A/N: Sorry guys for not posting in a while. I was sick and had absolutely no way to update since my brain was completely scrambled. Here is chapter 20 and I'm already working on 21. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 20: Back to base
Tobias spent the entire night thinking of his conversation with Tris. She made good points but that didn't mean that he completely agreed with her. But as so often, one person or a group of people can be given immense power. What they do with that power is the tricky part.
Rarely in human history did someone with power do something good for the common folk. But nowadays the stakes are higher, the power is greater and dangers that come with it far more devastating than anything ever before seen.
He could understand why an organization like SHIELD was created. They don't answer to one government or one person. They exist to protect humanity, sometimes even from itself. The greed of one can be the downfall of many. He knew Tris and her friends were spies and secret agents but now that he knows so much about her and the organization she works for, he sees that there's more to her job than he thought. They truly are a shield. And he respected her and all the others even more for that.
All this time he and other humans lived their lives in peace, SHIELD agents all over the world protected them from harm, without ever being known for it. They are unsung heroes that most people won't even know they existed.
"What you doing?" Tris asks, her voice thick with sleep.
"Sorry. Did I wake you?"
"No. I just woke up and saw you staring at the ceiling," she says propping herself up on an elbow.
"I kept thinking about what you told me," he says and she nods.
"Do you have any more questions or do you need me to explain something?" she asks and he shakes his head.
"The information was clear. It's the content that's frightening," he answers.
"Don't worry about it, babe. Come on. Let's sleep," she says and lays her head on his bare shoulder.
Tobias readjusts his body so that he can embrace his wife and soon falls asleep, worries about alien tech and dangers all over the world for now forgotten. The only thing he kept thinking about was her: Tris.
On Monday, Tris and Tobias head out to work when Tris receives a phone call. She looks at the caller ID and recognizes Daisy's number. While Tobias goes ahead into their now shared office, Tris stays behind to talk to her friend and fellow agent privately.
"What's up, buttercup?" she asks cheerful.
"Coulson needs you at the Playground," Daisy tells her.
"What? Now?" Tris asks irritated. She just got used to this domestic lifestyle and ever since Ward tortured her, Coulson didn't send her on missions.
"Yes. It's urgent, otherwise he wouldn't have called you in." Tris gets the rendezvous details and hangs up. Thankfully, the quinjet that will take her back to base won't arrive till after two pm, which gives her time to explain this to Tobias.
She sighs almost in defeat when she starts heading toward the office. Upon entering she sees her father-in-law happily chatting with her hubby which involuntarily makes her smile. She cares for them, all of them. But most of all she cares for Tobias. She knows where these feelings are heading and she is scared. Scared of everything that they might mean for her, for them, for the future. And if her visions are premonitions, she isn't sure if she could handle it.
"What is it?" Tobias asks looking up and straight at her. Over the months they have spent together, he learned to read her a little. She is still a pro at keeping secrets from him, but around him she allows herself to let her guard down a little to just be normal.
Marcus turns around to see to whom his son is talking to and finds his young daughter-in-law in the doorway. She is smiling and he can't figure out why his son's mood shifted. He stands up and greets her properly with a tight, fatherly hug and a peck on the cheek.
"Good morning, my dear," he says to her and she smiles.
"Morning, Marcus. Guys, can we talk?" she asks wiggling out of her father's-in-law embrace and closes the door so that they can have the privacy they need. "I was asked back to base," is all she says, keeping her back turned to the men in her new family.
"What?" Tobias asks a little loud and stands up. Tris sighs. She knew he wouldn't like it. And she can't blame him. After all, they both agreed to give their relationship a try and she is really enjoying it. If the roles were reversed she would feel just as angry as he must feel right now. Tris turns around and sits on the loveseat closing her eyes.
"I was asked to return to base for an important briefing. I don't know what it is about, but it must be important. Daisy, my friend, called," she says and opens her eyes, immediately locking them on her husband who looks torn between angry and desperate. "She just said I needed to come back."
"Are they sending you on a mission?" Marcus asks and realizes how that sole thought scares him to the point of trembling.
"I don't know. I hope not."
"Don't go," is all that Tobias says.
"Tobias, I can't disobey a direct order," Tris says a little irritated. She isn't upset with him, but the situation in itself. But to be fair, he isn't helping either.
"Heck, you can!" he says a little loud.
"Tobias, I can't. After the last mission, Coulson promised not to send me out unless he had no other choice. But he also might wanna see me because of new intel on Ward or the kidnappers. Those are things that can't be discussed over the phone."
"But…" Tobias tries to argue, but Tris stands up and walks toward him.
"Babe, this is important. They wouldn't have called me back if it wasn't. SHIELD isn't messing around. What I'm doing here is very important and they wouldn't just pull me back if not absolutely vital," she says and wraps her arms around his waist leaning closer to him until her head rests over his fast beating heart. Tobias immediately wraps his own arms around her smaller frame and holds her tightly, not wanting to let go. The sole thought of letting her go constricts his heart and makes it pound painfully against his chest.
