Carmine's silence was enough to make Sam grin like a Cheshire Cat. She had the clueless oaf right where she wanted him. In reality he just didn't want to move. Carmine was content sitting there taking in her scent all day, 'I fucking love strawberries, it doesn't matter if it's the real deal or just that candy smell. I'm a sucker for it either way.' He thinks as he gazed at her short, brunette locks.

Before he could protest the removal of his helmet, she reached her hands out quickly and placed them on the sides of the battered metal face covering. She managed to lift it about halfway off his head and was shocked. It was usually a struggle to get that thing off of him.

Out of pure instinct Carmine reached up and did as she feared, protesting the removal of his helmet by wrapping his large hands around Sam's wrists. He gently pulled his helmet back onto his head, much to Sam's dismay.

"Gotta patch those bleeders up one way or another Carm. You going to let me, or am I going to have to do this the hard way?" Sam said, her tone turning a tick serious as her lips curl upward.

Her smirk was matched with a glint of competition in her eyes. Carmine shivered slightly at her gaze but didn't give in. He usually didn't mind taking his helmet off, but since she'd been messing him so much Clay decided she was going to have to work for it.

"You're going to have to pry this helmet off of my cold, lifeless body Sammy. Especially after all that teasing." Carmine retorted with a smirk of his own, hidden under his helmet.

"That's how it's going to be huh? You know I hate when Baird calls me that, it sounds pretty sweet coming from you though Carm." Sam chuckled. And before Carmine could react she reared back and head butt him, barely moving the wall of a man.

Sam let out a pained groan and Carmine let go of her wrists fearing she hurt herself, 'This isn't the first time she's hit my helmet. Shit it looks like she finally hurt herself. Dammit Clay, you and your damn pride.' Carmine thought as Sam pulled her hands back to her head. Carmine rose from his stool and reached out to her.

"Shit Sam I'm sorrryyyyy-!!" Carmine couldn't finish his sentence. Sam, in a surprise attack, leapt over the bar counter and tackled Carmine to the floor. They knock a couple stools over in the process. She straddled his waist and began her assault.

"Come on Clay, you really think a little head butt could hurt me?" Sam mocks while throwing a punch at his helmet, which he easily caught. He pulled her down to his level and snaked a hand around her throat.

Instantly she was on her back and Clayton, having flipped them, now loomed over her. His hand firmly squeezing at the supple flesh of her neck, "Should've known you were just playing around. You've taken worse blows to the head than that Sammy." Carmine said to a shocked looking Sam.

She always enjoyed when they would wrestle around or spar. Sam grunts and bares her teeth, though internally she celebrating catching yet another glimpse of the competitive playfulness that the frightening Clayton Carmine was capable of. A fire was burning in Sam's eyes, a mix of anger and something Clay couldn't figure out.

Although it was an emotion he's seen plenty of times before, it was desire. Her desire for him, burning as bright as it always did when she got alone time with the man.

Sam was staring up at him, his grip on her neck wasn't hurting her, but it was strong enough to keep the Kaskuran from breaking free, 'That cheeky fucker. If he wasn't so damn strong I would've had him for sure. He'd better close his legs though, or these hands might go wandering.' Sam thought with a smirk, her dirty thoughts making the smirk wider and wider.

She was placed directly in between his legs like how he'd usually mount a locust when he was about to smash their face in. For her it was less of a disadvantage than Clay realized.

Carmine POV:

I stood over Sam, hand around her neck, 'You and your damn strawberry hair.' I thought to myself.

The smirk she's wearing has got me slightly nervous. Means shit is about to get serious. The only way she can get the better of me when we spar or fool around like this is by doing...things to me.

I never really focused on how soft her skin is though. She looks gorgeous laying here. All that anger mixed with that weird look. It feels like I'm a piece of steak and she's a hungry lioness, staring me down with those beautiful brown eyes.

I roll my thumb around on her neck and it feels impossibly soft. I wonder if all of her is that soft. I know for a fact her hair is. I really want to sift my hand through it, but to do that I'd have to take my gloves off, don't want her getting caught on my gauntlets. Again.

I felt a tingle shoot up my spine, that predatory gaze of hers is making my head spin. Well, it's either that or the blood loss is finally taking its toll on me. Shit how long has it been since the crash, an hour, 2 hours? How long was I passed out on the beach?

I can still hear the partying outside so it can't have been too long. All I know is I don't care how long I've been here with her. Wish I could spend more time figuring out just how soft the rest of her is.

Shit I must've lost a lot of blood if I'm thinking like this. But I just can't help it, I've never been able to stop this train of thought it when it comes to the gorgeous woman beneath me.

Come on Clay cut it out, she does this kind of thing all the time. No reason to get all horny teenager on her here. As hard as that's becoming.

Yeah, exactly. She does have Baird after all, and she's been doing this stuff since before hollow storm. Just normal Sam stuff, nothing more...

Sam POV:

God if only he would squeeze just a bit harder. His thick, calloused hand wrapped snuggly around my neck. I swear I could've been dreaming but it feels like he's started rubbing his thumb up and down the skin of my neck. I bite my tongue as a moan almost slips past my lips, his fingers shooting lightning down my spine.

I've been trying to drop subtle hints to this thick lug for years that I want him. Not just for sex either, although I bet that's going to be amazing. I've never met a man like Clayton before, and he treats me like his equal. Along with the rest of Delta as a matter of fact.

