Disclaimer: I forgot to put this earlier but just in case anyone was wondering, I don't own anything.

AN: Just wanted to say huge thank you for all the follows, favorites and a special thank you to the ones who took the time to leave a review! It means a lot to a newbie to this fandom! Now, on to the story.

-oo—

Chapter 2

Fitz put down now a decimated looking piece of machinery. It will be the seventh one this month that Ward had destroyed. So much for keeping his gear in check. Although he didn't mind - it kept his mind busy and away from thoughts that surfaced every now and then.

Questions like why they were so covert, when they could join forces with the likes of Shield and make some better judgments for both organizations. He felt a bit disjointed every time he saw them interrogating Shield agents and brainwashing them of their former cause. It was all necessary they would say if he asked, all for a noble cause.

Still at night, his conscience didn't seem to agree, so he pushed it all in the back of his mind. Because Shield didn't want him in the academy but Hydra did. They took him when he was charged of helping a man build a machine that was not up to regulations of the academy. Accused him, even though he wasn't even in the vicinity of the said project. Still lately he couldn't help but wonder if maybe all of it was a trap and a ploy from Hydra to recruit him for their cause. But then again maybe he had too much free time on his hands and was probably just imagining things.

A sudden hit brought him back from his reverie, as he glanced at a water bottle sliding from his chest and he quickly moved to stop it. Looking at the offender on the other side of the table he grimaced and sulked in return.

"Throwing things now at me Ward? It isn't enough that you destroy my equipment on regular basis on the missions, but now you have to attack my person as well."

Ward only shrugged and took a sip from his own bottle.

"What can I say Fitz - keeping you on your toes, otherwise you'll grow complaisant."

Again, with his little lessons. He had a feeling that Ward was a giant fan of those Japanese movies where everything was a philosophical anecdote. He glared at him and looked at his pending workload.

"Get off of your high horse Ward. We both know that without my gear you'd be toast a thousand times over."

He laughed at Fitz and turned in his chair, swirling like he didn't have a care in the world.

"As if."

He and Ward were a rather impressive team. Sure, they sometimes had their tiffs but most of the time they worked well together and he had a feeling they were climbing the corporate ladder so to speak.

Ward was getting noticed more and more as an agent that can get the job done no matter the consequences, and even though that didn't sit well with him, Fitz was glad to help out a friend in his venture.

He knew it was through Ward's efforts that they were getting recognized rather than his own but he was fine with that. Spotlight never suited him anyways.

"Fitz, are you even listening to me?"

Fitz snapped his head towards him and just waved his hand. It wasn't like it was the first time that it happened and probably not the last. His mind had a tendency to run away from him and he spaced out from time to time.

"What?"

He saw Ward absently taking apart the gun he usually takes with him on missions and put it together in a couple of seconds. The man was a monster when it came to efficiency, even he had to admit that.

"It's too heavy, lose the ounce."

A growl escaped Fitz, because Ward usually had ludicrous demands like this one on daily basis. Probably comes with the territory of being Bourne and Bond all wrapped up in one. It went to his head, but he was good so he tolerated it. Didn't mean he had to like it.

"That aside, did you hear the news?"

He shook his head.

"Nope, was pretty much a lab rat in the last couple of days. Had a lot to do. What is it now?"

Ward only rolled his eyes at his antics and turned his attention to the gun.

"Well it looks like you and I are going to be assigned undercover in the special Shield team lead by Phil Coulson himself. It is going to be big and we are going to have front row seats for it. Are you ready?"

He knew something like this would happen soon enough but he never thought that it would also mean that he would go with Ward. He always thought that he would work from the sidelines. Guess that wasn't the case anymore.

"We are going to infiltrate the group by pushing our credentials with a little bit of a spin on them. Coulson likes his agents not all by the book, and we'll give him just enough so he takes the bait."

Fitz knew that most of his work would be scrutinized there and he needed to be on guard at all times if they were to succeed. But he was also excited to finally see what was so bad about Shield that Hydra demanded their downfall before taking the rains.

"I guess Hydra has it all planned out then Ward."

He only nodded and left his weapon in order to check on the small knives that were aligned neatly beside it.

"Yeah. You and I can come out of this with a lot of valuable intelligence. Maybe even be the ones who bring down Coulson and his team. I'd be down with that."

Bringing anyone down didn't sit well with Fitz but he didn't have any other choice, so for now he will study the enemy and learn.

He really wasn't looking forward to more sleepless nights.

-oo-

The hanger was huge, it had the space to accommodate a dozen of smaller planes or a couple of bigger ones. He was surprised how well-developed things actually were in an organization like Shield and he was once more reminded of how intricate things were between the two organizations.

As covert as Hydra was, it still followed similar protocols and procedures when addressing and recruiting their agents in assignments. It all felt a bit too familiar, being in this place. He did immediately notice the camaraderie here that always seemed to lack at Hydra, which made him once more question why they were doing this in the first place.

Sure, it was the orders from the higher ops that Fitz had little to no say. As it was, he and Ward were in this mess and they would have to deal with it. Because this was certainly more than just a 'simple assignment' everyone was so quick to label it as.

Taking a small bag that held all his belongings, he took towards the ominous looking plane. It was probably the most advanced plane in the hanger and was looking like some next gen type of prototype they did in Hydra, but never on such a large scale. He was intrigued by what he could learn about it once he gets inside.

Stepping onto the plane the first thing he noticed was a shiny red convertible and he was surprised at the condition it was in. It was very well taken care of, as if the owner valued it more than most people do.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ward make his way inside the plane. A slight eye contact and a nod were enough to propel him forward with their task. He took in the small cargo area and could see that this was going to be rather impressive op led by agent Coulson which wasn't that far off of the way Hydra approached things. The only difference was, Hydra did theirs with the highest level of professionalism and narcissism for their cause.

