Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Agents of SHIELD. I only own Alex.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who followed and favourited since the last update. It's much appreciated.
This chapter is basically filler as it got away from me. I wanted something specific to happen in this chapter but thought it deserved it's own chapter which is next chapter and again mostly filler. Sadly, our girls won't be in the same place for much longer and will be separated for a bit of time. It's for the best as all three have things to work out and the time away will help with that. Fear not, though. The chapters until they reunite will be, hopefully, good and help move things along as I believe it's time too. A little teaser for one of them is a fun, fluffy field trip with Natasha, Maria and Alex. I think you'll enjoy it, as I had fun plotting it out.
A small note for this chapter: Take notice of how Alex doesn't call the room she stays in 'her' room, just 'the room'. It will be relevant next chapter.
I truly do appreciate all of you who have followed and favourited this story and those who put it in a community. It brings a smile to my face at seeing the email notification that someone has favourited or followed. I want you all to know I keep them as I remember that people like my story for the days I lose inspiration. I also want to thank those of you who have taken the time to write a review. Reading how much you enjoy the chapter makes it all worth continuing this story. It's another reminder that people like my story. Sometimes I wish I could do something for all other then this story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope you all continue to read and enjoy.
That's all I have to say. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
The Hacker, The Biochemist and The Beast
Chapter 13
Free to Roam
Alex's POV
I'm waiting patiently on my bed with my Russian language book. Natasha will be showing up any minute to take me to the cafeteria for breakfast. I usually start my day by going to the training room and hit the punching for an hour but my ribs aren't completely healed and I also had a pretty late night. On the walk back to the room last night, Natasha seemed very interested in how my conversation with Jemma went. By the questions she was asking me, I sensed she was fishing for something but I wasn't giving her the information she wanted. There wasn't or isn't anything to tell anyway and if there was I wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
The opening of the door to the room brings me out of my thoughts. Natasha walks into the room, followed by Maria with the leather folder I often see her with clutched to her chest. I sit up in surprise at seeing her here this morning, thinking it would just be Natasha like it normal is when she isn't away.
"This is a surprise." I say, moving to the edge of the bed and hanging my long legs over.
"Good morning, Alex," Maria greets with a semi-serious expression. "Feeling better I'm told." She says with a smirk.
"Yeah, I am." I say with an even tone, throwing Natasha a look. She looks at me with a twinkle in her eyes.
"That's good to hear," Maria says while pulling the only chair in the room closer to the bed. "Now that your up to talking, there is something we want to talk to you about that I wanted to yesterday." She says, sitting in the chair in front of where I am on the bed and setting the leather folder in her lap. Natasha comes to sit next to me on the bed.
"I'm being transferred to another facility, aren't I?" I question her, it's the first thing that always pops into my head when she says she wants to talk to me about something. Natasha being here would help soften the blow a little and I appreciate what they are doing. My wolf whimpers at the thought of not seeing all those it's close to here and I feel sad that I won't either.
"What!?" Maria exclaims, a little out of character for her. "No, your staying right here. Why would you think that?" She questions me, a wide eyed expression on her face.
"I don't know, it's the first thing that pops into my head when theres something you want to talk about." I admit quietly, hanging my head a little so she doesn't see my face. I feel Natasha wrap her arm around my shoulder and leaning into my side a little.
"Shchenok, your staying here with us. As long as we have a say in the matter, your here." Natasha tells me firmly, giving me a kiss on my temple for good measure. Out of the two of them, Natasha is the more affectionate. I don't mind that she is, having been a number of years since I've had anyone show me any kind of affection.
"Fury is very impressed with the work you did with Coulson's team," Maria says, sounding closer then she had been. Looking up, I see she has moved the chair closer. "He wasn't thrilled with your plan but agreed with your assessment that it was the only viable one where others didn't get hurt. Wasn't too happy about the little incident with Agent Ward, either. He's letting Coulson handle that though. With the good report from both me and Coulson, he signed off on what I have been work on for a while." She tells me and a genuine smile graces her face, something I don't see often.
