A/N I haven't been able to concentrate on my longer works, so I'm exploring new pairings. I'll get back to my big verses as soon as life calms down some.

First Time Second Chance

Working with a genius could be really intimidating. Realizing that after only one same sex relationship in his life, and that almost twenty years previous, he was falling for the weird, much younger, undeniably adorable lead scientist had Mack wondering if it was just the man's mind he found so appealing. The overtly erotic dreams he'd been having, though, convinced him otherwise and he was seriously contemplating revealing his feelings at every opportunity.

He loved engines. Figuring out the mechanisms and idiosyncrasies of each individual one and coaxing it to smooth running was his favorite pastime. The way he found himself able to think obliquely to understand Fitz's circuitous mental processes reminded him of that. Combining physical attraction with his enjoyment and awe of Fitz's brilliant mind made Mack certain he was happier in the younger man's company than he'd ever been before.

The change for the worse that Mack witnessed in Fitz after Simmons returned was obvious and confusing, but had such an edge of emotional pain that Mack had a sinking feeling he already knew why it was so difficult for Fitz to be around her. With how much he'd come to care about the odd little Scottish engineer, he decided that for his own peace of mind, he needed to ask him about it. The next opportunity he had was in the garage, and he tried for a casual tone as he brought it up.

"So you and Simmons were...?" Mack tightened the last bolt on the motorcycle he was working on and stood, wiping his wrench clean with a rag before he put it away.

"Best friends." Fitz had arrived over an hour before, coming into the garage and settling in near Mack, silently watching him work.

"But you wanted more." Mack's stomach tightened as he pushed. He wanted to know, yet in a way he didn't.

"She, um, she didn't. So that's that, then." Fitz responded flatly, giving Mack the sentence he gave himself to try to close the door on the subject.

"But you can't just turn those feelings off, man." Mack turned back to Fitz, coming to stand closer to him.

"There's someone else, now..." The words escaped before Fitz knew what had happened.

"Yeah? I hadn't noticed you hanging out with anyone but me." Mack wondered if he'd been reading Fitz all wrong or maybe precisely right.

"Yeah," Fitz's voice was so soft Mack barely heard him.

"Huh?"

"Well, you're, um, the thing is, you're, sort of..." Fitz started to backtrack, but his mouth wouldn't let him. All the wonderful comfort and enjoyment the big man provided had become something else; something more, and he needed to get it out in the open. But just as he did when he felt the pressure to speak clearly about an engineering problem, his words began to rush in his head and the right ones wouldn't come out his mouth.

"Tall?" Mack took the guessing game toward funny, trying to lighten the moment.

"No. I mean, yes, but... You're-"

"Handy?" Mack began to smile a little. Fitz was blushing, but in a way that Mack could tell wasn't from frustration.

"C'mon, Mack! You-you're...well, um, you're..." Fitz desperately wanted the right word to come to him, to be suave and sure, but it wasn't happening. And that incredible smile Mack was giving him was not helping him find clarity.

"Stubborn? Smart? Strong?" Mack threw words at him at an increased pace, knowing it sometimes caused Fitz's mind to jumpstart.

"Sexy!"

"...oh," Mack said. There it was. Exactly what he'd hoped for. There was still the original problem, though. "But you still love her."

"No! I mean, yes, but it's not- she's not... You're, erm, you, Mack, you're... I need..." Fitz wanted to tear his hair out. He'd said something that came from his heart but sounded like it was just physical and now he couldn't make the words form to tell Mack it was so much more than that.

Mack reached out and stroked a finger down Fitz's cheek. Fitz's attempt at words dried up and he stared hard up at the older man. He tried to let him see what he was feeling, tried to communicate what he wanted, what he needed, from Mack. Then Mack's words came to him: 'If you want something in life, you gotta grab it and walk out like you own it.' Putting his bad hand on top of Mack's to hold it against his face, Fitz grabbed the back of the other man's neck and pulled him down and kissed him.

