"Not So Platonic After All"

Jemma Simmons was nearly bouncing with excitement when Agent Phil Coulson chose her for his team. She knew it was going to happen eventually, but it was still exciting, and of course she dragged Fitz along with her. They were FitzSimmons! Even though they weren't soulmates, they were still close friends. Jemma was as curious as Fitz to find out who liked singing in the shower enough to admit it when they first met, and he was also eager to find out who her two soulmates were.

While Fitz was unpacking in the lab, Jemma noticed a man who had to be Agent Coulson. He removed his sunglasses as he walked up the ramp from his red car, and she had to hold herself back from babbling anything too startling as they shook hands.

"Hello, sir, I'm so glad you chose me, and did you know that you're in one of my soulmarks?"

His hand tightened around hers. "Well, it seems I made the right choice, then, though this could be awkward," he admitted. Her jaw dropped, and she heard Fitz swear as he dropped something on his foot. He knew her words.

"Oh," she said softly. "Yes. Hello."

"Hello," he said, smiling as they finally stopped holding hands. "You do realise I'm your superior officer, don't you?"

"Well, we're a team, but that's true," she said.

"Do you have a second soulmark as well?"

"Yes, sir."

"Would you be all right with keeping our relationship platonic? Only I'm old enough to be your father. It felt awkward enough that your soulmark showed up when I was… no longer in school. By several years."

"That's all right, sir," she said. "I knew both my soulmates were going to be older than me."

"Yeah." He scratched the back of his head, and waved at Fitz. "Thing is, I was born with my other soulmark. So unless we don't share our third…"

"Oh." Her expression fell. "I see what you mean. I mean, I don't mind. I've always thought older men were very attractive—"

"I'm going to stop you right there, Simmons. I presume you're Jemma Simmons?"

"Yes, sir."

"I don't fraternise with junior agents. Even though you're science division, I'm still technically in charge of you, and if our bond wasn't platonic… there could be issues of abuse of authority. Not to mention how terrified I would be if there was any danger to you."

"I am a SHIELD agent…"

"That doesn't make me feel any more comfortable about the situation, Dr. Simmons."

"That's… that's all right, sir," she said, covering her disappointment. His arguments were valid and logical. Considering what she remembered of her words to him, the chances were he'd had time to formulate his reasoning. Soulmateship was a tricky thing; sometimes bonds were purely platonic, which could only be determined through romantic contact such as a kiss. In triads, two could be romantically linked to a platonic third, or all three could be platonic, or they could all be together.

Though why she could be paired with Agent Coulson when she and Fitz were so close that they may as well have been soulmates… well, it was baffling, and something she would have to give a great deal of thought to. And to who it could possibly be that linked them together.

When SHIELD fell… that would have been a great time for Jemma's other soulmate to turn up. It really would have. Just so she could feel less lonely. In fact, she wouldn't even care if her soulmate was HYDRA, as long as she didn't feel the same terror she felt every time she set foot in a building filled with people who could discover that she was a spy at any moment, and fill her body with lead. The one thought that kept her going was that her soulmate turned up eventually.

This confidence helped to maintain her cover. Nervous double agents died. She knew she still had to meet her – their? – third.

The night when Coulson visited her to drop off groceries, she half-hoped that he wanted to test their bond, to see whether it really was just platonic. So they couldn't leave behind any regrets or 'What If?'s. But he was just checking up on her.

Then she had to run. Bad things happened. She was reunited with her team, which was nice. Even nicer was that Fitz had found his soulmate in Mack.

"I knew only half a sentence in," Fitz said, chattering excitedly. "Then he mentioned the shower, and it was really only a matter of time. I can't remember what I said… I think I was stunned for a bit… but then I jumped him. Good thing it turned out not to be platonic, eh?"

Jemma noticed Mack snickering in the background. But he looked at Fitz with such overwhelming affection that she couldn't find it in her to be jealous.

"Yay, Fitz!" she exclaimed. "I told you that you just had to have faith."

"And a bit of a brain problem," he said. "Mack's been helping me with my words."

"You're sounding so much better. I'm terribly proud of you."

"What about you?" he asked. "Did you find…?"

She shook her head, sparing him the search for the words he wanted. "Not yet. But I know that I will someday."

"Turbo told me about you and the director," Mack said, tilting his head. "It really is platonic?"