After hollow storm he lost a piece of himself, and I've tried so hard to make myself available to him, so we could both move on and try to be happy. His anger has made his so damn blind to what's been right in front of him for years, but even that has only made me want him more.

Even after that night in his room on the ship. Carmine didn't even think twice about it, we didn't fuck or anything but still. I had become so desperate that I started flirting with Baird and complaining to Clayton about him when we would talk. Not even a slight rise out of him over those long months at sea.

He's so frustrating sometimes, especially now seeing as he's fondling my throat. Fine, if he wants to fondle me then I can do the same. I feel my smirk grow wider. Clay must have noticed because he stopped rubbing my neck.

I heard him taking deep breaths through his nose. I know you love strawberries big guy but I haven't used that stuff since Anvil Gate. Maybe its still in the air and he's trying to figure out what it is? This could be the distraction I need.

You're gonna regret not taking off that helmet the easy way Clayton. You perfect, burly, sexy, bastard. I'd better hurry up and get him off me, I'll be drenched in his blood if I don't. His blood has been dripping onto my armor, dumbass.

I'll have to act fast. It'll only be a matter of time until the gears outside want something to drink and come looking. I need to use all this alone time to my advantage.

Normal POV:

"Seems I've won Sammy." Clay broke the silence. Sam's smirk widens further at his words. Carmine tilts his head slightly and loosens his grip by a smidge. However it's just enough for Sam to wiggle out. Carmine tries to catch her but was a pinch too slow.

Sam quickly pushed herself into his crotch, her chest armor level with his thighs. She brings her hands up and into his groin, squeezing him. The action startles Carmine so badly that he began to back up and ends up stumbling over a barstool that had been tipped over.

Seeing her opportunity, Sam then pounced on him knocking him onto the floor. In the scuffle Sam managed to lock Carmine's arms under her muscular thighs, effectively pinning him beneath her while she straddled him. She proudly sat atop the less armored part of his stomach.

"Damn Clayton I always thought you were just packin' an extra boltok in those pants. Now, where were we? Ah yes, your bleeders." Sam teased with a triumphant look on her face.

"Hey that's not fair, you can't just go grabbing whatever you want! I can't do that to you!" Carmine whined. Sam laughs as she began taking out her first aid kit. He tried freeing his arms, but Sam tightened her grip on the massive gear.

He could feel the strong muscles in her legs squeezing him tight, effectively locking his arms to his sides. If it were anyone else he probably would've tried a bit harder to move them by now. But he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it, just a little.

"Damn strawberries, and damn your big thighs." Carmine thought out loud, catching Sam's attention.

"Ah so you were smelling at my hair. Oi, you know you love my legs Carm. Might as well give them a rub while you're down there. I could use a good massage. Oh and sorry for grabbing at your jewels, have to play dirty sometimes." Sam says with a sweet smile. Obviously still proud of her triumph over the Grub Killer.

Her bright look causes Clay to blush under his helmet. To be honest she wasn't very sorry, 'Wish you didn't back away big guy. I've been trying to get a good feel for a loooong time. Well at least now when I call you big guy, I have even more of a reason. The real question is, how the bloody hell does he still smell the strawberries on my hair?' Sam thought, her mind rolling over just how well Clayton's sense of smell might be.

"If you let me up I could give you that massage." Clay said, breaking Sam from her thinking.

"Hmm tempting, but it could also be a trick. Nope, gotta clean you up first. Then maybe you can pay me back." Sam shot him a wink.

"It's not a trick, scout's honor." Clay said attempting to wiggle his arms free with little gain.

The outsides of his hands were now pressed to the area of her thighs below her butt. Close enough that, with a little more wiggle room to flip his hands, he could easily grab a hold of her and lift her off of him. However, Sam felt his movement and tightened her legs to counter any chance of him getting a good grip on her.

She leaned down to him so that her face was right over his faceplate, 'Well if he wants to smell my damn hair so bad I'll let him. Maybe it'll get him to stop squirming for two bloody seconds.' She thinks.

Her hair hung down onto his helmet. Carmine held his breath as the thick strands of hair brushed against the sides of his neck. Her locks were sweaty, oily, generally a mess, but Clay didn't mind, 'She knows. Fuck why does she always have to figure out what pushes my buttons? Ah whatever, might as well enjoy the mix of her and the strawberries. Both equally sweet in my book.'

The gear decides to relax and let his hands rest on her thighs. Sam lifts up to avoid the gear spotting her blush, or the near hole she put through her lip to stop herself from making noise. She didn't realize just how much she needed him to touch her. She calms down quick though, and puts on her game face.

"Now where do you think those grippers are going Carm. I thought of you as a gentleman. Yet here you are trying to grab my ass, for shame." Sam teased while wiggling herself to make his hands rub up even closer to her behind.

She shifted herself to Carmine's dismay, he let out a small sigh as she started dabbing a spare rag with water from her canteen. A warm, wet feeling presses against his skin as she starts to clean his neck and armor of his blood.

"I don't know what you think I'm doing. You're the one wiggling on me, I'm not doing a damn thing." He argues.

"Suuuuure you aren't Carm. Let's not argue here, I've got to get those cuts cleaned before I can stitch em' shut." Sam said with a wink, seductively walking two fingers from his chest plate, up his neck to his chin. She curled her hand under the front of his faceplate and pulled up gently as to not disturb his wounds further. Carmine swallowed hard.

