Disclaimer: I do not own Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Ward couldn't believe it. He looked back at the number to make sure that he wasn't mistaken, but there it was. Phil Coulson was calling him. He looked around at his still newly risen HYDRA and debated on whether or not Coulson could have any knowledge of it. They hadn't done anything yet, though they were planning on raiding a couple of SHIELD bases for supplies, such as ammunition, guns, technology, or anything else of value. Deciding Coulson couldn't know anything about his new HYDRA, he then debated on whether or not Coulson was calling him about what he did to Agent Morse. Curiosity winning over common sense, Ward picked up the phone.
"Coulson. Didn't expect you to come calling me. What, here to demand I turn myself in?" Ward questioned, letting false arrogance to go protrude through his voice. He knew that Coulson still held the winning hand at the moment. But Ward just needed time, time to gather resources and expand his own influence.
"Trust me, Ward, if I was given any other choice right now, I would have a strike team on their way to wipe you off this Earth. Unfortunately, We need you to come in." Coulson growled out.
"You must have the wrong Ward. If you're looking for Tommy, try Massachusetts. Besides that, all other Wards are currently occupied or have passed into the afterlife." Ward replied.
"This isn't a request, Ward. It's an early warning. Someone already knows your location and will be there in a matter of seconds." Coulson sounded about as pissed about this situation as Ward was confused.
Ward couldn't help but look at the phone in his, then brought it back to his ear. "What kind of bull-" That was all Ward could say before he felt someone grab him from behind. He then went through a feeling that couldn't be related to anything besides flying backwards at sound breaking speed. He knew that it couldn't have been more than a second, but one minute he was in his hidden HYDRA bunker and the next he was in the looked around at Coulson's face.
"You were saying Ward?" Coulson spat at him. Coulson's glare seemed to become even more intense and Ward was never happier that looks couldn't kill because he would be dead ten times over.
"Shit. I believe that's the word." Ward said as he got into a stance that he could maybe put something of a fight up. He waited a bit for someone to come and try and kill him, but no one moved. "Or maybe it's more like bizarre," Ward continued when no one moved into arrest him.
"No," A voice spoke behind him. "It's called a change of fate." An old man emerged from behind him. His silver haired gave a dull shine to it, his suite couldn't have been more black along with his shirt, and wore a tie as red as fire. Ward guessed that this was the man that had transported him from his bunker to the Playground. That means that he had teleportation powers along with an even more fascinating ability to locate anyone, or at least him. Still, a man with powers was a man that was dangerous. Even without this knowledge, he radiated power.
"And who are you?" Ward challenged, letting his false arrogance set in. But the man just laughed.
"Do you think that you could possible match me, Mr. Ward? Please, I love it when humans try. I always get a kick out of it when they fail so miserably. I love kicking them while they're down." The old man said. His eyes glowing a bright orange, and a wicked smile growing on his face. "Be smart Mr. Ward, stay where you are."
And like that, Ward couldn't move his feet. He knew it, didn't even need to try. His feet felt like someone put a thousand pound weight on each of his knew that the old man now dominated the conversation, but he couldn't help but feel like he had the rest of his life. Once again, he would be the underdog. "Geez, do you do this to everyone, or am I special?"
"You know, it's funny how you hide your fear. You know today is the day you die, but you're determined to keep my attention on you. Still carry feelings for your old SHIELD buddies, do you?" He leaned in real close and whispered, "You're too weak for anyone to remember." He leaned back out and watched as Ward's glare intensified.
"But today, Mr. Ward, is not your day. No today is the day I fulfill a promise make in 25 years. See 25 years from today, your son turns 18. 25 years from today, your son becomes a man. 25 years from right this moment, your son gives up his soul for you." The old man after that continued. "I guess I should introduce myself to all of you now. My name is Mephisto. You may know me as Satan, the Devil, or the Antichrist. Your strong, pure of heart, boy made a deal with me. He told me that if I were to give you a second chance at being a hero, that you would rise up to not only meet the challenge, but you would go above and beyond the call of duty. He was so sure all you needed was a second chance at making things right that he offered me his soul."
"So it's more like a bet?" Coulson interrupted.
"Yes, I guess you could call it a bet. But I feel like it's a fool's bet. His hail mary to try and save your miserable and pathetic soul from damnation. Everyone in this room knows that the only heart darker than Mr. Ward's heart here is my own. A pure soul, so willing to give it up, it should almost be a crime. Ah, but I will follow the rules of the agreement. I will give you 3 test." The old man stated, smiling his cruel smile.
"Why is it always 3 test? Why can't we just talk it out?" Ward commented jokingly.
"Silence, Mr. Ward. Didn't Mr. Garrett teach you better manners out in those God forsaken woods? No matter, I guess you can work on it later. Now you have to convince everyone in this building that you are a hero. Every single soul has to accept you. Or the son you will have will have a fate worse than that of Cain. He will be mine. And he will work for me." Mephisto said.
"And why would I ever agree to allow this to happen? Or how? Nobody on this team would accept this, even if I ordered it. What, are you going to just tell them to deal with it like you told Ward and me to stop moving? Because that's the only reason I could think of that would work out in Ward's favor." Coulson told the demon. Ward had to give Coulson points for not sweating under pressure.
"No, I cannot interfere." The demon said, turning to Coulson. "And truth be told, I don't care about your inner team dynamic. I don't care if you lose half your team getting him in, or if you tell no one. But somehow, someway, he has to be known as a hero to your team, including you. And as to why, my dear, naive, little mortal, is because if you don't, I will open the gates of hell onto your world and destroy everything. Now, do you really think you can take on the hordes of demons that I have at my beck and call? Because, if you think the Earth can take another invasion, then go ahead and decline Mr. Ward."
"They will never accept him." Coulson replied in an almost defeated voice. This time instead of looking at the Devil, he looked at Ward. There was nothing there but pity, something he didn't want from anyone, let alone from Coulson.
He felt his anger start to boil over, and something snapped, like rubber bands being pulled apart. and suddenly he could move. Ward tackled Mephisto to the ground. His anger had never been this strong, even with the berserker staff, and he unleashed all of his anger onto the older man. he punched and punched, feeling the skull crack under his fist. He finally stopped and looked down at his handiwork.
There, instead of the bloody mess of Mephisto, there lay Garrett. Ward freaked, going as far as to yelp and jump off of the dead body. Even Coulson seemed freaked out, whether by Ward's attack or by the body of his old friend didn't matter to Ward.
"You really are strong, Mr. Ward. But know this, I'm what the prison warden of Hell. Do you really think that your small amount of skill can take me on. But you have given me an idea." Mephisto said, as if now he was the wind. "While I cannot interfere with Coulson's team accepting you, I can give you something else. A reason that they'd want you nearby." Coulson and Ward both were looking around for the source, suddenly back to back. But neither could see where the source of the voice was coming from.
"I will give you power, Mr. Ward. Power enough even to stand up to me." And with those words, Ward's instincts told him to run. "I will grant you domain over the element of fire," And with those words, he felt every vein in his body start to boil. He screamed as the pain raced through his body. "I will grant you the strength of a God," Ward could barely register the new pain coursing throughout his body. He could feel his consciousness begin to slip away, though he still somehow managed to stay on his feet. "Good luck, Mr. Ward. Your son's fate is in your hands. Oh, and one last parting gift. And when you need these powers the most, when you require them the most, they won't work."
"Screw you," Ward mumbled, as he finally fell to the ground. Unconscious, he couldn't see the scared look on Coulson's face as he contemplated having to rely on Ward. "God help us." Coulson whispered.