Marcus, and his squad mate Casper, were hanging out in their assigned quarters. The room was made to fit eight, but they were the only two present at the moment and were currently arguing over which model of the Beamer edition sniper they used was better. Marcus was waving his hands at Casper as if to shut him up, the two talking in louder tones to make themselves heard over the other before snorting with laughter and ending with a head butt.
"Whatever dude, you shoot what you like and I'll shoot what I like. But you're wrong!" Casper said in farewell, ducking a pillow chucked his way and running out the door, nearly colliding with Rin as he went.

It had taken a little while but Rin had managed to track Marcus back to his room. Without wasting anymore time she went straight there. Her exterior seemed somewhat unfriendly but cool and calm. But on the inside she was a nervous wreck, and nearly slamming into one of his squad mates didn't help. While the door was still opened she slipped inside and looked around for anyone else. "We need to talk." she said after being sure they were alone.

Marcus could still hear Casper's ballistic Santa like laugh echoing in the hall as he scampered off when Rin stepped in. His grin froze and a moment later disappeared. "Hey Rin." He said, clearing his throat and leaning back on the top bunk he was sitting on, letting his legs dangle of the edge and swing back and forth a bit. "Talk? What about?"

It felt like her stomach had dropped and her heart was going to beat out of her chest. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about me and John, I should have. I guess I just didn't want to worry you with something so trivial and then before I knew it I was attached." she explained the best she could awhile sitting on a bunk directly across from him. Her arms were crossed with her heads tucked away to conceal their trembling. "And what happened in the hangar... We can't mention that to anyone, especially not John. It was just a mista -" she dropped off and swallowed deeply before continuing. "I shouldn't have done it."

Marcus was quiet for a heavy pause, as if absorbing this and planning out his answer. He leaned forward finally, resting his arms on his knees and looking down at the space between his feet. "Right. You having a boyfriend is trivial." He muttered, before continuing in a steadier voice then he thought he would've been able to manage. "You know, you had more then a hundred opportunities to tell me about him. And yesterday, you could've even told me as a way of saying hi. But you, you kissed me." Pausing to swallow here, his knuckles growing steadily whiter as he clutched the edge of the bunk now with both hands. "Damnit you cant do that! You cant do that and then tell me it was a mistake cause I know it wasn't!"
He'd never lost his temper with her before. At least, never in a serious way. Sure there were times where her teasing or stubbornness got on his nerves but it was always lighthearted and easily fixed. Right now though he felt like he was going to be sick. Had all that they'd done for each other and been through meant that little to her? So little that as soon as she was away from him she had fallen for some uptight desk monkey with a stupid hair cut? The night on the beach and of the hotel room flashed through his memory and it just twisted his gut into even a tighter knot. He knew by now he loved her, had figured that out for sure. Maybe that's why this hurt all the more, it was proof she didn't love him. At least, not in the way he wanted her to. If she did, she wouldn't be doing this right?

A turbulent array of feelings washed over Rin. It felt like her stomach sunk yet also like her blood was boiling. Something between a snort and a huff puffed from her nostrils as she locked her jaw and shook her head. For a brief moment she wasn't sure if she was going to cry or hit him. "I didn't realize I was under a contractual agreement to tell you every damn detail of my life! Maybe that's the problem, you forgot it is my life and I can do what I want with it. It's not like I need to discuss every decision with you!" She yelled at him. Immediately she knew she shouldn't have done that, yet she couldn't bring herself to stop.

With a jolt she stood up, jaw clenched and arms crossed. "And it was a mistake. I know that because I regret ever doing it." She growled. Her eyes were sharp yet full of pain. It took all she had to hold back tears. It was like watching a house burn down and all she could do was watch. The best relationship she ever had was going up and flames, and she just tossed gasoline on it.

Marcus stated at her in disbelief, slipping off the bunk now as the stare gradually grew darker with anger.
"Oh believe me I haven't forgotten its your bloody life. And damn if I don't regret getting tangled up in it now." The muscles and veins in his neck and jaw showed sharply, it clear he was grinding his teeth and clenching. " I didn't realize I meant that little to you. That I was just a body for you to latch onto when you felt like crying or a set of hands when you needed someone to drag a body away. But hey if I've served my purpose then I guess we're done here. I guess johnny is a better friend Hm? All supportive and what not? And he knows you right? Like all of you, who you are and whatve you done, what you're afraid of and what you want and need. Cause I sure as hell don't, and can happily say I don't care anymore." The lie burned, he'd always care no matter how angry he was with her at the moment. But he just felt so used and betrayed right now he didn't care what he said. He just wanted to get her out.

