Dr. Fletcher calmly stood up and spread her arms wide. "I have no reason." She answered, "I understand that what I've done has harmed you in ways I cannot begin to imagine."
Marcus frowned as tears began welling in his eyes.
That wasn't supposed to be what she said. She was supposed to manipulate him, to lie her way out of her deserved death.
That way it could be justified, Marcus would've felt justified in hitting her.
"I said give me a reason!" He shouted.
Dr. Fletcher shook her head. "I don't have one." She answered. "Unless you want me to beg, is that what you want Marcus?" She asked, slowly approaching him.
Marcus gritted his teeth hard, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears and a vast ocean of emotions. "You're doing this wrong." Marcus said, his voice trembling with sorrow, "You're supposed to…. You're…"
Marcus began to sob as he struggled to speak. "No." He said to himself as the ether dissipated from his palm. "You can't do this." He whispered.
Dr. Fletcher wrapped an arm around Marcus's back and placed her other hand on his head, bringing it into her chest. "I understand you're in a vulnerable position, you feel as if everything you do and say is pointless, that the whole world is against you."
Marcus remained silent, his tears flowing down his cheeks and onto Dr. Fletcher's chest. It wasn't fair, none of this was fair.
Why is this happening?
What did he do to deserve this treatment?
Who had he wronged?
"So, how about I give you a gift?" Dr. Fletcher said warmly. Gently running her hand through his curly hair. "I'll give you a week off for your duties, that should be plenty of time for you to think about things."
"What's the catch?" Marcus asked.
Dr. Fletcher chuckled softly. "There's no catch, it's simply a gift, no strings attached."
Marcus didn't believe that was completely true, there was something Dr. Fletcher was getting out of this. "Just be honest," Marcus said softly. "For once in your life, just be honest with me."
Dr. Fletcher smiled. "In time Marcus, I will reveal everything in due time."
Marcus sighed. "You've taken so much from me, and I still cling to you like a lifeline." He then wrapped his arms around Dr. Fletcher's waist. "I don't even have a family anymore." He said softly.
"You have me, Marcus." Dr. Fletcher said softly, rubbing the back of his head. "And Luna as well, and that's something you can always count on, even when this world crumbles to dust, you'll have us."
"I don't want you," Marcus replied. "I fucking hate you, you're a lying, manipulative bitch."
Dr. Fletcher chuckled softly. "Is that so? I thought I was protecting you."
"The only thing you're protecting is yourself," Marcus answered. "You don't care about me, only this thing that swirls In my chest."
Dr. Fletcher smiled.
"Oh Marcus, you're far more interesting than you know." Dr. Fletcher replied. "And I can't wait to show you."
Marcus rolled his eyes as he pulled away from Dr. Fletcher. His expression was a mix of hurt and determination. "I'm sure you know where I want to spend my week, so get a plane ready."
Dr. Fletcher nodded. "Right away my love." She replied with a smile.
As Dr. Fletcher turned to leave the room, Marcus turned his attention toward Luna, who was quietly staring at the ground. His expression turned sympathetic.
"Did I hurt you?" He asked.
Luna shook her head. "No." She replied softly.
Marcus frowned, a pang of guilt hitting him. "Can I hold you?" He asked, reaching out his hands.
Luna looked up hesitantly, her small form trembling. As her silver eyes locked with Marcus', he noticed something off about them, an emotion she had never really shown before.
It was fear.
Marcus frowned as he dropped his hands. "What are you scared of?" Marcus asked with a hint of frustration. "Is it because I pushed you?"
"No," Luna replied as she averted her gaze. "You're changing Marcus, and I don't know how to feel about it."
"Changing?" Marcus asked in disbelief. "I'm the same guy I was when we first met, I'm just on edge, there's too much shit going on and I don't understand any of it."
"But maybe if you just took a moment to think–"
Marcus sighed. "Think, think, think," Marcus said as he mouthed with his hand. "Luna the more I think, the worse things become, I'm tired of thinking."