Mack's fingers twitched under Fitz's, then slid back to palm his head, peripherally registering how soft his blonde hair was. He put his other arm around Fitz and laid his hand on the small of his back. Fitz's kiss was messy, but full of desire, and the tongue in Mack's mouth had him drawing the shorter man tight against his body.

Fitz moaned. He'd admired Mack ever since they'd begun working together, and he'd been feeling that emotional connection forming between them. Realizing that what he'd felt for Jemma was a juvenile crush compared to the power of the feelings that centered on Mack, Fitz had been waiting for the moment to make a move. Now that he was enveloped in the strong embrace, he found it felt just like home. His body responded, and he felt Mack's erection stirring against him. He licked hungrily at Mack's mouth, but froze when he felt the big man laugh.

"Take it easy, Turbo. We got time," Mack's voice rumbled low. Fitz took a deep breath and nodded, relieved. Mack stroked his cheek. "I didn't think you felt this way. You sure?"

In response, Fitz smashed his lips against Mack's, but he pulled back. "I need some words, Fitz."

"I... You..." His frustration rose quickly. There was too much he wanted to say and the words tried to move through parts of his brain that no longer functioned properly and got stuffed up. "Mack..." He begged.

"Hey, it's okay. Come on, let's go to my room and we can relax a little, okay?"

They walked silently to Mack's bunk. Fitz stood, uncertain, in the center of the small room while the older man closed and locked the door. When their eyes met, Fitz felt his legs tremble. 'Weak in the knees' wasn't a term he'd ever imagined using. The slight smile and kind look on his friend's face only made the shaking worse, but Mack seemed to know, and he came closer and steered him to the bed.

"Just sit down, Fitz. We gotta talk," he said. Fitz growled in frustration at having to do one of the things that was so much of a struggle for him, making Mack smile. That expression made Fitz's pulse race. He was so handsome...his white teeth showing brilliantly against his dark skin. And the affection that always seemed to reach out to him was everything he wanted.

"You always liked both?" Mack asked. Fitz swallowed hard and nodded even while he shrugged. Mack raised an eyebrow and waited.

"There was always...just Jemma, um, and it kind of seemed to-to scare most anyone else off," Fitz said. He thought back, further, before he and Jemma became Fitzsimmons, two people and one name. "But, erm, yeah, at-attraction, um, I have always... Both, yeah. But, um, this... It's just...you, Mack. You're so... I want... I-I-I need..."

"You're important to me, Fitz. I care about you. But I don't do casual. You wanna start something, well, I'm down with that, but it means something to me, and you need to know that."

They sat quietly, looking into each other's eyes, and finally, Mack patted Fitz on the back and stood. He could be patient. From what he'd experienced with Fitz, patience was something that might very well be rewarded in spades.

"I think you need to take some time and think about this. It's okay. Whatever you decide, man. It's okay. I'll be here," Mack said, going to the door. And if Fitz reconsidered and took back the blurted words, well, those few kisses gave Mack masturbatory fodder that would last him a good long while.

"N-no!" Fitz's voice was almost a shout as he rose and moved aggressively up to Mack, pushing him back against the door and leaning his body against Mack's. He looked up into the deep brown eyes, his own darting back and forth for a moment before they steadied. "You-you're talking about a relationship, right?"

Mack nodded, hoping that Fitz's response meant what he thought it did. He had never felt drawn quite this strongly to anyone else. He tended to be the type of man women basically threw themselves at, but he'd never gotten attached to anyone.

"Good. You're all I want. I wouldn't have her even if she begged, now. There's just...you," Fitz spoke fervently, trying to convey meaning for which he couldn't find the words.

Mack smiled softly at the overblown declaration and ran his fingers through Fitz's hair, then trailed his hands down his back and hugged him. "You got me, Turbo. I'm all yours," he whispered. He knew that the younger man was caught up in this experience and feeling like he needed Mack, but Mack had no illusions about Fitz being 'over' Simmons. It wasn't going to stop him from living out the fantasy he'd started to having not long after he'd joined this ragtag team. Everything about Fitz appealed to him.

