New Beginnings
Disclaimer:
I own nothing with the exception of Evanee Harmon.
Rating:
T (just 'cause I never really know where I'm gonna end up going with these things)
Genre:
Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Pairings:
StarkWard
(possible) Coulsye (haven't really decided, yet)
Lyrics Used:
Sara Evans "Better Off"
He'll Only Leave You Better Off
I know your eyes are burnin' | But, try and hold it in | Don't let him see you cryin' | Don't give that much to him | Don't tell him that you love him | Or that you're sorry one more time | Or get on your knees | Beg and plead | Tryin' to change his mind
Climbing into the back of his limo, Tony leaned on the shoulder of the one person still left in his corner after the fiasco that was his relationship with Steve Rogers. Wrapping her arm around the billionaire's shoulders, Agent Evanee Harmon allowed Tony to cry out everything on his mind in that moment. She knew there was nothing else for her to say or do, and just let him cry it out. Feeling her phone vibrate in the thigh pocket of her jeans, she stealthily slipped it out to read the incoming text.
(212) 655-4500
Spoke with Fury. We are go.
Smiling softly to herself, Evanee slipped the phone back into her pocket as the limo pulled up outside Stark Tower. Finally, she could relocate Tony to a team that would not only utilize his skills and talents more effectively, but, also have his back. Following Tony into the living area, she watched him slump into an over-stuffed armchair.
Crouching down next to the arm of the chair, Evannee laid her hand on his arm and gripped his hand in hers. Massaging his arm, gently, she finally spoke softly. "Look, sweetie...I know this is quite possibly the worst time for me to bring this up…" She began, gently. "But, I spoke with Fury a while back - when all this started up - and, he's arranged for you to leave the initiative-"
"What?!" Tony breathed, a mixture of shock and hurt in his rich chocolate eyes. "Why-why-Why would you do that?"
"Look, we're not just getting rid of you…" Evanee reassured him, gently. "No, we're just transferring you to a different team. One which will not only utilize your skills better…" Looking directly into Tony's eyes, she drove her point home. "They will also have your back."
"So – What? The group ostracizes me and I'm the one to be punished?! Like it's my fault I got knocked up and the father of my children was too chicken-shit to admit that the kids are his so he had to convince my so-called 'friends' that I had to have cheated on him?!" Tony demanded, incredulously. "What, is that how this works?!"
"Absolutely – unequivocally – not!" Evanee steadfastly kept her voice firm enough to drive home her point while remaining gentle enough to avoid coming across, threatening, as she moved to kneel directly in front of Tony – taking both of his hands in her own – as she spoke again. "Listen to me, Tony. You may be my asset, but, you are my friend, first. And, I will always have your six – you have to know that. And, believe me, the Avengers are in for a world of hurt!" That much, Tony believed was true. He'd seen Evanee's rage, firsthand, and it wasn't pretty. "But, the reason that I'm doing this for you – not to you – is because I truly feel that this is the best move for you. That is my main concern, here. My first priority, here, is the well-being of you and your babies. And, the stress of being around the Avengers cannot be good for any of you. That's why I spoke to Fury about the transfer. He's assembling a new team of operatives and I believe you would be an excellent fit to join that team."
"How can I be an excellent fit for any team?" Tony argued, sounding more helpless than he would ever admit to. "I mean, look at me, for Christ's sake! I'm five months pregnant! With twins!"
"That doesn't matter, and, you know it, Tony!" Evanee insisted. She knew this was the right move for Tony. Now, all she had to do was to make the billionaire see that for himself. "Tony, do you honestly think I would do anything if I wasn't a thousand percent sure it was the right move?"
Tony had to admit that she had a point. Evanee's instincts always had an almost surgical precision to them. He knew he could trust her instincts and if she truly believed that this was the right move for him...Who was he to argue? And, truly, the thought of getting away from his tormentors, once and for all – having the opportunity to raise his son and daughter in peace, surrounded by people that cared for and supported them – sounded damn tempting. "So, what, exactly would I be doing?" He finally asked, curiously.
Grinning, Evanee rose to her feet to pull the coffee table over to sit on the edge as she began to answer the billionaire's question. "Well..." The senior agent began excitedly. "This new team that is being assembled, will be charged with investigating strange objects and occurrences – anything that S.H.I.E.L.D. feels the public isn't ready to know about, yet, really. And, we all know how you love sticking your nose into things." She added, cheekily, earning a small smile and quiet laugh from the billionaire.
"Who would I be working with?" Tony asked, gaining in interest.
