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theartofbeinganerd · 7 years ago

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hello!!!! this maybe be too much to ask but i loved the marauder!fitz and slave!jemma too much to not ask. you thINKk you can maybe write some more of that AU? maybe the i love you moment, their first time, they settleling on a life together or a ansgt where the kree find them and try to get her back. or all together or somehing u want from that AU bECAUSE it was truly perfect

draw me close (in your warmth, I forget how cold it can be)

Hi!! It’s definitely not too much to ask - I’ve actually wanted to write something like this since I finished the first one, so thank you!! :D

So. So.....I meant for this to be written all in one. I really, REALLY did. But, I don't know what it is about this 'verse, but it apparently likes to be written in twos, so here is Part One. According to my schedule, I should be able to fit in sometime late next week, possibly around June 3rd (don't quote me on that, though).

Title is taken from Warmth by Bastille

(Ao3)

Jemma could hardly even begin to wrap her mind around justhow drastically her life had changed in a matter of days, or even just the pastday alone. Just last week, she’dstill been firmly within Kasius’s grasp, with no hope of that changing anytimesoon, and resolved to her fate on the Lighthouse.

Now, she was freed, on a ship headed as far away as possiblefrom the place that had been her home and her prison for her entire life.

And, of course, there was Fitz.

“Here,” Fitz said gently, wrapping a blanket around hershoulders and making sure it was secure before he retook his seat across fromher on the bed in his bunk. “I should’ve warned you that it was colder out onthe ship than it was on the Lighthouse.”

“It’s alright,” Jemma assured him, absently clutching the blanketand pulling it a bit tighter to ward off the chill. “So…you were talking about…yourfather?”

Fitz made a bit of a face at the reminder, but nodded,leaning back against the metal footboard of the bed and folding his handstogether in his lap. “Yeah, right. Well, marauding was always my dad’s thing,you know? Didn’t know my mum; Dad always said that she died when I was young,but I’m not quite sure I believe him, not with the kind of man that he was. Igrew up watching him lie and cheat and steal and kill, and…well, he did hisbest to raise me so that I followed in his footsteps, so that I could take overafter he died. Which is exactly what I did, actually – didn’t have many otheroptions, after all.”

“I’m so sorry,” Jemma murmured, leaning forward across themattress to place her hand over both of his. She still wasn’t sure what gaveher more of a thrill; the freedom to touch him without fear of being found outby someone that could hurt them, or the freedom to hear his voice as it curledso beautifully around his words. “That must’ve been horrible.”

He shrugged, turning one of his hands over beneath hers toslide his fingers between hers, his thumb caressing the skin of her wrist. “It’snothing compared to what you’ve been through.”

Arching her eyebrows, she pointed out, “Who said we werecomparing? Fitz, we’ve both been through awful things; why not just leave it atthat?”

He raised his head slightly, his gaze flicking up to meethers, and he studied her for a moment before a small smile ticked the cornersof his lips upward. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. ‘Sides, what matters is…where wego from here, yeah?”

Unable to help herself, a wide, slightly breathless smilespread across Jemma’s face. “Yeah,” she replied softly. Though she still couldn’tquite believe that she was free of Kasius, and or that she was headed toward amuch happier future with Fitz, it didn’t make moments like this one any lessextraordinary.

Just the thought of a future with Fitz, one where she couldfeel this way all the time had ashudder rolling down her spine, her body trembling with the force of it as itpassed through her.

“Are you still cold?” Fitz asked, his brow furrowing inobvious concern.

Jemma opened her mouth to assure him that she was fine, butbefore she could get the words out, Fitz had already scooted across themattress to rest up against the headboard beside her. His arms wound aroundher, wrapping her up in his warmth, and any thought of protest vanished fromher mind as she let out a content sigh instead.

“Better?” he whispered, his lips brushing against her templeas he spoke.

“Much,” she replied quietly, closing her eyes and leaningfurther into him, feeling truly safefor the first time in years. If there was one thing that she knew that shecould trust, it was that Fitz would protect her – just as she would do everythingthat she could to protect him in return.

Doing his best to lie still so as not to disturb her, Fitzcouldn’t help but gaze adoringly down at where Jemma had fallen asleep with hercheek pressed to his chest (right in the middle of their conversation, actually,and it had only served to increase his affection for her). He watched her backrising and falling with each breath, watched her eyelashes fluttering againsther cheek, watched her parted lips as they released a quiet breath every fewmoments, utterly entranced by it all.

It had only been a handful of days since he’d first laideyes on her, had only been a handful of hourssince their escape from the Lighthouse, but he knew without a doubt that shewas the best thing that had ever happened to him; he hadn’t felt this alive in so many years. In fact, he wasn’tsure that he’d ever even really lived his life until she’d come into it.

After the eventful past few days, he knew that he should begetting some sleep as well, could in fact feel the exhaustion settled deepwithin his bones, but he forced himself to stay awake, just so that he couldwatch her sleep peacefully for a little bit longer.

Carefully, so as not to disturb her, Fitz lifted a hand tobrush a couple of strands of hair off her cheek, stroking his fingertipstenderly over her smooth skin. “Jemma,”he sighed, following the curve of her jaw with his index finger until he couldlightly thumb at her bottom lip. She was just so beautiful, so absolutely incredible, and he didn’t think that he’dever get over the novelty of being able to touch her, to hold her, to love her.

And he did love her, he was quite sure of it. Though Fitzhadn’t had much love in his life up until then, he knew that there was no otherword to describe the way that he was drawn to her, the way that he treasuredevery breath that left her lips, the way that he would unthinkingly and withoutregret lay his own life down for hers. It had all happened so quickly, but itwas love, and he would do absolutelyanything to protect it, and her.

“Love,” hemurmured to her sleeping form, just to test the word out on his lips, “Jemma,my love.” His hand shook, justslightly, and he had to swallow back the emotion building in his chest.

He was so preoccupied with his love for her, in fact, thathe almost didn’t notice at first as her brow began to furrow, her lips tuggingdown into a frown. But, he did, and it had concern filling him, especially asshe began to shift restlessly in his arms, her hand curling into a loose fistaround the material of his shirt.

“Jemma?” Fitz prompted softly, pressing a comforting kiss toher forehead. When he noticed the dim light from the stars outside the windowcatching on her tears, his concern ratcheted up another level. “You’re alright,Jemma, you’re alright.” He gave her shoulder a gentle shake, then cupped theback of her head in his hand and leaned in to kiss away her tears, whisperingagainst her skin, “I’ve got you, Jemma, I’m here, you’re alright.”

Finally, her body stilled just before she sucked in a sharpbreath, her eyes flying open. For a moment, she glanced around his darkenedbunk frantically, but when her eyes landed on his face, she seemed to calmslightly. “Fitz,” she gasped out, thehand fisted in his shirt tightening.

“What’s wrong, Jemma? Talk to me; what’s wrong?”

Fitz’s words sounded too loud in her ears, as though he wasyelling them at her, and combined with her heart pounding and the roaringengine of the ship, Jemma had to squeeze her eyes closed and clap her handsover her ears. She took a handful of sharp, hurried breaths, another wave ofhot tears pouring down her cheeks.

But, as soon as her eyes were closed, she saw it all overagain; her parents, their lips moving as they spoke soundlessly, theirexpressions growing increasingly concerned as they tried to tell her somethingthat she couldn’t hear no matter how hard she tried. And then, they were gone,only to be replaced by Kasius’s sinister smirk, by his voice whispering in herear, too loud compared to the deafening silence, to do his bidding.

“Jemma, sweetheart, it’s okay, it’s okay,” Fitz whisperedsoothingly, one hand stroking up and down her back, his lips pressing gentlekisses every few moments to the top of her head. “I’ve got you, you’re alright,I’ve got you.”

In response to his words, she felt her heartbeat finallybeginning to slow back down to a more normal rhythm, her hands falling awayfrom her ears as her body relaxed from its tensed position. Taking a couple ofdeep, even breaths, she reopened her eyes. He was gazing back at her, lookingincredibly worried, so she murmured, “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Fitz repeated, his eyebrows darting up hisforehead. “Jemma…” He moved his hand from her back up to curve along her cheek,his thumb swiping at the lingering tears there. “You don’t need to apologize,not to me and not for this, okay?”

She released another long breath, but nodded inunderstanding. “I just…” She shook her head, briefly squeezing her eyes shutonce more, only to see her nightmare still playing there on the backs of hereyelids.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, softly, brushinghis fingers through her hair and tenderly tucking a strand that had gottenstuck to her wet cheek behind her ear.

“I…” Jemma wanted to, of course, she knew that she couldshare anything with him, and that he would no doubt know just the words to sayto make her ease her pain. But, she just couldn’t, not yet. So, she simplyshook her head and buried her face in his chest as the tears fell once more, needingsimply to be held by him.

And, Fitz seemed to understand, wrapping his arms backaround her and holding her close, murmuring nonsense words of comfort to her asshe cried, mourning the parents that she’d always hoped to see again somedaybut never had the chance to, and mourning all of the years that she’d spent asKasius’s dutiful slave because of his terrible lies.

After some time, though, the tears began to slow, and shesimply listened to Fitz’s heart beating beneath her cheek, and the soothingrhythm got her thinking. Despite the fact that she would always miss herparents and the fact that she would never stop being upset that they had diedfor absolutely nothing, she knew thatthey would be so happy to know that she was now far away from the Lighthouseand from Kasius, and well, she was quite sure that they’d be happy that she’dfound love and a future in Fitz.

Love.

Her only previous experience with love had been her parents,of course, and that was clearly different from romantic love, so…it would standto reason that she shouldn’t know that what she felt for Fitz was love. But, even just now, the waythat he held her, comforted her, helped to ease her heartache…she knew thatlove was the only word for the overwhelming wave of emotion inside of her everymoment that she was with him.

She didn’t know how it was that she became so lucky as tohave him brought into her life, to be rescued by him, and to loved and be lovedby him, but she wasn’t going to question her good fortune; she’d had too littleof it for too long to do so.

And so, it was wrapped up in that love and the safety of it,that Jemma was able to eventually slip back into sleep, content in theknowledge that Fitz had her, and that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

The next morning, Fitz arrived in the small commissary ofthe ship to find his crew all assembled there already, as well as Daisy,everyone chatting amicably over their breakfast. “’Morning,” he greeted as hegrabbed his own bowl and filled it with some of the fresh terran fruit thatEnoch had managed to sneak from the Lighthouse onto the ship.

“Hey, where’s Jemma?” Daisy asked around a mouthful of food,peering behind him, as though she expected Jemma to be entering the room next.

“She’s still sleeping,” Fitz answered as he took a seat atone of the two tables there, across from Daisy and Elena, and next to Mack. Henoticed Elena’s eyebrows arching as Daisy’s mouth split into a grin, and herolled his eyes, snapping dryly, “Not a word, either of you, alright?”

Elena smirked, but dutifully went back to her breakfast.Daisy didn’t say anything either, but she mimed zipping her lips, then winkedpointedly before doing the same.

“So, what’s our plan, Captain?” Coulson asked him from theother table, where he sat with May and Enoch. He usually used the term ‘captain’when referring to Fitz either teasingly or affectionately, but it always felt abit odd to Fitz; Coulson was olderthan him, after all, and truthfully felt a bit like the father his own hadnever been (not that he’d ever saythat aloud, of course).

“Well, I promised Daisy that we’d drop her off at the nextport, and while we’re there we might as well refuel and restock our supplies.”

“And what if Kasius sends his warriors after us for what youpulled back at the Lighthouse?” Mack questioned as he arched a skeptical brow,ever the rational one.

Fitz caught a glimpse of Daisy’s expression souringslightly, her eyes dropping to the bowl in front of her, though he couldn’ttell if it was guilt or fear that she was feeling. “I’ve had May double andtriple-check that all of the proximity alarms are set, and she’s been onfull-alert for anyone following us too closely; we’ll know in enough time to dosomething about it, alright?”

Mack still didn’t look fully convinced, but he nodded,agreeing, “Alright.”

Glancing around at the rest of his crew gathered there, Fitzsuddenly felt as though he needed to explain himself, to make them understandwhy it was that he’d risked his life (and by extension, all of theirs) to saveJemma and Daisy. Clearing his throat to gain their attention, he began, “Look,I’m sure you all have questions and concerns about my actions back at the Lighthouse,but…but you weren’t all there, okay? Kasius had people as slaves, as unwilling fighters being sold to the highest bidder, andit wasn’t right. We’re all here because we…we want to do the right thing, yeah?And that felt like the right thing, so…if you want off of this ship at the nextport, I won’t stop you, but I won’t apologize for what I did either.”

There was a beat of silence, then Coulson spoke up. “I didn’thave any questions or concerns to begin with, but if I did, I think they’d allhave been answered by that. Thank you, Fitz.”

“Uh, you’re welcome,” Fitz replied, giving Coulson a small,grateful nod.

“It doesn’t hurt, though, that Jemma’s quite pretty, doesit?” May commented suddenly, shooting Fitz a short, knowing look as she rosefrom the table, placing her bowl in with the other dishes that needed to bewashed. And, with Fitz looking after her with his mouth hanging open slightly,she left the commissary to no doubt head back to the cockpit.

Another silence stretched between the group, then Fitzcleared his throat once more, ducking his head slightly to hide his burningcheeks. “That’s not – that’s…not relevant.”

“What isn’t?”

Fitz turned his head quickly to find Jemma just entering theroom, fortunately looking a bit more rested than she had when he’d left herearlier. There was a small, slightly confused smile playing on her lips, nodoubt in response to the way that everyone in the room was staring at her.

And, hastily, before anyone else could answer, he told her, “Uh,nothing. Nothing.”

After breakfast, Fitz and his crew had all gone off to takecare of things for the day on the ship, and so Jemma found herself loungingwith Daisy in the bunk that she’d been assigned the previous day. Daisy wassprawled on her bed, her legs crossed with her feet resting on the headboard,while Jemma was curled up on the little sofa adjacent to the bed.

“So…you’re staying with the Marauders, then?” Daisy askedsuddenly, turning her head to meet Jemma’s gaze.

“Well…I suppose so, yes,” Jemma replied, not really havinggiven thought to the fact that she hadthe option not to. “I can’t imagine notbeing with Fitz, and he’s really doing his best to use his father’s reputationand resources for good, not evil. It’s a worthy cause to be a part of, in myopinion, and I could use some of that in my life after spending so long workingfor Kasius.”

Daisy hummed thoughtfully at that, lacing her fingerstogether and laying them over her stomach. “I’ve been thinking about things,and…I dunno, maybe I should stay too.”

“Really?” Jemma asked in surprise, and she couldn’t help herbrief flash of hope; other than Fitz, Daisy was the only friend that she reallyhad, and she’d hate to lose her.

She gave a little shrug. “Yeah, sure, why not? I mean, Iknow my plan was always ‘get as far away from the Lighthouse as possible’, andFitz promised to drop me off at the next port, but…well, I never really thoughtabout what I’d do after that, y’know?But I’ve got these powers, and you said it yourself that Fitz is trying to dogood, so maybe I could help with that.”

“I think that would be a wonderful use of your powers,Daisy,” Jemma assured her, “and I’m sure Fitz would be grateful for the help.”

“Yeah,” Daisy agreed quietly. “Either way, I’ll talk to him,see if we can work something out.” She was quiet for a moment, then sheabruptly dropped her feet from the headboard, pushing herself into a sittingposition so as to meet Jemma’s gaze fully. “So, I heard that you spent the night with Fitz.”

Startled at the sudden subject change, Jemma felt her mouthdrop open, her eyes growing wide as she sat up straight. “What? I – I did not –well, I…did, but it wasn’t like that!”

Letting out an amused snort, Daisy held up her hands, asthough telling Jemma to slow down. “Whoa,no need to get so defensive, Jemma! I was just teasing you, I promise.” Shedropped her hands into her lap, then arched an eyebrow and pressed, “So…youguys didn’t sleep together, then? Because honestly, I’m a bit surprised – you weregiving each other total bedroom eyes allthe time on the Lighthouse.”

