Sparring

He wasn't her SO. Far from it. (As if they'd entrust him with that much.) But he was deeply invested in making sure she came back alive from every mission she ever went on.

So after he saw how badly she'd been roughed up by a Hydra agent on their last op, Hunter suggested sparring.

They hadn't ever, before - May was protective of Skye's training - and it felt a little strange to start out their romantic relationship and hand-to-hand combat practice within the same few weeks.

But c'est la vie, right? They were SHIELD agents, after all.

Her technique was pretty good, he acknowledged right away. Agent May was definitely a competent teacher. But Skye needed extra practice taking down opponents whose physical strength and stature outmatched her own.

Okay, so his stature didn't outmatch hers by that much. But his physical strength did.

After the third time he had her down on the mats, she was mad, the skin around her lips turning white from how firmly she was pressing them together.

"I need to blow off some steam," she said curtly before stalking over to the punching bag, leaving him wondering whether this was gonna come back to bite him later. Maybe he should have gone easier on her. But Hydra wouldn't. And he wanted to make sure she was up for whatever she encountered out there.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a small movement, and turned to see Agent May observing through the windows of the gym. She must have been watching them spar.

He grimaced and made his way out to join her, folding his arms across his body as they both watched Skye pummel the punching bag.

"I hope you don't mind," he said apologetically to the senior agent.

May shook her head, a tiny, pleased smile on her lips. She looked steadily at Hunter for a moment, as he tensed under the weight of her scrutiny, before she turned her attention back to Skye.

"You're the only one besides Coulson I'd trust to augment her training," May replied quietly, the softness on her face underscoring her sincerity. "You care about her as much as we do."

Hunter couldn't suppress the relieved smile that curved his lips. That was the closest thing to "Welcome to the family" that he had heard.

"I'll take good care of her," he promised softly, watching Skye through the glass.

"I know," May replied.