It was already three days out until the big game, and now one hour into training, and whilst some tensions had died down. . . .

“SERIOUSLY, M’Hark?!”

“KISS MY TAIL!”

One especially hadn’t.

“You are exhausting, you know that?” Sylvester leaned in, snarling at Runt–who in return, snarled right back.

“It’s not my fault you don’t abide by the rules!”

“Break it up, BREAK. IT. UP.” Jetta hollered as she stood in between the two, the rest of the teams watching with annoyed glares. Yes, the tension was still apparent on both sides of the teams, but Runt and Sylvester especially had been going at it. If it wasn’t at practice, it was at work–and Jetta has tired everything. Even benching them!

“Both of you hit the showers. I’m not dealing with this today.” She pointed to the locker rooms nearby. “This isn’t a request.”

“But-”

“NOW!”

. . . .

Runt found himself angrily slamming things closed, or stomping around, whatever the hell the cat could do to relieve some of this anger. Realistically, he wasn’t even truly upset with Sylvester anymore. annoyed? Unhappy? Yes. But he had just been so angry these past few weeks. Ever since waking up from some medical work done, M’Hark hasn’t had any rest emotionally.

Sylvester was–essentially the same. But this was different for him; every little thing anyone did annoyed him.

And Hrelle M’Hark did a LOT of little things.

The two, naturally, we’re like two starships colliding in slow motion, with the warp cores being the last thing that combust. So now they sat, arms crossed, pouting as the practice continued outside.

“You are unbelievable. Un-fucking-believable, M’Hark.”

“Runt.” Runt barked, correcting the officer (which only made Sylvester more upset). “You’re the one who’s difficult to work with!”

“I’m difficult to work with?!” He stood upwards, turning to face the younger Ensign. “You’re acting like a kit!”

“You’re acting like an greyfaced elder. Stubborn, annoyingly observant, bothersome, overbearing in every sense,” M’Hark started to list things on his fingers. “Do I need to grab a dictionary and start listing off things that are under annoying?”

“Oho, you think you’re so clever with that quickness, huh?” He crossed his arms, leaning forward. “You aren’t.” The two hissed at one another and squared up their shoulders, keeping stance for only a few moments. . . .before stopping. It was moreso Sylvester, who took a step back. and cleared his throat.

To him, this wasn’t normal. Sure, he has his gripes with Runt, but even then, they couldn’t of gone this deep. Runt took a step back as well, narrowing his eyes just a bit more.

“. . . does this feel. . .” Sylvester frowned. “Ensign, does this feel normal to you? To your psyche?”

“I don’t know, how about you make the choice for me since you know my head so well.” He spat. After a minute, the cat nodded. “But….yeah. Uhm, this doesn’t feel normal.”

“There’s–okay. Listen, Runt.” Sylvester had started to walk, before turning back and looking at the cat. “You are. . .you’re different. There’s a new wave and generation of starfleet coming in that I’m not used too.”

“Uhhuh…?” Runt gave an awfully suspicious look.

“And, maybe that’s on me for holding you to a certain standard and stereotype. I’ve been talking to my therapist, and…I have some…things….I need to resolve.” Just before Runt could speak, Sylvester continued. “BUT. You aren’t completely blameless in this. You aren’t the most…mature.”

“I-” M’Hark was about to snip back, but just sighed and shrugged. “It’s true, to an extent. You’ve only seen me in action in times of crisis. It’s–I don’t know. But I’m not completely incompetent.”

“You aren’t-”

“Then why have I felt like I have been for the past three weeks?” M’Hark looked away, rubbing his arm. “The things people are saying, the way they’re speaking–god, it feels like I’m back in school!” Sylvester hesitated as Runt finished, biting his tongue. He could rehash into the Ensign what’s been stated again, and again, and again, but what was the point?

“I’m….sorry, Ensign. For how I’ve acted. It hasn’t been reflective of me as a commanding officer and surely hasn’t helped anyone.” He finally spoke, looking to the side. Runt’s eyes widened and he looked slackjawed for a minute.

“If….it’s anything, I’m sorry, too.” Runt cleared his throat once again. “I didn’t follow orders when I should’ve and things have just been a bit too crazy. I want to be a Captain someday, which one acts like this?” The two looked at each other and chuckled, but after a brief second paused.

“You have a brilliant mind and a pristine mindset for starfleet, Ensign. But you need to calm down your emotions and keep things in check.” Sylvester sighed as he sat down onto one of the benches. “I know it’s not easy, before you try to get on me about that-”

“But it’s not–” Runt took a deep inhale, sitting across from him. “If you’re willing to put ranks aside and listen to me right now, I can actually speak about that. From me. Not a source you know, not a article. me.”

Sylvester hesitated as he shifted in his chair, but eventually nodded.

. . . . .

“…Wow.”

“Yeah.” Runt looked to the side, seemingly shameful of themselves. His ears were slicked back and he was scrunched up into himself. “This isn’t something I can really–I don’t know. But what I do know, Commander, is that I know my limits. I know myself.”

“Which is fair.” The XO stood up and offered a hand, which Runt took. “But my point does still stand, even with all of that.”

“I know.” Runt gave Sylvesters hand a squeeze before letting it go, taking a deep inhale and fixing up his fur. “But at least there’s some communication now.”

“I’m…assuming you’re going to therapy?”

“I am.” Runt shuddered. “I’d probably not be alive today if I didn’t go. And if I didn’t say anything to you…I don’t think anything would have changed.”

“Have things changed?” He glanced over at Runt; asking a genuine question. M’Hark glanced back.

“They will. I’ll work more on my emotions and regulation–hell, what else can I do? It’ll be a walk in the park.” For the first time in a while, the ensign cracked a smile. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll even use this holodeck more to get my frustrations out.”

“Last time I heard you used a holodeck, you got thrown off the back of a horse.” Sylvester let out a cackle.

“Did Williams tell you that?! What the hell!” Runt laughed as well, the two continuing to chuckle until pausing very suddenly.  They had made up so easily and so quickly–and for what? Over a month of bickering and fighting? Realization seemed to hit both of them at the same time.

“Were we being influenced by something?”

“I don’t know.” Sylvester paused. “But it’s clear we aren’t the only ones. This must be some sort of dead space for whatever was affecting us.”

“But in the holodeck?” Runt hopped up, cogs in his mind instantly turning. “Maybe it’s a specific sector. I–okay, scratch that, what are we being influenced by?”

“I don’t know. But it could’ve worn off?” Both paused for a long, heavy second, thinking back on the events of the past few weeks.

“Maybe it’s time for a follow up on our evaluations.” Sylvester nudged the Ensign. “And lunch.”

“Yeah.” Runt’s eyes narrowed, gears still turning. “Maybe it is.”