Cranky.

It was what Skye was best described when she rolled off the bed and landed with a thud on the floor, had cereals without milk, and found out she bought a terrible kind of coffee from her last trip to the grocery. It was more than bad luck she thought.

A warm bath to soothe the aching tendons in her body, was her best plan of trying to outweigh her bad start. And maybe it was the only good thing that had become of her morning thanks to the minutes she wasted later on, hailing a taxi. Except she hadn't been the most fortunate soul of the day having failed to get one down, leaving her with the option of walking.

There was a coffee shop close to S.H.I.E.L.D. incorporated which she would pass on her way there. She debated whether or not she should enter the shop. If she didn't have at least a single drop of caffeine, she would surely collapse in front of her boss. However, peering into the cafe through the glass windows was a long line. Entertaining the idea of purchasing one will cost her her job. Which at her point, she could not afford to happen. But as a lady pushed through the glass door next to her, Skye couldn't help but slip through it before she got squished.

Skye patiently waited in her seat. She ordered her coffee about an hour ago, and still wasn't served. Her phone battery had gone down to ten percent from her excessive use of internet and apps.

There were a lot of people when she came in and she understood that it would take some time to prepare hers but she had compromised a meeting for one cup. It's not like she was craving or what, it's just that she'd drop to the floor in need of sleep if she didn't have any caffeine. So it meant only one thing: she needed this and she wasn't coming out of the shop without it.

"Hey excuse me," Skye said pulling a barista aside. "I ordered my drink an hour ago and it still hasn't arrived. Any chance I can get that now?"

"I'm really sorry ma'am but you're not actually the only one." He explained patiently. "About five customers have already called my attention with the same concern as well. One of our machines broke down leaving us with one working to serve so many."

He apologized a few more times after Skye released his arm. She was growing impatient and this was quite impossible. Her watch read ten-forty. Shit. She could definitely not miss her next meeting. That would cost her her whole job.

Skye drummed her fingers on the table a few more times, before standing up in a hurry and made her way to the counter, calling for the boy she spoke to earlier.

"Do this for me will you?" He nodded and leaned in closer to hear her over the noise of the crowd. "Just give out my cup to whoever has the same order as mine, alright? Tell them it's paid and that they're lucky."

He nodded again to which Skye left with a grumble, still slightly disappointed that she didn't get her order.

"Skye!" A very familiar voice called. Skye could tell who it was at any point of the day. Coulson.

She turned around slowly, hands raised in the air like a child caught stealing candy. She gave him a lopsided smile taking small steps towards him to prolong the scolding. Of course Coulson didn't waste any time and made the huge step closing the distance. That face did not look the very least patient with her. She knew why. Nobody had to remind her of her missed important meeting with their superior.

"I can explain!" She said as soon as she saw him move his lips. "I got caught up in the cafe. I was buying coffee...for all of us. You know, maybe some beverages for us during the whole sit-down."

"There's coffee in the breakroom Skye," he frowned pursing his lips. To refrain from throwing a fit, Skye thought.

Her stomach churned at the idea of the break room coffee. Whatever it was tasted like dust with water. It was dry and much too powdery and was undissolvable. Even in hot boiling water. She gave Coulson a disgusted look but he shrugged it off. Because that man could stomach that drink, so there was no arguments whatsoever.

To her relief, Coulson let her go immediately but not before handing a pile of work. Of course there was a punishment. She was stuck to be stationed at her desk for at least the rest of the day all so she could type down the hardcopies of their records. Sometimes she wondered whether she was getting paid enough.

At some point she wished she had just stayed for her coffee.

How long has Jemma been in that cafe? Four hours? A day? A year? She couldn't remember.

She had been sitting in the same chair since she arrived and it was making her ass hurt. She always spent an hour before going to work, in the cafe to lounge around while working on some papers. She had ordered tea but had been long forgotten by both her and the barista. It only occurred to Jemma that it was very crowded in the place when an old lady had requested to use the seat opposite hers. She requested for her tea again and intently watched the boy to make sure he got what she ordered.

Some time when the crowd lessened, Jemma thought of lining up again to personally see about her unserved drink. "Latte? Anyone?" A barista announced holding up the cup for everyone to see. Jemma saw this as an opportunity. Doesn't matter if it's not tea, she'll take it! Relax time was long done. Now, she was running late for a presentation and chose to just grab whatever and go. She made her way to the front of the line and took the cup. As she was handing over her payment, the barista next to the one serving her shook his head.

"It's free." He said wiping up the counter. "A lady earlier decided to give it since she was in a hurry so it has her name scribbled at the cup." He pointed with his chin. "She said to tell whoever got it that you're lucky to get her cup."

Jemma thanked both baristas. Though she couldn't pay for her drink, she left them a tip. It was the best thing to do after their hard work what with all the people at the place. Doesn't matter if she got served late.

Upon arriving in her office, she immediately kicked her sneakers off and wore heels in their place. She took her laptop as well in exchange for her handbag before brisk walking towards the elevator and four floors up to her awaiting meeting.

A wave of cold air hit Jemma's face as she pushed the door into her awaiting meeting. Putting the still warm beverage to use, she took a long sip off of it walking to the front of the room and carefully setting her laptop down. "I'm sorry I'm late, traffic isn't so nice right now." She apologized keeping her calm together. Her hands were shaking. Nervousness was going to take over her body lest she stop trembling.

The meeting lasted about forty minutes. Since she had arrived late, the meeting was ten minutes shorter. There was no bother extending it as Jemma was able to explain everything within the remaining time left. And anyway they had understood her powerpoint well enough to suggest a lot of things to do for their upcoming project.

With that, Jemma returned to her office allowing herself to relax. She crashed on the couch that was provided when she had been offered her position in Sci-Dep. She didn't dream to have an office, a desk among the others wouldn't have been different. Fury had insisted upon it and to object was a risky move. He only shows his signs of gratitude so often it was hard to know whether you were on his good side or not.

She sipped the remaining liquid from the paper cup she still held having only sips taken from it during her meeting. As expected, it had gone cold. Now that she wasn't so busy she toyed with the cup a bit, eyeing the design and the unfamiliar name scribbled on it.

"Skye," Jemma whispered running her thumb across the name, "what a beautiful name."