Hey everyone! I'm still freaking out over the fact that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ended more than a week ago. I'm still in denial. That finale, and Alya? Perfection.
I've had some ideas bouncing around in my head for a while for future Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. stories, so I finally settled with starting with when Fitz and Simmons met for the very first time. This will be a two-part story. This is Simmons' perspective.
Jemma closed the door to her Cellular and Molecular Biology class behind her. She was listening to Taylor Swift through her earbuds when an unfamiliar woman walked up to her.
"Can I help you, Ma'am?" Jemma asked, stuffing her earbuds in her backpack.
"Miss Jemma Anne Simmons?" the woman asked, startling Jemma. The latter gave the former a once-over. The woman was not much taller than Jemma but radiated power. She had dark skin and hair cropped close to her head. She was dressed in a business suit and had a pin over her heart, which Jemma noticed. The S.H.I.E.L.D. logo.
"Yes, who are you?" Jemma asked although she was starting to piece together the answer.
"My name is Anne Weaver, an agent of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, or S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm sure you're familiar with the organization and what we do?"
Jemma nodded in response to the question. Of course she did. Peggy Carter. Howard Stark. Captain America and the Super-Soldier Serum. Of course she was familiar with S.H.I.E.L.D. Jemma cleared her throat before answering. "What can I do for S.H.I.E.L.D., Miss Weaver?"
"We have been watching you, Jemma," Weaver gestured with a head nod. "You've been a person of special interest for a while now. Graduating from St. Elizabeth's Catholic School at the age of 15? And now, at the age of 21, the holder of a Ph.D. in Biotechnology? Very ambitious for a young woman your age, if you ask me."
Jemma nodded again at this acknowledgment. "Yes, but what do my achievements have to do with S.H.I.E.L.D.?" She had a feeling she knew where this was going, but dared not to hope shall she be disappointed.
Weaver paused before replying. "Miss Jemma Anne Simmons, I would like to formally invite you to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Academy of Science and Technology next semester. We would like to see what ideas a bright woman like you could come up with under our wing."
Jemma felt her mouth gape at the statement. Her, a part of one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Academies? This was a dream come true.
Jemma sighed as she flipped through one of the textbooks she received from Miss Weaver, not really retaining the words printed on the paper. She was nervous: after all, it was her first semester with S.H.I.E.L.D., and she was one of the two youngest students to enroll.
"Oh, thank you, Miss Weaver, for this amazing offer!" Jemma squealed in excitement, attempting to calm herself down but failing. Weaver gave a small smile at her enthusiasm.
"Of course, Jemma. Now, there will be one other student your age also going to the Academy next semester. His name is Leopold Fitz. I want you to get acquainted with him, make friends with him. I have a feeling you two will create great things."
Jemma nodded at this. "Yes, Miss Weaver. How will I know who he is?"
Weaver chuckled before replying. "He will be coming to the Academy from Dunsinane Hill College in Scotland. If you hear a heavy Scottish accent when you start classes next semester, I can almost guarantee that it will be Mr. Fitz."
She was supposed to meet the other student Miss Weaver talked about, Leopold Fitz, today. Jemma didn't really know much about him, except for the fact that he was coming from Dunsinane Hill College and was the same age as her.
"Uh- excuse me?" she heard a thick Scottish accent behind her. Weaver's words rang in her head. That must be him. After quickly taking a moment to maintain her composure, Jemma turned around and saw the handsome young man behind her. He was a ginger, with a beard starting to sprout from his chin. He seemed to be not much taller than Jemma and stood with clearly-feigned confidence. He was a handsome one, Jemma could give him that.
"Are you-?" Jemma started before Leopold responded.
"Leopold James Fitz at your service, ma'am. You can call me Fitz," he replied, before realizing he interrupted the British woman. "I'm so sorry, where are my manners?" he held his hand out, which Jemma gladly took.
"Quite alright, Fitz. Since I get to call you by your last name, it's only fair you call me by mine. I'm Simmons, Jemma Simmons," she flashed a smile at him. Fitz straightened his back.
"You're very beautiful, Miss Simmons," Fitz blushed, which elicited a genuine chuckle from Simmons, who had gone pink in the cheeks.
"Why, thank you. What a gentleman you are," Simmons answered, before a brief moment of silence fell over the two. "What are you here for, Fitz?"
"Electrical engineering. I've been passionate about it since I was a lad," he answered, shyly resting his hands behind his back. Jemma thought he looked quite cute, in his corduroy jacket with patches at the elbows. She found a certain elegance to the way he dressed, although his personality didn't exactly say the same. "What about you?"
"Medical-based Biotech," she replied, before promptly closing her textbooks and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Do you want to grab some Starbucks with me?" she asked, silently hoping he'd say yes. "It's about a five-minute walk from here. We can talk there!"
Fitz nodded eagerly, grateful for the offer. "I'd love that."
Jemma held her hand out to him to shake once more, feeling her heart beat faster. "Well Fitz, looks like this is the start of a beautiful friendship."
Fitz nodded again, taking her hand in his. "I wholeheartedly agree."
And there's chapter 1! I'm excited to start on chapter 2. However, I have to warn you that the next update might not come for another few days. I started my senior year of high school last week, and although it's all online, schoolwork has taken up most of my designated writing time. Expect updates to be more spread out, not every day like they used to be.
Chapter 2 will be Fitz's perspective. As always, reviews and constructive criticism are heavily appreciated!