Title: The Academy
Chapter 02: Grant
Author: snarkysweetness
Rating: R
Characters: Grant, Skye, Coulson, May, Fitz, Simmons, Triplett, Sharon Carter, Mama May, Fury, Hill, Dr. Weaver, Garrett, Agent Avery, Grant's family, & other MCU people that will be thrown in when needed
Pairings: Skye/Grant, Antoine/Jemma/Leo, & Melinda/Phil
Summary: AoS AU in which it is Phil Coulson, not John Garrett, that pulls a young Grant Douglas out of Juvie: After saving Grant from himself and his family, Phil enrolls Grant in The Academy, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s pre-communications Academy reserved for the teen children of agents and early recruits. There Grant meets Phil's plucky daughter who teaches him that there is something worth fighting for and he finds a family in the form of his ragtag new group of friends. Or a story in which I show John Garrett how you're really supposed to save a teenager because Phil Coulson is better than you.
Warnings: Mentions of past abuse, teenage shenanigans including underage drinking, dry humping, and unfortunate, awkwardly timed erections, plus Skye talks like a sailor and at some point she's going to rid Grant Douglas of his virtue.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: So there's like some mild angst in this chapter but as you can see it is getting happier. I'm not entirely sure how long this story will be yet but does anyone really care? I mean, it's cute Grant with his dumb red cap being adorable and he's going to fall in love with Skye which is all that matters.
Grant hung his head and allowed the hot water to loosen the tense muscles in his back. Today had been one hell of a day, to say the least. After Agent Coulson had sprung him from the joint, they'd had that cheeseburger and one hell of a talk. He'd filled him in on very little, basically information Grant could find online if he looked hard enough and if he was any good with computers. When Grant had tried to get more information Coulson had simply told him it was 'classified' and once he took his entrance exams (oh yeah, there were tests he had to pass) and he was officially in S.H.I.E.L.D. as a student he would find out as much as his clearance as a student would allow him.
All of these rules and secrets were already driving him nuts, but he'd have to get used to it all, wouldn't he?
Besides, it wasn't as if he was the most forthcoming. When it came to talking about his feelings or his past he preferred to not bother. Coulson informed him this was a good thing, as a spy he'd have to conceal things, keep secrets, live other lives, but also warned him that keeping things bottled up was dangerous.
He'd tried to open up, but there wasn't much about him that didn't revolve around his family. Truth was he had no idea who Grant Ward was without them. Coulson promised he'd have a chance to find out.
Here's what he did know: he liked mystery novels and books about soldiers and classic American literature, he wanted to learn to play board games, he wanted a dog someday, and girls both enchanted and terrified him at the same time. When he'd confessed the latter Coulson had laughed and replied with 'there's a girl I can't wait for you to meet' and left it at that.
Grant had left their lunch feeling pretty good until he realized Coulson wasn't driving them to a hotel like promised, instead he was driving him to Gramsy's nursing home. When he'd tried to argue for him to turn around Coulson insisted that he had to 'say goodbye' because it was 'good for him'.
"I can't do this, sir," he insisted. How could he face her after what he'd done? After everything she'd tried to do for him? She was the only reason he knew what love was. She was everything to him and he'd let her down. He was a disappointment. No, he couldn't do this.
"I've already spoken to her; she's looking forward to seeing you, Grant."
"You-" Grant shut up the moment they turned into the parking lot. This was happening whether he liked it or not.
"I warned you this would be hard. If you can't do this, I'm not sure you'll make it through the school year. It's time to be brave."
Grant wanted to lose it but…wasn't that what Coulson wanted? To see how much he could handle? So he did what he did best, he pushed down his feelings and decided to bullshit this as much as possible.
He led the way. He hadn't been here much, his parents hadn't really allowed it, but he'd been here when they put her away and the last time he'd run away. Grant had a photographic memory, he remembered everything. It was a curse, really.
