All right right off that bat this is a short chapter, more of a bridge then anything really but a short chapter is not the end of the world right? I promise this will be the only super short chapter in fic. If you need to yell at me I understand just be gentle all right? Seriously though I am sorry this will be rather short.
WarNinGs: Short, a little blood, bonding through fighting.
Aishi Say
"And when the Devil comes to plea,
He'll be runnin' quicker than you've ever seen.
But not me, I won't go down easy.
Not me, I won't go down easy."
From Jaxon Gamble's 'Won't go down easy', May and Robbie both refuse to go down easy. The fact May wants to help Robbie defeat his 'Devil' is why I left the first part there, go YouTube the song when you're done here, you might like it.
NOT ME, I WON'T GO DOWN EASY
May finished her current move when she heard Daisy teasing Robbie as they approached, still a fan of the hate fu. Robbie entered the room, nodding to Daisy with a softly spoken assurance he would be fine before nodding to her in greeting. Nodding back May studied the way Robbie moved, deliberate, alert, very much like the predator he had become. She had glanced at the files Phil had gathered on him, murderous vigilante was how Mack had phrased it and it fit. Robbie would not be the first of those S.H.I.E.L.D. had reformed and would likely not be the last, Hell two of the Avengers were reformed assassins after all. His jacket was zipped up and thick enough it offered some protection against graces, which were common in street fights. The gloves would help protect his knuckles from splitting or tearing, sneakers good for running, jeans lose enough to not restricted movement but tight enough to not cause problems either, all and all sensible for someone out looking for fights. Falling into a defensive stance she watched alert eyes follow her movements with a slight frown, gloved fists coming up with a nod. Nodding back she lashed out fist hitting his palm, since she was testing she was not trying to floor him as quickly as possible that would be for later.
Gloved hand tighten, enough to hurt but not damage so Robbie did know how to restrain himself while calm just fine, noted. Lashing out again she connected feeling hot wetness on her knuckles, hard teeth smooth against her skin until she pulled away. Robbie's lower and upper lips were split and bleeding freely, eyes burning but not with any unnatural fire. Striking again she decided his blocking needed work, they were fine for unrefined savage fighting but against a trained fighter his defensive skills were lacking. A fist to the face snapped her head back, nose breaking and leaking blood as her fist stuck home once more. Flipping she brought her toes up under his jaw jerking him back before dropping and sweeping his legs out from under him. Looking down she noted the determine fire, the respect of her skills, and the self disappointment of losing. Daisy had given her a similar look the first time she had floored her, holding out her hand she nodded, "With some work you'll do."
Robbie took the offered hand, not at all surprised May could easily pull him back to his feet, "Locos have nothing on agents." Grinning he ignore his split lips and broken nose, teeth red with his own blood, "You go as easy on Daisy too?"
"Eased her in to it since she was no agent, not insulted are you?" Robbie had sounded casual but May was curious, after Ward she worried about anyone getting close to Daisy.
"Why, spars are supposed to be fun right? Your male trainees that insecure about being beaten by a better chica?" Robbie was a dumb teenager anymore, everyone was an idiot at some point in their lives.
May rolled her eyes, arms crossing, "I could tell you stories."
Robbie shook his head, trials of blood shifting, "Maybe later, not the best sales pitch."
May shrugged but was smiling just a bit, he would fit in just fine with a little work. "Not my job. So training?"
"Hey if you don't think it'll be a waste of your time I'm down for it," Robbie had been fighting punks off most of his life, but that required stamina and reliance not necessarily skill. He had always been able to take a beating just fine, you learned growing up in bad parts of town.
"Very good. Once Coulson finishes your paperwork we can figure out a schedule," May already knew Robbie worked mostly at night as Ghost Rider and daytime as himself, when and how much sleep he needed she was unsure of. Daisy had no idea and for all they knew he no longer really needed to sleep, he was something no one at S.H.I.E.L.D. knew much about. It did not help Robbie himself did not fully understand how his condition worked, it did and he went with it mostly. If she had a demon in her head she would likely focus on getting it out more then how exactly it did what it did, though with the resources they had he may care to try.
Robbie rolled his shoulders as he sniffed leaking blood back into his nose, May holding back still reminded you what she could have done to you for real. Someday he might enjoy trying his luck but until he was sure the Rider would not burn her he would stick with sparing. "Whenever you can fit me in is fine May, lack of training can't get me killed anymore."
