Marina slipped on her tank top, then a blue chambray shirt over it. She knew that even though it's important for her to look nice, what they were doing today for a Saturday Camp activity would be messy. She began to touch up her hair, and make sure her foundation wasn't smudged the wrong way, until she froze.
"Wait... I don't put in this much attention into my appearance. Maybe something will happen today?" Marina inquired in her thoughts, especially since it's only her, her two aides, and at least five dozen children. Suddenly, she thought about Sam as she slowed herself on tying her boots up. As much as she would love to spend the day dreaming about him, Marina continued to tie up her boots, then grabbed her bag and left.
"Just because it's Saturday, Marina, doesn't mean you're excused from babysitting." She told herself firmly as she left her street.
Marina could see the school as she passed Central Square. She passed by her settlers to say hello, and all the kids running passed her shouting their greetings as they ran for today's activities. Despite how exhausted she felt, Marina felt grateful for suggesting the idea of a Saturday Camp for the kids for when the parents either still need to work, or if they need time together. Marina chuckled as she looked at the field to see young Johnson wrestling with some of the older boys, and thought back to her son.
"Tyler, you would get along splendidly with Johnson." She stated under her breath as she walked up the stairs to the schoolhouse.
---
Sam was dusting away the toy shelves when he heard the sounds of someone struggling. He glanced in the direction to see Yuang struggling to lift a heavy bag of soil onto a wagon. He promptly stops to go and support the man, helping him lift this weightless bag of soil onto the wagon. His boss proceeded to chuckle.
"Ah yes, I forgot how strong you are. Be a good man and load up this wagon of gardening supplies, and textiles, for this order, please?" Sam could see the many bags of soil, some pots, trowels, fertilizer, and seeds. He proceeds to load the wagon.
"Who is this delivery going to, Yuang?" The older man gave him the invoice.
"It's going to the school house for their Saturday Camp activities. I hear Marina will have them start a school garden today. Would you mind delivering this order for me? I'll find a Moa to tow, and you will find Marina." Sam felt his heart jump at the mere mention of her name, and all too eagerly nods his head in agreement.
"I will," Sam curiously tested the weight of the wagon. "You sure I need a Moa?" Yuang began to panic, knowing what Sam was thinking.
"Sam, wait, don't--" He suddenly saw this burly man taking a step, and the protesting wagon moving with him slowly. "I'll find a Moa so that you don't strain yourself showing off, you crazy young man." Yuang walked away, trying to stifle his laughter. Sam couldn't help but chuckle, not remembering a time he had been this silly.
He was patrolling a colony of refugees since the War for Chorus, watching out for any potential raider. He looked towards the camp briefly to see some children running about, playing with an inflamed gallbladder made into a makeshift ball. His partner focused on the outskirts, Locus couldn't help but smile as there was a young girl twirling around with her friends with the ball. Soon enough, the ball was launched in his direction. Upon catching it, the kids cheered and asked him to kick it back into their game of football. Locus nodded as he dropped kicked it in, only to have it score a goal by accident. They all laughed, ran over to him, and begged for him to join their game. His partner laughing, saying he has it, and to entertain the kids. Locus nods, and runs over to the field of dirt they were playing on, and played football with them, and wrestling them as they tag-teamed against him in a game of tag. He never thought he had it in him to laugh and play the way he did, and it touched him knowing he was making a difference.
By the time Mr. Mitzi hooked up a Moa to the Wagon, Sam proceeded to pull it with the Moa, and Yuang was laughing in the distance as Sam chuckled. As he trekked down Main Street to the schoolhouse, he could feel a lot of questioning yet amused gazes by the settlers. He could hear them talk among themselves, wondering if he was a retired spartan, if he was single, and if he was "perfectly large" to quote some of the younger adults. Sam shook his head at their notions as he was determined to reach the schoolhouse, and see Marina.
---
Marina was readying the paints for painting the flower pots for the younger kids when Sicilia approached her. She raised a brow upon seeing Sicilia attempting to stifle a laugh.
"Marina, the delivery is here, with an additional treat. I'll take over instructing." Marina continued staring at Sicilia questioningly until she exited the front door for a sight she wasn't expecting at all. She froze at the sight of Sam, pulling a wagon of gardening supplies with a Moa. While swallowing her beating heart, she was gobsmacked at the demonstration of strength of this man as there were beads of sweat on his face, and his shirt was soaked with sweat. His shirt did little in concealing his flexed muscles that had Marina's thoughts going off into the deep end. Upon locking eyes with him, Marina could see the determination in Sam grow as he pulled up the front of the school.
Sam was out of breath, wondering how much more his body could take despite his strength. When he saw Marina gawking at him, a fire was ignited and he pulled harder to get there to her. They stared at each other. At first it was giggles, then chuckles, and it evolved into full blown laughter by how ridiculous the situation looked.
"Hello, Sam, I am assuming you are here with our order?" Sam smiled back.
"I am. I'll pass you the envelope and I will begin unloading." They began walking closer to each other, and it was like a magnetic force they walked closer, unable to rip their gazes off each other. He looked at her, and could see she was dressed for the outdoors, but wondered how she truly looked when not putting on a face. The strands of brown hair that strayed from her braid barely framed her delicate face, and he wanted to know how soft her skin was. It took Sam a glimpse at the window to see an aide and some kids looking at them to break their trance as he cleared his throat and passed her the invoice.
By the time Sam finished unloading the cart and was ready to return to the store, he turned to see Marina standing at the door with a few of the younger kids looking eagerly at him. He let loose a breath he didn't know he was holding at the sight.
"Marina? When would be a good time to see you, to get to know you?" Marina began to blush as the kids were jumping up and down, swooning.
"I'll find you at the end of the day." She replied, shooing the kids inside, which prompted him to return to Mitzi's General.
YOU ARE READING
Running From Your Shadows
Fanfiction(Locus x F!OC, I will address Locus primarily as Sam unless its a situation) Finally, after freeing himself from the toxic partnership with Felix, Samuel "Locus" Ortez has been going about the galaxy in search of himself, of redemption, and a new pu...
