This story takes place during Fitz and Simmons' last year at the Academy. Agents of Shield belongs to its best team ever of creators and ABC and Marvel.


"We're going to kick their butts," Fitz said smugly as he wrote his name next to Simmons' on the list of contestants, just beneath Timothy Ober and Miranda Green.

"Fitz it's not about winning, it's about promoting friendship between the schools." Simmons scolded halfheartedly.

He raised his eyebrows at her. She wanted to win didn't she? What was all this nonsense about friendship?

"After kicking their butts of course," she continued and he grinned at her. Much better, that was the Simmons he knew.

Their school was having what was meant to be a friendly competition with Operations, however just about everyone in both schools was more set on crushing the other school's students than getting to know them. Each Science and Technology team was put up against a team from Operations. Whoever won got a point for their school. The school with the most points at the end was the winner. Last year it had been operations by two points.

It was their last semester before graduation and the pair was dead set on winning this time.

"This year I'm running the maze," Simmons decided as they walked together to class across the green-space.

"When did we agree on that?" Fitz demanded, offended. He'd done alright last year. It wasn't his fault the other team cheated and set an illegal trap which left him hanging upside down by his ankles.

She let out a breath and cast him a patronizing look. "Because I'm not going to think of my stomach before I think of reaching the finish line." she informed him.

"Well... that's just not... I didn't..." but he knew she was right. He'd gone for a bag of twizzlers and been caught in a snare. It was stupid of him; it had obviously been a trap but there was no lunch break in the competition and he'd been so hungry.

He stewed silently for a moment, trying to think of a comeback that wouldn't embarrass him further.

Simmons seemed to sense his discomfort. She patted his shoulder consolingly and said, "You're the better spotter anyway," she smiled encouragingly, "with you spotting and me running the maze we'll win for sure."

"Operations won't stand a chance," he agreed. He didn't mind being the spotter, that was where all the strategy was anyway. Besides Simmons deserved a turn being the runner. He could do it of course, but it was only fair to let her have a try.

"We'll be the best team ever." she cheered and they high fived.

Simmons tried hard to pay attention to the lecture but it was difficult because Fitz kept passing notes to her with plans on how they were going to optimize their performance in the maze.

'Pay attention,' she wrote quickly before passing the paper back to him and refocusing her attention on the slides.

He scribbled something hurriedly, it sounded like he was pressing down too hard on the paper and she was unsurprised when it returned to her with a large hole in it.

'Do you think those meatheads in Operations are paying attention to slides or planning another way to cheat?' it read. The word cheat was underlined about five times and a long tear stretched across the bottom line.

She heard him tear another page from his notebook and sighed. He scratched something across the new paper and shoved it towards her.

'What happened to best team ever?' he demanded, 'What happened to kicking their butts?'

She wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or to kick him under the desk.

'What happened to learning Advanced Applications of Thermodynamics?' she inquired before sliding the paper back to him.

He read the note hastily before shooting her a look that said, 'C'mon Simmons, this is serious.' and she chuckled quietly at him.

He rolled his eyes but he was smiling as his pen moved across the paper.

'Fine,' she read, 'but there will be a strategy meeting right after class. My place. No excuses for absence will be accepted. There will definetely be snacks. FitzSimmons rules!'

She laughed out loud before clapping her hand over her mouth and looking wide eyed at the professor who narrowed his eyes at her and held a finger to his lips.

Fitz was laughing silently at her.

"Shush," she giggled, kicking him lightly under the desk.


Fun Background

Thank you to everyone who read, liked or reviewed my other stories. Collectively we make the best fanfiction team ever ;)

The Fringe reference in this story is Timothy Ober and Miranda Green. These two are among the children which cortexiphan (a drug that gives you superpowers) is tested on (along with my favourite superhero Olivia Dunham of course).

I was inspired to write Fitz and Simmons in class by reading notapepper's story of how they met.

The term runner is taken from the title of the novel the Maze Runner which belongs to it's author James Dashner. (I haven't actually read the book, I just see the title everywhere).

Next chapter should be up soon. Get ready to meet the enemy, Sam and Jack :).