Clayton was practically on autopilot at this point, experiencing extreme sensory overload. From having Sam on top of him, to the thoughts of her grabbing his crotch, to how good it felt when she rubbed herself against his hands.

And of course who could forget the strawberry scent that teased his nostrils, 'The Goddamn Strawberries!' He yells in his mind. The elder Carmine brother knew he had to calm down.

He was normally well composed when it came to women, but Sam always knew how to get under his skin. And the last thing he needed right now was to poke his caring friend with his uncontrolled shame as she was trying to help him.

He thought of anything he could to avoid any issues with his southern region. He thought about the locust, and his guns on the bar counter next to Sam's own weapons. Even the notable fact that he was still bleeding. It was working, however it was an uphill battle. He knew it was a battle that he was going to lose, and silently hoped she'd get off of him soon.

Miraculously his blood hadn't gotten into his eyes, the blood was flowing noticeably slower. So as Sam removed his helmet he was able to get a good look at her for the first time in weeks without his helmet on. She was just as beautiful as ever.

With his face exposed he knew he couldn't be sniffing at will, so he let the smells come to him naturally. Thankfully Carmine has had a good amount of time to train his senses, and he was getting pretty good at picking up the smells and sounds he was interested in.

With his custom helmet finally off, Sam got her fair gander at the man underneath. She gasps lightly, immediately agreeing with her thoughts that the struggle was worth it. Carmine didn't take off his helmet much, not because he had horrible scarring or was bad looking. Quite the opposite.

His sharp, strong jaw was littered with small scars. His black stubble ghosted the bottom half of his face. The steel gray eyes that bore into her resembled that of the color of his armor. One of her favorite things about Clayton, his hair, was always quite messy. The inky locks having been growing nonstop for a while now. It was a black, oily mess, but Sam had to stop herself from filling her hands with it. Saying he was handsome was an understatement to her.

Sam's blush was evident, 'Shit, get it together Byrne. We've seen his face more than anyone. J-Just start getting him cleaned up. We're not some horny schoolgirl. God how did he get better looking since I last saw him? The hair, got to be the hair.' She thinks with a small smile.

Sam didn't move as she drank Carmine in, even covered in his own blood he was the definition of handsome. The combination of the scars that littered his face, and his own prevalent good looks made him so much more desirable in her opinion.

She laughed a little as she looks down at Carmine. His good looks usually got him into weird situations. The majority being when the horned up female gears would set their sights on him. Of course he was always grateful for Sam when she'd show up to help though, dissuading most from coming onto him.

'You've been mine for years Clayton. Even if you don't know it.' She thought, her smile persisting.

Sam was quiet as she worked. Cleaning the rest of his armor was looking to be quite a time consuming activity. Sam was deep in thought, a frown now taking its place on her face. Carmine noticed something awry almost immediately, and his gray orbs look up to her with concern.

He knows what it means to get lost in the depression that war brings. With the war over now, he reckoned she was falling into a depressive slump with all the terrible memories left to simmer by the locust's absence.

He began hatching ideas to bring her out of that slump before it got any worse, 'Shit it's not like I can just hug her, I'm trapped under her damn legs...fuck I'm bad at this. Come on man, she's done so much for us. Give her something, anything!' His blood deprived brain works overtime to try and figure a way to raise her spirits.

In reality her thoughts were not nearly what Carmine had in mind. Her face didn't reflect that though, as Sam's sad expression gave off the wrong impression.

Sam was looking at the brighter side of things, trying to have a good time with one of the only people left alive that she truly cared about. She was still mourning the loss of Dom, but she cried her fair share already. She would honor the memory of her close friend by following the advice he gave her.

"You just have to try and be direct with him. I know he's pretty thick in the head, I mean anyone who knows Carmine knows how fucked up he is. Shit, the guy has devoted his life to killing the grubs. I think he's killed more than me, shit maybe even more than Marcus. But if you truly care about him, you'll make it work. It just might take a bump on the head for him to realize what he's got in front of him. Carmine has lost everything. Go give him something to hold on to, but don't rush anything. Take it slow and steady."

Dom's last bit of advice rang in the back of her head. She snaps out of her reminiscing and looks to the expression of concentration on Clayton's face. Sam was barely choking back her laughter.

"Hey! What's so funny?" Carmine said, his lips curling into a smirk.

Clayton's animated expression always made her giggle, "Haha, nothing big guy. You're just very expressive. With and without that bloody helmet on." Sam said with a small, playful punch to the front of his armor.

Clay squinted his eyes at her, causing another snort of laughter to jolt from her. Thankfully she was done cleaning his face. Clayton always healed pretty fast so his wounds stopped bleeding after Sam put a bit of pressure on them. She slightly grimaced at the wounds, realizing they would have caused serious problems for any normal gear.

The split in his bottom lip went down a bit further to his chin, it wasn't deep enough to need stitches. The slice on his eyebrow was much deeper, curving slightly up his forehead to the right. Sam nodded, that one would need a few stitches, 'Another scar for that handsome face.' She thinks. Sam lightly prodded the wound, trying to make it seem like she was focused on it. Her eyes betrayed her, and Clayton catches her eyes moving along his features.

"See something you like? If you let me up maybe I'll keep my helmet off just a bit longer." Clay said while wiggling his eyebrows. That earned a full laugh from Sam, causing Carmine to smile and chuckle along with her. He loved the sound of her laugh, it was music to him. With her on top of him he could feel the vibration of her laughter.