"Is this thing you've been working on what you wanted to talk with me about?" I ask her, my curiosity peaking.
"You said that I couldn't change how things were for you around here," Maria says while unzipping the leather folder in her lap. "I can change that and I have," She states, giving me a secret smile. "It's why I sent you to help Coulson's team when the mission came up. It was the final piece that I needed for what I have been working on the last few months." She says flipping open the leather folder. I watch her with a puzzled look, turning to Natasha for answers. She just gives me the same secret smile that Maria did.
"You had this planned?" I ask as I watch her take something out of a pocket in the leather folder on her lap.
"Not this exactly. I wanted to see how well you did," Maria says, resting her hand with what ever she took out of the pocket on top of the papers. "I wasn't expecting the mission to be tracking someone like you but when I saw it was, I thought it would be perfect for you. An added bonus was who it was assigned to." She explains to me, her secret smile returning.
"You wanted me to go on a mission with a team?" I ask for clarification, completely confused by this conversation.
"Yes, I did," She answers, still with that secret smile on her face. "Minus that little incident with Ward, you did very well. You proved that we can trust you, not that we didn't before, and that you are in control and won't harm anyone or try to escape again. With Coulson's glowing recommendation, I was able to finally get you approved." Maria explains, finally holding out what she has in her hand to me.
"Approved for what?" I ask taking what she is holding out.
"To be an agent," Natasha answers happily from next to me. "Or at least on your way to becoming one," She says as I stare the i.d badge I see many of the agents wear around HQ. "You have the training down, on account of me. All you need is to learn protocol, which Maria and I will teach you while also continue your training with me and sometimes Clint." She explains, while giving my shoulder her hand is resting on a firm squeeze.
I stare at the plastic i.d badge with a little picture of me in my hand disbelievingly. This is not how I expected this conversation to go. I've always thought I would become an asset of S.H.I.E.L.D., used when my skills were needed or used for whatever Fury wanted me for. Becoming a full on agent never crossed my mind, thinking they would never trust me completely to let that happen.
"What does this mean?" I ask, still not completely understanding what is happening.
"It means no more escorts everywhere you go," Maria answers, moving to sit on my other side. "You now have the freedom to go where ever you want, whenever you want. This i.d. badge allows that." She says, pointing to the i.d. badge in my left hand that I haven't looked up from.
"There are certain areas you won't be allowed, which I'll show you later," Natasha informs me. "You have the same clearance level as I do, so that means you can go to quite a few places around HQ." Pointing to the clearance level under my picture, which is pretty resent looking.
"Level 7. Why that level?" I ask, thinking that I would start at the lowest level.
"You know information that lower levels don't." Maria answers, resting her hand on the opposite shoulder of Natasha.
"Oh, right." I say when it clicks in my brain all that I probably shouldn't know, but do because of them and Clint.
"You deserve this, Alex," Maria says, as if reading my thoughts. "Since you have been here, you have tried to prove you are more the DNA that was added. We've seen that and is why we took an interest in you. I know you still struggle and have doubts and fears about what you are but we hope with this it will help change that. That this shows you that we believe that you can do good things with what was done to you." She tells me with conviction.
"Is this what Fury wants from me?" I ask, hoping that it is and I don't have to keep my guard up waiting for him to drop it on me at an inconvenient time.
"It's a step in the right direction, were his words when he signed off on it," Natasha says in an even tone. "I think he had everything planned from the moment you were caught. It's how he operates." She says in a bitter tone.
"Maybe it's not as bad as we are thinking," I say trying to ease the tension that entered the small room. "What if he just wants me to be his personal bodyguard. That wouldn't be too bad. I'd still be able to see you two." Giving them a little smile.
