Chapter 2
Its been 3 days since Eric agreed to stay with Shield.
He tells himself that this is the best choice from the available bad choices...
Since joining Shield he's kept himself pretty secluded and confined to his quarters.
He still remembers the expression everyone had on their faces when he went full on Dwarf Form in France...
Although people will eventually learn to accept him, he knows they will always see him as a monster.
The only person who hasn't treated him like a monster so far is Joey
==========================================
Feeding Time at the Zoo
Eric is lying on his Bed rolled over on his side just staring at the wall...
He is thinking to himself how everything is different now
No longer is he alone and running from place to place, or night club to night club...
He should be happy, but he isn't...
He tells himself he should trust shield, but he doesn't... not yet.
'Eric?' - a voice from the door
'Go away...' he shouts
'Its me, Joey..' the voice affirms.
Eric sits up in his bed and suddenly realises he hasn't seen Joey since the Directors office,
when he basically said he would kick Thor's Ass if he tried to take him away..
That was 3 days ago...
Eric buttons up a shirt quickly, and moves to the door and opens it to Joey who is wearing a full Shield uniform.
Eric sees the Shield logo on his lapel which immediately makes him distrustful, but at the same time... its Joey... he wants to trust him.
'Joey..umm Hi...' Eric says nervously...
'Hi...' Joey responds...
'They're waiting for us...' Joey says cautiously
Eric suddenly remembers that in order to facilitate his accommodation at the base, Joey agreed to 'feed' Eric under supervision of Fitz-Simmons, in order to see if an artificial food source could be made.
'Do we have to... I mean... it will be weird... with them all watching...' says Eric trying to back out
'Come on we are grown men... and besides... its a condition of you staying...' says Joey
'Shield can't just let you go out into the world and feed on random strangers, you would get exposed eventually... this is the best compromise...'
'Besides... thought you were done running...' retorts Joey, trying to lift Erics spirits...
'Hold on...' Eric says, with a frown and rolling his eyes...
Eric re-enters his quarters and puts a pair of sneakers on, while he does so... Joey steps into the doorway to see the inside of Erics Quarters
'Think yours are slightly bigger than mine... ' Joey jokes, knowing that they are identical...
'Its rather dark though...' Joey points out
'I can er... you know...' Eric points out.
'Ah... yes, see in the dark... forgot about that...' Joey remembers
Joey notices that the quarters are very dark and depressing - it looks like Eric hasnt made any attempt to personalize the quarters. Joey fears that Eric might be depressed and withdrawn.
'Right... lets get this over with... lead the way...' Eric says coldly..
Eric closes the doors to his quarters and both Men walk down the hall towards the Medical wing..
===============================================
They arrive at the medical wing expecting half of Shield to be present when they enter the med-lab they find Simmons preparing a medical bed...
'Ah... just in time...' she says in a nervous perky voice.
'No Fitz?' asks Joey
'No.. he's working on making an upgrade to the Quinn Jet...'
'If... you want... I can get him... I mean... do you want a Male doctor...' - she says nervously (she realizes she doesn't know if this entails private parts or not)
'Er... no.. thats fine, its nothing like that...' Eric says...
Erics face lights up with a cheeky smile as he suddenly realizes what Simmons was thinking...
'Oh my God...' he whispers to himself...
'So... before we do start, I'd like to hear more about the process of how you feed...'
'Anything you can tell me about the biochemistry of it would be very interesting and invaluable to our research...'
'Research?' asks Eric.
'Oh... I thought Coulson explained that we would be conducting some non-invasive tests to just find out more about you... he did say didn't he...' - she says nervously...
'Yeah, I guess... I just don't like hearing it called research... sounds weird... like im going to be experimented on...'
'Oh don't worry, you wont feel a thing...' Simmons tries to encourage him
'So... the feeding process... the last time we saw you feed was in the Containment Module... just before you 'Whoooosheed' away...'
'What sort of side effects did you have afterwards' she turns to Joey...
'Well... I er... felt bit dizzy and then woke up a day later...' Joey says nervously...
Joey doesn't want to lie to Simmons, but at the same time doesn't want to make it sound like the Feeding process is particularly rough.
'Just felt like a bad hang-over the next day...'
'Oooh you poor thing, I remember doing Tequilla at this bar in Washington once, and the next day my head was thumping...' Simmons starts to talk nonsense
'...but I felt fine after I got a greasy breakfast the next day...' - Joey interjects...