The thing that caught his eye was a fully equipped lab that was just ahead of the cargo area and it looked like something out of a syfy movie, and he couldn't help but be impressed with the detail and dedication to it.

"Oh my God!"

There was a shrink, and in the next moment he dropped his bag, cold sweat already on his forehead. Fear that he was already discovered were floating around his head, but soon the owner of that high-pitched scream passed him and walked inside the said lab.

"Isn't it beautiful? Look, they even have the newest centrifuge sample collectors. Been waiting for ages to get my hands on one of these."

He could see her walking around inspecting everything in her sight and he just couldn't form a word. He was speechless at this person in front of him. She turned towards him, all excitement and radiance. An apologetic look was mirroring her gaze and words tumbled out of her mouth.

"I am so sorry. I tend to get overly excited when it comes to science and this lab is absolutely marvelous."

She continued to sing its praise before pausing as she looked him over more closely.

"You seem familiar, have we met before? Maybe it was on the campus or in the Shield academy. You just look awfully familiar to me."

All he managed to mumble was an unconvincing lie.

"Must have one of those faces. Generic and such."

She hummed absently and nodded along, clearly not buying his poor explanation. Because she was of course, Jemma Simmons, biochemist extraordinaire, top of her class, best of her generation when it came to biochemistry and a rather impressive physicist at that. She's solved far greater mysteries then Leopold Fitz.

He had the privilege to attend a class with her at Shield academy before they booted him out because of his 'experiment malpractice'. Before he could embarrass himself any further Ward came in trying to introduce himself but she did it for him before he got a chance.

"Agent Ward, the solo operative chosen to tag along with us. Hopefully you won't find yourself too crowded by the science in here."

She turned her head towards him and asked him apologetically, "Uh… so sorry didn't catch your name before."

That was because he hadn't given it to her.

"Leo Fitz, engineering."

She still regarded him as if she was trying to decipher something important, but was soon distracted by Ward when he asked about their accommodation.

She guided them both to the upper floor and quickly directed them to their bunks.

"You can leave your stuff there and if you want a tour of the bus, I came up with that, just say so and I will guide you through with extensive detail. Now, I'll leave you to unpack."

She walked away and Fitz absently placed his stuffed bag in the small space, while Ward was quick to point out, "Don't freeze like that, she will assume something is wrong. You have to keep your head in the game. Also, you look like you know her. Keep it under wraps either way - we can't have that kind of exposure."

He nodded in agreement.

"You don't have to tell me that. I know what's at stake. Just wasn't prepared for seeing her here. Caught me by surprise."

He heard Ward shuffling his own belongings before addressing him.

"Make sure it doesn't happen again."

He highly doubted it - there was just something about her. He didn't remember much from academy but Jemma, he remembered. As vividly as she was standing before him today.

-oo-

The first thing he noticed was the friendly but efficient atmosphere that was constant on the plane. This operation would be impressive and instantly he felt like he was fitting in and being a valuable part of the team.

Pleased with his arrangement, he found Ward in one of the chairs, lounging and nursing a drink.

"It's not even noon and you already needed a stiff one."

He was greeted with a rather unnerved glare and a motion for him to sit down.

"Fitz, no matter what situation we are in, try to keep a cool head and follow my lead if possible. I know you don't have much experience in these kinds of things but we need to make it work."

Ward spoke as if there weren't plenty of daunting and maybe even more demanding tasks behind him. Hard and demanding experiments and thesis that he had managed to conduct and he will try his dimmest not to fail at this one as well.

"Yeah yeah, no need to remind me for the hundredth time. I know what to do."

He regarded Ward for a moment and then said, "It is you that is not blending in. I heard you were in a bit of a tiff with Coulson because you were angered to be working in a team and not all by your lonesome."

Ward only placed his drink on the table and looked out the small window.

"I needed to cause conflict because that is what my file says. He wouldn't expect me to go along with whatever he had planned without some friction. It works in my favor, so to speak."

He heard footsteps before he saw Ward go from a perceptive into a rather emotionless mask. Soon someone was standing next to them.

"Agent Ward, Fitz. I believe we found our first something, agent May will be there to canvass the area for any residual evidence, and you'll be helping her Ward. Fitz, you will be working with Simmons on this one. You're both scientists, I am sure you will find a common language."

No sooner had he finished his speech; he was already making his way to the front of the plane. Ward finished his drink only to see that Fitz was pouring himself a glass and quickly downing it. He looked at him curiously and Fitz only grimaced.

"I'll need it."

With that he walked away from his partner in crime and moved down towards the cargo area and the lab. It was time to face Jemma Simmons and make it seem natural. He was thankful for the strong drink but he felt he was screwed either way.

The lab door opened to reveal the said scientist placing whatever devices she could into the large duffel bag in front of her. She glanced at him and continued with her task.

"One might think I am over-preparing for our first case, but a lot of unknowns are in it and I don't know what we will actually need." she said with a light shrug and a smile at her own actions, before returning to place a small box inside with extreme care. Must be something sensitive.

"So, I'm taking everything. What about you?"

She was zipping the bag and he felt that he needed to hurry up if he wanted to make it in time and not embarrass himself for the tenth time on this mission. He quickly went to where the tracking and tracing equipment was and quickly looked over the scanners, before taking the bag that she had come to offer him.

"Thanks, I'll be quick about it."

It was time for work, later he can overthink his actions in here.