A/N: not sure what happened to the old file, but hope this works
'G5,' Jemma whispered into her mind. Skye leant forward, propping her chin on her fist as she pretended to contemplate the battleship board before her. Ward had insisted they play the game as some kind of 'tactical exercise'. He wasn't even officially training her, but Skye thought it was preferable to reading SHIELD Protocols 101 anyway.
"G5," Skye repeated cockily, loving the way Ward's face fell as he realised, his battleship been hit again.
"Beginner's luck," Ward grumbled, "E4."
"Nope," Skye sang, pretending to examine the board, hands steepled in front of her.
'Jemma!' she urged Jemma in her mind, narrowing her eyes at Ward in apparent concentration, 'Jemma?'
'Oh! Sorry,' the Brit apologised. She was sat away from them in the little alcove across from Ward, reading some big science book. She glanced up to Ward's cards, testing the new telescopic lenses fix Fitz was developing.
She glanced at his board before whispering through the link, 'G7'
'You know you don't have to whisper if it's in my mind, right?'
'Sorry, it just feels so sneaky, you know?'
"Skye?" Ward called, snapping his fingers in front of her face. Skye blinked.
"Sorry," she said easily, giving him a breezy smile, "Just busy reading your tells like the mastermind spy that I am."
Ward scoffed, but his face fell when she said, "G7."
Skye celebrated with a little victory dance as he sulked, "I beat you, again!"
"Best of three," he muttered, rearranging the board. They started the next game. Ward's guess misses her battleship.
Skye deliberated on her answer, but Jemma had gone quiet.
'Jemma?' she called, trying her best not to look at her mate, 'Jemma? Jemma what are you-' Her thoughts broke off when she saw that May was behind Jemma, bending down to steal a kiss from her partner-in-crime. It certainly wasn't a chaste kiss either and Skye had to block Jemma briefly from her mind to stop herself getting that feedback.
'Traitor' Skye called her lightly, rolling her eyes when May was obviously making a show out of it. Ward swivelled around with a frown, but hastily looked away from the bordering-on-inappropriate make out session happening behind him.
Skye turned her attention back to the board, ignoring the fire lighting in her stomach,"F9".
"Nope," Ward said, "H1".
"Hit," Skye reluctantly admitted.
'Sorry' Jemma's apology filtered through her mind.
May was pocketing the special glasses and her eyes flashed up to meet Skye's with a smug smile and a raised eyebrow that clearly indicated she knew exactly what Skye had been doing. Skye cleared her throat, looking back to the game and pointedly ignoring May's gloating as she left for the cockpit.
She still won the next round.
"I could go in," Skye offered nonchalantly, looking up from the backchannel on her phone as the team argued over the latest mission. May glanced over but Ward spoke over her and they ignored her input. She rolled her eyes as they kept on arguing. Obviously, that kidnap victim Dr Hall was really important to them. Well, important to Jemma who radiated worry for the dude. She could do this.
"I could go in," she repeated over Fitz's monkey babble and Ward's 'I have to be the one to save the day' speech.
"Skye, this is serious," Ward admonished. She rolled her eyes.
"Wait," May said, and Skye almost sighed in relief that at least someone took her seriously, "What are you saying?"
"Well technically I'm not an agent of SHIELD, so I can go in without breaking all these stupid rules."
"International laws," May corrected, with an amused eyebrow.
"Well, you said you could go in with a man inside. Jemma loved the guy, and he needs help."
"You're not trained," May said, "I'm not sending you in undercover until you can at least throw a punch."
"I can throw a punch!" Skye defended, crossing her arms.
"Without breaking your hand."
"Fine," Skye retorted, "I'm not some crazy marital artist like you, but…" she flashed up the invitation on her phone, "I've got an invitation. Well, technically it's an evite."
May wanted to protest, Skye could see it, but it was a damn good idea and the alpha knew it.
May adjusted Skye's stance, twisting her hips into the right position, both stoically ignoring their ache for each other. Skye's pulse hasn't stopped racing since May took of her hoodie and flexed those muscles in that tank.