Luna fell silent, the air fell silent with a palpable tension. Marcus could feel a range of emotions swirling within him, half of which he couldn't even describe.
Just thinking about how he felt made him angry.
Marcus groaned as he walked over to Luna, picking her up into his arms, he noticed her expression was perplexed. "Stop thinking," Marcus told Luna, raising a hand to her face to pull on her lips.
He put a smile on her face, holding it up with his pointer finger and thumb. "See, don't you feel better?" Marcus said with a chuckle.
Luna giggled softly as she reached for Marcus' hand. "A little." She replied.
Marcus then began to tickle Luna, sticking his finger under her arm and neck.
As Marcus' finger brushed against her cold skin, she began to giggle playfully. The fear in her eyes was replaced with caution and joy. "Marcus stop, that isn't doing what you think it does." She said between laughs.
"Well, whatever I'm doing it's working," Marcus replied as he kissed Luna's cheek.
After an intimate moment between the two, Dr. Fletcher returned with a soft smile on her lips. "I have your flight organized, are you ready?" She asked.
Marcus looked up to Dr. Fletcher with a contemptuous expression. "Yeah, let's go."
— — —
The plane ride back to Manchester was a quiet one.
Marcus spent the majority of the ride processing what happened with his family.
His mother and sister believed him dead, he couldn't even imagine how broken his mother was over the news. The thought of your son going off to become famous, only to die in a plane crash shortly after.
She probably still hasn't processed his 'death'.
This wasn't even mentioning the fact that he himself no longer had a mother. Marcus loved his mother beyond words and would've done anything for her.
This entire situation was fucked beyond belief.
Yet Dr. Fletcher acts like it's another Tuesday. That woman and all her damn schemes, it didn't take a genius to see she was hiding something.
But Marcus didn't care anymore, as long as she didn't kill his mother, he was sorta ok with the current situation.
At least now if he dies in the line of duty, he doesn't have to worry about her anymore. Same for Kael's family.
— — —
Marcus arrived at Airstrip 47, where he was greeted by a Black SUV and a driver standing in front of it.
"Officer Fall?" The driver asked, opening the back passenger door of the SUV.
Marcus nodded as he guided Luna into the backseat, before slipping in himself.
Settling into the backseat, Marcus crossed his arms as he laid his head against the headrest.
The driver quickly slipped into the front seat and turned the ignition. "You're heading for the academy, right?" The driver asked.
"Mhmm."
The driver nodded, quickly driving off the tarmac and onto the road. The ride was silent but calm.
Marcus was looking forward to seeing Kinsley, he hoped that she could offer him a glimmer of peace same as Luna. Maybe something a little more if he was lucky.
Upon arriving at the academy gates Marcus stepped out of the SUV with Luna and a duffel bag in hand.
He approached the card reader, and using Kira's keycard he opened the academy gates and stepped onto the grounds.
"Are you happy being back?" Luna asked curiously as she followed Marcus toward the dorms.
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, I wouldn't have asked to come here otherwise." He joked, causing Luna to smile. "But I'm more looking forward to something else." He said with a smirk.
"You're a bad boy, Marcus," Luna said with a giggle.
"Hey, it's a natural desire," Marcus replied.
It wasn't long before Marcus reached Kinsley's dorm. Standing in front of the door, Marcus took a moment to compose himself before knocking on it.
"Do I look ok?" Marcus asked, looking down at Luna with a curious expression.
Luna nodded. "Yes, you look as handsome as always." She replied with a thumbs up.
Marcus playfully rolled his eyes as he knocked on Kinsley's door.
The was a brief silence before the sound of someone stirring awake could be heard from within the room.
"Who's there?" Kinsley asked.
"Marcus."
"Marcus?!" She replied in a shocked tone.
The sounds of footsteps rushed through the room and echoed through the door. The sounds of drawers opening and hastily closing followed suit.
A moment later the door quickly opened, revealing Kinsley dressed in a backward T-shirt and shorts.
Before Marcus could open his mouth to greet her, Kinsley hugged him. Her grip was so tight that Marcus could feel her racing heartbeat.
