This might just turn into a series of oneshots within the universe. This one focuses on the beginning of the FitzSimmons partnership.
"They want to pair me with Fitz? Leo Fitz? What, did everyone else perish in one of the infamous California wildfires I keep hearing about? Perhaps I need to rethink relocating here… Should we send some condolence baskets to their families?"
"Jemma…"
"No, I'm serious Bobbi! We should really look into an Edible Arrangements or at the very least a tasteful flower bundle. Something awful must have happened because the only logical explanation for S.H.I.E.L.D. settling on Fitz as my PR manager is that all of the other options are dead."
Falling to the couch, Jemma crosses her arms with a huff and does her best to maintain her glower despite the pointed look being sent in her direction.
"That's dramatic, even for an actress and especially for you."
Pinching her nose as she tries once again to process the utter lunacy of the, "important news," her agent had felt the need to deliver in person, Jemma lets out a snort at the comment. Gesticulating her arms in what she thinks is a decent physical representation of the confusion, astoundment, and irritation that she's feeling, Jemma leans forward and widens her eyes for emphasis.
"Fitz, Bobbi. Fitz who spent the entire trial week not speaking a word to me… unless we're including derisive snorts and eyerolls as speaking, in which case he certainly made his voice heard."
The reminder of Fitz's standoffishness, and the sting of hurt that admittedly lanced through her each time he ignored her attempts at conversation, only makes Jemma that much more certain that a mistake has been made. She'd only lasted two days before Fitz had broken her, causing her to give up any attempt at friendliness and finish the week with an utter grump of a shadow who barely looked up from his phone during their time together.
When she went to business meetings, he'd be tapping away on his mobile. When she made an appearance at a luncheon celebrating women in the industry, he'd be fiddling with a tablet. When she snuck into a lecture at the local university, he'd boredly clack at his keyboard until she'd snapped at him to pay attention.
By the end of the week he'd spoken a whopping forty-three words in her vicinity, most of which had been directed at Bobbi or Daisy, all the while making it perfectly clear that he had no interest in her life or how to best to live it in the public eye.
The entire thing had been a complete and utter catastrophe as far as Jemma was concerned, saying a lot considering the debacle that was Bakshi's trial period the week prior, which makes it that much more surprising to learn that the curly-haired weasel had somehow managed to convince S.H.I.E.L.D. Management Co. that the two of them had gotten on enough for him to actually be a long-term asset to her.
Pulled from her musings by Bobbi's sigh, Jemma glances up and watches as her agent seems to grow more animated by the second.
"You're not being fair, Jemma. Apparently he pitched some stuff that blew Coulson and the other partners away. Phil seemed really excited about him over the phone."
Glowering further at the thought of whatever Fitz said or did to convince the higher-ups to actually consider him as someone who could take her on as a client, Jemma finds herself shaking her head at the latter half of her friend's statement. "That means almost nothing considering Coulson likes everyone, Bobbi. I saw him have a civil conversation with John Garrett once!"
Checkmate.
Wrinkling her nose in acknowledgement, Bobbi is only silent for a second before she's waving her hand dismissively and barreling forward. "Okay, that's fair, however… Coulson may like most people but he doesn't throw around the word genius all that often and I heard it at least five times when he was talking about some of the ideas Fitz presented the team with."
Rolling her eyes, Jemma snags her forgotten wine glass from the coffee table before using Bobbi's own move against her and flicking a wrist in dismissal.
"Oh please. How hard is it to suggest that I get photographed doing charity and avoid the cameras at all costs if I find myself a bit debauched? Fitz isn't a genius, he just has common sense. And even that is quite frankly debateable… not sure robots have common sense."
"Oh my god."
Jemma feels her lips tick upwards at the exasperation laced in Bobbi's words and feels the teeniest bit of victory at the ease with which she's worn her agent down.
"Look, if you're really still against it after you hear what his suggestions are… fine, I'll have Coulson send over their top ten candidates so you can decide for yourself. Just… just don't dismiss Fitz before you see what he actually has to offer, okay? I think he might surprise you."
Letting out a noncommittal hum, Jemma stares pensively at her wine as she considers Bobbi before looking up in curiosity. "Why are you pushing this so hard?"
"Because you might not have exchanged much dialogue with him but I did and I liked him."
