(two days later)
Kora stepped off the elevator and walked into the science and engineering section of the Triskelion. She found out by Mack that Deke would be here when she asked him where he would be. She had to find him and apologize to him, even if he'll never forgive her. Even if he still hated her after all she'd done back in 1983.
She had worked to make amends to everyone she'd hurt over the past year, to Daisy and her friends. Well, everyone except Deke apparently. She'd had nightmares about this whole scenario, about her apologizing to him, hearing the voice in her head that kept saying that she doesn't deserve forgiveness, she doesn't deserve the redemption that Daisy had given her. That she still doesn't deserve it. But she couldn't keep avoiding him anymore.
She continued to walk down the narrow hallway, passing other scientists in white lab coats until she finally found Deke, sitting alone in a room wearing a white lab coat and goggles on his head, tinkering with some wires and what looked like a small device. She walked up behind him slowly, taking a few quiet steps forward, until she saw Deke's journal laying right next to him on the lab table. She froze, fear jolting within her. A wave of regret washing over her. She had turned over the journal to Mack the day after she found it and read through it. He assured her that he wouldn't tell Deke about it. She didn't tell him that she read his journal, but she had this idea that Mack somehow knew that she was lying. Maybe it was just paranoia, but the thought wouldn't go away.
this was a bad idea, Kora thought to herself, turning around and almost leaving. But then she closed her eyes for a few moments. She took a deep breath and turned back around, forcing herself to keep going, one foot in front of the other until she was standing just a few feet from him.
"Hey." Kora said, the first thing she could come up with. Deke turned around and saw Kora standing just a few feet behind him.
"Oh, hey." He removed the goggles and put down the tools he had. "Kora right?"
Kora's eyes widened in surprise that he knew her name. "yes."
"You're Daisy's sister, right?"
"Yes." Kora answered, holding her gaze.. He got up from his chair and stood right in front of her.
"It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you." Deke said. "Oh, I'm Deke by the way." He extended his right hand out to her.
Kora hesitantly took his hand with hers. "I know." They held the light handshake for a few seconds before breaking off.
"So, what can I do for you?" Deke asked. She opened her mouth slightly to speak, but said nothing. She looked down, trying to find the right words to say.
"I wanted to tell you that," She looks up at him, meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? What for?"
"For trying to kill you, and Simmons back on the Chronicom ship." Kora admitted, "I wanted to tell you in person and, I'm not sure if you still remember-"
"Hey." Deke interrupted her. "It's okay. I mean, yeah I still remember that day on the Chronicom ship, but you don't have to apologize to me."
"Yes I do actually." Kora shook her head. "I nearly killed you and Simmons, it-it must have been terrifying for you."
"Hey, that was a long time ago for me." Deke told her. "Besides, I've been through worse situations before."
"Still, I'm sorry." she looked away from him, another wave of regret washing over her. A moment of silence sank between them.
"Look Kora," Deke broke the silence in a low voice, "it's okay. You don't have to apologize to me. I'm not mad at you, and I don't hate you. I've actually been in a similar position like you before." He slowly let a smile curve on his lips as Kora's eyes looked up at him. "I don't know if Daisy or anybody else on the team told you this, but I actually sold Daisy out to a Kree overlord back in the future where I'm from."
Kora looked at him in surprise. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah." Deke answered. "Daisy promised that she would kill me. And the whole team pretty much hated me when they found out."
"Yeah um, Daisy never told me that." Kora said.
"Huh," Deke's mouth fell open briefly. "Well I'm actually quite shocked. Coulson and Mack locked me in my room when they found out. And Nana and–I mean, Fitz and Simmons didn't really take it well either." Kora chuckled slightly, somehow feeling a little better. "I've actually been trying to find you since I got discharged."
"Really?"
"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I uh, I wanted to apologize to you for shooting at you down at the hangar."
"I wouldn't really blame you." Kora said quietly, almost like a whisper. Her eyes averted away from him.
"No, look Kora," He took a step forward. "I didn't recognize you when I arrived here. I was um, sort of, energized when I arrived the way I did. I guess being reverted back to my thirties can do that. But regardless, I am sorry for almost killing you down at the hangar."
Her eyes averted back to him again. Her heart clenched as she processed his words. She couldn't believe how, Forgiving he was being. His apology, and him saying that he didn't hate her, all left her speechless.
"I… I Don't know what to say." was all she could manage after a few long seconds.
"You don't have to say anything. I'm just glad that you're here Kora, and I hope that we can be friends after this." Once again, she was speechless. Of course she wants to be friends with him, but before she could tell him, Deke spoke again after a few seconds of silence. "I uh, I do have to get back to working on this though." He pointed to the device and exposed wires behind him.
"Oh course." Kora nodded. He went back to his work and Kora left heading towards the elevator.
Daisy and Sousa sat in a club inside the triskelion. The club they were in is like a little social gathering place Mack had set this place up so that shield agents of all levels can socialize, share new ideas, and get together, field operatives, engineers, biochemists, and new recruits fresh from the academy, all came here.
The club reminded her of the boiler room she visited with Fitzsimmons all those years ago back at the academy she visited. Back when she was Skye, when she was just a rookie shield agent in training. This was the first time she and Sousa ever been here in this club. They were surprised a bit, especially Daniel, who was still adjusting to how people act these days apart from the 1950s.