She was no longer to hold in the storm of emotions. The anger had replaced the sadness, but now they mixed together in a volatile combination. Biting her lip and clenching her eyes shut she turned her head away as the tears rolled down. She listened to him shout at her, each word landing in her back like a dagger. By her side her fists curled tightly and trembled. Suddenly her arm flew up and her fist struck against his jaw, she could feel the pain of her knuckles cracking against his hard bone. After pulling back she staggered backwards, the realization of what she had just done sinking in.

"Unlike you John has been here for me this past year. No, he doesn't know me like you do but he's been here. And my life has been a non stop up hill climb and I fucking need someone!" She yelled, tears streaming down her face. "You mean the world to me.... that's why I so desperately lonely. I couldn't stand it. I loved you and you were a million miles away." She stepped to the door and grasped the handle. "But I guess none of that matters now, so I'll be leaving.... " Her voice cracked as she forced out the words. "-Good... Goodbye Marcus..." She swung the door open and stepped out, running down the corridor.

He fell back a pace, hand clapping over his jaw where she had hit him. He hadn't been expecting that, but he supposed he had deserved it after what he'd just said. In silence he let her vent, that anger still burning away as he realized she had a point, he hadn't been there. What did he know about what she'd been going through without him there? But then, what did she know about what he'd had to go through? She wasn't the only one hurt here by the absence of the other.

I loved you and you were a million miles away. It hit him harder then her fist had. But by the time Marcus looked up she was already leaving.
"wait, Rin," He said hoarsely, not nearly loud enough. Cursing he moved to the door, shouting now. "Rin come back!" He called, running after her and ignoring startled or disapproving looks from the ship personnel he passed as he tried to catch her.

The loud thud of her boots slamming against the metal floor rung through the corridors as she ran, diamond like tears falling from her cheeks. She could hear Marcus call after her but all she could do was keep running, it's all she knew how to do in the moment. It felt like time slowed as her stride lengthened, her silky black hair flowing behind her. People went by like faceless blurs. Before she knew it though it was only her, Marcus still trailing behind her. She turned and ran down a empty corridor, only to be met by a dead end. Slowing to a stop she raised her hand and slammed a fist against the wall and rested her head against it as she continued sobbing. That year had felt like forever since she had been with him, and no one had ever told her that forever felt like home, sitting all alone inside her head. She had lived in agony without him, and now she lived in worse pain then ever with him.

In that moment of she could no longer deny he was who she wanted to be with. "Goddamnit" She chocked out through her tears. She knew that they were over, she had killed any chance of being with him. He hated her. Then the truly dark thoughts entered her head. If I have to go on living without him, then life just isn't worth living anymore. She thought about her gun, there on her hip. "I love you so much." She sobbed as she leaned face first against the wall. Marcus was in every thought, every emotion, every part of her longed for him.

And that was where he found her, sobbing against the wall and without hesitation Marcus came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly to him and unable to hold back his own tears now as he felt her shake in his grasp.
"Im sorry, Im so sorry Rin Im sorry," He said over and over. When last they had been together he had promised he would never leave her alone, and that was exactly what he had done just a few days after. it tore at him, making him feel wretched as he let his forehead fall on the back of her neck. "I love you Rin, I need you. Im so sorry for what I said, please forget it please. I, I died so many times this year but when I saw him and you, it was just so much worse. I love you so much it hurts, please forgive me" His words were muffled by her hair but they would be clear enough for her to hear. His voice shook with emotion and exertion of the confession but he needed to say it. Marcus needed her to know, he couldn't go on just keeping quiet about it.

She was to exhausted to push him away, and the longer he held her the more comfort she drew from it. His words sunk down to her very bones. This was Marcus, this was the man she loved. Being without him had hurt her so much more than she had realized, but saying those things to him was a pain she'd never forget. And what he said, those words that cut her all over, she hadn't ever felt such a pain. Was forgiveness even an option at this point? But this wasn't just anyone, this is Marcus. He's the one she loves, the one she wants to be with. He was what kept her alive.

