Title: The Academy
Chapter 03: Grant
Author: snarkysweetness
Rating: PG-13
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: I promise the next chapter is a Skye chapter; I just needed the Grant stuff to happen first. Also, sorry if this is all awkward but teen Grant is awkward and yeah [pets him].
Saturday morning was spent fishing in relative silence. Phil showed him how to set the line, cast it, and went through everything needed beforehand. He liked using bacon for bait because he didn't like torturing the worms plus 'who doesn't like bacon'.
They'd caught few fish all of which they threw back. When Grant asked him why Phil simply told him the point wasn't to eat the fish today it was to learn how to catch them. And before he could ask him more questions he'd commented on how nice it was to just be out in nature and enjoy it so Grant had left it alone.
At noon they left so Grant could study for his entrance exams.
He spent the day holed up in his hotel room and would (from time to time) peak out the window to see if the beautiful sun-kissed goddess he'd seen the night before was around. He never caught sight of her and continued his studying.
They repeated their routine the next day except this time Phil showed him how to descale, debone, and cook the fish they caught (as well as how to start a fire). Then they took a shopping break. Phil had somehow managed to get a bag of Grant's own things from home (including his favorite red baseball cap-his favorite because it had been a gift from Gramsy) but took him anyway saying he needed a broader wardrobe not to mention personal items.
Grant had been hesitant at first, he was used to getting Maynard's hand-me-downs, and Phil had already done more for him than he deserved but he'd insisted saying S.H.I.E.L.D. was paying for it all which meant Stark was really paying for it all and Stark had enough money to fund the entire world.
When he asked if The Tony Stark was a part of S.H.I.E.L.D. Phil replied with a 'no' but informed him that Howard Stark was one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. and had made sure it could function without being a government agency which meant it had more money than it knew what to do with.
"What do you mean 'without being a government agency'?"
"Someday, there may come a time when our government finds we're no longer necessary because we don't play by their rules and when that happens S.H.I.E.L.D. will rise not fall. Always remember you're an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. not Congress, son."
That was the first time he realized how serious this all was. This wasn't just his escape, this was a future. So that night he studied even harder.
On the third day Grant took his exams after their morning fishing trip. His palms were sweaty the entire time and he felt sick to his stomach but they weren't so bad. There was a long multiple choice exam, a brief written exam, an oral interview which was the worst part, and a physical assessment that included a medical exam and strength training.
When he returned to the hotel that night he passed out from exhaustion.
The next morning they were met at the lake by another agent. Grant knew he was an agent by the way Phil regarded him.
"Grant this is Agent John Garrett, he and I trained together. Garrett this is Grant Ward."
"So, this is the kid you poached off of me?"
Grant took his hand and shot Phil a look of confusion. Phil gave Garrett a momentary look that really was nothing more than a second but it made Grant know not to trust him. He trusted Phil with his life and if Phil didn't fully trust someone then he wouldn't either.
"Sir?"
Garrett smirked. "Your S.O. at the Military Academy is an old friend. Called me about a troubled kid he thought might do well in S.H.I.E.L.D. but before I could meet with you Phil here got to you."
Phil met Grant's eyes and his suspicions were confirmed.
"Sorry, sir. Though, I guess this means I was always meant for S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't it?"
Garrett seemed to find this amusing because he clapped Grant on the shoulder. He flinched but only Phil caught it. Garrett walked towards his truck and pulled down the tailgate. "It seems so, kid," he said as he pulled things from his truck.
Phil gave Grant a nod and he moved to help.
"So, Phil, did your girl find him? She's crazy talented. Don't leave this one alone with her, he might fall in love with her the way my boy Kaminsky has. Let me tell you, kid, when a girl is cute and smart: run. Nothing good ever comes of it."
"Who am I running from, sir?"
Garrett chucked. "So, Phil, haven't told him about-"
"John, Skye is not a topic for conversation right now. I asked you here for a reason."
Whoever Skye was, Phil looked ready to kill Garrett just for mentioning her.
"Right. All right, kid, I'm going to show you how to pitch a tent and how to shoo-"
"No guns," Phil said sternly and Garrett rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Phil, the kid's going to have to learn to shoot sooner or later."
"He can learn later. I told you, we're doing this my way."
