Hello my dear Inkdrops!
So after quite some time the storyfairy made me continue this tale.
Please let me know hat you think!
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel or the songtext
Chapter 8: We can't back down
We can't back down
There's too much at stake
This is serious
Don't walk away
We can't pretend it's not happening
In our own backyard
Our own home plate
No way
(Cast Of 'Camp Rock 2')
S.H.I.E.L.D. base, Location classified
Evening arrived quickly and Phil was not entirely sure whether he was happy about it or rather dreading it. On one hand, he would finally know, the insecurity of who would follow him would be lessened. On the other hand, would he be able to live with it if his crew left him? Coulson was very positive he would - after all, the two most precious people to him were already gone. And he could not lose them if they weren't there in the first place, could he?
Phil had called them all into his office as soon as they arrived, for that reason extra chairs were spread all over the room. Fitzsimmons, Mack and Ward were already there waiting, when suddenly the door was opened and Yo-Yo came in, promptly securing her seat next to Mack. Bobbi arrived only minutes later, apparently deep in thought. When her boss raised an eyebrow, curious why she was late, she only murmured something about having to water the cannabis for Simmons. Of course Hartley and Hunter weren't on time either and not really concerned by it, they simply bursted into the office without knocking.
Only a trained criminal (and unfortunately, that was what they all were) would have noticed the fleeting sad expression that flickered about Morse's face when she saw her best friend with her ex-husband. Obviously the situation sucked, it wasn't as if they had separated civilly. It had been a big fight, a burning down of bridges of some sorts and then a desparate rising from the ashes. They both had managed the rising part quite well, the only difference was the result: Hunter was back in the game with a new partner by his side that he could trust. Bobbi was back, but alone and that somehow stung, even after four fucking years.
"Okay Team," their boss began, "you know I would not call you all together if it wasn't absolutely necessary. So yeah, it is necessary. As most of you have already heard, we lost an agent. Tessa Jenkins is dead, killed by someone working for Ultron, most likely the woman we know as the Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff. The NYPD is already investigating. I guess Jenkins had her S.H.I.E.L.D. badge with her, so the police will suspect that we are back. Last time Maria Hill was handling the case and I am almost certain she will take it on again. If they don't give it to her officially she will be on our tails in her free time. Sources say that she got disgraced when we disappeared and she will definitely not let that happen again. As we know, her first partner got kicked out."
At this point, he shot Bobbi a look that could burn holes into a wall and even made her blush slightly. None of the other criminals, not even Hunter, commented on it though, so Coulson went on.
"Her next partner was shot, so she probably got somebody new by now. We have to find out who he is and what he is up to. However, before I go into detail about this mission, there is something else I have to clarify. Ultron hates that we are back and he won't rest until we are all dead. Of course, I am not planning to let that happen. However, fighting him might come with great sacrifices. If you are not willing to pay them, now is your time to walk away. I promise, there won't be any hard feelings from my side."
Expectantly, he looked at each of his crew members, but nobody avoided his eyes.
"I am all in," Morse started, quickly followed by Izzy.
Hunter did not seem so sure, after all, his connection to S.H.I.E.L.D. was not as strong as the one of some of the other members, but finally he nodded. "Alright, I am in too."
"Hell yeah", Ward stated, then Mack confirmed his commitment.
As it was to be expected, Fitz looked at Simmons at the same time that Simmons looked at Fitz. Without saying a word they seemed to come to a mutual understanding.
"We owe you such a lot," Jemma started, "so of course we stay."
"Well, we have the Team together then, don't we," Hunter said, not understanding the glances the others gave each other.
They all knew what he could not know: That they weren't complete at all, that two puzzle pieces were missing. Nobody was going to adress it though.
"As this is all sorted out now, we can start with the plan," their leader took over the discussion again, "and that is how we will do it..."
And that is it for this chapter!
I am not giving away their plan yet but it will show in the next few chapters.