A/N: So, I tried my hand at another fix-it fic. Little bit nervous about May's characterization here; thoughts would be appreciated. Hope you enjoy. :)
Rated T for alcohol and mentions of sex.
Show me that you're human, you won't break
…
'Cause we're all broken
We all end up alone.
-Human, by Gabrielle Aplin
May finds him at the second bar she searches.
Ward is sitting at the nearly-empty bar, nursing a drink and a dark expression.
She walks over and takes the seat next to him. "Buy you a drink?"
"Why not? I'm not drunk yet."
There's a sharp edge of bitterness in his voice that she's not used to hearing directed at her. She knows that it's not uncalled for, so she suffers it in silence.
She signals the bartender over and has him pour them both a double of the strongest drink they have. They drink in silence for a while, until she judges the time is right to say what she came to say.
"Did I ever tell you about some old friends of mine from the Academy?"
He shakes his head wearily.
"They were a lot like us. Partners on a team, who decided to chase away their demons with sex. Until the day they broke up. In the most cruel way."
"I'm sure it was his fault."
"No." She says it again, firmer this time, like that could make up for not saying it before. "She was...too attached and it messed with her judgment. She was cold when she should have been warm and warm when she should have been cold. Her partner got hurt at the time. Badly. And instead of being understanding, she hurt him worse."
Intense brown eyes look over at her. She holds eye contact until he looks away. He takes another sip from his tumbler.
"What did she do about it?"
"When she decided to stop being self-centered and face up to what she did and how she felt, she met him at a bar like this."
He remains silent, takes another swig of his drink.
"She—I—came to apologize, Ward."
She's never been one for apologies, but for him, she'll try.
She swallows, trying to gather her courage. He waits.
He lays his hand down on the counter between them, palm up. She takes it carefully, trying not to grasp it like the drowning woman she is.
When she feels composed enough, she places her other hand on his, holding it tightly between hers. She looks up at him, makes unwavering eye contact.
"I'm sorry. For using my fist when I should have used my words. For not being there for you when you needed me. For acting like I was blaming you when I was really blaming me."
His face and eyes are softer now and it's closer to the admiration he always used to look at her with.
"You don't have to give it, but I want to ask your forgiveness. I was wrong."
"I forgive you."
No hesitation.
No strings attached.
The heavy burden that's been blossoming in her chest since she'd told him it was over—or even a long time before, while she's being honest with herself—starts to loosen.
"Where do we go from here?" He asks, the words heavy on his tongue.
Because from this day forward, their relationship needs a new rulebook.
She's not sure exactly what those rules will be, but she hopes they can figure it out. She wants them to.
"What do you want?" she asks softly.
He doesn't answer, just studies her thoughtfully.
He stands. "Want to get out of here?"
She smiles.
Hand in hand, they walk forward.
It's not everything, but it's a good first step.
-the end-