Grant was confused but he kept his mouth shut and followed Garrett's instructions on setting up a camp site. When they finished it was near dark and Grant glanced over to Phil. "Sir, are we camping?" He wasn't sure what they'd been doing out here all week, maybe survival skills or something, but he was going along with it, sure his mentor had his reasons for teaching him all of these things.
"No, but you are," Garrett answered.
Phil shot him a glare as a car pulled up.
"Sir?" Grant asked, suddenly terrified.
Phil took him by the shoulder gently and let him away from Garrett. "I'll be back for you in a few days." Grant opened his mouth but Phil cut him off. "You need a few days to yourself. Your life has always been about other people and this will give you a chance to be alone with your thoughts and be free of needing anyone but yourself. It's not an exercise I'm comfortable with but it works and I think it'll work for you."
"Wipe that terrified smirk off your face, kid, if I was your S.O. I'd have left you out here with nothing and no promise to come back."
Phil shot him a glare. "That's why you're not his S.O."
The car door slammed and Grant glanced over to find a very attractive agent leaning against a black S.H.I.E.L.D. SUV. Her arms were crossed and she watched Garrett with distaste. Phil clapped Garrett on the back and thanked him for his help.
"Anytime, Phil, I'll be keeping an eye on this one. We all know you can't stay away from the field for long, maybe he'll still be one of mine along with your boy Trip."
"We'll see."
"Mel," Garrett said with a nod as he moved to his truck.
"John."
She waited until Garrett rode off in his truck to push away from the car. Phil smirked and Grant realized this was his wife.
"You're late."
She shrugged and fixed his tie before glancing over his shoulder and meeting Grant's eyes. She was terrifying. "So, this is him?"
"Grant, this is Agent Melinda May," he introduced, his eyes never leaving her.
"Did you bring it?"
She rolled her eyes and opened the backseat of the car. A large chocolate lab jumped out and ran around her feet before sitting down happily.
"This is the dog she had to save? Really? I was expecting something…smaller."
Agent May shrugged. "Don't look at me, she's your daughter."
"Why is she only my daughter when she does something you don't approve of but when she does something brilliant she's your daughter?"
Grants ears perked up. Daughter?
She smirked. "Maria's men rescued it on a mission. It was on its way to the pound when she saw him. You're the one who agreed to adopt it when she cried about it. You do enjoy taking in strays," she teased affectionately, her eyes moving to Grant again.
He blushed.
"Does he have a name?" Phil asked as he reached down to scratch the dog behind the ears.
"Buddy."
He glanced up with a frown. "Really, Mel? She speaks computer code all day and three languages and the best she could come up with was 'Buddy'?"
"I named him Buddy. She wanted to name him 'Steve Rogers' and appoint him the mascot of the Captain America fan club."
"I like that name."
"Of course you do, you're also the president of said fan club."
Phil leaned over and kissed her. "I'll see you back at the hotel."
She rolled her eyes and opened the car door. "Try not to get killed out here, kid," she warned before disappearing.
Phil called to the dog and led him over. "Grant, you're going to keep buddy out here with you for protection. There's a charged cell phone in your pack, only use it if there's an emergency. I'll be back for you in three days, use these three days to really think about what you want and to try to make peace with things."
"Sir, I don't know if I can do this al-"
"I have faith in you, son. And if John Garrett comes back, there's a pistol in your pack as well. Feel free to shoot him in the kneecap."
"Sir?"
Phil placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's just say John and I have very different ways of mentoring and I wouldn't put it past him to try to poach you, so to speak. Now, I promise you, I will be back on Sunday. Your results will be in by then and if you pass you'll get to move into the dorms on Monday."
"And if I fail, sir?"
He smiled. "That's not going to happen. And be sure to take care of Buddy, yeah? I have a little girl who will be upset if anything happens to him. She finally conned me into getting a dog and here I am giving him to you the same day."
Grant pictured a tiny child with Agent May's serious gaze and nodded. "Don't worry, sir, I'll keep him safe."
"Good. And try not to get too attached, no dogs at school, but I'll let you visit him."
"Don't worry sir, I don't get attached."
Phil shook his head. "We'll see."
Grant watched hopelessly as he left him and then glanced down at Buddy who looked up at him hopefully.
"I guess we're about to become best friends, huh?"