Kora was supposed to meet them here. She has been a little quiet and distant ever since the incident down in the hangar.
They see Kora walking in, looking around. Daniel waved his hand up to signal where they were. Kora saw them and immediately walked over to them.
"Hey guys." Kora said.
"Hey." Daniel said to Kora.
"Where've you been?" Daisy asked Kora as she sat down next to her.
"I went to see Deke." Kora answered.
"Kora, I already told you-"
"And he forgave me." Kora smiled as she interrupted Daisy.
"Really?"
"Yeah. He made it clear that he didn't hate me and I didn't have to apologize to him. And he actually apologized to me for shooting at me down at the hangar."
"That's… good." Daisy responded. "I'm glad things worked out between you two."
"I'll go get us some drinks." Daniel said before he got up and went to the bar.
"Is it true that Deke sold you over to a Kree overlord?" Kora asked.
"He told you that huh." Daisy responded. "Yeah, that was a long time ago."
After a moment, Kora asked another question. "Can I ask you something?" Daisy nodded. "Have you and Deke ever…?"
Daisy raised an eyebrow, confused. "Ever what?"
"You know... been together…" Daisy only looked at Kora more confused. "As in, dated?"
Daisy scoffed. "No! No-Me, and Deke? No, Never. Why would you ask that?"
"Nothing, just curious, that's all." Kora answered. Before she could say anything, Daniel arrived with their drinks. He sat down as he placed the three drinks on the table.
"Everything alright?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine." Daisy answered, focusing on him and the club around them. She looked back at Kora, wondering what gave her the idea that she and Deke ever dated.
Deke rubbed his face and leaned back as he took a break, finishing the device he was examining and repairing. This place felt just like being at the company he used to run, except now he's not the boss, instead he's working with other young and brilliant scientists and engineers from all over the world. Mack had even brought in some of the same scientists and engineers from his company to work here at shield. He's practically working with some of the same people that used to work for him.
Mack and each of the team had been visiting him in the hospital since he arrived back. They had each spent some time with him telling him what happened over the past year since they returned. Coulson has been working alone and traveling a lot. Nana and Bobo have retired and are now parents. Mack and Yoyo are getting married. Yoyo, Piper and Davis work together to find other Inhumans. Daisy, Kora and Sousa are working with a space division called S.W.O.R.D. May's a teacher at an academy named after Coulson that Flint goes to.
A lot has changed since he last saw them all. He was glad to be back here, even if it's not the timeline he intended to travel to. He was happy to see everyone. Everybody seems to be well off. Especially Daisy, and Sousa. From the time they visited him. They did seem happy together…
Deke shrugged off the thought, getting up from his chair and walking straight toward the elevator. He wanted to check out this club Mack had set up right here in the triskelion. He heard that it was a place where shield agents can take a break sometimes, have a drink and socialize with each other.
He got off the elevator and walked on the main floor. He quickly found his way to the club. He found it crowded with a few dozen agents. He stood for a while looking around, admiring the place before walking straight to the side bar.
"Hey, do you have any Zima?" Deke asked the bartender. The bartender nodded slightly and took out one bottle of Zima. Deke smiled and stared at the open bottle before taking a sip, savoring the taste of the alcohol-infused lemon-lime beverage.
He looked around the club. It really reminded him of the social club he set up at his company last year. He really liked it here.
"Hey." Deke turned around and was surprised to find Kora standing right next to him. "Mind if I join?" Kora asked.
"Yeah, yeah of course. Help yourself." Deke said. Kora grabbed one of the stools and sat next to him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was here earlier with Daisy and Daniel. I thought I would stay a little longer." Kora answered.
"Oh. Are they here?" Deke asked, looking around and over his shoulder.
"They just left earlier. I thought I'd stay here a little longer."
"Oh, okay." Deke nodded slightly.
"What are you doing here?" Kora asked.
"Mack told me about this place," Deke answered "I thought I'd check it out."
"It's a nice place." Kora said.
"Yes it is." Deke agreed, looking around again. "Oh, I'm sorry um, can I get you a drink?"
"Yeah, sure. What are you drinking?"
"Zima." Deke simply answered. "You want one?"
"Sure, I'll go with one."
"Have you ever tried Zima before?" Deke asked.
"Can't say that I have." Kora answered.
"Okay well, trust me, you're gonna love it." deke said. He waved his hand to order another bottle. The bartender brought over another bottle of Zima and Deke handed it over to Kora.
"Try it." Deke insisted. Kora took a sip and took a moment to answer.
"Well? What do you think?" Deke asked.
"It's actually good." Kora answered. "A little sweet, but good. Do you drink this just for the taste?"
"Yeah." Deke answered. "I don't like the taste of other alcoholic beverages, so this is the closest I can get to something good." he took another sip of his drink.
"I don't think anyone drinks alcohol for the taste." Kora said before she took another sip of her drink..
"Let's make a toast." Deke suggested. He raised his Zima up, "To new beginnings, and getting to know each other better."
"To new beginnings." Kora raised her drink, clinging both of their bottles together and drinking their Zimas.
I don't know what Zima actually tastes like so I went with what it assumed it would taste in Deke's mind. Please leave a review and tell me what you thought of this chapter. Until next time.