SUMMARY: "This is for you, May." - In which the team celebrates Melinda May's birthday, and she couldn't be happier.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In celebration of the season premiere, and of the fifteenth chapter, here is a slightly fluffier one, starring our favourite senior agents, because I do really love them. Speaking on the premiere, I actually haven't seen it yet, because it doesn't actually air until the 28th over where I live. So, no spoilers please?
This wasn't instead to be Philinda, but it kinda just sprung up on me. If you don't ship them, this chapter could still be taken purely platonically. Also, this is rather random, but I actually think May would be a very good mother. I think of her paragraph with Skye as a mother/daughter bonding time. I don't know, maybe it's just me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Birthday
"Happy birthday, May!"
"What?"
FitzSimmons are beaming at her expectantly, looking suspiciously bright and cheerful - several expressions she hasn't seen on them in a long time. May frowns at them in confusion, but they ramble on obliviously.
"We were wondering if you were allergic to anything?"
"Yeah, because we were thinking about-"
"Shush, Fitz! Don't spoil it!"
"Oh, because you're the world's best liar."
"Oh, Fitz! When will you stop bringing this up?"
"When you stop shooting agents in the chest!"
"It was a perfectly normal reaction under the circumstances, and besides, the bullets were non-lethal, you know that just as well as I do! Not to mention that-"
"No," May answers shortly, cutting both of them off mid sentence. Something resembling an amused smirk curled it's way onto her expressions as FitzSimmons snapped their heads back simultaneously.
"Sorry?"
"I'm not allergic to anything," she explains, much to the bafflement of the scientists. After all, it's better just to answer their question straight off. If she didn't, no doubt the scientists would bicker for a while longer.
"Oh. That's good," Simmons smiles brightly, leaning over to nudge Fitz gently with her shoulder.
"Yeah, because we wouldn't want you to swell up or anything," Fitz quips helpfully, looking slightly uncomfortable as Simmons rolls her eyes.
"Of course not, Fitz. Wouldn't it be horrible if she reacted to one of the ingredients in the-"
"Simmons! You're doing it again!"
...
Birthday. Happy birthday. Is that what FitzSimmons had said to her? Yes, it was. But that was impossible, no one knew her birthday except for...
"May?" She turns her head so quickly that Skye takes a step back, holding her hands out in front of her defensively. "Woah, sorry. Calm down."
May straightens up from her meditating position, turning to meet Skye with an expectant sigh. "Yes, Skye?"
"I just wanted to say.. happy birthday?" This forces May's eyes open, and she watches Skye curiously. "I mean, I just.. I know we don't talk much, and I'm not sure how much you actually like me, but.. I just want to say that I admire you."
Skye looks uncharacteristically nervous, swinging back and forth on her heels. It's a moment when May responds, but she nods her head. "Thank you."
Skye grins suddenly, and she almost seems to revert to her old self, slinging herself across the table leisurely. "What are you doing?"
"Meditating," May answers simply, turning back around and settling down once again. She closes her eyes and waits for the tell-tale footsteps of Skye leaving, but it doesn't come.
"That's cool, I guess." There's an awkward pause, and suddenly May realises that Skye's been upset lately. What with Ward, and Hydra...
"Sit."
"What?" Even without looking, May can sense the confusion in Skye's expression.
She gestures to the empty spot beside her, well-accustomed to the layout even though her eyes are still closed. "Sit," she repeats shortly. May's learned that the less talking in meditation, the better.
"Wait, really? You want me to join you and... yoga?"
"Yes," May nods, deciding not to comment on Skye's bad grammar or her incorrect terminology. For a long while, there's silence, and May half thinks that Skye's slipped away. But then she hears shuffling, and feels the presence of Skye settling down beside her.
"So, uh.. What do we actually do?"
"Close your eyes. Keep them closed. Relax. Clear your mind."
"Okay." The pause that follows is concentrated, but comforting. When Skye doesn't speak again, May cracks open an eye.
Skye's frowning in concentration, her eyes screwed shut and her expression one of someone who's dedicated to the task at hand. May can't help but smile.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Keep your eyes closed, Skye."
