He'd loved Jemma almost since he met her.
When he'd been recruited by Agent Coulson to join the S.H.I.E.L.D academy, the idea of meeting anybody hadn't even occurred to him- platonically or otherwise. He'd just been so excited (and frankly, scared) to be given this opportunity. So when, on his first day at the academy, he collided with a brunette girl in the corridor, he had no idea how important she would be to him.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, as her books flew out of her hands. Leo immediately dropped to his knees and started gathering them up for her.
"I'm so sorry!" he said. "Honestly, I really am. I'm just so clumsy, which I suppose isn't really the ideal quality you want in a future agent, but I suppose I'll learn to be more stealthy while I'm here-" He straightened up, the small pile of books in his arms. The girl smiled at him as he continued to babble. "-and anyway, I really am sorry. Is there anywhere you need these taking?" Really, he thought, it was the least he could do.
"Really, it's no problem," she said, flashing him a bright grin. "No harm done. I was just taking them back to my room, but you don't have to carry them, honestly." Leo smiled back at her tentatively, trying to ignore the feeling that that grin had elicited.
"Well, I've nothing better to do," he quipped, "In fact, I insist." She rolled her eyes and gestured for him to walk with her.
"I'm Jemma," she said, "Jemma Simmons. I mean, it'll be Agent Simmons soon, hopefully. I'm a biochemist."
"I'm Fitz," he replied, and winced. "Well, my first name isn't Fitz, it's Leo, but at uni everybody called me Fitz so..." he trailed off and shrugged, which was harder than he'd anticipated, carrying the books. Jemma smiled again.
"Alright, Fitz. So is this your first year here too?" she asked.
"Is it that obvious?" he chuckled. Jemma shook her head.
"Haha, not at all," she said. "It's my first year, and I just thought it'd be nice to get to know someone in my year. This whole thing is rather overwhelming." They rounded a corner.
"It really is!" Leo agreed. "I can't believe most of it." Jemma stopped at a door and took the key out of her pocket.
"At first, I thought it was a joke. I mean," she opened the door, "since when do things like that actually happen in real life? An agent from a secret American governmental organisation comes to try and recruit you. It still doesn't feel quite real." She walked into the room and gestured for Leo to follow.
"I know," said Leo, placing the books on her desk. "It's like a dream," he said. Now that he'd carried the books for her, he supposed he should leave. He didn't really want to; Jemma's smile was infectious, and she somehow made the most mundane conversation seem interesting. He looked towards the door, and just as he was about to head back towards it, he heard a click. He looked back at Jemma.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" she asked brightly, opening her mini fridge to retrieve some milk. Leo grinned at her.
"Yes," he said, "I would like that very much."