Big Dumb Dude...

Posted on Tue Sep 29th, 2026 @ 5:54pm by Lieutenant Delix & Lieutenant JG Aiden Poe

1,282 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Echoes in the Triangle
Location: Deck 8 | Laundry | USS Arcadia

ON:

Delix dumped the bag on the floor next to the laundry unit. He was doing both his and Sabastian's laundry, since they had basically moved in together. He maintained his own quarters for now but...it was a trial run. A way to see how things would unfold.

The truth of his being here tonight was that Sabastian had come home and sat at his desk working on some reports. He seemed...down and quiet and Del couldn't puzzle out why. He had just said that he'd had a rough day. Something in the way he'd said it...it just didn't seem right. It was as if Sabastian's mood and disappointment was directed at him even though Sab denied it.

The sound of muttering drew him out of his thoughts. He placed the last of the clothing in the washing unit and turned to find the science nerd a few machines over. He seemed to be arguing with the washing unit.

Del watched for a little before he walked over. "What are you on about now?"

Aiden Poe, had been trying to get the washing unit to open up. He'd added his laundry, the cycle completed but it wouldn't open up again. The unwelcome voice startled him and he turned around. “I’m not bothering you. Leave me alone.”

Del raised an eyebrow. “You are bothering me by muttering.”

“This is not your quarters nor is it your personal space you…you…big dumb dude person.”

Both of Del’s eyebrows shot up. He held up his hands and retreated back to his washer. He smirked a little as he watched the science nerd try to open the machine. What Mr. Science wasn’t doing was hitting the unlock latch.

He grinned seating himself in the chairs and watched as Aiden Poe argued with the machine, pleaded with it. Cursed at it with ineffective language like Horrible clothing gobbler and Clothing stealing machine.

He had turned bright red and was all but stomping his feet….no scratch that. He was stomping his feet.

Del chuckled to himself shaking his head. He sighed and walked back over flipped the unlock latch and opened the door. He turned around and walked back to his own section without saying anything.

Aiden watched the door open with ease with his jaw hanging open.

“I…” He looked between Del and the machine. “I knew that!”

Del gave a nod. “Of course you did. You were just insulting the machine for fun.”

Poe huffed and stuffed his clothing into a drying unit and moved over to the corner scowling at Del who just shrugged and went on about his business.

Within the hour Poe had left and Del, blissfully alone, finished his machines folding the laundry and then heading out. He hoped that Sab had calmed down a bit or at least finished with work. Maybe they could eat dinner together and talk.

As he walked the deserted halls of the ship a sound drew his attention. At first it sounded like a weird noise but as he got closer to the turbo lift he found he could identify it. Someone was sniffling, as if they’d been crying. He hurried his steps and as he got closer he heard something familiar. Muttering.

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes he rounded the corner and the sarcastic comment on his tongue died when he beheld the sight before him.

Aiden Poe was tucked in the corner, knees drawn up while his newly washed and dried clothing was scattered all about. Either the man had had a temper tantrum or a hurricane blew through the ship.

He had been about to ask what happened when Poe raised his head causing Del to stop. His keen eyes took in the disheveled hair and the red eyes. Is that blood on his lip? They locked eyes for a moment before Poe looked away.

Del had to admit the man looked small and fragile. “What happened?”

Poe looked up, lightening in his eyes, “Really you’re not going to make some sarcastic cutting comment?”

No, no he was not. Del set down his own basket and knelt by Poe helping him pick up clothing. “That lip didn’t get bloody on its own. What the hell happened?”

“Why do you care? Shouldn’t you be laughing and pointing?” Poe looked around the area.

Del could tell the exact moment that Poe felt defeated. He stood up and walked away from the clothing just going into the turbo lift.

“Poe! Your stuff,” Del called out but it was too late.

Letting out a frustrated sigh Del continued to gather the clothing. The task didn’t take long and when he was done, and without understanding his own motivation Del headed back to the laundry area where he rewashed, dried, and folded Aiden’s clothing. He dropped his own basket with his and Sab’s stuff in his quarters and then took Poe’s stuff back to him. He stood outside Poe’s quarters and rang the chime.

It took several minutes but Poe opened the door. He still looked upset and the lip was now swollen. Delix gritted his teeth and shoved the basket at Poe. “Alright little Science Bug talk. What the hell happened?”

Poe looked at him. “Why do you care?”

“Humor me. What happened? You were perfectly fine when you left. What’s all this?”

“A misunderstanding.”

“Aha,” Del pushed past Poe. “And what about and who was involved?”

“Again why do you care?”

“Again humor me or I will talk to your boss tell him you were in a corner crying.”

“You wouldn’t!”

Del crossed his arms over his chest. “Try me.”

So Poe talked. Del listened his eyes narrowing. It appeared that more then just Del found Poe annoying but unlike Del’s comments this Ensign decided push the science nerd into a wall and scatter his belongings all over the floor. A Science Ensign and an Engineer, to Del’s dismay.

He sighed. “Well this needs to go to security.”

“NO! I can fight my own battles. They pushed me I stumbled into the wall. I. Can. Take. Care. Of. Myself.”

Del took Poe’s chin in his hand, his thumb gently caressing the side of where the lip was split. “Apparently not."

“Sickbay first then security.”

Poe wanted to protest but he just seemed to shut down. The trip to sickbay was quick and security took some time. Within two hours Del had walked Poe to his quarters. “Are you sure you’re alright. You haven’t muttered something in two hours but for the responses to the tactical chief.”

Poe shrugged.

Del wasn’t a fan but the defeated look on Aiden’s face got to him. He walked right in after Aiden, put together a tray of food and sat there while the science officer barely ate. He had to prod the man to finish at least half a meal. Once he was certain that Aiden was feeling a bit more of his annoying self he left.

On his way to his quarters he had to admit that he felt....puzzled by his own reaction. He should have just left all things alone but something in Aiden called to him that he couldn't understand. Had he felt sorry for the man? Perhaps. As he went through the events his mind turned to the Engineer that had bullied Aiden along with the Science officer. That would not stand. He had a bone to pick with an Engineer and he'd do it first thing in the morning.

OFF:

 

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