"You should smile more, it looks good on you mate. Unfortunately you're gonna need stitches for your brow there. Another battle scar for the Grub Killer." Sam said after she was done laughing.

"Don't get used to it Byrne. Now how about you let me up." Carmine said flashing his teeth.

"Ah that's the best part Carm. Technically I don't have to let you up to stitch ya." She watches his smirk fall with amusement in her eyes.

"Buuuuut, I suppose I'll make an exception for you. Since you flashed such a nice smile. you'll only owe me a massage big guy, price of doing business." She finished, making him grin.

"That's all? Shit, I'll happily give you one Sam. You've patched me up enough times to cash in some Carmine time." The toothy grin on his face made Sam chuckle,

"Wish I would've known about this little cash in system earlier, my body has been aching since the day I met you big guy. This massage better be full body, not lookin for some half assed back rub." Carmine shakes his head at her words.

"No, I wouldn't dare cheat you out of some relaxation. Honestly Sam you've done so much for me it's the least I could do for you. Now let me up please." Sam let out a sigh knowing in the long run, getting a full body massage would be worth it. Sam stood up, grabbing her medical supplies and Carmine's helmet. She made her way to a stool at the bar and sat down, Carmine following close behind her.

They were in relatively close proximity to each other. Sam began dabbing a rag in vodka with which she used to clean the cut on his brow. Carmine didn't whine, wince, gasp, anything. He just stared into her eyes as she began the process of closing his wound.

His steel orbs showed nothing but admiration, "Thank you Sam. I know I don't make it easy sometimes, but thank you, for everything. You've been good to me, a better friend than a monster like me deserves." Clay whispered the last bit. His head starts to dip down as he thinks of what he's done to protect his friends. Feeling shame from the fact that he felt so prideful of the specific ordeal that popped into his head.

Monster. The word rang in her ears. Of course she knew exactly what he was referring to. She looks into Carmine's eyes and pauses, realizing just how close in proximity they were. She let one of her hands drop to his cheek and runs her thumb over the few scars littered along his skin, "You did what you had to do. Those assholes were no better than the grubs and you know it." Sam said confidently.

She understood what he was driving at, 'It wasn't your fault big guy.'

He raises his head and Sam smirkes. She finished closing his wound, her hand now holding his chin in place so he couldn't move. Not that he'd want to. His eyes widen slightly as her now free hand ran through his restless hair to the back of his head. She was playing with it. Carmine visibly shuddered, closing his eyes and releasing a groan he didn't know was trapped in his lungs. Sam smiles as he was visibly enjoying the sensation.

Sam was hungrily dragging her nails along his scalp. His hair wasn't long enough to hang below his neck, but it was long enough to lose her hand in. She spun a lock in between her fingers at the back of his head and inched closer to him, "You know, I never properly thanked you for all that. Of course I said thank you, but I had something else in mind." Confusion bled in his eyes when he opened them.

Sam was directly front of him, her brown eyes staring intensely into his with desire. His pupils dilate as he tries to pull away, but Sam's grip on his chin and hair held tight. Their noses almost touched, and Sam slowly began moving in to capture his lips with hers. Carmine was slightly panicking inside, he didn't know what to say or what to do. Against his brain's wishes he started slowly moving in as well.

'We can't do this again man what are you DOING! She's with Baird!' Clay's thoughts screamed at him in protest.

Sam on the other hand couldn't believe the slow and steady approach was finally working, 'I have to control myself here. I have to let him come to me. He has to realize what's happening. Don't maul him!'

Sam began shutting her eyes, their lips now inches apart, 'Yes!! Come to momma.' Sam thought, her heart racing.

All Carmine could hear was the drum that his heart had become, booming in his ears. Until he heard something else, or more accurately someone else, "Ah that banshee probably dragged him away so she can-"

Carmine's eyes widen and he shoots away from her to his original position. Sam was extremely confused until the doors to the bar slammed open and a large quantity of gears including Baird and Cole walked in.

"Did you hear them?" Sam asked Carmine, his face now cherry red with embarrassment as he gave a small nod.

"I knew you had good hearing but damn." She was slightly baffled by the display of his senses.

Sam quickly shook away her shock though and smiled, "Aww what's the matter Clay, afraid of gettin' caught kissing?"

Carmine's blush deepened at his friend's teasing, "I'm not afraid of anything."

Sam laughed at him. For someone so intimidating she was able to make him embarrassed so easily. It surprised her since she had seen him kill three grenadier elites at once bare handed, among a countless list of grub killing exploits.

She had no doubt he was telling the truth, but then again here he was, embarrassed at almost getting caught by their friends. Carmine's face returned to a normal color once her laughter grew in volume, even laughing a bit of his own once he came to the realization the whole thing was a joke to make him red in the face.

Cole and Baird wandered over to them, "See man I told you they were gonna be here. Always the resourceful one Sam." Cole said as he lightly clapped her on the shoulder.

"Damn Carmine, haven't seen you without that helmet on in a loooooong time, lookin' good my man!" Cole exclaims as his head tilts to look at the burly gear.

'Ughhhh, Cole you oaf, I was this close to a kiss. A kiss where he would've made the first move.' Sam thought, her face slightly showing her annoyance.

