"Extinguish my eyes, I'll go on seeing you.
Seal my ears, I'll go on hearing you.
And without feet I can make my way to you,
without a mouth I can swear your name.
Break off my arms, I'll take hold of you
with my heart as with a hand.
Stop my heart, and my brain will start to beat.
And if you consume my brain with fire,
I'll feel you burn in every drop of my blood."
― Rainer Maria Rilke
"I'm done pleading with you, Skye. I'm taking what I want … To wake up something inside of you."
Skye froze at the sound of his voice. Ward was moving slowly towards her as he spoke and closed the distance between them in a few long strides. The moonlight through the windows elongated his silhouette, emphasizing his statuesque frame and formidable broad shoulders. His shadow shifted across the pale walls of the room, its sinister shape reaching for and taunting her.
She regained her senses quickly and backed away from him, adrenaline making her heart race. A cacophony of voices screamed silently in her head - How did he get in? Where is my ICER? Make a run for it!
He had her trapped in an instant, his mouth crashing down on hers before she could utter a word of protest. Muscular arms curled into a steely vice around her tiny waist as he pushed her against the wall. She struggled against him but it was futile.
She managed to tear her mouth from his and swung a fist at his face, but he caught it easily with his large hand and pinned both of hers above her head effortlessly. Her vigorous physical training with May was gradually shaping her into a formidable opponent in combat, but she was no match for his strength and determination. She managed a gasp as he continued his onslaught.
"Don't fight me Skye. You want this too. You wouldn't have made it so easy to find you if you didn't."
He gazed down at her, stopping his barrage of kisses just long enough to stroke her cheek tenderly. The brooding intensity in his dark eyes was too much and she looked away. He tilted her chin up so they were eye to eye again.
"Tell me I'm wrong."
"Ward, you need to stop. You need … " She was frantic, trying to appeal to his reason, to make him aware of the danger of his obsession.
"Need?" He cut her off with a bitter laugh that sent a chill through her. "I'll tell you what I need, Skye. I need to finally have something I've wanted for so long…"
"Ward, please! Don't do this … You can't … I, I ..."
She faltered . How could she stay strong when it was clear her body was stubbornly refusing to listen to the voice reason in her head? She was burning with desire, every nerve tingling with electricity at his touch, longing for release. She was being pulled in opposing directions; her head and heart waging a battle and her treacherous body was reacting beyond her control. She moaned and then blushed, her cheeks painted a deep crimson hue.
"See? Can't deny it, can you? You want me still."
His tone was triumphant, mocking. It made her blood boil and the fury washed over like a tidal wave, engulfing her body with uncontrollable spasms. He mistook her shuddering for passion and smirked, snaking his arms around her waist once again and lowering his mouth over hers for another searing kiss.
She bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood, the sharp copper taste making her wince. He jerked his head back in surprise but did not loosen his grip. If anything, he tightened his hold and crushed his muscular frame harder into the soft curves of her body.
His tongue swept over the spot where she bit him, licking the blood away and his mouth curled into another ominous smile.
"The darkness … You feel it, don't you? Just surrender to it Skye …"
Something glinted in his eyes. A coldness that frightened her more than his taunting words or his rough hands roaming over her body.
One month earlier …
Skye was making her way to the kitchen at the Playground, famished after a long training session with May and Bobbi. She was exhausted, her muscles screaming silent profanities at her for subjecting them to yet another bout of torture. She found Hunter at the coffee machine and the others sitting at the table, enjoying some precious down time after the latest mission.
"Coffee, love?" Hunter looked at Skye as she limped towards him. "Looks like you could do with good shot of caffeine."
"Thanks," She smiled wearily. "But what I really want right now is a BLT. I'm starving!"
"Well, you're in luck sweetheart. I'm just about to make one for myself too." Hunter eyed her up and down. "Why don't you take a seat before you collapse? Bloody hell! I mean, I'm all for keeping up the training but you look like you've been to hell and back."
