Chapter Text
Mark and the Captain look out of the ship's control room window, watching the shuttles fly towards the alien planet. The planet they've found (or at least the ship found) looks wonderful, full of green lush life and clear blue waters. The Captain could feel the warmth from the nearby sun through their protective suit. Mark put a hand on their shoulder bringing them close to him.
“It’s wonderful, isn’t it? The scanners are still working their magic but I have a feeling it's going to be perfect. In fact, I think we could start building houses riiiight here” Mark points to what seems to be a flat, grassy area next to a forest. The Captain could almost smell the clean air coming from the planet.
They looked down at the steaming coffee Mark gave them. When was the last time they had coffee? Hell, when was the last time they had a real meal? They shook their head trying to get rid of the thought. Their mouth watered but couldn't eat just yet, after all, Mark was still in the room.
The Captain looked up at Mark, smiling at him and putting their arm around his shoulders. Seeing their helmet covered by the fog from their coffee, Mark laughs, letting go of them and setting down his own coffee on the control panel.
“You know you’re a mess sometimes,” he grabs a cloth one of the crew members left wiping the fog off their helmet. “There now I can see your handsome and/or beautiful face.”
Mark smiles at them and the Captain shyly smiles back. They both turn towards the window watching a few shuttles land on their new home.
“We should go help the crew. Lord knows Celci will get on my ass for keeping you away.” Mark smiled once again, “besides they're probably lost without their fearless captain.”
The Captain doesn't respond, still staring at the planet in front of them clinching the glass in their hand tightly.
Mark's smile slightly fell, confused by their sudden change in demeanor.
He rests a hand on their shoulder. “Everything ok Captain? We can stay here for a little longer if you want. I understand if you aren't ready yet.” He mentally kicked himself. They had both gone through hell and were finally in a place of peace. Of course, they weren't ready. He shouldn't have tried pushing them back into work so soon.
The Captain looks at him, then back at the planet in front of them. They gently take his hand off of their shoulder. Mark laughed awkwardly, retreating his hand and brushing off the imaginary space dust off his suit. Did he really offend them that much? He looked to the side trying to avoid looking at them. Of course, he shouldn't be surprised by their sudden change in mood, after all this is all his fault. Mark felt himself spiraling into a hole of bad thoughts but was brought out of it by the Captain clearing their throat.
In a horse, scratchy voice they finally speak up.
“I don’t think they’re waiting for me.”
Surprised to hear their voice for what felt like the first time, Mark laughed slightly confused.
“What do you mean Captain? Of course, they're waiting for you!”
The Captain looks at him then back at the planet in front of them.
“I'm going to have to go back aren’t I?”
Mark's smile slowly fades, confused he asks,
“Go back where? To the warp core? It's gone now, it can't hurt us anymore.”
Mark could hear something like glass cracking, he whipped his head towards the windows but found nothing wrong with them. He looked back at the Captain to find their helmet slowly developing cracks. In a panic, Mark tried grabbing their helmet only for his hands to be slapped away.
“Drop the act, Marc. The scene is finished, we’re done with the script.” More cracks develop on their helmet. “Why are you still going? Is this for some extra DVD content? Can’t you just let me rest!?” The cracks continue to cover their helmet making it impossible to see their face clearly.
Mark took a step back confused and a little scared. Did the warp-core really damage their mind this much? He knew that neither of them were perfectly sane after what happened but he never expected his beloved captain to be this gone.
“Captain, what are you talking about? What script?”
He began to question if this was really HIS captain. Did he accidentally get put in a different universe from his captain? Is this just some imposter from a different timeline? He began to panic. If this wasn't his captain then where were they? Are they also trapped in a different universe? Were they dead? Mark felt his chest tighten and his stomach drop.
“God damn it, Marc! Are the cameras even rolling!? Why are you still in character? Just stop this mind-numbing act and let us go home.” The Captain's voice echoes slightly like feedback from a poor microphone. The cracks on their helmet make it impossible to see anything.
“Stop it.” Mark clutched his chest.
“Stop what? Breaking character? Look I know you like reusing old bits but this is getting ridiculous. I'm not going back into character. Just put me back in my mirror, I don’t care anymore” The Captain glared at who they thought was in front of them.
Mark felt himself tearing up. He is tired. So very very tired. He doesn't have the strength to fight or question whoever was in front of him. He thought he was finally ok, that he and his captain could take a break and make a home for themselves. He could feel the tears slowly trailing down his face. Where was his captain? Who was this asshole in front of him?
The Captain opened their mouth to make fun of him for crying but stopped when they saw his face. He looked up at them with sadness and betrayal, real sadness and betrayal. It was the same look they gave him when they figured out Mark was behind the wormhole. It was the same look they gave Damien when they left them in their mirror. It was the same look Marc had when he found out about his wife and his brother.
This wasn't Marc. This wasn't the Actor that never called his kids and always yelled at minimum wage employees. This was Mark. This was the man who built the Invincible and the Invincible ||. This is the man who loves space and sharing cool rocks he's found. This is the man who would give the shirt off his back to anyone that asked and loves his dog more than anything in the multiverse. The Captain looked at their sobbing friend with guilt. Fuck they really are an asshole.
Mark held himself and sobbed all he wanted was his captain. He sobbed until he felt two strong arms hold him. He opened his eyes to see the Captain without their helmet holding him. He couldn't help but hug back and cry into their shoulder. He didn't really understand what had just happened but he could tell that now, in front of him, was his captain. His beloved, strong, fearless Captain. He held onto them tighter, hiding his face in their shoulder. He knows better than to question the gifts the universe gives him. After all, now they had all the time in their universe to explain to each other what happened in that wormhole.
He held onto them as they mumbled an apology and assured him things were ok, that they would explain later and that they were sorry that they snapped. They kissed and pet his hair assuring him that things are ok now. They’re both ok.