"You liked him?!"
This is surprising to her. Bobbi, though now a dear friend and generally wonderful human, isn't exactly known for being a people person and has never been shy about making it clear when someone isn't to her taste. The fact that Fitz first spoke to her and then somehow managed to win her over as easily as he did his bosses, isn't something that Jemma had been prepared for.
"Yes as a matter of fact, I did. Daisy did too FYI. He's obviously smart, pretty funny once you actually get him talking and, honestly Jemma, I think he'll be good for you."
Straightening on the couch and narrowing her eyes, with alarm bells ringing in her head, Jemma focuses her gaze on Bobbi as her suspicions grow. Her agent seems to immediately pick up on the glower because in the next instant Bobbi is pushing herself from the chair with a huff, maneuvering her way around the coffee table, and plopping down beside Jemma with a placating look.
"Good for your team I mean. Listen Jem, there's already Oscar buzz for Hope on the Edge of Nowhere and we all know that The Singularity is going to kill it at the box office… you're about to be the biggest name in the industry! Daisy is an exceptional manager and I'm handling the flood of scripts and offers like a legend if I do say so myself, but we can't do it all and... I think that Fitz could be the perfect person to alleviate some of the PR stuff that's outside of my and Daisy's specialties."
She knows that she's being guilt-tripped (along with interrogating it's one of Bobbi's specialties) but Jemma still hasn't figured out how to resist her agent and feels her resilience slipping each passing second. Releasing a sigh, she begrudgingly nods her head in acquiescence and takes another sip of wine before saying, "Fine. Have Coulson send a selection and I'll reserve judgment on Fitz until I hear how he intends to manage myself and my image."
Clinking her glass against the one still firmly grasped in Jemma's hand, Bobbi gives her a warm smile that seems just a touch too smug as she replies, "That's all I'm asking."
-O-
Three days later, Daisy, Bobbi, and Jemma are seated at the latter's kitchen island with a stack of innocuous folders spread between them and an even larger array of take-out and booze.
Despite beginning the process with eagerness and determination at finding a new person to bring into the bizarre world that has become her career and life, as Bobbi reads the pitches of each new candidate Jemma finds her excitement waning.
"...attend at least one nightclub opening a month and be photographed with a male costar in the weeks leading up to any film premiere."
Bobbi drops Raina's pitch onto the pile of those already read and raises her brows as she waits for opinions to be vocalized. It's silent for a few long moments, Daisy pretending to gag as Bobbi looks at the pitch with a grimace, before Jemma feels the need to break it.
"Oh… kaaaay. That's, I mean it's definitely… I'll definitely get some press. And it would certainly be easy enough to attend a nightclub opening or two."
She gives what she thinks is a convincing smile that promptly falls when Daisy drops her head in her hands and groans, "Can we please quit dragging this out and just skip to Fitz's? Even you're not a good enough actress to actually make that seem like a decent pitch."
Feeling oddly defensive on Raina's behalf, Jemma glances between her friends and attempts to prolong the inevitable. "It wasn't that…"
A loud squawk interrupts her before she can finish speaking and Daisy shoots her an incredulous look. "Simmons! It was terrible. Bobbi, help me out here."
Eyes moving from manager to agent, Jemma waits patiently as she tries to read the expression on Bobbi's face as she begins to speak.
"It wasn't a bad pitch…"
Grinning in victory as she turns to Daisy, Jemma feels the smile fall as Bobbi continues with, "...but it was definitely a bad pitch for you."
Letting out a huff, Jemma falls back against the chair and crosses her arms as her eyes flicker between Daisy and Bobbi. They're wearing twin looks of amusement that make her want to up and leave just to avoid what she knows is coming. There are still three folders that they have yet to read through but Daisy is slowly pushing one of them across the table towards Bobbi, smile growing with each millimeter.
Though the other woman makes no move to pick it up, she is giving Jemma an expectant look that pulls another irritated groan from her. Smacking Daisy's hand out of the way and causing her to laugh, Jemma snatches what is obviously Fitz's pitch from the table and drops it back down in front of Bobbi.
"Fine. Let's get this over with."
Ignoring the mirrored grins and excited whoops of her team, Jemma falls back against the chair and makes certain that her glower is in place as she settles in to hear just what it is that seems to have won everyone other than her over.
