Again, all rights go to Marvel and all mistakes are my own. Slight change of plans in that I'm now hoping to just post a new chap every other day to keep things consistent. Thanks for reading!

Once he manages to snap himself out of his stupor, Fitz makes his way towards the other SHIELD members gathered outside of SciTech and dazedly begins distributing the signs and papers to whoever needs them. He notices Mack looking at him with furrowed brows while pointedly nodding towards the SciTech entrance that Jemma had walked through.

He shakes his head at the other man, clearly indicating his unwillingness to discuss the subject, and hopes that Mack takes the hint and leaves the questioning for another time. He sighs in relief when the other man just shrugs and turns towards the other protestors, using his booming voice and looming size to end the idle chitchat and gain their attention.

"All right guys, we all know why we're here. SciTech researchers have resumed their study of the GH325 drug and, in addition to the possible dangers that may stem from the research of such an unpredictable substance, they've begun testing their findings on a variety of animals." Mack's voice is commanding and protesters and passersby alike are giving him their full attention.

Fitz may have organized this whole thing, using his own knowledge of SciTech and combining it with hours of research to create the perfect foundation for a rally of this size, but he lacks the authoritative presence that Mack does. He could never speak with such confidence in front of a crowd and he certainly wouldn't be able to get passing pedestrians to halt their movements and listen with rapt attention.

"Our inside source," Mack's eyes briefly flick towards Fitz before he continues, "Has given us detailed information regarding the mice, rats, and primates that SciTech is currently experimenting on. Said animals are locked in cages day and night until they're given an ID number and used to test the drugs and vaccines that the barbaric employees in that building are producing."

Fitz's eyes dance across the gathered crowd and he feels a surge of pride run through him as he notes the anger and raw passion that Mack's words are invoking. "This isn't our first rodeo. We know how difficult it is to make a change but we also know that change is possible. With the right group of people and the proper motivation, we can make sure that those SciTech lowlifes hear our voices and take responsibility for their actions."

The people in the crowd are now eagerly moving their heads with Mack's words, leaving Fitz with the feeling that this protest will likely be one of the most significant things he'll ever be a part of.

"Now, I recognize many of you. I see a lot of familiar faces standing in front of me, but for those of you who are new, I'll make something very clear. Today isn't a one-shot deal. This isn't a one and done gathering. This is the first day of many. SHIELD will be meeting outside of SciTech every day for the foreseeable future until we feel as though true progress has been made."

There are a few nervous murmurs at this, as to be expected, but for the most part the protestors seem to be nodding in understanding, aware of what a rally of this size entails.

"Now, that's not to say I expect everyone in front of me to spend every moment of every day standing outside of the SciTech labs. I know you all have lives outside of SHIELD and my goal isn't to take away from that. At the end of today we'll pass out a shift-sheet. Sign up for a time that you're willing to commit to and then all you need to do is hold up your end of the bargain. Show up when you say you will and we won't have any issues. Sound good?"

Mack's eyes sweep over the thirty or so people that are standing in front of him and Fitz knows that the other man is trying to get a sense of who's in it for the long haul. Evidently he's satisfied by his mental assessment because after a moment he claps his hands and bellows a, "Let's do this," that has everyone clapping in enthusiasm and taking their places in front of the lab building.

-O-

As far as first days go, it's one of the best that Fitz has experienced since joining shield four years ago. The morning crowd doesn't dissipate and there are no deserters who leave for their scheduled lunch break and never return. All of the protesters remain passionate throughout the day and Fitz meanders through the crowd with a smile on his face as he hears all of the chants and facts that are being hurled at SciTech and the individuals passing by.

It doesn't take long for the protestors to attract a crowd of onlookers and Fitz feels as though he might cry from happiness when a few people actually begin to ask questions and inquire into what it is exactly that SciTech is doing and why it's so necessary for them to stop. The protestors themselves seem to quickly discover their own respective niches and the rally remains smooth and efficient throughout the day as the participating individuals begin to divide and conquer.

Those who are like Mack and Hunter, willing to work a crowd and serve as the actual voices of the cause hoist megaphones with pride and easily attract onlookers with their booming speeches and claims. Those who are more like him, preferring to be the fact-driven members of the group, hand out pamphlets to passing pedestrians and readily answer questions about the animal cruelty at SciTech as well as the terrors that may arise through further study of GH325.

By the time they finish for the day, Fitz's blood is thrumming with adrenaline and he feels as though he's one step closer to bringing SciTech's lack of ethics to light. Mack gives him a thump on the back as Hunter high-fives him and the rest of the group begins to disperse. Everyone gives each other encouraging smiles and those who are signed up to return tomorrow leave with promises of another day of successful protesting. Fitz smiles as he bids everyone farewell and begins to methodically pack his bag with the leftover pamphlets and rolled up signs that are in good enough shape to reuse tomorrow. He's grinning ear to ear as he does because, for the first time in awhile, he feels as though he'll be able to use his knowledge and experience to accomplish something good.

Of course, this means that just as he seems to reach a peak high, he sees the caramel-eyed woman exit SciTech and begin to head in his direction. Her eyes are focused on the mobile device in her hand so she doesn't see him until he moves directly in front of her, blocking her path, and timidly lets out a small, "Hello."