'... the cure to any hang-over...' - Simmons laughs..
'Hmmm, that is interesting... did you just feel tired the next day or was there nausea, vomiting, headache...'
'..ummm it was mostly just tiredness, felt bit dizzy and just didn't wanna get out of bed...' - Joey.
'Oh.. you were in bed?... I didn't reali...' Simmons starts... assuming that they both slept together...
'NO!' - Eric and Joey both exclaim...
'I took the sofa...' - says Eric
'Oh my God'... Joey and Eric - sighing to each-other...
'Right... well... lets get you both hooked up...' - Simmons says, realizing she just made the atmosphere extra tense...
Eric unbuttons his shirt to let Simmons attach the sensors to his chest. They weren't the typical heart sensor type ones, these were instead large black pads that were about the size of a hand.
Eric almost completely ignores Simmons as he looks across the room at Joey who is looking back. A sort of half smile forms on both their faces as they realize how awkward Simmons just made it...
Its the first smile of the day that Eric has had and he suddenly realizes it himself.
'Just one here, and two here... oh and if you can wear this too...' Simmons says, as handing him a large helmet shaped device with many wires coming out of it.
'Whats this for?' Eric says
'Am I learning to ride a motorcycle?...' He jokes.
'Oh.. course not... this just measures Brain Activity during the feeding process...'
She finishes setting up Eric, who had to remove his shirt to make room for the electrodes and wires...
He isn't particularly that self conscious of his body, he has a nice body and he knows it, but he's just never been in the situation where he was showing it to people in a non-intimate situation.
Usually, when he is showing off his body, its to score a snack.
He sits on the side of the bed, crossing his arms as best he could with the wires hanging down from around him.
'You look ridiculous...' Joey laughs, as he is getting hooked up to similar sensors...
Eric looks up, and suddenly feels the weight of the Helmet on his head, The weight of the Helmet makes every subtle movement feel sluggish and unbalanced...
'Really... your going to laugh at me in my moment of need...' Eric says only half sarcastically while he rolls his eyes upwards looking at the ceiling.
'Sorry, we haven't had a chance to make these sensors more fashionable...' - Simmons to the two of them...
'There... ready...' Simmons says ready for the show..
'Kay... so... where do you want us?' - Joey, as he claps his hand looking to get the show on the road.
'Well... I will go into the observation room, and monitor the data...' Simmons, as she leaves the room.
'So... are you ready...' Joey says kinda bricking it...
'Are you sure you want to do this... I mean... you don't have to...' Eric says, realizing that this must seem like an assignment or a chore to Joey.
'If I don't do this, then who will...' responds Joey..
'Besides... if memory serves, it wasn't half bad from where I was last time...' jokes Joey
'.. are you scared...' asks Eric
'No..' says Joey, smiling at Eric
'I know you wouldn't hurt me...' says Joey
Joey steps closer to Eric, the cables and wires attached to their bodies touching and clattering.
'I'm ready if you are...' Joey says as he looks at Eric's eyes, then down to his lips and back to his Eyes
'Ok... if you want me to stop, just squeeze my hand...' Eric says hesitantly
Eric takes Joey's hand and moves his face towards Joey's, he opens his mouth and brings it close to Joey's...
Joey half expecting a kiss, this time is surprised to feel a sensation of air being taken out his lungs...
It was a different sensation than before and it didn't quite agree with him...
'Woooah... what was that...' exclaimed Joey 'I just thought...' reassuring Eric
'Guys im not registering any energy transfer, did something go wrong?...' - Simmons from the other room.
'I didn't want to feed on you...' - Eric says as he sits down on the table
'...why not?' says Joey, suddenly feeling inadequate...
'No.. not like that... I do want to feed on you... I just, shouldn't 'have' to...' -Eric, not finding the right words.
'Not sure I follow...' Joey still puzzled...
'..this was a mistake...' says Eric, getting up off the table...
'... not so fast..' Joey, as he pushes him back down on the table with one hand.
Eric looking at Joey suddenly realizing that he's not getting out of this situation without an explanation...
'I don't want you feeding me, cause you've been ordered to do so...' says Eric
'... you think im here because Coulson ordered me?!' - Joey says puzzled...
'Arent you?' - says Eric, hoping for an answer to the contrary.
