I'm still not over the part in Season Two where Fitz covers for Skye after her transformation and tells her that there's nothing wrong with her, she's just different, and that's okay. Gets me right in the feels, especially when most everybody else reacts with fear. That acceptance is a beautiful thing.

This is more squishy and feel-good than Shield, so it's a little OOC, but I think not unreasonably so. You'll have to tell me.

Oh, and hugs save the world. If you've seen the first season of Umbrella Academy, you know how a genuine, loving hug could have saved mankind. Nuff said. Let's get to them good vibrations.

(-)

I couldn't remember the last time I had felt this way. Maybe I never had. I was shaking things and causing earthquakes. I was terrified of what I had become. But Fitz was here, holding me and telling me that nothing was wrong with me. I was just different, and that was okay. I'd never needed to be reassured more in my life, and he was here. I was wrapped in warmth and acceptance. I belonged right where I was.

Not letting go, never wanting to let go, I said, "I can't hide this forever, Fitz. I can't control it."

He didn't try to let me go either. "Just until things calm down a bit. Then we'll tell them. Mack and Jemma are still…um, what's…raw. They've been through a lot, and it's messed them up about alien stuff."

I'd seen Mack, seen the look in his eyes when that topic was brought up. It would be a long time before hearing about my alien DNA and transformation wouldn't get that same look trained on me. Hopefully Simmons could accept me sooner.

My face naturally moved into Fitz's neck, head resting on his shoulder. I felt him tense and realized I was probably getting too familiar with him. It felt like ripping off a limb to pull away, but I shouldn't take advantage of him.

Looking into those soft, earnest blue eyes, I said, "Thank you, Fitz. You have no idea what this means to me."

"Sure I do," he said with a slight smile, reaching for the brush and dustpan.

And I realized what he meant. I took his hands before they could pick up what they were reaching for. "Hey, I've got something I've wanted to say, I just didn't know how."

His eyes got really wide as he said, "What?"

I looked at his hands in mine, the bad one having a slight tremor. Then I met his eyes again and said, "You're different, and that's okay." I smiled and added, "Turns out you're better with words than I am." Before he could speak, I continued. "After your coma, I didn't know how to act around you. You've always had quirks, so adding more didn't make you less appealing. I just wasn't sure if acting like my regular self would work on being friends with the new you. I was afraid I'd do or say something stupid that would hurt you and drive you away. I have a great track record for ruining good things in my life."

That got an instant response. "I'd never ask you to be someone you're not for me. I want who you really are."

And, wow, that had me feeling flustered. I knew he meant as a friend, but he'd just said he wanted me. As always, I tried to brush off those feelings. Sure, I had a bit of a crush on Fitz, what with that smile and that mind and that kindness. And that accent. But Fitz-Simmons had been established long before I came on the scene, and I loved Jemma. She was the sister I'd never had. I couldn't justify getting in the way of their connection. How could I stand a chance against that history?

"I just wanted to make sure you knew. You're Fitz, and that's who you'll always be. And that's who I need in my life."

He beamed at that, but then looked aside and said, "I should take care of this glass. Get on the bed before you get cut more."

For once, I decided to be obedient instead of stubborn. I sat cross-legged on the bed, watching him clean up the mess I had made. It wouldn't be the last time I made a mess, I was sure. "It's hard to keep it in. It's like I have bees buzzing inside me all the time." The power I was keeping contained was shaking my insides.

"Well, with how you make things shake and shatter, could be you can manipulate…don't tell me…" And as he searched for the word for his theory, I couldn't tell him. Mack could prompt him with some engineering terms, but I wasn't as well-versed in what Fitz talked about, thought about. I admired his genius, but it could be a little daunting to know I'd never come close to being his intellectual equal.

Since I couldn't supply him with a word, I tried to prompt his train of thought again. "Since I can make things shatter and shake, that means I'm manipulating…"

"Frequencies!" he said, looking up from what he was doing to smile at me. "Everything vibrates at a certain frequency, and it could be you're tapping into that somehow."

Vibrations was certainly one way to describe what I could do. And right out of the gate, Fitz had ideas and theories. He was hiding my secret, and he was helping me deal with this new me. So when he stood up and put the glass in the trashcan, I couldn't contain myself. I slid off the bed and pulled him into another hug.

