Note: These next three chapters are going to cover the one-year break (interspersed with letters from Daniel to break up each section) and each chapter will span over approx. 3/4 months. The fourth (and final) chapter will cover the epilogue of 7x13! Hope you enjoy, thanks as always for reading and your lovely feedback :D
Based on events during the one-year gap in Episode 7x13 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
(Takes place during July-October)
After they'd helped save the world, Daisy and Daniel knew that the best thing to do would be to slow right down, perhaps even go back to square one in some ways, and so that was exactly what they did. They stayed in the Lighthouse for about a week, just the two of them, where they spent some days simply lounging about watching TV (which enthralled Daniel) and listening to old comforting songs like 'Nice 'n' Easy' by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald's 'Someone to Watch Over Me' (at Daniel's request, obviously) and other days talking for hours on end simply to get to know each other better.
Daisy caught Daniel up on the many events – both the traumatic and the fun ones – that had transpired with the S.H.I.E.L.D. team these past few years, and also told him about her own troubled life before S.H.I.E.L.D., which Daniel listened to with fervent interest and sympathy.
'Mary Sue Poots? Really?' Daniel said sceptically as they lounged on the couch in the common room together, her legs spread over his lap. 'That's…that might be the worst part of that whole story.'
'Oh my God!' Daisy said, laughing and slapping his arm playfully as he chuckled.
'Good job you changed it to 'Skye', I like that,' Daniel said.
Unbidden, he was reminded of Jemma's words to him and Yo-Yo in the control room last week. 'The stars in your skies', she'd said. He smiled at how appropriate that was. Daisy really was the stars in his skies.
'Do you ever miss it?' Daniel asked her then, as she moved over to lean against his chest. 'Being Skye?'
Daisy knew he didn't just mean the name. 'Sometimes. But…very rarely. She's still in me, and…well, I like who I am and…where I am now,' she replied, smiling at him as she looked up.
Daniel smiled back and kissed her briefly on the lips as he put his arm around her on the couch. 'I'm glad. 'Daisy' suits you better, as well,' he added light-heartedly, making her chuckle. 'Though nothing will beat 'Quake', of course.'
'You're never gonna let that go, are you?' Daisy said, smirking, as she rested her head against his chest.
'Never. That's a promise,' Daniel replied with a twitch of his lips, stroking her hair.
As the days went on, Daisy also began to teach him more of the ways the 21st century worked and what he had to expect for when they eventually headed out into society. This proved more difficult than she had anticipated; the new world Daniel had found himself in wasn't exactly a reassuring one.
'Oh, I just thought – who's President now?' Daniel asked her one evening, while they ate some food in front of the TV.
'Trust me, you don't want to go there,' Daisy replied, grimacing, and Daniel raised his eyebrows.
'O-kay.'
It wasn't just an educational period for Daniel, however; Daisy found out a great deal about Daniel and his old life too. He told her about his past…what it had been like growing up as a child in the Roaring Twenties, his troubling adolescence during the Great Depression, fighting in the war in his twenties, and then climbing up the ranks of the SSR and S.H.I.E.L.D.. Daisy found it completely fascinating to hear all his stories, and yet Daniel didn't seem to think that there was anything remarkable about his life. Daisy helped him see differently though, and he was grateful for that. He was grateful for everything about her.
They had fallen for each other hard and fast, and they both knew it, yet as they left the Lighthouse the following week and headed for New York, they still felt it was right to take things slow. Daisy wasn't sure why that was. Maybe it was because it was how Daniel had always done things, because he was a proper, polite gentleman. Maybe it was because Daisy was scared of something going wrong, of one of them becoming afraid or doubtful of committing when they hadn't really known each other long enough. And yet, even though their time together had been somewhat limited, it still felt like they knew each other incredibly well already, as if they had met each other years ago or known in each other in a different life. Perhaps that was all that mattered in the end.
Nevertheless, they didn't want to rush into things, so they agreed that Daisy should focus on herself first, and also her sister. After spending some time with May and Doctor Benson while they had begun forming their plans for the Academy, Kora had decided that she did want to sign up to train with S.H.I.E.L.D. after all, and Daisy wanted to be part of that however she could – without interfering too much in her new sister's life, anyway – but she wanted Daniel to be there as well. They decided to live close to each other, but not too close; Daniel still wanted to do things properly – their nights sharing a bed in the Lighthouse had never led to anything more than just sleeping (well, not much more than that anyway) – and Daisy was so touched, and bemused, by his chivalrous attitude that she was more than happy to go along with it.