'I volunteered because you need someone, and I did it before and it doesn't bother me...' says Joey
'How charitable...' laughs Eric
'Oh shut up...' says Joey as he moves closer to Eric He takes his hand and places it on Eric's cheek and moves in closer for a kiss.
Eric reciprocates and the two share a kiss.
Simmons in the next room thinking that this is the feeding process starting is examining the data, still puzzled why nothing is registering yet...
'Guys there might be something wrong with the sensors...' - Simmons from the observation room
The two finish their kiss, looking to the observation room one way glass, then back at each other...
'What was that...' Eric asks.
'That was what makes this worth while...' Joey says with a smile on his face.
'Free kisses... gotcha...' Eric says smiling...
'I guess we shouldn't let Simmons down... shes expecting a show...' Eric says, finally agreeing to do it...
'its about time... I was thinking I'd ...' Joey tries to respond.. interrupted as Eric lands another kiss on him.
As the two kiss, the sensors in the Observation room start to register physiological data.
Simmons starts paying attention to the data, as a purple light shines in through the one way glass.
She lifts her gaze to the source of the purple light...
As the purple light fades, Eric and Joey in the next room, finish their kiss...
'I'm not unconscious...' Joey, says a little shocked...
'I wasn't that hungry this time...' Eric responds...
'Woah...' Joey says, balancing himself on the table with his hand.
'You should probably sit down for a second... ' says Eric, as he helps him sit down on the table.
'Guys... the data we got was very interesting, can we do that again...' - Simmons says, focusing on the data that she collected.
Joey raises his eyebrows in disbelief, doesn't she realize he just got his life sucked out of him.
'It be best if we wait a few days for Joey...to...' Eric responds smiling at her request...
'Oh of course... I forgot...
How do you feel Joey... any discomfort?' - Simmons suddenly focusing on Joey
'Umm, yeah, I feel fine, little dizzy - kinda feels like after sitting down for too long and then getting up fast... kinda like Vertigo...' - Joey trying to explain it as best he can.
'I was expecting to be out cold for a day though... so... guess its all good.' - Joey smiling at Eric.
'OK guys, feel free to get Dressed...'
'I will collect some blood samples from you both before you go and that's us for today... same time 4 days from now then?' - Simmons wrapping up...
'Cant wait...' Eric, smiling to Joey
Nictus Blues
In the Directors office, Mack and Coulson are having a heated discussion over Eric
'Sir, I have to object, your putting the security of everyone on this base in danger by having him here...' - Mack
'Where would you put hims then Mack' - Coulson, knowing there is no other answer that doesn't result in Erics death.
'We let him go, hes survived for 700 years on Earth he can survive another 700...' Mack, knowing how ridiculous what he just said was.
'He didn't have Hydra after him for those 700 years...' Coulson 'Its simple... if we don't have him on our side, then Hydra will happily turn him into a weapon...' - Coulson
'I'm sorry Sir, but isn't that what your proposing we do?' - Mack
Coulson now visibly annoyed...
'Mack I put you in charge of Alien Artefacts, that does not give you a say in personnel...' - Coulson
'Live with it...' - Coulson, ending the conversation
Joey and Eric now in the breakout area both eating a late breakfast bacon bap.
Daisy, Lincoln and Fitz enter...
'Hey guys...' Daisy, as she walks over with Lincoln
Fitz observes from another table.
'Hi guys...' - Joey says awkwardly.
Everyone knows that there is a bit of a romance between Joey and Eric, but no one has really been brave enough to say it out loud yet.
'If your wondering where Simmons is, she having a field-day with the data she got this morning...' - Daisy to Joey and Eric
'Yeah... she was walking down the hallway with her face buried in printouts of data while trying to eat a 'Scone'' - Daisy doing an English accent impression for the word 'Scone'.
'Don't think she even noticed me when she passed me in the hall...'
Eric suddenly feeling responsible for being center of attention cant help but feel like its 'his fault'.
'Sorry about that...' -Eric says apologetically, barely lifting his face to meet Daisy's
'What are you sorry for, Simmons lives for this sort of thing...' - Daisy tries to lighten his mood.
Eric takes a big breath and exhales... not knowing what to say next.
Lincoln noticing how withdrawn Eric is from people suddenly starts paying attention to his body language while Daisy is speaking to the two He observes how Eric looks to Joey for reassurance, how Eric barely makes eye contact and much of his gaze is on the wall or floor.