Marcus watches the interaction both worried and happy. Worried for what this call means; happy because even if the two newlyweds deny it, they are falling in love, if they aren't already. Wordlessly, Marcus leaves the room and the two spouses alone.
"I'm just worried something might happen to you," Tobias says kissing her crown.
"I know, and I would lie if I'd say don't be. My job is dangerous, but I took a vow and I take that seriously. Ever since I met Coulson he never forced me to go on a mission I wasn't feeling up to. And with all that's going on I doubt he would ask."
"Still. I'd rather not have you go."
"Tobias, I'll be fine. I promise," she says as she stands on her tip-toes to peck his lips. He gladly kisses her back, relishing in the feeling of holding her close. When they part, Tris lays her head on his chest once again and holds him tightly, reluctant to let go just yet.
He knows he can't stop her. Nor is he sure he truly wants that. He respects her and trusts her, but that nagging feeling he has that she might not come back if he lets go keeps tormenting him. He knows what it is and he knows it's futile to deny it or even fight it. He loves her. That's the truth. But he can only hope she loves him back. He knows how difficult this whole marriage idea was on her and how she still struggles at times. But for what it's worth, he is still trying to figure things out himself. One thing he is certain of, he thanks his dad for pushing him into this deal. He thought he didn't need love, that he isn't the type to fall madly in love. But look at him now? He is a pathetic little shit, wrapped around her pinky and couldn't be happier.
"I love you," he whispers into her ear. He doesn't care if she loves him back yet, although hoping she does, but he needs her to know how he feels. She's right. Her job is dangerous. Extremely dangerous. He wants her to know that he is waiting for her and if that is good enough for her to keep fighting, to come home, then at least he did something right.
Tris almost chokes when she hears him say those three little words. Love? He loves her? She doesn't dare to look up, afraid she might crack and admit to her feelings. He is so much more than she could have hoped to find in a man. And her friends were right… after the Peter fiasco they assured her that she didn't really love that scumbag. He was just a good fuck. What really hurt her was his betrayal. But deep down she had to admit, it was a little bit of both. She cared for Peter, but her feelings for that man don't even come close to how she feels for Tobias. They are so different and yet alike. It's almost as if they are two halves of a whole, completing each other, making the other better.
She smiles to herself and realizes she hasn't spoken in a long while. He must think she doesn't reciprocate his feelings or worse, he might think she doesn't believe him.
Tris shifts to allow herself to look up. When their eyes lock, she smiles softly which makes Tobias smile in return.
"I love you, too," she says. For a moment, Tobias remains rooted to the spot, staring at his wife as if she were a fairy tale creature. He truly hoped she would love him back. But what if she is just saying it back out of obligation or whatever other reason?
"Tris, you don't have to," he starts saying but gets interrupted by her.
"What? Love you? I'm sorry, pal, but the heart wants what it wants," she says nonchalantly but he still isn't convinced. Tris kisses his chin before talking again. "Tobias, I know I don't have to say it back. I feel it, okay? And it scares the crap out of me," she says detaching herself from him. Tobias watches her pace in front of him. Loving him scares her? "You know about my romantic past," she says glancing at him. "Whatever that was, in the past I mean, was child's play. I love you. I don't know how it happened, I don't know when or why, all I know is I love you, with all my heart," she says looking up with tears in her eyes. "And it scares the living daylights out of me. I'm scared you are just playing with me. I'm scared you might get hurt because of me. I'm scared of losing you," she keeps rambling and allows her tears to fall freely. Tobias tries to follow her little hysteric monologue and feels overwhelmed himself. All she's describing, all her fears… he feels them too, only about her. He is scared he is just another mission to her. He is scared she will get hurt. He is scared he will lose her.
"Tris," he says but she doesn't look up. Instead, she keeps pacing nervously. He steps forward and pulls her into his arms. "I feel just the same, but we both promised to give us a try. So, Mrs. Eaton," he says pushing her a little backwards so that they can look at each other, "let's give us a try. We both just have to have a little faith that we aren't faking it and whatever comes we will manage it together."
Tris stares at him and wills her heart to trust him and finally smiles. Tobias reciprocates it and bends forward to capture her lips in a sweet, yet passionate kiss. When they part, they remain in each other's arms for a few minutes longer. Tris hates that she has to leave, but Coulson really might need her for something important. She hopes that it's just for a briefing on the kidnappers or Ward, but her gut tells her otherwise.
For the remainder of the morning, Tris checks all the security cameras and other security measures she put in place at the office. She calls Uriah to let him know about the development of the situation and is stunned to hear that Coulson called him too. She doesn't inquire any further since she will have plenty of time on their way to the Playground.