Chapter Twenty-One (Before I'm Buried Beneath)

(Sometime into the SHIELD v/s SHIELD Event)

"Skye, I knew that it would come to something like this." Ward said, looking at Skye who sat along with him on the edge of his bed.

"To what?"

"Being afraid for our lives. You see how Morse and Mack look at us. Something's up here. And that Gonzales guy. He's no good." Ward replied, squeezing Skye's hand. "I'm not even sure what's going on here."

"But why would we be fearing for our lives?" Skye asked, frowning.

"I overheard Morse and Mack one day." Ward started. "I heard them calling us 'threats' and 'things that need to be dealt with'. I think they're planning on doing something to us."

"What? Why? We've never done anything to them."

"Yes, but they're afraid us just because we're different. Even the others. They've treated us differently ever since Sif came and our powers were exposed." Ward went on. "They probably think us as monsters."

"They wouldn't," Skye began, but Ward stood to his feet, cutting her off.

"Skye, think. They've been avoiding us. Hesitant of us. Hell, I don't even think that we can call them friends anymore." Ward took a breath, "I don't even want to stay here anymore. How can I stay here when everyone avoids me? They're afraid of us simply because they don't understand this.

So what if I can create fire of of nowhere? So what if you can make earthquakes happen? If they were really our friends and our teammates, they wouldn't treat us any differently."

Skye got up, "Grant, I don't see where you're getting that from." she said. "Yes, they're hesitant around us, but not to the extent you're making it out to be. You're overexaggerating."

Ward scoffed. "Sure. But it affects you differently. Try having an ability that makes you look like a monster. Yours is invisible, mine isn't. Even when I get the slightest bit irritated, my eyes turn red.

That doesn't keep allies. That makes people afraid of you. And I'm tired of it. I'm ready to leave. I don't know about you, but you can stay here for all I care." he continued. "'Cause I'm sick of this hell."

Ward turned around to leave the room, but Skye came up and placed a hand on his shoulder. He took a breath and looked at her, a muscle twitching in his face, "What the hell is it now?" he growled. Again, his skin was heating up.

"Grant, just take a breather. If I can deal with this crap, then you can too. Just give it some time and don't go running now." she said, looking firmly in his eyes. "It's going to take a while until people are used to us. We're different, and it's something to get used to.

Don't go running when it gets tough, try to stick it out. It'll get better in time. I promise."

Ward blinked and looked down, "Are you really sure about that, Skye?" he asked. "'Cause I'm not. I want out of here."

"I'm sure. And don't stay here for the others, stay here for me."

He took a long, deep breath, "Fine. But just for you. But at the first sign of trouble, I'm out of here."

"I'm sure that we'll be fine."

But she was wrong.

(Sometime Later)

"Just where the hell are you taking us, Coulson?" Ward asked impatiently from the back of the jet that Coulson was flying.

"Somewhere safe." Coulson replied quickly.

Skye's face fell, "Somewhere safe?" she asked. "Why do we need to be taken somewhere safe?"

"You two being at the base right now isn't the best thing. Gonzales and his allies are getting worse and have deemed you two as a threat." Coulson explained.

Ward stood up suddenly and headed to the front of the jet, "Wait, are you taking us somewhere else?" he asked. "Are you making us leave?"

Coulson turned around in the pilot's chair to look at Ward, "Yes, in a way. But this is for your safety and for ours."

"I bet mostly yours."

Coulson shook his head, "Ward, you two are in danger if you stay at the base. Gonzales wants you two locked up and potentially gone. You can't stay there. Where I'm taking you is much better than staying."

"Where is this place anyways?" Ward asked, getting mad.

"It's a safehouse SHIELD has used." Coulson replied. "Off the radar so Gonzales won't find you hopefully."

Skye came up as well, "A safehouse?" she asked.

"Away from civilization as well, just in case,"

"What? That either of us lose control?" Ward cut in.

Coulson raised an eyebrow, "Yes, in case of that." he stated. "Ward, this isn't against you or anything of that nature. Last time I checked, you two couldn't control your abilities. This is to be on the safe side.

Ward, I trust you, but I do not trust Gonzales. If he somehow comes knocking, I don't want there to be a scene."

Ward looked down and didn't say a word. Skye took Ward by the arm and led him to the back of the jet, leaving Coulson to himself.

"Look, Grant, Coulson's trying to do the right thing here. If we're really in danger like he says, then this is the best way to go right now. Until everything clears up." she explained to him.

"And besides, if we're alone, we can work on taming these powers. You've had more success than I have had."

"I never asked for any of this." Ward said. "I thought when I changed the future by killing Garrett and denouncing my loyalty to him, I was good. I didn't think that anything bad would happen to me. But no.

I get shot, I almost die, and I turn into this." He looked Skye in the eyes. "I led myself into an even deeper hell than I stopped myself from going into."

Skye slapped Ward on the face, "Do not talk like that, Grant." she said harshly. "We are not in a hell. And I think this is way better than being our mortal enemy. Just wait it out, It'll get better. Don't drag yourself down like this."

Ward sighed and sat back down, burying his face in his hands, "I don't know what to think anymore, Skye." he said. "We're not human in a world that hates things that are different. And we have nowhere to go to other than a supposed SHIELD 'safehouse'."

Skye sat back down beside him, "Grant, we've got each other. And I think that's all that matters at this point. As long as we keep each other safe and sound, we'll be perfectly okay."

He looked back to her, and then glanced to Coulson who was completely oblivious to the conversation, "I suppose that you're right." he said. "I just don't like any of this."

"I don't either, but we just have to push through it. It'll get better in time. As long as nothing else happens to us beforehand."

"Don't say things like that."

"Well, it's the truth."

"And that's what I am afraid of. Skye, something's going to happen to us, and it's not going to be good. I don't know why I feel this way, but I think something's going to happen."

"Then you better be wrong."

Author's Note: I don't own AoS, Marvel does. Sorry for the short chapter, not sure of what to write anymore. So Ward's getting fed up and they're being taken to the safehouse. And I'm not actually sure how to keep this fic going on anymore, I might have to wrap it up soon somehow. (If you've got suggestions, please tell me.) Keep reading and PLEASE favorite, follow, and/or review! ~AwakeAndAliveSpartan.