'If you guys wanna come down for movie night, we are getting some action movies in tonight...' - Daisy, extending the invite to the two men.
'Thanks Daisy' - Joey Eric just smiles at Daisy as the conversation ends. Eric not knowing if the invite was meant for him or not, even though he was obviously included.
Daisy and Lincoln out in the hall
'Daisy, I think he's depressed...' - Lincoln to Daisy.
'Joey? Don't be silly, he and Eric are all loved up...' Daisy responds...
'No.. I mean Eric... he's withdrawn, barely talks and doesn't engage...' - Lincoln 'Well I mean, I can sort of understand, he's just in a new environment... It will take some time to adjust...' - Daisy.
'I've seen people who are depressed or develop PTSD as result of Transition, this guy has all the signs...' 'You saw how he reacted to that Asgardian... that was clearly some 700 year old pent up PTSD...'
'You put him in a hostile situation, you don't know how he will react...'
Daisy remembers back to the video feed of Elliot Randolph and Eric talking face to face.
Elliot is the most unimpressive Asgardian to ever exist, and just the sheer mention that he was Asgardian sent Eric into a panic.
'Alright... I admit, he did react badly...' Daisy agrees
'React Badly?...thats an understatement...' Lincoln
'He is gonna need therapy, it could be years before hes ready for any field work...'
'Joey handled himself pretty well during the mission... I'm sure Eric will be fine when he gets his chance...' Daisy tries to be the voice of reason.
'He could get someone killed...' exclaims Lincoln
Back in the Medlab - Lincoln, Daisy and Simmons are talking about Eric Fitz walks in and joins the conversation...
'...If Dr Garner was still here, I would recommend he have a session with Eric... but...' - Simmons '...hes off killing Inhumans as Lash...' Linoln says coldly.
'Gemma.. I know its a big ask, but could you try and work a Psych-Eval into the regime for Eric...' - Daisy asks.
'I will try my best, but what if he finds out...' - Simmons asks unsure..
'...Technically he would need a Psych-Eval before he can be cleared for any field duty anyway...' Fitz joins in...
'Of course...' - Simmons realising it shouldnt be a problem.
Daisy and Lincoln leave the Med-Lab, leaving Fitz and Simmons..
Since the Operation in England, they haven't had much chance to talk about what happened on Maveth with Will.
The excitement of Eric's arrival and the operation in France kinda meant there was no chance for them to talk.
'Gemma, there hasn't been a chance for me to... ummm... talk about what happened on Maveth...' - Fitz starts
'No don't be silly, I understand, I read the debrief... ' - Simmons avoiding eye contact
'I really wish I could have bought him back...' - Fitz says regretfully.
'...Im glad you didn't... we don't need another super monster running around...' - Simmons trying to stay upbeat...
'Thats not what I meant... Will... he...'
Simmons interrupts...
'Will died moments after I escaped from that planet, there was nothing either of us could have done...'
Simmons keeps her back turned to Fitz, pretending that she is busy.
Fitz leaves...
Im me but so is he...
'So you melted a hole in your Apartment?' - Eric to Joey
'I couldn't control my powers, anything I looked at or got scared around... If it was metal it just melted...' Joey explained.
Remembering back to what he saw in France, the frying pan and the bullets he was able to melt in mid air...
'You seem to have got a handle on it pretty quick' - Eric complimenting Joey
'At first I saw it as a disease or infection... I was just waiting for it to go away, but it never was...
Daisy and Mac told me that basically... I am never going to be able to go back to my old life... my apartment.. See my parents...
Heck.. even my ex...'
'I actually saw my ex on the news telling the world that he 'had no idea I was an alien...'' - Joey to eric
'Ouch...' - Eric to joey
'The A.T.C.U. interviewed my family, but of course I couldn't get in touch with them myself.
Ended up having to record a message for them while Shield delivered it to them...'
'Sorry Mom... I'm something called an 'Inhuman' I inherited it from either you or dad...
I have super powers that let me melt metal...'
'No idea how she took it...' - Joey trying to be cavalier about it, but it obviously still bothers him.
'For me it was kinda... well... totally different...' - Eric starts 'I mean, im not an Inhuman, I've always had powers... but I remember when I merged with this body...'
'Wait a sec, I keep meaning to ask...' Joey interrupts...
