#burt x reader

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.

Please and thank you!

thank you for the prompt!

please let me know if this is how you wanted it (the wording confused me a little, but i assume you mean iswm crew + crewmate!mack + HE!mack, so that's what i'm doin' :])

tw; death, explosives

celci;

she was always a bit ,, cold to others (pun intended)

not necessarily rude, but not too compassionate

however, when the captain, someone she formed a mutual sense of respect for, sacrificed themself for the rest of the ship, she was hurt a little

of course, she spewed her usual 'they did it for the good of the colonists' speel, but you could now hear a bit of remorse and regret in that choice of words.

in the end, she learned to accept the fact, and eventually gained even more respect for you, though you were long gone

burt;

a man of both few and many words

this is the one time he meant 'pop er in reverse' 100% seriously

of course, as we all know (it's literally just a hc of mine), burt writes poetry

he stopped for a few months, but as time went on, he slowly began writing again

at first it was really sad, but slowly began writing about the brave captain who put the lives of many before their own

gunther;

lemme tell you, this man was so tempted to blow up the ship

not in the bad dying way, but in the 'if j set off all of these explosives at once, maybe, just maybe, it'll give us a boost to search space'

he never truly believed that the captain was gone

he always had hope that he'd find them again, he almost knew it

they never did, though

every year on your birthday/sacrifice day, he sets off rockets into space as a form of fireworks

all in all, your sacrifice gave gunther more determination and motivation to keep ADS up and running

crew!mack;

he didn't take it very well.

at all.

before you could even do anything, he grabbed your arm and tried to stop you

he couldn't though

he still blames himself

mack refused to let anyone use your mug ever, but he makes a fresh cup of coffee for you each morning, and washes your mug each night

he waters the plants in life support and talks to them about you

he always misses his captain, that's something everyone knows

for a bit, he can continuously catch himself saying things like 'let's ask the captain' or 'i bet the captain knows'

not much ever got better for him

eventually, they arrive on the planet, and he demands that a statue of you gets put up

much like gunther, every year on your birthday/sacrifice day, he puts your favourite flower on your grave

he also talks to the statue

it's a known thing not to bother him when he does, and everyone sticks to that

mark;

this man just lost his partner in crime

it should've been him

it could've been him

he just needs to go through the wormhole just a few more times

right? then he'll find you!

except... he doesn't

he never does

he goes crazy, and eventually dies a sad death

however, the wormhole is still there

he's back again

for some reason, though, every time he comes back, it's after you're gone

after a few more timelines, mark finally accepts that you're gone

he goes on to teach the children of the colony about 'the brave, powerful, and selfless captain'

you become an old tale, no one ever remembering if you were real or not

no one besides mark

engineer!mack;

before you sacrifice yourself, when he thinks you won't, he's still very sarcastic

'do it, then. maybe the ship will have a GOOD captain for once >:['

once he realises that you're serious, he takes a double take

he laughs a bit

but then you're gone.

he wastes no time in taking on captain duties

everyone thinks it's because he's happy to be captain, when it couldn't be more wrong

he's so upset that you're gone that he NEEDS something to distract himself

he can't let hid people see him weak

once he becomes a 'dictator', he has a private garden made. once that has your favourite flowers.

he spends his free time there, no one, by law, is allowed to bother him there

no one knows why he has that garden, but some swear that they can hear muffles cries as they walk past sometimes

that's right, that's his safe place to think about everything

Jesus christ this bunch is a handful

First off we all know that Mack would refuse to let anyone take care of him. Becuase he's not sick! And even if he was, he wouldn't need someone as incompetent as the Captain watching after him

So you just shrugged and went off to find the others, not doubting that he would be back soon asking for help

Spoiler alert he did

Mark got very affectionate while he's sick you learned

How exactly did you learn that?

