A/N: I'm pretty sure that thngs like J.R.R. Tolkien's books will still exist and be loved by people in the future. Take Sherlock Holmes for example: the thing came out almost 200 years ago!

HOLDEN CAULFIELD BASE

SYDNEY, AUTRALIA.

Have fun.

Yeah, he was peachy. The sun was too bright, his skin felt hot under the glare of the sun. He had found some shades for his eyes and Alex had tossed him some sun block before they went outside of the base. He had frowned at the offending yellow spray bottle. Alex had glared at his mistrust. He had sprayed down his arms and neck and she nodded in approval. She was so ever changing, first she was all gentle in a 'here let me help you' sort of way and next thing he knew she was glaring at him with a 'you little shit' look. It was amusing and unexpected.

He was in a warthog with a marine that couldn't help but look at John and the Spartans every now and then. Scott had barked at him to look at the road when the poor man was trying to look at him. Scott was standing behind a turret, scanning the road and silently making sure that the other warthog was following them.

Louis was driving the other warthog, fireteam raven had asked permission to use that warthog to move around. Which meant it had no turret and had a second row of seats.

The marine lead the small convoy to the base, he took a highway and a four hours later they found themselves in a road cutting through the woods and leading them to the military base. John could smell the faint salty aroma of the sea. He guessed that he could probably hike through the woods until he reached the beach.

The base was small, looked like a training facility. It was mostly deserted, save for a couple of guards and officers sitting outside just chatting with each other. It was the middle of July and the place looked like a ghost town. The marine driving had told Scott and John that this base was mostly a cheap hotel for officers on leave that had nowhere to go. The idea was depressive.

They were welcomed by some staff and later lead to their assigned rooms. They were set up in rooms with two small beds and a small computer. The beds were too small for Spartans and they all sighed in defeat. There was a small common room with a small TV, some couched and a round metallic table with metallic chairs. He saw Raven team claim the chairs and start discussing what they would do tomorrow. Alex had suggested hiking to the beach and Scott and Louis had agreed to search for supplies in the city.

"Bring some Grey Goose." Alex yelled at them before they were out of the room.

"Don't forget the beer, and stuff to make sandwiches!" Zoe yelled at them.

"I'm not your slave! If your ass wants shit so badly then come with!" Louis's tone was angry but he was definitely trying not to laugh.

"Aww come on Daysi! Pretty please!" Alex whined and pouted, she looked incredibly comfortable in her metallic chair with her feet propped on the table. Louis frowned at the nickname. "I'll buy some workout clothes for you!"

"Yeah she'll buy you stuff." Zoe nodded as if she was confirming a really serious transaction.

"I'll think about it." Louis winked at them and Scott groaned. Alex pouted, which made Scott come over and kiss her forehead. It was a really intimate gesture until she slapped his chest. Scott chuckled and moved over to kiss Zoe in the same manner.

John was amused at how lazy the two of them looked. He was a bit confused about one or two things, especially that kiss, but he didn't show it. He silently went to his assigned quarters and placed Cortana's chip on the computer. She gave a small sigh of relief but didn't say much. John sat on his bed. He tested his bed several times, thinking that it was far too soft to be comfortable. He was used to sleeping on the floor like a soldier and not on beds like a civilian. He sighed in discomfort and changed his clothes to hike in the woods.

Alex was laying down in the couch, her feet and head propped up in the arm rests. She was doing something on the TV and visibly perked up when she saw him.

"Hey do you want to see a movie?" She saw John stop in his tracks, he was wearing jogging pants and a UNSC shirt like he always did.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Alex blinked at him and shifted so that she would be able to look at him without breaking her neck.

"Why would I want to see a movie?"

"Uhh," she hesitated "because movies are works of arts meant to entertain the human race, no matter who they are?" She sat up on the couch, her legs under her, she wasn't wearing any shoes. "I mean, it's not like you've never seen a movie!" She meant it as a joke, but the Chief's face quickly killed her mood.

"Of course I've seen movies." His tone was monotone and cold, like he couldn't understand what the big deal was. "Although, I cannot see why you could call them works of art."

"When was the last time you saw a movie?"

"Uhh," he hesitated and avoided the curious frown Alex was giving him, only to see Zoe peeking at him from behind her book on the metallic chairs. "I don't know, I was young." The last time he saw a movie was in a classroom with his Spartans. Probably a historic documental Deja wanted them to see. Alex seemed to quickly understand the situation and took a moment to fully analyze it.