'You say 'I' as in you are the Nictus, but does that mean you are controlling someone else's body?'
'Its more involved than that...' Eric tries to explain
'At first, our personalities are completely different - the Nictus has its own personality, and the Host has their own...
The host is more a less in control of the body... but the Nictus personality is able to communicate with the Host...
Its like sharing feelings and thoughts...
For the first few years I could actually see myself and talk to myself...'
'You could see yourself...' - Joey asks...
'Yeah, clear as day... the Nictus took on the form of me, and would walk around talking to me...
'What would he say to you?' - Joey asks...
'Well.. at first, I thought... DEMON!'
'It was like 12th century Norway... so seeing things was never a good sign... and mental health wasn't an exact science back then...'
'but...He never lied to me...'
I mean obviously merging was beneficial to us both... I had actually taken a sword through the Gut... so I would be dead if he hadn't found me...'
'There you go again...' you switch from 'him', 'me', 'I' - when referring to the Nictus and your body. Joey states , still confused...
'Its really complicated to explain...
But in a nutshell...
It started out that there was 2 of us in this body, and now neither of those people are here...
We merged over the years into a new person...' - Eric tries his best to explain...
'Its not like someone died, its more like we just became more like each other...'
'You only see the Nictus walking and talking to you in your mind, if your still going through the Merge...
It means your personalities are still separate...'
'Now... we are one person...'
'The Nictus inside me has the name Azazeel, but on Earth we agreed to use my name... Eric...'
'I'm glad ...' - Joey
'Azazeel doesn't exactly roll off the tongue easily...'
Eric Smiles...
'Well.. its not a human name...'
'So... yeah...
For the first few years I used to see this ghostly image of me and he used to advise me...' - Eric
'Taught me how to use my powers, how to feed without killing...'
'I remember back then, the world was huge...
Suddenly being able to teleport anywhere on the planet... it became lot smaller...' Eric says with a sad look on his face...
'Well... that's alight surely...' - Joey
'I'd take teleporting over Metal bending any day...' Joey suddenly realizing he used the 'Metal Bending' term...
'Ha... I knew it... you watch 'Avatar' - Eric catches Joey in his slip...
'Wait... I never said I watched it... I am just... aware of what Metal Bending is...' - Joey tries to laugh it off
Coulson enters the room with Fitz and walks towards Joey and Eric.
'Hate to interrupt...' - Coulson 'We need to proceed with the indexing process...'
Eric knew they would be asking questions about his abilities but didn't realize that it was going to be so soon...
'Umm.. sure...' Eric says hesitantly...
'Now?' - he asks
'No time like the present...' Coulson says with a optimistic voice.
Eric and Joey start to get up...
'Not you Agent Gutierrez, just Eric at the moment...'
Eric looks back to Joey and swallows, feeling immediately uneasy...
'I will catch you later...' Joey to Eric..
You can effectively fly?
Coulson, Fitz and Eric are now in the Directors office and they are about to start indexing Eric
So far they haven't insisted on hooking him up to any devices or anything... so it seems to be going alright..
'Just need to make a new entry...' Fitz murmers to himself as he types into the computer...
'So Eric...
Is there a last name?' - Coulson
'These days I just use Smith...' - Eric
'Back in Norway 700 years ago the family names were bit weird...'
Coulson suddenly realizing that Asgardians have a weird naming system too.
'Yeah, I know what you mean...
The Asgardians I have met all called me 'Son of Cole'... I never got that for a long time...
When Coulson mentions Asgardians...
Eric sits up in his chair...
'Don't worry, there are no Asgardians here and I still maintain my promise. Your under our protection...' - Coulson
'Sir.. we are ready...' - Fitz
'Ok... so for the purposes of the Indexing, I guess we can start with your name..
Eric Smith...' - Coulson
'Any other names...?'
'Well.. My Nictus half goes by Azazeel...' - Eric Eric kinda sighs and smiles a bit...
'Something funny?' - Coulson
'No.. its not that, its just that I spent the last 30 minutes trying to explain this to Joey... I kinda wish I recorded it now... ' - Eric
'How far back do you need me to go? I mean... we are technically over a thousand years old...' - Eric
'Lets start with the events that bought you to Earth...' - Coulson
'Well... as I said... I was imprisoned by Asgardians, due to be executed...
An Asgardian took pity, and let me stow away in a Shadow Cyst...