“Not…in that respect, no. I did sleep in his bed, but…no.” Jemma felt her cheeks flushing with heat,and averted her eyes from Daisy’s searching ones. It was at that moment,though, that she finally realized that, unlike Daisy, she hadn’t been assigned her own bunk on the ship. Instead, Fitzhad just led her to his with him, and that was where she’d eventually fallenasleep. It hadn’t even occurred toher that such a thing was odd until just then.

When the silence began to lengthen, Jemma finally glancedback up to meet Daisy’s gaze, and found her studying her curiously. “Do you…want to?” Daisy pressed carefully afteranother moment.

Jemma blew out a breath, her cheeks once more beginning toburn with embarrassment. It was ridiculous; she was older than Daisy by at least five years, but she was startingto feel like the young and inexperienced one in the conversation. “It’s not…thatI don’t want…” Letting out a short sigh, she finally admitted, “It’s just thatI understand the biology behind all of this, the chemical reactions in ourbrains that cause love and lust, but relationships, romance…it’s all beyond me.”

Sure, she’d kissed a handful of boys that she’d known whenshe was younger, she’d had brief crushes and infatuations, but that was theextent of her experience on the subject. She’d been a servant to Kasius foralmost a decade before Fitz had come along, and before that her focus had beenon survival, not something as trivial as romance.

“Well, you seem to be doing pretty good with Fitz from whatI’ve seen.” Daisy was quiet another moment, then said gently, “Jemma, it’s alla lot easier than you’re making it out to be. There isn’t some…you know,perfect equation for love and sex and relationships. If it feels right, then itprobably is. If you love Fitz, then that’swhat matters, not thinking every step that you guys take together to deathbefore you take it. And, if it doesn’t feel right, if you want to slow thingsdown – I mean, you guys have been going prettyfast up till now – then talk to him. Fitz is a good guy, and he’ll understand.Okay?”

Though it felt a bit odd to be on the receiving end when she’dbeen the one instructing and helping Daisy just days ago, Jemma was gratefulfor the advice, offering Daisy a warm smile as she nodded. “Thank you, Daisy.”

“Sure thing.” There was a pause, then she added, “But youtotally have to tell me all about it when you finally do go through with it.”

“Daisy!”

And Daisy’s laughter filled the little bunk, shortly joinedby Jemma’s – though it wasn’t long before the sound of it was cut short by theshrill cry of the proximity alarm.

#shayna writes #fsfic #fitzsimmons #prompts #marauder!fitz #servant!jemma #apocalyptic future au #a beautiful unfolding 'verse #draw me close (in your warmth I forget how cold it can be)#part one #my titles keep getting wordier and wordier #yikes #Anonymous

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theodore-lasso · 7 years ago

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Take Control, Don’t Let Me Drown

@14hpgirl19 I’m so sorry for the late Christmas present but I really hope you like it <3 Merry Christmas and I hope you’re having an amazing New Year.

The prompt was - May as an Inhuman

(set post 5x06)

She felt different when she woke up. Her leg was still throbbing, her surroundings dark as she tried to figure out where she was. She remembered fighting the Kree, but the room she was in now was far removed from where she'd been.

Wrapped in chains, her movement was limited, so she shuffled along the walls, trying to find an exit when suddenly the gate was lifted and she was faced with an arena. A voice rang out, “May I present to you, Melinda May, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and newly turned Inhuman.”

Melinda froze. Her shackles were unlocked, but she remained frozen in space and time, the words, “newly turned Inhuman” ringing in her skull. This was everything she’d ever been afraid of. What if her power forced her to hurt people? What if she went the way of Katya or Andrew? Her heart was in her throat as she stared wide-eyed around the arena.

She could see Fitz and Simmons staring down at her like she was nothing - like they didn’t recognise her. There was no familiarity in their eyes, no signs that they’d help her.

Melinda stumbled forwards at the insistence of the Kree behind her, limping as a stabbing pain shot through her leg. There was no moment of reprieve for her; but when was the last time life had given her a reprieve? Apparently, she didn’t deserve one.

It was hard to worry about being Inhuman when she knew she was dying. Hopefully Phil would never have to see her turn; hopefully she’d never hurt him like she’d been hurt before.

Her heart dropped as she realised why she was there, as she looked at the young man across the stadium who looked like so many she'd known and loved. But he was brandishing a knife, and there was no other way out. She'd been handed a weapon, given a target, this was everything she’d been trained for.

It would be easier to give up. The pain would end, she would never fully realise her Inhuman transformation, and she’d never hurt anyone ever again. More than anything, she just wanted the pain to end; the pain her life seemed to cause others, and the pain she endured herself.

Yet suddenly the young man's voice was in her mind, “You don't even know your powers, do you?” his voice was civilised, his face putting on a show for their audience as he sneered at her.

It would be easier to give up, but Melinda had never believed in the easy way out. The only thing she could think of was Phil’s face when he realised she wasn’t coming home. It was selfish of her, to need him, but as she steeled herself she decided she couldn’t deny herself the simple pleasure of saying goodbye to him.

The young man anticipated her every strike, every punch, every kick.

Every block riled her up more, each easy step out of her path frustrating her, angering her. Clenching her jaw, Melinda struck out at him one last time before he threw her weapon casually to the floor. This was not how she was going down. Melinda was tense with rage, preparing herself as he approached her with his knife.

“I don't want to do this,” he told her, no empathy on his face. “Kasius demands it.”

Then the water came.

She watched as it flew from above, from somewhere behind Fitz. She could feel it, ebbing and flowing through the air as it came closer; she could feel it, but she couldn’t control it. She watched as it encased his head, as he spluttered and struggled to breathe, his face contorting as he fell away from her, clutching at his throat, sending panicked thoughts to her. The knife fell harmlessly to the floor, cast aside in irrelevance as the audience gasped.

Worst of all, she could feel the water in his blood, she could feel it racing through his veins, beating through his heart. She fell to her knees, begging for it to stop as she felt every atom of his blood screaming for air, racing through his veins in a violent attempt at reviving him.

He begged her for help, his eyes wide as he gasped, but Melinda simply fell to the ground, the throbbing in both her head and her leg too much to bear as she passed out. The last thing she felt was his blood ceasing to flow, and the water around his face fell to the ground.

Melinda awoke alone, as she’d become accustomed to. But the ground was harsh, the cold almost unbearable. Before she even opened her eyes, she felt it, coursing under the ground, waves and pools of water, all flowing and receding under her fingertips. It was almost as if she could pull it from under the earth, but every time she thought about it, her connection fell away.

The world was dark when she opened her eyes, but there was a familiarity in looking up at the stars, a familiarity she hadn’t felt since sitting at the diner counter. She missed familiarity; normality.

But a snarl startled her, a high pitched whining and the scurrying of far too many feet.

She’d tried. She really had. But staring up at the sky wasn’t the worst way to go. Everything hurt, she could barely move her leg, she’d been slashed across the stomach by his knife - but she could almost forget it all as she stared up at the stars.

Closing her eyes against the inevitable, she tried to think about where she went wrong, what she could have done to procure a different outcome for herself.

But all she could see when she closed her eyes were Fitz and Jemma’s cold, unfeeling stares. She knew it was for show - but that didn’t stop the pain. She’d given up so much for her family, it was hard to watch them in a position of power, doing nothing for her.

She listened as the roaches circled her, Melinda’s heart-rate rising with every moment, her senses on high alert even though there was nothing she could do. She lay there, feeling them creep closer, but feeling more than just them. If she listened closely, she could hear their hearts beating, even from metres away. She could feel the blood passing through their veins, swirling in endless torrents. They edged closer to her before pouncing, her heart racing as the ringing in her head became a scream, and she watched the roaches explode in front of her, a hailstorm of blood violently excavating their bodies.

This time, the roaches became husks.

Phil watched the light filter through soft fabric curtains onto her sleeping body. He’d found her out there, his heart in his mouth when he’d seen her unconscious body surrounded by blood, but she was safe, she was in front of him, and he was never letting her go again.

He’d carried her to the rest of humanity, found her a bed, and hadn’t left her side since. He whispered stories of their family, catching her up on recent events.

It was only a few days later when she woke up, her body pale with exhaustion. Phil was holding her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles, his eyes closed with fatigue.

“Phil?” She whispered, startling him.

She watched as relief flooded his features, as he grinned at her and squeezed her hand.

He foolishly thought she’d be happy to see him, that she’d smile at him and forgive him when he apologised. He didn’t expect her to snatch her hand from his grasp, to scramble out of bed to get as far away from him as possible. He watched as Melinda wedged herself into the corner of the room, her eyes screwed shut as she tried to cancel out the sensations around her.

There was a jug of water in the corner of the room, Phil was standing only feet away from her, she could feel every atom of moisture in the room, the humidity and the water that rested far below their feet. But mostly, she could feel Phil.

His sensation was hot, in the same way the mind-reader had been. She felt Phil’s heart beat faster under her fingertips, and she could hear him trying to speak to her.

“Phil,” her voice was only a hoarse whisper, but Phil cut himself off mid-sentence to listen. “I need you to leave.”

Shaking his head vehemently, Phil replied, “I’m not-”

“I can’t hurt you. I couldn’t live with myself. Please,” she was almost sobbing the words as she felt the water in the jug stirring, a sensation she couldn’t stop or let go of.

Melinda was supposed to be in control. She’d spent her whole life honing her control, but now, huddled in a corner and begging Phil to save himself from her, she had found the one thing she had no control over.

She felt as the water rose from the jug, sloshing through the air like a torrent, uncontrollably thrashing around the room. She watched the realisation dawn on Phil’s face but didn’t expect him to approach her.

He simply sat next to her, placing his hand on her wrist, stroking his thumb against her skin soothingly as he came to terms with the development.

“I’m not going anywhere, Melinda,” he said, watching as the water threw itself around the room as if in a tantrum.

“You can control it. I’m right here. Just focus for me,” he spoke softly, the words helping her concentrate. “I know you’re tired,” he whispered, watching as the water eventually calmed down, and spiralled delicately through the air before settling back into the jug.

Melinda looked exhausted.

But as soon as her attention wasn’t taken by the water, she could feel him again. It was surprising how calm he was, but he probably didn’t know the extent of her ‘abilities’. It was hard to think of them as abilities when they had absolute power over her.

Somehow, his skin against her wrist made it easier. It was easier to control when his skin was pressed against hers, when he wasn’t a separate entity, but an extension of herself.

She found herself reaching for his embrace, pressing her face against the crook of his neck and curling into his lap. This way, when she felt his heartbeat, she felt her own as well. This way, she had control.

“Hey, are you okay?” He asked, shocked at her movement.

“I can’t feel it when I’m here,” she whispered in answer, “It’s overwhelming everywhere else.”

She felt him nod slightly, wrapping his arms around her, and she finally felt at home.

They sat like that for a few minutes, basking in the close embrace that neither of them had ever allowed themselves to hope for, and they tried to shut out the world.

“Melinda? You’re not going to turn into either of them. You’re going to be okay. We’re going to be okay,” she wanted so badly to believe him, but she could feel their combined heartbeat under her fingers and she couldn’t quite stop the sensation. She could lose control any second and kill the both of them.

But Phil tightened his hold on her and dropped a kiss into her hair, and she trusted him.

#philindasecretsanta2k17 #philinda fic #philinda #aos #inhuman au #i'm so sorry this was so late

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whydoyouthinkileft · 7 years ago

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friendly reminders that canonically Jemma Simmons has been carrying a shiv hidden in her clothes, has taser hairclips, has a gun in her bag during her day off, and casually grabs knives, other people’s guns and even just puts splinter bombs in her backpack/pocket because Revenge(tm) and because she’s a Survivor and a Protector who shielded Daisy when Hellfire was coming best she could even if all she had was a gun

Jemma somehow found a crowbar to fight the primitives too

Jemma has canonically slammed a car door over a hydra agent’s head, stolen his gun, shot the other one

Jemma has fought a man twice her size with the taser hairclip, hitting him with brute force as much as it’s possible with her size, grabbed a pitcher and crashed it on his head

Jemma has been very okay with killing Ward, and hasn’t been particularly upset after accidentally killing Bakshi (since he’s her enemy, a hydra agent who personally brainwashed people, and she wouldn’t be the first who working as a agent/soldier finds that perfectly acceptable, she has her own morals)

Jemma was tortured but didn’t break, just found a way to free herself (with the shiv) later and ran

Jemma is okay with asking Flint to break through the glass that is the only thing between Kree enemies and outer space, and have them launched out of the room and into space

Jemma has distracted LMD Fitz long enough to reach a small hammer, drop a heavy weight on him, steal his knife and stab him with it as many times as needed

Jemma wasn’t opposed to killing Aida right away, has been smug as hell when Raina was captured and sent to prison in s1, smiled when putting the deafening implant in Kasius’ head after he did it to her, shot Aida with a machine gun as unnecessary distraction just to hurt her

Jemma has been seen training with a gun, training her aim with a ball too, and apparently is in good shape enough that after a month of starving at first and then barely have food, she was still capable of grabbing the top of her cage and do pull ups, therefore must also exercise regularly enough to, well, do pull ups easily

Jemma not only shoved the splinter bomb in Bakshi’s clothes but was able to knock him on the floor with a kick hard enough to send him out of her way

Jemma Simmons doesn’t have a problem with killing the enemy, knows how to fight after so many years doing it, training off and on screen, and she always had the instinct to grab whatever she could grab to beat someone senseless with it so she wouldn’t get hurt, and the only reason she didn’t slash Kasius’ throat, didn’t free herself from Von Strucker’s hold, didn’t find a way to get a weapon of some sort in her hands and strike him and Ruby on the back without any moral dilemma, is because the plot required it, not because it was in character. Nothing wrong with someone sometimes being in distress but not like that.

And nothing wrong with keeping her as a NON moral-compass, it’s always the female character who has to talk down the male one from killing and hey, I’m all for non violence, but let me have ONE who will be that smug and petty and ruthless and just stay that way while simultaneously being so protective of her friends, putting them first, not caring if it’s hypocritical because people aren’t always coherent, or healthy, and her arc is actually about learning how to take care of herself so she can also have a healthier life. Let her have her own story, vent about her own things, get a couple of friends who ask her about herself and her traumas (’so, what happened with Kasius?’ ‘hey Jem how do *you* feel about Will and Fitz and this whole mess?’ ‘hey Jem how do you feel about Fitz assuming you are working on Skye like she’s a science project?’) and not about other people, let her be conflicted about her loyalties when her friends fight each other, and let her be a stubborn wall who wants to sacrifice herself but won’t sacrifice others, who isn’t a specialist but isn’t stupid enough to keep a job there for years without asking to be trained better, since she already has some skills, and also give her a decent reason for not stabbing Kasius in the throat (especially since he could have been saved by miraculous kree-meds and not instantly die) or for not having taser hairclips on her to at least electrocute Ruby even if she’d catch them again, or a shiv to stab Von Strucker with to desperately try to stop Ruby from hurting Fitz

and the only reason she’s bothered by some team members killing people, and not by others, is that it’s different when it’s someone who normally has a moral compass that is ‘don’t kill’ compared to someone who doesn’t care, not because she’s anti-violence

#jemma salt tw

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youarespecialforme · 7 years ago

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A reason to be with you

Pairing: Phil Coulson/Melinda May (Philinda) Summary: Post-5x10. The team found out about Coulson’s destiny and May is not ready to say goodbye.

Inspired by two prompts:

Person 1 wakes Person 2 at 4 am because they wants someone to eat *insert some food here* with. Person 2 questions why, but Person 1 surprises them and says “I just wanted a reason to be with you, is all…” + “I can’t stand the thought of losing you.”

