"I've Grown Familiar with Villains that Live in my Head"
One
x-x-x
Circling his opponent, he kept his eyes trained on the lithe figure facing him down, a look of steely determination present on her face. Her hands rested at her sides, fingers twitching ever so slightly as she anticipated him being the one to make the first move, but he didn't; he remained still, staring at her, trying to lull her into a false sense of security. Undoubtedly, she knew how dangerous he was, and he was enjoying watching her struggling to keep her expression locked down. She seemed determined to give nothing away to him through her eyes or the twist of her lips, and he could only approve of such thinking. She was going to make a worthy adversary.
"Just hit her already!" a voice called out from the side lines, laced with obvious boredom and frustration.
Ward felt his jaw tighten in a reflection of the annoyance that coursed through him at the interruption, and he turned his head to reprimand his most unruly student.
"Cole, you want to take her place?" Ward challenged, pausing to shoot Skye an apologetic smile. Her defensive stance immediately relaxed as she waited for Grant to be done with chiding the recruit, who seemed to be the bane of his existence these days.
Cole Emerson was cocky, self-assured, wealthy, and the son of two senior agents, which seemed to do very little for his humility during training. The kid appeared to have made it his mission in life to get underneath Ward's skin – to push the boundaries to breaking point until the older, more experienced agent was on the verge of snapping completely. Skye directed a glance at her husband, noting how the vein in his neck was beginning to throb, and she barely managed to resist the urge to manipulate the floor beneath Emerson's feet and send him sprawling on his back. He would have deserved it but the behaviour would only serve to undermine Ward in front of his class, and Skye would never willingly do that.
Skye had been a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent for just over seven years and, despite her role as the leader of the Secret Warriors and the Inhuman powers that had been awakened in her, her self-assuredness was still somewhat below that of their latest recruit. Five months into the academy and Cole fancied himself only somewhere vaguely below the director.
Cocking his head, Ward folded his arms across his chest and regarded their upstart trainee.
"If you think hand-to-hand combat is about 'hitting' your opponent, you're gonna last all of five minutes out in the field. You have to read their body language, anticipate their next move, psych them out. It's all about control. Because whilst you're thinking about nothing but getting a punch in, she'll have you dropped on your ass."
Cole scoffed and leaned back on his palms against the crash mats, "She doesn't look that big."
Ward smiled, looking his wife up and down with a wink he directed solely at her, before he put what she labelled as his 'hate face' back in place and regarded the younger man with amusement.
"Lesson number two; never underestimate your opponent. Agent Johnson is one of our most skilled operatives. She was trained by the best."
Cole narrowed his eyes with interest as he demanded, "Oh yeah, and who was that?"
Without missing a beat, Ward shot him a predatory glare. "Me."
Cole did his best not to shrink back from Ward's disapproval but Skye could see the faint glimmer of fear in his eyes. Perhaps, she reasoned, the kid wasn't so stupid after all. There wasn't an agent within the newly rebuilt S.H.I.E.L.D. that didn't have a healthy dose of respect for Grant Ward's abilities as a Specialist, and with good reason too. Since he had been reinstated as an agent by Coulson all those years ago, rather than handed over to his brother as had been the original plan, Ward had damn near killed himself trying to prove his loyalty to both the organisation and his team. The number of missions he had succeeded in ranged in the hundreds, whilst those he had failed at could be counted on the fingers of one hand. He was truly the best they had to offer, and so Coulson had insisted that he turn his hand to imparting his wisdom, training, and technique to the next generation of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Skye was immeasurably proud of him, whilst Ward himself thought it an odd punishment. He still didn't do well with people, with the obvious exception of the small number of agents he had come to look upon as family.
"Shall we get started?" Ward asked, tipping his head as he regarded Skye again, redirecting her wandering thoughts. She flashed him a smile and then nodded her head once, no verbal response necessary. These days they could say so much to each other with just a glance.
The two circled the mats for a few moments, each wearing a provocative smile that melted away as they began their display.
Their bodies moved as if in synch; they anticipated the other's movements whilst a flurry of punches and kicks were exchanged, not one blow actually managing to connect properly. They lunged at each other, grabbed, and rolled, their bodies pressed together in a desperate grapple one second and then flung far apart the next.
Cole watched them interestedly, although his attention was captured more by the curvaceous figure Skye cut in her sports gear rather than taking an interest in picking up any tips that may actually prove useful.
"Nice," he smirked, biting his lip and nodding in approval as Skye threw Ward down onto the mat, her thighs hugging his hips. A split second later she was on her back with Ward's imposing figure pinning her. However, again she forced him off and they rolled around the ground, each momentarily able to claim a small victory. The flurry of grunts and cries they released betrayed the obvious sport they took in such activities.
"Is anybody else turned on right now?" Cole quipped, eyebrows shooting up to his hairline as the couple climbed to their feet amidst a display of seemingly violent blows. Of course, neither would dream of hurting the other and, although the recruits wouldn't be able to tell the difference, their moves were controlled and choreographed.