"You'll never stop amazing me, will you?" I asked. When his arms went around me, I got that feeling again, like I belonged somewhere. I could definitely get addicted to it.

"What's so amazing?" he asked.

This time, I laid my head on his shoulder facing away from him. "You're protecting me. You already have a theory. You're giving me hope that maybe I'm not going to be uncontrollable. Some people might think you're soft because you're a scientist, but from where I stand, you're a rock."

And, with that delightful accent making it better, Fitz said, "I'm not a rock. I really am quite squishy. I mean, if you compare the density of any part of the human body to any almost type of stone-"

I burst out laughing. It was so Fitz. And when he chuckled a bit, I knew he'd played dumb on purpose. My laughter died down, and I sighed contentedly. And my mouth went off on its own. "You give really good hugs."

He stiffened the slightest amount and said, "From where I stand, you keep doing the giving. And it'd be mad to say your hugs are anything less than amazing."

Before I could say anything else, Fitz pulled away and said, "But I don't think I should be away from the lab just now. Need to be sure that Simmons doesn't start double-checking the results of those tests. We'll talk later, yeah? Figure out what we'll do?"

It was all so abrupt as he backed out the door, waiting on my answer. "Yeah. Later."

The smile he gave me before he turned and left was reassuring, but I still felt disappointed and cold. I had a sinking feeling that "crush" was too mild a term for what I had.

(-)

I heard Hunter in the kitchen saying, "Are we near a bloody fault line? All kinds of rumblings lately."

Trying not to let that provoke me further, I kept moving to my bunk. When I got there, I sat on my bed and tried to collect myself. I wasn't surprised to hear a knock on my door a minute later. "Come in."

Fitz poked his head in. "You okay, Skye?"

Anytime the earth shook, he sought me out. He'd made himself a diversion in a few situations that I'd really needed it. Without him, I'd be a mess, and I'd definitely be exposed by now. Part of what had triggered me was Mack going on a rather dark tirade about destroying anything alien. Simmons was still advocating heavier weapons against powered people as well as more liberal guidelines on lethal force against them. Well, against us.

Nothing had calmed down. I was wondering if there would ever be a good time to tell them about myself. "I'm fine. Just Mack."

He gave me a sympathetic look. "He's not doing well. I'd hoped he'd pull himself together a bit by now, but it hasn't happened."

I gave him an expectant look, holding out my arms. That got me a barely stifled grin before he was sitting beside me, pulling me into a hug. To avoid it being a side-hug, I moved to sit with my back to the edge of the bed, letting me lean into him so our torsos seemed to fit perfectly together.

The hugs had saved me. Even if I was in the middle of a serious quake, his arms made everything calm again. So I was surprised when my peace was interrupted by a startled noise from Fitz. I opened my eyes, but his grip on me was suddenly crushingly tight, so I couldn't lean back to meet his gaze. "Fitz? What's wrong?"

"Oh, you've got to stop, Skye. I can't…" He sounded desperate.

"Stop what?" I asked. I realized my power was active, but the room was still.

When a moan erupted from Fitz, I realized what was happening. But before I could even try to stop this new development, he said, "Bloody hell!" His body went stiff against mine even as it jerked with waves of pleasure as Fitz clearly rode out a sudden orgasm.

I was incredibly turned on now, but he just got up and left. God, what had I done? Forcing him to feel pleasure with my power? Even if I hadn't been trying to do it, it was like rape. Self-disgust consumed me, and the whole base was quaking. But Fitz wasn't coming back, so I just had to control myself. I'd gotten better at it, but Fitz was a failsafe. One that I was pretty sure I didn't have anymore.

(-)

"You can't just lump them in one category, Mack," I heard Fitz say. I had come into the kitchen to get something to drink, and they were playing some shooter. Fitz had trouble looking me in the eye these days, and I was getting worse.

The gut-wrenching stab and bone-deep ache from his withdrawal left me with a conclusion I had been avoiding: I was in love with Fitz. And, like I'd told him, I had a talent for ruining anything good in my life. I couldn't even have a friendship with him now.

"They only lead to trouble," Mack said.

