Chapter 29 – City of Light

Paris was busy. Paris was always busy and Ward was getting tired of moving from roof top to roof top in an attempt to keep up with Simmons, Skye and May. The team had arrived in Paris three days ago and it had taken Ward another day to catch up with them because the team was now following their own itinerary and not Fury's. From what he could tell Simmons and Skye were shopping and May was their security, although in an attempt to blend in May would occasionally have to appear to be shopping. Ward found it almost funny watching the Calvary attempt to be an American tourist in one of the busiest cities in the world.

Every so often Ward would see Skye or May glance around, scanning the crowds, while May was obviously looking for threats Skye's look was different and Ward secretly hoped that she was searching him, searching for a sign that he was still looking out for her.

Ward had been alone since Hawkeye had left him in London where after a lengthy debate with Fury, in which Ward continued to sign, it was decided that he was more than capable of holding off any threats to the team without help from the archer. Ward had also pointed out that he was less likely to be seen alone and any one sporting arrow wounds would draw too much attention both from the team and from local authorities.

Over the past two days Ward was beginning to regret the decision, in London the team had either stayed together or on base, making Ward's job relatively easy. However here in Paris the team had split up multiple times and Ward had to decide who the bigger target was, usually it was Skye, in fact it was always Skye. Barton had informed Ward of Romanoff's surveillance sighting and considering Sir had promised to call his 'minions' off Ward worried that the surveillance was those who meant Skye harm, those who wanted her captured, dead or alive.

The roof that Ward was now crouched on gave him a perfect view of the street below, he would have preferred to be at street level but with May around he didn't want to take any chances.

"Nice view, isn't it?"

Ward spun to face the voice he had hoped to never hear again, taking a defensive stance Ward eyed the man that had joined him on the roof, "You here to finish the job you started in London?"

Sir chuckled, "If I wanted you dead you would be. I saved your live, you should be grateful."

Ward gave a small smile but kept his guard up, "You're the one who almost killed me in the first place."

"I was protecting my family," Sir snapped, taking a step forward.

Ward didn't back down, taking a step forward of his own, "No, I was protecting your family."

"Which is why I stopped and why I fixed you," Sir shrugged.

"And you did that how?" Ward asked, generally interested in the answer.

"All you need to know is that I did. The secrets of my family aren't yours to know," Sir replied.

This time it was Ward that took the step forward, "If you want me to protect that family then maybe I should know its secrets."

"Not today."

Ward was annoyed, "You're here for a reason, Sir. You said you'd stay away if I protected her, I'm protecting her yet you're still here."

"That girl is the last of my family, call me over protective," Sir replied, holding his ground, "I'm just checking in, I did warn you I would be around. I'm sure you have questions, I'll answer three."

Why is it always three, Ward thought, "Why are people coming after Skye?"

The look in Sir's eyes was one of pain, "Skye, as you call her, is the last of my family. The rest of my family, my other children, were hunted down and killed, they want to finish my family off, and that means taking her out of the picture."

"That doesn't answer the question of why, just because she's your daughter?" Ward asked, in the entire conversation he never let his guard down.

"Not just because of who she is but also what she is."

"What is she?"

Sir gave a small smile, "Is that your second question?"

"Yes," Ward said, trying to keep his voice neutral.

"Skye is special, she sees what no one else can. That's all you need to know," Sir replied, using a finger to wipe away some blood that managed to drip into his eye.

It was at this moment Ward realized the bleeding man wasn't bleeding as much as he was the last time they met. Last time he had been bleeding from cuts, head to toe, now he was only bleeding from his hands and face.

Sir narrowed his eyes, taking in Ward's stare, "Do you have a final question or should I leave you to your protection detail?"

Ward looked down at the street below, barely making out Skye in the crowds, "Who is after her?"

Sir followed Ward's gaze and sighed, "When they learn what she is everyone will be after her. And I mean everyone."

"Well," Ward sighed, finally dropping his guard and rubbing his eyes, "That may make things difficult. Who knows what she is?"

"You've used up your questions Ward," Sir smiled, the smile was creepy and chilled Ward to the bone.

However Ward smiled in return, hiding the fear this man brought out in him, "You want me to protect your daughter then I need to know what I'm protecting her from."

"You know there are nine realms, yes?" Sir sighed, wiping more blood from eyes.

Ward frowned, "You mean Asgard? Like that."

"You're education is lacking boy." Sir laced his voice with contempt, "But you are correct, Asgard is one of the nine realms. Muspelheim, Alfheim, Vanaheim, Jotunheim, Nifleheim, Svartalfheim, Helheim and your world of Midgard are the others."

"Thanks for the history lesson, I assume you have a point," Ward snapped.

Sir took a step forward forcing Ward to put his guard up again. At Ward's stance Sir smiled creepily again, "Of those words seven hunt me and mine. The Vanir do not hunt their own and you humans do not know of our existence, when you learn you too will join the hunt."

"Vanir? That's Vanaheim, right?" Ward asked. "Fury said you were from earth, or at least spent most of your life here."

"This Fury is not wrong. I have spent the last two hundred years of my life on this planet." Suddenly Sir smiled at the memory of his life, "I have lived, I have loved and I have lost on this planet. I have a small affinity for this world and its people, my children's mother was of this world but you will hunt us all the same."

"You burned a village to the ground in a single night and yet you fear my kind?" Ward smiled, almost laughing.

Anger spread across Sir's face, "I do not fear your kind, Ward. They fear me."

"I thought you said we didn't know what you are." Ward said, eyeing Sir.

"Some of your kind do. The ones you call SHIELD, HYDRA, SWORD, they all know my kind exist but they do not know of our skills." Sir took another step forward, this one forced Ward back, "They will hunt us when they learn. Everyone hunts us when they learn what we are and what we can do."

"What are you? What is Skye?" Ward asked, anger dripping into his voice. He was growing tired of Sir's games.

"We were once pacifists and healers, now we are monsters and murders. We were once many, now we are two. They want our blood, be it from our beating heart or our rotting corpse." Sir now eyed Ward, all his pain and anger filling his gaze, "Your job is to make sure my daughter does not succumb to that fate." He threw Ward an object, "I believe you know what this is."

Looking at the object in his hand Ward raised an eyebrow, holding back a really sarcastic comment he replied, "Yeah, it's called a phone. What it's for?"

"For me to contact you. I have the feeling you do not like these face to face meetings," Sir smiled.

"Considering how the last one ended, you're not my favourite person to meet face to face with," Ward snapped.

"Then we will not meet again, unless absolutely necessary."

"You trust me now, do you?" Ward smiled.

"I trust that you want to protect my daughter." Sir shrugged. He then turned and walked away.

"You know you answered more than three questions." Ward called after him.

Sir didn't turn around and didn't respond. He disappeared from the roof quickly, leaving Ward alone on a roof in the middle of Paris.

Author's Note: One of my longest chapters yet.

I think Paris is the City of Light if not then just deal with the chapter name I can't be bothered changing it if it's wrong.

I know people wanted some more answers from Sir and I hope this gives you them, if not there will be even more answers later on, so you can just wait a little while longer.

PLEASE REVIEW, I'm starting to get writer's block again and if you want me to continue these daily updates then I need the encouragement.