"Was it a movie or a documental?"

"What's the difference?" He was obviously confused and apparently it was the wrong thing to say because Alex appeared to lose her shit.

Alex gasped and stood up, "there, that does it" she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the couch.

"Does what?"

"You sir, are going to sit here and watch movies with me." She pushed him and made him sit on the couch.

"Is it completely necessary?"

"Yes."

"I believe we have different concepts on the word 'necessary'"

"Oh come on! How bad could it be?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

Alex sighed, "You are such a pessimist. What genre do you like?"

"Movies have genders?"

"Genre, not gender…" Alex glared at him but she was actually amused. "Like… for example would you like to see a story about someone fighting with someone else to achieve a certain goal?"

"Fighting?"

"Yeah, like with guns and cars and explosion and… action."

"No, why would I want to see that?"

"Well, I don't know, men usually like action movies."

"Why?" John frowned and tilted his head slightly.

"Uhh something about those movies being manly." She shook her head. "Never mind," John nodded "I suppose you won't like romance movies."

"What are they about? The only movies I saw with Deja were about important historical moments, scientifically discoveries, or-" Alex interrupted him.

"Yeah, those are not movies at all. Those are documentals, meant to teach something and not entertain."

"But I was entertained."

"Still a documental, I'll play a random documental." Alex grabbed her data pad and started scrolling though movie categories until she found the documental, whatever she did on the data pad it showed on the TV. "See? There's a separate area just for boring documentals." She clicked on a random tittle which turned out to be a documental about the discovery of slipspace.

"I've seen that one." Alex nodded. "It is quite a bit entertaining."

"I gotta admit it was quite entertaining." John looked at her with a questioning look. "Ok, maybe I didn't give you a perfect description. There's a reason why I'm not a teacher." She took down the documental and returned to the categories.

"What is fantasy?"

"Dragons, swords, magic, strange creatures, destiny, strange lands where everything is possible… I could go on forever." She shifted in her seat and grabbed a pillow to hold in her arms. "I think this could be a perfect category for a beginner."

"Please don't show him children's movies!" Zoe shouted from across the room.

"I'm showing him either 'the hobbit' or 'Harry potter'."

"Go for the hobbit, I'm going to take a nap. Bye."

"What is a hobbit?"

"You'll see."

She played the movie and was more interested in seeing his confused expression slowly become interested. Alex had to pause it once or twice to discuss some of the finer details of the plot. John was so into the movie that he started analyzing it far too seriously. Alex was amused, especially when the movie ended.

"Wait, that's it? That can't be the end of it."

"It's not, there are two parts remaining."

"Why are you not playing them?" He barked at her, Alex raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything.

The boys arrived with food and alcohol during the middle of the second movie. John was leaning forward, with his elbows on his knees. Alex was trying not to smile too much. Scott asked about Zoe and Alex pointed towards her bedroom. He saw the silent command to shut up. Scott looked at the incredibly old movie and decided to sit down on a couch to watch it with them. Louis sat down on the floor with his back against Scott's couch.

John asked Alex to play the third one.

Louis fell asleep, Scott woke him up and Louis disappeared shortly after.

John had some questions about Elves and magic and several questions about what the difference was between a Hobbit and a Dwarf and a Human apart from size. Alex was an actual geek and was able to answer most of the questions. Scott frowned every time she paused the movie to answer one of John's questions.

Alex was curled up on the couch next to John, careful not to get into his personal space. It was becoming harder and harder to keep herself from resting her head on his shoulder. He was no longer leaning forward, instead he was sitting back to keep his head closer to Alex. He did this only because otherwise he would need to raise his voice which disturbed Scott. They made some quick sandwiches for dinner and continued watching the movie.

Alex and John entered a small discussion on Bilbo's loyalty and how he had betrayed Thorin. Alex explaining why it was for Thorin's good. The Chief had no trouble seeing that, he just wasn't too accepting on the clear betrayal of the King's trust. He got into a mood where he was clearly angry with Bilbo, starting a speech on the importance of loyalty. He stopped when he saw Alex's small face.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I'm not smiling."

"Yes, you are. Why?"