Leaning in closer to her classmate, a young, brunette agent watched them with fascination, her mouth half open yet also half twisted into a smile.
"This is the hottest thing I've ever seen. Clearly they have one hell of a time in the sack."
Frowning in confusion, Cole regarded her for a moment. He hadn't taken the time to research the instructors, beyond seeing the name 'Grant Ward' on his timetable and secretly feeling a stab of trepidation in his gut.
"You didn't know?" the girl laughed, peering askance at her colleague as though he was stupid, "they're married."
Pulling his lips into an appraising line, Cole swept his gaze over Skye, "Huh. Good for him."
Snorting in amusement, the brunette kept her eyes trained on Ward. She prided herself on being fairly perceptive and she had already sussed that the supposedly ruthless agent was taking great care not to let any of his punches come close to landing on his wife. But, terrifying reputation or not, Grant Ward was undeniably handsome.
"Good for her," she drawled dreamily, suspecting displays like this were akin to foreplay for the S.H.I.E.L.D. power couple.
When it finally seemed as though Ward would be victorious, having Skye pinned down to the mat with his forearm across her neck, he turned to survey the students. Taking an invisible cue, Skye stopped struggling and lay still.
"Lesson number three," Ward said, a smirk twitching at his lips as he ran his eyes over the assembled crowd of students, who now suddenly seemed to be hanging on his every word. "Even when it seems like you've got the upper hand, don't assume you've won until your opponent is unconscious or… something more permanent."
He barely had time to turn back to Skye when she flung her right-hand forwards, sending a shockwave of energy from her palm that lifted Ward clear off his feet. He had obviously prepared for such a move, and he kept his head down, chin on chest, as his body slammed into the opposing wall.
A collective gasp rose up from the students and several started forwards with great hesitation, uncertain as to whether they should go to their instructor and help him pick himself up off the floor. He had landed in a tangle of limbs, but he appeared uninjured as he clambered to his feet, intercepting the cheeky grin his wife directed at him.
"Oh my God," another student hissed, "it's her… she's Quake."
"Remember, kids," Skye drawled, enjoying the looks of awe directed at her from the students, "you never know what tricks the enemy has up their sleeve."
Arriving back at his wife's side, arrogant swagger firmly in place, Ward surveyed his students with a smirk as Skye added, "Or at their fingertips."
He clicked his fingers and a flame shot up from his skin, flickering at the top of his thumb and lingering there until Skye gently curled her hand around his then leaned down to blow it out. The couple locked eyes for a moment and a jolt of desire sparked between them that could be described as palpable.
Husband and wife smirked at each other as they listened to the whispers rising around them, which ranged from the baser exclamations of 'holy shit' to fangirling cries of 'Hellfire and Quake'. They allowed the class a minute to calm down and then waited with pointed looks in place until silence fell around them.
Nodding towards the door, Ward glanced at them all expectantly. "We'll pick this up next time. You're free to go."
Watching the recruits all bustle past, some still shooting backwards glances at the infamous couple, Skye grinned and took a step closer to her husband. Six years together had done very little to quell their passion and the chemistry that sparked between them. Though their relationship had taken work in the beginning in the wake of Ward's betrayal of the team, it was evident that not only were the couple entirely crazy about each other, but they were also incredibly devoted. They loved each other deeply, and Skye couldn't imagine her life having turned out any other way. Ward, however, still could, and his gratitude for the life he lived at Skye's side was something that would never fade.
Smiling up at him as he slid his arms around her waist, Skye eagerly accepted Grant's kiss. Their lips moved hungrily against each other as adrenaline surged through their veins.
"I love your big, bad S.O. voice," she teased as they drew apart, "I mean, I like it better now it's not making me do push-ups at 6 am."
Pondering the lustful stares of some of the new female recruits, she added, "I think a few of your students are pretty excited by it too."
Ward laughed, rolling his eyes as he replied, "You know I'm more concerned with the arrogant little punk in the front row."
Wrinkling her nose, Skye arched an eyebrow in agreement, "Don't worry, baby, I'm sure you'll break him in."
"Or I'll break his neck," Ward replied wryly, "whichever comes first."
Skye chuckled and had just opened her mouth to offer a scolding response when the door to the training room swung open again. It hit the adjacent wall hard, drawing the glances of the few remaining students who were still gathering their belongings. Everyone watched as a bundle of sheer energy careered into the gym, arms flung wide, making straight for where Skye and Grant stood.
"Mommy! Daddy!" the little voice shrieked exuberantly as Vivian arrived at her parents' side and flung her arms around both of their legs.
Almost immediately the scowl on Ward's face disappeared and, as the tiny child peered up at him, her smile the mirror image of his own, he scooped her up into his arms. Her giggle made his heart swell, and Skye watched their interaction with a feeling of total contentment. For all the things Ward had been, she couldn't have wished for a better father for her child. Although their daughter hadn't exactly been planned – it turned out Inhuman genetics weren't quite as receptive to normal human birth control – she wouldn't change a day of their lives together.