"Thanks Cole, you know all you had to do was ask if you wanted to see my face." Carmine says plainly as he smirks.

'Never thought I'd be thankful for my time in the hollow.' Clay thinks, internally sighing with relief before noticing Sam's brown orbs glaring daggers at him.

"What?" The elder Carmine asks her.

"All he'd have to do was ask? Then why'd you give me such a hard time you fucker?" Sam says with narrowed eyes

"You know I can't resist giving you a hard time." Carmine shot back with a wink.

Sam pauses before giving an angry retort. She thinks for a moment, realizing that if he didn't give her such a hard time then he wouldn't have owed her that massage, "Ha, fair enough Clayton." She says with a smile. Clay was surprised she dropped it so easily, but shrugs and pays it no mind.

Cole speaks up, "Did we interrupt anything? I'd hate to be that guy."

Baird sighed, "Probably the part where she was about to confe-"

Sam stomped on Baird's foot before he could finish, a blush rising to her cheeks, "Ah damn! What the hell was that for?" Baird said holding onto Carmine's shoulder for support while he hobbled on one foot.

"One more word blondie and there will be more below the belt injuries." Sam threatened causing a hearty laugh to be shared between Cole and Carmine.

Carmine sighs contently, 'I did miss all of us together. Sam was off with Marcus and the rest while Baird, and Cole took me on a trip to Halvo Bay. But hey, Delta 2 is back for the end of the war, that's all that matters.'

Carmine smiled thinking back to all the previous missions he had gone on during his time with Delta. As if reading his mind Cole shot out, "Just like the old days! Carmine, Baird, Sam, and the Cole Train sharing company baby, Delta 2!" He yells out, getting a few cheers from the nearby gears.

Cole held his fist out to Baird for a fist bump but Baird simply sighs and rubs at the bridge of his nose. Carmine happily fist bumped the thrashball star, both making an explosion noise upon contact.

Baird and Cole took their seats at the bar next to Carmine. He overhears the two speaking low to one another, "You think Marcus is going to be alright? First Dom, now his old man." Cole asks to the blonde.

Carmine's eyes widen, 'Dom is...dead. Fuck, and here I thought this war had already taken so much from us.'

He quiets his thoughts as Baird answers his burly best friend, "He'll be alright. He still has Anya. Neither the lambent nor the grubs are here to take her from him. Still though, we should keep an eye on him." Cole nods in agreement.

Carmine decides to reach behind the counter and snag four shot glasses. He then snagged the bottle of vodka next to Sam, snickering as she quickly grabbed a hold of his helmet.

"Sheesh, jumpy much?" He asks her, nudging her shoulder with his elbow.

She rolls her eyes and blushes lightly, using the hand not gripping Clay's helmet to gently shove his elbow back, "You're a sneaky one. Can't be too careful with the likes of you."

It's his turn to roll his eyes as the pair share a small smile. Carmine turns and pours a shot for each of them, "A toast! To the gears we left behind, my brothers, Dom, countless others! And to family!" Clay shouted.

The oldest Carmine brother caught the attention of not just his fellow squad mates, but the rest of the gears in the bar. He looks to Sam and they smile wide at one another.

He knew how close her and Dom were. Sam mentioned that Dom had said he saw a lot of his daughter in her. He knew how rough it was when she lost her father, and when news of Dom's death hit his ears he thought it would be just as rough. It probably was but she was never one to sit down and cry about things. Carmine would always be there for her if she needed him. Just like so many times before.

The crowd of gears along with Delta cheered and drank. The crew drank their shots with mixed results. Baird and Sam grimaced at the strength of the vodka while Carmine drank it like it was the only bit of water left on the planet.

As for Cole, well Cole had a bit more of a violent reaction than most, "GOD DAAAAMN! What the hell they make this stuff with?! Shit this is why I'm more of a bourbon man myself." Cole yelled out followed by a coughing fit, causing an eruption of laughter among the crew.

After everyone started to calm down, Carmine's hand unconsciously dropped below the bar to his lap. Sam looked at him and nudged her knee against his forearm turning to face him, "To new beginnings." She said to him. Clayton looks down to the bar to catch his glass was refilled. Sam held her shot out to him. He smirks and snags his shot before turning to her, his knee going in between both her legs.

Carmine's free arm was leaning against the counter comfortably, "To paying debts." He said back to her with a less than discrete wink. The pair chuckle while clinking their glasses together.

They turn back toward the counter after emptying their shots, "How are you holding up? I heard about Dom." Clay says to her, the sympathy clear as day in his voice.

Sam turns back to him, "It was rough to see, shit it's still rolling around in my head. But I know that he wouldn't have wanted us sulking about, you included big guy. Thanks for checking up on me Clay." She replied as she looked into his steel eyes.

Besides his good looks, that's what Sam missed the most about his face. All the little facial expressions you could never see with his helmet on, especially the look of concern for her in his eyes.

"I'm always here if you need me Sam, good to know you're staying strong." Carmine shot her a smile.

His eyes could melt ice with the way he was looking at her, 'Carmine you handsome devil. I missed those eyes.'

"How about you Clay?" She asks with a similar sentiment.

His smile disappeared and he averts his gaze, "I'm not sure. With the grubs gone I don't really have a purpose anymore. Killing grubs is the only thing I'm good at. That in combination with most likely being the last Carmine on Sera is taking a toll on me." Carmine's expression was blank as his left hand tightened around his shot glass.