Notes: First of all: I want to thanks Lucy (All_that_I_am) for finding time to read my fic and being such a great beta! I will never thank you enough, girl! English is NOT my first language, I’m just an Italian girl who, some times, wants to write something. I wanted to post it before the episode 100th. It would make more sense. But be aware that I started it during the hiatus, so it’s a post-5x10! :)A shout-out to my friends Simo and Jen, they were busy but they still supported me in this! :D Jen also helped me with a sentence, so thank you girls!That’s my second fic about Philinda and I hope you will like it! Hope it’s not ooc, or anything. Let me know :)(For the final part any mistakes are entirely my fault because Lucy didn’t have time to read it! XD)

Read on AO3

It was 4 in the morning when Coulson’s eyes laid on the clock’s display in front of him. He sighed and turned to lay on his back watching the grey roof above him. He couldn’t sleep. It had only been a day since they had returned to Earth and the present time, but despite the accumulated exhaustion he felt, he couldn’t sleep. Too many thoughts were on his mind. As May had expected, Daisy was upset with him and hadn’t spoken to him since he shot her. He wanted to explain why he had done it, but she refused to even stand beside him. He really didn’t know what to say. “Hey, I’m dying, and I need someone who can take my place,” was not a good way to start a conversation for sure. He didn’t know if there was a good way to say it at all. All these thoughts and the twinges of pain in his chest made him stay awake. Sooner or later the team was going to find out. Elena already knew, and had faced him earlier about it.

“Coulson, can we talk?” she asked while separated from the rest of the team.

“Yeah. What’s up?” he replied, noticing the seriousness in her voice and on her face.

“I know something about you” she said and Coulson raised an eyebrow.

“What?” he asked confused.

“I met Kasius’ seer in space,” Elena started to say, “she said something to me.” Elena looked in his eyes.

“What is it, Elena? Did she told you how to save the Earth? Who was she?”

Elena swallowed, looking down at her hands. “She was me.” Coulson looked even more confused at her words, so she elaborated futher. “Me from future, anyway. She said…” Elena broke off, sighed and looked at her feet. “She said that your choices will bring the destruction of the Earth.”

“My choices? What choices?” he wanted to ask more but he was too confused.

“It’s not just that. She said something more about you…” Elena didn’t know how to say what her future self told her. Did he know about it? Or would she have to be the first one who had to spill the news to him?

“What Elena? What did she say?” he asked standing in front of her.

She took a long breath and then looked at him again.

“How do you feel, Coulson?” she asked and apparently the question took him by surprise.

“W-what?” he didn’t know what was happening and was getting increasingly worried about where Elena was going with this conversation.

“Are you ill?” She finally asked, and immediately saw something change in his eyes and his posture. He knew. She opened her mouth in surprise.

“You already know,” she said softly.

He looked down at his feet and sighed.

“This illness… I mean…” Elena struggled to find the right words. “She said…”

“I’m dying.” He said, completing the sentence while looking back at her shocked face. His lips rose into a small smile. A sad smile.

“Have you tell anyone?” he asked, and she shook her head.

“Good. I don’t want you to say anything to the team”.

“What?” Elena finally found her voice again. “You’re not planning to tell to the others? How long have you known about this illness?”-

“I found out while we were in space,” he said, “and no. We have a mission to finish and need to concentrate on it. Did she, the Elena from the future, say anything else about me, about my choices?”

Elena looked back to him, still not knowing how to react to this news.

“She said we…” she sighed again, unsure how to continue. “She said we need to let you go - to let you die, if we want to save the Earth.”

Elena felt herself tearing up as she delivered the news, while Coulson just stared blankly ahead. He didn’t look scared or angry at what she had just said - instead, he looked…resigned.

“Okay,” he said after a few seconds, “when the time comes I’ll need your help.” He looked directly at her with eyes devoid of emotion, “You have to let me die.”

Elena shook her head.

“You can’t ask me that. There is gonna be a solution –”

“There is no time, Elena” he said, cutting her off. “If letting me die is the only solution, then you have to do so”.

“What about May?” she asked after a moment.

She knew how close the two of them were, and couldn’t even imagine how the woman would react to the news. “She will never forgive you, or me, for hiding something like that.”

This time Coulson visibly hesitated at her words – grief shadowing his face, clear as day.

After a few seconds he swallowed, and looked back at her.

“She’ll understand. I… I already thought about it, I’ll leave something for her to find after…” he hesitated again, “after I’m gone.”

The pain in his eyes caused a stitch in Elena’s heart. Coulson was a good man, and he didn’t deserve this. She couldn’t articulate anything more because it really pained her to think about the man dying. Instead, she put a hand on his forearm and squeezed.

And now here he was – trying, and failing, to sleep.

When the others retired to their bunks earlier that night, he had decided to take his time to prepare a sort of “goodbye-letter” to the team. And a will. He didn’t have much, but the few things he did have, he wanted to leave for his family. And he wanted to leave something more to her. Melinda May.

She was constantly on his mind. They had been through a lot in these past years and he just wished that they could take a vacation, and maybe even talk about what they agreed on before the time travel.

But that was not going to happen, because he was dying and whatever future he wished for before was not happening either.

He sat up in bed, watching the clock again. 4:23 AM. What he had in mind was selfish. Even so, the pain in his chest was a constant reminder that he didn’t have much time left. Regret was not an option. He stood up and took off his shirt to put on a new one. Looking in the mirror he saw the black veins on his chest that had expanded a little bit more since he was in space. He sighed and left his bunk heading towards his destination. When he got to May’s door, though, he froze. It was still early and she deserved to rest. This is a bad idea, he thought, and a few seconds later he turned around, ready to go back to his bunk. He didn’t even take two steps before the door suddenly opened.

“Can’t sleep?” May asked standing outside of her bunk.

He was surprised to see her awake.

“Not really,” he answered sincerely, looking at how beautiful she was even that early in the morning.

“Want to talk?” she asked, her eyes narrowing at him.

He shrugged. “Just… do you want to have some breakfast?”

She rose an eyebrow. “Now?”

He seemed to falter for a moment - before May, sensing his hesitance, touched him lightly on the arm and beckoned towards the kitchen.

“Okay, let’s go” she said, before walking off without waiting for a response.

Already, she could sense his relief as they walked to the kitchen together. When they arrived, she sat down and watched him move from the cabinets to the stove. He took the tea-pot to make her favorite tea, as well as a pan from the cabinet.

“Pancakes?” he asked and she just nodded.

She continued to stare at him. He seemed calm, tired but calm. What didn’t convince her were his eyes. There was something there he wasn’t saying. She had known him for nearly thirty years now and could see when something was laying heavy on his shoulders.

“You said you needed a night on your bed,” he said, suddenly turning his head while mixing the batter. “Why you couldn’t sleep? Is your leg okay?” he asked, now concerned.

“My leg is fine. For now at least. Simmons medicated it before going to sleep,” she said while he took her favorite cup and poured the tea into it.

“I just… So many things have happened and I couldn’t really sleep.”

He laid the cup down on the table, in front of her.

“Yeah, same,” he said turning to his pancakes.

She took the cup in her hands and blew on it. It seemed like nothing had happened in the past few days. The entire world was quiet and the Zephyr was asleep like its members. Except for the two of them, of course. The quiet was suddenly interrupted by Coulson’s groan and his spoon falling on the floor. She saw him grabbing his left arm and she was beside him in a heartbeat.

“What’s happened?” she asked, laying her hand on his shoulder in concern.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry,” he said through gritted teeth.

“What is it, Phil?” she asked - her voice shaking, while her eyes looked at the gap in his shirt with horror in her eyes.

He straightened up and quickly covered it, but it was too late. May’s face was still looking at his chest, before finally bringing her gaze up to look in his eyes. “Phil…” she didn’t know what to say.

She just wanted an explanation, she just wanted to know what was that dark stain on his chest.

“It’s nothing, May. I bumped into something while in space, I guess,” he said trying to smile to reassure her.

But she was Melinda May, the woman who knew him better than anyone - the woman he couldn’t hide anything from. But the worst part by far, was that she was was the woman he loved more than anything, and now it was too late for them.

“Has Simmons seen it?” she asked.

“No. It’s nothing. Really.” He said, trying to persuade her while turning back to his pancakes.

“Bullshit!” May said forcing him to turn around and face her, “That’s the reason you can’t sleep? The reason we are having breakfast at almost 5 in the morning? You are hurt and you didn’t say anything.”

Coulson sighed looking in her eyes. He could see a mix of emotions in there. She looked angry but she also looked worried.

“I’m fine,” he said again.

“No, you are not. First thing when Simmons wakes up, you’re going to get checked out. That dark thing is not ‘nothing’!”

He knew how stubborn she could be, so he just nodded. She seemed to relax, and after a few seconds she returned to sit and started to sip her tea. Silence surrounded the kitchen again. The only sound heard was the frying noise from the pan. She had almost finished her tea when he put the plate in front of her, and the other one in front of him, now sitting on the opposite side of the table.

“You know…” he started to say.

He regretted it instantly as she was looked at him, waiting for whatever he was going to say. He tried to summon the courage to say what he was thinking, avoiding her eyes.

“The only reason I asked you to have breakfast with me was just to…” he stopped and sighed, “I just wanted a reason to be with you,” he said in one breath, almost in a whisper. “That’s all.”

His heart was beating way too fast and he was worried May could hear it in the silence of the room.

She didn’t say anything at first but he knew that she was surprised by his confession. Things between them had changed – they both knew that. They had changed during and after the Framework – things that they really needed to talk about. But right now she didn’t know what to say, and neither of them knew if it was the right time to discuss it. So instead, she just rose her lips into a little smile and said something to break that awkward silence.

“Then I’m glad I was awake and heard your steps outside my door.”

He smiled back at her and they fell back into silence, eating the rest of their breakfast.

A little while later, the rest of the team started waking up to find May and Coulson with news to share.

“What’s up?” Mack asked, walking in the room where Coulson and May are already discussing the new situation.

He was followed by the others and Coulson’s eyes searched for Daisy who quickly avoided his gaze. He sighed slightly and started to fill the team in about the news.

“So, what’s the plan?” Simmons asked after Coulson stopped talking.

The team stayed silent, looking at each other until Daisy started to speak.

“Well… We are currently hiding in an invisible-plane from a freaking psychopath who’s obsessed with me, military who want us in jail, and to top it all off, Robin keeps seeing the Earth’s destruction -” she stopped briefly, looking at Coulson, “and we know who’s to blame for the last one.”

“Do you really think we were going to leave you there, in space!?” Coulson asked, shocked.

“You should have left me!” she yelled, “Your stupid choice to bring me back means that the Earth is going to be destroyed!”

“Not this time!” he said and Elena instantly looked at him.

“Oh, and you are sure about it how?” Daisy said in a snarky way. “Are you going to stop me with the Icer again!?”

“No. Things are going to change -” he exchanged a rapid look with Elena, “you are not going to destroy Earth, Daisy.” He sounded so sure about it that even Daisy hesitated for a moment.

“How are you so sure?” Fitz asked.

“Fitz!” Simmons admonished him.

“No, he’s right, Jemma!” Daisy says looking at her friend, then moving her eyes to Coulson.

“What make you so sure it won’t happen?” she asked.

Coulson stayed silent, not knowing how to respond without letting the truth come out.

“He’s dying. And to save the Earth we need to let him go.” Elena’s words were soft, but immediately, every eye in the room was staring at her in disbelief.

“WHAT!?” a chorus of surprised and shocked voices raised in the room.

“Elena!” Coulson admonished her and the team was now looking at him again.

“I’m sorry, Coulson. I can’t stand here watching you sign your own death sentence and act as if you don’t know anything,” Elena said.

Coulson didn’t say anything back but he turned his head to look at May.

She was frozen still in place, looking at him in utter shock. Her eyes weren’t even looking at him but into emptiness, through him. She felt like they had thrown a bucket of frozen water on her. She felt angry and felt pain and something else. She felt betrayed because he hadn’t said anything to her. She felt like the ground under her feet was already destroyed - ripped apart like her heart in the moment Elena said those words.

Coulson was dying. And to save the Earth they needed to let him go.

She felt tears starting to wet her eyes, and tried to pull herself back together again. The rest of the team were saying something, but she only heard chatting in the distance, like she was not really in the room. She knew he was watching at her. She knew he was waiting for her reaction, but she was not ready to face him or look him in the eyes and pretend to be okay. Because nothing was okay. He was dying. Again. She was losing him. Again. The pain of that thought brought back memories of the moment she received that call – the one where they informed her about Coulson’s death during the attack of New York. It still hurt. It would always hurt. She thought she’d lost her best friend, her Phil, and she wasn’t even there to try to save him, having his back. It was like being reborn again when Nick Fury told her that project T.A.H.I.T.I. could bring Coulson back to life. She didn’t care back then what was going to happen. She didn’t care if hiding the truth from him would’ve broke their friendship. She just wanted him back.

And now she couldn’t think about the fact she was going to lose him again. She couldn’t stand there and watch him die without doing anything.

Someone called her name. It was him, she knew that. She’d recognize his voice in any crowd.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to look at him. To look him in the eyes. It was like the others didn’t exist in that moment. He wanted to say something but the fear and the pain in her eyes made every word die in his throat.

“That’s insane!” Mack yells in the back, while Elena explains what her future self had said.

“How long have you known about this?” Daisy asked, but Coulson’s eyes were still on May.

“That thing on your chest-” May finally spoke, her voice trembling more than it should have.

He just nodded. The last thing he wanted was to see the raw pain on her face right now on her face.

“Sir, there must be a solution,” Simmons said, approaching slowly. “What do you feel? And what is this thing on your chest May is talking about?” she asked.

“Jemma, it’s too late,” he said, moving his gaze from May to the young woman in front of him.

“The hell it is!” May yelled, earning their attention again. “You are not going to die. I won’t let it happen!” She said the words with so much confidence that he almost believed it for a moment.

“She said I have to die! Helping me will bring about the destruction of the Earth!” He yelled back.

“We’ll find a way,” Daisy said.

“There is not a lot on this plane, but we can find something. I need to take a blood sample from you, and to see whatever it is on your chest.” Simmons said, ready to go and search for the things she needed.

“Yeah, I’ll help you” Fitz said following her.

The room was filled with silence again after they left, until Daisy decided to speak.

“So… that’s the reason why you wanted me back,” she said softly.

“The reason is because you are part of this team, and if anything happens to me I need you to lead S.H.I.E.L.D, okay?”

“I’m not ready to be a leader,” Daisy said, shaking her head.

“You are. Besides… May hates being a leader, Mack said more than once that he wants to leave this life, and Elena is pretty new in the team. FitzSimmons are great at what they do, and we need them to keep doing it.” He shrugged. “See? That’s why I wanted you back” he said.

“You are not going to die!” May yelled, earning their looks on her, again.

“Simmons will find a way to save you, I’m sure of it,” she continued - hoping it would turn out that way in the end.

“May…” he started to say, but Simmons rushed in the room.

“There! We’ve found something, sir. Fitz is trying to fix some machinery. I need you to take your shirt off,” she said, preparing the necessary tools on the table.

“Jemma, we have a mission. There is no –”

“He’ll do it” Daisy said suddenly, cutting Coulson off.

“You want me to lead!?” She asked looking at him, approaching him slowly. “Then let me” - she said with a shrug.

“Yeah, let’s do it, Tremors!” Mack said nodding behind her.

Coulson looked at his team and the only thought he had was how much he was going to miss them. All of them. Daisy put a hand of his arm and smiled softly, then turned around to look at May.

May opened her mouth, ready to say something but Daisy lifted a hand to stop her.

“May, you stay. If we need any help we will contact you,” she said and May only nodded, grateful that Daisy understood.

Daisy, Mack and Elena all gave Coulson a small nod before leaving. He let a smile to raise on his lips in response, then looking at Simmons, ready to unbutton his shirt. The look on the young woman’s face told him she was shocked by what she was seeing. He let his eyes search for May’s, but she was too focused on the black stain in his chest, now more worried than the first time she had seen it.

“Bloody hell” Simmons whispered, carefully touching and observing it.