"Never thought of that," Maria says quietly, mostly to herself. "It's a possibility but until he comes forward with what he is planning, I'm not ruling anything out." She says, taking her arm off and standing from the bed.
"For now, enjoy your free reign of HQ," Natasha says, also getting off the bed. "We have another meeting, so go to the cafeteria for breakfast. I'll meet you there to show you the areas your not permitted to go. Ok?" She informs, standing facing me in front of the bed.
"Yeah, sounds good. One thing before you both go," I say while clipping the i.d. badge to the hood of my S.H.I.E.L.D. issue hoodie. "Nobody is going freak out seeing me walk on my own, right?" I question just to be clear and I don't cause a scene walking around on my own.
"Nobody is going to freak out, promise." Maria assures me, even using the same words I did.
"The reason anyone paid attention to you was because of the security team escorting you," Natasha says, shoving her hands in her suit pant pockets. "Now, with how busy everybody is, they won't take a second look at you walking around. They'll also see the i.d. badge." She says, pointing the badge clipped to my hood.
"Just want to make sure," I say, getting up off the bed myself. "You both know I'm still working on how I react when confronted." I say, shoving my hands into the pockets of the hoodie.
"Your getting better, though." Natasha says, giving me the smile she does when I do something good while training.
"Are both too busy to have a meal with me today?" I ask as we make our way to the door.
"I'm leaving for a meeting in Washington after lunch," Maria tells me in an apologetic tone, giving me a smile to match. "I'll be back later but after dinner. Natasha should be able to have dinner with you, though. When I get back, we have a surprise for you." She says sharing a look with Natasha.
"Yes, I think you'll like this better then the i.d. badge." Natasha says, flicking my newly awkward badge. "Though you might have other plans for dinner." Giving me the same look she had when she questioned me about my conversation with Jemma.
"Be safe in Washington," I direct to Maria, ignoring Natasha all together. "I doubt I'll like anything better then a little plastic card that gives me the freedom to walk where I want. Any chance you could bring me back a souvenir?" I ask Maria with a smirk.
"I'll see what I can do," Maria answers with a little smile. "I'll see you later, enjoy your free reign of HQ." She says, stepping forward to give me a quick hug before turning in the opposite direction of where I am going. Natasha gives my bicep a squeeze before following after Maria and walking beside her with an appropriate distance between them.
I watch them walk until they disappear around a corner with a fond smile. My life with S.H.I.E.L.D. is the way it is because of those two women. I'll never be able to repay them for what they have done for me but I will do the best that I can. For starters, I will work my ass off to make sure they didn't misplace their trust in me or by putting their necks on the line to give me the freedom I now have. I look down at the i.d. badge clipped to my hoodie and vow to get my wolf in control. My wolf, surprisingly, yips in agreement with my vow. With that, I make my way to the cafeteria for breakfast.
As I make my down the large main hall in HQ towards the elevators, the very few people that are about don't even give me a second look. A few security guards glance my way but stay where they are positioned. They were probably informed of my new status, though two of them didn't look happy about that fact. I'll have to ask Natasha when I see her after breakfast. An elevator opens just as I arrive and two people exit, too engrossed in their conversation to take notice of me. I enter the empty elevator and punch the floor the cafeteria is on. Even without my eidetic memory, I would know how to get to the cafeteria on my own. I go there almost everyday.
The cafeteria is fairly busy for this time of morning, though there is not a long line for food. I'm really happy we don't have to pay for the food because if we did I'd be screwed with out Maria or Natasha with me. Though, I'm pretty sure they'ed give some cash to pay if that was the case. They just scan your i.d. badge where you would normally pay. I'm not really sure why or how it works but I'm glad I now have a badge of my own. Another thing to ask Natasha about later. I think, while I load my plate full of scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage and bacon. Lots of bacon.