'What are Shadow Cysts...' Coulson asks
'They are crystals that look like Dark purple or black quartz. But they aren't formed from the ground... they are formed from dead condensed Nictus remains...' - Eric says, in an unhappy tone..
'Shadow Cysts were never used lightly... they were really only used I guess as what you could call a 'Life Raft' or as a means of Stasis...' - Eric.
'To use a Shadow Cyst, its a big sacrifice... you basically have to kill your host body and bond your Essence to the Crystal...' - Eric reaffirms...
'I didn't think we used them that much... but I guess my Ancestors used them lots of Colonization.'
'Colonization? So your kind existed on other planets?' - Coulson asks.
'Yeah... but I guess that's why the Asgardians wiped us out...' -Eric says coldly.
'We obviously tried to Colonize the wrong planet... I mean, I can understand...' Eric starts... then stops...
'Understand?' Coulson asks...
'Back then, the Nictus race were not like me...'
'They would arrive on a world and immediately bond with local life forms..
'They would then feed on the ones they haven't bonded with...'
'So the bonding process doesn't have to be voluntary...' - Coulson asks.
'No... but...' Eric tries to respond
Suddenly sensing that Coulson might be implying that he forcibly took the body he is in...
'This body was Dying... the Nictus offered to heal my wounds if he could share my body...'
'He did not force his way inside and take me over...'
'So how does that work...' - Coulson
'Its complicated...' - Eric
'Uncomplicated it...' Coulson
'...' Eric Sighs...
'Lets imagine you have two very different personalities...
'You have them both in the same body, over time they influence each other, and merge...
Over time... neither one of them can be differentiated from the other...'
'Ha.. its kinda like mixing paint...
'Mix Red and Blue paint... and after enough stirring, its purple...' - Eric suddenly realises that the paint mixing analogy might be easier to swallow.
'So did you at any point control your host...' - Coulson asks firmly.
'Your not listening... its not like the Nictus was able to directly control me...'
'Its like I could hear him talking to me, and after years of listening - we started thinking the same...'
'Then after that... I don't even notice him anymore... its just me... we are one...'
'Interesting...' Coulson as he writes something on a sheet of paper.
Eric somewhat nervous, tries to crane his neck to see the paper... before straightening up again when Coulsons gaze rises again..
'So.. your powers...' - Coulson asks.
'Finally.. an easy question...' - Eric sighs... as he reaches for a sip of water...
'Well...
As a Kheldian... our essence is pure energy... that gives us several energy based abilities..
But... because generations ago, we changed into Nictus... our energy based abilities also changed to be I guess.. 'Negative Energy'.
'Can you clarify Negative Energy...' Fitz interrupts...
Eric had forgotten Fitz was there recording the data in the index.
'I guess... the best way to think of it is that Kheldians were pure energy, and we became the opposite of them...
Like two energy waves that were equal in strength, but the Nictus energy was opposite, and harmful to Kheldians... Our Negative energy, saps the strength of energy. - Eric not really understanding it himself..
'How did the Nictus alter themselves to achieve the transformation into 'Nictus'?' - Coulson
'I honestly don't know... the Divide happened generations before I was born...' - Eric tries to explain
'All I know is that it involved using Science and Experimentation with large devices...'
'So this negative energy, what is it capable of achieving? ' Coulson asks
'Well... it can affect space to a degree...
With enough focus, I can open short lived portals to other locations...
Thats how I can teleport..' Eric elaborates.
'Nictus can also use the Negative Energy as a weapon...' - Eric explains
'The Asgardians used to use energy shields, and our Negative energy was able to penetrate those shields...'
'Thats probably why they saw us as such a huge threat...' Eric says solemnly
Eric takes a breath, and tries to focus on the defensive aspects of his abilities...
'Im able to generate protective fields around myself using the negative energy...'
'I can use it to sap the kinetic energy of physical blows, sap thermal energy from fire or heat sources, as well as reduce the effect of energy based weapons...'
'So you are pretty much indestructible...' Coulson laughs...
'Far from it... I can reduce the impact that bullets might have on me... but they will still leave a bruise...
'While Fire doesn't burn my skin, its not the most pleasant experience...'
'And what was that thing you transformed into in France...' - Coulsons interest piques
'Ah...
Well... as an energy based life form... I kinda retain memory of some of the physical forms that my ancestors had as hosts...
Im able to transform into those forms...'