“That bad, huh?” he said, trying to lighten the tension.

Simmons grimaced, “well, not exactly good at first sight. When did it appear?” she asked.

Coulson thought about it for a few seconds - “It appeared two days after being in space, but I felt something different only a few days before returning on Earth.”

Simmons nodded and then proceeded to take a blood example. Coulson eyes returned to May again and this time she was looking directly at him, into his eyes. He knew she felt betrayed and upset because he hadn’t told her, but she had to understand he did it because saving the Earth was more important that his only life.

“So, do you feel any pain? Any other symptoms?” Simmons asked after she finished and he turned to face her.

“I feel pain all along my left arm, probably because of the pang in my chest. It comes and goes,” he said shrugging.

“I’ll see if Fitz has fixed the machinery. Meanwhile, I will examine your blood” Simmons said packing all her stuff and leaving the room.

Coulson stood up and grabbed his shirt, wearing it but leaving it unbuttoned as his eyes met May’s and saw all the pain and sadness over her face. He leaned back on the edge of the table and he reached out for her.

“Come here,” he said in a sweet tone.

She took his hand after a moment of hesitation and he gently pulled her towards him until she was in front of him.

“I’m sorry” he said.

She didn’t say a word. She was clenching her jaw, trying to not to spit out all her anger. She knew that if she did, the tears she was holding back would start to fall sooner than she’d like. She gasped when she felt his hands took hers and settled them on his bare chest right above his scar.

“I’m so sorry, Melinda,” he said her name in a way that make her stomach ache.

She could feel his heartbeat against her hands, and it hit her so hard knowing that he could die at any moment in the near future.

She heard his intake of breath the same moment she felt tears falling down her face. It was only a moment before he pulled her against his body and held her - one hand in her hair and the other one on her lower back. He closed his eyes when he felt her hands slipping behind his back and grabbing onto the fabric of his shirt between her fingers.

She didn’t want to cry. She didn’t want to feel so vulnerable. But the moment she felt that, he tightened his grip, and suddenly she didn’t care about feeling vulnerable anymore. They had been through a lot in these past months and she had always herself back - blocking out her emotions. But right now she didn’t care anymore. In that moment, it hit her how right she felt between Phil’s arms - between the arms of the man she loved.

She’d loved two men in her life. She lost one. Two really, if she considered Phil’s first death all those years before. She could not handle losing him again. May buried her face against his neck, breathing in the smell of him and his cologne. They hadn’t hugged like that before. Perhaps once they used to, but those days were in the past, for different reasons and with different feelings.

“You can’t die” she said in a broken whisper.

He sighed and leaned his head against hers, the desire to leave a kiss in her hair getting stronger and stronger. The desire to kiss her tears and pain away. The desire to just kiss her until his last breath.

But he couldn’t do it to her. He couldn’t tell her how much he loved her. Not now. She gently pulled away looking at her feet, sniffing. He put both hand on her arms.

“When time comes… I left something for you and the team,” he said, trying to hold himself together without shaking.

She shook her head. “You are not going to die,” she said, her voice cracking because of the crying. She looked back at him, into his deep blue eyes.

He swallowed - “Melinda” he said with hoarse voice.

“No. You hear me!? You are not going to die! I…” she shook her head and more tears started to fall - “Please…” she just said in feeble tone looking down. A sob broke through whatever she was trying to say.

He closed his eyes searching for inner strength. He hated seeing her like that. He knew she hated it too, but she was just too overwhelmed from all the emotions of the last few months - especially the last days – to hold back.

He let his hands reach for her shoulders, moving up until they lay on the sides of her face. She looked him in the eyes again, surprised by the gesture.

He tried to say something but God… the woman he loved was a few inches from him and it hurt. It hurt like hell that he couldn’t bend his head and press his lips on hers. It hurt so much that he wanted to cry, to let his strength break and just remain with her in his arms. He just leaned until their foreheads were touching and sighed closing his eyes, savoring the moment. She did the same as she put her hands on his forearms.

“I can’t stand the thought of losing you” she said in a whisper. She swallowed - “Not again” she added.

“I don’t know if Simmons will find a cure… but if she doesn’t… If the Elena from the future was right…” - he sighed opening his eyes - “I need you to be strong,” his said, his voice breaking with all the emotions of the moment.

She slowly shook her head. Then she tried to say something but the words died in her throat. He closed his eyes again, lifting his head to press his lips against her forehead. It was gentle. It was soft. It said so many things. It said how much he would love to take away all that pain and how much he cared about her. He pulled away and their eyes met again. A lot of emotions passed in a few seconds.

Then it happened; so fast that neither of them quite expected it.

Tilting her chin up, she reached up with gentle fingers to bring his head down until their lips finally met.

He stiffened for an instant in shock, but when he felt her backing away, unsure of herself, he closed his eyes and sunk into the moment by responding to the kiss.

She relaxed the moment she felt his arms holding her closer, and he decided to deepen the kiss tasting her bottom lip tentatively with his tongue. She opened her mouth to him and tilted her head. The moment their tongues met they both felt a shiver along the entire length of their bodies. It was intense, feeling his heartbeat so strong against her chest. She tried to imprint every single thing in her mind - the way he was holding her like he didn’t want to leave her, his cologne, the way he moved her lips on hers, the way their tongues were almost dancing together. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt what she was feeling in that moment.

They had kissed in the past during undercover missions, but it had never been like this. This time was different. They wanted it so badly, and seeing how they reacted to the kiss, it was clear that they had waited way too long. Coulson knew he was a complete fool when he kissed the LMD version of May. Having her between his arms made him realize how different it felt. He tasted her tears between the kiss and it make the moment even more real.

They broke the kiss a few seconds later, when both of them needed to breathe. They were panting, still holding each other, not ready to let the other go and still with their eyes closed. The moment their eyes met it wasn’t as awkward as they always suspected. He lifted his lips into a little smile and moved his hand to her face, caressing her cheekbone and wiping her tears away. She swallowed slightly, trying to reciprocate the smile. He was about to speak, when Simmons’ voice interrupted his thoughts. They pulled away straight away, but not quickly as they had hoped.

“Sir, Fitz just fixed the mach—oh.” She stopped when saw the scene in front of her “Sorry, I–”

“It’s okay, Jemma” he said and with a quick look, he checked on May to see that she already put her perfect stoic face back on.

“You should come to the lab, Sir,” Simmons said, “We need to do more tests.”

He nodded, looking at May again and then back to the young woman. “Give us a minute, I’ll be there” he said.

Simmons nodded and left the room, understanding how hard it had to be in that situation.

Coulson turned to face May. “Melinda…” he said, feeling speechless.

“Go,” she said, “the sooner Jemma finds a cure, the sooner we can talk.” He nodded and was ready to leave but stopped for a moment just to look at her again.

“Whatever happens, I just want you to know that you mean everything to me, Melinda,” he said with such a soft tone that what was left of her broken heart melted.

Before she could say anything he was already out of the room.

It had taken three weeks before everything was back to normal. Well, almost everything. They are not most wanted anymore and apparently Earth was safe from any destruction. But they still needed to rebuild the S.H.I.E.L.D. base.

The team stopped in a clearing near to the old destroyed base. They needed a pause. They deserved it. May was watching Fitz explain something to Elena, still a little bit clumsy with her new, still prototypes - Fitz had made a few of them when worked for the one for Coulson - robotic arms. Mack never left her side, pain and concern in all his posture but he was glad she was alive. They all were glad for that. May knew Elena was a warrior, that’s not gonna stop her. A few feet closer from them, there was Daisy, Piper and other agents. They were listening to Daisy and the orders she gave them. It was not easy being a leader, but May could see she was being a great one. Jemma walked by smiling at her and then go to Fitz and the rest of them. She felt her heartbeat increase a little when she heard footsteps coming and then stop a few inches from her. She tried not to smile “I heard you took a mini-vacation in the FitzSimmons lab.”

“I heard you all worked hard to save my ass. Especially you.”

She turned her head to meet his blue eyes. She grinned a little.

“What’s the news about that?”

He scoffed a little laugh, “True” he said, watching the scenario in front of him. Daisy was now dismissing a few agents and talk to the rest of them.

“She is really doing a great job” May said, knowing what he was thinking.

He nodded “No doubts.”

There was a moment of silence, just them observing their team.

“Everything is going to be great” Coulson said, still with a soft smile on his lips.

“Yeah. I hope so” May said nodding a little.

He turned to look at her, she was still a little bit bruised and with a band on her leg but she was as relaxed as she wasn’t in the past months.

“How is the leg?” he asked.

“It’s healing” she answered still watching in front of her.

“I guess… we — I mean, I think we could talk a little later, if you want!?” he was unsure, now watching the team again, avoiding her eyes. After the last time they had a moment together he was really tired to take steps back in their relationship.

His heart lost a beat when he felt her fingers intertwining with his own. He turned to face her, surprised from the gesture; she was a few inches away from him with a soft smirk on her face.

“I think we should stop talking and take a few steps forward” she teased, raising an eyebrow, “There will be time to talk too…”

He smiled, still surprised but happy too, squeezing her hand tightly and looking into her eyes.

Yeah. He was right.

Everything was going to be great.

#marvel aos #agents of shield #aos #mine #philinda #phil coulson #melinda may #daisy johnson #jemma simmons #leopold fitz #elena rodriguez #alphonso mackenzie

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dilkirani · 7 years ago

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everything I should have said

Post-s5 premiere (spoilers), but zero plot because I can’t. Warning: Jemma’s still deaf (not that I want that, just had this idea in my head). But I think it’s a fairly positive ending. :)

Read below or on AO3.

----

This is where all life began, Jemma thinks, as she stares out the window at rocks and stars and so much void. There’s no poetry to it for her, not anymore. She remembers days in the lab with Fitz, the way discovery lit up their faces until their delight reflected and bounced back, exhilaration in perpetual motion. Then, she had seen beauty in science. Now it’s nothing but a means to survive, fighting against an always impassive universe.

Missing Fitz has become an exhausting addiction. The absence of him winds itself through her bones, as familiar as the way he used to press his limbs along hers. They had promised, in the afterglow of sanguine kisses, that they wouldn’t let themselves be ripped apart again. And then they were. Again and again and now, finally, again.

“I don’t want to do this without you,” Jemma confesses to the space he should occupy, although everything around her remains inaudible. She and Daisy had killed Kasius, but his death hadn’t freed her from this silent world, and so far none of their solutions have worked. She’s not afraid she’ll never communicate again—she’s already created a sort of rudimentary sign language to use with the team, she’s gotten much better at reading lips, and her perpetual fatigue is currently winning out over the energy required to add this to her list of terrors.

What she does fear, what causes an unbearable tightening in her chest, is the fraying of her memory. At night, when she has a moment to rest, she closes her eyes and can still hear Fitz murmuring into her ear, his words slurring and his brogue thickening with sleep and satisfaction. Assurances of love never sound as beautiful and sticky sweet when spoken by anyone else. But one day, she will wake to realize his voice must be more imagination than recollection.

Because she has lost him. Whenever they are, exactly, Fitz is not. He lived his life—and she hopes, more than anything, that it was a good one—and now he’s gone. Jemma clings to his voice in her head, prays she can keep it safe from the encroaching Sheffield pronunciations. She was stolen from her home without even a photograph of him; this is all she has left.

“Jemma,” he whispers, and she moans, burying her head further into the pillow. Her entire body burns from the previous day’s labor, and all she wants is a few more minutes of sleep.

“I know,” he laughs. “I don’t want to wake up either, but Daisy will be by soon.”

She stills, her lungs constricting. He’s so close, he must be, but she can’t feel the warmth of his body next to hers.

“Fitz?” she asks, too afraid to turn over. His name feels different falling off her lips than any other word. She’d never noticed that before.

“I’m here, love,” he says. Her skin prickles, like he’s placed the softest kiss to her forehead. “But you need to get up.”

She knows it’s not real. His voice is as clear as it’s ever been, but she can’t hear anything else—not the fan in the corner or heavy boots in the hallway. Not the rustle of blankets as she pushes them back. But when she finally looks and can’t see even an indentation on her bed, the ghost of where he should have been, something cracks hard inside her.

She’s almost grateful she can’t hear her own wracking sobs. She feels deeply ashamed and so very alone. She realizes she would give anything to see him again. Even if it’s for the last time. Even if he’s nothing more than a hallucination.

“Jemma,” he soothes, and she covers her ears with her hands, shaking uncontrollably. She’s not entirely sure why she’s attempting to block his voice, when it’s the only thing she truly aches to hear.

“You’re not really Fitz,” she cries. “Please go away.”

The barest of vibrations courses through her, like a gentle massage. Daisy’s way of knocking, now that Jemma can’t hear anything.

“You were right,” she marvels. Apparently he’s listened to her begging, because he doesn’t respond.

“Come back. I didn’t mean it,” she whispers. Or, she thinks she whispers. She’s trying to remember the way she changed her inflections, her tone, the volume of her voice. After all this time, it should be instinctual, but she finds herself second-guessing everything, trying to read in the eyes of others whether she has spoken too loudly.

She supposes here, in the privacy of her room, it doesn’t really matter.

Silence laps over her, the same as always. She closes her eyes and stretches a hand out across the bed, imagines she can feel his warm skin beneath her fingers.

“What would we talk about first?” she asks. “I’d want to know all about what you’ve been doing, of course. I hope you’re remembering to eat. That’s silly, you always remember to eat. Just maybe have something with actual nutrients now and then. I hope you’re not...I mean, I’m sure you’re still struggling with what happened in the Framework. But I hope you’re coming to terms. I know you’ll be furious about this whole Kasius situation, but I’m sure together we can figure out a solution.”

Jemma turns to where he should be, can almost see his bright, blue eyes. She remembers exactly how he held her, the last time they spent the night together. She doesn’t remember what they talked about, and she hates herself for it. “It’s okay if we don’t, though,” she tells him. “Psychically linked and all that, right?”

There’s no answer. Jemma sniffles, wiping a hand across her eyes, but more tears stubbornly gather. “I know you’re not alive,” she says. “If you stayed on Earth then by now you’re...I know. But I miss you so much. I should never have...please, come back.”

The room is inky dark, and the silent vacuum of death outside her window reminds her of the bottom of the ocean. What will happen, she wonders, if they save humanity? Could he be there to welcome her home? Or will saving the world mean losing the best part of it?

“Let’s talk about getting married,” Fitz says. “Just this once, let’s forget about saving humanity and talk about ourselves first.”

She laughs.

He arrives looking like no Fitz she’d ever imagined. But then again, she supposes she must look nothing like he’d ever imagined. If she could hear, she knows everything else would have faded out as soon as she saw him storming in like he owned the place. Her heart would have stopped, the cacophony of post-apocalyptic life reduced to a faint buzzing in the background. It would have been only him—only Fitz, his eyes meeting hers, the scratch of his stubble against her cheek, the feel of his heart beating beneath her palm.

This is exactly how it is anyway.

His arms are an unbreakable promise around her, almost painfully tight. His breath puffs the air by her ear, and she knows he’s saying her name over and over like a supplication.

Jemma pulls back to look at him. Tears drip down his cheeks and the relief in his eyes can’t quite mask everything he must have been through. But he saved her world, and she has the power to save his.

“Marry me, Fitz,” she says, savoring how the words taste on her lips for the very first time.

She doesn’t need to hear his response, because it’s just his mouth crushing against hers, the vibrations of his yes filling her lungs.

#fitzsimmons fanfic #fstag #thefitzsimmonsnetwork #aosficnet2 #jemma simmons #leopold fitz #deaf jemma #I'm assuming she can still talk #I didn't actually rewatch the ep oops #let's go with that #hi I just really want Jemma to propose in some way haha #angst with a sorta happy ending #rani writes things

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theclaravoyant · 7 years ago

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AN ~ AS PROMISED Jemma self-rescue fic *rubs hands together*. If Jemma 'let's remind everybody that I'm specifically a biologist' Simmons doesn't do something with that room full of plants I'm going to eat my hat. Let's just leave it at that for now. & enjoy!

also fulfils @aosadvent2017 prompt “peace”

*spoilers for AOS 5x01 and 5x02*

Rated T for Kasius being a creepy jerk (but nothing overly sexual happens), but also for him meeting an end he deserves.