...
"May!" Triplett holds out a glass of alcohol to her, and she frowns suspiciously at it.
"Are you going to wish me happy birthday?"
"How'd you guess?" He smirks, and May takes the glass from him with a nod in thanks.
"The team's been bugging me all day."
"I should have known they'd spoil it," Trip grins as she swirls the liquid around in the glass.
"Spoil what?"
"You don't know? Forget I said anything," he says, brushing over his fumble smoothly. May frowns again, and she stares at him, suspicion beginning to creep its way up her spine because there's only one person in the Playground facilities that knows her birthday.
"Where's Coulson?"
The specialist shrugs, tipping back his head and downing his drink quickly. "Probably in his office. He's been busy lately, what with-"
"-yeah. I know," May cuts him off softly, because she does know. He's been working himself to the bone, and she has to admit that it worries her. They still don't know the side effects of the GH-325, and he's been on edge with her ever since he'd found out that she'd been lying. He rarely talks to her anymore - and by that she means a proper, genuine conversation. In fact, she can't honestly remember the last time she's seen him eat with everyone, as a team.
"Do you worry about him?"
"Of course I worry about him," May states clearly, shooting a side glance to the younger man. "You worry about someone you care about."
"You care about Coulson?" Triplett seems smug in a way strangely similar to Skye, but May only raises an eyebrow in response.
"Don't you?"
It then that he lets out a deep laugh, and she chugs down the drink in her hands to hide her wry smirk.
"Happy birthday, May."
...
The final straw is when Agent Koenig chirps a happy birthday as she's in the middle of meditating. She leaps up to her feet and marches through the hallways, much to Koenig's confusion, storming through the doors and into Coulson's office where the man in question is sitting at his desk.
"You told them it was my birthday," she accuses heavily.
Coulson raises his eyebrows and smiles casually. "I knew you would come and find me."
"Coulson.."
He sighs and gestures to the seat on the other side of the desk. May lowers herself into it lightly, leaning forward to hear what he had to say.
"Things haven't been the best lately, you know that." May definitely realises that. Ward is a backstabbing traitor, Skye hasn't been the same, Triplett's still finding his way around, and Fitz is still recovering his old skills. It's safe to say that business was not as usual.
"Yeah," she answers shortly.
"We need something light. Something to take their minds off everything, even for a day. What better to do that than-"
"-a birthday," May realises, and by Coulson's expression, she knows she's guessed correctly. It's then that she gives him one of her rare smiles, because simple acts of kindness like this show just how much he actually cares, and it's heartwarming, even if she knows that she would never be able to think the same way. "And you're throwing a birthday party?"
Coulson only looks mildly surprised at her question. "Did FitzSimmons let it slip?" She gives him a look, and he smirks again. "Oh, yeah. Nothing gets past the Calvary."
"Don't call me that, Phil," she warns, but she knows that Coulson can tell that she's not being serious. Or at least, not entirely serious.
"Enjoy yourself, May. This is for you," he says gently, surprising her. She raises an eyebrow at him doubtfully.
"You realise that today isn't my real birthday."
"The team needs this, Melinda."
"Why'd you pick me?"
"Hey, who else can celebrate their birthday twice a year?"
"I feel old."
"That happens. Try dying first."
...
"Happy birthday!"
May attempts to look surprised as various agents leap from behind sofas and tables. There's a cake on one of the benches, and a half-hearted sign. Despite the somewhat ragged celebration, she can't help but smile. It's the thought that counts, and they certainly look excited to please her.
"The ice queen smiles!" Skye gasps jokingly, pulling herself up to perch on the end of the bench. Triplett pulls a stool out next to her and seats himself. Fitz and Simmons clamber from their hiding spot, rubbing at their arms and necks.
"That was bloody cramped," Fitz grumbles, much to Simmons's gentle disapproval.
"Fitz! This is for May," the bio-chemist reprimands, but she beams at May cheerfully. "How old are you now?"
"That's classified information." They all spin to see Coulson smiling by the doorway, and the mood seems to brighten immediately.
"It's good to see you here, sir," Triplett nods.