They found her in the courtyard and he stood back awkwardly for a moment before Coulson gently nudged him forward. "Gramsy?" He began to smile as she turned back to him but his temporary moment of happiness turned to panic when he saw who sat with her. He tried to make a run for it but Coulson blocked the way.
"No, sir-"
"You have to face them sometime. Trust me; it'll be good for you."
Grant shook his head but Coulson gave him a look that told him he meant business. He should have stayed in Juvie. His parents and Maynard were nothing compared to this. At least there he could glower and hate them here he'd have to…deal with things.
"Grant?"
Edwin's voice broke him and he knew Coulson was right; he'd have to do this sometime.
He turned and gave him his best smile. "Hey, kiddo." Edwin gave him a smile, one that said he was his hero (he wasn't) before rushing to hug him. Grant didn't know how this kid was still intact after everything; let alone how he trust him.
He remembered the day he'd pulled him out of that well, hugged him and promised he'd keep him safe. He'd failed so many times, but he hoped with Coulson's help he'd be able to begin to keep that promise.
"I'm sorry, Grant, I shouldn't have-"
"No, don't be, you did the right thing." Grant patted him on the back awkwardly, unused to hugs, especially ones that kept going. He glanced over Edwin's shoulder to find Alison staring at him with an unreadable expression on her face. She never said much. He'd figured out a long time ago her method of dealing was to shrink back and not be noticed so she could survive long enough to escape but now he wondered if she wasn't just holding it all in the way he had for so long.
"I heard someone tried to kill our piece of shit brother," she said, avoiding the scandalized look Gramsy sent her way.
"Yeah, bastard got out though."
She smirked. "Too bad, he had it coming."
Grant shrugged. "Heard he's got some ugly injuries though; rumor has that same deranged delinquent took a baseball bat to his dick too, just to make sure he wouldn't be able to procreate. Pity I never got the chance to shake his hand. Boy's a damn hero."
Coulson rolled his eyes and his Grandmother hissed his name in annoyance but for the first time in Grant's life he saw a real smile from his sister before she flung her arms around him and Edwin. "Thank you," she whispered, even though he didn't deserve it. He'd done something only when it was too late. The only person she owed her thanks to was Coulson; he was the one who was saving them all.
"I didn't do anything but throw a tantrum," he replied awkwardly. He glanced over to find Coulson giving him a nod.
Right.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I…I should have figured it out. I would…hell, we both know I'm a coward but…" he shrugged.
"You would have protected her the way you protected me," Edwin whispered.
"No, buddy, I-"
"But you have. I know it wasn't your fault…you were scared, like me, but you started fighting back, Grant. I couldn't have ever done that."
Dammit, Grant wasn't good at this. He glanced up to meet Alison's eyes and she gave him a sympathetic look before moving to her knees and taking Edwin's hands. "But you are brave, duckie. You saved me and you called Grant for help; that took a lot of courage. You'll always be a hero to me."
Edwin hugged her and Grant sighed in relief. Maybe they weren't okay now and maybe it would take a long time before they were, but there would be, someday. And Edwin was going to be okay because Ali would take care of him.
Grant moved to sit next his Gramsy and took her hand.
"So...I guess I have some explaining to do?"
He knew Coulson was right and he'd needed that but…he sighed and stepped away from the now lukewarm water. Today had been emotionally draining. He was glad he'd seen for himself that his siblings would be fine but…would they really? And Gramsy looked so much worse…she was going to die and he wasn't going to be there in her last days. He wasn't sure if he was strong enough for it but she deserved not to be alone.
Coulson promised he could visit during school breaks but did he really want that? Maybe a clean break would be good for everyone. It would only be a matter of time before the resentment kicked in and they remembered everything he'd done and he just wanted to leave things the way there were now; with all of them on a path to getting out of the hell they'd endured their entire lives.
He stepped out of the shower and quickly dressed before moving to the window. He'd never been a good sleeper, he always needed one eye open and it was better when he was away from home, but barely. One thing that helped was looking up at the stars and trying to find the constellations. They were beautiful to him because they were the same stars you could find wherever you were. They were a constant in his life; stable. Plus, they reminded him of how small he was, how unimportant he was in the grand scheme of things and for some reason that calmed him.