Turning around she slowly tucked her head into his neck. "I can't keep doing this. I want you... I need you. Without you I'm going to loose myself and I'm so scared of what will happen." she said, her voice cracking and shaking. "I'm sorry for what I said, I was just so upset. Please, please don't leave me. Now that I know what I am without you, you can't just leave me. " She looked up at him, tears still rolling out of her eyes. "I love you"

"I'm never going to leave you again, never," Marcus promised her, "I will do anything and everything I can to always be with you, even if it means flying a Viper," His attempt to lighten the mood felt childish but he needed it to go on. "I am never leaving you." He was struggling to find words to convey how much he meant this, wanting her to understand that he just couldn't function without her but not knowing how to tell her. That living without her would be like living without the ability to breath. He would be suffocated in the emptiness at his side that was supposed to be her. And making this promise, to never leave her and that he loved her, terrified him. It was a surrender. It was him giving up the idea of being independent and strong on his own, by telling her this he was exposing a weakness that would forever be raw, his need for her.
to stave off these thoughts he whispered those three words to her again before his lip's crashed over her's, tasting her tears but needing to show her he meant this.

A worn smile crept across her face. She could tell he was struggling with what to say, but she knew what he meant. Because she felt what he did. Suddenly any mistakes made, any hurtful words uttered, or even any punches thrown no longer mattered. As he embarrassed her and his lips met her's she felt it all wash away. It scared her that she finally admitted what she had always felt, but she was relieved to know he felt them to. Her walls were down and her whole being was his for the taking... and this time she wouldn't let anything get in the way of that.

Her body pressed against his she kissed him passionately, one hand in his hair and the other on his chest. The desire clear and the passion pure. She wasn't sure how much time had passed but she suddenly had to pull back to take a breath. "I want to be with you. I need you completely. " She whispered to him.

Marcus's eyes had closed tightly when he kissed her, pressing her back against the wall until he was sure she knew what he was trying to say to her through the action. When she pulled back he took the chance to fill his lungs, cracking his eyes open to look down at her. Her expression said as much as her words and it brought back alk he had fekt that night on the beach. But the strongest returning sensation was an unquenchable desire.
Still a bit breathless he nodded, "I need you to,". He said against her lips, before tugging her along with him out of the middle of the hallway and from prying eyes with his arms still around her.

As he pulled her into his still empty quarters she pushed the door closed behind them. Quickly she grabbed a chair and jammed it against the handle to lock the door. As she walked back to him she kicked her boots off. It was easy to see she wanted him, more than she had ever wanted anything. It was like to magnets being drawn together. There was no way she could resist him, and no way she wanted to. Again she kissed him passionately, arms wrapped around his shoulders and her whole body against his. She couldn't have picked a better person to share her first time with. Her love for him was true and tested through time, and she wanted to take it to the next level.

Her hands drifted down and then up under his shirt. As she felt his hardened muscles on her finger tips a surge or energy shot through her body. Memories of the night on the beach flashed through her mind. This moment was similar yet so different. Her desire was stronger and her excitement more than ever before. Tightly she gripped the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head.

Marcus had shed his boots and belt already, hooking an arm around Rin's waist after she had dealt with his shirt. His skin was darker, although marked with a few new and bigger scars from last they had met. There was even a bandage on his side but he wasn't slowed by it.
He spun Rin Around with him so her back was to the bed.
Nudging her back towards it he never took his lips from her's, fingers of his free hand hooking in her belt loops.

"Well that's nice to hear,". Hummed Marcus with a crooked smile, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand as he kissed her forehead. He wanted to fall asleep like this and to never be separate from her. But he knew it wasn't going to last, eventually they'd have to get up..

A soft smile was permanently on her face. She wasn't just happy, she was content. For a few more moments she laid there silently. Her eyes slowly opening and closing as she grew more and more tired. Just then a loud knock jolted her fully awake with a startle. The muffled voice of ione of his squad mates coming from the other side of the door. Rin sat up and looked around. "Just toss male my clothes, I'll hide out in here. " she told him as she reached for the curtains that closed off the opening of the bunk.

Marcus raised his head to glare at the door, before pushing himself up to sit behind Rin. "Don't sweat it I'll get rid of them," He muttered, pulling on his boxers and climbing over Rin to get out of the bed. Carefully he stepped over their haphazardly discarded clothing before reaching the door. He nudged the chair aside with his foot before opening the door a crack and looking out to see who it was knocking on the other side.
"What do you want." He said accusatorily, making sure he blocked the door way so the other wouldn't be able to see Rin or push their way in.
This wasn't the first time that someone had been kicked out of the squad barracks for 'intimate' reasons. It was the first time though that he had been the one doing the kicking out.