Rating: "T" because I'm paranoid.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to ABC & Marvel. Heck man, even I practically belong to them at this point.
Chapter 1: Newt
"Oh no, where have I left it?" Fitz could hear Simmons inside her dorm, rummaging through things and talking to herself. /That's funny. It's good I'm always working with her or else everyone would know she talks to herself./ Fitz thought absently.
"You poor thing," Simmons exclaimed. This was different. Maybe she wasn't talking to herself after all. Fitz raised his hand to knock on her door, curious to find out what was going on inside. At the sound of his knock, suddenly everything went silent inside the dorm.
"Just a moment," Simmons called out, anxiety skirting her tone.
"It's just me Simmons," Fitz announced.
"Perhaps two moments then?" Simmons asked. Fitz could hear drawers being shut and things being moved. Something made of glass shattered.
"Are you alright in there?" Fitz asked at the noise, his curiosity venturing into worry.
"Oh, uhm, yes. Erm, I'm naked! Getting changed!" Simmons was obviously using her lying voice but a blush rose up on Fitz's cheeks anyway.
"Should I just come back later then?" Fitz asked, trying to imagine what she was up to and thinking maybe he'd rather not know.
Everything went silent, like she was thinking or trying to come up with another lie maybe. He could hear her strides towards the door and then she opened it just a bit so as to peek her head out.
"You can keep a secret, right?" Simmons asked. Fitz's confusion was all over his face. He quickly replaced his expression with a knowing stare.
"We're at a school to become part of a secret organization. I think I've got it covered." He told her. She rolled her eyes and then quickly reached an arm through the door's opening to grab him by the elbow and pull him inside. /Simmons gets aggressive when she's panicked./ Fitz mused as he was tugged into a messy dorm room.
"What happened to your..." Fitz started but stopped when Simmons held up a hand to quiet him.
"As you know, I don't like to break rules. And, quite frankly, I'm not very good at breaking them." Simmons kept wringing her hands as she spoke. "I simply felt that this particular circumstance was an exception to my usual stance on rules. A life was at stake and why be a scientist if I can't help?" She was rambling. "But I really must ask you to promise to not tell on me because I could get into a great deal of trouble. And I really don't think I'm prepared to deal with that."
"Alright, I promise. What have you done, Simmons?" Fitz interrupted, mind beginning to whir with theories of her rule breaking.
Instead of answering, Simmons merely moved over to stand beside her bed and pulled back the blankets to reveal a fluffy little cat. Fitz couldn't help but let a laugh burst out of him.
"This is your big, rebellious rule breaking, is it? You've brought a cat into your dorm? I'll be sure to let everyone know how scandalous you are, Simmons."
"Fitz... It's not funny! I could be suspended! Pets are not allowed in the dorms!" Simmons argued, trying to get him to understand the severity of her predicament.
"If you're so worried, why don't you just get rid of it? And how's having a cat considered a life being at stake? I don't know what people told you about punishments, but suspension isn't the same as the death penalty." Fitz didn't even try to hide his smirk as he spoke. Simmons gave him a glare in return.
"Not my life. Newt's." She gestured to the cat.
"Oh no! You've given it a name?" Fitz's features seamlessly mixed worry and amusement.
"I had to call him something while I was patching him up! The poor thing had been abandoned and hit by a car! If animal control had taken him, they'd probably just have had him put down. At least with me, he stood a chance. Not to mention, I really couldn't pass up an opportunity to work on a living creature of this size. It's always rats!" Simmons always spoke fast when she was defending herself. She sounded thoroughly exasperated by her final sentence.
"Alright, alright. Calm down, Simmons. I'll keep your secret." Fitz promised, taking a seat on the bed to pet Newt on the head. "So, what's wrong with the little lad?"
"Mostly bleeding. I had to shave some fur to properly stitch him up. Lots of bruising. One of his back legs broke and he's got a bit of damage to his spine. I don't think he'll be able to use his hind legs anymore." Simmons recounted her findings to him, pointing out spots of shaved fur and bandaging.
"How's he gonna walk?" Fitz asked, gears turning behind his eyes as he assessed Newt's state.
"I don't know. He'll probably need some sort of cart to pull his back legs. Perhaps you could help come up with something?" Simmons asked, her eyes on Fitz now instead of Newt.
"Project Feline Cyborg. I like it! Instead of wheels, I could make him some wee little metal hind legs that simulate walking when he moves his front legs." Fitz was getting excited while a look of concern and awe mingled on Simmons' face.
"It's moments like these when I'm not sure if you're scary or brilliant." Simmons confessed, teasingly.
"What's so scary?" He asked, a grin forming.
"That you'd want to name poor Newt, Project Feline Cyborg." Simmons scoffed. "Honestly, I don't know where you come up with such names."
"Probably too much Doctor Who growing up." Fitz shrugged.
"Then wouldn't you be calling him Cyber Cat?" Simmons joked, standing up from the bed and starting to organize her dorm.