Read on AO3 (~2500wd)

or forever hold your peace

“Walk with me.”

Kasius waved a hand and Jemma forced herself to move. Slowly, gracefully, pointedly, like she had once learnt in ballet: using enough muscles to pull herself forward, so that she would not be tempted to turn and run. She knew she would be dead before reaching the door if she tried something like that. She wouldn’t even hear it coming.

So she followed, swanning after Kasius as if she hung on his every word. They were, after all, the only things she could hear thus far. His words. His breathing. His footfalls. She was not sure if anything else would come back to her, but the absence of her own breathing and heartbeat and the sound of her own footfalls in these marble halls no longer haunted her like it had the first night, keeping her up in a swirling sensory deprivation chamber. Now she had something to focus on. Kasius. And how much she hated every single thing about him, like nails on a chalkboard. Like honey dripping off a thorn.

And then, suddenly, she couldn’t feel hate.

She stepped over a threshold with him into a garden so beautiful that for a moment she could hardly breathe. A room full of potted roses was one thing but this? Gloriously paved pavilions swept here and there, winding through gardens of roses and daffodils, olive and lemon trees, palm fronds and frangipanis, ivy, and orchards. Apples, pears, peaches, apricots.

Her jaw dropped a little. Her body had stilled. None of this she noticed until Kasius turned to glance at her over his shoulder, a smirk on his lips.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he prompted, though of course he required no response from her. It was assumed that she would agree, and even if she had wanted to deny him that satisfaction, her awestruck expression had already betrayed her. For a moment, she was stuck like a deer in the headlights, but she kept her face passive and he did not think to question the inner workings of her mind. They did not matter to him. Only her face.

Satisfied at having caught his petulant princess in a moment of vulnerable joy, Kasius waved over another servant. He would quell her yet, he thought, and picked up a piece of one of his favourite golden apples.

“Try some,” he offered, and Jemma obediently stepped forward. Forcing her breath in and out, forcing her fingers not to clench into fists, she tried not to notice those cold, flat blue eyes so close to her face; that touch so tender but not for her sake. She wished to herself that the apple would taste like ash, like poison, but as she bit down, found it was one of the most beautiful things that she had ever tasted.

And then the rage flooded back in.

She nearly choked on the apple – on the desire to spit it back in his face – as the thought filled her mind, and all her senses, so loudly that for a second it almost felt like her hearing had returned:

People are starving.

People down below were starving to the point where they had clawed at grain poured onto the ground before them. To the point where they had leapt at each other’s throats. Had killed a man. Or would have, were it not for her – and for Kasius, who had finished what they’d started not for bread, but for perfection.

Kasius sighed loudly, smiling paternalistically.

“I know, my dear,” he assured her. “It can be quite overwhelming. I forgive you.”

Before she could flinch away, Kasius brushed her cheek. His fingers came away with a droplet of water. A smudge of gold. Jemma gaped in horror but fortunately, he merely called another servant to bring him a cloth to wipe the smudge away, and another with a pot of paint to reapply the gold where she had marred it. Feigning chagrin - but also, hiding the terror in her eyes and on her face – Jemma ducked her head and let Kasius led on again. As they walked, he waxed lyrical about his garden and its many beauties, and how it was such a shame that a beauty like herself had been held separate from them for so long. It faded into a meaningless blur of sound. To him she was merely another one of his flowers; he only admired her hardiness because it had allowed her to emerge from below unscathed, for his admiration.

Little did he know, of course, that she had a littering of scars on her torso and legs. She had been through too much not to. Yet, as he had said of his former… concubine? She was safe with them hidden beneath her tunic, where he could not notice them.

(She hoped that would not change any time soon.)

He also did not know, though, many other things about her – or, apparently, about his flowers. Things like the fact that she was a highly trained biologist with paramilitary experience. Things like the fact that apples, peaches, apricots - let alone the plants that they walked past now; daffodils, oleander, Angel’s Trumpet – could kill.

He was walking her through a field of weapons, and he didn’t even know it.

Now, there was something worth smiling about.

Standing outside his door that evening - or at least, her best estimate thereof - Jemma took a deep breath. The crockery shuddered on its tray and she hoped it was not too loud; she did not know how many others had been given the silence bug, or drug, or whatever it was. But she drew herself strong. It was now or never – not least because she just couldn’t take this much longer. Her behaviour was unusual, but Kasius still hadn’t cottoned onto the fact that she wasn’t who he thought she was, so she was willing to risk it. If all else failed, she hoped, it was a demure enough act of service that he might think it merely unusual – perhaps even a gesture of goodwill – and simply dismiss her.

Strong, she thought to herself, and knocked on the door.

“Enter,” he called, and so she did, and the smug thrill that ran through her at his expression of surprise was more satisfying than she could have imagined. Careful not to let on, however, she smiled meekly and curtseyed a little before bringing the tray forward. Kasius shuffled in his seat, and gestured for her to sit beside him. How quickly would she be dead, she thought, as she lowered herself into the seat. How close was his assassin? Around the corner? Just outside the door? Heart pounding, she poured the tea.

“Hmm, sweet,” Kasius mused, wafting it past his nose as if it were wine. All of a sudden, Jemma thought, perhaps she should have worked with wine. Perhaps it would have hidden the scent more easily. But then Kasius asked; “What is it?”

Jemma tilted her head. Was he expecting her to answer?

“Speak,” he said, and nodded insistently – excitedly, as if watching her open a present. Jemma’s lips twitched, trying to contort into a smile as her heart filled with the sense of freedom, and a desire to tell this slimey maggot everything she thought about him.

“Wellness tea,” she said instead. “Good for the skin.”

This seemed to amuse Kasius, and Jemma almost laughed. Instead, she simply let that smile slip loose, as if she were pleased to have amused him, and poured the tea. He waited until she picked up her own cup, which she had been hoping against, but prepared for. She took a sip, and so did he.

(They’d have to drink much more than that, though.)

“And what have you been doing with your day, my dear?” Kasius asked.

“Listening,” Jemma replied, and she could see it. And hear it. The smugness. That’s my girl, his expression said. I knew you’d come around. She wondered if he could see the same smugness in her eyes – but no, she thought, he probably assumed she was simply overcome with desire, or gladness for having pleased him, or any number of things that required minimal brainpower on her behalf. Instead, what she meant was learning. And now that she could speak, oh, what she had learned was going to earn her so much more satisfaction.

“Oh, this is simply wonderful,” Kasius praised, taking another mouthful of her tea. “You must share the recipe with the kitchens. Where did you learn such a thing?”

“My mother taught me.”

“Hm.” Kasius nodded thoughtfully. “Interesting woman, your mother. I should have her brought here. Where did you say she worked? Processing?”

“Yes.”

Part of Jemma hoped that he would find May. She would certainly have something to say about this whole situation. Or to punch, at least. But most of Jemma’s attention was focused on trying not to cackle like a bloody murderer as Kasius refilled his own cup to the brim with more tea. How long had it been since he’d poured his own cup? Was it because he was used to taking as much as he wanted of something he liked? Or was it the drug she’d put in there, that even now, was niggling at her own throat to take more?

“Processing, you say?” Kasius repeated. “Yet she knows something about herbs. Curious.”

He paused, and Jemma had to take another sip before he got suspicious.

“Yes, ah,” she offered faux-nonchalantly. “I suppose she got creative. Working with what we have, everyone playing their part and all that.”

“Naturally, naturally.” Kasius nodded. “That’s what I like to hear, my dear. Beautiful stock, your family. You know what? I will have your mother found.”

Perhaps this would have scared her, any moment other than now, but Jemma’s blood was already pumping. Kasius’ words were growing uncontrolled; speaking his mind rather than the measured, perfect words of a philosopher. He drank more. Jemma’s throat itched too, but she quashed it down with the thought of what it would take to expel the poison later. Meanwhile, Kasius’ pupils were growing wider. The drug. Was the poison taking effect yet? How fast was stage two going to go? How was she going to get out of this room once it had?

“Have you got somewhere to be, my dear?”

All of a sudden she felt watched. More than that. Seen. One of the side effects of the drug was paranoia and she should have known, she should have predicted this – but how lucid was he, still?

“You’re all fidgety,” he said. “You’re fidgeting. I don’t like it.”

She grinned, and drummed her fingernails against her teacup. Never had she wished for a clicky pen more in her life, but this would have to do.

“Sorry,” she said, unabashedly not sorry at all as she felt the tides rapidly turning in her favour. “I’m simply excited about having executed my plan to perfection.”

“Perfection?” he repeated, bewildered, and she blinked coquettishly.

“Aren’t you proud of me?”

Something, she saw, started to dawn in Kasius’ eyes. Something, perhaps, about what he had said to her upon their first meeting. About her wrist, smooth as if untouched by a metric. About her tears. Her mysterious knowledge - ‘creativity’- with plants that had not been seen by humans like her in nigh on a century.

Something about the old stories.

Kasius leapt to his feet, and swayed.

“GUARDS!” he roared, and Jemma scrabbled away. This was a rollercoaster of a plan but she wasn’t out of ideas yet. She snatched up the teacup, brandishing it like a weapon, and put the table between her and Kasius so that he could not attack. She only had a few seconds. She’d have to pick a door soon. But she couldn’t help spending a little longer watching the fury in Kasius’ eyes burn out into desperation, pain, fear.

She held her chin high. No mercy.

“Why did you do this?” Kasius choked; still surprised, it seemed, that a woman he had been willing to gift with perfection would turn on him so.

And Jemma had thousands of answers to that question, but one came quick and burning to her tongue.

“Acacius,” she said. “Who?”

“The man I saved. The one you killed,” she explained. “You owe me a life. That is how it works, right?”

Recognition clicked in for a moment, and then the fury returned. Kasius lunged at her, but fell onto the table; convulsing, frothing at the mouth. Not long now.

“GUARDS!!” he cried again, with as much strength as he could muster, though Jemma could hear even that was rapidly fading. “Guards! … They’re here.”

They.

The heroes. The stories. The legends. The ultimate threats to this regime.

They.

Her.

Heart in her throat, teapot still in hand, Jemma retreated, launched herself at the door, and fled through Kasius’ compound with the desperation of a crazed racehorse. She was almost out by the time they finally turned on her, and she struggled, and it felt like she was drowning, but she fought on. She smashed the teapot over somebody’s head, ducked a swipe, overturned a potplant and ran. The roses caught at her tunic and flicked at her face and she ran. She stumbled down the stairs, lost her footing for a moment, felt herself falling and thought it’s all over but it was not. The shouting and jostling all around her was muted but she could hear herself. Her footfalls. Her heartbeat. Her breath.

Something slowed within her, and steadied, and somehow she caught herself and staggered on toward the door. She slammed it shut behind her, only taking half a second to catch her breath before looking for the next one. How far had the battlecry gone? Would she be safe anywhere? Which direction should she go?

She settled for ducking into a crevice for a second, as more guards poured into the passageway from elsewhere. Armed ones; not Kasius’ dainty personal staff.

Jemma stiffened, holding her breath as one of them stalked past her – and was shortly blown back, off his feet and into the ground, hard, by a new arrival. Daisy. She seemed amused by all the panic and the alarms – and if Jemma was not mistaken, mouthed, aw shux, for me? – at the contingent of guards between them. Jemma curled even deeper into the crevice, out of the way while Daisy attacked, and only when the coast was clear did she creep out again. Upon seeing her, Daisy baulked - horrified, sympathetic – and touched Jemma’s arm.

Are you alright?

Jemma touched her ear, symbolising deafness, and Daisy frowned in confusion.

“I’ll explain later,” Jemma said, speaking loudly over the ruckus she could only assume Daisy was hearing. “But our cover is blown. We have to get out of here. Now.”

#jemma simmons #jemmasimmonsfic #jsdefensesquad #aospositivitynet #jemmasolo #thefitzsimmonsnetwork #aos s5 #aos spoilers #aos speculation #aos wishlist #aosficnet2 #clara's fic tag

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melindacoulson4 · 7 years ago

Text

The missing piece

The future is bleak. The team scattered. Melinda May spends her time taking care of a daughter she never knew she wanted. But she doesn't do it by herself. Expansion on scenes from 5x08. Phil’s pov

He shuts the door quietly behind him knowing that it's late. In fact, it's much later than it usually is when he gets back. It couldn't be helped. Their commander had forced them to stay over two extra hours for clean-up. His squad had spent the day taking out as many roaches as they could. But apparently, it was completely unacceptable to leave the roaches scattered about on Level 4. “Not so close to Kasius,” the commander had said. So they'd had to drag the dead carcasses to the elevator and down to Level 0 for incineration. Population control: that was his job now. When the time came for job assignments here on the lighthouse they had to blend in. It was a more life-threatening position, but it brought home more credits. He'd joined the squad of twenty other men who'd been picked to eliminate the roaches each day. It seemed like no matter how many they took out the numbers always replenished itself tenfold. They could never make a significant chunk.