S.H.I.E.L.D. still had some old dorms in New York that the new recruits and trainees had been using as accommodation. Quite a lot of them were empty right now, so Daisy and Daniel rented two rooms separately just down the hall from each other, close to where Kora was staying for her training. Their new place of residence was ideally situated for starting work at the new S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ as well. Daisy began to spend some time with Kora and taking over her training whenever May was busy working on the Academy with Doctor Benson, and also met frequently with Mack at HQ to help form strategies on how best to rebuild the agency (with the occasional helpful phone call from Coulson to assist them with this).
Mack managed to use his role as Director to his full advantage and pull a few loops to get Daniel recruited to the new main S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters as an agent straightaway with full level clearance. Daniel was immensely grateful, and eager to help, however with Daisy's encouragement he also took some time out every other day to explore the city and the ways of the world, to help him ease into things and readjust to this overwhelming new environment. Daisy, already so attuned to what Daniel wanted, often left him to his own devices; he didn't want a babysitter to hold his hand the whole way through this transition, he just wanted someone to guide him in the right direction. So that was what she did.
Daisy taught Daniel about computers and the internet – or rather, she tried to. Daniel still couldn't fathom how incredible it all was. The world was at their fingertips…every source of information for anything was accessible…and it daunted him terribly. He didn't understand how these smartphones, something tiny enough to fit in your pocket, were far more powerful than the huge computers Daniel had seen back in his day, how they could contain all this knowledge and memory. One thing he could get quickly accustomed to, however, was the TV; he found it amazing, with its bright vibrant colours and high definition picture quality. Back in the fifties, his only entertainment had been listening to the radio, but this was just incredible, with endless TV shows that were cinematic masterpieces and thrilling blockbuster movies that left him open-mouthed and wide-eyed on the couch, with Daisy giggling at his reaction beside him.
On his free days, Daniel would often walk about the city simply just to watch people's lives go by and get used to this strange new norm. He noticed that people had a lot more tattoos than what he'd been used to, and it seemed to be perfectly ordinary for people to walk around with rings and piercings on their noses and eyebrows and tongues. It unnerved him slightly, but he was getting used to it. Hardly anyone smoked – or at least, not indoors – which was a nice change. There was little segregation, there were more women in senior roles, and people were more open about who they loved, regardless of gender. And yet there were other things that were less good than in his time, and some issues that he was surprised hadn't improved more in the decades that had passed.
But still, Daniel tried not to dwell on that; they had years ahead of them where the world could improve, and right now he wanted to live in the present – well, his new present, anyway.
'I wanna take you out on a date,' Daniel said to Daisy firmly one evening, as they left HQ together. 'I mean, I want to take you on many, many dates. But, basically…Daisy, would you like to go out to dinner with me?'
Daisy smiled at him. 'Daniel Sousa, are you saying you want to 'court' me?' she asked, raising her eyebrows.
'Hey, I'm not that old, all right?' he said defensively, chuckling. 'But yes. Essentially.'
'I'd love to go to dinner with you,' Daisy replied, taking his hand. 'But you should prepare yourself. The prices won't be what you've been used to. But hey, you never know, some restaurants give senior citizens 10% discount-'
He interrupted her by tickling her waist, making Daisy yelp out and run from him; he chased after her, laughing, and grabbed her by the arm before bringing her beaming lips to his and wrapping her in his warm embrace right there, outside the steps to the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters building.
Daniel still wasn't used to being so physically affectionate around her, particularly in public, but Mack had assured him that it was perfectly normal, that all couples did it and no one looked twice, and as the weeks had gone by Daniel had found him to be correct. Nevertheless, he didn't like to be presumptuous and he kept reminding himself that they were trying to take things slow, so it often ended up being Daisy who initiated physical contact when they were out and about. She knew that he didn't want to pressure her into moving to the next level or making a display of their romance or put a label on it, which she greatly appreciated, but she liked to hold hands with him as they walked together. It made her feel closer to him, it made her relaxed, it made her feel like she was home. Which, of course, she was.