"Touché." Fitz conceded. "So, how did your dorm end up such a mess? Normally, you're so against using chemicals outside the lab."
"I couldn't run tests on Newt down in one of the labs without being asked too many questions. And you weren't my only visitor today. One of the girls must have seen me bring Newt in and told campus security. They came knocking on my door about an hour ago. I buried Newt under my laundry until I convinced security it must be a prank." She explained, picking up clothing items as she spoke. She noted Fitz's eyes dart down away from her when she picked up a lacy bra, his cheeks flushing pink. She smiled to herself, wanting to tease but thinking better of it.
"And how exactly did you convince them? You're not exactly a world class liar." Fitz mused, pulling out a notebook and starting to draw what Simmons figured would be Newt's cyber legs.
"That's a bit embarrassing, actually." Simmons confessed, her cheeks growing rosy now.
"Oh, I've got to hear this. Go on." He coaxed, eyes flitting back and forth between her and his notebook.
"Well, I got out that it was a prank but he didn't believe me. I started to become rather flustered, as I'm not accustomed to lying, and I began to cry. So then, he thought it really must have been a prank or why else would I be so upset? And then, he apologized and I really do feel awful about it. But poor Newt needed my help." Simmons confessed.
"Simmons, I think you might actually be a really good liar and you just don't know it. You manipulated that guy on accident." Fitz chuckled, a slight bit of astonishment showing. "Good thing you've always got good intentions or else I might be worried. Crying to get people to believe you... Wow." That last bit had been murmured.
"Please don't think poorly of me." Simmons pleaded, eyes wearing worry.
"I'd never think poorly of you. I'm only teasing." Fitz reassured her.
Days went by. Fitz spent his spare time between Simmons dorm and various labs where he'd get supplies. Newt's health improved, but his legs remained the same. Campus security began to joke, asking if Fitz was going to move into the girl's dorms. Girls in neighboring rooms started to talk about Simmons' boy toy while gossiping in their communal bathroom. On one such occasion, Simmons told the other girls not to talk about things they didn't understand.
After a few weeks, their efforts had paid off. Fitz strapped Newt into his new pair of hind legs and the two scientists stood back to watch him walk on his own. Simmons shed a few tears while Fitz wore an accomplished grin. The two had worked together on several projects before, being lab partners the past few months. Newt, however, was the first project they'd worked on together voluntarily outside of assigned work. It was the first time they really considered the possibilities in their future, together.
Unfortunately, reality came crashing down a few days later when security saw Newt sitting in the dorm window.
Simmons: They're taking Newt. I don't know what to do.
Simmons sent a text to Fitz that afternoon after the security guard placed a baffled looking Newt into a box.
Fitz: On my way.
Simmons plopped herself down on the floor, cradling her phone as she tried to think of something she could do to make things right. Fitz arrived about ten minutes later into her pity party, not bothering to knock on her door as he'd become so used to stopping by. He was covered in grease and must have been working on something mechanical. He plopped himself down onto the floor to sit beside Simmons.
"I suppose I knew this was coming. It was just so much nicer thinking it might not, you know?" Simmons murmured, forcefully keeping her expression blank and her tone calm. Fitz shifted a little beside her, taking his time trying to think of the right thing to say to her. Before he could over think it, he reached a hand over and took one of hers, resting their laced fingers against the dorm room carpet.
"Just because you knew it was coming doesn't make it any less disappointing." He told her gently. "Newt was ours. We made him better and he became our family." At his words, Simmons squeezed his hand. They had been like an odd little family. Two scientists and their cyborg cat. Newt had also helped them see their potential as a duo. And now, their cat was being taken away.
"I wish I could have at least had a little more time with him. Maybe I could have tried to find him a nice home." The disappointment in Simmons' voice was clear and echoed inside Fitz's head.
"Wait, Simmons, that's it! But I've got to go fast." Fitz's voice had become urgent and he was off like a shot, leaving Simmons with her brows furrowed in confusion.
That evening, Simmons was called to a counselor's office under the premise of receiving her punishment for keeping an animal in her dorm. Her body trembled with anxiety as her mind raced. /I've never been in trouble like this before. Perhaps they won't suspend me since this is my first offense. Or maybe, I'm in even more trouble than I thought. What if they get angry that I turned my room into a small lab? What if I'm expelled? Should I call my parents? What if they take things the wrong way and try to charge me some kind of animal abuse? Do I need a lawyer? I wish Fitz was here. Fitz! I hope he doesn't get into trouble as well!/
Upon reaching the office, Simmons spotted Fitz standing outside the door. Her pace fastened and he started towards her once he spotted her. He didn't look half as nervous as Simmons and placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her once within reach.
"Are you in trouble too?" Simmons asked, eyes wide. Before he could answer, Dr. Brealey, the counselor, opened the door and gestured for them both to enter. Fitz's hand dropped from Simmons' shoulder and he led the way.