Whilst Skye had never known the love of a mother herself, and the prospect of parenthood had been utterly terrifying, she'd fallen so madly in love with her daughter when she'd been placed in her arms that her fears had been quickly melted away. For his part, Grant delighted in watching Skye with their little girl. She would never be conventional and staid, but she was fun and energetic, loving and nurturing, and Vivi adored her.
Ward doted on his wife and daughter, and he had finally found the purpose he'd always been searching for in the two brown eyed beauties who owned his heart.
"Did you have fun with Gramma, peanut?" Skye asked, stroking her daughter's long black hair, which fell in soft ringlets past her shoulders. Vivi most certainly had Skye's eyes but her smile and her colouring were all her daddy's – a fact that the four year old exploited at every opportunity.
"Uh-huh," Vivi nodded her head enthusiastically, her hands gripping the fabric of her father's uniform as he held her against his chest.
Ward smiled as he watched Skye repeatedly press kisses to their daughter's chubby cheek. His hand landed on Skye's waist and he encircled them both in a protective grip - his entire world right there in his arms.
A few of the remaining students shot them curious looks but the small family remained oblivious, noting only Lincoln's presence in the doorway, since it was he that had ferried his little charge from May's ever-watchful presence to her parents'.
"Thanks, Lincoln," Skye called out, tearing her gaze away from Vivi long enough to direct a smile at her fellow Inhuman. Lincoln nodded his head, eyes still trained on Vivian as he watched in amusement whilst she mushed Ward's features in her hands and he played along. It seemed that not one of the team had been able to resist being coiled around the little girl's fingers from the moment of her birth, Lincoln included.
"No problem," Lincoln replied, skirting around the students exiting the room as he approached Skye and Ward. "I'm afraid Coulson told me to round you two up for a meeting in thirty minutes though."
Skye let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, accepting Vivi from Ward's arms when he offered her. They would barely have time to hit the showers, scrape together some lunch for their daughter, and then find someone with enough free time to watch her before the meeting. As much as Skye adored their director, sometimes she thought he expected her to produce actual miracles with the time he allotted for his impossible tasks.
"I guess I'll be skipping lunch… and showering…" she quipped, shaking her head. Lincoln smirked, pausing to tickle Vivi under the chin.
"Don't skip showering," he advised with a wrinkle of his nose, which would have earned him a playful slap from Skye had she not been holding her daughter. "I'm about to head out on a supply run. I could take Miss. Ward here with me. She knows all the best breakfast cereals and… I heard a rumour that I'm going to be passing a McDonalds."
Upon hearing the magic word, Vivian's tiny face practically lit up and she gasped in excitement. "McDonalds, Mommy!"
Ward rolled his eyes good naturedly as he gathered his towel and kit bag from the floor, "Aren't you supposed to be a doctor, Campbell?"
Laughing and holding up his hands in full admission of guilt, Lincoln shrugged as he replied, "I promise to pick the apple slices over the French fries. Besides, I heard a rumour a certain biochemist needs to pick up a few supplies, so Vivi and I will have a junk food chaperone."
Her cheek pressed to her daughter's, Skye jiggled the toddler, whispering loud enough for Ward to hear, "Get the fries, baby!"
Ward laughed, sighing in defeat as Skye winked at him. He bent his head to press a kiss to her lips, which rapidly escalated into another and then another.
"Eww! No!" Vivi protested, comically clamping her hands over her ears when the adults assumed she had meant to instead cover her eyes.
"Okay, we'll go grab her coat and I'll drop her off in the lab in five," Ward said, setting Vivian down on the floor and grasping her hand in his. Together, they walked out of the gym, although Vivi was practically skipping by her father's side with the promise of chicken nuggets filling her with childish glee.
"Sounds like something serious. Should we be worried?" Skye asked, tipping her head as she returned her gaze to Lincoln.
Lincoln rubbed one palm along his jaw as he replied, "Not entirely sure. I don't think the world is ending but… it's Tuesday so all bets are off."
"Great," Skye's lips formed a tight line and she widened her eyes pointedly as they trailed after Ward's retreating figure.
She watched him walking with Vivi, perhaps only a few feet ahead, and she smiled as she noted how tiny their daughter looked by his side. Father and child appeared happily caught up in conversation, and at intervals the little girl paused in order to throw her head back with a fit of giggles.
Skye hadn't noted the smile on her own lips until she felt the weight of Lincoln's stare.
"Sorry, I…" she shook her head, laughing at the sentimental, probably aimless grin she knew she must have been sporting. Lincoln jammed his hands into his pockets and simply shrugged, genuinely pleased to see his friend truly happy. "Thank you for taking care of Vivi. She loves hanging out with you, and we know you'll always look out for her."
The young doctor smiled and cocked his head, "She's a smart kid. Kind of cute, too… if you ignore the 'Grant Ward' death glare she's perfected lately."