"I really don't know, I guess I'm smiling because you are clearly enjoying this."

"How can you tell?" John raised his eyebrows in surprise. Alex shrugged and hit play.

The movie ended with Alex shedding a small tear when Thorin died. John was totally confused. He knew that tears always meant bad things. Although he knew people sometimes cried when they were happy. Alex was not happy. That meant that she was probably sad… or in pain. Soldiers sometimes cried when they had a bullet lodged in their body. He wanted to ask her about it, but then he figured that there would be nothing he would be able to do if show was sad. He tried to ignore her tear and focused on the end of the movie.

"So that's it?"

"Well, there is another trilogy about Frodo and the ring." She yawned.

"Can we watch it?"

"Sure." Alex smiled and set up the lord of the rings to play in order without her having to do anything. She placed her data pad on the floor and curled up in the couch.

The movie started and Scott groaned in exasperation. He have Alex an annoyed and tired look and mumbled something that sounded like "goodnight, I'll see you later." He winked at Alex who hummed in response.

John was curious about the interaction, but didn't comment. He just kept watching the movie. It was estrange how he tried to forget everything to feel more immersed into the storyline. At times, it felt like not much was going on outside his mind. He found it both disturbing and relaxing. His skin still itched with a need to do something, with the need to make sure people were safe. He knew there was a fight in Sanghelios in which he could be participating. He knew there was something else he could be doing. He hated resting, it gave him time to think.

The movie kept him from thinking about himself, making him focus on the characters instead. He had paused the movie with the voice control to Alex about the Gollum and how it had lived so long. Alex explained him about races and their different lifespans and how Elves were supposed to be immortal. He was far too interested in the female Elf and Aragorn. It was amusing for Alex to see him so invested in the movie.

It was late, she was tired, the couch was hard but she felt comfortable enough. John had stopped asking her questions and she had seen the money several times already.

John didn't see when Alex fell asleep, he had some questions about the ghost army but when he turned to ask Alex about it she was gone to the world.

"Alex?" he asked her. His deep voice didn't bother her at all, she responded by snuggling her pillow. Her body was curled up in an awkward position, she was trying too hard not to touch him and her body was quite large. John's lip quirked a bit in a small almost undetectable smile.

The credits of the movie called his attention. John stood up, careful not to disturb Alex. He shut down the TV and opened the door to Alex's room before gently picking her up with an arm on her back and the other behind her knees.

You know how in the movies or sappy romance novels the man carries the sleeping girl to her room, she subconsciously wraps her arms around his neck or snuggles in his chest, and he tucks her in bed before kissing her forehead and murmuring a sweet 'goodnight'?

Yeah that didn't quite happen.

Alex woke up when she was midair, her eyes wide and her body trying to regain its footing. John was too surprised to keep her steady and dropped Alex. He took a step back when Alex tried to kick his face with a knee while still in his arms. She landed gracefully with a hand on the floor and a leg spread sideways ready for running or kicking, eyes wide and scanning her surroundings like a caged animal. John had his hands up in self-defense with his fingers spread.

"What the fuck?" Alex's breathing was still coming in quick succession. "What were you doing?" rhetorical question "you scared me… so- sorry for trying to hit you… I uh… sorry." Alex deflated and sat on the floor, her breathing was back to normal in a few seconds and she was trying to avoid eye contact.

"I'm sorry for waking you… you looked uncomfortable there." He rubbed his neck with a hand, Alex looked up at him and placed her attention on the faded T shaped scars on his wrists. She felt so bad for reacting badly. She also felt awkward, but that wasn't new. It took her a few minutes to completely relax.

John had seen that reaction in several soldiers. There were several types of light sleepers, those that looked like they were having a heart attack, the lazy groggy ones that never rested and the ones who woke up fighting. John hadn't quite seen it then, but Alex looked completely scared.

Alex stood up and stretched up her arms, her shirt rising up a bit and making the feather tattoo visible. John tried not to look.

"Listen, I'm sorry for hitting you, I usually don't sleep and if I do then I'm a light sleeper." She laughed sardonically and shook her head. "Uhh- 'night John." She gave him a thin lipped smile. He recognized this as an uncomfortable gesture of reassurance.

He nodded and saw her retreat to her own room. He didn't give the whole thing much thought. Accidents like that happened all the time in the army. Trauma changed people, not him, just people.