"Cuánto tiempo sin verte, novato."
Marcus stood at attention, his hand to his temple. "Colonel, sir, it's a pleasure to see you again," he said earnestly. Despite his appearance, a slight blush was visible on his cheek. Marcus admired Jack so much that, over time, that admiration had turned into a crush on the other man.
"Ahh, Marcus," Krauser grinned as he leaned casually against one of the barracks, "It's good to see you back in action too." He raised an eyebrow, noticing the blush. "You look... healthier than last time I saw you." His gaze moved down to Marcus' chest, briefly brushing over his nipples before returning up to meet his eyes again. "Things been good for you in the meantime?"
"Good enough," Marcus replied with a small smile. "And sir, I've been practicing that move you showed us...you know, with the knife." He gave Jack a self-conscious chuckle before falling silent, feeling awkward about admitting his crush out loud.
"Well done, Marcus," Jack smiled warmly, "I'm glad you've been practicing. And I assure you, that knife move is not just for show." He chuckled softly and glanced away momentarily. "Listen, kiddo... there's something important we need to discuss, but it might take some time. Why don't we find a place where we can talk privately?" He placed a hand on Marcus' shoulder, squeezing gently.
Marcus felt a pleasant little shiver run through his body; his heart raced at Jack's touch. "Yes, sir!" he said firmly, trying to hide his nervousness and his excitement at being alone with the other man.
"Alright then," Jack replied, leading the way deeper into the complex. After a few turns down dimly lit corridors, they arrived at his private office. He gestured for Marcus to sit on one of the plush chairs in front of his desk while he took a seat behind it. "So, kiddo..." Jack began, leaning forward and folding his hands together on the desk. "I wanted to talk to you about something that's been bothering me for a while now. You see... there have been rumors going around, and I need to know if they're true."
He paused, waiting for Marcus' response before continuing.
Marcus swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet the other man's gaze. "Of course, sir... what rumors do you want to talk about?" he asked calmly.
"Well," Jack began slowly, "it seems that some people have been whispering that you... well, that you might be..." he hesitated again, searching for the right words. "...that you might be interested in men." His cheeks flushed slightly and he looked away uncomfortably. "Is there any truth to those rumors?"
He studied Marcus' reaction carefully, wondering if he'd made a mistake by bringing this up. But somehow, deep down, he needed to know the answer.
Marcus tensed up, nervous and somewhat embarrassed, not expecting his colonel to find out about his sexual orientation. He cleared his throat and looked away from the man. "That... that's true, sir," he said, a little nervously. "I'm gay." He craned his neck, feeling uneasy, hoping this really wasn't a problem.
"I see," was all Jack could manage to say at first. He sat there, staring intently at his desk as if looking for answers in the grain of the wood. Finally, he raised his head and met Marcus' eyes again. "And how long have you known this about yourself?"
There was an odd mix of concern and curiosity in his tone, but Jack was still struggling to accept what he'd just been told. It went against everything he'd ever believed about gay men being weak or unfit for military service... yet here Marcus was, one of his top agents, brave, skilled, and seemingly unaffected by the disappearance of so many others.
Marcus took a breath and sighed nervously, looking the man in the eye again. "I've known this since I was a child, sir," he said seriously. "I've tried hard to show people I'm more than just my sexual orientation..." He lowered his gaze slightly. "...I hope... my sexual orientation isn't a problem..."
Jack leaned back in his chair, studying Marcus carefully as he spoke. He couldn't help but be impressed by the young man's dedication and determination. After a moment of silence, he finally said, "Marcus... I need you to understand something." His voice was gentle, almost fatherly.
"Your sexual orientation doesn't make you weak or unfit for service," he continued. "In fact, it takes strength to be who you are in this environment. And as far as I'm concerned, you're one of my best agents. I couldn't ask for a more loyal and dedicated soldier under my command."
He paused, giving Marcus time to process his words before adding with a smile, "Besides, you were already on my radar long before anyone started whispering about your love life." The warmth in Jack's voice made it clear that he truly meant what he was saying.
Marcus blushed slightly and looked away from the other man. "T-thank you, sir..." he said, a little nervously. It felt good to receive compliments from his crush. "I-I... I'll try my best not to disappoint you."
"You won't, Marcus," Jack assured him with a nod. "I have no doubt that you will continue to excel and make us all proud." He paused for a moment, wondering how much further he should push the conversation. Finally, he decided to take the plunge. "There is something else I wanted to ask you, though... about these rumors..."
