A/N Some back story, this ended up longer then I thought it would be. Sorry if it's not the most exciting but I needed to tell you (and Coulson) everything. I hope you enjoy it :) and please review. I can't update on the weekend by the way, so I'll do this one, then hopefully another on Monday or Tuesday, and then get back to the regular schedule.
By the way thank-you to Hope06 for the review, and thank you to everyone who's read this story. I know where it's going and I think it'll be fun. I'm kind of surprised that I'm over 20,000 words, and I think there's quite a bit more to go. But I do know how it will end. And no I'm not giving anything away. :)
You can probably guess who my ships are in this, so there's a little MayWard, even though I ship May and Coulson more in the actual show, but since Liz's here... and there might be a little Fitz/Skye later. Maybe.
Elizabeth had taken comfort in the library the next day, while Coulson finished the paperwork concerning Leah. Another plus side of not officially working for S.H.I.E.L.D. She was sitting on the plush couch, which seemed to have never been used, resulting in soft cushions and a lack of coffee stains.
Her brilliant, curly red hair was tumbling down her shoulders, she was so intent on the novel that she didn't notice Coulson come up behind her. He was smiling down at her, admiring her beauty and concentration when he put his hands on her shoulders. She responded immediately, grabbing his forearms, putting her feet on the couch and leaning forward to gain enough momentum to send him sprawling to the ground in front of her. She curled her hand into a fist, and in a blind panic, sent it hurtling towards his face. His reflexes kicked in, and he rolled to one side, dodging it.
'Elizabeth.' he called out, quickly rising to his feet, he pinned her arms to her side, and looked her in the eyes, 'Hey, hey, it's me. It's alright, you're alright.' He took her into his arms, and held her while she calmed down.
'I'm sorry. I thought you were…' she trailed off. 'I'm so sorry Phil.'
'It's ok.' he tangled his hand in her hair, and curled his arm further around her waist, bringing her closer to him.
She once again whispered, 'Sorry.' but it had become muffled in his chest, he replied quietly, smiling into her hair.
'Keeps me on my toes. So, what are you reading?' he laughed. She pulled away and playfully smacked his chest. 'It's not 50 Shades of Grey, is it?' She cocked an eyebrow, and smiled mischievously. 'Is it?' he gulped. She walked out of the room and he picked up the book that was left lying on the floor, whatever it was, it wasn't what he thought, and he wasn't sure whether to be relieved or ever so slightly disappointed.
'Agent Coulson, Miss Carter.' Fury started as soon as they entered his office.
'Please, call me Elizabeth, Marks.'
'Miss Marks, you'll be using our virtual reality training facility. If you pass this and a psychological test, you will be recruited as an agent'
'Do I get a choice in this?'
'You should be happy I'm giving you the time of day, the privilege of even standing in my office. I have bigger things to deal with then you.'
'No doubt about it Director. When do I begin?'
'Coulson, I like her. Nice choice.' Coulson smiled in response,
'She's proven herself worth the trouble.' Elizabeth glared at Coulson slightly.
'It starts as soon as we arrive.'
'You're coming too?'
'I'm overseeing this particular one, yes. You have a problem with that?'
'Not at all.'
When they arrived, they put a watch on her, which monitored her heart rate and breathing, and gave her a pair of contacts which simulated the virtual reality. She tested to see if her sight still worked with them in, everything was alright, so she walked into the testing room. There were two guns on a bench, she picked them up, the one in her right hand was a 'Night Night' gun, and the left held an average handgun. Fury's voice sounded over the loudspeaker, 'Kill the baddies, save the innocents, knock out the threatening guys.' She nodded and the first part of the test began. A woman holding a gun was on her right, holding it up at her, she shot with her right hand. Suddenly Hitler and a child were behind her. She spun and shot Hitler with her left and left the child alone. The child pulled a gun out and Elizabeth shot with her right hand, showing no concern. The test got consecutively harder, as she was eventually surrounded by about twenty encroaching people. She kept her calm, and worked her way around the circle. Left, right, left, left, neither, left, right, right right, neither. Eventually that part of the test was over.