She shrugged. "It's better that way. I mean, I wouldn't mind. He's in very good shape, and he's so kind and smart and handsome and… no, I wouldn't mind at all." She blushed at Fitz's knowing smirk. "But he's right. Even if we're not meant to be platonic… even if I have to spend my life not knowing…"

Fitz scooped her into his arms, his hands no longer trembling. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder.

"It'll be fine," he said. "Wait and see."

"If either of you ever want to explore the idea of a casual threesome, do let me know," she said, and Mack burst out laughing. It started her and Fitz laughing as well.

"We'll bear that in mind," Mack said between chuckles.

When Jemma did meet her other soulmate, it was under trying circumstances. They were infiltrating a HYDRA science base. They'd waited until the fewest guards were on, but the team was still thin on people, and Fitz and Jemma had tackled separate labs to save time. Then there was gunfire, some volatile chemicals, and an explosion had brought down the ceiling in several sections. As there were more floors above, it wasn't exactly the best way to escape, even though May had returned to the Quinjet to fly it above the base and picked them up.

"Simmons, where are you?" Phil's hard voice came over the radio. Jemma had managed to scoop up the last USB drive Fitz had mentioned, and was packing away an 0-8-4 when the bang happened. Now she was truly separated from the others.

"Where's Fitz?" she asked.

"He's out. You're the only one left."

"Oh, good," she said, relieved.

"Not good! Can you get out?"

"Uh…" She checked down the hallway, and heard footsteps. Some of the incapacitated guards must have been less incapacitated than she'd thought. "Might be a bit difficult negotiating the new maze. It's like in the movie Labyrinth. Have you seen it, sir? David Bowie in tight—"

"Jemma!" He sounded at the end of his tether. "We're trying to maintain signal. If we disconnect for long enough for May to connect… anything could happen."

There were ominous-sounding footsteps, and then a few manly shrieks from around the corner. Jemma had the case with the 0-8-4 in one hand and data sticks tucked into a pocket. She drew out her Nite-Nite gun, swallowed, and stepped into the corridor.

"I'm on my way, sir," she said.

"Jemma, please be careful."

It wasn't often she heard him use her first name. It sent a little thrill through her, that he cared that much, at least.

"Don't worry," she said. "I can't die yet. I haven't met my other soulmate." She heard him growl, and raised her eyebrows. "Radio silence. I need all my senses on alert."

Obediently, the comm. went quiet. She crept her way through the corridors, trying to remember the layout of the map. The change of path had the potential to be quite confusing, and if any more explosions were imminent, she had to move as fast as possible. It was either keep all her senses at one hundred percent, or run the risk of missing something by getting new directions through the base.

Honestly, she thought. They could have observed proper health and safety regulations, at the very least…

She squeaked when someone rounded the corner without warning and pressed her against the wall with one arm against her chest and the other one grabbing her wrist. He looked her up and down, lingering on the case and the gun with the new logo. A red, white, and blue version of the old SHIELD insignia, now used for New SHIELD, as they'd taken to calling it. He seemed to realise what it meant, and smiled. Jemma took the time to note his metal arm and what it signified.

"You're one of Coulson's, aren't you?" he asked. Her stomach swooped. This wasn't possible.

"I was hoping you'd say something positive like that," she said. He backed off her immediately, eyes widening.

"Show me the words," he said.

"Not until we're out of this fire hazard. My team is waiting for me… somewhere. Sir?"

"What is it?" Phil asked.

"I've got… the Winter Soldier with me," she said. He swore. "Where do you want us to meet you?"

"Get to the roof, if you can. There's a ladder at the ready. We think they have snipers on the ground outside, waiting for anyone else to come out."

"Roger that, sir," she said. She looked up at the soldier. Bucky Barnes? Was it really true. "Are you Bucky?"

"I'd prefer James at the moment."

"James, could you lead the way to the roof?"

Phil was pacing back and forth. He'd been scared of losing anyone on his team, and that doubled after they almost lost Trip and Skye underground. But when Fitz reported back what he'd seen of some of HYDRA's failed experiments in the base, which Jemma had been fortunate enough to miss… the thought of her being captured and… and ruined like that had horrified him beyond belief.

He'd fought against any less-than-platonic feelings for her. She was young and beautiful and… well, he couldn't say innocent. Not after all she'd witnessed since joining his team, the things she'd had to do. Even jumping out of the plane. Much as he despised Ward for his deception, he'd saved Jemma, and Phil was grateful for that. But that was also before he started to wonder what it would be like if their bond was of a romantic nature. He felt disgusted with himself, especially the few times he'd caught an admiring glance from her and did nothing about it.

