. After the visit to Mercy, he had been emotionally drained. No one spoke on the way back. They had all been starving so they had headed to the mess hall which would provide a "feast" for the remembrance day for the end of the war.

After the dinner, both Marcus and he had taken a walk through the quiet streets. They were going to be separated by a large mass of water soon and both couldn't do anything about it. They had their orders and had to follow them.

Even if Hoffman knew about the two of them, there would be no way that they could stay together. Baird was needed to repair Azura and help rebuild the Maelstrom. Marcus was needed on the Mainland to restore order and civility to the populace. They could only see each other a week every few months or when they got approved time off.

So their relationship was based on letters essentially. In order to keep their affair a secret, Baird wrote to Cole, but lower-cased the "C" and Marcus did the same to Anya for the "A". That way, when the respective persons received the mail, they would know who it was for.

Baird knew that it hurt Anya to receive mail from Marcus that was meant for him. But there was no other way to do it without it raising suspicion. Everyone knew—inaccurately of course—that Marcus and Anya had a relationship. Still using these pretenses, both men were able to communicate their feelings to each other.

They made sure that they were far enough away from the town before they grasped hands in silence, overlooking the ruins that was pretty much the world.

Baird didn't have to worry about Krill filling the dark sky, unsuspecting vibrations underground that warned of Locust, snipers that hid in the shattered and broken buildings, but he still found himself looking around as if expecting them.

The feeling of war would never leave him. He didn't even know if that was good or bad. But as he felt Marcus' fingers tighten on his hand, he felt confident.

The devastated world that they were staring upon would be something that they'd have to fix. And they would do it together.

Baird closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the other man's hand. It would be awhile before he would be able to feel it again. His heart was hurting at the fact that he was being torn away from the love of his life and this had been their relationship for three years.

He didn't want to be away from Marcus. He wanted to be with him. He could tell, as he turned his head to look into the other man's eyes, that he wanted it as well. But what could they do?

Marcus gently pulled him towards him and Baird's defenses nearly broke. He was swallowed into Marcus' warm embrace, holding back an anguished sigh that would have told him that he didn't want to go. He held him tightly, swallowing hard and wishing that it didn't have to be this way.

Bernie had done her best to convince Chairman Hoffman that Baird would best be served rebuilding New Jacinto, but Hoffman had told her that Azura held plenty of advanced mechanics that needed to be taken care of as well as the Maelstrom Generator that needed to stay functional in defense of the island, whatever possible offense there could be.

"It's only for a little while longer..." Marcus breathed against Baird's cheek, a lie that they both knew wasn't true, but it helped ease a bit of the pain if they believed it.

"Yeah..." Baird agreed, tightening his grasp of him in the darkness. He didn't want to let him go. Ever. He would rather stay as they were now...

Marcus gently pressed his lips against his, Baird's feelings threatening to explode from him, holding his emotions back. He deepened the kiss by taking in Marcus' tongue within his mouth.

His heart was breaking. Why did he have to go? Surely there was something that Marcus could do at Azura. Or Baird could help with some projects around New Jacinto. They were going to need some expert engineers to help rebuild it anyway. It was a selfish request, and he knew this, but all he wanted was to spend his time with the person he was in love with. Was that too much to want?

"It's...time to go..." he whispered, breaking the kiss, a bit breathless.

"Just a few more minutes.." Baird pulled at Marcus' collar to bring him closer to him as Marcus held onto his face. "They can wait a few more minutes."

"Baird-" Marcus said quietly, but he interrupted.

"I won't be able to see you for months after this!" He snarled angrily. "Can't I take as much time as I can with you now?"

"When you finish what you're needed for there, you can come back." Marcus sounded as he always did, usually calm and reasoning, but it was obvious that he was hurting as well.

"That will take years, Marcus!" Baird cried out, revealing his pain. "We're still finding parts for the Maelstrom and it's been three years since it was destroyed! Even with the COG files we found on it, it would take at least a decade for it to be rebuilt."

"It'll only be a little while longer, Baird." was all Marcus said as they both touched lips again.

A little while...Baird hated that phrase sometimes. This instance was one of them. How long was a little while? Three minutes? Six weeks? Eight months? Fifteen years? How long was it before he could be with him again?

Yet, there was nothing that he could do. His temporary transfer had gotten him into the mess to begin with. Hoffman had ordered all of the engineers that had been accepted for transfers-whether they were forced or asked for it-to work to rebuild Azura. That meant that Baird had been drafted for the duty, even after he had ended his temporary leave.

