"Ward." Skye perches on the armrest, looking down at him.

He scans the row, repeating it with the column before filling the box with a '9'. "What do you want?"

"Why do you always assume I want something? Maybe I just want to spend time with you.?"

"You've been wearing out the carpet in the hall and I can hear you muttering from here. So out with it."

"Fine. Can you drive me to the movies, please?"

"Two questions. One, what movie? Two, do I have to watch it with you?"

"Haven't decided and no, you don't."

"Okay."

"I meant now." Skye says when Ward returns to his Sudoku.

"I know." Ward replies. "Almost done."

Skye wasn't going to argue or urge him to leave it for later, he just might retract the 'yes' and she would have to find another way to get there. So she waits, flicking at her nails. She makes a mental note to change her polish, it was already so chipped there was barely any colour left.

"Let's go." He finally says, grabbing his jacket and keys.

"Where are your friends? Are you early or late?" Ward asks, surveying the place.

"Uh – friend, he's over there." Skye says, pointing to a boy sitting on the steps, "Bye, Ward!"

"Hold up." Ward reaches across her, closing the door. "He?"

"Yeah, I didn't mention that? I could've sworn I did."

"Skye. Name and age."

"Sophomore. Adrian."

"Adrian what?"

"No. You are not running a background check on him!"

"How do I know he's not a serial rapist or killer? Or if he has a record?"

"He's in high school."

"So high school kids are incapable of doing bad things now?"

"I'm not saying that – Ward, he's not a killer or rapist or into witchcraft."

"How can you be sure?"

"I don't know but he's on the debate team."

"Do you remember what I taught you? Need a refresher?"

"I am not going to put him in a chokehold or a hammerlock for trying to put his arm around me!"

"Why not? Boys that age only want one thing, Skye. You can say no. You don't have to succumb to peer pressure or whatever. There's no pressure to do it."

"Oh my God, Ward! Stop! Did AC pay you to do this? Because I'll double whatever you've agreed on for us to avoid this conversation."

"No, Coulson didn't pay me. But he did ask me to take care of you. I'm giving you advice because I've been there. I am a guy."

"You're trying to do the other part of the sex talk! The you don't have to rush anything and it'll happen when it happens part."

Ward chokes, accidentally hitting the horn. He mouths an apology to the car driving past as Skye slouches in her seat, shielding her face.

"I am not trying to give you the talk. No one could pay me enough to have that talk with you. And I think Coulson's got that covered."

Skye's head turned so fast she could swear she had whiplash. "No! He's going to give me the talk? What did he say?"

"Not him."

"Then who? Nat?"

"Yeah, Coulson would definitely approve of Nat giving you the talk. Over his dead body."

"She's cool."

"That's the problem. It's probably gonna be May."

"That's not so bad."

It made sense. There was no one Coulson trusted more with them than May. And Skye knew he was glad she was around because there were some conversations fathers were just not meant to have with daughters; case in point, when she got her period. Coulson was on the verge of panic attack, so a sex talk was definitely out of the question.

"Ward," Skye whines. "You're making me late! Can we please do this later or pretend it never happened?"

When he doesn't budge, she tries a different approach, "I promise I'll be on guard for unscrupulous teenage boy trying to get some action moves. And if he tries something I don't want him to, I'll put what you taught me to use, okay? Ward?"

"Fine. But if anything happens, you call me immediately and I'll come get you. You have my number right?"

"Obviously. Speedial 3."

"Do you need pepper spray?" He asks, digging through the glove compartment. "An umbrella? Some kind of weapon?"

"I have the Taser Clint gave me."

"Good. Can you use it?"

"It's a Taser. I don't think even I could screw that up." Skye says. "Ward, I'll be fine. It's just a movie. Nothing major. And I don't know if I even like him so you don't have to worry about me jumping into bed with anyone."

He winces at that. "Text me when you're done."

"Okay. See you later. Thanks, Ward."

"No problem."

Ward watches as Skye approaches the boy and stays for a bit as they get in line at the concession stand. He's about to leave when there's a knock on the window, Skye stands there miming for him to lower the window.

"Did your plans fall through?"

"No. I got you Skittles. The sour kind."

"Thanks."

Skye shifts on her feet as a look of determination settles on her face. She reaches through the open window, wrapping her arms around his neck briefly. "Thanks for looking out for me, Ward. I appreciate it."

"Anytime."

"But you can loosen the reigns, like a bit."

"Go have your date."

"I'll text you when it's almost over. But if you feel like waiting around, I think Ben's working."

"I wasn't."

"Sure, Ward."

He shakes his head, smiling. "Ok maybe I considered it for a bit. You'll be fine."

This time he stays until they disappear into the theatre before driving all the way home.

(After 34 minutes of occasionally looking at the clock, he gives up the pretense and drives to their favourite diner with his assignments. When Skye's text comes in, he waits the necessary 8 minutes so it won't look like he was already there.)

Skye slides into the passenger side as he pulls up. "He didn't even stay to see if you got home okay?"

"Chill out. His mom called." She says, buckling her seatbelt. "How was Ben?"

"He sends his regards and Allie requests that you visit soon."

"Cool. Out of curiosity, how long did it –"

"Shut up."