So, over the course of the next few weeks Daniel took Daisy out on quite a few dates, either for just drinks in a bar or a nice meal somewhere. Sometimes Daisy tried to find diners similar to what he would have been used to in the fifties, to make it easier for him, which Daniel very much appreciated, but then to surprise her he would book a table at some fancy bistro or independent little restaurant that Mack had recommended to him. He tried not to be too horrified by the price of the food, or to be too difficult or confused about Daisy insisting that they split the tab at the end, and at the end of every date he would take her hand, escort her home like a proper gentleman, kiss her outside her dormitory door and then leave for his room just down the hallway, never presuming to come into her room.
But then one night, about a month after they had first moved to New York, Daniel did come into her room. And in that moment 'taking things slow' was put to the back of both their minds completely as they spent the night together.
Daniel knew that he would never forget how he paused by the door before closing it, intending to leave…but then he looked up and saw that look in Daisy's eyes on her devastatingly beautiful face as she gazed at him from the centre of her room, and he had no choice but to enter the room and close the door behind them.
Daisy knew that she would never forget the way Daniel slowly, tantalisingly approached her, how his hands snaked their way up her arms to eventually cup her face before kissing her lips tenderly. When he broke apart from her, he murmured her name like a prayer, and Daisy smiled and shushed him before kissing him back and leading him gently towards her bed.
A surging tide of warmth flooded through them both as they embraced and savoured this wonderful moment. Daniel slid his hands beneath her clothes to caress her skin and he removed her top and jeans ever so slowly while planting soft, tender kisses on her lips, her cheeks, her forehead, her eyelids, her neck. It had been so long since a man had touched her like this. It sent shivers that made Daisy's whole body tremble. Her fingers fumbled as she unbuttoned his shirt, so much that she started accidentally releasing shockwaves from her fingertips. Chuckling, Daniel clasped her hands in his own and kissed them to calm her nerves as she laughed softly, before bringing her parted lips back to his as he shrugged out of his shirt. As he deepened the kiss, Daisy stroked her hands against his bare chest, pulling him closer, not wanting to leave an inch between them. He hesitated for only a moment before removing his prosthetic leg, knowing that it didn't matter. None of it mattered, other than Daisy.
They lay down on the bed and her body melted against his, and it felt like there was nothing else in the world, like there was only him and her, like anything else before they had been together had been wrong. It was a feeling both of them had never felt with anyone else, but were so sure of with each other. It was a feeling neither of them would ever forget. It was a feeling that told them: this is it, this is real, this is home.
When Daniel woke up the next morning, he was met with the glorious sight of Daisy lying beside him, her head resting on the pillow, her wavy hair flowing out either side of her mesmerizing face, her eyes already open and gazing at him as if she had woken from a dream, or couldn't quite process the fact that he was lying there with her.
Daniel smiled at her drowsily. 'Morning,' he murmured.
'Morning,' she whispered, smiling back as she stroked his cheek; Daniel sighed in content at her gentle touch.
'What is it?' he asked, wondering why she was looking at him like that, as if in a complete daze.
'Nothing, I just…'
'What?'
Daisy smiled. 'I can't believe I'm waking up next to you.'
'W-well…we did share a bunk in the Lighthouse for a while-'
'You know what I mean,' Daisy interrupted, poking his bare chest beneath the covers, and Daniel smirked.
'I know. I can't believe it either,' he murmured, moving a strand of hair out of Daisy's face. 'Last night was…'
'Pretty amazing, right?' Daisy said, smiling, as she leaned closer to him.
'It really was,' Daniel agreed, looking delighted and relieved that she had said it.
Daisy pressed her lips softly to his, and leaned away only ever so slightly as she looked at him, her forehead against his on the pillow. 'It was worth the wait.'
'Yeah?' Daniel said, as he stroked her bare arm.
'Mm-hmm. Thanks for…wanting us to hold off and, y'know, saying we should take it slow, like the wonderful square you are,' Daisy said fondly. 'Not many guys are like that.'
Daniel raised his eyebrows at her. 'Do you still think I'm a square?' he said playfully, as he leaned above her, and Daisy laughed as he kissed her.
From that night on, Daniel never went back to his own S.H.I.E.L.D. dorm.