After the nice lady that scans the badges, I look around the cafeteria for a good place to sit. I'm on my own and want somewhere a bit away from other people. In my search, my gaze lands on two figures sitting at a table near the windows over looking the courtyard. My conversation with Jemma last night comes to mind and I don't hesitate in making my way over to the two, in a clearly heated discussion. What they are talking about becomes clearer as I approach.
"We should just go see Alex ourselves." Skye states firmly.
"No, Skye," Jemma says while shaking her head. "We'll be able to see her today. The Agent that was with her last night said that she would be able too." She says firmly back to Skye.
"They said that yesterday but we didn't." Skye retorts back.
"I told you, her conversation with A.D. Hill didn't go well," Jemma tells Skye with narrowed eyes and I get the feeling it isn't the first time she has told her. "It brought up some things she rather forget and wanted to be alone. I'm sure you can understand that. Plus, I will not be a part of your bad girl shenanigans, again!" Jemma says the last part in a scolding tone. I take this as my opportunity to announce my presence, as I'm near their table but they are too engrossed in their conversation to notice.
"Bad girl shenanigans?" I say in a questioning tone as both turn to look at me. "I sense a story and a good one. Do tell while I eat." I say with an amused smile towards Jemma as I take the open seat to her left.
"Alex!" Skye says in surprise and coming out of her shock at seeing me. "Your here." She says still in surprise.
"Jemma did tell you that I would be," I say glancing at the unfinished potatoes on Jemma's plate. "You should listen to her more often." I tell her while smiling at Jemma as she puts her leftover potatoes onto my plate, catching my glance at her plate.
"Well, Coulson said we would see you yesterday but we didn't." Skye says in an even tone, giving me a look.
"That was not them, Skye. As I told Jemma, my talk with A.D. Hill didn't go as well," I tell her, forgoing my meal for a moment to explain to her what I explained to Jemma last night. "It brought up things I struggle with and that puts me in a mood that makes me unpleasant company. I didn't know I would be allowed to see you while your here. My privileges at the time were limited and I had to be escorted places." I explain to her, looking her in the eye a moment longer before finally digging into my breakfast.
"Where is Agent Romanov?" Jemma asks, looking around the cafeteria not so subtly for Natasha. I believe she asked the question to move on from the topic of why I secluded myself as to not dig further into it. Skye was about to ask me something but Jemma cut in before she could.
"She's in a meeting but will meet me after." I answer her after I swallow what I had in my mouth.
"She trusts you to be here with us without supervision?" Skye asks, getting back into the conversation.
"Yes, so does A.D. Hill," I answer her, cutting into on of my sausages. "Enough to give me this i.d. badge so I could go wherever I want." Tapping my fork onto into the badge clipped on my left shoulder.
"They upgraded your privileges?" Jemma asks, leaning forward a bit to look at the badge and I nod my head as my mouth is full of eggs. "That's wonderful news. Did it have something to do with the mission?" She says happily and with a bright smile that momentarily stuns me.
"Um, yeah. It was because of the mission," I say after shaking myself. "Coulson's good report also helped. She gave it to me this morning." I say before digging back into my meal.
"I'm happy for you, Alex," Jemma says happily and look at out the corner of my eye, as she is smiling the bright smile. "Your slowly showing that S.H.I.E.L.D. can trust you. Maybe one day you could become an Agent." She says, placing a hand on my forearm. I notice the gesture doesn't go unnoticed by Skye.
"Maybe." Is all I say, not wanting to tell them that is what I"m working towards now. I don't want to jinx anything until I get the badge in my hands. It all still seems like a dream to me, one I don't want to wake up from anytime soon.
"Have enough bacon?" Skye asks teasingly as I eat my sixth piece.
"Sue me, I like bacon." I reply before taking a bite of another piece.
"We couldn't tell." Skye says around giggles. I just shrug my shoulders and continue to happily eat my meal.
"So, bad girl shenanigans?" I question, just wanting to listen to them talk and maybe learn a little about them. They could both leave at anytime and I don't know when they'll be back. I want some happy memories to tide me over until their next visit to HQ.