Once inside the office, Simmons realized they had another person in attendance, a professor who looked only vaguely familiar to her. Fitz gave a small nod of recognition in the professor's direction.
"Mr. Fitz, Ms. Simmons, please take a seat." Dr. Brealey gestured to a pair of seats before the desk. Fitz couldn't help but note that Simmons looked about ready to pass out from nerves. Brealey offered a gentle smile as if that would help ease the younger woman. "We're here in regards to the cat Ms. Simmons was keeping in her dorm. I'd like to begin by informing you both that you're in no formal trouble. I must, however, advise against keeping future pets in the dorms lest you'd prefer to be reprimanded with a formal punishment." At Brealey's words, Simmons began to calm a little, Fitz shooting his partner a reassuring glance.
"The reason no formal punishment has been taken into consideration is because of the state in which the campus security guard found the cat in question. It appears the feline had been injured, and then healed by the two of you. And, more notably, the feline was given a contraption custom built to assist it with the permanent damage to its hind legs. This feat of both medical and engineering expertise from a pair of first year students with minimal resources and an unfit working environment shows great strength of character. It is well known that those who work in the field are often subjected to harsh circumstances. This cat seems to have offered the two of you an important lesson and you have both impressively risen to the occasion without the incentive of a high marked grade in return." Dr. Brealey managed a soft smile as she spoke. She was proud of them; proud of these two young people S.H.I.E.L.D. had found. The looks upon the two scientists' faces were something else entirely.
Simmons looked shocked. She'd broken the rules! She was being patted on the back for getting into trouble! This came as such a surprise to her. Fitz, on the other hand, looked flattered and a little sheepish. He'd already confessed their side of the story about Newt to Dr. Brealey and his professor earlier that day. He had not expected such praise though!
"I... It wasn't about us or the lesson we learned." Simmons finally spoke, stumbling over her opening words. "All of this was for Newt, the cat." She confessed, as if requesting Brealey take back her kind words. It was then that Fitz gave her the look. His expression held many meanings. Part of him was saying, /Jemma, stop. We're not in trouble! Don't ask for a punishment!/ The other part, a much warmer and deep-rooted part of him, looked at her like she was something precious to him. Such a pure kindness had spilled from Simmons. She cared so much and Fitz couldn't help but admire that. He hoped that, no matter what their futures held, Simmons would hold onto that compassion, that eagerness to help the vulnerable and weak.
"That brings up the matter of the cat." Dr. Brealey's voice pulled Fitz from his thoughts. "Mr. Fitz here has graciously solved the problem of the cat's living situation, with the help of Professor Greene, that is." Brealey gestured to the professor, finally acknowledging his presence. At this, Fitz perked up.
"Professor Greene works in robotics. He's also fond of cats. He's going to take Newt. It's kind of perfect, right? He'll be able to handle Newt's special legs and everything." Fitz enthused, locking eyes with Simmons all the while. Tears had welled in her eyes as he spoke and Fitz paused at her reaction. "Have I done alright?" He asked, suddenly nervous. Maybe he was being graded after all, in friendship. Simmons sniffed before speaking.
"Oh Fitz, you've done everything perfectly!" She exclaimed, leaning awkwardly across the chairs to hug him with shaky arms, she was still feeling emotional. "And you too, Professor! I can't thank you enough! Thank you Dr. Brealey for facilitating all this." Ever polite, Simmons gushed her appreciation before the pair were dismissed from the office. Simmons waited in the hall for a few minutes while Professor Greene and Fitz traded a few words. Soon enough, Fitz was by her side once more.
"You protected him." Simmons murmured, nudging Fitz with her elbow, a playful smile flitting upon her face.
"Of course I did! He was our cat." Fitz said simply, as if there were no question on the matter.
"You're amazing." Simmons murmured, softer now as they walked through the halls. Her face had become thoughtful. Fitz blushed, eyes on the floor. Neither spoke of her compliment. They simply went back to their respective dorms, offering sheepish "goodnights" when they parted ways.
Author Notes: K, so, I know nothing about science. I have zero medical knowledge. When I write FitzSimmons speaking, it's purely out of cuteness, not to speak from an educated standpoint. Just giving you guys a heads up on that front. Also, this is chapter 1 of several. I'll try and update pretty consistently. I've already got chapter 2 written and just need to type it up before I can put it up here. As a little sneak peek, I'll let you guys know the next chapter will be titled "Shave" and each chapter has a sort of theme to it. Not all the chapters will be about Newt the cat. Although, they might talk about Newt a little cause they had a robot cat and that's freaking awesome. Feel free to read and review. I love to hear what you guys have to say because you're all really cool people. The chapters are all going to revolve around FitzSimmons before they go out into the field so, these early chapters are all just during the academy. There will also be several experiences that they have which they will forget over time and/or never speak of again. The original idea of this fic was that these were the memories they sort of shoved into the back of their minds so they wouldn't have to acknowledge what they've been through together. So, yes, yay! Let me know what you think.