Sam reaches her right hand over and places it on his clenched fist, "I know how hard it is to lose family. But you still have us Clay, and you have the rest of your life to change being the last Carmine. Although I doubt you're the last with how many kids you said your cousins had. You Carmine's breed like rabbits."

The two shared a laugh, Carmine unclenched his fist and held Sam's smaller hand in his, "Thank you, for everything Sam. I probably wouldn't have made it out of the hollows if you didn't drag me. So thank you."

"Ah who are you kidding, even with those hooks stuck in ya, you were prepared to take on the whole grub army. You killed a lot of those bastards that day." She says with a poke to his thick bicep.

"Yeah but who stitched me up afterward, made it so I could get back out there as soon as possible? You." He pokes her bicep right back.

"Technically it was the hospital staff who finished up. But enough trying to stroke my ego mate. You are welcome Clayton." The two shared a smile as their hands squeeze together tighter.

Sam couldn't express her disappointment when Carmine released her hand. He grabbed the bottle of vodka and poured himself another shot, offering to refill her shot as well. She declines with a sour look and a shake of the head which Carmine chuckles at. He knocked back his drink and settled into his seat.

Carmine felt a rush of newfound confidence and slipped his gauntlet off. He reaches his left hand under the counter and began lightly rubbing Sam's right knee, even going up to her lower thigh. In her surprise she gasped lightly, enjoying his kneading of her sore muscles.

She shoots him a sultry look, "Full body, remember? No cheaping out on me Carm." Sam let out a barely audible moan. One that Carmine heard, egging him on to further ease the soreness in her well-used leg muscles.

She was surprised with how good he was at massaging her thigh, 'Alright, much better than holding his hand.'

"Just giving you a little sample for later." Carmine says back. He turns his head and flashes his teeth to her, causing a blush to rise to her cheeks. Carmine was pretty oblivious of the effects he had on women, but when Carmine had a little booze in him knew how to push buttons. Sam's blush deepened as his hand dug deeper into the muscle of her lower thigh.

Sam couldn't stop the moan that came out of her, clamping her teeth down on her lower lip to stop more noise from escaping her plump lips, 'Oh god I hope he didn't hear that.' She thinks, her cheeks growing even hotter.

Sam looks over to him and was met with his amused grey eyes. Oh he definitely heard and it only encouraged him, "Never thought I'd hear that sound again." Carmine teased her.

However, Sam didn't back down from his obvious challenge. She glared into his eyes the best she could with the waves of pleasure flowing through her leg.

She makes sure not to break eye contact, 'So that's how you wanna play it huh big guy?'

A smirk found its way to her face and she leaned toward him, "Can you go a little higher Clayton?" Her words slip sultrily from her lips.

Her smug expression was quickly wiped from her face as Carmine's hand did just as she asked. He began kneading his fingers in the softer flesh of her inner thigh. Even with her combat pants on, Carmine's hand made it feel as if there was nothing in the way. His calloused digits making her feel even hotter.

Sam tries her best to suppress the groan that rumbled in her chest and out her mouth, managing to quell it lightly. Her eyes close slightly from the increase in pressure from Carmine's fingers as they glide and knead along her inner thigh, "You're enjoying this aren't you?" She grumbles with a small pout on her blushing face.

His smirk grew wider, and the look in his eyes more confident, "Seems one of us is enjoying it a bit more don't you think Samantha?"

Her body was on fire, aching for him to touch her more. She was using every ounce of willpower in her body in order to not pounce on him. He could tell by the look on her face that she was struggling to keep her cool, and he loved it.

Carmine felt Sam press her thighs together, "Hey now, this is a sample. Either one thigh or nothing." He leans in and nearly whispers to her.

She broke eye contact and tried to act as normal as possible as his fingers inch further up her thigh. Her core was thoroughly responding to the attention she was getting. Clay noticed a strange aroma in the air and momentarily stopped, lightly smelling the air. He follows the trail back to Sam.

'T-there is no way she's enjoying this that much.' Noticing the lack of movement from his hand Sam began rubbing her thighs together with his hand sandwiched.

Carmine leaned in, "It seems like you're really enjoying yourself." He snickers as she freezes up.

Sam's eyes went wide for a few seconds, 'There's no way he could know...' Sam thought as she looks up and stares into his eyes.

"What makes you think that Carmine?" She asks with a nervous chuckle.

He missed this, making her feel all flustered. It happened rarely over the years since they first met. But when it did happen it put Clayton on cloud nine, especially after hollow storm. Making Sam all bashful and red in the face used to be one of the only things keeping him from putting the barrel of his boltok to his head at nights.

And with all the alcohol in his system he didn't even care if she was with anyone. Hell, she was allowing him to do this, 'Fuck, this is so wrong man. Baird is two stools down! This is disgusting, disrespectful...and it feels so damn right.'

Before Carmine could answer the flustered Sam, Baird began talking to him, "Hey Clay before you get too drunk do you think you could give me a hand with something I found earlier?"

Clay looked over past Cole to where Baird was sitting and removed his hand from the juicy thigh it was keeping company. He snickered to himself as Sam lets out a sigh of relief and frustration, "Sure thing Baird. You two better not drink all this hooch before I get back." Carmine said motioning to Cole and Sam.

"No promises mate. You better bring him back in one piece blondie, he owes me." Sam said, the blush on her face subsiding as she shifted her attention to Baird.