"I don't get why you didn't just start training me before," Skye complained, trying to mimic May's punch technique, "I've been kidnapped by people already and it's like, day four."
"You're not a field agent," May explained calmly, "Thumb outside the fist."
Skye adjusted her fist, "But I could be."
"If you'd have gone to the academy, you'd be in comms," May said, "Controlling missions from the outside."
"But I didn't," Skye pointed out, "And technically I'm already in the field. Jemma said so."
May looked grumpy and didn't answer, "20 jabs on the bag. Keep your arms up."
"You don't want me in the field," Skye accused, even as she threw punches at the bag, "I thought the rest of the pack were super cool field agents."
"Jemma isn't."
"Yeah, but Jemma is-" Skye started, but faltered and narrowed her eyes.
"Is this just because I'm an omega? Come on," Skye complained, putting extra force into her next punch, "I'm just as capable as anyone else. I mean look at Coulson. He's an omega."
"Arms up," May reminded, "Coulson isn't mine. I don't want you getting hurt."
"Well, it's too late for that," Skye muttered.
May's lips pinched tighter, but she counted out the rest of the punches.
"Alright that's enough," she announced, "I want you to forget using your fists."
"Wait, what? What was the point of all that then?" Skye complained, rolling out her shoulder. She was embarrassed to find her easily her muscles began to ache.
"To stop you going in for a punch without any idea what you're doing," May explained, "We'll work on basic defence moves."
Basic defence moves were even worse for Skye's nerves. May standing so close behind her, sometimes her restraining grip at her back or front. Steady hands guiding her through the moves. The powerful scene filling her nostrils, pheromones completely overwhelming and Skye had to squirm to tamper the uncomfortable urges – she couldn't imagine what May was feeling.
"Concentrate," May admonished, "What are the vulnerable spots?"
"Face, neck, groin," Skye rattled off, "And probably boobs if they're not a dude."
May didn't comment, just threw her fist forward and Skye scrambled to remember the right move to counter. In a whirl May had grabbed her from behind, locked in a steel grip. Skye brought her foot up to kick down but May side-stepped her and shifted her grip to her hips. Skye frowned – this hadn't been what May was demonstrating earlier.
May's nose was suddenly buried into her exposed neck – May had ordered her to tie her hair up. May inhaled deeply, nose tickling the side of Skye's throat. Skye tried to buck and twist, but May's grip tightened, and a warning growl slipped from her lips. A spike of fear and excitement flared in her stomach and she immediately stilled.
She felt the hint of teeth scrape her gland, before May released her and pushed her forward a step. Skye whirled around, stunned and feeling like she'd been left high and dry.
"Water break," May announced, looking almost angry with herself.
Skye wisely chose not to comment, grabbing her water bottle and flopping onto the floor, her legs grateful for the rest. She unscrewed it, watching May pace a few yards on the mat. She took a huge gulp from the bottle, grateful for the refreshing water. May smelled anxious – strung-up even, but she seemed to be doing some kind of breath regulation.
She suddenly stopped and turned to Skye, staring at her blankly.
"Why are you staring?" Skye grumbled, taking another sip of her water.
"Natasha thinks you could make a good agent one day," May answered begrudgingly.
"Wait, really?"
"One day," May reiterated. Then she paused, as if in an argument with someone. Natasha, in all likelihood.
May still staring at Skye, shook her head, small smile on her lips as if hearing something amusing. It was infuriating.
"What?" Skye nagged. It was the first time Skye was a little resentful she couldn't get in on the conversation.
"Nothing," May deflected, "Alright. Break over."
Skye begrudgingly got to her feet as May prepped a stunt gun.
'Nat thinks you're hot,' Jemma filled in for her, pleasant voice floating into her head, 'She told me to say – actually I'm not going to repeat that.'
'Tell her she's my favourite Avenger'.
'She says duck'.
'What?'
