MCU :: MARVEL UNIVERSE :: MCU
MCU :: MARVEL UNIVERSE :: MCU
Skye woke up early the next morning to her pillow buzzing. It took her a couple of minutes to realize that her phone was underneath it and that someone was calling her. It couldn't have been too many people seeing as Skye kept her inner circle fairly small and she didn't work with too many people these days. If ever. Her trust issues ran a little deep, even she could admit to that much.
She answered the call and rolled over, Skye didn't even have to look at the caller ID to know who would dare call her this early. Skye put it on speaker and tossed her iPhone aside as she threw one arm over her eyes, "Almost a year, Madani, and you're still doing wake up calls before eight in the morning...please tell me you have a good reason?"
"Meet me at our diner in thirty minutes, it's important."
Skye groaned, "What am I hack—"
"Thirty minutes, Cipher." click.
"Wow. Rude much?" but Skye was up and out of her bed in a second, already connecting her phone to her surround sound speakers around her home and playing some Queen. Dinah had used her alias and Skye could only count a handful of times that it's ever happened since knowing the Homeland Agent. Skye took a shower and dressed in some gray sweatpants, a pair of her ratty old converse and a black hoodie and a beanie when she saw that it was raining outside.
Skye jumped into her Chevy Chevelle to go meet Dinah and she hoped the older woman had already ordered their usual breakfast because Skye was starving, like always.
MCU :: MARVEL UNIVERSE :: MCU
By the time Skye arrived to the little hole in wall diner that was her and Dinah's usual secret meeting place, the heavy rain turned into a light drizzle. Skye parked across the street, spotting Dinah's black 1968 Mustang not too far away. Out of habit from being around Dinah too long, Skye used her mirrors to check the area around her before she pulled her Heckler and Koch P30L pistol from her glove compartment and tucked it away behind her back.
A long time ago, she wasn't much of a violent person preferring to tuck tail and run when shit got hard. She was good at running, and she could do it in style as a bonus. But ever since Dinah Madani became her handler, the woman insisted (ordered Skye within an inch of her life) to get some training in. Dinah, it seemed, saw the good in everyone—and she had trust issues as well. It was something they could both relate to.
She trained Skye herself, hand to hand combat and weapons training. It wasn't often that they got to train, but Dinah was able to teach her the basics, and Skye appreciated them even if she was still a runner when it came down to it.
But it was nice...and new for Skye. To have someone that gave a shit about her, of course it had to be a damned government suit but she was pretty sure Dinah Madani wasn't like any damned government suit she's ever met in her freaking life. Not after the past couple of months they had.
Skye still couldn't believe she had Frank Castle in her phone book. The fucking Punisher. The most deadliest man walking the planet. She'd been helping Dinah track the dude but whoever he was with was a pretty good hacker, but really? Wasn't too much of match for Cipher—the same Cipher that shut down Detroit city two years ago.
Skye thought Dinah was all about taking him out and getting another promotion. Because that's how the government worked. Right?
Skye didn't realize how wrong she was after she figured out that Dinah wasn't trying to kill him. But her pretty boy boyfriend instead—it was a mess with bullets flying all over the place. It was a lot of drama, a lot of dead bodies—but Frank Castle was running around a free man now.
And Dinah's boyfriend? Her ex-boyfriend. Her dead ex-boyfriend (he wasn't really dead, but everyone liked to think so) was rotting away somewhere. Skye never really liked the guy and thankfully she's only met him one time. But it was one time too many. He creeped her out and reminded her why she didn't really like people too much, especially the rich kind.
The bullet wound on her back shoulder blade was enough to vouch that Billy Russo was a piece of shit human being. Fucking prick.
It was the one time that Skye was trying to physically have Madani's back when she realized that the Agent was going to the standoff between Russo and Castle. The moment Madani went down, so did Skye. She couldn't exactly remember too much after that, but everyone survived but not unscathed.
Skye subconsciously rolled her shoulder as she spotted the Homeland Agent dressed casually in the corner and she was thoroughly disappointed to discover that the table was empty. All business then...cool.
Skye sat down with a heavy sigh and a tired smile, "So, what up? What's so important you couldn't tell me over the phone? The same phone I've protected personally. Or y'know, you could've come by. You have a freakin' key, Madani."
"It was too risky," Dinah didn't return her smile, and Skye couldn't help but look at the woman's head—the hole that should've been there but miraculously missed, "I had some interesting visitors this morning."
"Oh."
"Mmm."
"Were they like you?"
Dinah nodded slowly, eyes darting around, "Yeah, they were like me...but not as fun."
Skye scoffed, "You got me shot, you're a little too fun, Madani."
Dinah chose to ignore that jab, "I'm still plugging in the leaks at my office...but apparently Russo had better connections than I anticipated. And contingency plans in case any of this ever blew up in his face."
"So, you're saying this guy...he snitched?"
"Yeah." Dinah worried her bottom lip gently, looking at the younger woman sitting across from her openly. The young woman who was undoubtedly now her friend—someone she trusted. An unlikely pair they were, but here they were.
"But I'm protected, they can't touch me—" Skye stopped, sighing, she had almost about forgot the red lines she's crossed the past few months for the woman sitting across from her without hesitation. Too many red lines to just overlook, "But Homeland can't turn away from this one...can they?"
"No. I'm sorry, Skye—"
Skye snorted, "Don't be...if I didn't wanna do it, I wouldn't have done it."
"I know, but..." Dinah smiled to herself, though it was more like a grimace, "I'm still sorry."
Skye nodded, accepting her apology, "Who came by?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D."
Skye wasn't surprised...she and S.H.I.E.L.D., well...they had history together. And not the good kind. They had been on her ass when Homeland picked her up...and it wasn't by accident either. Dinah didn't find out that bit of information until later when they were neck deep in bodies, bullets and lies.