Either way he'd come home each day mostly exhausted, limbs aching, body bruised. But he'd be rewarded immediately by the sight of Robin and Melinda together. The three of them would share dinner together and talk. Those moments made it all worth it. The peace of being together gave him the strength to get through the days. The dim light of the bedside lamp in Robin's room illuminates the hall. That either meant that she was awake, plagued by her visions which drove her to sketch the scenes out or she'd turned the light on to keep the monsters away. The roaches were the monsters here. A few times a month she'd have nightmares about the roaches invading their level. When the nightmare got to be too much she would crawl into bed and sandwich herself between he and Melinda. When the nightmare was bearable she would turn on the bedside light. He'd told her that the roaches were afraid of light so there's no way they'd come into her room. It was enough to placate her. After all he'd know- he dealt with the roaches every day. Other times, the visions would be responsible for her insomnia. Those were the rough nights. Sometimes he'd walk into Robin's room and pictures upon pictures would be scattered around the floor and piling up on the bed. All meaningless scribbles unless she could remember the fine details, but usually she couldn't. But he and Melinda weren't one's to push her. So they'd all pick up the piles of drawings and shove them into the box in the corner of her room. A tiny part of him couldn't throw the creations away for fear that one day they'd need to refer back to them. In case they'd be significant in some way in the future. There was always that chance. Melinda was especially against feeding into the visions unless they were sure that the visions directly impacted their future. It took a toll on Melinda when Robin was having a bad day. She tried so hard to provide a normal upbringing for Robin, but some days it was too difficult. He always knew when it had been a tough day for both of them by the strained glaze of Melinda's eyes and the rigidity of her movements. He enters Robin's room, fully expecting to see her scribbling away as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. The scene before him catches him off-guard and completely melts his heart. Melinda is there with Robin connected to her side each fast asleep and breathing deeply. Robin's head rests on Melinda's shoulder. Melinda has both arms wound around Robin protectively. They're completely wrapped up in each other. The white knit blanket that he'd traded an old book for cocoons Robin's small form. It barely covers Melinda, which tells him that she hadn't meant to fall asleep here. He smiles, genuinely awed that this is his family: two beautiful people that he loves furiously. He moves towards them, taking gentle steps across the floor, overwhelmed by the need to just look at them like this. It's not often they seem so unburdened. But both of their faces now are relaxed, all of life's worries have melted away in this moment. He wants to memorize their expressions. It's moments like these that cause him to wonder what he's done to deserve them. He's still getting used to seeing Melinda this way even though it's been close to two years since they've been in space. This Melinda, that isn't covered in bruises, blood, or dirt. Where she isn't being taken and replaced by an LMD. Where she isn't engaging in hand-to-hand combat everyday of her life. Where she is allowed to be just Melinda and that is enough. This softer woman who still exhibits an innumerable amount of strength each day. Raising Robin, loving her, has given Melinda a glow. She's lighter somehow- finally able to show off her natural kindness and warmth. It was no secret between them that she always desired to be a mother. After the events in Bahrain, she'd given up that dream, but he knew she always had it in her. It was obvious, the way she dealt with Daisy. He's lucky to witness it now. It highlights how beautiful she is in every way. It's all he could ever ask for. "Hi," she whispers, voice layered thick with sleep. Her voice catches him off-guard. Momentary panic courses through his veins, remembering all of the years where he didn't allow himself to be seen admiring her. His mind had become conditioned to it; it was one of the harder habits regarding their relationship to break. But now he could just look at her whenever he chose, appreciating her for who she is. "Hey," he responds, keeping his voice low. He should've expected her to wake up; she'd always been able to wake at the sound of a pin dropping. Thanks to the instincts of being a highly skilled shield agent that she would never lose. "Anything?" She questions, hopeful. They did this question and answer dance every day. Any significant movements today? Had he heard anything? Any news from the surface? From their missing people? Both had been unable to give up hope that maybe somehow they’d survived. "No," he says, regretfully. Their need for information was strong but they never had much luck in that department since being forced to inhabit this space station. They were both used to being on top, in control. Formerly the director and his right hand. To not be in the loop, questioning everything, to be blindsided and shut out was not something they were accustomed to. It was one of the harder aspects of life here. They were still getting used to it after all this time. The familiar flash of hurt clouds her eyes. His calloused hand reaches out to cover her own, silently comforting her. Each time he reports no news, he knows that the hope dies a little bit more inside of her. There would always be the open wound: what happened to their people. Their imaginations were probably worse than the reality. That didn't stop the nightmares and the constant intrusive thoughts. The guilt weighed heavily upon them. The loss that they had suffered was irreparable. After working with the team all of those years, they'd grown to care about each other like family. Then it was split apart. They'd lost Daisy and Mack somewhere on the surface that day the Earth cracked apart. Nothing was the same after that. Even though Fitz, Simmons, and Yo-Yo had made the journey with them everything had changed. Yo-Yo silently envied that everyone had their partner to turn to yet she lost hers. Fitz and Simmons felt the pressure of building the time machine. They all disagreed about how to move forward. Yo-Yo wanted to attack the Kree. Fitz and Simmons argued that the time machine wouldn't work. They couldn't go back to change what had happened. It was already done, so there was no point. He and Melinda wanted to play the long game. Keep living under Kree rule until Robin gave them something significant. They'd all become a pitiful shadow of the team that they'd used to be. Melinda and Robin were the only things that he had left in this world. "Dad?" He turns his attention down to the small figure wrapped in blankets, blinking up at him. "Hi honey," he replies. He can't help but smile while looking at her. Her sweet innocence helped him forget for just a little while. She gave him another reason to go on. When he was doubting it all he thought of her. Her future. And he remembered why it was so important to keep moving forward every day. "I missed you," she says, wide brown eyes staring up at him. "I missed you too. I thought about snuggling here with you two all day." Truly he did. Always favoring the quiet with them rather than killing overgrown mutant bugs. But, he had a job to do. Even if he wasn't an agent officially, he had still sworn to serve and protect all people. The innocent. He'd never give up that duty. That fight. Now it was a fight for the survival and freedom of the human race. "Did you get all of the monsters out?" She questions, suddenly very serious. Unfortunately her fear is not a case of childhood imagination gone awry. The roaches are real and the base is crawling with them. The lie forms quickly in his mind. It's the type of lie all parents tell their kids. That the monster has been vanquished in order to protect them. All to keep the burdens of adulthood from the kids. "Of course I did. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't. You know how scared I get," he gulps comically. "Yea. It's okay....mom will protect you," Robin says, completely genuinely. "Oh she wounds me." He grabs his heart over his jacket dramatically. He can't hide the smirk from his face. It's true. Melinda would protect him if the roaches or anything else got in here. She was still much more capable in combat than him. Even though she's repeatedly assured him that he's actually improved with their weekly practices. Robin's pure childish giggles fill the room. She's laughing so hard that her head is thrown back into Melinda's shoulder. He peaks at Melinda and catches as she rolls her eyes at his antics, lips curving into a smile. The laughter quiets down as he catches Robin's eyes grow heavy once again. He reminds himself that she needs to sleep no matter how much he wants to stay here talking to her all night. "Go back to sleep. Maybe in the morning we can go gazing before I go to work. Sound good?" "Yea!" she nods excitedly. His heart still warms at the idea that she wants to spend time with him. Going gazing was their thing. They looked at the stars together. Their spot was on Level 2, the room where Fitz and Simmons worked on their plans for the time machine up until a year ago. Now the schematics and extensive notes that they'd taken lay strewn about the room haphazardly. No more than abandoned plans. The Kree paid the room no mind, believing it was just another storage area destroyed by the roaches. The far wall of the room had a retractable metal flap that would slowly slide open revealing a window that allowed them a glimpse of the stars- the deep blackness that seemed to go on forever. Somehow, it also held the promise of something greater. Of distant galaxies and the heroes that traveled around. Of course they'd learned that it was filled with assassins and marauders, but he still latched onto the hope that good could come from it too. He thought of it as a reflection of earth. Sure there were bad people but there were also a lot of good too. He just hoped that they could hold out long enough for that good to appear.

When Robin sat beside him at the window, he told her elaborate stories about mighty galaxy heroes that traveled through spaces fighting off evil. She probably didn't believe him, but she listened intently anyway with eyes wide while asking questions. He would always marvel at how wise beyond her years she was. But who wouldn't be with the things she's seen and lived through. He and Melinda have done everything in their power to preserve her childhood. To ease her worries and let her have fun. It was a difficult task. This was no place for a child to roam free or to play with others. The Kree did not see the value in allowing free time. They were fierce and strict even with the children. That's why Melinda mostly stayed in their quarters to keep Robin safe and entertained. "Alright. Mom and I are going to sleep too. Come get us if you need anything," he reminds her. "Okay. I love you," she murmurs, eyes already flittering closed. Melinda tilts her head down and drops a kiss on the top of Robin's head. She slides herself out of the bed and stands next to him. "I love you too," he says, heart full of warmth. He lifts the white blanket up to Robin's shoulders, making sure she's fully covered. Then, he tucks each side of the blanket under her body so she stays completely wrapped up. The last thing he does is bend over and kiss her cheek just like every night. He starts walking out of the room, then turns back for one more peak at her. Her chest moves slowly up and down as she rests. She's peaceful like this, unburdened by anything. He commits the image to memory, telling himself that she's okay and if she needs them she'll come into their room tonight. He follows Melinda into the hallway. She slips into concerned parent mode once they're out of Robin's earshot, spinning around to face him before getting to their room. Her suit of armor fades away as the seconds tick by. "She couldn't fall asleep without me there. It's getting worse. She's having the nightmares at least four times a week now," she reports, the worry unmistakable in her tone. "Did she learn anything?" If she was having nightmares maybe she'd learned more about their situation. Something about their impending doom. Any piece of information that would help them. "No....it wasn't anything relevant. She was seeing.....death. Mine this time," she tells him arms folding in front of her stomach protectively. They didn't like dwelling on their deaths. They'd made the shared decision quickly that they wouldn't want to know about either of their deaths if Robin saw them. It was too much. Just last month he'd come home to Robin crying in her room after seeing his death. He sat with her for a while, holding her close to his chest reassuring her that he was okay. Melinda had dried tear tacks on her cheeks when he crawled into bed that night. "Anything significant on your end?" She asks changing the subject, back to agent mode. "It's bad out there. Kasius....he's taking more people," he reports. Anyone who Kasius deemed as a threat would be sent to the surface, which was guaranteed imminent death. Earth had become uninhabitable after breaking apart. Rumors had floated around about what it was like. Zero oxygen. Your lungs would instantly burst. The land infested with roaches. Deadly storms raged on. Anyone who gave the Kree a misguided look or said something that they deemed suspicious was doomed. That's why he stuck with keeping his head down, making miniscule moves only when he was sure it was completely safe. Which meant information came slow and progress was barely more than standstill. "I got a couple more snippets today," he tells her, pulling the proof out of his back pocket. Someone had slipped him a two page document detailing where the Kree received supplies from. The aim was to know ahead of time what the Kree were planning on doing by getting their hands on shipment manifestos. There were only a few people that he could trust out there. People would turn on one another for an extra meal or a couple of extra tokens. It was every man for himself. The hope that people held out for had died out after the first year passed. The lack of progress left them both feeling frustrated and useless. Shield had ingrained in them that missions were to be completed swiftly. The bad guys were to be arrested or taken down permanently. Hand-to-hand combat was a must. All of these things were completely impractical to them now. They were in the long fight this time. Recon was key. Forming relationships with other people who were strangers but they had no choice but to rely on. The Kree had them outnumbered, outgunned. Resources were at the bare minimum. It had already been two years and they had little to show for it. The continuation of the human race was at stake and the pressure weighed heavily upon their shoulders. "You're bleeding," Melinda suddenly says. She reaches up, fingertips lightly touching the side of his neck right under his left ear. He sees her squinting against the dim light out of the corner of his eye. Her fingers fall away from his neck as she grabs his hand without another word and leads him down the hall to their bathroom. She sits him on the metal toilet seat, her knees brushing his own as she moves. It's cramped with two people in here, but it brings them closer together so he doesn't mind. He watches her as she gathers supplies from the medicine cabinet hidden behind the mirror that hangs over the sink. They didn't have much stored up. They'd conserved and traded various items to get the collection that they have now. It's more than most people have. She picks up a piece of gauze and places a couple of drops of the liquid antiseptic onto it. It would be enough to clean the cut. It was so small that he hadn't even realized it was there until she pointed it out. Still, they could never be too careful. Her fingers lightly grasp his jaw and move his face to the side so she can get a clear view of the cut. The antiseptic stings as the gauze makes contact with his broken skin. He can't help the hiss that escapes his lips in response. She tapes the gauze to his skin to eliminate the chance of infection. He feels the warmth from her fingertips as she presses the sticky material against his neck. Her touch lingers over the patch and he senses her words before they even leave her mouth. "You have to be more careful," she sighs. It's meant as a warning but he detects the fear behind her words. "I'm trying," he tells her honestly. He knew the consequences of getting sick or hurt up here with supplies severely limited. They'd seen it first-hand. It happened to a married couple who they'd met and considered friends. Both were former police officers, so they'd all bonded over the idea of a quiet rebellion. It was a case of wrong place, wrong time. Donna had been assigned garbage duty. Tom had joined him on the roach cleanup crew. One day, Donna and a group of her co-workers had gotten into the elevators and went down to Level 2. A roach had greeted the group of them once the doors opened. She'd been slashed across the chest, but lucky to escape. A week later, she was dead. They hadn't had the proper supplies to heal her. After that, Tom had never been the same. A haunted look had permanently clouded his eyes. Phil saw himself in that man if anything ever happened to Melinda or Robin. Someone with nothing left to lose. A couple days after Donna's death Tom had gone up to the Kree level with a baseball bat- the level that was inhabited by the rulers. They never heard from him again. "Try harder, Phil. Please...I.....can't. I can't do this without you," she says, voice breaking with raw honesty. They'd stopped pretending and putting on brave faces for each other long ago. Their life together had gotten much easier from then on. Once they both accepted this new flow of their relationship. He knows that she'd be able to keep on going if something would happen to him. He knows her strength. The fight that burns inside of her. But he doesn't dare say it aloud. He swallows the words before they can leave his mouth, not wanting to get into that fight again. The one that they always had about recklessness and unnecessary risks on both of their parts. The one that stemmed from not wanting to lose each other over careless mistakes. He stands and cups her cheek, wanting her to know that he understands her worries. He waits for her dark eyes to meet his before speaking. He could always learn everything he needed to know by looking into those eyes. "I'll be more careful," he says seriously. It's a promise that he has every intention of keeping. To see Melinda and Robin through this mess. He can see that she needs the reassurance. He knows when to push her and today is not one of those days. The hand on her cheek travels through her dark strands and moves to holds the back of her head. He pulls her against his body with the other hand, needing to feel her warmth. Instant relief floods his senses as he's finally able to hold her after such a long day apart. Her arms wrap around his middle, holding him equally as close. His palm runs over the knots on her back, applying a light pressure, aiming to relieve the built up tension in her shoulder muscles. He clutches her a little bit tighter tonight feeling the honesty, love, protection, and acceptance in radiating from her arms. They'd become so intertwined he didn't know where he ended and she began. They were two drained people, desperate for the fight for survival to be over, but never granted the luxury. So he held her just much longer tonight, knowing that their daily challenges were far from over. He'd fight until the bitter end, humanity's last breath if it meant she'd live.

//end//

#Philinda #philinda fic #Phil Coulson #melinda may #robin #aos 5x08 #agents of shield #aos #philinda fanfiction #family feels

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rubychan228 · 7 years ago

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 5x10 thoughts + Infinity War predictions

Because of the hiatus, Infinity War will happen before the season five finale. I think that might be relevant.

Spoilers below the cut.

I do think Coulson will die, and I think it will be in episode 100. Chloe Bennet said she was crying all day shooting it and Clark Gregg described the episode as "soul-crushing". So, yeah...

It's possible, given that Mack's death in future Yo-Yo’s timeline is apparently associated with fire that trying to save Coulson violates his mystery deal with Ghost Rider and this costs Mack his life and sets the stage for the world to be destroyed.

Kinda out there theory but:

Option 1 — Coulson lives, the world is destroyed.........by Thanos.

Option 2 — Coulson dies, and is resurrected in "Infinity War" (by the Avengers, using an Infinity Stone) and he is instrumental in defeating Thanos; saving the world.

It would make sense, in a way.

The reason Coulson can't return in the movies is that you need to watch AoS season one to understand how he's not dead and you can't require that for understanding what's happening in the movie. Killing him in the show then resurrecting him again in the movies side-steps this. Bringing him back to the films in a way that's accessible to movie-only fans.

But, he could only be brought back if he was dead when they tried, which he wouldn't be if the team saved him.

You still have the Infinity Stones being the thing that breaks the time-loop.

Coulson "bring[ing] the pieces together" doesn't refer to repairing the Earth or the monolith, it refers to something he does in the movie. Possibly bringing the pieces of the fractured Avengers back together.

There's an implication that someone dies in the movie, probably Cap. This could be devastating to the Avengers, possibly so much so that the team isn't able to respond to something that happens in the way they need to to stop Thanos. Bringing Coulson back could be what snaps the them out of their sadness, and gets them doing what needs done.

Which brings things full circle. In Avengers 1 Coulson dies and Cap rallies the Avengers to save the day. In Avengers 3, Cap dies but Coulson comes back and rallies the Avengers to save the day.

This could also be why Disney stepped in and wouldn't let ABC cancel the show. They needed season five to happen to set up the movie.

Also, I have no confirmation for this, but I have heard rumors that the S.H.I.E.L.D. team's actors are listed as cast members for Infinity War. If true, that would make me really confidant in this theory.

Other random thoughts/observations:

For the record, Yo-Yo loses her arms in the comics. #AgentsofSHIELD [Link]

Specifically, Secret Warriors #3, from June, 2009. (She later get robot arms.)

If you didn't catch it, the stuff Tye and Kasius drank, appeared to be called "Odium". #AgentsofSHIELD [Link]

[Speaking of...] Hmm. That effect is similar to, but not the same as, what happened to Mack when he went into the Kree temple in season two. #AgentsofSHIELD [Link]

Not sure what that means, but yeah.

Oh, so maybe [Kasius'] father was the alien that came before the world was destroyed. #AgentsofSHIELD [Link]

Depending on how long Kree live, we could even see baby versions of Kasius, his brother, and/or Sinara...