Skye snorted with laughter, digging her elbow playfully into the top of his arm, "Hey, my baby girl is beautiful."
"She is," Lincoln agreed, although this time both his tone and expression hinted only at his sincerity, "she looks a lot like her mom."
Catching the slightly analytical glance Skye sneaked in his direction, Lincoln offered her a reassuring roll of his eyes. "Don't worry, I'm way past the 'she could've been mine' thing. Although… there is a country song about that you should listen to some time."
Skye let out another snort of laughter, jarring Lincoln's ribs with her elbow as the two of them walked on, heading towards the labs. They had never truly been 'involved' with each other in the strictest sense of the word but at one point in time Lincoln had certainly had designs on Skye's affections. That was until he had realised that she was more than just a little taken with the handsome, fire wielding Inhuman that had landed in Afterlife with her.
"I guess we're probably going on a mission," Skye sighed, shooting a glance through the glass doors of the lab as they drew to a halt just feet in front of it. She spotted Simmons busily weaving around inside and, when the other woman suddenly looked up, they exchanged smiles and waves.
"Thinking of giving it all up?" Lincoln queried, genuinely sounding curious as he observed Skye, who stood with her back leaning against the wall.
"No, why would you…?" she began, pausing when Lincoln chuckled.
"I heard you guys started renovating the house," he explained, "and Ward has been less than secretive about wanting to give Vivi a little brother or sister. I just wondered if you two were about ready to hang up the tac. vests. I can't say I'd blame you."
Shrugging absently, Skye watched Ward bend down and help Vivian into her coat. She didn't miss the moment he took the tracker from Jemma's hand and attached the tiny piece of tech. behind the clip on the bow in the child's hair.
"Well we can have those things and stay with S.H.I.E.L.D., Lincoln. We don't have to be living on base to be part of the team. You guys are family now. And yeah, Grant and I have talked about trying for a baby once we're settled, but that doesn't mean I'll be out of the field forever. Can you really see me stuck at home like some soccer mom? No, thanks. I love my life… every part of it, and that includes my job too. It's who I am." Catching the beaming smile Vivian sent her as she waved through the windows of the lab, Skye added sincerely, "I'd give up everything on this Earth for them if I had to. But Coulson's never gonna give me that ultimatum. He knows family is everything to me. It's all I've ever wanted."
"We're all ready to go, Uncle Lincoln!" Jemma trilled, clutching Vivian's hand. The child stood waiting, beaming at Lincoln as she swayed from side to side in her dark pink coat. Everything had to be pink for Vivian Ward – much to 'Gramma' May's disdain. She loved Disney princesses and bows, doted on her baby dolls as she saw her mother dote on her, and she had an affinity for animals – dogs in particular – that she inherited from her father.
"I'll see you later," Lincoln said, offering Skye a smile as he bumped her shoulder deliberately with his, "I gotta go feed a kid her own weight in battered chicken products."
"Don't you dare, Campbell," Ward warned, shaking his head as Lincoln walked away chuckling, his hand on Vivian's shoulder to guide her to the waiting SUV. Louis, her prized plush lizard, dangled from one hand, and her steady stream of chatter could be heard long after the lab doors had swished closed behind them.
"I guess we have twenty-five minutes," Skye stated as she shot a glance at her watch then peered up at Ward, who was still staring at the closed lab doors as though something precious had been stolen from right under his nose. "Hey, sappy pants, she'll be back in an hour tops.
Ward smiled almost self-consciously, his cheeks reddening just a little as he realised that he had been caught; he treasured every second spent with Vivi and could never quite abate the worry that gnawed at him whenever she was away from her parents' care. He knew the team would never willingly allow any harm to come to the child, but he always felt better knowing that he was nearby to assure her safety.
Skye smiled as she felt him suddenly grip her hand, and the couple fell into step as they made their way towards their room. Leaning her head on Ward's arm, she waited until they'd reached their door before she moved to slide her arms around his neck.
Skye stood on the tips of her toes in order to press her forehead to Grant's, and she sighed happily when he wrapped his arms around her in response. His embrace was grounding and reassuring, and Skye never felt anything but loved when he held her.
"I love you, baby," he whispered, before he sought out her lips and kissed her tenderly.
Drawing back to peer up at him, she regarded her husband with a smile that made her eyes shine with happiness. "I love you, too."
They exchanged another kiss before Ward leaned around her and opened the door to their room, allowing them to stumble inside, caught up in nothing but thoughts of each other.
"We've got twenty-five minutes, Grant," she warned, beginning to peel off her t-shirt as he watched with darkened eyes, his gaze wanton and wholly lustful.
"Well in that case, we better make them count," he reasoned, pulling his own shirt up and over his head. He smirked when Skye predictably stared at his toned chest.
Skye whoopeed with surprise as Grant reached out and seized her in his arms, then hoisted her up until her legs encircled his waist.
"Well," she decided, craning her neck as he began to drag kisses along her throat, "I guess we do need to practice our baby making skills."
"Mmm-hmm," he mumbled into their kisses.
