━one ship, two stupid stupid men
SUMMARY | Mack had always had a mouth to him. Especially around his rival, the head engineer (who always had a scathing remark at the ready to fire back). But this time he went too far.
PAIRING | engineer mark x reader
REQUESTED | no
WARNINGS | some slight angst. mack being a dick
WORD COUNT | 1.7k+
AUTHORS NOTES | n/a
Their rival was well known.
Mack has always hated Mark, and vise versa. It was common knowledge that the two of them engaged in heated conversations more often than not, the bickering only getting worse once the Captain had arrived on ship in all their authoritative glory.
You would have expected their first day aboard the Invincible ll to have been a welcoming once; crew and colonists alike doing their best to keep a professional introduction as swell as possible. And it had been working—at first.
That had all been ruined the second they met Mark and Mack side by side (along with Celci and Burt of course but they were civil enough to leave a good if not slightly forgettable first impression.)
The Captain didn’t think they would be forgetting Mark throwing a wrench across the room at Mack’s smug face anytime soon.
Since then they had learned the root of their hatred for each other.
Apparently Mack had appointed to be head engineer, practically working all his adult life to get there. And some of his childhood too, according to a the few personnel that the Captain had asked. So one could imagine the impact it would have on the cocky space man when Mark waltzed in and immediately got the position, receiving tumultuous praise for his natural skill and abilities. Skills and abilities that Mack just ‘lacked’ according to the board.
The monthly meetings that just so happened to be mandatory per request of headquarters always tended to be the worst.
”All Im saying, Mark, is that more than once our dear Captain has shown to be, how should I put it, less than wise in their decision making.”
The same condescending voice that had been speaking nonstop for the last half hour piped up again, the owner of it smoothing down his light brown jumpsuit while staring coldly across the table at another man in the same garb.
Mark jumped out of his seat with vigor as Mack had finished sharing his critique. His nostrils were flaring, and the Captain imagined that if he had fangs he would be baring them like a dog.
”Our Captain has done nothing but lead us through the toughest of challenges, nothing short of brave and confident in the face of death itself!” He snapped viciously at Mack. Everyone watched as he rolled his eyes in response, scoffing before addressing Mark again.
”Your opinion on this matter is irrelevant. You practically worship the ground they walk on, so of course you’d be the one to back them up. We need to hear from more people with less biased opinions on our Captain.”
The person at hand that everyone kept mentioning sighed deeply, intertwining their hands together and propping their elbows on the table, clasped fists concealing the bottom half of their face as they watched the two go back and fourth. Almost as if witnessing a tennis match.
A very angry tennis match.
”Gentlemen as much as as I love watching you scrutinize and pick apart my decisions as the sole leader of this ship-“ The Captain cleared their throat “-we have more important things to attend to.” They finished speaking with a hint of annoyance in their voice, only Celci picking up on it from their far left and snickering.
”See! Thank you Captain! We have much more pressing issues to focus o- wait did you say I was scrutinizing you?”
They ignored Marks desperate denials of his actions, focusing on Mack from across the table as he crossed his arms defiantly.
”You know the protocol Mack. If you have an issue with me or the way I run things, you can either take it up with me privately, or file a complaint to HQ and wait for a response.”
They emphasized the word privately. It wasn’t the first time they had to repeat that to Mack, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
“But that’s the thing Captain.” He paused to lean forward in his seat, the sides of his lips down turned and eyes holding a look that they didn’t like. “I don’t understand what HQ sees in you. I don’t even think you were built to be captain of this ship.”
A hush fell over the table where everyone was sitting at. Burt and Celci exchanged a quick look, gazes slightly nervous. Even Mark had stopped in his desperate pleas to look at Mack with eyes as big as those cookies in the break room.
”In fact I don’t think you were built for space at all. Just the other day I saw you leaning over the sink in the bathrooms with your helmet off, cryi-“
”That is enough.”
The Captain was now standing, arms having been slammed down loudly on the cold, cold marble surface of the table to emphasize their words. Their tone had been harsh and abrupt, sending chills down everyone’s spine.
Even with the inky black tint of their helmet concealing their face, Mack knew he had gone too far just by the way they were looking at him.
For once in all his time on the ship, he listened to them. Shutting his mouth quietly and slinking backwards into his seat.
”This concludes this months meeting. If you have any questions, contact me through coms. I will be in my quarters.”
Even though they had just offered for any one of them to ask questions, no one got the feeling that they should. Or would.
The door slammed behind them on the way out. It left a gust of wind to blow through the now silent room, all eyes on the spot where they had just been standing.
No one dared to speak
A knock from the blue and silver doors from across their bed. The Captains gaze flickered from the reflection of their face from the helmet in their hands, swiftly putting it back on in one fluid motion before allowing the computer to let whomever was on the other side in.
A head of messy brown locks poked itself in, a small smile accompanying soft brown eyes as Mark made his way into their room.
”I brought food.” He said softly, sitting down at the foot of their bed to offer a plate full of cookies to the Captain.
“I nabbed them from the fridge. Burt will be upset later but I figured you needed them more than him.”
The Captain wordlessly smiled. And although Mark couldn’t see it, his own face light up as their gloved hand reached out to take one.
It was quiet for a moment, the only sound coming from a helmet being lifted up slightly so the chocolate cookie could be eaten.
Mark watched, his eyes asking questions that his mouth refused to.
”Its alright.” The Captain finally spoke after swallowing a mouthful of dough and chocolate. “You can ask.”
“Why do you let Mack do that to you.” Mark sighed, cocking his head to the side and throwing slightly. They resisted the urge to crack a smile, thinking about how he looked like a puppy right now.
”To be honest it’s not me he’s trying to upset. It’s you Mark.” They stated, pausing to take another bite while the engineer across them processed their words.
”Me?”
”Yes Mark.” The Captain finished their treat with one more bite, now turning fully and sitting up straight to properly look at him.
”He knows that you have a certain amount of—respect, shall we say—for me. And Mack finds it enjoyable to push your buttons through constantly commentating and voicing his opinion about things I do.”
”But why-“
”Don’t ask me. I would know just about as much as you do on that matter.” They sighed.
“And before you remind me that I have the authority to throw him off this ship, much less demote him to a lower status, let me remind you that I know that.”
The Captain let a beat of silence wash over them, allowing their hand to creep up to Marks shoulder and place a reassuring squeeze on it. If they weren’t having the conversation they were now with him, they would have made a teasing remark about the way his face flushed at their touch.
”But I believe everyone deserves second chances. Sometimes even a third fourth or fifth. You of all people should know that, Mark.”
He swallowed as the hidden message made its home in his brain, adams apple bobbing as the memory of a certain warp core.
“Understood, Captain.”
They gave one more squeeze to his shoulder before wrapping their arms around Mark, bringing him in for a soft hug.
They both melted into it, Marks giddy love-struck expression a stark and beautiful contrast to the Captains hidden yet greatful one.
The embrace was only broken at the sound of the computer speaking from overhead.
Captain, Burt and Celci are at the door. They have informed me that they wish to check on you. It seems as if Burt is hiding something poorly behind his back, appearing to be a mug titled Number One Captain. Should I let them in?
The Captain laughed softly as Mark grumbled under his breath about ‘stupid Celci’ ruining his time with the Captain. But nonetheless the doors to their quarters opened, allowing two more people to enter the room.
Almost how a warm feeling entered their heart.