Reaching into her briefcase, Evanee pulled out the files on all of the billionaire's perspective new teammates. "These would be your new teammates." She stated, as Tony began perusing the files. "The first file we have, here, is Agent Melinda May. She has extensive field and combat training, however, she's been brought onto the team strictly as the pilot for the team's mobile command center." She elaborated. "Agent May has specifically requested to be relieved of fieldwork duties."
"Why's that?" Tony questioned, briefly, perusing the pilot's file.
"No one's really sure, exactly." Evanee replied, thoughtfully. "Everybody has their own theories. There's never been any concrete evidence as to who's right or wrong, though." She added, finally. "Next in line, we have Agent Leopold - or Leo - Fitz." The senior agent added, shifting gears as Tony moved on to the next file in his hands. "Agent Fitz is a science officer specializing in robotics and engineering."
"Man after my own heart." Tony mused, thoughtfully.
"Very much so." Evanee agreed. "Though, Agent Fitz is quite a bit more shy and introverted." She mused as Tony moved on to the next file in his hands. "The file you're looking at now, is that of Agent Jemma Simmons." She explained. "Agent Simmons is also a science officer. Simmons is a biochemist with two PHDs in fields that I'm not even gonna try to pronounce. Neither she nor Fitz has been cleared for field work as they will predominantly remain in the lab." As she watched her friend perusing the files in his hands, the senior agent knew his answer would be 'yes'. Smiling as he flipped to the next file, she shifted gears, yet again. "Up next, we have Skye. She's a civilian poached away from The Rising Tide-"
"The Rising Tide?" Tony questioned, glancing up at Evanee. "She must be good to get in with them." He mused, thoughtfully.
"One of the best even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ever seen." Evanee conceded. "Why do you think we were so eager to recruit her?" The senior agent smirked. "Originally, she was only supposed to serve in a consultant capacity – much like you. But, she decided she liked it so much, she wanted to start training to become an official S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."
"This girl have a last name?" Tony questioned, curious about the conspicuous absence of a surname on the hacker's file.
"I'm sure she does." The senior specialist shrugged. "We just have no idea what the hell it is."
"How can S.H.I.E.L.D. not know something like that?" The billionaire wondered.
"Honestly, I have no idea." Evanee admitted. "But, you can't argue with her skills. She's definitely got the potential to be a strong asset. As long as she proves her loyalty and her worth, S.H.I.E.L.D. won't ask any questions." The agent replied. Looking back up at Tony, she watched, curiously as his expression changed when he looked at the last file in his hands. "And, last – but most assuredly not least – we have Special Agent Grant Ward." She introduced, smugly. She recognized that look in Tony's eyes. She just never expected to see it sparked by anyone other than Steve Rogers.
Wow...Tony thought to himself as he took in the sight of the specialist's striking features. He had a strong jawline with distinguished cheekbones. And, his warm brown eyes spoke of a warmth that wasn't represented in his rigid mug-shot of an ID photo. This 'Agent Ward' was undoubtedly an undeniably attractive man. Someone I could easily see myself falling for. Tony knew this guy was exactly his type. Young and ruggedly handsome. Which was exactly the problem. He'd fallen for that type before, and, look where it'd gotten him. Five months pregnant with twins. Alone and raising his children alone. And, now, he was looking at leaving everyone he'd once considered a friend behind and joining a whole new team full of strangers – counting on them to accept him and his children. No. He couldn't let himself go there, again.
"Agent Ward is a specialist. Highly trained in combat." Evanee began, introducing the stunning agent in the file before him. Although, to be perfectly honest, Tony was really only half-listening as he was too mesmerized by striking agent in the photos before him. "...fluent in six different languages..." Aaaaaannnnnd, he's gone...Evanee thought to herself as she took in the look on Tony's face. Eh...He could do worse – who am I kidding – he already has done worse! She told herself. Maybe Agent Ward could be the driving force that could lead Tony to accept her offer to transfer him. "So. … When can you start?" She asked, hopefully.
Author's Note:
So, this was an idea that came to me after reading "Not the Man You Think I Am" by lizrat66 (GREATstory, by the way...). I hope you all enjoy this story. I kept this chapter short 'cause I just wanted to lay a little bit of foundation for the story and test the waters. If you want me to continue, ya gotta review! Also, I'm sure you've all noticed that I did not include a file on Coulson. I did that deliberately because I wanted to surprise Tony by allowing him and Coulson to meet face-to-face before anyone told him about Coulson being alive just 'cause...Well, 'cause that's how I see it in my head.
~Skye Coulson