Pieces Solving a Puzzle
Spoilers:All seasons...
Disclaimer: I only own the characters that Marvel doesn't already own.
Five Weeks Post SHIELD-Inhuman Treaty - Inhuman Habitat, Location Unknown - New York State
Skye sat at her desk in her bunk staring at large paper blueprints and a roster of names. Five weeks had passed since the treaty and word had spread across the Inhuman community, leading to a large flow of requests to stay at the habitat. Apparently those labeled as alphas didn't feel comfortable living outside, able to be tracked by SHIELD. While the habitat seemed small, only the first two floors had been used. The underground structure went deeper than the Triskelion had before it fell during the SHIELD-HYDRA war. Over twelve levels, ten hadn't been unlocked yet and Skye found herself only wanting to unlock one level at a time if possible.
A knock on her door made her pause and listen, closing her eyes she allowed the rhythm of the person's heart to be mentally cataloged for a second. What would have taken a few moments to decipher who it was without moving to open the door, she knew who it was instantly. Only one heart beat matched her own and the owner was not on her good list at that moment.
"Go away Ward." She raised her voice, turning her attention back to the blueprints and the roster.
The door slid open anyways and she turned, about ready to use her gift to push him out. However, the object in his hands made her pause. He said nothing as he moved across the room and set the tray of food on the desk. "You can break my bones if you want or shoot me, your preference, but only after you've eaten."
She turned back to the task, "thanks but I'm not interested."
"Skye, you need to eat. Sparky and Yo-Yo mentioned you haven't left your room except to deliver bunk assignments." Hesitantly he put his hands on her arms and instantly she found herself relaxing against him.
"Why do you always do this?" She whispered as she let the roster drop on the desk.
"Do what?" He dropped his hands to her hips and kissed her head. "Make your anger at me disappear?"
Skye nodded as she let her eyes survey the food he'd brought to her. Instead of one of his normally healthy meals, he'd brought her two slices of pizza and a brownie with a mug of green tea. "You're trying to get on my good side, bringing me food that I love."
"No, you haven't eaten in a while and the carbs will help you get some energy to finish a portion tonight." Ward reached for the mug and handed it to her. "I know you're angry at me and given your history of holding things against me, it'll probably be the next decade before I'm forgiven."
She turned to him, the mug still in her hands as their eyes connected. "Good, at least you know I won't be forgiving you anytime soon. Biology be damned, I can only take so much of your possessive, demanding attitude. My DNA is making me say 'yes I agree' but my head is going 'I will shoot you if you do that again'."
"If you ever stop being stubborn and headstrong I would become concerned." Ward smiled at her as he rubbed her arm, "I love you the way you are."
She put a finger to his lips, "don't say that, not yet. You may be ready but I'm not."
"Fair enough." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I'll leave you to your work."
As he made it to the door, Skye knew despite how she felt about him he'd take care of her. She remembered what Lincoln said, they'd be symbiotic and no matter what they needed each other to survive. "Thanks babe."
"Always." He closed the door behind himself as she took a drink of her tea and sat at her desk to eat.
Evening - Inhuman Habitat, Location Unknown - New York State
It was in the early hours of the morning that the proximity alarm went off. Everyone on Skye's central team, along with Ward, gathered in the Security Center. No one said anything that they were all geared as if they had jumped out of bed and just dressed for battle. Ward activated the holotable and brought up the security cameras that were strategically placed on random trees that sat on the surface of the land on top of the base.
"SHIELD." Ward spoke with a seething voice and they all saw the image of Kara Palamas, Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter. "They're here but they won't be able to access the entrance without Inhuman DNA and there's the darts that would incapacitate them if they aren't registered with the system. If they got a tracker on any of us of any kind, they're just looking at solid ground."
Lincoln shook his head, "why would they come here? Daisy made it clear that the habitat is off-limits."
Skye looked at Ward, "Lincoln take Ward to medical and scan him for anything that could potentially be a tracker. They'd be looking for you if they're here. None of us have left in the last five weeks."
"Skye I wouldn't…"
She put a hand on his arm, "I know you wouldn't but I wouldn't put it past them. Go with Lincoln, the rest of us will wait and watch."
Not even ten minutes later the two men were back and Lincoln laid a small tube only a centimeter big on the holotable. Ward looked at all of them at the table, they all stared at him with silence till Joey spoke. "You lead them here?"
"I know some of you have differing opinions of me but I'm a part of this community…"
"Actually according to the treaty you aren't." Cora spoke softly then put up her hands, "I'm just telling the truth."