"I thought you would have forgotten that." Jemma grumbles from next to me, crossing her arms with a slight frown.
"Nope, I have a very good memory," I tell her around some potato's, that earns the same look she gave me last night. "Sorry," I mumble after swallowing, making a note to remember to not eat with my mouth full around Jemma anymore. I forget when I'm eating, causing Natasha to remind me. "I'm also a curious person, so I'll just keep asking until one of you tell me." I say lifting my apple juice to take a sip.
"It started when our team visited the Hub." Jemma starts but reluctantly.
Skye and Jemma go back and forth telling the story while I finish my meal. I understand why they did what they did but couldn't help get worried that they could have gotten in trouble. Especially Jemma because she shot a superior. I'm glad that she didn't. It was a little funny, especially told by Skye. I'm happy that Fitz got out, and begrudgingly Ward, and safely back to the team. I sense how close Fitz and Jemma are and I wouldn't want her to lose someone she cares about.
Our little happy bubble is about to be broken as I see a familiar person walking toward our table. I grip both utensils in my hand tighter and focus on a steady breathing pattern to keep myself calm. I will not lose my new found freedom because him. I think to myself as Ward reaches our table. He glares at me but I just stare back at him with a blank expression before turning to Skye, who doesn't look happy to see him. I take note of how his eyes and features soften just a little, not enough for others to notice but I do because of my keen eye sight.
"Come on, Skye, we're going to the training room." Ward tells her in what he thinks is an authoritative tone. He should hear Maria or Natasha. I think, shuddering at the thought.
"Not right now, Ward." Skye says back, biting out his name but he doesn't seem to notice.
"Yes, right now. HQ has a better facility here," Ward tells her, sounding a little annoyed. I can't help but tense at the word 'facility', which catches Jemma's attention. "They have a shooting range, as well. We can get in some target practice while we're here. You finally managed to learn which is the safety and which is the ammo release." He says and I frown at the tone he used. It seems Skye feels the same.
"After Alex is done eating." Skye says in a dismissive tone.
"She has a couple of bites left," Ward says and I'm sure if he wanted too, he'd roll his eyes. "Plus, she has Simmons to keep her company. Or do not want to become an Agent anymore." He says and I use everything that I am not to growl at him.
"Why don't you go on ahead and I'll show Skye to the training room," I suggest to him in an even tone, doing my best to not say what I'm really thinking. "As you said, I only have a couple of bites left. You can get ready for whatever the lesson is today." I tell him, looking to Skye as she nods her head in agreement.
"Yes, that is a good idea," Jemma chimes in before Ward can say something that will annoy both Skye and I. "That way when she gets there, you can get straight to the lesson and not waste time setting anything up." She says and it's my turn to nod my head in agreement.
"Fine, I expect you there in 30 minutes." He tells Skye before walking away.
"Is he always like that or is it just because of my presence?" I ask, watching him leave the cafeteria.
"Your presence seems to intensify it more but yes, he is pretty much alway like that." Skye answers and I expected her to be the one too, anyways.
"That must be fun to live with." I say sarcastically around my bottle of apple juice. Both Skye and Jemma giggle at my comment and my wolf preens a little.
"Oh, crap!" Skye mutters, face palming herself. "I have to change, not exactly wearing appropriate workout gear." She says in exasperation and while it's true, I still like what she is wearing.
"They have stuff there and you can keep it too." I tell her, trying to get what it remain of my eggs on my fork but failing.
"Really?" She asks and I nod my head, as my mouth is full of my remaining eggs. "That would save time," She says in relief. "Stocking up for the winter, chipmunk?" Skye questions teasingly as I bring the rest of my eggs to my already packed mouth.
I just shrug my shoulders at her as my mouth is full and I really don't want to know what Jemma would do since my mouth is very full. Skye just laughs as I chew what is in my mouth and Jemma giggles, though she doesn't seem to want too.