The next part was a simple running obstacle course, where the landscape changed, and it was just like running through the real-life world. She began in a densely forested area, where she was slowly jogging and ducking under branches, jumping over small streams and rocks. She made it to a road, where she took a hard right after she saw a suspicious looking man running away from her. She sped up, crossing the road quickly, and sprinted after the man. He again crossed roads with no problems, but whenever she tried to cross, cars would come zooming past, blocking her way. She ran alongside him, on the opposite side of the road, until he took a right and delved further into the city. She had no choice but to cross now, or she would lose the target. As soon as one car passed her, she made a run for it, having to jump over the bonnet of another car, but she made it without a serious injury. She was only ten paces behind the man, but he jumped onto a garbage bin, then climbed onto the roof of a building. She followed in pursuit. He jumped from one roof to the next, it was only about a metre away, so she made it easily. She was gaining on him, he once again jumped onto the next roof, a slightly longer jump. There were ten jumps in all, getting up to five meters near the last one. She barely made it to the next roof, having to pull herself upwards. She was given a longer run up for the next one, so she was nervous. Seeing the jump, it was slightly bigger then the last, but she was dedicated to getting it. The building she was on was a tiny bit higher then the next roof, so she sprinted, then launched with all her strength off the roof, hurtling through the air. It was a close call so she lifted her legs into a more streamlined position until the last second, where she let the form go, landing on her feet on the edge of the next roof. She caught herself from falling backwards, but only just. The man disappeared down the side of the building, and she followed once again. She slid down the drainpipe and kicked off the wall, jumping onto the man at the last second and holding him down.
She then tested weapons, firing them on a gun range, parred with a virtual partner and swam for a few kilometers, until finally the testing was over. Coulson and Fury met her outside.
'Who's ever made the first jump?' Fury asked.
'Everybody falls the first time.' Coulson added.
'Except you and Romanova, you were only four seconds away from beating her time as well.'
'Don't worry. I'll fu…stuff up the psych test.' She laughed nervously.
The first question, she had to pause and think back for. 'What is your full birth name?' Eventually she answered,
'Michelle Tyra Carter.'
'Why did you pause?'
'I haven't used that name since I was ten.'
'Why is that?'
'Because I was orphaned at six, then thrown out of my carers house at ten.'
'Do you remember your parents at all?'
'Not really, just that I got my hair from my mother.' she said, motioning to her thick, red curls.
'Do you remember their names?'
'Mummy and Daddy?' she got a blank response. 'No. I don't.'
'And your caretaker, tell me about her.'
'She was my babysitter when my parents died, so she took me in. Then she caught on about my sight, and threw me out.'
'How did she know about your sight?'
'I used to cheat at Uno. I could always see her cards, and her boyfriends, then one day I told her how I won every time.'
'Did you see her boyfriend a lot?'
'Pretty often. He was a druggie. He used to abuse her and I.' She spent some time writing notes down on her tablet.
'Let's move on. Where did you go from there?'
'I learnt to pickpocket. So I used those credit card scanning things to pay for everything. I bought myself a tent and lived next to a creek. I just told the shopkeepers that my Mother had given me her credit card.'
'How did that make you feel?'
'Well, I had to get the money to stay alive. But some days I couldn't get any wallets so I wouldn't have anything to eat or drink for a few days on end. That kinda justified it in my mind.'
'How long did this last?'
'About two years. I started stealing from a private school, until a teacher caught me. He took me in, and taught me and stuff until I was fifteen. I just had to do all his housework for him, and look after his dog.'
'What was his name?'
'Mr Harris. I wasn't on a first name basis with him.'
'How did he treat you?'
'The first three years he was fine. Then I turned fifteen, and he started sexually abusing me. And after I killed his dog, by leaving the food bin open, he started hitting me, and gave me the scar across my stomach. But I left the day that happened.'
'Where did you go?'
'Firstly to the hospital, but then I joined a street gang. I stole cars with them until I was 16, but the cops got onto us. I skipped out on them and drove myself to Melbourne.'
'What happened in Melbourne?'
'I was a drug runner. I was addicted as well. We were idiots, we drove around town and stole from banks. One time we did an armed robbery thing, the police got there before we got the cash, so I jumped out the window and left them there. I went to Canberra then. I was 17, so I learnt how to con people, and made a killing that way. I lived in an RV until I was 25. Somewhere in there I got off the drugs by myself. Worst month or so of my life, but worth it.'
'You rehabilitated yourself?'
'Well, I wasn't on any records anywhere, and I was kind of on the brink of being wanted in two states. So I did it by myself because at that stage I was just about shooting heroin into my eyeballs. And your not as attractive to potential con targets when you are looking for your next fix.'
'What happened when you were 25?'
'Richard employed me and I worked for the Rising Tide on and off for over ten years.'
'Who is Richard?'
'He was pretty high up in the Rising Tide, but we took him down a few days ago.'
'What was your relationship?'
'Richard is, complicated. He and I were friends, then we got drunk at some party and we spent the night together. But after that he kept trying to force himself on me, I learnt how to fight him off and that usually worked, but other times he caught me by surprise and, well, you can guess what happened. Then I broke away from the Rising Tide and was on the run when you guys found me.' The woman finished writing notes and did the usual ink blot test, then asked her about the nightmares. She recalled a few, and the test was over. 'So, how'd I do Doc?'