It had been decided that once the family of three were settled into their new home, Skye would speak to Jemma about removing the implant nestled under the skin in her arm, and they'd soon become a family of four. Whether it would work that way or not, Skye finally felt at a stage in her life to dare to hope for things, and adding to their family was something she knew they both longed for above everything else.
Their laughter trailed off as Ward made his way to the bathroom, kicking open the door with one foot without pausing as he carried Skye inside. He was reluctant to allow his lips to leave her skin for even a second. Soon the clouds of steam and sound of running water filled the bedroom along with lustful moans and cries of pleasure, as the couple lost themselves in each other.
Twenty-nine minutes and forty-six seconds later, they arrived at their meeting.
x-x-x
The tac. gear she wore felt heavier than usual, as though it was weighing down her limbs, but Skye pressed onwards and attempted to ignore the unease that had settled in her stomach. She shot a glance at Ward from her position behind the shrubbery, gnawing on her bottom lip in an uncharacteristically nervous manner. Ward met Skye's gaze from across the driveway, since he had taken up a spot behind the opposing bush that lined the entrance walk to the house. It was an unexceptional residence, probably no more than four bedrooms at most and certainly not a mansion by any stretch of the imagination, but it was what was contained inside that had been awarded highest priority; namely, the wife and three children of one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most generous sponsors.
A team of Inhumans who had inexplicably aligned themselves with Hydra had reportedly broken into the home in the early hours of the morning, and had been holding the small family hostage since. Their demands, issued directly to Mr. Aspenall himself via his personal email account, included not only money and S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence, but also assurances that he would give himself up in order to save his loved ones. He had been given 12 hours to make his decision and gather together all that they demanded, and he was fast running out of time. Of course, Coulson had no intention of allowing the man to put himself in harm's way, or to compromise S.H.I.E.L.D. in such a manner, and so he had assured him that the Secret Warriors would act in all of their best interests.
The plan was a relatively simple one; Skye, Ward and Lincoln would storm the front of the house and engage the Inhuman Hydra operatives within, whilst a handful of S.H.I.E.L.D. Specialists would go in through the basement and retrieve the hostages. Mr. Aspenall's home security system had provided them with the number of perpetrators after Skye had managed to hack into it, but the natures of their powers were as of yet unconfirmed. However, both Lincoln and Ward seemed confident that they could handle the seven super-powered henchmen, and so Skye strived to shelve the worry that gnawed at her gut. She was often a little jumpy before a mission these days, since her safety meant so much more now that Vivian was there to depend on her; Skye herself had grown up with the shadow of a dead mother hanging over her and she couldn't imagine anything worse to inflict upon her own little girl.
"You okay?" Lincoln hissed at her side, arching a brow as his eyes swept Skye's features analytically. She didn't respond but instead directed another look at Grant, who offered her a thin smile that immediately imbued her with a little more confidence. Finally, she nodded at Lincoln.
"Let Beta Team know we're going in in ten," she said, her voice low and unwavering. They had a job to do and it was time to push aside her personal baggage.
Dusk had only just fallen, offering the team some cover of darkness. Each of the security lights lining the fence had been deactivated by FitzSimmons, who had also helpfully jammed the cameras that positioned around the perimeter of the property.
Ward toyed with the stun grenade in his hand, testing its weight. Then, he nodded at Skye to relay that he had received contact from the second team of agents in his earpiece.
"Alpha Team are go," Ward hissed into his comms. device, and in the next instant the three Inhumans darted towards the front of the house. Just a few short years ago Grant would have had his guns drawn by now, but these days he relied on something else entirely for his protection. He still enjoyed taking down opponents with his bare hands, (his prowess as a Specialist was infamous within the world of espionage, after all), but he had come to realise that such a technique would likely not be effective when dealing with more super powered villains. Which, he had to admit, happened more than he liked these days.
"On three," Skye directed, flanking one side of the door with Ward whilst Lincoln took up the other.
Skye raised three fingers in a silent countdown and by the time she had lowered them all the team sprang to life. Skye wasted no time in blowing the front door clean off its hinges with a well-practised wave of her hand. The panel of wood was sent spinning down the hallway towards two of the Inhuman henchmen, who had been unfortunate enough to be lingering in the vicinity at the wrong moment.
Using both hands to simultaneously toss two stun grenades into the back of the hallway, Ward strode in, already toying with the link of blazing chains that flowed from his hand.
"Beta Team, you're up!" Ward barked into his comms. piece. He cocked his head at the sound of feet pounding the hallway upstairs, and it wasn't long before two more Hydra goons came to join the fray.
Whilst Lincoln set to work engaging the operatives in the hallway, Ward positioned himself at the bottom of the winding staircase, ready to deal with anyone who should emerge from above. Satisfied that the men could hold down the fort in the entrance of the house, Skye darted into the first room on her left, which she hoped might contain the known ringleader of the group; a woman with the power to adopt animal form, who was a new face in Hydra's ever-increasing army.