The weeks passed and they continued to learn about each other and appreciate even more the wonderful person who had fallen into their lives. They spent more time with Kora as well when she was taking a break from her training and studying alongside Flint with May, and it was a relief to see that Kora was slowly but surely beginning to come out of her shell. Daisy suspected that it was the S.H.I.E.L.D. counsellor who was helping greatly with this; both Daisy and Kora were receiving counselling separately – they both needed it after all they had been through, and Daniel had been extremely supportive and encouraging in this venture. To Daisy's pleasant surprise, Daniel and Kora seemed to get on rather well, though she wasn't sure if they were just making an extra effort for her sake.
Daniel also began to resume his old hobby of drawing as time went on. It was a skill he had picked up back in the forties while he had been recuperating after his injury, and had been the only thing for a time that had forced him to get out of bed in the morning. Now it wasn't a form of escapism, but more of comfort. He drew sketches of what he could remember of the Zephyr, of the Lighthouse, of the view of the planet from space, and of Daisy. Kora found his sketchbook one day while she was visiting Daisy and was deeply impressed; Daisy, on the other hand, burst out laughing when she saw his drawing of her.
'You've made me look way too pretty,' she protested, leaning up against him.
'No, I really haven't. It's how I see you,' Daniel said softly, gazing at her, and Daisy then threw herself at him, her lips hungry on his as he entangled his hands in her hair, and the sketchbook fell to the floor.
Aside from the occasional text and phone call, and a few friendly visits from Piper and Davis at HQ, they didn't hear from the others much; Yo-Yo was already busy with her assignments out in the field, Coulson was taking a highly-deserved rest from all things S.H.I.E.L.D.-related, May was tied up with the opening of the Academy, and Mack was becoming increasingly snowed under with preparations for the new headquarters and official relaunch of the agency. Daisy and Daniel did manage to keep in touch with Jemma and Fitz quite a bit though, and even managed a video call with them on Fitz's birthday in August. Daniel was still in awe that technology had come so far to allow them to speak via video from different countries, and he was delighted; he missed Jemma, and had become very attached to little Alya in that week they'd spent with her at the Lighthouse. Most of their group call was taken up with Alya enthusing about something called Harry Potter, while Jemma and Fitz smiled at her proudly, and when they left the call Daisy explained the worldwide phenomenon to him.
'A little wizard boy. Really?' Daniel said, raising his eyebrows sceptically.
'Hey. If you want to understand society and basic culture, then y-you just need to watch them all. And read the books,' Daisy said, and Daniel smirked.
'You sound like Fitzsimmons.'
Daisy laughed softly. 'You would too after seven years of living with the nerd herd, it rubs off on you.'
She took him out shopping to buy the Harry Potter books and also some more clothes the next day, and in their search around the department stores, Daniel was disappointed to find out that sweater vests didn't seem to be a popular item of clothing anymore. However, Daisy helped him choose a ton of nice-fitting shirts and T-shirts, and then when they went back to her dorm she showed him how to shop online. Daniel was absolutely in awe that you could order something to be delivered for free the next day directly to your front door and track it.
When his first purchase arrived, Daisy's eyes widened in horror.
'So that's really what you wanted. Out of everything you could get online, anything that could have been your very first online purchase and delivery, you went with…that,' she said, eyeing him sceptically as she tried not to laugh.
Daniel eyed his new Hawaiian shirt in the mirror; he didn't think it looked that bad. 'Nostalgia reasons, only. I went through a little phase back with SSR in L.A. Is it not working for you?' he asked, lips twitching.
'Nothing beats the blue shirt, Dan, just accept it,' Daisy said, grinning, and she took his hand as they left the dorm and headed outside to go to HQ.
She knew he looked silly in his Hawaiian shirt and that people – particularly Mack – would eye him strangely the moment he entered the building, but she didn't care. As long as he enjoyed it, that was all that mattered.
The two of them walked down the road towards work hand-in-hand – HQ was only a twenty-minute walk from the block of S.H.I.E.L.D. dorms – and as they went Daisy was hit once again with the dazed realisation of just how lucky she was to be completely head over heels for this man. He was constant and kind, he made her laugh every day, and he complimented her in a way that completely caught her off guard. Daniel Sousa was the best thing that had happened to her in a very, very long time.
As they laughed together and Daniel put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head while they walked on, it came to Daisy's mind that any passers-by would think that they were a couple – as in, a proper couple, in love and together and serious about each other. And that was when Daisy realised that that was what they were. And she couldn't have been happier.
