BROKEN

by serennog

.

.

.

Summary: Grant confronts Skye about why she's ignoring him, encumbered by the effects of the Berserker staff. Post-The Well (i.e. Spoilery).

Disclaimer: AoS is the property of Marvel and ABC Studios. I own nothing.

.

.

.

When Skye blatantly ignores him as they all check out of the hotel early the next morning, Grant is confused. When she avoids his searching gaze, eyes fixed resolutely on the passing scenery on their ride back to the Bus, he feels the prickly beginnings of annoyance. And when she instantly excuses herself, making a b-line for her cabin, Grant gets angry.

FitzSimmons shoot him looks that are both wary and accusing; the latter more strongly in Simmons' eyes. She and Skye have grown a lot closer since the incident at the Hub.

Grant's irritation piques, and it's like his heart's pumping out lava. He sucks in a steadying breath. The sensation fades a little; not nearly enough.

"What?" he asks tightly.

It's Simmons who speaks up, Fitz wandering off to stow away his luggage. "Have you and Skye argued?"

"No."

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

"No."

She seems to read more deeply into his monosyllabic answer, or maybe just guesses his intention. "Just… don't be too hard on her." That said she heads off after Fitz, leaving Grant alone in the cargo bay.

The walk to Skye's door gives his blood time to cool somewhat, and when he knocks it's at a civil volume.

"Kinda busy," comes Skye's muffled response. It's snappish, accompanied by the clatter of what Grant guesses are her various gadgets being tossed around.

He bites back a testy response, opting for something that's less likely to make her clam up. "Skye. Can we talk?"

"Told you I'm busy." There's a loud clunk followed by a curse.

"Look." Grant leans closer to the door, voice strained from the effort of not blowing up on her. "I don't know what I've done, but-"

The door opens so suddenly that he nearly stumbles over the threshold.

Skye's face is a veritable thundercloud. "You wanna talk, huh? And here I thought you'd be all talked-out after spending the night with May."

Grant lets out a shaky breath through his nose. "What you're implying didn't happen."

"Oh, sure," scoffs Skye, crossing her arms. "Because when men sneak into women's hotel rooms, it's all innocent."

"Damnit, Skye!" His fist falls hard on the doorjamb. The pain blossoming across his knuckles is pale in comparison to the rage burning along his veins. "Nothing happened!"

She looks at him with those startled doe eyes. There's hurt in them too. "Then why couldn't you come to me?"

"Because…" He stops, not liking the harsh, gritty timbre of his voice. Swallowing, he tries again. "Because I needed to talk it through with someone who's faced their demons."

Skye averts her eyes, nodding and obviously fighting back tears. "Right." She moves to close the door.

"Skye-"

"Two broken people don't make a whole." With that parting shot, the door clicks shut and locks.

Grant is left staring at the grey-painted metal. His fury fizzles and dies, and the encroaching cold burns worse than his anger.