Holy Ground
Spinning like a girl in a brand new dress,
We had this big wide city all to ourselves.
We blocked the noise with the sound of 'I need you',
And for the first time I had something to lose
Grant is only merely surprised when he finds Skye – dressed in sandals and a sundress, her hair in loose curls, sunglasses pushed to the top of her head – at the door of his hotel room early in the morning.
"Have you ever been in this city?" she asks in lieu of greeting, to which he just shakes his head, raising his eyebrows in amusement. "Hm… okay," she replies, apparently unfazed. "Are you ready to go?"
"Go where?"
"Whatever. Sightseeing. Being out and about. Playing tourist."
They are having downtime in Budapest, having nothing to do while Coulson is having meetings with local and international law enforcement forces seemingly without no end. He can imagine that she is starting to get bored holed up in the hotel, but he is still not sure where to place her straightforwardness. But she is looking up at him, smiling expectantly, so he nods.
"Okay, just give me a minute."
Ten minutes later they are out in the city neither of them knows, strolling down the street carelessly in the late-spring sunshine, and she keeps smiling and babbling, pointing things out to him, amazed by the architecture, how the past and the present seem to merge together, and when she grabs his hand he has to stop and wonder – was this supposed to be a date?
He doesn't dare to actually ask – there's a fear of shattering the illusion –, but he decides to believe that it is. He squeezes her hand, and, in a particularly brave moment, puts his arm around her waist.
She leans into him.
He can't even remember when was the last time he felt so free, so unburdened as today, walking around aimlessly in a strange city with a girl, who–
It's silly, but he just can't wipe the goofy smile off his face.
They are out until sundown, stopping here and there, sampling the local food, enjoying the sights, talking, smiling, laughing, getting bolder, braver.
On their way back to the hotel, crossing a bridge with stone lions on the ends, he kisses her.
She kisses him back.
"Finally."
Somehow, they both end up in his room that night.
A/N: Again, sorry for the delay – I was at a press screening last night, got back late, and my mind was completely bleached. But… here you go! I actually have a love-hate relationship with this piece, because I like the base idea, but kinda feel like that the concept here could work better for something bigger than a drabble. Also, Budapest – I just can't help using it, because, damn, I live here and it's Marvel canon! :D