Well it might have had something to do with the fact a 5'10 ball of snot and tears came barreling down one of the ships halls at you for a hug

Cecli and Burt were the more composed members of the infected crew, although they did cast a questionable glance or two at the engineer clinging to your leg bawling about how he doesn't deserve you

It was a simple task for you to send them to the infirmary for medicine at least

Gunther was no where to be seen. Probably off shooting things in his deleterious state. Either that or raiding the food supply for everything and anything he could get his hands on

To make a long story short, things eventually got smoothed over

Second, if you wanted to, uhhhh what about the ISWM Crew and the Macks with a captain that likes to do little things for the crew? Like rehydrating food for them for breakfest, always making sure they're hydrated, or leaving little reminders or encouragement via sticky notes at their station? But romantic please ^w^ and thank you!

first of all, this is really, really late. i am so sorry, i have had a lot going on in my private life, so I've been very busy.

that being said, thank you so much! writing has always been my "thing", i guess, so i'm glad that you enjoy it!

secondly, answering your request!

burt;

burt's love language is acts of service, so this small gesture means the world to him

homie really does (internally) swoon when the captain brings him some water since working on the reactor all day gets really hot

of course he won't make a big deal about it, but once you two are alone, it's a bunch of "thank you, captain" and "captain, you're one of my favourite reasons to work on the ship"

just a very sweet guy

don't get me wrong, he doesn't have problems showing his emotions, he ain't about that. he knows that for any good relationship there must be communication. he's just a bit more 'stoic' than the others.

he always makes sure that you know that you're appreciated, though

celci;

there's something you need to understand about a relationship with celci in general before i explain the request

celci is big on words of affirmation, she expresses her love best via small encouragements throughout the day

whether that be anywhere from "no, mark, as much as I'd love to see the captain all happy, we are NOT throwing a PARTY on the ship!"

all the way to "wow, captain, you look very (gender-non-specifically) nice today"

so those little acts of service? they'll cause her to speak more than ever

"hey, mark! guess what! the captain is sooo cool, they made my breakfast!"

"as sweet as you are, captain, i need to get back to work"

etcetera.

gunther

gunther is like one of those "dog boyfriend" memes you see, but instead of a golden retriever, he's a fricken rottweiler

almost everybody is intimated by him, everyone except for you and the immediate crew, of course

so doing things for him as he's busy, people always ask why because, well, people are nosy and they suck

"captain are you actually preparing gunthers food? isn't he a bit, i dunno, hostile?"

"are you sure you're safe with gunther, captain? he seems a bit.. aggressive"

nonetheless, gunther always appreciates you doing these things for him

whether it's making him breakfast because it was the middle of the night and ADS started going off and it took, like, 5 hours to fix

or just bringing him a snack in ADS so he doesn't 'have to leave, because captain, let's face it, who else could we trust to run ADS?' (his words, not mine)

just overall really sweet about it, and loves you very much

mark;

oh boy.

mark is an actual golden retriever boy friend, which makes sense, because it's often times that you're similar to your pet (chika)

he doesn't know how to separate his work from his down time, his excuse being "how do i separate my work and downtime if we're literally living in my work for right now?"

yeah, you didn't take that very well.

that's when the small gestures started

that causes mark to brag to literally anyone and everyone "oh, hey, what do you got for breakfast? oh, that's cool, but was it made by THE CAPTAIN?"

he's literally a big fanboy, and he knows it

crew!mack;

mack has a slightly difficult time portraying affection

he usually does it best via doing things like that for YOU

do when you do things for him, he doesn't know how to respond

don't get me wrong, he absolutely loves and appreciates it, but he does hae a difficult time saying thank you for it

you two started seeing who could wake up first to make the others coffee/tea, and at some point that evolved to both of you waking up at 3:46 am (03:46 for those of you on the 24 hour format)

yeah, you both put an end to that real fast once you realised the other was losing that much sleep

now it's just by chance. if you wake up first, you make his coffee. if he wakes up first, he makes your morning beverage. if you wake up at the same time, you make each others. that's just how you two roll

HE!mack;

at first, he wants to hate you for it. just another thing for the captain to try to control to inevitably fu- oh shit, how did you make his coffee perfectly?

actually stunned, canton believe that you have done this.

after that, you start to make his coffee regularly. then comes rehydrating his meals. don't forget about the sticky notes to tell him that he's doing great.

him being him, not used to affection, be believes that you're trying to treat him like a child.

so he confronts you about it. when you explain that you realized he hadn't been taking care of himself as he was trying to prove himself as head engineer, so you wanted to make him feel better, he scoffs.

he 'allows' you to continue (he absolute loves it), and after a few days, he starts muttering a soft "thanks" to you.