Skye cursed when she found herself in a deserted study, faced with nothing but shelves of musty smelling books and a computer that appeared so outdated from a first glance that it was embarrassing. She stormed to the nearest closed doorway at the back of the room and wasted no time in kicking it in, this time relieved to find herself standing in the entrance of the lounge.
She shot a quick glance to the couch, where a middle-aged woman huddled with two teenage girls and a little boy who was perhaps twice Vivian's age. Skye did her best to flash them all a soothing smile before she directed her attention to the Inhuman woman staring her down from the centre of the room. The woman wore a set of black Hydra emblazoned tac. gear but nothing covered her head, which had been shaved clean to the skin. A tattoo of a wolf baying adorned the skin above her right ear and Skye was suddenly filled with a sinking feeling as she began to realise just what that might mean.
"So, I hear you've been a pretty shitty houseguest," Skye stated, doing her best to maintain an air of bravado that she didn't feel, "trampling flower beds, taking these nice people hostage… shedding on the furniture."
The woman cocked her head and smirked, flashing Skye a glimpse of teeth that had already begun to elongate into fangs. A million curse words flashed through Skye's mind but she spoke none of them, instead tossing her hair over her shoulder with feigned indifference.
"You've heard of me," the woman observed, seeming quite pleased by the fact.
"All bad things," Skye replied, her smile bright but phoney, "mostly I'm just assuming that you're the shape shifting mutt that Hydra leashed a few months back. Am I getting warm?"
"Oh, I've read all about you, Quake. Hydra have amassed quite a file on you and your husband."
Skye shot a quick glance out towards the hallway, where Ward and Lincoln appeared to be successfully dealing with the minions they had encountered. Despite their shaky start – founded almost totally on jealousy – the two men made a good team out in the field. Ward's experience and skills were aided by Lincoln's superior knowledge of Inhuman powers, and it had been him who had taught both Skye and Ward how to control the 'gifts' they possessed.
"I'm touched," Skye replied wryly, noting with building trepidation how the woman's features had suddenly started changing before her eyes. From behind her the terrified screams of the two teenage girls made her ears ring. The little boy took shelter in his mother's arms, too afraid to even dare make a sound.
"Let's just get this over with, huh Lassie?"
But the creature now standing before her, hackles raised, looked like no dog Skye had ever seen before, and the grotesque merging of wolf and Inhuman left her heart hammering in her chest.
It arched its back to eye its prey. Fur had sprouted across the woman's bald head and cheeks, and her nose had stretched into a snout that housed rows of fangs. Her ears had adopted a pointed appearance whilst her fingernails had curved into claws that were at least inches long.
Suddenly leaping into the air, the wolf lunged at the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Quickly, Skye harnessed all of her power in order to send a surge of energy to counter the beast's strike, and yet it still made headway towards her.
The wolf-like woman fought through the waves that Skye blasted towards her, her head down and a snarl burbling on her deformed lips. A laugh escaped her but due to her transformation it came off sounding far more like a growl that had rumbled from her chest cavity.
"Shit…" Skye swore, realising as sweat beaded on her brow and yet the wolf pressed onwards that she wasn't going to be able to hold her back with her powers alone. Making a snap decision, Skye braced herself for the impact of another body rushing her and dropped her raised hand. The other Inhuman crashed into her harder than expected, taking them both down to the floor, and she managed to sink her teeth into Skye's forearm before the agent could yank it out of reach.
Skye let out a yelp of pain, using her free and uninjured arm to bash the wolf on the snout in the hopes that its jaws would release.
Lurching back, the Inhuman smiled, baring a row of sharp and jagged teeth, some of which were now stained with Skye's blood.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you, and after I do maybe I'll kill your husband too. Leave that precious little child of yours an orphan, just like its mommy… or… maybe I'll kill them too."
Anger surged through Skye's veins in a way she wasn't sure she'd ever experienced before – a visceral, all-consuming rage that made her skin hum with the power demanding to be unleashed from within. Skye knew Hydra had been aware of her pregnancy, but S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence suggested that they had yet to determine even if the child had been a boy or a girl. The hybrid's uncertainty on the subject was at least reassuring; either Hydra had simply failed to gather that information, or they didn't care enough to search it out.
Her jaw set, Skye struggled against the grasp of the creature. "You don't get to threaten my husband, and nobody threatens my baby."
Letting out a scream of anger and frustration, Skye sent a wave of power surging from every pore of her body, and the beast flew violently across the room. Its eyes widened in surprise as it felt its body leave the ground, and it slammed into the opposite wall with a sickening thud that left a smear of blood on the plaster. Climbing to her feet, Skye took a step closer to the wolf and held out both hands in a gesture that dared her to lunge again.
From the corner of her eye, Skye watched as Agent Forbes darted into the room, skirting around the ensuing melee in order to reach the couch. The blonde agent seized the arms of both still weeping teenage girls and propelled them forcibly towards the exit, before ensuring that their mother was in tow.