Dear Agent May,
I know it would make more sense for me to send you an electronic mail from my computer at HQ, but to be honest I still don't really understand how it works. Letters are easy and familiar, and Daisy agrees that I should keep these small comforts from my old life.
I hope you are well. I know you are very busy with your plans for the new Academy at the moment, and also with training new potential recruits. I haven't spent much time with Kora myself since Daisy and I moved to New York, but Daisy says you are making good progress with Kora. I know Daisy really appreciates the time and effort you are spending with her. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know; I know Kora has had a rough time of it lately, to put it lightly, and that she is also out of her time, so I can relate to a little of what she must be going through.
Things are very nice here in our new S.H.I.E.L.D. accommodation – I'd love to know where the budget comes from to enable the agency to rent out entire blocks of buildings for staff, but Mack has advised me not to ask too many questions about that. Daisy and I have settled into a new routine quite quickly, and we seem to be working regular hours like normal folk, which is very strange. Could this be what some people might call 'ordinary life'? In our spare time, Daisy has been telling me so many stories of all your missions together, from your very early days on 'the Bus' when Coulson had first formed your extraordinary team. I wish I had known you all back then.
The other evening, Daisy took me to the movie theatre, and it was truly extraordinary. It was so much different from what I was used to back in the day; the experience was so immersive that I almost believed we were in the movie. The special effects were incredible, although when you have been up there actually in space seeing it all for yourself, it doesn't really compare, does it? I realise you probably have no interest in hearing any of this, but I find it hard to stop myself when I get going. The main thing that I want you to know is that Daisy is recovering well, she's enjoying slowly easing back into things with S.H.I.E.L.D., and she and I are very happy. I'll always keep an eye out for her and will be in touch straight away if ever I think Daisy needs you. I know she wishes she could see you more often, but she understands that the Academy is an important project that is taking up a great deal of your time.
I would be fascinated to know more about the Academy, and I look forward to when it opens – Daisy and Mack say you're aiming for sometime around next spring? Back in my day as Chief I often enjoyed talking to any new trainees and recruits, so if there's any way I can help, please do feel free to contact me.
Please know that I am not expecting a reply to this, by the way (I gather that letters are very much a thing of the past, and Daisy has also warned me that you are generally not a fan of correspondence) but I just wanted to check in. I hope the new powers are becoming easier as time goes on. I think it's remarkable what you can do, but Daisy has told me all about how challenging it is to accommodate such a significant change like that on your own. We are both here for you if you ever need someone to talk to.
I hope to see you sometime soon, even if it's only briefly at HQ!
Best wishes,
Agent Sousa
When September came, Daniel took on more full-time work at the new S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters with Mack, providing vital assistance in the rebuilding of the agency. He took on the identity of a made-up descendent of his long-lost cousin (which Daisy helped easily fake on the system's records). The story was that he was Daniel Sousa, named after his legendary ancestor who had been the first fallen agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 1955, and he had been an operative undergoing top secret missions for S.H.I.E.L.D. and had only just returned from working undercover for the past number of years. Only those who had top level clearance at S.H.I.E.L.D. knew about his true identity and the time-travelling escapades of Director Mack's original core team. Rumours spread, of course, but not many agents or trainees believed them. Mack knew that some other agents believed Daniel's false identity to be a silly precaution – after all, the whole world knew about Captain America and aliens and superheroes – but the truth was, he didn't want it to be common knowledge that S.H.I.E.L.D. had developed the technology to travel through time just yet; they had enough on their plate without planning for the potentially disastrous ramifications of that.
Daisy, meanwhile, carried on developing her Secret Warriors initiative that she had started a few years ago; with help from some other agents, she tracked down more Inhumans in need of help, and offered them her own guidance, and access to the mental health services provided by S.H.I.E.L.D. to help them adjust to their powers and come to terms with their new identity, something she had plenty of experience with. She also helped those who were interested – and who could be a key asset – to get into the new Academy's training programme, and liaised quite frequently with May (and also Flint) on this. Mack and May often said encouragingly to Daisy that Coulson had passed the baton down to her; she was finding people and helping them, just as he had done for her at the very beginning.