"What about Asgardians? Thor, Lady Sif? They're friendly. They defend us even if we aren't technically their business. They care about us."

"Loki wasn't any kind of friendly," Mack replied.

"If you read the files, you'd know he's…um, whatsit…adopted! He's not even Asgardian. Besides, just like humans, you get…" He looked frustrated and tried to find his thought. "You get…"

"Betrayed? Hurt? Killed?" Mack offered in what were usually helpful prompts. These were just fueled by hatred for aliens.

Agitated now, Fitz shook his head. "You get…"

"Both good and bad," I finally said, hating to see him so upset.

The game paused as both men looked back at me over the couch. Fitz's eyes were wide, but I just repeated, "Just like with people, you get good and bad."

"Yes!" Fitz said, eyes immediately back on Mack. "You get good and bad. You can't paint them all with the same brush."

"Turbo, with how much you advocate on their behalf, I'd say you love aliens."

I saw the Scottsman stiffen and abort the motion of his head turning to look at me. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't love-"

I blocked my ears to anything after that, because the room was already shaking violently, dishes crashing one after another. I went to my room even as I heard Mack demand, "What the hell is going on in this place?"

When I got back into my room, I couldn't even let myself cry. I had to prioritize control, and sobbing over being rejected was decidedly out-of-control behavior. Some stupid part of me was hoping Fitz would show up and explain or apologize. Or just hug me. But I was alone. I no longer belonged anywhere.

(-)

"Okay," Coulson said to all the Shield agents on base that he'd gathered together, "we've all noticed the seismic activity of late. Given the lack of fault line, we can only assume this was caused by a hostile. Either they have technology or powers to cause these earthquakes, but either way it isn't something we can have running around. Fitz-Simmons, I want you tracing where these earthquakes originate. Skye, you, Hunter, and Bobby-"

"Coulson, I need to talk to you," I said abruptly. I'd much rather talk after he finished and not draw attention to myself, but once he finished, everyone would start hunting down the target. Hunting down me.

"After the assignments," he said.

Before he could start giving orders, I said, "Now."

My tone got his attention, and his initial annoyed look at having his authority challenged softened into confusion as he saw my expression. He just said, "Give us a minute," and pulled me up to his office.

I didn't let him ask questions, I just closed the door behind us and said, "I'm not trying to do it. I'm trying to control it."

Coulson looked dumbfounded, but like a Director of Shield should, he kept probing. "Are you saying…you're causing these earthquakes?"

"Raina wasn't the only one changed down there. I may not be a spikey freak, but I'm a freak anyway." A freak who alienated her one ally by letting her attraction to him make her powers force him to feel sexual pleasure.

"Skye, why didn't you just tell us?" Coulson asked, face back to being confused, but now he looked disappointed too. And I hated disappointing him.

"I was afraid. You've heard how Simmons and Mack talk about anything alien. I didn't want them to hate me. Everyone else too." I swiped at the tears filling my eyes even as I heard arguing downstairs. Fitz's voice was prominent, and he finally yelled something over all the other voices that brought a silence down on the whole group. And then someone was dashing up the stairs.

My chest felt light when Fitz barged in without knocking, out of breath, and said, "Sir, Skye isn't dangerous. She can control herself pretty well, and she's gotten better."

"Yesterday's earthquake was the worst!" Coulson said.

"That's my fault," Fitz said, giving me a side-long look. "I've been helping Skye, but after a…disagreement, I stopped. I let her down."

"So you knew?" Coulson asked.

Fitz straightened his spine and said, "I switched her DNA samples for the test results with her DNA from tests before she changed. Simmons isn't going to forgive me, but with the way everyone was acting, Skye needed to be protected." He looked at me at last and said, "They figured it out. Started freaking out until I told them off."

"Always coming to my rescue," I said, unable to contain a smile.

"Let's be clear," Coulson said, his stern paternal voice prominent, "I'm not upset that you've changed. That wasn't your choice, and you'll always be Skye. But I am upset that you didn't tell me. Hiding it from Mack or Simmons I understand." He waited until I met his eyes to say, "But not me. You were the one who demanded there be no secrets between us."