'So you can shapeshift!' - Coulson says shocked...
'No... not really...
Its not like I can say, 'I wana look like Lincoln', so tomorrow I will look like Lincoln...
I can transform only into the form of the species, not an exact replica of a specific member of the species...'
'The one I did in France was called a Dwarf form...'
'Im sorry, but according to the reports I got, that thing was anything but a Dwarf...' - Coulson commenting on the size of the beast.
'It wasn't called Dwarf because it was small...
That species used to exist on the surface of Dwarf Type stars...
They evolved very dense armor, resistance to pressure and well... they are great for scaring the hell out of the bad guys...'
'The other form I can transform into is...' - Eric stops... and rolls his eyes...
'Is there a problem?' Coulson asks
'Well.. this form isn't called Nova...because it lived in a Nova...
To be honest, im not sure why we used to call it Nova form... this species used to live inside certain types of Nebulae.'
'Imagine a space born squid that could shoot energy blasts at 20 people at once...'
'They aren't the most resilient in combat, but they could fly pretty fast and attack from the air...'
'So you can effectively fly...' - Coulson starting to lose count of how many powers Eric has.
'Yeah... Kinda...' - Eric says... sensing that both Fitz and Coulson are in a state of shock and awe...
'Is there a problem?' - Eric asks Coulson...
'No... not at all...' Coulson tries to hide his reaction...
'...Well.. actually sir...' - Fitz interrupts..
'What is it Fitz...' - Coulson
'The input form for Powers... it wasn't designed to handle this many... I kinda ran out of room at flying...' - Fitz
'I could record the rest on pen and paper if you want?' - Fitz holding a pen and notepad...
'Is there much more 'power-wise' you would like to tell us...' - Coulson to Eric...
'Ummm, no... I guess that's most of it...' - Eric says hesitantly knowing that there are a few other abilities he can do...
'Thank God...' - Fitz can be heard muttering as he clicks Save on the input form...
'We have taken blood samples from when you were in the infirmary and we have your fingerprints -
All that remains is for you to make the declaration that you agree to abide by the following rules...
'You must not use your abilities for any criminal or immoral or unjust purpose that may result in the injury or detriment to the people of the united states.'
'You will register any change in your abilities with myself or another shield official if anything changes or evolves...'
'If you do train to join Shield, your abilities can and may be called upon to be used for tactical purposes...'
...
'Do you agree to the above...
Coulson hands a pen to Eric, and asks him to sign a piece of paper.
Eric had been expecting it to be bit harder... back when he was focused on describing how he bonded with his Human body Coulson was looking at him like he was a body snatcher...
Now he was asking Eric to sign a piece of paper that would seemingly make everything 'OK'...
'Ok...' Eric says hesitantly...
Eric Signs it as Eric Smith...
Eric's on his way out of the Directors office He feels like hes just aired all his dirty laundry and there is nothing weighing him down Checking the clock on the way out, he realises hes been in the meeting for over an hour and half.
He doesn't quite know what hes meant to do now...
No one has told him if hes meant to be training or researching or being examined...
He starts walking back to his quarters to wait out the day
===================================================================
Coulson, May, Mack, Fitz and Daisy are all in the directors office discussing Eric.
Coulson is somewhat excited to have someone of Eric's abilities on the team, but May and Mack are worried that someone with that amount of power cannot be controlled or trusted to take orders...
Fitz is excited because he wants to better understand how Erics abilities work, and Daisy is more worried about what Lincoln had said previous about how Eric might be a broken man.
'This is huge... Shield has never had an asset of this value in its possession before...' - Coulson 'This is more Avengers level asset than Shield... but he would never agree to work with Thor...'
'Coulson are you sure your making the right call here... How can we control him if he turns out like Ward...' - May
'Mays right... hes not human, and he has no loyalties to Shield...' - Mack to Coulson
'Fitz, you were there in the indexing... what do you make of his abilities...' - Coulson to Fitz
'I guess I understand how they work... The whole energy based life form thing is new though. If you think about it, its not that different from how an Inhuman works...' Fitz inadvertintly pointing to Daisy...
'No offence...' Fitz to Daisy
'I mean... Daisy can generate seismic events because her physiology is configured to allow her to do so...
'Eric's physiology is just energy based and instead of projecting vibrations, he can project and consume energy, or at least something like Energy...'