One day, after meeting up to discuss potential new Inhuman recruits at a coffee bar near the new Academy building that was currently being refurbished in preparation for the opening, Daisy and May took some time to chat about non-work-related things, and also to have a quick video call with Jemma to wish her a happy birthday. Once they'd said goodbye to Jemma, Daisy and May then began to discuss the promising improvement of Kora's mental state and high potential as a field agent, until May brought up the subject of Daniel.
'I received a letter from Agent Sousa a few days ago,' May said, her lips twitching slightly.
'Oh, yeah. He does that, he's started writing to everyone,' Daisy said, grinning fondly to herself. 'I don't have the heart to tell him not to bother.'
To Daisy's astonishment, May chuckled. 'And why should you? It's sweet. So…how are things going with you two?' she asked, watching Daisy carefully.
Daisy hesitated and her lips parted awkwardly as she tried to find the right words to say without bragging and also without jinxing it. 'Oh well…you know…they're going,' she said, trying to sound casual. 'We're living separately though, obviously, y'know…taking things slow and all that.'
'Why?' May asked after a moment.
'What?'
May was looking at her curiously, as if confused. 'Why are you…living apart and…taking things slow?'
Daisy stared at her wordlessly for a moment, slightly taken aback; she hadn't been expecting that response. 'W-well we…we wanna be sensible, y'know, we don't wanna rush into…' She trailed off and shook her head, bemused. 'It just…it makes sense. To take things slow. Right?'
'I don't think so. For some people, maybe, but not for you two,' May said gently, and she smiled at Daisy. 'I know how he feels for you. And I know what you feel when you're around him. I felt it in our last week together at the Lighthouse, and I can only imagine how much it must have grown since then. Don't make the same mistake I did.'
A crease appeared on Daisy's forehead as she gazed at her, bewildered. 'May, what do you…?'
May sighed sadly. 'Coulson and I loved each other, but we left it too late, and…he died. We wasted so much time. We could have had years together, if we'd just said how we felt and done what we wanted. But…we were too scared, I guess.'
Daisy tilted her head at her sympathetically and reached out to put her hand on May's; May gripped her hand back gratefully. 'I'm still not used to this…you talking about feelings,' Daisy murmured. 'You're like our group therapist now.'
May rolled her eyes. 'I know. Believe me, I'm not used to it either. But if I can use this to help in any way, then…well, I'm starting to like it,' she said, and she squeezed Daisy's hand. 'You're sure about him, I know you are. If it feels right, Daisy, don't waste any time.'
That evening, when Daisy returned to her dorm to find Daniel already there waiting for her with a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers he'd bought for no particular reason, just because he'd wanted to, she crossed the room and kissed him passionately, flinging her arms around his neck. Daniel dropped the flowers and box of chocolates at once as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
Eventually, Daniel leaned away and smiled softly at her. 'Hello.'
'Hello,' Daisy said, smiling back as he kept his arms around her and swayed her gently.
'What was that for?' he asked.
'I just…' Daisy trailed off, lost in his eyes and in sheer joy that he was simply here with her, before remembering what May had said earlier over coffee today, and then it hit her. 'Hey, do you wanna…rent somewhere to live?'
'Well…we already are.'
'I mean, somewhere proper. Like, an apartment, not any S.H.I.E.L.D. accommodation. Together,' Daisy said firmly.
Daniel's parted lips were smiling as he gazed at her in wonder, that same bemused, enchanted look on his face that he'd worn when they'd first met in his office at Area 51. 'Daisy, are you asking if I wanna move in with you?'
'Y-yes. Yes, I am. I want us to live together,' Daisy said, stroking his hair as she leant her other hand on his shoulder. 'Screw 'taking things slow'.'
Daniel raised his eyebrows. 'What a scandalous proposition.'
'Oh, c'mon, don't be a square,' she said, smirking. 'I mean, you're already basically living in this dorm, when was the last time you slept over at your place? Besides, I know what you're thinking but don't worry, boyfriends and girlfriends live together all the time in this century, you don't need to be married or whatever. It's no big deal. Honestly.'
There was a small pause, and Daniel cleared his throat. 'So…I'm your boyfriend then?' he asked, a smile playing on the edge of his lips.
'Wh-well I didn't mean…' Daisy swallowed nervously; she could feel herself blushing as she met his gaze. 'W-we don't need to put a label on it, sorry, I…'
'Daisy, you misunderstand,' Daniel said, chuckling softly as he pressed his lips briefly to her forehead. 'I'd like to be your boyfriend. And you my girlfriend. If that's what you want as well.'