"Yeah yeah, it'll be quick. Hey you alright Sam? Seem a bit flustered." Baird asks, pointing at his own cheeks as he notices the receding red on the Kaskuran woman's face.

"Yeah Sam is everything alright?" Carmine turned to her with a smug look on his face. He'd won the battle and she knew it, she couldn't compete with Carmine when he was aware of what he was doing to her.

"Yeah fine, a-alcohol is just more than I'm used to." Baird shrugged, accepting her excuse. Moving toward the exit. Sam shoots Carmine a dirty look.

Carmine puts his gauntlet back on his left hand discreetly and takes a big swig of the vodka, handing the bottle back to Sam. Before he could leave Sam grabbed a hold of his wrist and tugged him close, "You've got a lot of unfinished business Clayton, be quick." Her tone was needy, and Carmine felt his blood pump faster as he looks into her lust-filled orbs.

Carmine smiles and leans in close, "Wouldn't cheat either of us out of what we want."

He leans in even closer and snags his helmet much to Sam's dismay, "I better not have to go through hell and back to get that off you again." Sam motioned to Carmine's helmet.

"No promises mate." Clay shot back causing Sam to smile.

"Such a beautiful smile." Sam let out a chuckle as Carmine's face went red. Whenever he drank he tended to think out loud. Sam's own face tinted red at the compliment, but she hid it well.

He nervously smiles as he slips his helmet back on. "Ah, much better."

"For you maybe." He heard Sam grumble.

"I'll be back and out of this helmet before you know it." And with that Carmine was off, leaving behind the very wanting woman.

Carmine followed Baird out of the bar, and once the doors shut behind them Carmine spoke up, "What do you need my help with?"

"I need you to lift something." Baird replies with his usual snark.

"Couldn't you have asked Cole for that?" Carmine asks.

"He doesn't need to worry about this, let him have some rest. You're practically a human forklift anyway." Baird answers.

"Something is going on here. Cole can easily lift anything. Sure I'm strong but Cole is just as strong." Carmine stops in his tracks and folds his arms over his chest. Baird groans and turns to face the elder Carmine.

"Ugh fine, I found an entrance to one of Adam Fenix's labs. He had a few stashed around the hotel according to some records I pulled from one of his computers. This one supposedly was his main lab, besides the one on the roof of course. You were involved in a few off the record missions during operation hollow storm, so I know you can keep quiet about this kind of thing until we know what's in there. I don't want Cole or anyone else worrying if we find something fucked up."

Carmine stares blankly at Baird and Baird's eyelid twitches in mild frustration, "Shit, alright if you think it's that big of a deal let's get it done." Carmine said, and the pair continued walking. Baird sighing in relief that Clayton didn't bother asking more questions.

"You know, Ben looked a lot like you. I haven't really seen your face outside of the COG's database pictures of you, but your recruit pictures are pretty identical. Obviously you've got a bit more grizzled veteran to you now compared to before." Baird said causing Carmine to stop walking again.

The COG used cloaked robots like Jack to gather and hoard information in their database. Their information stockpiles include video evidence to confirm gears killed in action. Carmine was very familiar with all of this.

Baird stops shortly after he realizes what he's said, running a hand over his face, "Shit I'm sorry. I didn't mean it in a bad way just-" Baird started but Carmine cut him off.

"If you want to tell me how he died don't waste your breath. I've seen it more times than I can count. Marcus gave me Benjamin's letter, as well as Ben and Anthony's tags." Carmine says, his voice void of emotion.

Carmine's tone grew cold, "I watched their deaths every night to remember what the grubs did to them. What they took from me." He took a few steps toward Baird. Who took a step back, only to knock into a wall as he tries to retreat from the encroaching Clayton.

"Do me a favor, don't talk about them. Ever. I know Benjamin looks like me. I know every detail of my brother's faces. The last time I saw them and their deaths are etched into my brain. I had to push myself to get big enough to slaughter the grubs how they slaughtered my family, and now with the grubs gone...I have nothing left to live for. So let's just keep going so I can lift whatever I have to, and disappear to go drown myself in whatever bottle I can get my hands on." Carmine spoke dangerously low.

Baird was shocked, he had no idea what Clayton put himself through. He broke himself to become a thing the locust would fear, a monster to the monsters. Baird could tell he wasn't angry at him, but the situation as a whole.

Carmine knew no one could possibly know how he felt. With the war over, all the mystery vodka running through his blood, and a lack of Sam being around him, Clayton's inner voice was pulling him apart with the constant reminders.

'They're gone. The grubs, lambent, our family. Shit we don't have anything do we? Not even Sam. She's with this actual genius. What can we even do to win her back? Nothing, that's what.' Clay shakes his head as his thoughts berate him.

Baird took one last look at Carmine and nodded his head, slipping one last, "I'm sorry Clay." Before they kept going.

"Don't say sorry, just don't forget why you all call me Grub Killer." Clayton growls out, fighting to keep his thoughts from enraging him.

With that said and done, they continued to the lab in silence. Baird felt like shit for bringing up Ben, but he knew trying to talk his way out of it wouldn't end well. Carmine never talked about his brothers openly, and Baird only knew what Sam would tell the rest of Delta and from Benjamin. He did serve with the youngest Carmine during hollow storm after all.

He knew Clay would get over it soon. The big guy never usually held grudges against people, let alone fellow Delta members. That is unless you pissed him off royally, to the point he considered you no better than the grubs. As long as you didn't do that he'd forgive you.

