Pieces Solving a Puzzle

Spoilers:All seasons...

Disclaimer: I only own the characters that Marvel doesn't already own.


Two Days Post SHIELD-Inhuman Peace Treaty - Inhuman Habitat, Unknown Location - New York


The small garden at the Inhuman habitat was filled with the laughter of children and adults. The twins were celebrating their ninth birthday and it included everything from cake to presents. After the cake, however, Ward found himself in a very complex game of Hide-and-Seek as everyone played along at the behest of the twins.

Walking through the trees, Ward paused when he sensed a familiar feeling that he hadn't felt since years before. He moved to his left and stopped at a tree, smirking. "Sweetheart, I found you."

A sigh was heard and Skye emerged from behind the tree. "How'd you know?"

He reached out and gripped her wrist, pulling her towards him. "Because I have this sixth sense about you." Ward smirked as he threaded his fingers through hers, lowering his voice into a whisper. "Now use that amazing sensing ability you have and help me find everyone. When we work together we do amazing things."

"I'll tell you this." She smiled at him, "little trees, northern lights and multiple sources of water."

"So you give me clues but not their location." Leaning down he kissed her chastely, "such a disappointment."

A smirk crossed the Inhuman leader's face, "well, what are you going to do about it?"

"I'll deal with you later." He pulled away and started through the trees.


The evening seemed to drag on as the twins descended into their presents. Every single resident at the habitat had made or bought them both something separately. Skye watched with a smile as the twins opened the gift from Ward, she found herself on the edge of tears as they both stared at separate photos of their deceased parents with each of them individually, as well as, with each other. It had to be the most heart-touching present anyone thought to give the nine year olds.

As both hugged Ward, he pulled back from them gently and smiled. "Your parents loved you, took care of you and I know they'd be proud of you." The two kids nodded, "so I never want you to forget them, can you promise me that?"

"Yes sir." The response came from both as they hugged the pictures.

"Thank you." Ellie hugged him again and then kissed his cheek. "Come on Davie, lets go put these in our bunks."

They started out of the living area and Joey took a sip of his beer as he shook his head. "They forgot about all the rest of unopened presents."

Skye picked up the discarded wrapping paper that had been used. "They'll remember them later."

Alisha looked over at Ward with a smile. "That was sweet of you."

"They need to remember their parents." Ward took a sip of his beer as he sat back on the couch. "Not everyone has good parents and I talk from experience."

Skye rolled her eyes, "you burned their house to the ground, your parents and brother inside."

"They deserved it." Ward just shrugged, "don't expect me to apologize."

Lincoln snorted, "so you actually set their house on fire with them inside? You are sick, real sick."

"Supposively I have borderline sociopathy but that's just a medical label to explain my habits." Ward leaned forward, arms on his elbows. "Or so Coulson's shrink liked to label me as."

Joey nodded as Yo-Yo and Cora slid into chairs nearby. "Speaking of Coulson, Daisy you never told us about the SHIELD-Inhuman Peace Treaty. What exactly are we looking at because I am not going back to working for those…well, I'm not working for them."


Skye sat down beside Ward and sighed, "first thing is that we separate from HYDRA but I have that handled."

Yo-Yo shook her head, "we have jobs there, we can't just…"

Skye put up her hand, "I said I am handling that. We have a month to separate, I stressed the need of finding new jobs for those employed by HYDRA. Ward is reaching the company tentacles out and finding jobs for you in the private sector that have no connection to HYDRA."

Lincoln smirked, "Coulson must have labelled you a rogue since you won't leave your company behind." His attention was on Ward, "if our treaty is anything like before, rogue means that SHIELD has free access to kill you and we can't do anything to stop it."

"There's always a loophole." Ward folded his arms, "your tactical leader negotiated that any Inhuman who fears they are hunted by an individual or organization can seek sanctuary at the habitat without penalty or violation of the treaty. So technically me being here isn't breaking the treaty with SHIELD."

"Nice going there boss!" Yo-Yo reached over and slapped Skye's hand. "No time variable on calling sanctuary makes it possible for any of us to go and come as we please."

Skye leaned forward and sighed, "it came with a price, any Alphas who chose to live outside of the habitat will be Indexed by SHIELD." She saw the verbal commotion begin but she stood up and they paused. "However, SHIELD has to yield authority of tracking and oversight to us or they break the treaty. They cannot approach an Indexed Inhuman unless they have violated the treaty and harmed humans, if they do then SHIELD breaks it."

"Do we get a copy of the treaty?" Cora spoke up finally, "for us of those who wanted it?"

"I will see that each of you gets a copy and you can bring any questions you have to me." Skye looked at them all, "we are called the Inhuman Community for a reason. We maybe a minority but we survive together, as a family. I won't see us destroyed in any fashion."