'Lincoln's probably a better analogy... he shoots electricity...another type of energy' - Fitz trying to find an appropriate analogy...
Daisy then begins to speak...
'Has anyone thought again about how he reacted when he saw Elliot in the containment module...
'Lincoln has this wild idea... that Eric might have PTSD from 700 years ago... there I said it...'
Mack and May suddenly go silent.
'It wouldn't be hard to imagine, given what he described happening to his people at the hands of the Asgardians...' - Coulson
'He said himself, that they were the aggressor race...' - Mack
'Its never that black and white... even if his race was at fault... he saw them all being wiped out...hes the last of his kind...' - Daisy
'That we know of...' - May
'If he has PTSD, can we give him therapy or something?' - Daisy, asking about treatment options...
'PTSD can take years to get over... I know good people who survived the Battle of New York, who still have nightmares.
Every time they hear a loud noise, they think they are under attack again...' - Mack
'Simmons can assess his condition, in the mean time I want to see what his abilities are capable of...
'Daisy, try to integrate him with your team in the interim, at least for training exercises...' - Coulson to Daisy
'Will do...' Daisy
Will this day ever be over...
Eric is back in his quarters... once again just lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling..
Hes imagining all the ways he thought today was going to go, and then how it turned out not too bad.
He looks over at the clock.. its only 4pm The day has been very uneventful.
'Hurry up and be over already...' Eric whispers to himself...
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Not knowing who it is, he decides to answer the door this time, instead of telling them to go away as he did that morning..
Opening the door, its Joey..
'Can I come in?'
'Sure...' Eric says puzzled...
'Are you ok?' Eric asks, worried that maybe hes feeling bad after this morning in the Med Lab.
'Am I ok? I was gonna ask the same of you...' - Joey to Eric.
'Why wouldn't I be ok... I mean, you fed me this morning...' - Eric says as humbly as that can sound
'Then why are you locking yourself up in here...' Joey exclaims...
'I get that neither of us have an active mission or training at the moment... but...' - Joey says frustrated...
'I... I dunno what im meant to do...' Eric says to Joey
'What does that even mean...' Joey
'I mean... your the only person here who's my friend, everyone else looks at me like...'
'Like what...?' - Joey
'Like I'm an Alien invader, a threat they cannot control...' - Eric starts to unburden himself
'They're right... I am an alien, I did come to earth a long time ago uninvited and I used to be alright with being alone...' - Eric
'No you werent...' -Joey interrupts
'What...? ' Eric to Joey
'You can pretend to have been alright being on your own if you want, but I wont believe it... I know the reason you stayed..'
'You do?..' Eric turns his back to Joey and faces the empty dark of his room
'You wanted a family, somewhere to belong...'
'You wanted to stop running... you said as much !'
'You wanted...' Joey starts
'I wanted you!' - Eric exclaims...
Joey stops he knew how both of them felt all along, but up until now they hadn't really talked about it...
'I'm not an agent, im not a warrior... heck... 700 years ago, I found the pointy end of a sword, that proves it...
'I'm not a super hero...
'I'm just an intergalactic refugee... who fell for the super hero...'
'Coulson's choices of 'Life, Death or Death by Hydra... I took the Life option kinda because I had a crush on you...'
'I realised how naive that was almost as soon as I agreed to stay.'
I feel like I agreed to do a Job I'm not qualified for...
and I only applied for that Job because I liked one of the guys in the company...
'Eric, were you listening at all this morning...' - Joey to Eric
'I didn't sign up to be an agent either, I had these powers forced on me...
'I don't particularly want to be going out and fighting Hydra or ATCU or whatever HellBeasts may come next...
'But I have faith that Daisy and Lincoln have my back and that together we can beat anything that comes our way...'
'Joey, they like you...
I think some of them outright hate me...'
'I dunno what I'm meant to do...' - Eric says sadly
Joey crosses the room to Eric and places a hand on his shoulder to turn him around...
Joey kisses Eric
Joey and Eric embrace for a few moments during the kiss.
Joey pushes Eric off him momentarily...
'We go to Movie Night - that's what we do..' - Joey says smiling...
Eric smiles gently...
'You definitely kissed me that time...' Eric to Joey...
Joey smiles...
'Go get a shower and get changed into something less 'I've been lying in bed all day'...
I will be back in 20 and we can go around together.
'Ok... see you in 20..' Eric says upbeat to Joey