Drabble 74: Gossip

A/N: I know it's been a long time since my last update. I have a valid excuse, at least for the last week. I just moved into a new house, so my nights have been full packing and settling in. But when I had time to write, I focused on my other story The Corrupted Shield, and a personal story. Now that I'm settled into the house, I decided it was time to go back to this story.

So I apologize. I haven't forgotten it. I've just been distracted.

This drabble was requested by fluffyheart13. The idea is from a very funny episode of The Big Bang Theory. This one makes 74... 75 is a big number. It deserves a big drabble. So the next chapter will be an Academy story, one requested by two different people in about the same day...

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter! Review!

"Gossip is a social norm." Simmons said.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it." Fitz said petulantly.

"I don't really like it either, but it has been scientifically proven that it stimulates relationships between people."

Fitz shook his head. "I don't believe it."

Simmons looked up from her desk. "But there's science behind it."

"Gossip is mean. Don't you remember being teased for something you didn't do?"

Simmons looked down. "Yes."

They were quiet for a second. "I guess it would be fun to test your theory." Fitz said.

"No, you were right. Gossip is wrong."

Fitz set down the ICER. "Gossip that hurts people is wrong. What if we made some that's harmless?"

Simmons was intrigued. "The only way to definitively make sure it doesn't hurt anyone is if it's about one of us, because we'll know it isn't true."

"What if it was about both of us?"

Simmons sat up straight. "We need to test this on our team."

"What exactly do you plan on telling them?"

"I think the idea of us having sex would be interesting enough." Simmons blurted it out, and then realized how it could come across after. "I mean -."

"That'll work." Fitz said.

Simmons's eyes widened briefly, but then she nodded. "That's settled then."

"Now we need to figure out who the weakest link is, because they'll spread the rumor around."

They looked at each other and immediately knew their target.

Skye.

Jemma found Skye in the kitchen. She decided to play it out and didn't say anything, going to the fridge to grab a water bottle and leaning against the counter as she slowly drank from it, glancing at Skye repeatedly.

"What's up?" Skye asked, seated at the small table along the wall.

"Nothing." Jemma said, putting the cap on the bottle.

"You really aren't good at hiding things." Skye said. "What's wrong?"

Jemma looked out the door and then sat down across from Skye. "I was with Fitz late last night, and we had a few drinks."

"Did something happen?"

Jemma looked around again and lowered her voice to a whisper. "We slept together."

Skye froze. "What?!"

"It just happened!" Jemma said. "It was late, we were a little drunk…"

"Oh my god!" Skye exclaimed.

Jemma watched her sort through her immediate shock.

"I thought maybe you kissed him or something, but this… I never thought you'd… at least not for a while…" Skye finally smiled. "I can't believe it!"

"I don't want anyone else to know." Jemma said. "I need to talk about this with Fitz."

"No problem." Skye said. "But I have a question for you. How was it?"

Jemma blushed.

The door closed behind her and Fitz looked up. "How'd it go?"

"She believed me." Jemma said. "I bet she tells Ward by tonight."

"I wonder how she'll treat us until she finds out it's a lie." Fitz said.

"She'll probably give us knowing looks and make a few snide comments."

"You really think Ward will tell someone else about us?" Fitz asked.

Jemma bit her lip. "That's the part I'm not sure about. But if he doesn't tell anyone, Skye might spread it around all by herself. I just want to see how long it takes."

"What if Skye doesn't tell anyone?"

"Meme theory suggests that gossip is like a living being, seeking to reproduce. That's why it spreads the way it does." Jemma said. "She'll tell someone."

Skye found Ward in the fitness center, punching out his frustrations with strong blows.

"You here to train?" he asked, slightly out of breath.

"I could do that." She said. She waited for a second. "Or I could tell you something even you would be shocked by."

Ward stopped punching and turned to face her. "Something like what?"

She grinned. "Simmons slept with Fitz last night."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I know, right! She told me this morning, said they were drunk and it just happened… I bet they start going out."

"It was bound to happen eventually." Ward said.

Skye looked at him. "That's it? All I get is a raised eyebrow?"

"What else did you expect me to do? Whoop?"

"That might actually be nice." She said. "You kind of look like a slightly angry robot most of the time."

"Then my skills are still intact."

Skye shook her head from side to side. "I don't know why I bother telling you these things."

"I wish you wouldn't." he said.

Skye punched him in the arm and a smile tugged at his lips. "Now use that frustration on me. Let's spar."

It was twenty-four hours after Jemma told Skye the gossip that started their experiment. Twenty-four hours of the hacktivist giving them knowing looks, Ward… acting like Ward, and May piloting the bus. And now…

"So you really did it?"

Jemma looked up in shock. She had thought Coulson left after checking in with her and Fitz, but apparently she'd been wrong. Their team leader stood in the doorway, looking from one to the other.

"Uh, sir…" Fitz said.

"I shouldn't know what goes on between my teammates, because if something is going on, I have to put a stop to it." Coulson said quickly. "But unofficially, did something happen?"

Jemma looked at Fitz and then back to her work. Her cheeks were pink, but not willingly.

"Son of a bitch." She heard Coulson say. He straightened his tie and nodded. "I'll check in on you later."

Once they were sure he was gone, Jemma stood and hurried over to Fitz's desk. "One of them told him!" she whispered excitedly.

"But who d'you think it was?" Fitz asked. "Skye's the most probable, but I'm not sure."

"We can figure that out later. The point is, it spread!"

"You know what the real test is, don't you?"

Her smile faltered. "What?"

"Finding out if May knows the rumor."

Jemma stared at him for a minute before walking back to her desk. "You're going to make me prove May knows, aren't you?" she asked without really asking.

Fitz grinned evilly. "How else can you prove that gossip is a living thing that spreads completely throughout a social group?"

"I'm going to regret saying that." She said, pushing back her hair and glaring at him. "Even though my information is correct. And it does stimulate friendships."

"I guess we'll never know for sure." Fitz said with a cocky grin.

Jemma smiled despite herself. "Stubborn boy."