Author's Note: This is my very first Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. story. Please let me know what you think. Favorites/follows are appreciated!
He stared at his forearms in silence. Scars covered his skin, self-inflicted cuts that he knew he deserved. He'd hurt her. Skye. She was the only thing he had left, and he revolted her.
Idiot, he told himself. Garrett had sucked him in, made him do terrible things, and he was left broken. Garrett was gone, but it was Ward's life that was over. He never should have let Hydra get to him. He should have seen all the damage he was causing. He'd betrayed them all and got nothing for himself. He wanted Skye, but she could never love him now. He'd done too much to her.
Ward curled his fists and dug his uncut nails into his palms, screaming in frustration.
If I could just go back to that day and say no to Garrett...
Ward heard someone walk in, but he didn't look up. It was probably some guard bringing food. Skye had just come down to see him for the first time since she'd found out, and it hadn't gone well. He'd tried to make her stay, to listen to what he had to say about her father, but she didn't trust him. Not anymore. He'd told her every word he said to her for the rest of his life would be true, but he could see she didn't believe it. It would take time, so much time, for him to get through to her. He'd messed up too much this time, and the hate he knew Skye had for him was his consequence.
His head was down, but he saw shoes standing before him, and they didn't belong to a guard. He looked up. Skye.
"What were you going to tell me about?" she asked quietly, but she didn't sound afraid. Her voice was firm and curious. Maybe she wanted to trust him. He didn't know what to think anymore. He'd messed her up so much. It was his fault. Everything was his fault.
Ward looked up at her, surprised. "You believed me? I meant it, Skye. I'm never going to lie to you again."
Her expression turned impatient. "I don't know if I believe you, but I want to hear it," she told him. She sat down in the single chair in the room, a few feet away from the barrier of the cell. He turned his arms so his scars weren't visible and looked into her eyes.
"I know who your father is."