Fitz pulled on him and they moved back toward the bed. Mack touched his face and then leaned down for a kiss. He took control, making it sensuous, and Fitz felt his legs wobble again. Feeling such a tremor from a woman, Mack would have swept her up and laid her down on the bed, but he was aware that there were differences with a man, especially one as insecure and inexperienced as Fitz, so he steadied his partner as he pushed him back onto the bed instead. Fitz sat down heavily on the soft mattress and then toed his shoes off before he shifted up toward the pillows. His eyes grew wide as Mack pulled his plaid shirt off and dropped it on the floor, followed by his tank top. He sat on the foot of the bed to remove his boots, and smiled when Fitz moved and knelt behind him.

The broad expanse of Mack's back called him, and Fitz ran his good hand across it from shoulder to shoulder, resting his bad hand on Mack's waist. His skin was smooth and warm, like silk stretched over firm leather, and Fitz started kissing the back of his neck, moaning at the salty taste of the older man. Mack closed his eyes and let himself enjoy the feel of the soft lips on his nape. He gasped lightly at the sound Fitz made and finally had to turn around. Wrapping Fitz in his arms, he went ahead and shifted them up the bed, screw the masculinity concern. He settled on top of Fitz and kissed him hard, his hunger for the younger man rising.

The weight of the bigger man pushed Fitz into the mattress until he felt totally surrounded by Mack. He felt like he was drowning in the smell and taste and feel of him, and he never wanted to surface again. And Mack, for his part, finally felt as if he could actually keep Fitz safe, if they could only stay like that. Their tongues slid and explored one another, and Mack found Fitz's obvious lack of experience endearing, gently showing him how to slow down and try subtler nibbles and swipes as opposed to the tonsil-tag the younger man seemed to be trying for. When Fitz finally seemed to get it, Mack broke off and smiled at him before moving on to his throat. He found Fitz's stubble odd after almost two decades of female partners, but not unpleasant. What he felt for Fitz went beyond gender. He was a beautiful, sweet, brilliant and funny person, and Mack had powerfully romantic and protective feelings for him.

Fitz found his entire body felt like he was slow roasting in sizzling sensation, but when Mack's teeth grazed just below his ear, he bucked like he'd been tasered, thrusting up into the muscular body atop his. Mack nearly laughed again but he knew Fitz might take it wrong. Instead, he shifted so their pelvises were aligned and ground down.

"Ah! Mack! Bloody hell!" Fitz cried. And with that, Mack decided that they both had too many damned clothes on.

"We gotta get naked, Fitz. I wanna feel your skin...wanna taste you..." Mack groaned. He rose onto his knees and started unbuttoning Fitz's shirt. Fitz pushed his hands away.

"Get out of your own clothes, I can do it myself," he grumbled. Mack rose and stripped quickly before he turned back to see Fitz still struggling with the buttons due to his reduced dexterity in his bad hand. He cupped Fitz's sweet face and kissed him.

"I want to help. Just let me?" He asked quietly. Fitz stared at him, searching for pity or ridicule, and, finding only the same patient caring he always got from Mack, allowed his hands to drop. Mack made quick work of the buttons and smiled as he peeled the shirt off of him. "Like unwrappin' a present," he said. He pulled Fitz's t-shirt over his head and ran his fingers down the pale chest with its light scattering of blonde hair, teasing his nipples as he went. Fitz arched into the touch, and moaned low when Mack's big hands went for his pants.