Lincoln raised his beer, "I'll drink to that."

"Oh yeah!" Joey toasted as did everyone else. "Score one for us, oh wonderful leader."

Skye laughed, "you need to sober some."

"I'm just getting started baby." He smirked and took a sip from his bottle. "You need to loosen up, between HYDRA and SHIELD you're about as tense as most metal before I melt it."

"Oh Ward will take care of that." Alisha made the comment. "Nice massage with hot hands."

"Oh I'm hot." Ward chuckled, "and good with my hands, but she's known that since the first moment I kidnapped her."

"You mean the first time?" Skye looked at him, "because I recall several kidnappings."

Ward moved his head back and forth, "first one was technically a kidnapping. Second time you tricked me so it technically wasn't a kidnapping. As for the third time, you came willingly but on a threat so it's technically only a partial kidnapping." He turned his head to her, "and every time you were treated more like a guest then a victim."

"True but it's still kidnapping." Skye poked his arm and he grabbed her hand, holding it.

Lincoln pointed between them, "since when did you guys start this?"

"After she punched me in the face for breaking a promise." Ward stated matter of fact.

"I should have shot you."

Ward actually laughed, "oh Sweetheart you are welcome to try."

"Watch it asshole, I'll do it." She pulled her hand away and elbowed him, a smile on her face.


Five Hours Later - Central Park, New York


Despite the heaviness of the afternoon, Skye found herself walking through Central Park later that night with Ward. Their arms were linked as they moved down the lit path, enjoying each other's company. A smile seemed to exist continuously as he spoke to her in hushed tones about his plan to visit the habitat at least every other week and stay for three days at a time. He also told her stories about his time as an agent before joining Coulson at Garrett's behest, laughter erupted on some of the stories and he only leaned down to kiss her head while smiling.

"So you actually spilt wine on the Queen of Spain?" Skye asked as she continued laughing, trailing her fingers down his arm till their digits entangled. "Let me guess, you got away before they could identify you?"

Ward nodded, "not my proudest moment and you can imagine the yelling I received when the agent in charge of the mission found out."

"If it was anything like Coulson's 'reckless' speech then I understand."

Skye paused in her steps, their entangled fingers made Ward stop and he looked down at her in concern. "Sweetheart what is it?"

She brought a hand to her ear and put up three fingers, indicating she felt the vibrations of three heartbeats. Ward immediately went on alert, his guard had been up and he'd been keeping a look out for anything abnormal. Despite his attentiveness to detail, Skye's ability to sense the heartbeats of those around her was more sophisticated than any technology HYDRA had at its disposal. It also made all training in area awareness obsolete. He scanned the area and turned when the hairs on his neck stood up, a hand flamed immediately at the anger that someone had interrupted their time.

Skye had told him about Kara's revival but he'd hoped she'd moved on, become her own person. The indication that she may have become extremely loyal to SHIELD was thrown out but even Skye hadn't been sure if it had just been words or actual truth. The gun he found pointed at them was indicative that she had become loyal to SHIELD. He turned his back to Skye and put an arm out, instinct to protect her flared despite him knowing she could handle herself.

"Kara…"

The woman merely looked at him, "hello Grant."

He shook his hand so the flame extinguished. "It's good to see you alive."

"You shot me, killed me and you probably don't regret it." She shook her head, "I should kill you but I wonder if shooting Skye would be a better punishment. I wonder if you'd feel something then."

Skye immediately put her hand on Ward's arm, "don't react, not in public."

"Oh he'll react." Kara moved towards them, "it's what he is. He's vindictive, a monster and uses people to his own end. He pretended to help me, pretended to love me and then shot me in cold blood."

"I did love you Kara and I regret my actions every day." Ward stared at her, "I wish I could change the past but I can't."

Kara shook her head, "you don't know how to love, you just are possessive and pretend to love to get what you want in the end."

"Ward don't." Skye squeezed his arm, his heart rate increasing indicating he was about to go off. She stared at Kara, "you need to stop Agent Palamas, Ward regrets what he did and I know he'd change it if he could. SHIELD already turned you against him and while that is their agenda, turning everyone against HYDRA and Ward, we aren't the enemy."

"I can't kill you but I can wound you." Kara smirked, "I was right, he never really got over you. I see you now and it's like back in Puerto Rico, the same look on his face. It's not love though, no it's something else like amazement that he helped create such a weapon."

"I'm warning you to stop now." Skye felt Ward's heart beat increase as his anger increased. "Due to the SHIELD-Inhuman Peace Treaty I can't stop what you start."

Kara shrugged, "then stay out of the way and let me do what needs to be done."