"Homeland can't turn a blind eye to Cipher anymore...as of right now, you're a cyber-terrorist again."
"Welcome to my life," Skye said sarcastically, rubbing her face with both of her hands, "I knew this wasn't gonna last but I laid roots anyway. I just...I guess I just thought that it would last a little while longer than it did."
"I know...and I wish there was more that I could do—"
Skye looked up, seeing the sadness in Dinah's eyes and she forced a smile back on her face but the older woman saw right through it. She always could. "You being here and warning me is enough...how much time do I have?"
"You have less than 18 hours to get the hell out of this city. Skye, S.H.I.E.L.D. Isn't playing around anymore. They...they put a kill order on you."
Skye sighed heavily, "My place...and all my stuff...I have a go bag ready, just in case but...I got too damn comfortable."
Dinah shook her head, "If it would be alright with you, Skye...I can keep up your home."
Skye looked up, surprised and wary, "What? But your place...?"
"My own apartment it's...tainted with memories of Russo, memories I want to forget. And I would rather just stay off the grid for a while."
"You'd do that? For me?"
"Skye. I'm risking my entire career for you right now. You risked your life for me just two months ago. I'd say we're friends enough to do this, right?"
"Right."
"You're a good kid, Skye."
"No. I'm not."
"You are to me."
"Then you're an idiot."
Dinah laughed softly, eyes closing briefly, but she didn't say anything more and Skye was grateful. She wasn't sure if she could handle that conversation today. Or ever.
Skye stared down at her laced fingers on the table, lips pressed tightly with her eyes closed just as tight. She was only 20 years old and she was feeling as if she was hitting 35 or something—the stress of the reality around her threatening to suffocate her. She didn't wanna leave, but she had to. She didn't have a choice.
She knew it was stupid of her to settle down in New York city after she let Homeland catch her to keep S.H.I.E.L.D. from executing her on the spot. There was always a kill order for her, that wasn't anything new to her.
Unlike Homeland, Skye had gotten a number of S.H.I.E.L.D. Undercover Agents killed—she knew what they wanted. Her head on a silver platter. Too bad for them though that Cipher was always one step ahead of them.
But she hadn't meant to get comfortable in this city. She had only intended to stay for a little while before going back underground, but Dinah had taken a shine to her. Actually cared for her and the foster kid inside of her, that Skye had buried deep down when she was 14 resurfaced and ate it all up.
She didn't see Dinah as a mother but more like an older sister or something. She saw her as family not that she'd ever let the Agent know that. But she took a bullet for her—Skye was positive at this point she didn't need to say anything about it at all.
She hadn't realized their table was starting to shake until a hand was placed over both of hers. Skye looked up at Dinah with watery eyes despite herself, and caught her emotions quickly, "I need to go, Dinah."
"Yeah. Yeah, you do..."
"My van...it's not fixed up yet...I was trying to update it and I guess I can't now, huh?"
"I can have Frank do it...he has a lot of free time these days." Dinah tried to joke but it fell flat between them, plus Skye really didn't want to think about Frank and Dinah's strange friendship they had going on now. She was still disturbed by their energy when they were in the same room.
"Take your bike, Skye. It's faster and S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't tagged it yet."
Skye nodded, exhaling deeply, "I'll um...you have a key, just make yourself at home."
"Okay."
"And don't let Frank tear up my shit okay...and don't do anything in my bed."
Dinah laughed lightly, squeezing Skye's hands before she let go, "Keep in touch, Skye. And whatever you do...try not to level whatever city you end up in. Alright?"
"No promises. Keep those dodging those bullets, Madani." Skye gave the woman a meaningful look before she slid out of her chair and left the diner, resisting the urge to look back. She wasn't sure she'd actually leave if she did.
By the time Skye slide into the cool black leather seat of her Chevy, she was no longer the 20 year old orphan that had to leave yet another family, city and home.
But she was Cipher, the most wanted cyber-terrorist in the world—the digital act of god. Only two people on the planet knew her name, knew who she was...what she was.
Two people she trusted...one she just left in the diner and the other probably stashing away his guns for later use. She was gonna miss them. More than she cared to admit.
Skye made an illegal u-turn and went home for the last time. Her vacation was over.
MCU :: MARVEL UNIVERSE :: MCU
Five days later...
Skye was leaning against her custom black Harley Fatboy Lo wearing a pair of boots, ripped denim jeans a tank top and a leather jacket to match. Blending in with her new crowd. Being a chameleon was her specialty after all, she'd probably be dead if she wasn't.
She had rode hard out of New York through the rain and managed to evade S.H.I.E.L.D. She would've preferred her van or her car, but Dinah was right. Taking the bike, while harder and more strenuous on her mind and body—especially since she went across the country, was her best option. Her small duffel bag was strapped securely, holding nothing but her clothes and her laptop. Her pistol was sitting on her person, with the extra one in her bag.
Skye had enough cash tucked away for gas, food and motel stops. She mostly stayed on the main highways, figuring S.H.I.E.L.D., would be looking for travelers on the back roads coming from the East.
Now she was in California, drinking her coffee and hacking S.H.I.E.L.D. Using her secondary iPhone. She wasn't looking for anything in particular...but something sensitive, buried in the vault. And she found it...and leaked it. S.H.I.E.L.D. Playing around with alien technology? Oh, that's priceless.
But before she left their systems completely, she left her signature behind so that they knew exactly who did it. And she even left them a little message behind. Just to be petty for being forced from her home in New York.
Tag. You're it. Xoxo.
MCU :: MARVEL UNIVERSE :: MCU
MCU :: MARVEL UNIVERSE :: MCU