"Don't go far," the wolf-woman barked in her husky, unearthly tone. Skye held her bleeding arm by her side, trying to ignore how the blood trickled in thick rivulets from the holes in her sleeve and dripped onto the wooden floor at her feet.
The Inhuman licked her teeth, tasting the blood lingering there, and her eyes glowed amber with pleasure.
"Hey, we're not done yet," Skye snapped, wasting no time in flinging herself at the wolf before she had time to regroup from the last attack. Ignoring the pain in her arm, Skye rained a series of vicious blows down on the beast, doing her best to strike her across her head as much as possible. Seeming surprised by Skye's vitality even after such a bite, the other Inhuman faltered for a few moments, doing her best to simply stave off Skye's punches and prevent them from connecting with her temple.
As Skye attacked, Agent Forbes wrapped an arm around the trembling little boy who was still rooted to the couch, watching the fight playing out in front of him with wide and disbelieving eyes.
"Come on, kid, this way," Agent Forbes encouraged, her fingers closing around the boy's arm as she tugged him up and off the couch, into the safety of her side. "Your Mom's outside. We're going to get you to her. You just stay with me and… don't look…"
Doing her best to shield the child's eyes from the violent battle raging in the middle of his home, Agent Forbes made a beeline for the second lounge door that would lead them through to another hallway. She had already instructed Mrs. Aspenall and her daughters to escape through the kitchen and into the back yard, where another team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents waited to receive them.
Directing another jolt of energy at the creature, Skye took great delight in the sound of glass smashing and wood splintering as the Inhuman fell backwards into a table. An unearthly shriek of pain filled the air as it tried to pull a large shard of glass from where it had wedged in its abdomen.
Backing up so as to provide Agent Forbes some protection, Skye watched as the beast's eyes quickly panned from the blonde haired field agent to the little boy grasping her hand with terror in his eyes.
"Go!" Skye shouted as the creature lurched with renewed strength at the pair, claws outstretched and teeth bared into a sinister growl. The wolf-like monster seemed unaffected by the surges of energy sent in its direction, and Skye let out a cry with simply the effort of trying to hold her back.
"Get him out of here!" Skye yelled desperately, but the blonde agent stood frozen in shock and in that moment Skye realised a terrible decision had befallen her.
The hybrid would make contact with its prey in seconds, and so the Inhuman leader had a choice to make; the life of her S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague, or the life of a child. Her heart shattered as she took a final moment to glance between them, but there was no way Skye could save both with her waning powers.
Gritting her teeth, already struggling with holding the weight of the wolf in place, and with her forearm bleeding profusely, Skye made her call. Dropping to her knees with the effort it took, she released the Inhuman from the tenuous hold her powers kept on her and instead directed a blast of energy at the little boy, just in time. He was sent careering backwards and he landed hard on the floor, but he had been removed from the direct path of the oncoming monster, which was more than could be said for Agent Forbes. The woman screamed as the Inhuman's teeth fastened around her throat and Skye added to the chaotic din with a yell of her own. She crawled forwards, knees sliding on her own blood and the pieces of glass littering the floor, as she desperately attempted to yank the wolf off the agent with her remaining strength. However, her powers barely managed to latch onto the creature, who was tearing at Agent Forbes' neck in a frenzy.
"No!" Skye screamed, barely managing to stagger to her feet. In a last, valiant attempt to help the fallen agent, Skye flung herself on the wolf-woman's back, tugging hard on her ears as she tried to pry those vice-like jaws away from Agent Forbes. The blonde woman lay in a growing pool of blood, which spurted from the torn artery in her throat with deadly and unstoppable speed. Skye's stomach turned at the sight but she could do very little to aid the agent from her position on top of the Inhuman, who was only seconds away from flinging Skye backwards anyway.
Barely a beat after that realisation, Skye found herself lying on her back on the lounge floor, staring up at the ceiling as she gasped for breath. She had been winded by the fall and her lungs burned as she attempted to suck in much needed oxygen. Dark spots danced in front of her eyes but Skye could still make out the bloodied features of the Hydra monster as it loomed over her, preparing to strike.
Before she had time to react, the beast let out a squeal and when Skye looked up it was to see a link of flaming chains wrapping tightly around the wolf's throat. It thrashed at its neck with its talons, the sickening smell of burning fur and charred skin making Skye's stomach heave.
The Hydra agent, desperate to make another kill, and perhaps claim the infamous 'Quake' as her next and likely final victim, lunged forward at the woman pinned beneath her. But Ward was faster, and he ruthlessly yanked the chain around her neck until she flew with force into the hallway, where she crashed into the staircase bannister amidst a cloud of splintering wood and plaster.
A pair of strong arms suddenly pulled Skye to her feet, and she nodded dumbly to indicate she was okay. Ward cupped her cheek and lifted her head to meet his concerned gaze, his flames momentarily absent.