'I'll tell Fury the results.'
She was sent out and had to wait with Coulson while Fury was given the report. Coulson put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. She turned into his embrace and he tightened his hold on her, whispering, 'You did well.'
'Wait. You heard the whole thing?'
'Fury made me wait with him in the room. We had speakers that relayed us everything you said.'
'No wonder I'm so screwed up, right?'
'You're no more screwed up then the rest of us. You're just stronger to have gone through so much.'
'Do you ever say the wrong thing?'
'That's classified.' He smiled, taking his arm from around her. As if on cue, Fury walked out.
'Well, that's quite the autobiography you've got. You will have to come in once a week for a psych evaluation, and you'll be tested randomly for drugs but other than that, you made it. As you know, the S.H.I.E.L.D powered agents aren't effected by seniority until Level 4, but even then it's only about successful missions. So here's your I.D, don't lose it.' She was handed a card, with Level 3 stamped on it. 'You'll be staying with Agent Coulson and his band of misfits until we find something better suited to your abilities.'
'Thank you.' Elizabeth said earnestly. 'But is is possible to have it with Elizabeth Marks instead of Michelle Carter?'
'Coulson, you know where to go. Get the girl a card with her fake name on it will you?' And with that, Fury left.
'Why do you want to change it?'
'Because I met you as Elizabeth.'
'How did it go?' Skye asked as soon as they arrived back on the bus.
'Pretty well.' She smiled, holding up her new badge.
'Level 3? That's insane, hardly anyone starts off at 3.'
'Your picture looks amazing, how did you get a good one? Do you think they could change mine?' Skye asked. Before she could answer Coulson questioned the team,
'How did Leah go?'
'It went well, she's been assigned an agent, and she's back with her fiancee.' Ward answered easily.
'She said to say thanks to you Elizabeth.' Simmons added.
'Well, we have the rest of the day off, and tomorrow, so I'm thinking poker.' Coulson decided.
'I don't know if we can play poker anymore.' Fitz said, motioning to Elizabeth.
'What? You don't trust me?'
They eventually decided on monopoly, and Fitz took out his old Pokemon themed set.
'I'm Mewtwo!' He called, everyone else picked up a piece, confused. Fitz tried to explain what each of them were, to no avail. So the rest of the day was spent playing a cutthroat match of Monopoly, with no-one giving up or wanting to lose. After several hours, May won, coming from behind.
'Ok, truth or dare time!' Skye called out.
'Yes!' FitzSimmons called out, excited. Ward, May and Coulson groaned, while Elizabeth smiled, bemused.
'Around the table, I'll start.' Fitz said. 'Simmons, truth or dare?'
'Truth.'
'What's the stupidest thing you've ever done on a dare?'
'You know this Fitz.' She said exasperated. 'Ok, when we were 15, I ran around the academy for a whole day acting like a caveman. I was hiding in bushes, grunting at people, doing the whole, bushy hair thing, and I had dirt on my face. I believe it was because we were broke and I lost at poker. The worst bit was, I was infatuated with this guy, and he saw me jumping around on the hood of a car, screaming at the birds in a tree.'
'Didn't you catch one of the birds?' She nodded,
'Pidgy! I forgot.' she reminisced. 'Ok, my turn, May, truth or dare?'
'Truth.'
'Strangest dream you've ever had, and details please.' She sighed, but caved.
'I dreamt I woke up with Fury, and I went to make breakfast, then Iron Man came out of the cupboard. Tony flew me out to a schwarma place, where I had breakfast with the Queen of England. I went to a salon with her and we waxed each others legs, then Dr Banner came in and gave me a potion which made me turn into Professor Dumbledore. I was ushered onto a stage because I magically teleported there somehow and I did a cabaret performance with Natasha and Clint. I woke up after that.'
'What the hell?' Ward said, 'Why did you wake up with Fury?'
''Cause I was married to him. Obviously.' she said, with a slight smile. 'Ok, Coulson. Truth or dare?'
'Dare.'
'Choose someone in the circle to do your make-up. And you have to spend the rest of the night with it on.'
'Elizabeth, would you do the honours?' He asked, with a resigned sigh.
'As you wish.' She laughed standing up. She walked with him to the bathroom, and started applying the make-up.
'So, what look are we going for?'
'The smokey eye effect, with luscious red lips.' she replied.
'They aren't luscious enough?'
'They are for me.' she replied, leaning in and capturing his lips in hers. She pulled away after a few seconds, smiling, and continued with the make-up.
'Do you girls do this to yourself everyday?' Coulson asked.
'Most days, not this much usually, but yeah.'
'Ow.' He said, trying not to blink as she did his waterline.
'Sorry.'