Yo-Yo looked at those beside her, "he's an asshole sure but he wouldn't risk Daisy. She's his genetic match, he couldn't do anything that could hurt her."
Skye put up her hand, "kidnapped me three times, threw a few good punches and deceived me. I'd call that hurting me." She saw Ward look at her with a mock glare. "Sorry babe, it's true."
Lincoln shook his head, "no Yo-Yo is right. Once the gene is fully activated neither of you can do anything that would harm one another. It's rooted in primal instinct to protect the genetic mate. Ward could not have intentionally done this, someone tagged him.
"Guys, how strong is the ceiling?" One of the techs behind them spoke and they all turned to the guy. "We have a missile incoming."
Ward shook his head, "it's made to withstand even Lash's powers. There's nothing getting in, that will just hit the invisible net that is spread across the trees and burn them."
"We can't risk it." Skye looked at Ward, "there are children on this base, innocent people that are being hunted." Biting her lip quickly she smirked, "quinjet is parked under the invisible barrier just south of the river, do you think you could trick them?"
"Are you asking me if I can evade the people that trained me?" Ward smirked at her, "I take that as a dare."
"Just go you asshole before you kill us all on a micro chance it might stop." She stared at him and he nodded.
He cupped her cheeks and kissed her thoroughly. "See you soon, I promise."
As he made it out the door of the Security Center, Skye yelled at him. "And don't die, it's my job to kill you!"
Alisha just shook her head, "you two are the strangest genetic match I have ever seen."
Skye just shrugged, "wouldn't trade him, even if it got rid of the traits that make him an asshole."
"Probably needs it to put up with you." Joey made the comment and Skye smiled as she manipulated to holotable to keep track of Ward's genetic signature.
Outside Inhuman Habitat, Location Unknown - New York State
Ward moved through the habitat towards the entrance, aware that time was not his friend. It'd been a while since he'd worked against the clock like the moment called for. HYDRA had allowed him to do things at his pace and when he was at the habitat it was like a nice relaxing vacation. The exiting stairs lead to a small shed, large enough for an SUV, which was hidden by cloaking technology.
Exiting the shed, he made his way between the trees to the location where Kara, Morse and Hunter were. He knew Coulson and May weren't far behind, probably waiting for confirmation of sight. While he could run away, they'd still bomb the area to prevent him from returning and the habitat had no weapons to defend itself. Skye could destroy it but she risked the treaty if she attempted it. That being so, it left him as a rogue Inhuman, to destroy it. Turning his attention to the sky he saw the missile bearing down, it would only be a matter of seconds till it arrives.
Thinking of the danger it presented to Skye, to the twins and all the innocents his hand flamed immediately. Moving from behind one of the trees he risked being seen to do something he'd only done once when he'd been a newly born Inhuman. Holding his hand out, he focused all his attention on destroying the missile and let the fire role. It shot out, a long column and headed straight for the weapon as it neared the habitat. He knew the column had gotten the attention of all the agents looking for him.
A bullet hit him as the column reached the missile, causing it to explode midair. His shoulder gained the first bullet, followed by another to his right torso. Looking down he saw the bullets were not blue from ICERs but green from ATCU tech used to take down Inhumans. Groaning, he felt a third hit his leg and he fell to the ground. Seconds later Kara and Morse stood over him with guns at his head.
"One bullet…" Kara's voice was void of emotion but it was Morse that spoke.
"Coulson makes the call, it'll only be a few moments before the sedative from the darts take effect."
Kara bent down beside Ward and pulled up his sleeve, "suture, a trained physician removed the tracker." She spoke as Ward started feeling blackness surround his vision, the sedative taking effect slowly. "Is this another base of yours?"
Ward turned his attention to her, "I…claim…sanctuary." His words were labored and as his eyes closed he heard Morse speak softly.
"If he claims sanctuary we won't be able to touch him, we have to contact Daisy. Rogue or not, the treaty states that Inhumans can claim sanctuary if they feel hunted by person or organization."
As the sedatives took effect, Ward thought of Skye and the fact all the innocent Inhumans were safe. The twins were safe, no one had been harmed and SHIELD couldn't touch him because of his claim. Skye's loophole had saved him and more importantly saved their relationship. He could only imagine what she felt watching him get shot. If it was anything like he felt when she was emotionally hurt, she'd be seething and prepared to murder those who harmed him.
