Running From Your Shadows

Chapter 8

Sam threw away the sponge as he closed the compact, seeing to it that his scars on his face were concealed. He couldn't risk anyone knowing of his defining mark, he couldn't risk Marina knowing yet. She meant too much to him before he was ready to tell her. Sam kept wondering why he initially hesitated before applying the concealing makeup, but his apprehension for what he planned tonight outweighed that concern. He then walked over to his closet, and punched a sequence to reveal a door. He looked at his former life, his literal skeleton in the closet. There was his armor, all of his weapons, and upon looking further was a small box that held his most personal treasures. He knelt down to open the shoe-boxed size container and reached in for a picture. It was him and his mother, smiling at the camera, but she held him close. Sam could feel the love his mother had for him and her family equally. He bowed his head and held the picture close to his heart, sighing. Sam knew he was fast falling in love, and he hoped he remembered what he learned from his mother will do Marina right.

"I'm sorry I couldn't prove that dad hurt you. Please be with me so that I don't hurt her." Sam thought as he put away the picture, and stepped back as he looked over his old LOCUS armor. He grimaced as he closed the door, taking a freeing breath of air. Upon turning to the mirror to adjust his tie and collar, Sam knew he needed to step up his game, especially with how his heart kept calling out for Marina.

---

Marina was standing in front of her mirror, brushing her hair. She reached for a hair tie, but decided against tying it back. She instead reached for a few pins and braided her bangs back to be held in place. Marina then gave herself a once over in the mirror. She felt beautiful, wanted, something she hadn't felt in a long time. Marina looked at a picture near her bed that had her son in it. She smiled, realizing now she has a chance for a new beginning as she impatiently waited for Samuel.

Upon hearing the doorbell, she eagerly slipped on her shoes and ran to open it, and there he was. Marina took in Sam, noticing he was wearing a crisper collared shirt with a tie, coupled with a blazer. Sam was right there, right here with her. Marina blushed as she felt the same gaze from him.

"Hello, Marina. You look beautiful tonight." He shyly stated, grasping her hand in his to kiss her knuckled, again kneeling down. Marina learned to adore the romantic gesture from the man, remembering how Mitchell was never one for romantic gestures.

"Hello, Sam," she giggled in response. "You look stunning tonight as well." He let out a breathy chuckle, with a tinge of pink visible on his cheeks. She closed the door behind her.

"I have a special place in mind tonight, with food by yours truly." Marina then grasped his free hand with both of hers.

"Let's go!"

---

Sam remembered how he found this hill one twilight hour morning while on patrol. It was secluded enough from the rest of the population, but close enough to where they can easily return to their home. Upon parking the Mongoose, the sun was close to touching the horizon. Glancing behind him, Sam could see Marina was in awestruck with the view of the town, and the rest of the valley.

"Wow, Sam... The view up here is breathtaking." He chuckled, looking at her over his shoulder.

"It can't be, because you already are." Marina rolled her eyes, giggling. Sam disembarked from the Mongoose, then set up where they will sit and eat together, even preparing a lantern in case they needed to turn it on, and a heating unit to keep them warm. Sam would glance occasionally to see Marina, smiling at him, waiting for him. Once he was satisfied with the set, Sam walked over to where Marina was on the Mongoose, and like a gentleman he took her hand and helped her down from the vehicle.

They sat and ate in near relative silence, occasionally exchanging a few sweet glances, and small talk. Sam could feel his nerves reaping havoc on his control with his heart beating like a drum with the energy of a metal concert. What didn't help his control was throughout the passage of time Marina had been gradually sitting closer to him. As their meal began to wind down, the sun was nearly set, and he and Marina were looking out at the horizon. Sam never thought he'd get the privilege to see her this relaxed, this happy.

"Marina?" She glanced over at him, curiosity evident on her face.

"Yes, Sam?" Sam knew there was no going back now.

"If I may ask, what was Mitchell like?" Marina grimaced as she looked back out at the horizon.

"Mitchell... I initially thought of him as a sweet, honest, genuine man. We married fresh out of high school upon discovering I was pregnant with our son. We moved ourselves to Reach to start a new life with a farming community, and Mitchel did everything he could to support us, and be a good father." Sam realized she was dangling the end of her response.

"But?" Marina simply shrugged.

"I didn't know he had it in him to cheat," Sam felt anger suddenly boil in his blood. "I guess he had a thing for young girls." Sam suddenly felt the anger be replaced with shame, thinking it wasn't his place to ask about what happened to her husband.

"I'm sorry, Marina-" What surprised the both of them was how Marina placed a finger on his mouth to shush him.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Samuel. I knew it would come back to bite him, and while unfortunate that it did, I would never have met you," She then moved that hand to place it on top of his. "You're such a blessing, Samuel. I'm so grateful to have met the most incredible man I've ever met in you, Sam." Their gazes focused on each other, Sam then carefully stroked a strand of stray hair away from Marina's face, stroking her face in the process, then cupping her cheek.

"Mitchell was a fool to throw away the most incredible treasure he had. You're the most beautiful, the most dedicated and determined, woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, Marina." Sam could see Marina was slowly leaning. Upon grasping the nape of her neck, Sam met her halfway, and captured her lips with his. It will be forever branded in his memory of how her kiss was. Her lips were so soft, so shy, but very much wanting him, and only him. He could feel her arm snake around his neck and she pressed deeper.

Marina wasn't so sure of the last time she felt fireworks when being kissed like this. His lips were soft, tender, but very unsure. His kiss was wanting to let her lead, to let him know what she wanted. Her heart fluttered by how he responded to her touch, and how he wrapped his other arm around her to bring her in closer.

They soon parted from each other, but kept the contact with their foreheads and noses. Sam gazed into Marina's eyes, noticing something different. Her eyes sparkled, as if she was set free from a life of slavery. He felt his heart flutter when she reached to touch his cheek, but felt his blood freeze when she saw some of his makeup come off onto her fingers.

"Sam? Is this... makeup?" Sam pulled away, sighing.

"Yes, the makeup hides my scars. My identity." Sam looked away in shame.

"Who are you?"