Author's Note: This is not my best. It's way too long, and I still think it was way too cheesy. Anyway, read and review! I do not own any characters created by Marvel. I only created Hayden, Cole, and Macy (whom you shall meet later).
As promised, the team followed Coulson's, and subsequently Cole's, orders. Each member filed into the command center at twelve.
"Last night we received a location tracking alert from London," Coulson began. "The alert was sent from former Agent Anne Weaver, director of SHIELD Academy's Sci Tech division. Since her mysterious disappearance during the Hydra unveil, she and other agents attending the academy were believed to be dead. Now with this recent tracking alert, we can only assume Agent Weaver and the others are still alive, captive under Hydra. Our mission is to extract all agents from Hydra's secret base in London."
May swiped up on the holotable, bringing a map to the large screen. She highlighted a large building in the center. "This is the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. It overlooks Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. We believe the captives are being held in a secret bunker under the park. Problem is, there's only one way to reach it. A tunnel from the hotel's basement runs to the bunker. Fortunately, the hotel is hosting a gala Saturday night, when we plan to help the agents escape."
"Skye, Hayden, Bobbi, and Lance," Phil called off while pointing at the four. "You will personally be helping the agents escape. Bobbi and Lance, you two will be undercover as honeymooners." Bobbi made a disgruntled groan of disapproval while Hunter secretly kept his contradicting opinion to himself. The director continued. "Arrive before everyone else, make way to the basement, take out the enemy, and stall until Skye and Hayden arrive." He turned to face his daughter and her new best friend. "Both of your covers will be in your files. I'm giving you a bit of leeway on this one, but run it by me before doing something brash. Eventually you two will meet with Bobbi and Lance in the basement. You four will take down all agents of Hydra you come into contact with. We don't want this to take any longer than it should. Get in, get the agents, get out. Skye, we're going to need ID's and invites for the party. I need them by tonight. Mack and Cole, you two are the driver's. Starting out in the night, you will be driving expensive sports cars. Do not drag race them last time," he warned while glaring at the duo.
"Eventually you will need to trade the cars for passenger vans," he continued. "We're not exactly sure how many agents there are, but we can only assume there will be multiples. FitzSimmons." The young doctors perked up the their name. "You are the distraction. If anything gets suspicious, May and I will let you know when to cause a big scene. Hopefully, none of the Hydra agents will recognize us." Coulson took a deep breath before finishing the meeting. "This mission is a big one, team. This could help rebuild SHIELD with countless new agents. It depends on how well we execute." He looked at each one of his agents, knowing they would be ready for anything. "Alright, wheels up at 0800."
As the agents dismissed with files in hand, Fitz stayed behind. "Leo," Jemma called while standing in the doorway. "Aren't you coming?"
"I'll be right there. Just have a question."
She smiled and added, "I'll be in the lab when you're done," before leaving.
He peeked down the hall to make sure she was out of hearing range. Fitz turned towards his director and superior officer. "Director Coulson, Agent May." The engineer shifted his weight nervously.
"We already know what you want to ask us, Agent Fitz."
His jaw dropped and eyes went wide when Coulson revealed he knew. "I've hid it for... How did you-"
May cut him off. "You might not want to practice proposing in rooms where there are security cameras, such as the lab." The normally composed agent let a smile slip. "Congratulations."
"Th-thank you, Agent May," Fitz fumbled. "But I haven't technically asked Jemma yet. Actually, that's what I wanted to ask you two about. Think you two could help me out?"
Meanwhile, Hayden and Skye discussed their cover over lunch in her bunk.
"So we already have names. Jessica Emily Thompson and Jacob Andrew Collins." Skye took a bit of her turkey, ham, and cheese after speaking. Hayden tried talking with his mouth full. "What was that?"
He swallowed and wipe his face with the back of his hand. "Why didn't Director Coulson make us the honeymooners? What, we wouldn't make a good couple?"
"I think it's more of the fact that A, Bobbi and Lance are an actual couple, and B, he doesn't want to see his daughter date someone, much less be married to someone."
"Think we could pull it off?" Since their first meeting months ago, Hayden's crush had developed into true feelings towards Skye. Worried that they would end up jeopardizing their friendship, he kept his mouth shut. Until now.
"Us?" Skye giggled at the thought.
"What? Could you not picture it?" He could. The young agent saw, what was to him, the perfect life with her. It wasn't just kicking ass and taking names. He imagined a little domestic life. They would be married. Move off of the base eventually. Live in a house. They would still go to the base and help out the team, but only when they were needed. Maybe have a few mini agents running around in the backyard with a dog. The 28-year-old Texan grew up wanting to be a spy, but always knew the family life would suit him just fine.
"Not really," she lied. Skye had thought about it multiple times, but only once it had a happy ending. She hadn't told him about her unexplainable powers yet. She was afraid that her best friend would treat her differently after discovering the truth. The only time she saw it working out was on a movie night. He called for another Disney movie marathon. They had both had a shitty week, so he suggested they watch the movies that always brought a smile to their faces.