He knew, though, that Marcus only meant well. He could see in his eyes how hard their separation was on him and how much strain it would put on their relationship if they told each other the truth: they'd probably never be able to be as they once were again. This lie was keeping them hopeful for the possible future, although it would be generations before Sera was ever restored to its former glory.

Baird sighed then. "Why was I so stupid? I shouldn't have ever transferred. If I knew-"

"There's no way that you could have known." Marcus grumbled, in low tones. "You did what you thought was right. Just like anyone else." All Baird could do was nod.

They both looked up in the sky simultaneously when they heard something in the air approaching New Jacinto from afar. Baird tensed, thinking that it was a Reaver, but feeling Marcus' body pressed against his assured him that the flying creature wasn't ever going to make another appearance.

When the lights flashed about the center of the town, Baird could see that it was a King Raven. In other words, the transport that would take Baird away from Marcus and Anya to Azura.

They slowly to head back to the center of New Jacinto, holding hands. He could feel how Marcus got even more tense with every step back towards the small province. It could have been because he was worried if they were going to get caught. Or it could have been because each step brought them closer to Baird's departure.

When Marcus' fingers slipped from his as they neared the loading zone that was flooded with lights, Baird felt instantly cold, the warmth of the other man having left him. The Sergeant was back: rules and regulations were to be followed, no public display of affection, which meant words, eye contact, or touch. Especially between men.

But what PDA would occur between them? They didn't have an intimate relationship in the public eye and were seen as two men that barely accepted the other's existence. Right, Sergeant? Baird thought.

As they approached the Raven, they could see a dirty blonde haired woman glaring down at them from the cockpit.

"You ready? We don't have all night to wait on you, you know?" Gill Gettner snapped at him from the cockpit radio on the King Raven Eight-Zero. She was transporting Anya and Baird to Azura to continue their duties. Anya was in charge of setting up a COG Control Base on Azura and Baird would be helping her when he wasn't tinkering with anything mechanical that needed fixing.

"I'm coming, alright!" He shot back to her. "Not like you have anything better to do!"

"Damon..." His angry flare sizzled as he turned back to Marcus. It was rare for him to call him by his name outside of the bedroom. It was only a whisper, but Baird blushed as if he was being reprimanded loudly. He paid no attention to the Gears making their way around them, heading for their rounds or home to sleep. "Be careful."

A smile crossed Baird's face, a small one. So there was a bit of the human Marcus that showed through the tough no-shit-taking hard-ass exterior of the Sergeant.

In a post-apocalyptic world, anything could happen. But he'd be damned if he was going to die before seeing the man that he loved again. "What are you talking about?" he murmured, snorting. "I'm not the one that risks his life for others without thinking of his own. I'm more worried about you..."

Marcus grunted, hands on his hips, focusing on something on the ground, completely embarrassed which made Baird emit a quiet laugh.

"Hey, Baird." Nat Barber was on the intercom this time. "I don't want to rush you, but we do need to go. I'm sure Marcus will tell Cole that you wanted to say goodbye to him."

That struck Baird then, making him feel a bit guilty. He hadn't thought of Cole at all. His short stay on the Mainland was consumed with being held by Marcus. He barely saw any sign of his buddy and now wished that he had made at least a bit of time for him.

Oh well. Next time, buddy. In a little while.

"Yeah." He nodded in agreement to Nat's statements, looking into Marcus' eyes. "I'll see you then...Sarge."

Marcus nodded, a sad look in his eyes that was apparent for a few moments. "You will. Corporal."

Their eyes never left each other's as Baird boarded the King Raven and stood by the door. Anya appeared beside him as the Raven began to lift off.

Baird never realized how many people might be misplacing their feelings: feeling bad for Marcus and Anya since they still thought the two of them had an intimate relationship and Anya was made to work in Azura. But Baird was glad that the focus was on them and not Marcus and him. To be brutally honest, he hated attention. He wasn't truly a social person anyway.

Baird could see Cole approaching from behind Marcus, giving his two finger wave at the two of them. Holding on to the rail support, Baird did the same, his eyes still on Marcus.

And he kept his eyes on him until he couldn't see him anymore.

Island of Azura: A few days later...

Baird smelled the clean rich linens that adorned Azura in his spacious suite. He was hoping that, one day, Marcus would be lying next to him on these sheets. Or on top of him. Being under Baird was but a dream that wouldn't ever be fulfilled, he was sure.