"Gee thanks!" Skye replied, amused by his bluntness. "You sure know how to make a girl feel good. Where's Hunter the Casanova we keep hearing about? Or do I need to be a target for that?"
"Well you're clearly immune to my charms so I won't even bother." Hunter teased, winking at her.
"She's not the only one." May deadpanned.
"That makes three of us." Bobbi couldn't resist chiming in.
"Um, would it sound terribly unoriginal if I also include myself in that group?" Jemma laughed at Hunter's indignant expression.
"Oh shut up, the lot of you!" Hunter rolled his eyes at the female contigent of the team. "Bunch of harpies. Don't know a good thing when you see it!"
His retort was met with laughter all around.
"C'mon, studmuffin … Seduce me with your sandwich-making skills!"
Skye tilted her head and batted her eyelashes at him ostentatiously, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
Despite her initial wariness and distrust towards the affable mercenary, Skye had to admit that Hunter was really starting to grow on her. His sense of humour was infectious and she enjoyed their playful banter. That fact that she found him easy on the eye was also a bonus. Flirting with him made her feel semi-normal again. Made her confused jumble of emotions towards Ward more manageable.
She had struggled with the decision to hand Ward over into the custody of his brother, the senator Christian Ward. She, in addition to most of the team, was excluded from the negotiations in that department. That was probably for the best, she mused.
A part of her, a big part still mourned the loss of her S.O., her budding feelings for him withering in the light of his betrayal, extinguished before they really had a chance to bloom. Too many nights she had spent crying alone in bed, sleep eluding her. And when she finally did manage to nod off, his face dominated her dreams.
She was haunted by memories of their last encounter at Providence before she found out that he was deceiving them all along - thoughts of his anguished confession - I'm not a good man, Skye … the look of utter despair in his eyes … her affirmation to the contrary - Yes, you ARE. She could still feel the urgency of his lips on hers, his hands in her hair, her body's heated reaction to his touch. The scene played over and over again in her head, the last moments of blissful ignorance before reality crashed the party and all HYDRA hell broke loose.
Oh, he was good. He knew exactly how to play her, and she fell for it. Fell for every one of his lies. She despised him for his duplicity but most of of all she was disgusted at herself for being such a fool.
She learnt to deal with her maelstrom of emotions through physical training. She trained as hard as she could with May and occasionally Bobbi or Hunter, taking out her frustrations on the boxing bag, with every punch she delivered an attempt to purge herself of him. She imagined him standing in front of her instead of the bag, raining blow after blow on the unfortunate piece of equipment until her muscles ached and she collapsed, exhausted and covered in sweat.
Eat, sleep, train, repeat. That was her mantra now, her self-prescribed treatment for her bruised heart, until all traces of him were gone.
Today was no exception.
Hunter was about to launch into one of his tales of chivalry on a mission when Coulson marched in unceremoniously, a grim expression on his face.
"Uh oh … that's not happiness to see us. " Hunter quipped, sending another cheeky wink Skye's direction. She grinned back at him.
Coulson wasted no time with pleasantries. "Ward has escaped. Killed three FBI agents in the process."
The room fell silent, all traces of frivolity gone in an instant as the gravity of the news sunk in. Skye was reeling. Did I just hear that right? Ward escaped?
May spoke first. "How the hell did this happen?" Her anger was simmering just below her cool exterior.
"He managed to slip through his restraints and overpower the agents. Anyway, the how of it is now irrelevant. The important thing is what we do about it now." Coulson turned to Skye. "He said something just before he was loaded into the transport vehicle. Something about keeping his promise to you. Care you explain what he meant by that?"
All eyes turned to Skye.
"He promised me he would help me look for my father. That's the last thing he said to me."
She felt uncomfortable under everyone's scrutiny. They were all concerned, and she was grateful for that but she wasn't a helpless little girl. Not anymore. She could hold her own.
"Skye, come with me. We need to discuss precautions. In my office now."