'I didn't even realise I had blemishes until you came along.'
'There weren't many.' She said, laughing.
'My face looks weird.' He said, peering into the mirror.
'Ok, It's time to show the team. I hope they're ready for you.' She teased. 'You know what, you're kinda sexy like this.'
'You still look better.'
'What did you go to? Charm school?' He laughed and kissed her lightly. They walked out of the bathroom and Coulson was presented to the team, his arrival gaining wolf whistles, and cat calls from all around. Simmons was laughing hysterically, spluttering out, 'I can't take you seriously at all.'
Skye joined in, 'AC, you don't even look that bad. Grow your hair out a little, or maybe use a wig, and you'd look good.'
'Hey, back away.' Elizabeth threatened lightly.
'Ok, let's move on.' Coulson sighed. 'Skye, truth or dare.'
'Dare.' she challenged.
'Let's move it to the kitchen. We're making a delicious snack for Skye.' He grinned. He grabbed some ketchup, mayo, fish sauce, vegemite, vanilla essence, vinegar, and to add some texture, he grated a tiny bit of carrot and mashed a bit of banana into it. They all watched as she forced it down her throat. It threatened to rise again, but she beat it down, ultimately swallowing the lot. 'It's not even that bad.' She said, but as soon as she did, she raced off to the bathroom with a green face. Simmons laughed and followed her in, holding her hair back. She came back after washing her face, and glaring at Coulson, 'You will pay.' She threatened. 'Elizabeth, truth or dare?'
'Dare.'
'You and Coulson have a stick of gum each, and you have to switch it, no hands.' She grinned.
'Coulson rolled his eyes, and was handed a green stick from Fitz, while Elizabeth got a red stick from Skye. They chewed on it for a few seconds, and then moved together. Coulson looked apprehensive about the whole PDA thing, so Elizabeth initiated the kiss. She started off gentle, her hands linked around the back of his neck. He pulled her closer, one arm around her waist and the other cupping the side of her face. She tilted her head backwards, to give him access when he ran his tongue along her bottom lip, and he gently placed his gum into her mouth. They broke away for a second, to breathe, then returned, both more relaxed and completely unaware of the catcalls and eye rolling that was going on behind them. Elizabeth placed her piece of gum into Coulson's mouth, and smiled. Before separating completely, he placed a tender kiss on her mouth, then pulled away, each showing the team their new piece of gum. They were met with a round of applause.
'Lizzy, you've got Coulson's lipstick all over your face.' Fitz said laughing. She blushed as she rubbed it off, and asked Ward,
'Truth or Dare.'
'Dare.'
'Eat peanut butter off May's toes.'
Grabbing the spread, they put it all over her toes and between them, with May stifling giggles.
'I'm ticklish so sorry if I kick you in the face.' Ward grabbed her foot and brought it to his mouth, sucking on her toes and running his tongue between them, despite the squirming that May was doing. He was nearly done, but she was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. She was begging him to stop, and he paused for a second before latching onto the last toe. Cleaning off all the peanut butter. He smiled up at her, and gave her her foot back.
'Fitz, truth or dare?'
'Truth.'
'Worst date and explain.'
'Ok, I showed up at this girls house with chocolates, but she was vegan, so I had to chuck them out, then the restaurant I booked at had no vegan food, so we went to some fully vegan place. The food was really bad, but she loved it. I was vomiting out both ends for a week after. Then we went on a walk through the botanical gardens, and I picked a flower for her, turns out she was allergic to it so we had to go to the hospital. When we got there I called her father and bailed.'
'Fitz!' Simmons scolded, 'You bailed on her while she was in hospital?'
'I didn't say I felt good about it.'
The team decided to part ways and go to bed after that, Elizabeth following Coulson up the stairs.
'Happy to get the make-up off?' She laughed.
'I don't know, it really grows on you, doesn't it.' He said sarcastically.
'So does fungus.'
'Touchè.'
Once they were both lying in bed, Elizabeth asked quietly, 'Is Fury really going to give me a new assignment?'
'Probably not.'
'What if he does?'
'I'll try to make sure he doesn't, but even if he did, what would change?' He replied as he ran his fingers through her hair.
'We wouldn't be able to do this, and I wouldn't see you every morning as soon as I wake up, I couldn't talk to you.'
'It won't happen.' He smiled at her. 'But if it does, you can always call me, because I'm not going anywhere.' She lay her head on his chest and played with the fine hairs on his chest, before drifting off. He lay there for a while longer, staring at the blank ceiling above his head. He brought his hand up to where there should have been a scar on his head, and ran his fingers along the empty space. After a few minutes, he turned on his side and hugged Elizabeth closer to him, falling asleep with his face buried in her hair.