Yet all these thoughts were a fantasy that he'd have to entertain for a little while longer...the lie that they told each other to make the hurt a bit more bearable when they both knew the truth: Baird's new life was on Azura. Marcus' wasn't.

Baird got up, retrieving his letter addressed to cole to send off. People thought that they were really close since Baird didn't even show his compassion for others and yet he could be seen writing a letter to his best friend nearly everyday. But they all knew that the two were buddies. So it made sense.

Yet he was painstakingly careful not to slip up and hint anything about Marcus. Since every letter in the COG was checked to see if it contained information that it shouldn't have, Baird had to make sure that his letters to Marcus that were sent as cole were purely platonic. Marcus had the luxury of hiding behind the facade that Anya and he were still in a relationship, even though it was still one that was against the rules. So he could write what he felt without having to worry about it.

Having made himself look presentable, he stepped out of his room into a grand hallway in the Alcanthus Hotel that housed the island's residents. He was feeling unbearably guilty for having been blessed with such a lifestyle when he knew how hard it was to be a Gear. If he was here five years ago, he would have thought that he deserved to be at Azura due to his genius.

But now, having tasted what true undeniable love was like, he didn't care about wealth. He didn't care about the money or how worthy he was to the COG. All he cared about was Marcus and how badly he wanted him with him.

Baird took the elevator to the first floor and headed for the main entrance. Everything about him sickened him. The smell of gourmet food that he knew Marcus wouldn't ever taste, the priceless art that Prescott saved and had been salvaged after Queen Myrrah's attack that Marcus wouldn't ever lay eyes on again. And Marcus wouldn't ever get to experience the true beauty of such a sight...

Baird stood still as he exited the hotel, looking at the beauty of the lush green terrain of the gardens, flush with life even under such dire circumstances. He could see the life in the trees as the birds took flight and chirped. The different faunas visually stimulating his eyes in a pleasant way. The sweet aroma the flowers gave off...

And everything-all of it-was nothing without Marcus beside him.

He knew that he'd rather be on the Mainland living in squalor than in such luxury, complaining like he had always been about how he was way too good to be associated with such conditions. Even if he had been a pompous rich kid in his earlier life, he would still like to be with his Gears, his comrades at arms. And especially his man. Or at least, have his man with him.

"Baird?"

He turned towards her voice, surprised that she was up so early in the morning. It was still awkward between them. And why wouldn't it be? Still clutching the letter, he tucked it away in his back pocket.

Anya approached him, standing next to him to look out across the gardens. Past them, they could see the sea and the beautiful sunrise that was just peeking over the horizon. She said nothing as they looked on for a moment before starting. "I know this must be hard for you—"

"Anya." Baird interrupted, trying hard not to sound rude. She was still important to Marcus and Baird was still jealous of the little hold that she had over the man. But there was a fifteen year history between the two compared to Baird's meager four plus years. "Do you really want to talk about him?"

She looked away from him before responding. "No...I really don't."

A small silence ensued, only broken by the birds chirping. "You don't have to do it if you don't want to." Baird muttered, still staring out across the sea.

"Do what?" She questioned.

"Accept the letters from Marcus for me. You didn't have to offer to help us out with that."

"I was hoping you'd be able to do me a favor if I did it."

Baird raised an eyebrow as she peered into his face. "What is it?"

She hesitated before she spoke. "I just want to know...when did it all start? When did you start to catch feelings for him? And what made him catch feelings for you?"

He looked away from her so he wouldn't have to see her hurt eyes."I don't know, Anya." he whispered. "I don't know when I started wanting him. I don't know what I did to make him want me. I don't know what made us come together. But I do know that I'm in love with him. And..." He finished, turning to focus on her once more. "that I'm not going to give him up."

A smile crossed her face before she responded. "Neither am I." she said. "I'm in love with him as well." That made Baird's blood run cold.

As the sun splashed them with the first rays of its orange hue, Baird tilted his head slightly, staring down at her. "You won't ever take him away from me."

Her eyes fluttered close for a moment. "You can't have a decade of history and not feel anything for the person?" Her eyes were challenging.

"Depends on if your name is Marcus Michael Fenix." Baird matched her gaze.

"I know more about him than you, Baird." she whispered. "And I travel to the Mainland much more than you are able to because of the fact that Hoffman needs to see me in person more than you. So who holds the advantage?"

Baird tried not to look disheartened as he slowly realized that Anya was toying with him. "That's true. But what I want is for him to be happy, Anya."

"With you?"

"Who else?" he retorted.

They both stared defiantly into each other's eyes before Anya smiled. "May the best Gear win his heart in totality."