Once they reached the lab Carmine was confused, "Well this is her." Baird said patting the large bookshelf in the far right corner of Adam Fenix's personal office.

"Baird that's a bookshelf. You sure you need me to lift it? Can't you just scooby doo it open or something?" Carmine said scratching the back of his helmet. His mood had evened itself back to normal during the walk.

Baird took a moment to think, staring into the bookshelf intensely. Carmine stumbles, resting a hand on the wall behind Baird.

"It's bolted to the floor, that's why I need you. So no I can't scooby doo it open. What the hell does that even mean Carmine? Carmine? You alright big guy?" Baird said turning to look at him.

"The vodka, not eating for a day, and all the blood loss seems to be getting to me Baird. I'll get this shit moved then let's get the fuck back to the bar." Carmine said with certainty.

He could usually hold his liquor very well, but everything he'd mentioned seem to be speeding up his intoxication. The fact he had no idea how much vodka he drank when he took his swig wasn't helping either, "Fuck, had to be about 3 or so shots worth right? I had the three at the bar. So about 5 or 6. Shit, we're drunk." The burly gear thought out loud.

"Alright, well before you drink any more we have to get you some food big guy, don't want you getting alcohol poisoning." Baird said with a laugh. Clay chuckles a bit realizing he was thinking out loud.

He nods to Baird and gets into position to move the massive object. With almost no effort Clay wrenches the massive bookshelf free and placed it to his right. An electronically locked, heavily armored door was revealed from behind the bookshelf.

"Damn it's locked! It might take me days to hack into a system like thi-" Baird stopped mid sentence when Clay came over and booted the steel door open with a grunt of effort.

"Open Sesame." Clay said as he gestured with his hand for Baird to go in first.

The blonde genius shakes his head, "Well I suppose brute strength wins again."

Clay snorted, walking in behind Baird. The burly man trips on the busted doorframe and knocks into Baird's back, getting a small laugh out of the blonde with his drunkenness.

The room was full of high tech machinery, notes, and books. It was twice the size of the office they came from. And Clay could practically see Baird's eyes light up at the discovery, "Ha jackpot! Thanks Carmine. You can head back if you want, just remember to eat." Baird said as he went over to a computer and began typing away.

As Carmine was about to leave he notices a faint blue glowing from one of the tables in the lab. As he walked toward it he overheard snippets of Baird whispering to himself, his growing drunken state was interfering slightly with his senses though, "Operation New Sera...possible teleportation...new dimension?...A small cube...blue orb."

Carmine reached the table and picked up the source of the glowing. A small metal cube on a bit of wood. Carmine curiously picked up the wood and slid the cube into his right palm. Once it was in the center of his gauntlet it was no longer glowing.

"Hey Baird I think I found something." Carmine said while drunkenly stumbling again which causes him to fully grasp the cube as to not drop it.

His gauntlets are fingerless, so as his hand curls around the cube his bare fingers gently touch the cube. It pops open. A blue glowing orb was in the center pulsating violently.

"Shit Carmine, if it's a cube don't touch it with your bare hands!" Baird yelled out.

It was too late, Carmine was completely entranced by the blue orb and poked it with one of his bare fingertips. In an instant the orb expanded, surrounding Carmine completely, leaving him paralyzed, "Dammit Carmine what did I say!" Baird yells out from in front of him.

"Fuck Baird maybe be a little faster next time. Get me out of this thing." Baird scrambled around looking at some notes and then to a computer screen.

"Baird it's starting to burn!" Carmine yells out mid grunt.

"I'm trying, I'm trying! Wait what do you mean burn?" Baird asks with a horrified look on his face.

Baird shakes his head and turns back to a pile of papers, frantically looking through notes with no luck, "Baird it's starting to burn like a fucking flame grenadier is roasting me with a scorcher!" Baird manages to lift a note that all but condemns the last Carmine brother.

"Carmine I-I can't do anything." Baird says, hopelessness dripping from his voice.

"What!?" Clay borderlines screams. He was breathing heavily, his grunts turning to groans of pain.

"When the cube touches a person it links to them, I can't stop it." Baird answers him while re-reading the note over and over.

Carmine began yelling in pain as the burning became much more intense. Baird watched in horror. He knew it had to be extremely painful if someone like Clayton was in so much agony.

The orb's brightness grew drastically as a large shockwave was emitted, pushing Baird to the floor. The last thing he heard was Carmine letting out a pained roar.

"BAAAAAAIRD!"

Then silence.

Baird looked up to where he last saw Carmine, but all that was left was a cube and papers floating down to the floor, "CLAYTON...Clay...Ohhhhh fuck."

He pauses to run a hand over his face, pure shock in his eyes, "Sam is going to kill me."

Author's Note:

Howdy! Chapter 2 is properly edited and I hope all you retuning readers are enjoying these little fixes I'm making. I also apologize for the significant drop in quality from these edits, to the raw chapters. It's going to be that way for a bit until I get them all re-worked.

But enough of that. For any first time readers here, there's going to be plenty of gore from here on. Just a small warning in case reading that kind of stuff makes you wriggly.

Alright I've yapped for long enough, I hope you all enjoyed chapter 2's rework. Feel free to comment, like, follow or none of that crap. Doesn't matter to me as long as you enjoy my silly little story.