iceguessie

(Engineer!Mark x Captain)

We did it.

The wormhole is gone. We stopped the paradox.

We made it.

To the planet we left for. All the colonists alive and unaware of what happened.

We did it.

We made it.

We did it.

We made it.

I keep repeating in my mind like a mantra. A lifeline I’m clutching, like it’s the only thing that’s real.

The crew runs about, prepping everything for departure. Celci shows me some charts of Cryo’s stats, and I numbly nod. Burt and Gunther are discussing plans for the security system on the planet, and I barely acknowledge them as they walk by.

My hands shake, so I grab onto the console and take a deep breath. Looking around, I sigh at everyone chatting excitedly.

We did it.

We made it.

The chanting gets louder, and my head screams. My body aches, despite starting anew, it’s like each death and injury are carved in my bones. The fear, the doubt, the struggle. It’s embedded in every muscle, my shoulders sinking as I stare at the screen below me.

Everyone leaves to work on their assignments. The moment the door slides shut I drop my head into my hand. Aggressively rubbing in a foolish attempt to clear it.

We did it.

We made it.

Tears prick at my eyes, thousands of deaths. Over and over. The screams, the begging, the betrayal. All those lives lost.

We did it.

We made it.

I push off the console and turn away. Fingernails scratching against my face, before my arm falls to my side. I stare out the window. The beautiful sight of safety greeting me in all its green glory.

We did it.

We made it.

My feet are heavy, my skin burning. I rip off my jacket, throwing it to the ground as I step closer to the window. That shattering sound echoing through my skull. Time after time. Fire, pain, loss, failure.

We did it.

We made it.

My breath goes shallow, and the ground pulls on me. Giving in, I fall into a crouch, arms resting on my knees, and I hide my face in them. Struggling to breathe, to think, to sit in the moment.

We did it.

We made it.

The door slides open, but I don’t move. I know those footsteps. I know everything there is to know about the man they belong to. I’ve seen every version of him that’s ever existed. I know who’s behind me.

“Captain?”

“Engie… I’m tired.”

Silence. Not even a breath. I already know that his mouth has fallen open, a small ‘o’ accompanied by a look of recognition. Likely coupled with shame at the memory. Not my intention, but he knows that. He knows me too.

I don’t allow myself to look up. Though whether my arms serve as a shield or prison bars, I’m not sure.

“I’m just so… tired.” I want to say more, but nothing comes to mind, not with that mantra beating.

We did it.

We made it.

We did it.

We made it.

I’m mumbling it now. As if vocalizing will allow it to feel real. Convince me this isn’t just another go around.

Footsteps. Then a quiet grunt as he sits next to me. More silence. If I wasn’t so tired… This is new territory, and we both know it.

“You know Captain? This might be the one time you actually need to let go.”

The words die on my lips. And I peek out of my arms to see him staring up at the window. He doesn’t look at me, doesn’t turn his head, but I know he knows I’m watching. I know it from the sad smile on his face.

“We both know I’m not good at that.”

A small laugh. “So let me help.”

He lifts a hand, not taking, offering. I hesitate. All of the times my grip wasn’t enough race through my mind.

We did it.

I reach out and entwine our fingers. His smile softens. My head falls on his shoulder.

I wanted SO BADLY to know what Loser Island was sold out of on “Count the Rice.”

Of course it was Rotisserie Chicken!

Euini is terrified of being himself. He wants nothing more than to hide and be anyone else. So his bangs are longer and completely hide him.

Richeh is confident in who she is. She wants nothing more than to be herself, no matter what. So her bangs are short and allow her to face the world.

She can now track him using her Lloy metal sense thingy.

She can track him like she tracked Alogar.