Glancing over to where Lincoln knelt at Agent Forbes' side, Ward's expression grew grim as the other Inhuman merely shook his head. Lincoln reached out to gently close the dead woman's terror-stricken eyes. Blood ebbed in a pool across the floor and Skye realised that Agent Forbes had not stood a chance against the savagery of the Hydra beast.
"Incoming, doc," Ward directed, pushing Skye behind him as he noted her injuries. Lincoln stood up just in time to intercept the wolf, but it took both men to channel their combined powers to subdue it. Whilst still holding her in a static charge that limited her movements, Lincoln's gaze ticked to Ward, and less than a moment later a blazing fireball engulfed the creature. Her screams and cries of pain seemed to have little effect on any of the Inhumans present, who only watched her slowly succumb to the flames without a trace of regret.
Noting one of the Inhuman henchmen start to rouse from his unconscious slumber, Ward strode into the hall and delivered a swift kick to the man's head, repeating the blow purely out of rage.
Skye felt numbness washing over her and she dropped to her knees at Agent Forbes' side. Even with her eyes closed, the woman looked far from peaceful and Skye felt her stomach clench at the realisation that this was her fault; another death was on her.
She looked around the room frantically for the young boy she had barely managed to save, her heart skipping in relief as she noted that his mother had swept into the room with another agent and was gathering him up in her arms. He was crying loudly and hard, and Skye could not blame him since she felt like doing the exact same.
The hand that landed softly on her injured arm had her gritting her teeth and hissing, even attempting to pull away. However, when Skye looked up quickly, ready for a fight again, she saw only Lincoln peering down at her in concern.
"Let me look at that," he offered, his eyes not leaving the steady stream of blood leaking from her wounds, "you're losing more blood than I'd like."
"I'm fine…" Skye retorted, her tone more abrasive than she had intended, but her gaze had already ticked back to Agent Forbes' corpse and she was having a hard time functioning.
"You're swaying on your feet," Lincoln replied, shaking his head and reaching for Skye again.
Stooping down, Ward gently but firmly fastened an arm around her waist. He used his free hand to carefully capture the wrist of her injured arm, which he examined with a furrowed brow.
"It's fine, Grant. I heal quickly, remember?!" she insisted, hardly caring for her own injuries given her mother's rejuvenate DNA, and also the dead woman lying in a puddle of her own blood at their feet.
"It's not fine," Ward countered. He glanced around when several uniformed S.H.I.E.L.D. field agents ran into the room, the combined noise of their boots pounding the wooden floorboards creating a din that also drew Lincoln's attention. The agents were evidently anxious to clear up the scene of devastation and take the Hydra operatives into custody, and they set to work without exchanging any kind of verbal communication.
"Let Lincoln take a look when we're back at base," he demanded, holding out Skye's arm as Lincoln removed a pressure bandage from the small pouch on his belt and began to hurriedly apply a field dressing to the wound.
Skye's eyes never left the dead woman's body, and both men were taken aback when she exclaimed quietly, "She was married."
Diverting their gazes to the blonde's lifeless body, Ward and Lincoln noted the gold band on her finger with a simultaneous sigh.
"Baby, come on. Let's go home," Ward attempted to comfort her, drawing her into his chest and wrapping her in an embrace. "It wasn't your fault, Skye. Sometimes we can't save everyone."
Skye nodded her head, screwing her eyes shut in defiance against the tears that burned them, threatening a sudden descent. She would not cry; she was stronger than that. She would not make a fool of herself in a room full of agents. She was Quake, for Christ's sake.
Sucking in a deep breath, she managed to gather her wits just enough to stumble along at Ward's side as he led her to the front entrance of the house. The missing door reminded her anew of their mission, and her ultimate failure.
As they reached the S.H.I.E.L.D. SUV's parked outside on the street, Skye was suddenly aware of someone tugging on her uninjured arm. Spinning around, she found herself face to face with the mother of the terrified children she had saved.
Lip trembling, the woman awarded Skye with a smile and, seemingly without a second thought, she embraced the young agent tightly in a display of gratitude.
"Thank you, thank you," she sobbed, her eyes darting furtively to the bandage on Skye's arm. "You saved my babies. I don't know how to ever thank you."
Managing a brief smile, Skye noted the little boy clinging to his mother's leg, and she reached out to ruffle his sweat soaked hair.
"You don't have to thank me," she assured her, hoping her attempt at a smile was enough to calm the child's nerves.
Throughout her time at S.H.I.E.L.D., and perhaps even before, children had always tugged at Skye's heart strings. Maybe it had been her time at the orphanage, where she'd become a 'big sister' figure to so many unwanted kids - or maybe it was just her own innate desire to nurture and protect - but every case involving a child weighed especially heavy on her shoulders.
From the corner of her eye Skye watched the body bag being carried from the property by two solemn faced S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and her breath caught in her throat with a noisy rasp. Suddenly, her thoughts were no longer with the frightened family they had just rescued. The nightmare was over for them, after all.
Reaching out and linking her fingers with Wards, Skye found that she could think of nothing but the husband who was waiting for his wife to come home.