A/N: Hellooo everybody! :D So, after I don't know how long, I'm back! Some stuff happened throughout these last few months and also school just started (we have it from June-March). Long story short, I haven't had a chance to write fanfics anymore. :( But anyway, finally I managed to find some spare time to dedicate to fandom entirely after being detached for the longest time. And so, I got the chance to start this idea for a Skyeward fic that I've been wanting to write for so long already.

Apart from that, I'd love to hear how all the fans and Skyeward shippers are doing now that we're on break. Feel free to message me if you want to share anything! :)

I hope you guys like this start. :) :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.

CHAPTER 1:

Ward

My first month in jail was different than what I expected. I had already prepared myself for the series of interrogations to come, maybe a few beatings even, but none came.

And that was a much worse torture.

No one came to demand all my knowledge about HYDRA. No one came to tell me what I was expecting in the future. No one came to me to reiterate all my wrongdoings and the punishments I had to face. No one came.

Then, one day, I heard the sound of my cage door open. I looked up from where I was lying on the hard cot, but didn't bother standing or sitting up. The room was separated into two sides by heavy metal bars. On my side, there was a bed, though I could hardly call it that; a small faucet and a flat mount connected to the metal bars where my food was placed. There were no windows, except the one on the door itself, so it was dark most of the time.

An aging man stood by the bars and continued to stare at me observantly. Moments later, he spoke.

"Can you talk, Grant?" He asked me.

I scoffed to myself. Of course. The one thing that everyone wants to rub in is the fact that I can't talk anymore.

"I'll ask again," he stated when I didn't answer. "Can you talk, Grant?"

I debated with myself whether I should try. If my injury wasn't permanent and I managed to talk then, it would be a huge relief. But if it was and I just croaked, it would be another stab of humiliation for me and pride for them. What a punishment.

Still, the curiosity kept eating me. For a month, never have I spoken to anyone, so I didn't know myself either if my throat healed or not.

Screw it. This doctor's not gonna leave me alone either way.

I sat up from the bed, stared emotionlessly at the man, and opened my mouth.

"I.." I croaked. My own voice surprised me. I spoke a word! But how much can I speak? "I…think…so…" My voice sounded very hoarse and gruff, but I was glad I could still talk.

The man nodded at me. "Well, it seems the fracture on your larynx has healed, though not fully yet, but you'll get there. Give it a few weeks at least."

I nodded curtly at him. He was smiling at me for some reason and the sight was confusing. Was he glad to see that the Cavalry really lived up to everyone's expectations of her when it came to beating someone up? Or was he just…glad?

"Well, I would suggest you grab that cup of water and drink up before we get started." He said to me. I walked to the metallic mount and picked up the plastic cup. Of course, I wasn't allowed to handle objects which I could use to kill myself, such as glass. I quickly finished the contents of the cup and placed it down again. The man smiled at me.

"Alright, Grant. Why don't you take a seat?" He told me, and I did so. "First off, my name is Doctor Peter Ornett and I'm here to evaluate you in the coming weeks."

"Why?" I asked. My voice was slightly better than the first time I used it.

"Well, I have my orders not to tell you unless I've determined your loyalty. We shall be starting tomorrow. I just came by to see whether you could talk."

Then, he stood up from his chair and opened the door. "I'll see you first thing tomorrow."

The morning after came and I was where I had been yesterday. My throat was still in the same state but it was better than being mute forever. Dr. Ornett was sitting across from me in the other side of the room. He raised his clipboard and brought out a pen.

"Shall we get started?" He cleared his throat before continuing. "Where do your loyalties lie?" The million dollar question.

"I have none anymore. I was loyal to Garrett, but now he's dead." I shrugged.

"How did you become loyal to him?"

"He saved me when I was a teenager. I owed everything to him." My own voice sounded both raspy and robotic to me.

"Let's talk about your past…"

And the talks went on, twice each week. Another month came. And then, another. All I did was go through all those psychoanalytic questions.

"He made me do it. He made me set my little brother's room on fire, even if I knew he was inside." My eyes were stinging. My voice could barely be heard. And I was sure the bed frame could collapse from my hold at its side. I could feel my chest tightening more and more by the second, until my breathing became constricted. The next thing I heard were my gasps, and my cage gate opening. The last thing I saw was my doctor hovering over me as he pushed me down the bed and injected me using a syringe.

Then, everything disappeared.

When I woke up, it was dark again. I didn't know what time it was. I never did, but the air was cold and my heart was racing.

My chest was relieved of the pain, but I wasn't. I could still see everything I recalled today. All those painful memories. All those bloody moments. I could still hear the piercing screams of my brother, and the monstrous laughs of my older brother and my father.

I grabbed my pillow and collapsed on the bed once more with eyes shut tight. I wanted it to go away. I wanted everything to go away, but it never did. I was forced to feel every single detail.

Maybe this was my torture. Maybe they were breaking me. I didn't know anymore. All I knew was pain. Everything hurt. Every thought hurt.

The doctor walked through the dimly lit hallway until he reached the room where he was being expected.

"Good evening, Director." He shook hands with the visitor and they both took their seats opposite each other.

"Any update?"

"Well, I'd say he's changed this month. When we first started the sessions, he was always willing to give all the answers. But upon your insistence, I tried seeing how far he could go when talking about his past."

"And how far was that?"

"Barely a step. It tortures him to think about all those bad painful memories. He crumbles every time I ask him about a certain memory. Sometimes he rages, but most of the time, he just collapses and cries from the emotions."

Coulson pursed his lips and nodded.

"I always sedate him when he loses control." The doctor added. "He's already broken, Director. He's been controlled all his life, starting from his parents to his brother. John Garrett may have helped him escape all that but he put Ward in another kind of misery. The boy forgot how to live his own life, without anyone ordering him around."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Well, I would have to continue with the sessions until we're sure he's stable." Dr. Ornett replied. "But, Director, I'm requesting that you transfer him to my facility. It's secure and it'll allow him to have some time outside of his cell. I can arrange for a convoy to bring him there."

Coulson thought for a moment before responding. "I'll give the green light as soon as I can. Keep me posted."

"Sure thing." They shook hands before Coulson left the prison.

Coulson made his way to the parking in front of the gray building. It was a really old SHIELD base back in the 80's, and it was shut down when a bombing happened. Now, it served as an isolated prison for the newly-captured HYDRA prisoners, including Ward.

Only two cars were in the parking. One was the shiny red Corvette, and the other was an all-black van with now windows. Coulson rode his car and drove away from that place. Half an hour later, his phone rang. Coulson pulled it out of his pocket and answered.

"Coulson," he greeted.

"Hey, it's me." May's voice was heard from the other end. "Are you heading back yet?"

"Yeah, I'm half an hour away. How's everything there?"

"Nothing new," she reported. "Simmons still hasn't left the infirmary. Skye and Triplett are still working."

They agreed that nothing specific would be mentioned over the phones, since they weren't sure who was listening.

"Alright. I'll see you all soon." He hung up the phone.

A/N: Okay so far? I hope so. I have school for the next few days, but I'll still try to upload the next chapter really soon. xx