Marcus and Luna walked hand in hand, heading back towards his dorm.
As they walked. Marcus looked down at Luna, just the sight of her bringing him a smile. "You're really cute, you know that?" Marcus stated, complimenting her.
Luna blushed as she looked up at Marcus. "You're really handsome." She replied with a warm smile.
Marcus chuckled, "Stop the lying, I'm average at best."
"I don't know what humans view as attractive, but you're handsome to me," Luna explained as she tightened her grip on Marcus's hand.
"Thanks, but can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Do you honestly care for me like you say you do?" Marcus asked. He knew it was outta left field, but it was something he wanted an answer to, and now that he completed his exam, he had the confidence to ask it.
Luna paused, stopping in her tracks as her expression turned into one of hurt and confusion. "W-what makes you ask that?" Luna stammered.
Marcus' eyes widened slightly as he turned to face Luna. "It's just a question." Marcus said nervously as he lowered himself to Luna's level, "I don't think that I'm just wondering, you know?"
"Why would you ask that?" Luna questioned.
"Uhm…" Marcus hesitated to find an explanation. "I uhm, I was just curious, you know because, you and I… we've gotten close, so close that I'm wondering if maybe I'm reading too much into it, yeah, that…"
Luna frowned. "What does that even mean Marcus?" Luna asked, her lips twitching, "why did you ask that question?"
Marcus sighed as he scratched behind his neck.
Marcus knew he would've inevitably screwed things up with either Luna or Dr. Fletcher again, but he didn't expect it to come like this.
Thinking critically, Marcus scanned his mind for a decent answer, eventually finding one about his insecurities.
"I guess I ask because I'm wondering if what we have is real, I'm not good at judging how relationships work, especially one as strange as ours, so I just asked, like an idiot."
Luna's eyes softened as she sighed. "I see." Lina said softly, before looking back up at Marcus with a determined expression, "I do care for you Marcus, but I sometimes struggle with gauging the proper response to your affection, this isn't to say that I don't care, just that I'm learning." Luna explained, "But if you feel I'm too close, then I will back away."
"No, no, no." Marcus repeated rapidly as he waved his hand in misunderstanding, "I enjoy how close we've gotten, I was just wondering if it was genuine, and now I know."
"Are you sure?" Luna asked worriedly.
"Yeah," Marcus affirmed. "I just wanted to ensure you liked me and weren't biding your time until you could kill me."
"That hurts Marcus," Luna commented with a sigh.
Marcus wasn't the smartest when it came to situations like this, but he knew it was better to show affection now because talking wasn't helping.
Marcus grabbed Luna from underneath her arms and picked her up. He then placed her on his side like she was a young child.
"Better?" Marcus asked as held her.
"Maybe," Luna said with a blush as she planted her face on Marcus' chest.
Marcus chuckled as continued the journey to his dorm with Luna in his arms. By the time he reached his room, Luna had completely calmed down but was still a little bitter.
Marcus sat Luna down on his bed, before heading into the bathroom the clean himself.
Once Marcus was in the shower, he finally took a long drawn-out sigh of relief as the warm water hit his body. The water washed away all the dirt, blood, and doubts Marcus had gathered throughout the day.
He continuously reminded himself that the exams were finally over, and though this was only the beginning, it still felt good.
By the time Marcus stepped out of the shower, he felt like a new man. Exiting the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, Marcus yawned audibly.
"You should hurry and get dressed," Luna demanded with slight impatience.
Marcus chuckled as he walked to the closet. "Are you ever going to tell me what that surprise you two have planned is?" he asked teasingly.
Luna smirked. "No, we've worked hard for this surprise, the least you can do is play along," Luna explained.
"Just a little hint?" Marcus asked as he slipped out a shirt.
"No."
"What if I pick you up on the way to the surprise?" Marcus suggested. A challenging grin played on his lips.
Luna's silver eyes twinkled briefly, as his face illuminated with excitement, but it wasn't long before she quickly returned to a neutral expression. "No, you can't bribe me, Marcus."
Marcus signed as he stepped out of the closet fully dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt.
"Fine." He groaned as he stepped toward the front door. "Let's get going."
Luna floated down from Marcus's bed and landed by his side, then reached up her hand for Marcus to grab it.
Marcus accepted it and the duo exited the dormitory hand in hand. Luna began to lead Marcus to the designated meeting spot she and Dr. Fletcher had decided on. Marcus wordlessly followed her, curious as to what she and Dr. Fletcher had planned.