A spare boxing glove hit her in the face.
"Hey!" Skye protested, throwing the glove to the side.
"Concentrate," May ordered, "Jemma has other things to worry about then being your go-between. You can't afford to lose focus on a mission."
She raised the gun, Skye tampered down the sudden fear at having even a stunt barrel pointed at her.
"Again," May ordered, raising the gun. Skye sighed, they'd be at it for half an hour already.
Like a good trainee she reaches out again, twisted her body to be behind the gun – flush with May's front. She heard May's sharp intake of breath.
"Skye," May warned when she didn't make the next move.
"Oh, but I'm a poor helpless omega, what are you going to do?" Skye teased, deliberately grinding her hips back into May, "Bite me?"
A muscle in May's jaw jumped, and she growled, "Don't make me spank you." She emphasised her point with a sharp smack to Skye's backside, making Skye squeak and jerk away.
"Focus," May ordered, "Twist the thumb, palm the barrel. Again. We're not stopping until I'm satisfied."
"You are not going in there wearing that," May said, eyeing up the hot pink dress.
Skye frowned, glancing down at the dress, "But I look good?"
"You'll stand out like a sore thumb," May protested.
"That's the point."
"May's just upset you'll attract unwanted suitors," Ward filled in, shuffling past her to ready his tactical gear, "You look good, Skye."
Skye crossed her arms, and huffed, "You can't baby me."
"You're not acting very adult right now," May countered.
"That's enough, May," Coulson chastened, adjusting his bullet vest, "Skye you'll be fine. You have your earpiece?"
"Yes sir," Skye replied, tempted to stick her tongue out at May, but that would prove her point.
"Pheromone suppressors?" he continued.
"Pheromone suppressors?"
"Ah, sorry sir," Fitz said, running out with some kind of device, "Just working on that. Hold still Skye."
"These are hormone HTY suppressors," he explained, spraying something over her neck, "Stops you being affected by alphas."
"Why can't I wear this every day?"
Fitz scratched his head, "It's rather expensive and hard to get a hold of I'm afraid."
"Of course, it is," Skye sighed, before turning back to Coulson, "I'm good to go, sir."
The mission was exciting. It was a really nice fancy party. FitzSimmons took point in the control room, while Ward, Coulson and May waited to ambush on the beach. Jemma easily fed her information about each guest, so she rarely had to use the earpiece.
Even getting caught outside Quinn's office wasn't a major failure. She was proud of her way to trick him, and although the offer to work for a billionaire was tempting, she knew she'd never in a million years be able to get away with it. If May didn't bust her out of there within a week, the Avengers might. Which was a crazy thought.
He was an alpha – not a surprise, must billionaire-types were – and when he went for the neck-choke she was eternally grateful for pheromone suppressors. Without them she'd likely be putty in his hands – dead putty. She was glad for May's training too, since she had no hesitation at all when disarming him with the gun.
Although, of course, May had not shown her how to shoot.
She plunged on the pool with a huge splash, water rushing up on her nose as her body smacked against the surface. A little winded, she swam to the edge of the pool – fear spurring her on in case they shot at her from the balcony.
She ran into goons and saw her whole life flash before her. Two of them suddenly grabbed her arms, wrenching them behind her back.
"No – no," she was begging before she could register, the words tumbling out as she froze in shoch. The one in front moved forward, to punch her? Kill her? "No, please – please-"
May jumped out of nowhere, swiping the guy's legs out from under him and the guys let her go in favour of being taken down by the fuming alpha in two seconds.
Relief flooded Skye's body, she was safe. She ran to May, feet slipping against the warm patio to reach for May. They clashed and she clung to May, burying her face into her neck – breathing in the steady scent as her pulse ran wild and her body wracked with jitters.
"Are you okay?" May asked, prising Skye from her neck to check her over, "Are you hurt?"
Skye shook her head – unable to find words right now, but desperate to bury her head back into the crook of May's neck. She tried inching forward but May stopped her with a steady hand on her nape.