"Let's get you to the training room," I tell her after chugging the rest of my apple juice. "Wouldn't want to incur the wrath of Ward because me." Getting up and preparing to take my tray with me to put it away but a hand on my forearm stops me.
"No, go. I'll take care of this," Jemma says with a smile. "It's fine, go," She cuts me off before I can protest. I hesitate in doing so but a squeeze of the arm and that bright smile again makes me do as she says. "I'll see you both later." She tells us with a wave.
I'm a little reluctant to leave Jemma alone but she seems set on us going on without her. With a wave back, I follow Skye out of the cafeteria. She falls a little behind me after we exit, so she can follow me to the training room. We walk in comfortable silence towards where the elevators are. I'm not sure what exactly to talk about with her. Nothing seems appropriate to talk about and I don't know whats safe or off limits. Talking with girls close to my age was never my strong suit. Now those are memories I wish I had forgotten. I think with an internal cringe at those memories. I feel the need to apologize to her once again for yesterday.
"I am sorry about yesterday, Skye," I apologize, looking down at her next to me. "Somethings still get to me about what I am and I withdraw into myself when that happens. I've been working on it in my time here and opening up to others about somethings. I know it will help but I've rarely had people I could talk with, even before. In all honesty, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop because the last two years have been to good to be true." I explain to her, stuffing hands into my hoodie pockets and looking ahead. A hand on my arm stops me and I look down at Skye, who stopped walking.
"You also didn't know you would be allowed to see us," Skye says in a soft tone. "I'm not saying that would have changed anything but maybe it would have helped a little. You also don't have anything to apologize for. Everyone has things they have a hard time talking about and everyone needs time to themselves from time to time. I know I do." She tells me, squeeze my arm in comfort.
"I don't have too but I still feel bad." I tell her with a shrug and start walking again.
"It's a day late but they kept there promise, thats all that matters." Skye says with a smile and bump of her shoulder against my arm, as she is too short to bump mine.
"True." I concede, pressing the up button for the elevator.
We don't have to wait long for the elevator and thankfully no one is on it. I press button for the floor the training room is on and leaning against the wall. Actually, the whole floor is for training. Ward was serious about there being a shooting range here. Clint and Natasha have brought me there to teach me how to use a gun and shoot with a bow and arrow. I'm not a weapon kind of person, or a violent person, but if I had to use one, it would be a gun. It's easier to conceal then a bow and arrow. There is also an area for training simulations, though I haven't been in there, yet.
The light brush of finger tips down my neck startles me out of my thoughts and jump a little at the contact. I look down at Skye, who still has her hand up in the air between us. She slowly lowers her hand back to her side.
"Sorry," She apologizes to me. "The wounds on your neck caught my attention." She explains, glancing at them with her eyes.
"There healing and my throat doesn't hurt like it did." I tell her in the hopes that it will take her attention off my nearly healed wounds. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to talk about the fact I can heal a little faster then normal. Another thing to ask about later. I think, rubbing the nail marks with my thumb.
"I can see that," Skye says, looking at them a moment before looking away. "How are your ribs?" She asks instead of what she probably wanted to but I'm thankful she did.
"Better, I put this ointment on them before bed last night," I tell her, which is true. Natasha gave me a tub of a muscle ointment, telling me it will help and it did. "It makes the area you put it on cold or something. All I know is that it worked." I say, doing my best to explain but fail miserable.
"Thats good to hear," Skye says with a small small. "Jemma was mostly concerned with them. She'll probably want to check them before she has to leave. If they let her." She tells me as the elevator dings for the training floor.