Some people have seen behind the scenes photos that supposedly depict Jeff Ward (Deke) on set, in costume, with Dove Cameron (who isn't appearing until the present day story line). This would mean he not only survives, but goes back to the past with them. The only way I could see that working is as an effect of being right by the monolith shard as it exploded.

I don't think future!Enoch could have survived too, though. Past!Enoch should still be around, but he may be orbiting Jupiter with popsicle!Fitz.

That's all I can think of for now.

Non-Tumblr contact info || Buy me a coffee

#marvel #agents of s.h.i.e.l.d.#avengers #captain america #mine #my posts #my theories #incorrect theories

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nellie-elizabeth · 7 years ago

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Fun & Games (5x06)

My heart!!!! Let's get started.

Cons:

Tess is dead, and Ben is dead. I almost put this under the "pros" section because I was genuinely shocked by these plot twists, but at the end of the day it feels like a wasted opportunity. All of the new characters in this future world haven't had time to fully develop. Daisy was devastated when Ben was killed, but I found myself more curious than upset. I wanted to know more about this guy! And Tess... I understand the logic of killing her off, as she represented a safety net for our leads that they needed to lose. But why spend time developing her only to get rid of her so quickly? Maybe this is just a pacing problem.

I'm still not convinced that Enoch is a necessary character. He acts in this episode as a guide for Fitz, leading him through the social etiquette in his new role as a high-end yet still disreputable bidder for Kasius' prized Inhumans. But Fitz does such an amazing job of playing the part, and Enoch barely helps him out, so... I guess we'll still have to wait and see how this character is utilized moving forward.

Pros:

I'm saving the main story for last because I'm afraid I'll ramble about it for far too long. Coulson, Elena, and Mack are still back with the general human population. They help out a young teenage boy who goes through terrigenesis and gets telekinetic powers. He is going to be sold to Kasius like the others, but Yo-Yo uses her powers to get him out of there before that can happen. This was a very basic story that allowed us some times with new and old characters, showed the compassion of our leads, while still emphasizing the trickiness of their current dilemma. Some good action, some good worrying as these three are still separated from Jemma, Daisy, and May... I don't have much else to say about it other than the fact that it really worked for me. Even Tess' death, which does seem like a waste, was well done within this episode. When they saw her hanging there as a warning... man. I was not expecting that at ALL.

Let's talk about Fitz, shall we? He was such a bad-ass. We see here how his Framework personality actually helped him out, as he was able to be convincing enough that Kasius never suspected him of being anything other than what he said he was. He was cruel, and rude, and managed to cover up his pain and fear so very well. Excellent acting, as always. There were so many little moments where he and Jemma are able to share a glance, but not talk to one another... it just killed me. Especially when he first sees her and his breath catches in his throat. Too good.

The fight choreography was incredible too. We got to see May fighting Ben, and then Daisy fighting Kasius' girlfriend... we got to see a bad-ass escape from Fitz, Simmons, and Daisy, intercut with adorable banter... this is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at its finest.

I know I'm not going in to a lot of depth on some of these elements, but that's because I want to focus on the fact that FITZSIMMONS ARE ENGAGED! And the way this plays out is simply too precious for words. First, we've got Fitz coming up to Simmons and telling her to play it cool and pretend not to know him. He then proceeds to give her a beautiful speech and propose to her. The only thing is... her hearing was turned off the whole time. She had no idea Fitz was right behind her. He touches her on the arm, and she turns around to see him just as Kasius walks up, and Fitz realizes that she hasn't heard a word of what he's just said. Ugh this is just too dramatic and I love it. Later, in the heat of their daring escape, Fitz tells Jemma he's never letting her go again, pulls her into a dramatic kiss, and Jemma does the proposing: "then marry me, Fitz!" "Absolutely." As the two of them help a concussed Daisy out of the arena, Fitz points out that he actually did propose first.

See, this is my jam. We get both the heartfelt speech proposal, and the science babies bickering proposal. It's exactly what I wanted. I could not be happier about that proposal. Of course, now it just remains to be seen if they can actually escape and make it to the happy ending they both deserve.

It seems pretty clear where the story is heading from this point forward: down to the surface of the completely destroyed planet Earth. We've got Deke's father down there, and now apparently May is there as well. We also still need to get to the bottom of this whole "Destroyer of Worlds" business, and find out exactly what Daisy did or didn't do to put things in this state. And... we need to figure out if there's a way to fix it. The fact is, Fitz didn't find a way to travel through time and solve the problem. He waited over seven decades to reunite with Simmons and the others, and that means he is every bit as stuck as the rest of them. Is Enoch their only hope? How do I feel about that?

This show, man. It does some weird stuff, but I'm always willing to go along for the ride. Especially now that FITZSIMMONS ARE ENGAGED!!!

9/10

#review #agents of shield #agents of shield review #agents of s.h.i.e.l.d.#agents of s.h.i.e.l.d. review #aos #marvel

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apathbacktoyou · 6 years ago

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“Rumor has it, I make you nervous.” for whatever pairing you'd like!

wanna guess which pairing i chose? new year, same otp lol

as always, ao3 or under the cut :)

When General Krenyk had announced he would be returning from his voyage with a possible successor, they had all expected a seasoned soldier, a lieutenant at the very least.

No one would have guessed the successor in question would be a scrawny girl barely in her teens with no family name who eyed them all with suspicion and didn’t say a word.

“This is Sinara,”Krenyk introduced. She inclined her head the smallest fraction of a nod in acknowledgement. Krenyk laid a hand on her shoulder with a smile, unperturbed when she shrugged him off.“I have taken her on as my ward.”

“Lovely to meet you,”Kasius said into the awkward silence that followed this announcement when it became painfully clear that neither his father nor brother would say anything.

She turned her gaze to him, still silent, not returning the smile he gave her. Her eyes were startlingly golden.

“Can’t she talk?”Faulnak demanded.

“Unfortunately not,”Sinara said, so deadpan Kasius barely managed to bite back a laugh.

Krenyk’s smile did falter a little but he quickly caught himself.“It’s been a long journey. Kasius, would you mind showing Sinara to my chambers? She can take the guest room for now.”

“A servant could do that just as well,”Garron said, finally awaking from his stupor.

Kasius knew he cared only about the vague insinuation his son might be ordered about like some errand boy. But he had really no desire to stay in the room at this moment.“It’s no problem.”

No one really reacted to his words so he turned to leave, Sinara following closely behind.

“You can’t be serious,”Garron started but the door fell closed before they could hear more.

Kasius was wracking his brain for something to say yet this wasn’t a situation he had ever been prepared for. Sinara beat him to it, anyway.“You’re the younger brother?”

“Yes.” He stopped walking, turning to offer her his hand. She was taller than him. He hadn’t noticed before.“I’m Kasius.”

She hesitated long enough that he was about to lower his hand again when she took it.

“Krenyk’s insistent on keeping the stray,”Faulnak said, balancing his chair on only two legs.

Kasius gave a non-committal hum in reply, remembering how Mother had always told him off for teetering like that, and hoped Faulnak would fall and break his neck like she’d been worried.

“Didn’t think he was the type,”Faulnak continued,“And even once you look past her age… She’s such a scrawny thing, and not even pretty.”

“She’s his ward,”Kasius reminded him acidly. He did not care for the disgusting implication in his brother’s words. Krenyk just had a habit to grow rather fond of the unwanted, Kasius could vouch for that himself.

Faulnak scoffed.“Or so he says. Whatever the case, he’s losing his marbles if he thinks he can keep that girl at court.”

“You just don’t like her because she made you look like an idiot,”Kasius said, returning his attention to his book.“Which you are, so good on her for noticing.”

The satisfaction of speaking his thoughts aloud was almost worth the sharp sting of Faulnak’s hand coming down on the back of his neck. He managed to suppress the hiss of pain, having fully expected retaliation.

Father had complained about bruising on Kasius’ face, and Faulnak was nothing if not an obedient son.

Sinara chewed on her lower lip, doing her best to keep her attention on the woman supposed to teach them - something. She wasn’t all too clear on anything aside from the younger prince apparently being her age and them therefor being tutored together.

She’d forgotten the woman’s name already, and she was focussed mostly on the prince, anyway. Sinara hadn’t answered any of her questions, nor written anything down, and she had yet to even notice that.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to understand what she was saying. But all the writing looked wrong, and the numbers made no sense without them.

“Rhaen, can we have a break?”Kasius suddenly asked.

Their tutor frowned but agreed, heading towards the other side of the room to fetch a glass of water.

Kasius leaned over to Sinara.“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,”she said, horrified by the odd pitch in her voice. She didn’t want to disappoint Krenyk, as silly as that was. Her birth parents had given her away without hesitation, and she’d moved on from that. A few months on a spaceship with someone who decided to be her guardian because he’d seen her break someone’s jaw in a fight shouldn’t make her scared of being sent away again. Even if he’d said all the things she’d pretended her father might say to her if she were to ever return home. Even if no one else had ever said she had potential.

“Are you alright?” Kasius stared at her, wide-eyed and flabbergasted.

Sinara furiously wiped away the stupid tears stinging at the corners of her eyes, jerking her head towards Rhaen’s notes.“I can’t read that shit.”

“Oh,”he said, sounding a little relieved. He handed her a handkerchief.“It’s cursive. I’ll send Rhaen away and teach you, if you’d like.”

She only shrugged in reply, unsure whether he even meant it, but he was already dismissing their tutor.

Training was a lot easier with Sinara there. At times Kasius would almost go so far as calling it fun. He had his own sparring partner now, and though Faulnak still mocked him at every turn it was easier to ignore when it wasn’t accompanied by a thorough beating.

Sinara stopped once he was down, just the way they were always supposed to. She kicked Faulnak in the ribs twice more than entirely necessary, though, and winked at Kasius when she turned away from the fight.

With one kind gesture, he’d unwittingly bought her fierce loyalty, and with three cracked ribs, she’d earned his in return.

Krenyk watched from the side of the training grounds, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth. Sinara had lacked the access to a proper education to reach her potential when he had found her, and Kasius had needed someone to rely on. It seemed it all was working out as well as he had hoped.

“How come you get to wear a uniform?”Sinara complained, fiddling with one of her many bangles. They were rather in style these days.

“I have a rank high enough for regalia,”Krenyk returned, pleased that they’d gotten to the point where she was comfortable enough to argue, as one should be able to with their guardians.”You, however, are attending as my ward. You must present yourself accordingly.”

She pulled a face but he saw the small shimmer of joy underneath.“I’m not dancing with Faulnak.”

“I dare say he won’t ask you to,”Krenyk said.

“Good.” She slipped into her shoes.“Presentable enough?”

“Absolutely.”

She placed her hand into the crook of his proffered arm. It was her first time attending an official function, and she was a little nervous. But mostly she was elated that this could only mean he had no intention of returning her to the barracks.

And anyway, Kasius had promised to teach her how to dance.

“Be careful,”Kasius whispered against her hair, arms around her tight enough that she was starting to wonder whether he would ever let go again.

“I won’t be in the vanguard,”she reminded him, patting his back indulgently anyway. Kasius worried enough for both of them. It was her first time going into active combat but she couldn’t say she was all that concerned. The General’s ward wasn’t cannon fodder, like she’d resigned herself to being back in the barracks.

“I’ll write to you every day,”he said, drawing back enough to look at her.

She was about to make a joke about that when his lips were on hers. The kiss was over as suddenly as it had started, and she turned to board her ship without a further goodbye, fingers pressed against her mouth and cheeks burning.

He did indeed writer her every day. She did her best to reply.

Eight months. She had been gone for eight months, and hadn’t written for the last six weeks. He knew she was alive but that alone did little to calm his racing thoughts.

Perhaps she had grown tired of him, saw him for the disgrace his father constantly reminded him he was, now that she was battle-tested and knew better.

But that did not keep him from waiting in the hangar when the soldiers returned. A few of his peers had invited themselves along, Isana hanging from his arm and chattering on about who knew what. He didn’t bother listening to a single word, brushing her off the second he finally caught sight of Sinara.

He stopped right in front of her, not daring to pull her into his arms no matter how much he wanted to. There was something cold about her he’d never seen directed at himself.

He was taller than her, now, and she was no longer the scrawny thing that didn’t quite fit her own limbs. There was a scar on her face, and new insignia on her lapel.

“You stopped writing,”he said. He did not know what else to say.

Sinara shrugged.“I got busy.”

And just like that she excused herself.

She pulled up the message that had made it all so difficult, tracing her finger across the words as if it might make them mean something again.

I miss you so much you may as well have taken my heart with you.

She hadn’t known how to respond to that, and with every day that had passed it had gotten more uncomfortable to do so. She’d thought when she saw him again it would sort itself out. She thought she might just kiss him and let that do the talking.

But he had stood there with another woman, one much more befitting of his ranks, and she’d realised she had waited too long. Should have never been foolish enough to think he meant anything by it in the first place.

They spent far too long in a state of uncertainty, dancing around each other as if they were strangers. He saw her constantly, her social circle intermingling with his enough that she could not outright avoid him, though he sometimes suspected she wanted to by the odd looks she gave him.

Kasius finally decided he’d had enough. Even if she did not feel what he felt, he at least wanted his best friend back. He resolved to approach her after training.

It did not get that far, Krenyk ordering her over to partner with him before he could get his bearings.

He fumbled, and his weapon went flying with a clatter loud enough to draw stares from half the facility.

“Well, look at that. And here I thought Clio was exaggerating.” Her smirk suited her infuriatingly well.“Rumour has it I make you nervous.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,”he scoffed, picking up the weapon he’d dropped.“I just happen to be astoundingly incompetent.”

“That’s not how I remember it,”Sinara said. She nearly sounded her old self again.

Or mayhaps he simply wanted her to.

He swallowed hard, and forced his face to remain impassive.“Are we here to talk or to train?”

If he hadn’t known better, he’d have thought she looked hurt.

“Go ask her to dance,”Clio hissed in his ear.

Kasius swatted her away with a scowl.“Drop it. She doesn’t want to.”

Clio sighed.“I’m an idiot. Well, no. You’re the idiot. This whole time I thought she was the problem but you’re just as dense, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?”Kasius asked. There was time to be offended at being called a dense idiot later. Right now he was rather more interested in whatever Clio might have to say that could get Sinara away from Akedus.

“She likes you,”Clio said, so slowly as if she were talking to a particularly daft cat.“And she thinks you don’t like her because she’s not nobility.”

Kasius gaped at her.“She what? That’s ridiculous.”

“I know. Now go tell her that.”

He did not ask her to dance. He did, however, ask her for a word in private.

They sat in the same little alcove they’d hidden in as children when he’d been too exhausted from his father’s needling to stand it even a second longer, and Sinara had piled a plate high with aperitives for them to share.

“This is less spacious than I remember it,”Sinara remarked.

Her arm was indeed pressed up against his. He quite liked that.

“Well, a lot of things have changed.” Kasius took her hand, half expecting her to pull away.“I missed you.”

“I’ve been back quite some time,”she reminded him mildly.

He rolled his eyes as he intertwined their finger more comfortably.“You know what I mean. I’ve missed us.”

“Is there an us?”she asked, tongue darting out to wet her lips nervously.

Words didn’t seem quite enough, so he just kissed her.

“Well, didn’t you play the long game?”Sinara remarked drily some years later, carefully laying their newborn baby into Krenyk’s arms.“Adopt the first stray you find and next thing you know, your grandson is next in line for the throne.”

Kasius smiled pressing a kiss to Sinara’s forehead. Krenyk was the only grandfather the little one would ever know, and he was quite happy with that.

“Don’t be silly,”Krenyk said, eyes only on the babe.“There is no way I could have foreseen this outcome.”

Faulnak’s death had been a welcome surprise.

#anon #prompt fill #kasinara #this got away from me lol #replies #i never know what i tag asks as lol

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sueboohscorner · 7 years ago

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#Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 5 episode 5 "Rewind" Recap and Review

The episode begins with them all eating in the diner, the only difference being that Fitz isn’t really hungry. When the men in black arrive, Fitz tries to take the blame, but they are all gone before he finishes his thought.