Daisy smiled, relieved. 'It is.'
'Piper did ask when we'd be, uh, I think she used the term 'Facebook official',' Daniel said, bemused, and Daisy tilted her head at him.
'You've literally never used your Facebook account since I made you one last month.'
'W-well I can try and learn,' Daniel said indignantly.
Daisy eyed him sceptically. 'You really sure you want someone known as 'Quake' to be your girlfriend?'
'I think I can handle it,' Daniel said, smiling warmly as he tightened his hold around her waist. 'And what about you? Are you sure you wanna live with a square like me?'
Daisy paused in mock thought. 'Pretty sure, yeah. If you're up for it.'
'Then let's do it,' Daniel said, after a moment's pause, and Daisy's face lit up.
'Yeah?'
'Yeah, let's move in together,' Daniel said, and he brought her smiling lips back to his.
They found a place a few weeks later, and put down a deposit, and to celebrate they went out shopping together and bought a set of curtains for their new apartment. It seemed like such a small, trivial thing, and yet it meant so much to Daisy. She had never bought curtains with anyone. She had never even bought curtains for herself.
A month later, they moved in. Within a week, they were settled and it felt like their time at the S.H.I.E.L.D. block of dorms was a thing from years ago. The apartment was small and charming, light and open, and decorated with various items of Daisy's that reminded her of the Zephyr and the Lighthouse, and with other décor of Daniel's choosing that, according to Kora, looked very much like it belonged in an antique store.
Every day they woke up and got breakfast together, then Daniel would head over to HQ while Daisy would travel to meet the next Inhuman on her list. Then, at the end of their working day, they would both return to their apartment and Daniel would greet her with a tender kiss and dorky smile and would ask all about her day while he cooked their dinner – Daisy had never learnt how to cook properly – and then they would sit down on the couch and watch TV together before retiring to bed.
'Do you think you'd like it? Ordinary life?' Daniel had once asked her, back in the Lighthouse.
Yes. Yes, I do, Daisy realised.
She had never experienced anything remotely similar to domestic life before; she'd just assumed it wasn't something meant for her. But this was different. This was nice.
It wasn't long after they had moved into their new apartment together when they first said those three important words, words that Daisy had never thought she would ever say to anyone or hear said to her. It was a perfectly ordinary day, with nothing particularly exciting or special going on at HQ, and yet Daisy knew this day would stick out vividly in her memory as something monumental and tremendous for the rest of her life.
It was Daniel's day off, and Daisy was just on her way to head out to work after clearing away their breakfast.
'I'll see you tonight, babe,' she said, leaning over Daniel's shoulder to steal a kiss from him as he read the newspaper at the kitchen table.
Daniel glanced up briefly at her as he kissed her again, this time on the cheek. 'Yeah, have a good day. Love you.'
Daisy had almost reached the door when she froze and slowly turned around, her brain having only just processed what had slipped out of his mouth. She slowly turned back around to face Daniel, who was continuing to read his newspaper obliviously.
'Uh – sorry, what, now?'
Daniel looked up from his newspaper. He was confused at first, but then he saw her raised eyebrows, the way she was trying to hide a smile as she slowly approached, looking at him pointedly. And then he felt his cheeks go red as he realised what he'd just said.
'Wh-what?' he said innocently.
Her eyebrows shot up her forehead even more. 'What did you just say?'
'I…' Daniel sighed in defeat and smiled exasperatedly at her. 'Aren't you gonna be late for work?'
'I don't care,' Daisy replied, a hint of a smirk on her face.
She picked up the nearest chair from the other side of the table and dragged it over to him, just as she had done so long ago now in the Zephyr's equipment room during the time loops, when she'd demanded to know why he was always helping her. Daniel smiled as he put the newspaper down on the table, amused by the way she was looking at him so expectantly, waiting eagerly for him to speak.
He cleared his throat. 'Daisy, I…these past few months with you have been…' He trailed off with a dazed smile, unable to find the words, but Daisy understood what he meant completely.
'I know,' she said softly. 'They really have, haven't they?'
Daniel smiled back at her. 'Look, I…I don't know how this is going to come out at all, so you'll just have to bear with me while I…fumble a little bit,' he said apologetically.