"Understandable, seeing as she took care of me," I reply as I let her exit first. "I'll talk to someone about it, if she does want to check them. It shouldn't be a problem," I tell her as we make our way down the hall. "The double doors at the end of the hall is the training room. It has all sorts of workout equipment; treadmills, stationary bikes, weight machines, punching bags, etc. You'll see in a few." I tell her pointing to the door ahead of us. "The doors on our right are the shooting range and shooting obstacle course. It's pretty high tech in there. I'm not sure what the doors on the left lead too, as I've never been inside. Probably something else agent training related." I continue to explain where the doors lead as we make our way down the hall.
"Been here a lot?" Skye asks, arching an eyebrow in curiosity.
"They let me hit the punching bag and use the treadmills a couple times a week," I tell her as we turn to the right. "These are the woman's changing rooms. You can change in here and put your clothes in a locker." I tell her as I push open the door and hear the positive beep of the screen next to the door after it scanned my i.d. badge. I've only been in here when it's Natasha that escorts me around.
"Guess I'm allowed in here." I hear Skye mumble under her breath and I look down at her confused. "I've been tagged." She reminds me of the bracelet on her wrist that I had asked about the other day.
"What do you want to wear?" I ask walking up to where they keep the workout clothes that are available to use.
"Um, a tank and sweats are fine." Skye tells me in awe of all the clothes packed into cubbies along a wall.
"I'm afraid all we have are black tanks and dark grey," Holding out two woman's medium tank to her. She takes the dark grey. "Actually, thats pretty much the only two colour choices for everything." I tell her with a chuckle, moving down to the sweatpants and grabbing a pair of black ones.
"I can tell," She says in amusement, tugging on my hoodie sleeve that is one of a few S.H.I.E.L.D. hoodies I have. "Are those sneakers?" Pointing to the boxes taking up a few cubbies.
"Yup, what's your size?" I ask moving over to grab the right box for her.
"6" She tells me and I quickly scan for the right size and pull it out for her.
"Follow me, I'll show the locker you can use today." I say, motioning with my head in the general direction of where my locker is.
"Can I ask you something?" Skye questions from behind as we walk past rows of lockers.
"Sure." I tell her turning down where my locker is located along side Natasha's and Maria's.
"Where did you get Chucks and jeans, if most of your clothing is S.H.I.E.L.D. issued?" She asks, motioning down to my jeans and shoes.
"You remember the friend I spoke to on Coulson's phone?" I ask her in return and nods that she does. "She got them for me. Everything non S.H.I.E.L.D. are from her, which isn't much." I answer her question while putting in my locker combination.
"Nice friend." Skye mutters as I unlock my locker and open the door.
"There you are," I say ignoring her mutter and giving her a smile. "Get changed and I'll meet you outside. You still have ten minutes." I tell her before moving past her to go wait outside the change room for her.
"You can stay you know," Skye says before I can leave the row of lockers mine is on. "We're both girls and I have seen you without a shirt." She says while taking off her jacket and hanging it up in my locker.
"Um," I mumble out as my mind draws a blank when I'm reminded of that and that she wants me to stay. "I'll be outside, you now have nine minutes." I manage to say and quickly leave before she can convince me to stay or removes any more clothing and lose the will to go.
I just manage to hear Skye sigh as I make a quick retreat back to the change room doors. Wether it's from relief that I left or something else, I"m not sure. Up until now, I have not been my awkward self around Jemma or Skye that I was before being held against my will. That little incident proved that awkward part of myself is still there but less pronounced then it was. I was hoping it wouldn't show itself around those two because it usually happens when I'm around girls I like. Just what I need. I think, doing my meditative breathing to calm myself. It's already hard to be around both of them without stepping over the line. I thought it was hard to keep my wolf in check but fighting, what seems to be, a need to be close to theses two women I barely know. It's better to keep them at arms length away so no one gets hurt or I do something where they have to turn me down and friend zone me. I'm not going to blow the start of two good friendships because of something that will probably go away. With that last thought, I lean up against the wall a few steps away from the changing room doors to wait for Skye.
A/N2: Hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll see you in the next, which I hope to have up sooner then I have been updating lately.