But it wasn't the stars that caught his attention when he glanced through the curtains. It was after dark but the summer was warm so he wasn't surprised to find someone out by the pool. What did surprise him was how she was so beautiful she made him forget about his stupid life for about thirty seconds. She was absolutely enchanting with her golden skin and dark hair and her damn white bikini.
Then she glanced up, caught him staring, and smiled before finally diving in.
He all but ran from the window from embarrassment before realizing how stupid he was. So what? He'd looked at a pretty girl. Was that really such a bad thing to be caught doing?
No, but the oncoming erection was a problem.
He closed his eyes with a sigh. Even with his shitty family he hadn't been able to escape the curse of puberty. However, unlike the other boys his age, he hadn't had the chance to do something about it. He hadn't even had male friends, let alone female friends. How in the hell did one talk to girls, let alone be normal around them? How was he going to handle being around them all the time? Living near them?
You could start by trying to talk to one, like the cute one outside. And if it goes horribly wrong at least you won't ever have to see her again.
The voice in his head was stupid.
It also had a point.
Grant lingered at the door, debating the pros and cons of being brave for once when he made up his mind. He reached for the handle, telling himself he was only going to get some fresh air, and opened the door to find Coulson standing there with a box of donuts.
"Sir."
"I told you, you can call me 'Phil'…until we get to the Academy."
"Right…Phil." It felt wrong but he'd try it.
"Here, there are some miraculously left over, I thought you might want a snack before bed. I remember when I was a teenager, I ate everything, around the clock; I have no idea where I put it. Hell, my nephew's the same way; don't know where he puts it either; must be some weird puberty loophole. Anyway, here," he said, opening the box.
Grant smiled and took a chocolate covered one. "Thank you." He realized almost the entire box was gone and that there was no way Coulson had put them all away. "Are there other agents here, sir?"
"Yes, a few. We're recruiting a few others, mostly the students we have in The Academy at your age are children of agents, but sometimes, when we see potential, we bring them in young, give them a fair shot at a real education so they can come back and attend the advanced academies if they choose."
"Do agents really have families? I mean…do enough of them really have them that a school is necessary? I figured spies would be…well, loners. Like me."
Phil smiled and took the last donut before shrugging. "Not all of our agents are specialists. We have scientists, engineers, doctors, communications experts, you name it; as for our 'spies' sometimes when your undercover things happen. It's hard not to when you find someone you can trust with your life."
Grant sensed Coulson have plenty of experience in that area. Maybe it was his ability to read people of the smirk on Coulson's face.
"And do you have…experience with things 'happening'?" It was a personal question and maybe he'd gone too far in asking it but he was trying to get used to this whole being sociable thing and considering Coulson knew so much about him it seemed only fair for him to know something about him.
Coulson smirked. "I'll tell you all about it when I introduce you to my wife."
Grant didn't see a wedding ring, but he suspected most agents wouldn't want to advertise they had weaknesses.
"I'm sure she's lovely, sir."
He chuckled. "You have no idea," he muttered with a shake of his head. "All right, son, I'll leave you to it. I want you up before dawn, we're taking a fishing trip."
Grant blinked in surprise. "Fishing?" He figured he'd be preparing for the exams he'd have to take.
"That's right; you're not opposed to fishing, are you?"
"Of course not."
"Good, then I'll see you in the morning."
He nodded. "Right and…thank you again, for everything, sir."
"It's Phil." Coulson replied with a smirk. "And you're welcome. Good night, Grant."
"Good night."
Grant stood in the doorway and watched Coulson disappear into one of the rooms. Once he was out of sight he glanced over the balcony and found the pool empty.
Oh well, it wasn't like he knew how to talk to girls anyway. But it didn't stop the disappointment he felt. He'd been willing to talk to one or pretend he was and lost out.
You'll have plenty of chances to embarrass yourself in front of girls soon.
He sighed knowing it was the truth.