They grabbed blankets and Fruity Pebbles and properly planted their asses on the couch while eating straight out of the box. Her favorite, The Little Mermaid, was first. His favorite, The Lion King, was second. And halfway through Aladdin, they both fell asleep. She woke up when the credits finished rolling. At some point during the nap, Skye made her way towards Hayden who subconsciously wrapped his strong arms around her. That's when she pictured it. She daydreamed of waking up in bed like this on Sunday mornings. In their current situation, she imagined a little kiddo, snuggled up against their dad while Saturday morning cartoons played. Truth be told, Hayden wasn't the only one who imagined a domestic life between them. Skye's friendly feelings for him just weren't at the same level as his, yet.
"Why, have you?" she questioned with a smirk growing on her face.
He tried to hide the slight blush appearing on his cheeks by taking another bite while looking down at his file. "No," he mumbled with food in his mouth before swallowing. "I just think that if the opportunity rose for us to go undercover as a couple, we should both be comfortable with that situation."
When he glanced back up, his eyes met with Skye's. "You know I can tell when you're lying, right? You do know that I can interrogate criminals."
Hayden tried to make his best poker face, but Skye stared directly into his soul. He cracked. "Damnit."
"Spill the beans. Who is it?"
"Who's who?"
Skye rolled her eyes. "The girl you have a major crush on, obviously!"
Hayden was amazed she had not figured it out already. "I can't tell you that."
"Why not? Is she already taken?" Skye thought about the choices. She began to list them one-by-one. "Is it May?"
"No."
"Bobbi?"
"No."
"Jemma?"
"Skye, are we really doing this right now?"
Her eyes went wide, believing she had solved the case. "It's Jemma!"
"I didn't say that!"
It was too late. Skye raced down the hall towards the lab. Hayden quickly chased after her. When he finally reached the doors, she already began talking. "Hayden has a crush on yo-"
Hayden clamped a hand over her mouth and tried to push her out. "See you later Dr. Simmons." Once in the hall still in Jemma's view from the lab, he yelled. "What the hell was that?"
She looked at him confused. "You're welcome?"
"For what?"
"For me confessing to Simmons for you."
"Oh my God, Skye." He exasperatedly grabbed and shook her shoulders. "I do not have a crush on Dr. Simmons."
"Then who do you have a crush on?" Her voice rose.
"You. I have a crush on you." He had gotten caught up in the moment and revealed his true feelings. The words slipped out of his mouth before he could think. Her eyes went wide, and for some reason she stopped breathing. Skye quickly brushed off his hands and walked away quickly. "Damnit," he mumbled under his breath. He debated whether or not he should go after her. She needs time to think, he thought. I'm an idiot. He himself needed time to think. Hayden thought of who he could go to for advice. He figured his best bet was on the other side of the wall—the person Skye said he had a totally false crush on. He re-entered the lab. "Dr. Simmons?"
The young Brit looked up from the notes she was scribbling. "If this is about what Skye came in here and yelled, I can honestly tell you that I stopped believing half the things she yells over a year ago." She smiled and waved for him to come in.
Even with her lighthearted approach, he was still wary. "What she said was completely false." He raised the palms of his hands as he slowly walked towards the nearest stool. "I would never intentionally interfere with your Agent Fitz' relationship."
Jemma knew the new agent was genuine. She had seen his sincere eyes in Leo when confessed his feelings in the med pod. "I know you wouldn't."
He smiled at her faith in him. "However, that's not why I came back in here."
"Oh?" She had gone back to her notebook, listening while she worked.
"Dr. Simmons, I-"
"Call me Jemma," she corrected him.
"Jemma," he started over. "I need your advice."
She continued working without looking up. "I would think your best friend could help you with that."
"That's the problem—I need advice about Skye."
That caught her attention. She rested her pencil on the smooth countertop and turned to face him. "What's the problem?"
"Skye assumed I had a crush on you because I didn't tell her I had feelings for her."
Jemma's jaw dropped for a slight second before composing herself. "Wow, that's…" In all honesty, she didn't know what to say.
"Yeah, I know. Apparently I'm good at hiding my feelings. When I just dragged her into the hall, we started yelling, and I got caught up in the moment and told her." Hayden propped his elbows on the countertop and rested his head in his hands. "Then she ran off. I don't know what to do." He turned to face her and ran a hand through his hair. "I really, really like her. And if she doesn't feel the same way, I understand. I'm just worried she'll just shut me out."
This was the first time someone had approached Jemma for relationship advice. Struggling for the right words, she looked to the best example of a relationship that she knew. "Have I ever told you about how Leo and I became a couple?"
Not sure where she was going with this, he started slowly. "I know you met at the Academy. After that, not much."
"We were friends for over a decade when we first joined Coulson's team," she began. "As best friends, neither of us wanted to go any further than a platonic relationship. Until everything went to hell." She paused. The emotional trauma of that year was sometimes still too much to talk about, so she tried to compose herself. "Long story short, Leo ended up confessing his feelings for me when we thought we were about to die. It shocked me, too. It might be difficult for a while, but I think Skye will probably surprise you as well."
Hayden smiled at the biochemist's honesty and advice. "Thank you, Dr. Sim-Jemma."
He began to walk away feeling more confident. He paused when he reached the door. "Oh, and Jemma," he said when turning back around. "I'd like to hear the long version of that story sometime."
She gave a slight smile. After he left, Jemma considered the duo and thought about what they would be like as a couple. The last time she had seen someone so connected, it was Leo and herself. Their banter and adorable movie nights only seemed to strengthen her belief in the new maybe-more-than-friends-duo.
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