Making a show of pulling the typed plan from the folder and clearing her throat, Bobbi quickly glances between them before launching into a reading that would make any wannabe slam-poet envious.
"Jemma Simmons is boring in terms of Hollywood's standards…"
Bristling at both the words and the snort of laughter that comes from Daisy, Jemma straightens in her seat and glares at Bobbi. After shooting her a quick look that screams just listen, Bobbi returns her gaze to the paper in her hands and resumes.
"She'd rather queue up Netflix than attend a premiere, sneak into a university than out of a nightclub, and network with people she wants to work with rather than those she should want to work with."
Glancing over at Daisy, Jemma is unsurprised to see that her manager is grinning at the words that she herself has spoken ad nauseam over their time together. Even more irksome than the truthfulness behind them is the fact that Fitz managed to get a somewhat accurate read on her in a week.
Petulantly picking at the peeling label on her empty beer bottle, Jemma ducks her head to avoid the knowing looks that her friends are now giving her. She swears that the slight cough Bobbi releases is meant to cover a laugh and studiously ignores her in favor of listening to the pitch.
"Simmons is relatable. That should be our focus. She's a funny, intelligent, and capable woman whose innate friendliness and genuine goodness makes her someone that people outside of the Hollywood bubble want to spend time with."
Feeling her eyes widen in surprise, Jemma raises her head in intrigue as Bobbi continues.
"The best angle to approach her from a PR standpoint is to simply not have an angle at all. Emphasize who she is and what she does when she's too modest to do it herself."
Snatching the paper from Bobbi's hands, Jemma lets her eyes rove over the words that Fitz had written and feels her brows raise with each comment and suggestion.
Hold a Women in STEM screening of 0-8-4.
Become an ambassador for Girls Who Code (or other organization that JS is similarly passionate about)
Increase (get) social media presence- interact with people rather than Hollywood (audience outreach)
Don't shy away from social/political outreach (this might be the only time damage control will be necessary, JS doesn't shy away from speaking her mind which should be encouraged but watched)
Actually take classes/pursue degree?
Prioritize editorials over tabloids- let Jemma speak for herself, natural intelligence and charm will do more than a fancy dress at a party
There's bullet point after bullet point and by the time she reaches the end of the ten page pitch, packed with detailed ideas and suggestions that she herself never would have thought of, Jemma's mouth is open in shock.
It's hard to believe that someone who had barely acknowledged her had managed to pitch ideas that are so… her… and Jemma can't figure out how Fitz is the person behind this. While she still has her reservations, the words on the paper in front of her suddenly make Jemma reflect back on their trial period through a new set of lenses as she realizes that what she thought had been Fitz boredly ignoring her in favor of playing Candy Crush on his various devices may have actually been him doing his job.
Evidently he had been taking notes, likely jotting down the ideas that he's now officially put forth, and Jemma feels the slightest bit of guilt for dismissing him so quickly. While she's certain that they will never get along, as was made perfectly clear by his desire to interact with her as little as possible, she's slightly less convinced that Fitz is a lazy idiot.
Not wanting to look up, Jemma does her best to make it less obvious to Daisy and Bobbi that she agrees with Coulson's (and their) belief that Fitz's pitch was the most superior of the bunch. Releasing a low hum, she keep her eyes on the pages in front of her and internally scrambles to find something to critique.
"Well, there were certainly some decent points made but I'm not sure that…"
"Cut the crap Simmons."
Eyes snapping up to where Daisy is now staring at her with an arched brow and winning smile, Jemma knows instantly that there's no use in even attempting to continue. Gaze flitting between her team, friendly smugness radiating off of them as they both bite their lips and await the answer they already know is coming, Jemma feels her resolve officially break. Glancing back down at the folder in front of her, the L. Fitz scribbled sloppily atop it, Jemma releases a long sigh of defeat that pulls a triumphant, "Yes," from Daisy and a pleased hum from Bobbi.
She pushes the folder back in their direction, crossing her arms and doing her utmost to maintain some semblance of dignity as she mutters, "Fine. We can give Fitz a shot, but I want you to know that I will absolutely be saying I told you so when this partnership ends before he even officially makes it onto the payroll."