Skye closed her eyes, regretting what would happen within seconds. She squeezed Ward's arm just as flames erupted from his hands to his arms and across is entire body. Unharmed from the flames, she finally took a step back as she looked Kara in the eyes. "Grant Ward is listed as a rogue Inhuman, we have no say over his actions nor can we condemn him for them. If he harms you, I can't do anything and our treaty remains intact."

The woman seemed to be taken aback by the man in front of her, her gun faltering for a moment. Skye moved to the side, away from them both but she watched Ward's flames ripple with blue. It meant he was severely pissed off and likely to inflict harm on anyone around not immune to his flames. The area could become a battle zone and innocents could be harmed, she had to remain and hope that she had some control on Ward.

"What…"

Ward smirked, "welcome to Hell…" He put up a hand full of flame as the flames slowly descended to rest only in his hands. "You'll pay for your actions."

Skye noticed his intent, his instinct to harm any who pissed him off. In his Hellfire state he was totally different, no one could reason with him besides her. She knew their Inhuman biology and the bond they formed were the key in that factor. She also knew that if he harmed Kara, he'd regret it because she knew he had loved the wounded woman. Kara refused to lower her weapon so he would fire on her within seconds.

"No!" Skye stepped in front of Kara as he released the flame, it hit her but merely singed her jacket. "Stop now, I won't let you do something you'll regret later."

He advanced on her, "get out of the way."

"You'll have to kill me and you won't." She stared him down, "you can't. Our genes chose for us long before our transitions, so you won't harm me. Instinct prevents it so stand down."

Ward merely set his jaw before closing his hands, the flames dying away. "I'll deal with you later." He pushed her out of the way as she lowered her head at his glare, part of her Inhuman biology drove her to submit to his tone despite her place as his leader. His push was gentle and he merely looked at Kara. "Shoot me or leave, you won't get a second chance."

He turned his head and merely looked at Skye, she nodded as he took her arm and they moved down the path past Kara. The woman turned, her gun finally lowered as she watched Ward walk off with Skye's arm in his hand. Skye didn't resist or seem angered, in fact she eventually pulled away and took his hand instead. Kara merely starred, unable to understand anything of what had occurred before her. All she knew was the fact Ward was dangerous and Skye had stopped him front killing her.


Two Hours Post Central Park Confrontation - Inhuman Habitat, Location Unknown - New York


Lincoln stared at the two people standing in front of his desk in the Infirmary. They'd come back to the habitat with looks and actions that spoke to the fact that a closely guarded fact of Inhuman biology had been triggered. He had called them in to explain what Skye was only partially aware of and the dangers that it involved because of they weren't careful it could cause destruction.

"Why are we here Sparky?" Ward crossed his arms, his tone one of aggravation.

"Inhuman biology is as different from human biology as it is similar. The mixing with humans over generations has caused wide gene variety but we always retain our Kree genes that mixed with primal species." He walked around his desk, "this is just as awkward for me to talk about as it is for you to hear."

Skye looked up at him, "you're not talking about…"

"I am." Lincoln looked at her, "I only told you half, the other half is a closely guarded secret because of the danger. You have to remember that while our community was tight, few Inhumans coupled because they had to be matched on a biological level. Each of us has a gene that is specific to relationships, our instinct drives us to those with a polar opposite gene. Too similar and the result is disastrous, as your mother found out when she and your father formed their bond."

"My father wasn't Inhuman."

Lincoln chuckled, "not one that had undergone Terrigenesis, but he did have the genes. He wasn't a candidate because of his anger. His gene was so similar to your mother's that if he had undergone Terrigenesis, the result would have been disastrous."

Ward looked between them, "you're saying these genes in us are too similar aren't you?"

"Actually no, your gene and Skye's are polar opposites. That's why your flames can't harm her, why you can't harm her no matter her actions and it's where primal instinct to protect her comes in. She's your mate, your genes recognized each other the moment you looked at each other the first time and Terrigenesis sealed your fate." He looked at Skye, "you instinctively submit to him, leader or not, and in turn you control some of his actions." Putting his hands out Lincoln looked at them both. "This is the first instinctual match since the selection process started a hundred years ago but it'd dangerous. You must understand, if either one of you dies the other will descend into madness far more than that your father experienced. You are symbiotic now, whatever happened tonight that gene activated beyond instinctively drawing you together."

Skye shook her head and looked at Ward, "this is your fault, if you hadn't kidnapped me then we won't be here." With that she left the room and he shook his head.

"Whatever you say Sparky, I'm leaving." He left the office in the opposite direction of where Skye went.

Lincoln threw up his hands, "I tell them it's dangerous and instead of talking it out rationally they are fighting. Guess we all need to prepare for the apocalypse."


A/N: Well there is that...

Next: Skye finds herself having an influx of Inhuman residents after news of the treaty spreads.

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