Looking down to see the strong fingers quickly unfastening his fly, Fitz's eyes were drawn to the evidence of Mack's arousal. He found himself staring. He'd seen porn with black men, of course, but he'd normally been focused on the women in the pictures or videos, since while he'd been truthful about having attractions both ways, he'd even privately stayed within cultural norms from habit. Mack's penis was longer than his own, though near the same girth, and he was circumcised. He could see the shine of a bit of pre-come on the tip and licked his lips unconsciously as he considered what it might taste like. Then his own trousers and pants were being tugged down and he raised his hips to assist.

Mack tossed the unneeded clothes aside and knelt between Fitz's calves, looking at his new lover. He tilted his head at the odd look of Fitz's cock then realized that he wasn't circumsised. It wasn't something Mack had ever thought about, even while he'd fantasized about Fitz, but he found he was looking forward to exploring all possibilities. Tonight, though, he wanted to keep it simple. He lay back down on top of Fitz, both of them gasping as their erections met, and resumed kissing him.

Their making out grew more heated as they began humping together. The curses that Fitz was uttering between kisses were turning Mack on in a way he'd never been before. It wasn't long before he felt himself getting closer to climaxing. His mind raced as he considered just rutting this way until they both came, or jacking each other off... The more complicated possibilities were beyond what he felt he had patience for right now, but he realized there was an intimate option very close to what they were doing now.

Moving onto his knees, Mack got Fitz's ass up onto his thighs. Hoping that Fitz wouldn't take it as a precursor to moving too fast, he looked at the younger man and took a breath to explain what he was going to do, but Fitz's half-lidded eyes held nothing but trust and arousal. Mack huffed a laugh and leaned on one hand, wrapping the other around both their cocks and starting to stroke.

"Fuck! Yes! Mack!" Fitz cried. The pressure, together, all along the length of him, with Mack's sure hand sliding up and down, was rapturous. He felt his orgasm approaching but wanted to hold off, wanted to come with Mack, to feel him pulsing with him. He bit his lip and ran a few equations through his mind in an attempt to hold off.

"Uh, oh, Fitz, c'mon, man, let me hear you. Wanna hear you cuss... God! I'm so close-" Mack ground the words out between clenched teeth. It was unbelievable that he was holding the other man's cock in his hand, milking him for all he was worth. But it was Fitz, so it was right and good...

Fitz let go. A stream of obscenities flowed out in his next breath, followed by an inarticulate shout as he came. The foul words from Fitz's oh-so-proper mouth sent Mack flying into his own climax, feeling both of their cocks throb in his hand as the wet spurts of come coated both their chests. A gentle squeeze wrung a final shiver from each of them and Mack pushed himself over Fitz's leg to crash down beside him.

Fitz lay gasping. Sex with women, what little experience he'd had, had never been like this. He felt as if his mind had been ripped apart and put back together again.

Mack pushed his arm under Fitz's shoulders and used the other to enfold him, even throwing one leg over both Fitz's. He lay smiling while the younger man twitched through aftershocks of pleasure and slowly caught his breath.

Fitz eventually found himself settling back into some sort of normal mindset. Well, normal since the brain damage and coma, of course. He turned his head and saw Mack watching him. He blushed.

"I can't believe I said that," Fitz said. Mack chuckled.

"After what we just did, you're worried about your language?"

Fitz smiled, puffing up. "What, that? That was just..." He trailed off, losing his bravado. "Incredible," he finished. He bit his lip, then moved the last inch between them and kissed Mack.

"Mmm," Mack murmured. "I like kissing you, Turbo."

"Yeah. Kissing you is...nice. Being here with you is, um, really special, Mack."

"You're really special, Fitz. You're special to me."

Fitz nodded silently and just stared into the bottomless brown eyes before him. The acceptance and support he'd always received from Mack had made such an amazing difference to his life. He no longer yearned for the time before, when words came easily and he was joined at the hip with Jemma Simmons. This new existence had challenges he felt like he could face now, with Mack beside him.

"Can I...tonight, um, can I stay here, with you?"

"Yeah. That'd be good."

"Thanks, Mack."

Mack's gentle smile in return said it all.

~~~AoS~~~