"I just want to make it clear that I won't share when I win." Baird said.

"And I want to make it clear that I will win." She said softly before she walked off.

"Do your worst." he called after her.

Baird had to admit that he was a bit shaken as he watched her walk off. It was unnerving and disconcerting, the probability that Marcus might take Anya back into his arms. They did have history and Baird knew next to nothing about the man. Anya also got to see him more often...

And it wasn't as if he could tell Marcus the conversation that had just transpired between his ex and him. The fact that Marcus still cared for her put him in a precarious position...

Typical woman. Sneaky bitches, aren't they? Baird smirked. He didn't think that Anya had it in her to challenge him for Marcus' heart and he was surprised. He guessed that putting on the COG gear and fighting with a man and like one made her adopt some of their mannerisms.

Guess you couldn't ever truly know a woman's true intentions. A man wasn't like that. He was simple. He'd tell you what in the hell he was doing.

He reached into his shirt and curled his fingers around the cold metal that reassured him that Marcus' heart was his and his alone. Bringing the COG medal to his lips, he placed a tender kiss upon the inscription that bore his lover's name.

Anya had never been entrusted with Marcus' COG tag, a piece that the man never parted with. That was how Baird knew that he had already won.

As he looked out across the vast ocean at the land mass known as the Mainland, the sun climbing steadily higher into the sky, he was calmed knowing that the man he was enamored with was solely his, no matter what Anya tried to do.

Just a little while longer, Marcus... he thought. And we'll be together for the rest of our lives.

I really enjoyed writing this story and all the feedback that I've gotten. It was a fan-fiction that I completely loved throughout. And I'm so glad that you stuck through until the end. :)

Thank you! ^_^
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*Dom had given Marcus that picture of them together in one of the novels (I forget which one). Marcus always kept it with him in his uniform.

*I have no idea what metal the COG tags are made out of. I do know that Tungsten steel is the most durable steel with a melting point of over 6000 degrees Fahrenheit, over 3000 Celsius. The amount of heat for a body to burn and be made into ash would be over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, over 1000 Celsius over the period of 2-3 hours at that temperature. So, in essence, in my fan-fiction at least, the COG tags are made from Tungsten steel: the best for the best.

I think it goes without saying that Dom's body would have been incinerated in the explosion, or his body turned to ash since I'm sure the fire was over 2000 degrees and was that way for over 2-3 hours.

R.I.P. Dom.

*Geril Altar was a man who Colonel Hoffman killed for stealing food away from the COG to feed his family. Hoffman thought it was necessary to show the civilians that laws at Anvil Gate were meant to be followed when the law passed that gave the COG total control over the town of Anvegad, including the food rationing. This was in the novel Anvil Gate.

*Simon is a man in his early twenties on Vectes (Coalition's End) who threatened to take a fishing trawler of his and escape so that he wouldn't have to deal with the polyps, Lambent, and stalks overtaking his land. Hoffman realized that allowing the man to leave would have others follow his example as well as take away food (fish) from the people who stayed. Which is why he fired a round to make Simon realize that he could not leave.

*Formers were Lambent Humans.

*Gill Gettner is a pilot that usually caters to Delta-Squad. She's known for her brash personality similar to Baird's.

*Nat Barber is Gill's co-pilot. He's more considerate and humble than she.

*The Alcanthus Hotel is a luxury living space for the COG Elite. In the game, it doesn't truly seem as if anything is really destroyed except the people. Pinnacle Tower (the place that housed the scientists) had damage and obviously the Maelstrom Facility was destroyed, but the hotel seemed, relatively, untouched with minimal damage.

*I think it's important to note the timeline of their relationship because it can be confusing. The relationship between these two started in 15 A.E. because that is when they were in Vectes. After they were forced to leave, they stayed upon the ship Sovereign for 2 years before the events of Gears of War 3 (15 A.E. -17 A.E). So their relationship had been 5 years in this chapter, but 3 of them was a forced separation between the two (17.A.E - 20 A.E.).

*Everything else should have been known through the games or had been made up for the story (It seems likely that the COG would try to reorganize and Hoffman would be acting Chairman).

I did want to keep both men in character throughout the story, but it is a bit hard to do since we don't know what Marcus did behind closed doors and never got a taste of how Baird was in relationships. I also do love extreme romantic affection when people are interacting with each other (not just sex, but mannerisms which, based on your opinion, may or may not be how Baird or Marcus would act. But this is my fan-fiction and they can't keep their hands off each other when they're alone. =P).