If she really was interested… he was going to make a move. He couldn't take any more of those looks from Melinda.

But right now, James Buchanan Barnes was about to board their plane. It was either going to a catastrophically bad decision, or a good one. No middle ground. According to Jemma's reports, he smashed his robotic hand through doors to unlocked them from the other side – or just ripped the doorknobs off if he had to – and tore through metal grating to get them onto the roof. Then he'd herded her onto the ladder, only following when she insisted in no uncertain terms.

"That's my girl," he murmured as she walked up to him, the Winter Soldier in tow.

"James, this is Director Phil Coulson of New SHIELD," she said. "He knows about us, sir! Referred to you by name."

Phil knew there was supposed to be some significance to that statement, but he was busy taking James Barnes in.

"You've heard about me, have you?" Phil said. James's eyes widened minutely.

"I've kept my ear to the ground, hoping to find a friend," he said.

Phil stopped breathing for a few seconds, and then looked at Jemma. She was beaming, and she nodded enthusiastically.

"He's ours," she said. "It explains why you were born with your mark."

"It certainly does," Phil said. "At least he's physically closer to your age."

"Not that I'd care either way," she said.

Phil returned his attention to James, who still seemed shell-shocked.

"Welcome aboard, Sergeant Barnes," he said, letting go of his hand. James stared at him, and then glanced at Jemma, frowning slightly. She narrowed her eyes at Phil, who maintained a neutral expression. He saw Melinda roll her eyes before heading back to the cockpit. He fully expected to be berated later on.

"Well, really," Jemma huffed. She stalked forward two paces, pulled Phil down by the back of his neck, and their lips met.

Want surged through him, and he couldn't help but wrap his hands around her waist. Something sang beneath his skin. He had to force himself back from her before it could get out of hand.

"Did that feel platonic in any way, shape, or form?" Jemma said fiercely.

"N-no," he said, and he cleared his throat. "It didn't."

"Good," she said. She looked over her shoulder at James, who was watching with a stunned expression. "Now, don't think me a harlot, but…" Then she pulled him into a kiss as well. Seeing them together like that, Phil couldn't feel jealous. He knew he should have done, but the kiss she'd given him seemed to block that. However, he was getting uncomfortable below the belt, because Jemma and James together was truly something to behold. When they broke apart, Jemma smiled over at Phil.

"Um…" They glanced at Skye, who was wide-eyed and pointing in some vague direction. "I'm just gonna go over here, and… yeah." She skittered away, followed by the rest of the team, who were either grinning or gaping.

"That wasn't platonic, either," Jemma said, nodding her head towards James. "Now you two. I'd like to see whether it's that kind of triad."

"Oh," Phil said. He was well aware of the stigma against same-sex relationships in the forties, and wasn't sure how the soldier would feel about being attached to another man, let alone being in a non-platonic relationship with one. "You don't have to…"

"Well," James drawled, his gaze drifting down Phil's body, and then up to meet his eyes again. "I got no objection. Figure we've both had a show; it's only fair that the lady gets one, dontcha think?"

That was surprising. Phil swallowed.

"Only fair," he said.

"Unless you don't wanna—"

"Don't get me wrong, I want to, very much. I mean…" He blushed. He knew it was uncharacteristic, but the way his soulmates were looking at him was… unsettling. And flattering, in equal measure. "You're very handsome—"

"So are you, Phil," Jemma admonished.

"That you are," James said, stepping nearer to Phil. "I'm game if you are, director."

"…Yes, plea—"

He was interrupted by James's mouth, which slanted over his. A metal arm supported Phil's back while James's other hand slid into his hair and tilted Phil's head to the best angle. It was heady, how Phil's soulmarks burned in the best way, scorching his skin and making him want even more. They stopped when there was a whimper.

It was Jemma, who was covering her mouth with one hand. Her cheeks was blazing red, and her eyes had darkened. Phil licked his lips, tingling after the two kisses. Jemma managed to move her hand down.

"Can we go and bond now?" she asked.

Yes, Jemma. I'm sure the boys are down with that.

I've no idea where I got this ship from, but I love these three. Apparently it made sense to pair them together, just to see what happened. Sigh.

Review, please!