Then of course the real military shows up, arrest him, and ask where the others are. Sad thing for all involved is that he doesn’t know.

They don’t believe him and put him in some kind of interrogation room. After repeating for the 10th time that he doesn’t know where they are, he gets frustrated and demands to see the person in charge. A woman named General Hale comes and starts talking about Daisy shooting Talbot. Fitz then tries to explain about A.I.D.A and takes blame for Mace’s death. They of course believe none of this, so they stick him in a cell. They take out of the cell under bright light and gunpoint in the middle of the night and hook him up to a lie detector. He wants to find them, even more than they do. They decide to let him help and give him pens paper, book, and a tv to watch soccer.

When he’s not working on the problem and watching soccer, he’s working out or drawing monkeys on the wall to keep track of the days.

His first theory is that he has some form of schizophrenia, due to the Framework and his prior brain damage. The other woman tells him that everyone in the dinner lost two minutes of memory, so it wasn’t him. He then remembers a high-pitched noise and requests book on sonic frequencies.

He also wants her to mail a letter to a soccer magazine. Her and her male cohort decide to do so after they have it analyzed.

This pattern continues for six months until General Hale has had enough. Fitz’s last theory is that they were abducted by aliens, which is true as far as we currently understand it. They get angry and then Hunter shows up, posing as his attorney. I’ve been saying we need some humor to lighten this season up.

Fitz asked why it took him so long. Hunter says he’s been in Bangladesh. Then they argue about soccer. Hunter likes the same team my brother does, so I’m a bit partial. Then they hug. Fitz has a complicated and longwinded escape plan. Hunter blows the room up.

They then run outside and see the helicopter that Hunter was planning to use as a decoy crash and burn, so they have to book it to an old RV, which has been souped-up a bit.

General Hale tells the others to analyze the letters again because that’s the only way an attorney could have known where he was. Then they find the RV on surveillance, but decide to follow it, to see if it leads them to the others.

Hunter and Fitz update each other on their lives while Fitz gets updated on the headlines. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been disbanded, Fitz doesn’t want to talk about A.I.D.A, and Bobbi and Hunter are still together. They almost had a second wedding, but it was interrupted by ninjas. Crisis on Earth X anyone? Anyway, Hunter says that distance is his and Bobbi’s distance as their savior while Fitz says that it’s his and Simmons’s curse. I’m just happy that the writers didn’t break them up just because Bobbi’s also in space.

Hunter’s been doing some merc work and Rusty, the helicopter pilot, was one of contacts. He was apparently paranoid as all get out and has surveillance equipment in the back of the RV, behind the margarita machine and the ferret cages. Should’ve been monkeys. What does Fitz have to do to get some monkeys? While Hunter uses the margarita machine, Fitz uses the surveillance equipment to find the beer truck that was at the diner during the blackout, but he still can’t find the two minutes. He does keep track of the truck, even through three label changes.

They find mister creepy alien man, but he’s not surprised to see them. He shows them the video of the team being taken by the monolith. His name is Enoch and he’s been on Earth for 30,000 years as something called a “sentient chronicon.”

He seems like an Observer to me. He explains that, according to someone called the Seer, the team was needed in the future to fulfill a prophecy that Fitz isn’t a part of. He refuses to let them see the Seer until Fitz threatens while a shocked Hunter looks on. There is also an alien language on the wall.

He takes them to a park. Fitz apologizes when Enoch said he would have helped them without violence. The Seer is Robin Hinton, daughter of Charles Hinton aka the Inhuman from season 3 who predicted Lincoln’s death.

The military people are at Enoch’s house and see the alien writing.

Fitz remembers them and introduces himself to Robin as a friend of Daisy’s. She’s writing in the same alien language. According to Enoch, she’s the only human to have ever known it.

The military people notice the drawings on the fridge and somehow realize that they predict the future.

They close on Fitz, Hunter, and the rest. Robin knows that they’re coming. Enoch gives everyone earpieces and pulls the same disappearing act, this time with a lost half hour.

He takes them to the Lighthouse in the present.

General Hale wants Robin.

Enoch explains that he’s under strict orders not to interfere except when faced with an extinction level event.

Fitz and Hunter talk. Fitz explains how he knows Robin and then he talks about the Framework. Hunter is the Fitzsimmons shipper and reassures Fitz that he’s not a cold-blooded killer.

Fitz talks to the mother, who explains that Robin doesn’t really talk anymore because she has so many timelines going in her head. She asks anyway why Fitz was left behind and Robin answers. She shows him a picture of several stick figures standing around one bleeding out and tells him that he’s supposed to save them.

Enoch tells them that there is a capsule in the military base that they just broke out of, which is called Blue Raven Reach.

They somehow don’t get caught sneaking into the base as repairmen. After they get in, they change into military units and release the ferrets. They’ll trigger the perimeter alarms and distract everyone.

Inside, they find the capsule and the Zephyr. They reminisce until they get caught. When that happens, they use Icers to get out.

General Hale says she’s disappointed with the two people that have been working on this case and shoots them in the head. Then she makes a phone call needing a clean up crew. Nothing says shady quite like shooting your subordinates in the head.

Fitz stashes some gear in the Lighthouse, so they’ll all have ammo when he gets there. Then we find out what the capsule is. It’s a cryofreeze chamber. Hunter thinks it’s insane, but Fitz doesn’t care. Enoch will keep him on a chronicon ship so that he’ll be safe. Hunter will watch over the Hintons in the meantime. And then, right before Fitz goes into cryofreeze, they Star Wars us, which is great.

Enoch wakes Fitz up. While Fitz was asleep, he made a plan. They’ll be at the Lighthouse in a couple of days. During such time, Enoch will explain. He asks if Fitz has it in him and he gets Doctor face. He’s got it in him.

This was wonderful. There was actually sunlight and no Kasius, not to mention how much I missed Fitz and Hunter. 9/10.

#Agents Of Shield #AgentsofSHIELDRecap #AgentsofSHIELD

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shewassoferal · 6 years ago

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okay but I’m considering an au with more physical damage from Jemma because - choking tw - stabbing tw

-stabbed in the leg, with knife going fully in, bleeding a lot, knocked unconscious with a hit over the head (if you pass out after hitting your head go to get checked out, it’s not good like movies make believe), then kept bleeding, was strangled for several seconds by LMD Fitz too, to the point that she had the purple handprint on her neck for a while -went to the Framework which is said to be very draining for brain and body as a whole, to the point that Fitz feared a month would give a perfectly healthy May brain damage -was choked again in the Framework and shot, and while it wasn’t the real body, apparently the real body responds to your death there so it’s not safe to say that there was no consequence, spends ten days there, comes back just in time to have to run around -within a day she’s sent to the future where she has an alien thing put in her head, and not only it makes her deaf but it allows Kasius to be heard inside her head, and also impairs her vision, so it’s safe to say that her brain was involved, and when it’s pulled out she was noticeably bleeding from her ear (-days after coming home she’s temporarily strangled/lifted by her neck by a Fear!astronaut and shoved across the room -days later Ruby is the one holding her for her neck)

she never had time to recover from this, to rest, to get meds, to do anything a person should do after being stabbed, bleeding a lot, getting knocked out and strangled - and ten days frozen on one spot while you are basically in a coma isn’t ‘resting’, especially with what we know about the FW - and the emotional traumas didn’t help either, if anything it’s unrealistic that she left unscathed from each of these, let alone all of them

maybe the combination of being stabbed like that and framework could have left her with a limp, and/or have her hearing problems, and the visual impairment comes and goes

#about the blog #thinking about this

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apathbacktoyou · 6 years ago

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Oooooh more prompts!!! Okay, okay, what about: “If you kiss me, I will personally multilate you.” 💙

isn’t it the BEST that you don’t even have to specify a pairing👀

did this get a lot mushier than anything with the word ‘mutilate’ in it should? yes. yes, it did.

read on ao3 or under the cut

They had been told the princes would be on base. They had not been told they would actually join them for training.

Tyan, always the kissass, had already sidled up to the older brother, leaving his own crony to stand about by his lonesome.

Sinara silently cursed Azale for breaking her ribs; now she would have to pair with Var-Ten for today’s exercises. He was neither good company nor challenge enough to make it worth her while.

Just then, the crown prince spoke up.“There, Kasius, you can partner with the little twerp. Mayhaps she’ll leave you on your feet for more than ten seconds.”

His brother pushed away from the wall he had been leaning against, throwing Faulnak an exasperated look as he crossed over to Sinara. He was fit enough, really, but he did not hold himself like a fighter.

“It seems you’ll be stuck with me for today,”he said. His smile almost didn’t look forced.“I’m Kasius.”

“Sinara,”she replied. He did not offer his hand. She almost liked him for that.

“Shall we?” He gestured to one of the mats furthest from the rest of the recruits. She followed him without complaint, already marking down his weak spots as he took his position opposite her. His stance was technically impeccable, which almost certainly meant he was trying way too hard and was actually off balance. If she rushed him, she should be easily able to knock him down, no matter that he was taller and broader.

Ten seconds, his brother had said. She wondered if she was supposed to go easy on him, seeing as he was the prince. And Faulnak seemed like a dickhead, she didn’t care to serve his entertainment.

The choice was taken from her when she attacked. His balance was as bad as she’d thought, but she lost momentum when he brought the ball of his hand down hard on her shoulder blade. The pain was so intense she lost her own balance for a moment, tears springing to her eyes.

When they hit the ground, he was pinning her down. She pulled herself together quickly, ramming her knee into his sternum. She didn’t have the room to do it with much force, but he flinched anyway, grasp on her arm loosening enough for her to wrench free and deliver a quick jab against his larynx. Then he was easy to flip over.

“Well,”he said, apparently completely unbothered by being overpowered by someone so much smaller so quickly,“that didn’t go as badly as expected. Do you want someone to look at the incision site?”

“How did you know?” She got off him and to her feet. She’d thought him hitting the freshly implanted chip had been a happy accident.

He slowly got up as well, rubbing his throat.“You’re quite small, no family name, this base is test ground for the implants. Good candidate for the programme. I took an educated guess.”

“Lucky guess,”she scoffed, though she actually found it rather impressive. A strategic mind was often worth more than muscle.

“Kasius, do you want me to call you a doctor?”Faulnak called over to them, mock concern not even the slightest bit believable. Tyan was jeering at his side.

Kasius rolled his eyes, but his cheeks did flood with colour. Well, she couldn’t exactly say anything to the crown prince, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t say anything.“He lasted about twice as long as you, Tyan, and didn’t try to say he just tripped!”

“Thank you,”Kasius muttered.

She pretended not to have heard, and went over to the obstacle course before he could repeat himself.

“There he is,”Azale said. Darillion whipped around so fast he almost fell off the bench.

With neither of them in training with her that day, they had yet to see the younger prince, who had not arrived with his brother’s entourage.

Now he was indeed entering the mess hall, and all by himself.

“He’s handsome,”Darillion remarked.“You didn’t mention he was handsome.”

Sinara didn’t dignify that with a reply, instead remaining focussed on her food until Azale kicked her in the shin under the table.

She was about to retaliate when she saw the look on her friend’s face.

The reason was easily found: Kasius was heading straight for their table.

He came to a stop next to Sinara and set a small cake down next to her plate, smiling.

“What’s that?”she asked, awfully aware of Faulnak and Tyan staring over to them. Azale and Darillion were gaping at Kasius as if he’d just punched her in the face. Which, now that she thought about it, would have been a more appropriate interaction.

“It’s a thon berry tartlet,”he said. If he noticed everyone in the mess hall watching them, he did not let on.“I noticed they don’t have desserts here. You’re not allergic to gwern, are you? There’s some in the glacing.” She had no idea if she was allergic, since she had no idea what he was talking about. Of course there were no desserts here. She’d never had one in her entire life. He was still smiling at her. It was getting rather unnerving.“Just think of it as an apology for taking advantage of your injury.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry for strategy,”Sinara gave back. Her cheeks were burning. They probably were the deep shade of what were apparently thon berries on the little cake. She forced herself to hold his gaze.

“Nonetheless, I do apologise.” With another smile, he turned and left for his brother’s table, sitting as far from Faulnak as he could manage.

“What the fuck,”Azale said as the same time as Darillion gushed,“Wasn’t that sweet? And he’s so handsome!”

“Shut up,”muttered Sinara. Neither of them were particularly helpful.

She picked up the treat gingerly. What the fuck, indeed.

“Go talk to him,”Darillion urged for the umpteenth time that night.

Sinara could barely even remember why she had agreed to come to the stupid party in the first place. Getting drunk was fun, but not worth being around all these people. Kasius looked like he was having similar thoughts, sitting near Faulnak, Tyan, and a few other sycophants.

“Go on, do it.” Darillion had now fallen into a sing-song voice, poking her side incessantly.

“Stop it!” Se smacked his hand away.“Aza, a little help? Tell him to stop.”

Azale had been very quiet on the matter so far, only offering a few pointed comments about the princes’ hair, clothes, and make-up. She took a deep swig of her drink.“You won’t want to hear this, Sin, but I think Dar has a point. You should hook up with the prince.” She took another swig.“And then steal all his valuables.”

Sinara buried her face in her hands.“You are both terrible.”

“He’s coming over,”Darillion announced, sitting up straight and fiddling with his collar.

Azale gave Sinara her bottle.“I think they’re playing dares.”

The way Faulnak and his gang were leering, Sinara was afraid she was right. Dares at these sorts of parties only ever involved fights or kissing. Somehow, she doubted they’d dared him to fight her again.

“Hey,”he started, but he didn’t get far.

“If you kiss me, I will personally mutilate you.” The words were out before she could stop herself.

“Noted,”Kasius replied, utterly unphased. Or that’s what she thought he said. Azale was laughing too hard to be entirely certain.

“You can kiss me,”Darillion said.“If you want. Just saying.”

“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind.” Kasius looked more at ease than he had on his way over, somehow.“May I sit? Or would that also get me mutilated?”

“No,”she said, and then quickly added,”I mean, yes. I mean, you can sit down.”

He did, and she offered him the bottle, because she really didn’t know what else she was supposed to do. They had had a short briefing on the arrival of the princes, but no one had said anything about what to do when you threatened one of them with bodily harm to keep them from kissing you even if you kind of wanted them to kiss you.

He took a swig of the liquor, pulled a face, and handed the bottle back to her.

“You’re more of a sweet tooth, aren’t you?” What the fuck had she said that for?

He smiled.“What gave me away?”

“That cake of yours? Sickly sweet.” She took another deep drink.“I kind of liked it, though. I didn’t expect to like it.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Darillion get up and tug Azale along with him. She pretended not to notice.

“If you think that’s sweet, I’ll have to bring you a noosbry mousse some time,”he said.“I almost can’t stomach them, and I find sweet things delightful.”

“Sounds awful,”she said. This conversation was more fun than it ought to be. She glanced back to Faulnak.“What’ll happen if you fail your dare?”

“Whatever it is, it’s better than mutilation,”he quipped. Then he shrugged.“They can’t do more than mock me. I’m their prince. And Faulnak is always insufferable anyway.”

She bit her lip, thinking for a moment, and then saying it before she could change her mind.“I won’t actually stop you. If you try to kiss me. Just so you know.”

“I don’t want to kiss you for a dare.” He sounded so appalled, it almost hurt worse than when he’d hit her surgical wound. She was about to get up when he grabbed her hand.“That came out wrong. I don’t want to kiss you for a dare, but I do want to kiss you. A lot, actually.”

“Oh.” She didn’t really know what to say to that, so she opted to kiss him instead. Despite the alcohol on his breath, he somehow tasted almost sweet. When she pulled away, she was only vaguely aware of someone wolf whistling nearby.“So, that settles your dare. Now you can kiss me all you want.”

“Noted,”he said, and pulled her back into his arms.

#sinarasmith #dialogue prompt #prompts #ask #asks #replies #i never know what i tag asks as lol #kasinara

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