Eventually, Luna stopped before a room that was within the training center. It was on the basement level, seemingly underneath one of the training rooms upstairs.
"So this is it?" Marcus asked curiously as he looked down at Luna.
Luna nodded excitedly. "Yep."
Marcus took a deep breath before knocking on the door. There was a hurried shuffling on the other side, before eventually the door hissed open, revealing Dr. Fletcher in casual clothing.
Her long purple hair was tied in a loose bun, and her magenta eyes twinkled with excitement. "It's good to see you make it, Marcus." She said softly, attempting to hide her massive grin.
Marcus was completely jaw-dropped at the sight of Dr. Fletcher. He always found her attractive, but seeing her outside of a lab coat with a smile instead of a cold expression. It was almost too much to take in.
Dr. Fletcher grabbed Marcus' free hand and pulled him into the room. As Marcus entered, he noticed that the room was fairly small, yet it was packed full.
There was a couch that sat on the back wall with two blankets. Alongside a small circular table in the middle of the room that was filled with various drinks and foods, some Marcus recognized, others looked to be from different countries entirely.
In the upper right corner of the wall opposite the couch and beside the door was a thin-screen TV, with a paused movie.
"Suprise!" Luna and Dr. Fletcher exclaimed in unison.
Marcus didn't know what to say, a large grin playing on his lips as he continued studying the room. "What's the surprise for?" Marcus finally managed to ask.
"Well." Dr. Fletcher said as she guided Marcus toward the couch. "Luna and I have been putting this together ever since you started your final exam." Dr. Fletcher explained.
"It was my suggestion." Luna commented as she sat beside Marcus, "You remember how stressed out you've been? Well, I suggested that we throw a party for you after everything was over, just the three of us."
"And so I agreed, and began searching for a secluded area within the complex, and that's when I found this place." Dr. Fletcher explained, settling beside Marcus. "So, what do you think?" She asked curiously.
Marcus struggled to find words, air getting caught in his throat as he tried to find what to say, eventually, even when he tried to fight it. Tears began welling up in his eyes, "why?" Was all he managed to squeak out of his shaken voice.
Marcus didn't deserve this. He knew he didn't, so all he could ask was why?
He had treated Dr. Fletcher terribly and still hadn't apologized for it. And he only apologized to Luna because she came to him.
He's treated both of them terribly, yet here they were, throwing him a celebration like he was a hero.
"I don't deserve this," Marcus said softly, his voice cracking as he looked up to the ceiling in an attempt to hide his tears. "I-I have even apologized."
Dr. Fletcher hesitantly grabbed Marcus's free hand, before briefly glancing over at Luna, who gave her a quick nod.
"It's fine you didn't apologize, Marcus." Dr. Fletcher began, her tone soft. "Because I will, I apologize for withholding some much information from you, for leaving you out to dry when you were desperate for answers and explanations." She began, her tone sincere, "but I want to change that, to build an equal relationship with you, one where we both hold each other accountable."
Marcus closed his eyes tight as he wiped his tears. "Ah, shit." Marcus hissed jokingly as he squeezed Dr. Fletcher's cold hand. "I don't mean to cry."
"It's fine." Dr. Fletcher commented. "It's a human emotion, and you deserve to express it, I just hope you can forgive me for not understanding that sooner."
Marcus blinked away the tears that were close to spilling over. His heart swelled with emotion, the gratitude he began to feel was almost overwhelming. Marcus had flown to this facility with both these women, and now they had become integral parts of his life within the organization.
Bright lights in a dark world that threatened to consume him.
"Of course I forgive you." Marcus managed to say, his voice still cracking with emotion. "I just hope you can do the same."
Dr. Fletcher nodded as she intertwined her fingers with Marcus's. "Yes, I forgave you quite some time ago."
Her eyes began to shimmer with warmth and excitement. "Are you ready to enjoy tonight?" She asked, reaching to grab a blanket.
Marcus barely managed to say yes, blue nodding his head as he tried to calm himself.
Luna crawled into his lap as Dr. Fletcher covered them with the blanket. As the trio settled into the cozy room, the air filled with a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The TV began flickering to life as Dr. Fletcher started the movie she had chosen.
The evening unfolded with quiet contentment, only interrupted by laughter and shared stories. For the first time in what felt like forever, Marcus felt like a normal person, there was no big exam to look forward to, no battles with rowdy cadets, just a normal, intimate moment.
And it felt good.