Skye and Ward had ignored a lot in the beginning.
At first it was nothing, just a look that lingered a moment too long, or sitting just a little too close on the couch. But before long it was an arm around her shoulder, a hand on the small of her back, her gentle kiss goodnight on his cheek, his on her forehead. They were close. They were friends. They were part of a team that did not allow fraternization between members. So they ignore things.
She didn't comment when he rubbed the aches from her shoulders after a tough training session. He didn't seem surprised when she brought him a cup of coffee (just the way he liked it) while he is working on paperwork. It was a comfortable companionship, and if either woke in the night calling the other's name, who would know.
They didn't date other people because who has the time when you go to sleep in London and wake up in Peru. They played board games together because they are bored and neither really got to as children. More and more, they are rationalizing their interactions. Until the day that the line was blown to hell.
It was a night like any other. They had returned from a routine mission, shared a drink, played a game of slap jack, and were saying goodnight when it happened. He always walked her to her bunk at night. Not because he liked to make sure she got tucked in, but because their bunks where side by side. At least that's what they told themselves.
"Next time I pick the game, Robot, you're reflexes are an unfair advantage."
"You say unfair, I say strategy, but just so you don't pout, you can pick tomorrow," he smiled, brushing thumb over her pouting lips.
Skye felt a shock from the contact, but she ignored it, she was good at ignoring it.
"Well, I better hit the rack..." she smiled excitedly, "see, already getting the lingo."
"Yeah, you are a real buckle polisher, aren't you Rook?" he chuckled.
"Only for you," she joked, leaning up to give him her usual goodnight kiss. But instead of his cheek, her kiss landed softly on his neck.
When she had leaned in, he had automatically wrapped his arms around her, but when Ward felt her lips on his neck, his pulse quickened and he put all his considerable will power into waiting for her to pull away. She always pulled away, that was the deal. They never got too close.
One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi,
Another kiss closer to his ear.
Four Mississippi, five Mississippi...
Warm breath rushing down his back as she nuzzled his neck.
"Sweet dreams, Grant..." she whispered.
And in that moment she broke him, just like she had the first day in interrogation. There was nothing left to do but take the next step into her bunk, pull the screen closed and kiss her senseless.
The next morning Skye woke up and checked the time, 7am. Damn, her body was starting to get used to the early morning work outs Ward usually required of her. She smiled at the thought of Ward, and looked around, but the room was empty. If it weren't for the fact that she had woken up naked, she would have thought that she imagined the whole night.
Knowing that any minute someone could come knocking, this was a Bus full of early risers, motivated her to get moving.
"Having a bit of a lay-in today, Skye?" Jemma asked when Skye made it to the kitchenette.
Skye rolled her eyes and turned to the coffee maker. SHIELD agents were the only people she knew who thought having breakfast at 7:30 am was sleeping in. She had just sat down at the table, when Ward came in obviously fresh from a work out. Well, maybe fresh wasn't the right word, as he was covered in sweat.
"Glad to see that you are giving our fair Skye a break from training, finally." Fitz commented, before munching a toast point.
"She put in some good work yesterday, she earned it." Ward replied smoothly. He turned to Skye and gave her a wink, which caused her to choke on her Cocoa Puffs. When she finally stopped coughing, Ward had gone, but she wasn't worried. That wink had told her that whatever this thing was between them, it was private, and it wasn't going to stop.
And it didn't. Months went by, with Ward walking her to bed and /tucking her in/, and if anybody noticed a change, they didn't comment on it. After all, as long as it didn't affect the work, why should they care?
Everything was perfect until they got a week off.