Two Days Later - SHIELD Base, Location Unknown
Skye Johnson stood before Phil Coulson and Melinda May with a mask on her face. She didn't give away her anger at the fact they'd shot Ward. She was used to him getting shot at and knew he probably deserved it most times but the urge to tear apart the people who stood before her was stronger than ever before. They were signing custody of Ward over to her, his claim of sanctuary made it impossible for them to hold him per the treaty. It had been the only loophole she could think of when she'd made the treaty with SHIELD, if Ward claimed sanctuary then he was hers until his release. Ward came and went as he pleased, sometimes he'd show up for days at a time and others he wouldn't be seen for weeks.
"Transfer papers." Coulson handed a thumb driver to her and she took it. "We still want to know what he was doing out in the forest. If HYDRA has a base…"
"I'll get answers and if I feel like its important I'll tell you. As of now, I and those with me do not side with either organization so your war is insignificant to me. Why Ward was there doesn't matter, what matters is that he claimed sanctuary so I'll take him to the habitat." Skye turned and left, the two following as she went. "If you placed any trackers in him then be prepared to know they will be removed. I refuse to let you tag and track him back to the habitat."
Ward was waiting by the base entrance door, his hands in cuffs and chains attached to them. He wore prison grays, no doubt he'd been downstairs in Vault D once again before she arrived. Lincoln and Bryce Fu, a new recruit with the ability to see into organic tissue, stood nearby waiting with Ward.
"We're not just letting the bastard go are we?" Hunter asked as he stood with Morse and Kara.
Coulson nodded, "he claimed sanctuary, we can't hold him because he did so."
"How long before he's back to HYDRA, he's just using the claim as a loophole." Morse made the comment and turned to Coulson. "You have to see that."
"Loophole or not, the claim of sanctuary is part of the treaty." Coulson sighed, "it says all Inhumans, that means rogue ones too."
Bryce nodded to Skye, "one in his back by the shoulder blade."
"Lincoln will remove it during the drive." Skye looked at her former family, "until next time."
Same Day - Road Between SHIELD and Inhuman Habitat, Location Unknown
They left the Playground and loaded up in their waiting SUV, Skye immediately removed Ward's handcuffs and chains once they were off SHIELD property. Lincoln started opening a medical kit to remove to tracker from Ward's back.
"I have no anesthetic." Lincoln spoke as Ward removed the prison gray scrub top. "I'll have to do this without numbing the area."
Ward turned his head, "just do it."
Skye turned in her chair as Bryce drove, she reached her hand out into the back seat to grab Ward's hand. Squeezing it she met his eyes as Lincoln put on gloves and removed a scalpel from the medical kit. "Vault D?"
"Home sweet home, at least they're consistent." Ward hissed slightly as Lincoln made the incision in his skin. "Whoever was in there before me made a mess of the place."
"My father was held in there, before that was me." She saw Ward's head turn to look at her, "it's a long story."
Lincoln discarded the scalpel and picked up tweezers, "I'm going to remove the tracker. Am I looking forward to any nasty surprises Bryce?"
"Nope, normal tracker with no attachments." The man driving threw out the comment as he kept his attention on the road.
Seconds passed and soon Lincoln was putting the tracker on square gauze. "There it is."
Skye took the tracker and shook her head, "they never learn." She threw it on the floor and crushed it with her boot. "Tracker's gone, we're safe to return to the habitat."
"Did they tag the SUV?" Ward asked as Lincoln started the sutures on his back.
"We didn't check, we'll stop before we get within ten miles of the habitat and examine the car." Skye looked back at him, "I'll check for vibrations on radio frequencies to locate the trackers if they placed them."
Lincoln stripped off his gloves as he looked at Ward. "I'm done, sutures need to stay dry so until it heals don't get it wet." He closed the medical kit as Ward put his shirt back on. "You have a lot of back injuries."
Ward chuckled, "four are courteous of Skye's pistol, a few others are from old missions, one from May and the last is a scar from surgery." He sat back against the seat and pulled on his seatbelt. "Just another scar to add."
"I think they make you sexy." Skye smiled at him as she turned her head. "Everything but the ones I caused, I just think you deserved those."
"I probably did Sweetheart, I probably did." Ward gave her a slight smile and she reached her hand back as she sat straight in her chair. He grasped her hand in his and held it as they moved down the road.
A/N: Well Skye's loophole came into effect...
Next: Ward finds himself teaching gift-control tactics to newborn Inhumans as two month sanctuary stay continues.
Please read and review.