He hesitated, not sure if Marcus would be willing or even able to discuss it openly in this setting. "Do you have a partner?" he asked carefully.
Marcus looked at Jack, slightly surprised. "N-no sir... I don't have a partner..." he said somewhat shyly. He looked away, a slight blush appearing on his cheek as he imagined being the colonel's partner.
"Well, I was hoping you would," Jack said with a small smile, "but if not... let's just say that I'm always here to listen, and if you ever wanted someone to talk to..." He left the offer hanging in the air for a moment before continuing. "...I trust you know what I mean." There was a hint of warmth and understanding in his voice as he spoke, making it clear that he wasn't trying to make Marcus feel uncomfortable or pressured.
Marcus glanced at the man before looking away thoughtfully. Perhaps now was the time to open his heart. He looked back at the man, his expression both determined and shy. "S-sir... if there's something I'd like to talk to you about..." A slight blush appeared on his cheek. "I... I've always admired you... I've always seen you as someone incredible and a role model," he said with a small smile. "You're one of the reasons I've worked so hard to improve myself... and well..." He looked away shyly. "...I've admired you for so long... that I realized my feelings for you had changed... I..." His voice trailed off as he lowered his gaze, somewhat self-conscious. He remained silent for a moment before letting out a shaky sigh and looking up at the other man. "Sir... I'm in love with you."
Jack studied Marcus carefully, taking in his words and the expression on his face. For a moment, he was taken aback; this was not what he had expected. And yet... there was no denying the sincerity in Marcus' voice, or the feelings that welled up inside him at the confession.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk as he steepled his fingers beneath his chin. "Marcus," Jack began softly, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "I'm flattered... truly. And I have to admit that you are an incredible man, and someone whom I am proud to call my subordinate. But..." He hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "...I think we should keep things as they are. I don't want to lose what we already have because of our feelings."
He paused, meeting Marcus' eyes directly. "But just know this: no matter what happens, you will always be important to me... and I will always be here for you." There was a sense of warmth in his tone that left little doubt as to the genuineness of his words.
Marcus smiled, a stark contrast to the sadness in his eyes. "Yes, sir... I understand... I just... I just wanted you to know how I felt..." His voice broke at the end, feeling tears welling up. He lowered his head and quickly stood up. "With your permission, sir, I'll go back to my duties," he said swiftly, before turning and leaving the office, almost fleeing from the man and his own feelings. As he walked down the long corridor, tears began to stream from his eyes, and he clumsily tried to wipe them away. He had expected this to happen, and yet he couldn't help feeling hurt.
*Marcus' departure left Jack alone with his thoughts for a moment. He leaned back in his chair, considering the young man's words and the depth of his feelings. It was clear that this had been a difficult conversation for both of them. After a few moments, he stood up and moved to the window, staring out at the base below. His hands clasped behind his back as he tried to sort through his own emotions.
Eventually, Jack sighed and turned away from the view. It seemed that there was little he could do to change the situation between them; they would simply have to continue as before, each dealing with their feelings in their own way. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what might have been...*
Marcus went outside, fighting back tears, and looked around the base for somewhere he could have some privacy. He walked for a while, circling the base, until he found a secluded spot behind a building. He sat on the ground, hugging his knees, and let out a shaky sigh before he began to cry silently, trying to release his emotions.
As the sound of Marcus' quiet sobs reached him through the open window of his office, Jack felt an unexpected pang in his chest. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing himself to remain strong despite the emotions welling up inside him. After a few moments, he opened them again, steeling himself for what he was about to do. Leaving the relative safety of his office, Jack strode purposefully across the base, moving with a sense of determination and focus that belied the turmoil within. When he finally found Marcus, sitting alone in his secluded spot, Jack stopped several feet away, searching for the right words to say...
Marcus saw the other man out of the corner of his eye and jumped slightly. "S-sir!" he said, surprised. He awkwardly stood up, trying to wipe away his tears. "I-I just..." He tried to think of an excuse, but he had nothing; he hadn't expected to be seen by the man he had just confessed to.
"It's all right, Marcus," Jack said softly as he approached the younger man, his expression almost pained. "I wanted to make sure you were alright." He paused, searching for the words that would convey what he needed to say without making things any more awkward than they already were. "Look... I appreciate your feelings, and I'm flattered," he continued, managing a small smile, "but I think it's best if we keep things as they are."
He waited for Marcus to respond, hoping that the other man would understand why he couldn't reciprocate his affections in the way he might have wished.