"We have to get out of here. Just follow my orders and stay close," May commanded, grabbing Skye's hand.
Skye had no issues following that order – they found Coulson with Dr Hall, watched him fall through into the gravitonium. She didn't let go of May's hand.
Skye sat huddled in the hangar seat, draped in the towel May insisted she wore on the way back. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, she just felt tired.
"I think you were very brave," Jemma said, handing her a bottle of water and an encouraging smile.
"Thanks Jem," Skye said, but rubbed at the slightly tender areas on her neck, "Almost dying wasn't so good."
"You did great," May reassured her, "You were calm, you kept your cool and you remembered your training."
Skye sighed, May noticed her still rubbing her neck. She stepped up, peeling the towel aside to see more of her neck. Skye swallowed at her proximity.
"You said you weren't injured," May tsked, running her fingers along the reddened spots on her neck. Skye leant into the touch – her fingers felt soothing and she felt her eyes begin to close.
"It's barely anything," Skye mumbled, "I got away."
May mumbled what sounded like a curse against Quinn.
"Alright, after the mission debrief, you're eating something and then hitting the hay," May ordered.
Skye wanted to protest but she was dead on her feet, "Okay, alpha."
"I'm not ordering as your alpha. I'm ordering as your S.O," May corrected calmly.
"S.O?"
"Supervising Officer," Jemma filled in brightly, "All trainee agents get one."
"I'm a trainee agent now?" Skye asked, perking up at the idea.
"If you can commit fully to being a field agent," May said sternly.
Skye nodded enthusiastically, "I want to be like Coulson."
May smiled, "We'll see, now get drag your ass to debrief, I want to watch Blue Planet with Jemma – unless you want to join?"
Falling asleep next to May and Jemma watching Blue Planet sounded amazing, but Skye remembered her resolve to be independent.
"I'm good. You go ahead."
She ignored Jemma's disappointed look.
She was five. Barefoot on the threadbare carpet. Crawling on the landing as quiet as she could. They were arguing. Loud, noisy, aggressive. She wanted to know what it was about. She crept the banister, peering down through the dim light of the hallway.
She could see the top of her foster father's bald spot. He was gesturing wildly, face snarled. He threw something at the floor – Skye squeaked in shock.
He looked up. In the dim light the whites of his eyes were like headlights.
Her heart shot to her throat.
"Skye wake-up!" Jemma pleaded, shaking her shoulder violently.
Skye shot up, flailing her legs from where they'd tangled in the sheets. She felt clammy – through bleary eyes she noticed Jemma hovering over her concerned.
"Jemma? What's wrong?"
"Your dreams," Jemma said, "I can see them. You keep projecting."
Oh. She must have been cycling through her nightmares.
"I'm so sorry," Skye apologised, running a hand through her tangled hair, "I don't usually have that dream anyway…I guess being held at gunpoint must have brought it up…."
She chuckled nervously.
"Come sleep with us," Jemma urged, "You won't have another nightmare, I promise."
Skye glanced to her, deliberating. Jemma looked desperate, and she could feel her concern through the bond. Skye sighed, straightening her pyjama shirt.
"Alright then," she assuaged, allowing Jemma to take her hand and lead her over to May's bunk.
Skye blushed a little, remembering her intrusion a few nights prior. Although a glance at Jemma's sheepy pyjamas was enough to tell her they probably hadn't been up to anything tonight.
"It really is fancier in here," Skye remarked, surveying May's bunk. It wasn't huge, and they would definitely have to cuddle up to fit, but they wouldn't be on top of each other either.
May was dressed in a lavender silk tank top and shorts, reclined back against the wall, looking more relaxed than Skye had seen her for a while. And boy could did the tank do wonders for her figure, Skye deliberately averted her eyes- wanting to have stern words with her libido. Jemma wasted no time in tucking under May's arm, curling up on her left side.