May frowned at that comment, Robbie was just standing there bleeding as if it was an everyday thing, which it probably was. Bloody clothes could not always be locos, "Simmons will be able to study your infamous self-healing."
"And here I thought you love tapped me to teach me to duck now and then," Robbie half smirked at the Asian before nodding. "See ya soon Mayday."
May smirked as the Latino walked out with a teasing salute, she could get used to that nickname at least from the Team. Holding a towel to her nose for a moment she turned when she saw Phil leaning in the doorway, "You couldn't wait for my report Phil?"
"Was free," Coulson answered with a shrug, "So since I'm here..."
May rolled her eyes but grinned, "He's on board just need to figure out a schedule."
Coulson nodded frowning, "But?" He prompted knowing there was more to it then that, not that it was a bad start.
"He is convinced he can't die and I am worried he will take unnecessary risks because of it." May knew Daisy would worry even Robbie would not, and upsetting Daisy needlessly put you on her shit list.
"You concerned he will get others harmed or even killed, or that he will only upset and worry his friends?" Coulson was fairly certain Robbie was essentially unkillable as long as he was the host for the Ghost Rider. It was a nasty habit to get into especially since he was trying to get rid of whatever It really was.
"That later, thoughts?" May was not the best with people, she loved the Team but was not the people person Phil was.
"Remind him knowing something won't kill him will not make watching him suffer less painful." Coulson answered knowing how effective guilt could be, "Watching Eli kill those agents effected him, add agents he knows and even cares about and he'll learn to be less self-destructive."
"And if not?" May asked curious what plan B was, Coulson was good at what he did.
"Daisy will quake him into things until he learns," Coulson shrugged with a bit of a smirk, their little girl had chosen Robbie as a partner and was protective of him. After getting to know him Coulson could see why, and with some work he could make a fine agent.
May nodded, Daisy had learned not to take crap from anyone, "That's my girl." Coulson smiled with a nod, May had done a great job with Daisy.
NOT ME, I WON'T GO DOWN EASY
"So what happened to this Lincoln guy?" Gabe asked as he stopped near a workbench, he had gotten a few basics but he was curious. Robbie was stubborn and more selective about what he was curious about but they were both curious.
Mack sighed, "He gave his life to save Daisy and kill Hive...the guy saved us all and she split after, didn't see her again until she showed up with your brother."
"He was a good man, saved us all," Elena smiled sadly, Robbie might have done better against Hive but she was not sure if he could so easy survive space.
"So Daisy's ex saved the world? Well that's hard to live up to," Gabe was not blind he knew Daisy cared about his brother, and not just because they were so alike. Robbie liked her too, which he was fine with now, they were cute together.
Elena crossed her arms, "Well he saved Fitz, then Mack, then the world so not a bad start. Your tio could have destroyed this dimension with his ambitions as I understand it."
Mack nodded, "Playing God never ends well, I get why he chose to take Eli to Hell rather then risking him getting away. It was his fault you ended up in a chair, Robbie made his bad deal, innocent agents were killed, and that is just what we know about."
"Robbie really burned tio alive...oh Robbie no tienes que llevar todo solo," Gabe shook his head as he slumped forward. The more he learned about what his brother had done after coming back from the dead it made him either want to deck him or cling to him and cry.
Elena placed a hand on the teenager's shoulder, "Your brother is a good man, damaged and trying to find his way but still good."
Mack smiled, Elena had such a big heart it was no wonder why they all adored her. "Big brother try and protect their siblings from everything, we fail but we can't help but try. He loves you more then anything Gabe, it keeps him human."
Gabe smiled wiping his eyes, "You think I could see Lola?"
"Kid you can even touch her," Mack answered with a grin, Coulson would not mind and they all knew it.
Daisy bit her lip as the trio headed for the parked Lola and Lucy. Robbie should be finishing up with May by now, they were playing nothing serious. Thinking of Robbie she sniffed and headed for a Quinjet to be alone. Listening to the trio had brought up feelings Robbie had only touched on earlier. She needed to be alone for a little while and with Robbie being distracted by her friends he would not come looking for her for a while.
NOT ME, I WON'T GO DOWN EASY
Like I said short, remember inside voices people. For those wondering about the chapter name gung ho in Chinese translates to 'working together' so since this fic is team building focused and May is Chinese it works in my head. Next chapter will be all the Simmons and Robbie bonding, all the adorable will be fun to type. Any requests are welcomed as always.