Marcus was surprised by the sudden gesture, his expression one of slight confusion. "Are you okay?" Marcus asked.
Kinsley pulled back from Marcus and looked at him with a relieved expression. "I should be asking you that." She replied, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Marcus sighed. "I don't know." He replied, his expression growing unreadable. "I guess."
"Well don't just stand at the door." A voice from Kinsley chimed in, "Let him come in and sit down."
It was Kira.
Kinsley's eyes widened with realization. "Shit, sorry." She replied as she grabbed Marcus by the arm and pulled him into the room. Stepping inside Marcus was greeted by Kira sitting on Kinsley's bed.
She was dressed in a pair of blue pajamas with a butterfly pattern. "Well if it isn't the hero of the hour," Kira said with a soft clap. "And look at you, not a scratch."
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, that tends to happen when you can heal." He replied.
Kira giggled as she closed the laptop beside her. "Hmm, it's unfortunate that the city won't be able to heal as fast as you do, though it makes me wonder, what caused that earthquake," Kira said with a knowing look.
"I'd honestly like to know myself," Kinsley said, closing the door. "The reports say the majority of Brooklyn was flattened."
Marcus sighed, looking up toward the ceiling of Kinsley's dorm. "The anomaly, it was a massive serpent-like creature." He began. "It moved through the city like a bull in a china shop, except this bull was the size of a skyscraper."
"Woah." Kira said, her tone full of awe, "That creature must've been daunting, so what did they do with its corpse?"
Marcus shrugged. "I passed out after I killed it."
"We erased it." Luna chimed in. "We used something akin to a biological bomb, it erases organic matter."
Kira giggled. "Thank you for the information cutie." She replied, she then put a finger to her chin. "But I wonder, did anyone see it besides your organization personnel?"
Marcus frowned, thinking back to what Alfred told him. "No, that gas leak was actually a nerve agent, anyone close enough to see the anomaly would've died."
The room fell into a tense silence.
Kinsley looked at Marcus with a concerned expression. Kira meanwhile fell into deep thought, evident by her perplexed expression.
She then spoke up. "I'm curious Marcus, does this mean anyone who has information on your organization could face consequences?"
Marcus raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. "You scared?" He asked with a chuckle. "Don't be, I'll protect you, but even if I can't, I know someone who has an invested interest in not pissing me off, so you'll be fine."
Kira blushed. "Oh, Marcus."
"He means all of us idiot, stop trying to steal him from me," Kinsley says with an irritated sigh. "Besides, you've overstayed your welcome tonight."
Kira raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, but Marcus, if you want to walk me to my dorm I would appreciate it."
"I'll walk you," Kinsley said before Marcus could open his mouth to respond, her tone protective.
Kira giggled as she gathered her things from Kinsley's bed. "What are you so afraid of?" She asked, walking towards Kinsley. "If he's yours, then surely nothing I do could change his mind."
Kinsley rolled her eyes as she stepped between Marcus and Kira. "Not every sheep farmer can trust a passive wolf." She replied.
As Kira and Kinsley stepped out of the door, Marcus reached into his pocket to retrieve Kira's keycard. "Kira, wait." He said as he followed the girls out of the room, "here."
Kira turned around to look back at Marcus, a curious expression on her face. "Oh, thank you, Marcus, I almost forgot I gave it to you."
Kira walked up to Marcus, under the gaze of Kinsley's watchful eyes. There was a small smile that played on Kira's lips as she grabbed the card from Marcus.
"Alright, now–"
Kira pulled Marcus down by his forearm and quickly stole a kiss. "Mhmm." She moaned as she parted his lips with her tongue.
Marcus, Kinsley, and Luna were caught off guard by Kira's sudden action of passion.
"Kira!" Kinsley exclaimed as she pulled her back by the hair.
"Ow, ow Kinsley that's too rough!" Kira shouted as she was pulled away from Marcus. "I'll be balder than a baboon's ass if you don't stop." She cried.