Mack
“Coulson tells me that you wanted to leave S.H.I.E.L.D. Before the battle with the Inhumans.”
“Yes, sir,” Mack replied, his arms crossed over his chest in a defiant way. “Turned in my badge and everything.”
“Why’d you change your mind?”
“I guess during the battle, I saw the potential S.H.I.E.L.D. still has.”
“Meaning?” Andrew questioned, his legs crossed and pen tapping against his notepad.
Mack sighed and brought his hands down to rest on his legs. “Skye and her alien friends are dangerous. But they can also be useful.”
“Useful how?”
“They can help people. Use their powers for good as long as they aren’t misguided. Jiaying steered them in the wrong direction,” Mack explained. “Maybe now that she’s gone, S.H.I.E.L.D. can help guide them in the right one. As long as we remain objective and cautious.”
“And you believe you can help S.H.I.E.L.D. do those things?”
“Yes,” Mack replied, his eyes hardening. “I’ve experienced what alien technology can do up close and personal, and I gotta say, I’m not a huge fan.”
“You’re referring to what happened in the Kree temple.”
It wasn’t a question. Andrew had been informed on the things Mack experienced down there, and he knew that they were to blame for his deep mistrust of the alien and unknown.
Mack nodded, his lips set in a straight line.
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
“Honestly? Hell no.”
“Why not?”
Mack leaned forward slightly in his chair, folding his hands in front of him.
“Look. I’m sure you’re a great therapist. Coulson wouldn’t have asked you to evaluate us if you weren’t,” he began, emphasizing every word. “But there is absolutely nothing you can say or do that will ever make what happened down there any easier for me. It still haunts me, and it probably will for the rest of my life. So I’d rather not relive it one more time than I have to, if that’s okay with you.”
“Okay,” Andrew responded, backing off some. It was obviously something that needed to be discussed eventually, but Mack just didn’t seem ready at the moment.
“Anything else?” Mack asked, perched on the edge of his seat. He seemed ready to get up and walk out if given the word.
“Just one more thing. Coulson tells me you said you didn’t trust him before the battle. Do you trust him now?”
“No,” Mack replied, without hesitation.
“Than why stay?” Andrew asked, genuinely curious.
“I just said I don’t trust him. That doesn’t mean I don’t respect him.”