Her eyes move up instantly in surprise before narrowing when she realizes who it is that had gotten in her way. "Hello…"

Jemma looks rightfully suspicious and glances where his hands are still clutching the pamphlets in his backpack as though she's worried he'll pull out a container of fake blood and dump it on her head.

SHIELD isn't like that though. There's a literal booklet of rules and regulations meant to be followed and, while the organization is motivated to change the world for the better, it doesn't feel the need to use such extremist methods to make it happen. In fact, if individual members take it upon themselves to take such extreme methods, they are immediately removed as members and SHIELD completely disassociates with them. It's part of the reason he'd joined joined in the first place.

Fitz had been weighing his options after losing his job a few years ago, desperate to join something that he felt was aiming for the betterment of the world and society, and he admired SHIELD for doing such things in a legal and respectful manner. So he signed himself up and four years later he's running, albeit in a behind the scenes kind of way, his own protest against SciTech and standing in front of the beautiful woman who works there.

The woman he'd unknowingly called a soulless robot. Christ.

Fitz takes a deep breath and sighs, opening his mouth but finding himself unable to say a word when Jemma cuts him off before he can even begin.

"Let me guess, this is the part where you apologize for your awful behavior and claim that you didn't mean it and…"

It actually was the part where he was going to apologize. He'd really liked her this morning and spent much of the day replaying their exchange and groaning under his breath as he realized what an ass he'd made of himself. She'd been very helpful and he's still beating himself up over being so rude to her. So yes, he was intending to tell her he was sorry for his words, but he gets so irritated with her assumption and underlying belief that he should apologize, that Fitz decides to change tactics and in fact to the complete opposite.

"Bloody hell no. I did mean it. I think all of you lot are in the wrong. This is the part where I ask how you could willingly be involved in something so sadistic!"

Her mouth drops open at this, eyes widening in astonishment, and he smirks at the image. Bet you weren't expecting that were you?

"Sadistic? Sadistic? Please explain to me how my desire to better the human race through scientific discovery is sadistic!" Her face reddens with each word and she steps closer to him so that he can once again see every shade of brown and gold that makes up her irises. He doesn't allow himself to become entranced this time and instead decides to focus on her lips. On the words coming out of her lips not… not on her lips.

Which are pink and look so soft and are currently closed in frustration.

"Bettering the human race? In what world is a drug that unpredictable a good thing?" Fitz is sure that his own face is just as red, partly because he's been standing outside in the sun all day but mostly because his exasperation with her is making his voice raise and the blood rush to his head.

She rolls her eyes at this and places her hands on her hips in a manner that makes him flashback to the scoldings his mother would give him as a child.

"You don't even have a clue about it. You just know that SciTech, like every other scientific research facility in the world, does live-animal testing and have decided to latch on to the supposed instability of GH325 so that you have something to scare other people into listening to."

"I don't need to try and scare people. You and your mystery drug will do that just fine on your own. All I'm interested in is drawing attention to the fact that SciTech is using an obscene amount of money and resources to experiment with a dangerous substance… and are using animal testing to do it."

"You seem like a fairly intelligent person Fitz. We both know that, so long as research is being done, animals will be tested. There's no alternative if we want to produce safe anti-serums that could potentially benefit the human race. And as for the GH325, how can we know it's dangerous unless we actually study it?"

A part of him wants to point out just how intelligent he really is but knows that it's neither the time nor the place for it. Looking at Jemma, he knows that he needs to pick his battles with this one. She's not going to back down easily because she's a woman of science and, though Fitz is as well, Jemma is more specifically a woman of biochemistry science. He's come across people like her before and knows that she likely relishes in guts and gore. She doesn't see cute animals that are deserving of a life outside of a small cage in a research facility. No, all she sees are experiments and test subjects, which he finds that much more irritating.

"And what right do you have to pick and choose who or what is expendable enough to test said drug?"

Jemma groans at this and gives Fitz the impression that she is incredibly close to making that slightly adorable English accent shoot up a few decibels. "I don't. This isn't some dictatorship where I sit on a throne of microscopes and point at the animals I want to test. I'm an employee. This is a job. I don't necessarily appreciate all of the sacrifices that science requires, but I do appreciate the positive things that come from it."

He stares at her contemplatively and understands that, no matter what he says, for Jemma Simmons the pros of science and her research will always outweigh the cons. "I guess I just understand how you can be so callous about it."

"Because, according to you, I'm a soulless robot. I don't have to justify my actions because I stand by them. My loyalties aren't with SciTech and they aren't with little mice that have never lived life any differently, they're with science. And if I'm as callous as you think I am, it's because that's what is required for a job that people like you clearly aren't cut out for."

Fitz realizes that she doesn't know anything about him or his history but her words still feel like a knife to the stomach. She's right of course, he isn't cut out for the job considering it was one he'd been let go from so many years ago, but hearing yet another person tell him what he is and is not capable of only serves to fuel his anger. He doesn't bother responding to her and instead turns around and stalks off in the direction of his apartment.

His steps are sure and measured, not even faltering when he hears Jemma shout, "I do hope you have the proper permits for your protest. It'd be a shame if the cops were to disband it." He keeps his pace steady and stomps down the street with a renewed determination to bring Jemma Simmons and SciTech down.