REMINDER: This isn't meant to be a linear, coherent story; it'll be more of a collection of short fragments in random order (though I will fix that eventually, when I have enough chapters), because that seems to be the only way my muse is willing to supply me with inspiration.
BEFORE
Chapter Three – Great Minds Have Their Own Opinions
Fitz & Simmon's experience on the helicarrier had started out well enough. The labs were well stocked and the lingering sense of potential doom hanging over their heads was frankly rather exciting so long as they were kept a reasonable distance from the worst of the danger. Then they'd gotten to meet Dr. Banner and Mr. Stark. Simmons had been thrilled to get the chance to meet the radiation specialist and Fitz had been far too taken with the technological genius that was Tony Stark to pay them any mind. Right up until the point that Tony had turned his considerable charm on Simmons and she'd gone flustered and blushing like a school girl.
It wasn't that Fitz was the jealous sort- well, no, that was exactly what it was, but it wasn't a romantic sort of jealously- he was fairly certain- it was just that Simmons was his, his partner, his friend, and he didn't appreciate Stark butting in and practically threating to take advantage of her. It didn't help that she hadn't exactly discouraged him.
"I'm just saying, you might comport yourself with a little more… decorum," Fitz was trying to explain in low enough tones that it wouldn't carry to the other side of the lab where Stark was messing around with one of the computers. "We're supposed to be professionals-"
"Oh please," Simmons interrupted huffily. "You were the one practically drooling on his shoes when he walked in."
"I was not!" She gave him a look and his shoulders hunched defensively. "That- that was purely intellectual admiration," Fitz stuttered. He waved a defiant finger in her face. "You were- you were flirting."
"I was not!"
"You were. You were definitely flirting. With both of them even."
"I- That's- preposterous." She didn't sound entirely convinced herself, but she made up with determination what she lacked in certainty. "You're delusional. We have important. world saving things to focus on."
"I am focused," Fitz huffed. Truth be told, despite the mild argument that just kept going, neither of them showed any signs of lessening efficiency. Their fingers skittered deftly over circuit boards and holographic schematics without hesitation, their extraordinary minds multitasking between their work and their conversation flawlessly.
"Trouble in paradise?" Stark asked, startling them both when he stepped close enough to peer over their shoulders at their work.
Simmons deliberately ignored the personal connotations and started explaining how far they'd gotten in cataloging the Loki's staff and the implications of what that might have to do with the Tesseract, talking faster, alongside and sometimes over Fitz's additions as she got warmed up. Both Stark and Banner looked a little bemused by the onslaught of words, but soon enough they were adding their own expertise and drawing the pair into their research as well.
It was an extraordinary thrill working with people who could not only keep up with their brilliance, but push them to think faster, cleverer. They were quite enjoying themselves, up to the point where Tony's issues with Shield came to the forefront.