"The present! We need to open the present," Skye announces all too seriously, leaning back precariously and reaching under the bench. She pulls out a single present, mostly wrapped in coloured paper, and sets it onto the table with grandeur.
May almost refuses it, but then she realises the trouble that they must've gone to get it and she walks forward to peer at it.
"Don't worry, it's not a bomb," Skye laughs, but May can detect a tinge of suppressed nervousness. After such a long time of hiding her own feelings, it's easy to spot someone else doing the same.
She opens it carefully, curious as to the odd bulky shape of the object. When she unwraps it, her eyes flicker to FitzSimmons immediately. "A gun?"
"The latest, newest model of the ICER," Simmons explains helpfully. "The only one, actually. We would have made a few more for the whole team, but.."
"Resources are low at the moment," Fitz finishes, looking regretfully at the weapon in her hands. "It might be a bit scratchy to begin with."
May feels gratified that the team has spent some of their very precious scraps on her, and her lips lift up into a small smile. "Thank you."
"Oh, well. It wasn't just us," Simmons adds. "The whole team pulled it together. For you, May."
Mays smile grows wider, and she peers at the gun carefully.
"Hey, look. There's even something to recognise that it's yours," Skye points out, hopping down from her chair and striding over. "We didn't want to put your name, for security purposes, so.. we put a horse instead."
Sure enough, there's a tiny horse engraved on the side, with its mane flying loose and its head rearing in the air. Something about the way Skye puts it makes May proud. No longer is there the naive, witty hacker. There is an independent woman with intelligence. And while May misses the old Skye, there is something gratifying about seeing her become more confident.
"Thank you," she repeats again, and she's met with welcome smiles.
"But now, it's time for the real deal," Skye declares, reaching back and tugging out a pack of drinks. "It's on the house."
"Oh, yeah. Me and Simmons also whipped up a special surprise for you," Triplett grins, and then suddenly a cake is being brought out from the fridge. It's a simple little thing, white and most likely vanilla flavoured, but the one thing that stands out most is the SHIELD emblem carefully iced onto the top.
May carefully makes a point of cutting around the emblem, so as not to split it in half.
...
"Happy birthday, May."
"Phil.." May gives him a sharp look, moving back in her stool. The room is quiet, the others had gone not long ago to watch a movie. They had invited her to come, but she had refused politely. There's no point in watching with them, despite the fact that they still think it's her birthday.
"Sorry, I got used to the act," Coulson grins, leaning against the side of the door.
"Don't you have business to attend to?" May questions, mostly because she knows he most likely does. Being Director is no easy feat, especially with the current predicament. May knows Fury meant well, and that it's an honour for Coulson, but some part of her can't help but dislike him for making Coulson so busy.
"Yeah," he admits, giving her a slightly sheepish look. "But I figured that I had more important stuff to do."
"This isn't important, Phil," she sighs, but she makes no protest when he settles himself down on the stool next to her, grabbing the only remaining beer from the pack. They sit in comfortable silence for a while, before he speaks again.
"Thanks."
She gives him a questioning look, but he's staring at something May can't seem so she speaks instead. "What for?"
"For keeping the team together. I've been busy. I barely know what's happening with FitzSimmons. Skye's... different. And I still don't know whether I can trust Triplett," Coulson says in short, clipped sentences. Not for the first time, May can see the weariness tracing his features, the worry lines that have cropped up that seem to make him older.
"You don't have to worry," she begins slowly, "Like you said, you've been busy. I understand. The tram understands, Coulson. They're not going to hate you. I have your back. We have your back."
Slowly, the thin lines on Coulson's line begin to fade, and he looks once again like he resembles the easy-going man he once was. "Thanks."
May only nods in return, knowing that that is enough. Coulson sits up suddenly, sliding from his stool and taking May's beer from her grasp.
"Let's go join the others for that movie."
"Phil.." she warns.
"Yeah, I know you don't do movies. But this is for the team, Melinda. They want you to watch with them."
There's a long pause before she answers, but eventually she nods. "Fine. No chick-flicks."
"Strictly no chick-flicks policy."