Daisy chuckled, her eyes feeling rather watery all of a sudden. 'It's okay.'
Daniel nodded slowly and reached out to take Daisy's hands in her lap; he cupped them gently with his own, lacing their fingers together. 'After things ended with Peggy, I…I thought that was it for me. It took me years to stop feeling that way about her and move on. I wasn't even…remotely interested in looking for something else afterwards. Never. My job was my life, S.H.I.E.L.D. was…all that was important to me. And then…you appeared out of nowhere in my office,' he said, his gaze and smile so tender and loving that it nearly took Daisy's breath away. 'I didn't believe you were from the C.I.A. for one second, but I still trusted you. I knew you were the good guys, even when you shut me in that cell.'
'In my defence, that was Coulson,' Daisy interjected, 'and we were on a clock-'
'Daisy,' Daniel said, 'I'm trying to tell you that I love you.'
Daisy's lips parted and there was a stunned silence.
Daniel smiled. 'You are…without a doubt, the most wonderful person I've ever met, and I'm…I'm so in love with you, Daisy. I think I have been since you first went in that damn healing chamber,' he said, as he held her hands and squeezed them. 'I wanted to tell you before. I should have told you that day, before you went after Kora and killed Malick. I guess I was scared that it was moving too fast, or…I was being too much or something, and it would make you run the other way.'
Daisy looked down at their intertwined hands when she next spoke. 'Did you really think I'd do that?' she said softly. 'You couldn't tell even then that I loved you too?'
'You…you did?' Daniel murmured, his voice cracking slightly as his eyes lit up.
'I did. I do,' Daisy said, bringing her gaze back up to meet his. 'I love you. So, so much.'
She exhaled deeply, relieved and delighted and feeling like she might burst either into song or tears, she couldn't quite tell which. It was such a big moment for her to say those words, to put them out there, and Daniel knew that.
Daniel looked as if he might cry as well. 'Oh, Dais, me too,' he said, and he leaned forward and took her in his arms, holding her close as they sat there together and smiled, burying their faces in each other's shoulder.
Daisy kept thinking back to that moment, their hug on those kitchen chairs in their own little apartment, throughout the day at HQ, until eventually it was no use and she asked if she could leave early for the day that afternoon. Luckily, Yo-Yo had just come back from a field mission with Piper and so was on-hand to take over the remaining interviews with the two Inhumans they'd asked to come in today.
Eager to get straight back home to the man she loved, Daisy caught the bus and then frantically ran the rest of the way to their apartment. She burst inside to find that Daniel had baked scones, and was looking immensely proud of himself for having successfully worked the modern kitchen appliances. He was wearing one of his new black T-shirts that fit his chest snugly and his new pair of reading glasses so that he could follow the recipe book (he still refused to read anything online on Daisy's tablet). 'Your Love For Me' by Frank Sinatra was playing through the speakers; Daniel must have worked out how to set up the playlist of old songs Daisy had created for him.
Daisy was overwhelmed as Daniel held out the baking tray towards her, delightedly asking what she was doing home so early; she jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his hips as she kissed him enthusiastically, nearly knocking him off balance and almost causing him to drop the tray of scones on the floor. Daniel carefully put the tray down on the counter before wrapping his arms around her as he kissed her back, and carried her over to the kitchen countertop.
'You are so cute!' Daisy said, laughing softly, and he stumbled slightly on his prosthetic as he kissed her again, chuckling against her lips. 'Oh, sorry, how's your leg?'
'Uh…not so great, it got blown off a few years back,' Daniel replied, pulling a face at her.
Daisy stared at him for a moment, then rested her forehead against his exasperatedly, and they both began to chuckle. As they laughed together, wrapped in each other's arms against their kitchen counter in their apartment next to a tray of scones he had baked for her, Daniel was stunned briefly with the realisation that this was his life – no, their life – now. And it was absolutely wonderful.
For those wondering, yes, that photo of Enver Gjokaj baking scones for the AoS was what inspired that last little segment haha! Also just to mention I'm uncomfortable/not good at all with writing explicit love scenes so sorry that there was no smut for the love scene in this chapter. I prefer to leave things like that more to the imagination just because of my writing style, but I hope it was ok! Next chapter should be up in 2/3 days :)