Jemma patted the free spot next to her and Skye folded herself in, unable to stop herself breathing in May's scent on the pillow. Jemma curled her arms around her, her soft breaths on her neck as May reached over them both to shut off the light.
"Sweet dreams, Skye," Jemma whispered.
Skye stared at the light shining from beneath the blinds, fighting back a yawn. She turned onto her back, Jemma's arm splayed across her stomach.
"Can't sleep?" May whispered. Skye turned her head to find May staring from the other side of Jemma, her eyes soft in the dim glow from the windows.
Skye shook her head, there was no point in denying she'd been lying awake listening to the soft snores of Jemma since 4am. Jemma might have been right that she wouldn't have a nightmare, but that didn't mean she could fall asleep easy.
May shifted carefully to sit up, mindful to adjust Jemma so she didn't wake up.
"Come with me," May suggested, "I'll show you something."
Confused, but intrigued, Skye slipped out of bed behind May – snagging one of her hoodies of the ground. It felt strange to tiptoe bare foot through the plane but May didn't seem fazed.
May slid open to the door to the cockpit, ushering Skye in before shutting the door behind her.
Skye could see what the fuss was about – the horizon was beautiful. The sun rays splaying its fingers across the landscape blending orange, and pinks into the deep blue of the morning sky. The clouds like brightly lit cotton wall – nothing but sky and clouds.
May slipped into the pilot's seat, gesturing for Skye to join her. Skye slid into the co-pilot chair, staring at the clouds below.
"This is why I trained to be a pilot," May said into the quiet, "It's peaceful, quiet. Just you and the clouds."
"And you can avoid everyone," Skye pointed out light-heartedly.
"And I can avoid everyone," May confirmed.
Skye settled into the chair, watching as the sky changed slowly from orange to pink.
"I want to take care of you," May said, "But I can only do that if you let me. You just being this close and not…it's hard for me too."
Skye looked down, "I guess bonding with Jemma hasn't helped."
"Depends on what you want, Skye," May said, "I'm happy you feel comfortable enough with her, but you know how much more of a strain this will be for the entire pack."
Skye sighed, "I just want to be independent."
May hummed, "Being independent doesn't mean being alone, Skye."
She shrugged, and mumbled, "Don't want to be needy."
"Do you think Jemma's needy?"
"Well, no but-"
"It's the same for you," May said, "and the same for me. I'm needy too. Right now, I would give anything to tuck you close to my chest so I could feel you there. It's normal. We're a pack, it's what we do."
A strangled noise of frustration left Skye's throat, "But what if you decide you don't need me anymore? What if I'm not as good as Jemma or-"
"Stop," May ordered, raising a hand, "You're perfect for us the way you are. Rebellious spirit and all. What makes you think you're not?"
Skye looked out at the clouds, it was easier to detach herself from her own words, "Some shit alpha parents growing up. If I didn't follow their instructions to the T I wasn't good enough and they'd make me feel crap about needing their approval. They didn't like 'my temper.' I just…I've never been that innocent omega that Jemma is."
"If we wanted another Jemma, we'd clone her," May scoffed, "Packs are all about balance. I may struggle with your attitude, but Nat…Nat loves it."
"Well, she is my favourite alpha," Skye teased.
"Don't push it, kid," May retorted, but there was a little amused quirk to her lip. Skye was getting better at reading her non-expressions.
Skye sighed, sinking further into the chair as the sun rose higher above the clouds.
"Maybe soon," Skye offered, "Jemma really loves all of you."
"In time, you'll realise we love you too."
"Sap," Skye deflected.
"I will send you to your favourite alpha for an attitude adjustment in a heartbeat."
"Nah," Skye disagreed, "You can't resist me."
May send a surge of pheromones over to her that had her nostrils flaring and pyjama bottoms suddenly uncomfortable. She pressed her thighs tightly together.
"That's…that's not fair," Skye protested, sitting on her hands to stop herself squirming.
May just looked smug and stared out in the horizon, using the steady soaring of the plane to calm her own raging hormones. Skye would be the death of her.