"I'm sorry." My eyes pricked with tears, because he was right. I should have trusted him. That was only reinforced when he opened his arms. I practically ran in to hug him, feeling warmth and acceptance, and that feeling of belonging. It wasn't the same as Fitz, not the same intensity, but I felt…loved. And I was crying into his shirt, finally able to let out the tears it hadn't been safe to cry before. Coulson kept me grounded. Like Fitz used to. And I had no idea where I stood with him.

"What did you say to them?" Coulson asked Fitz, not loosening his grip on me in the slightest.

Eyes sliding to me briefly, Fitz said, "I told them to listen to how they were talking about Skye and then bloody ask why we didn't tell them, why she was afraid of them."

Coulson released me with one arm so he could lean and hit some buttons on the control panel at his desk. He pulled up the surveillance feed from the bottom of the staircase. Everyone was milling around, murmuring to each other. He hit another button and opened up the PA for that room. "Mission is cancelled. Go about your business." Then he closed the connection.

They mostly dispersed, leaving Jemma standing by herself, looking up the staircase. Coulson finally let me go. He looked me in the eyes and said, "We'll figure this out. It'll be tough, but we won't turn our back on you. You're family, Skye."

The idea that I had a family now was still hard to fathom. And I was still waiting to lose it. Maybe because I'd turned into an alien science experiment. I looked at the screen. "Guess I have to go face the music."

"Not alone," Fitz said.

My chest felt light at the look he was giving me. Determined and sincere, I knew it meant I had Fitz back. Even if it was just as a friend, I needed him.

"We'll talk later," Coulson said, going to sit at his desk.

I took the dismissal and followed Fitz out of the office. When the door closed behind us, I said, "About that-"

"Not now," he said, voice soft and urgent. And I guess I could see why that wasn't a topic he wanted to talk about in the hallway. I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't come between us again.

But we were heading down the stairs, and Jemma was looking up at me, eyes blinking more rapidly as they met mine, getting shinier. When I was standing across from her, she started crying. And I pulled her into a hug, knowing they had a special kind of magic.

"I'm sorry, Skye!" she said, burying her face in my shoulder. "I wasn't trying to say those things about you, just…"

"I know," I said. And everything I'd been holding back spilled out of me. "What happened to Trip was incredibly unfair, and it feels like the deck is stacked against us with how much we don't know about aliens. I know why you felt that way. But…I'm one of those things we don't understand. And even if I'm dangerous, I don't think I deserve to be wiped out like Mack wants. I don't want to hurt anyone." Glancing over my shoulder at Fitz, I said, "I think I can control this. And if I can control this kind of power, I think I can do a lot of good with it."

Jemma held me tighter. "Still Skye. Still determined to save the world."

Warmth blossomed in me at her words. Still Skye. She saw me. Jemma didn't just see some alien experiment. Maybe the rest of them could see me too.

"We should probably let Skye rest," Fitz said.

Pulling apart, Jemma looked over my shoulder at him and said, "So this is why you've been spending so much time together. I thought-" She stopped her sentence after Fitz did whatever he did behind me.

I turned to look at him, and he looked nervous and twitchy, not meeting my gaze. And I could understand his hesitance, given what I'd done to him. But what Jemma had just not-said sounded like something else. My heart beat faster as my mind pieced together bits of hope.

But before anything else, I needed to apologize and clear the air. "Fitz and I have to talk," I said. "Catch up with you later?"

"Of course!" Jemma said. "We need to figure out how your powers work so you can control them." She quickly added, "Constructive research, not any kind of anti-alien initiative."

Beaming at her, I said, "I know. I trust you, Jemma."

She gave me another quick hug before walking away. Fitz and I headed back to the privacy of my bunk, and the air got hotter as soon as the door closed. Determined to rip the Band-Aid off, I said, "What I did to you was horrible, but you know I didn't mean to, that I would never try to force you to do anything you didn't want-"

"Wait, what?" Fitz asked, looking genuinely confused. "That…it wasn't horrible. I'd call it incredibly bloody embarrassing, but not horrible." His face was red, but he was making himself meet my eyes.

My face felt hot too as I said, "You left me. If it wasn't disgust or anger at what I did, I didn't know what else would make you abandon me."

I saw guilt cross his expression, but he just said, voice fast enough to be ripping a Band-Aid of his own, "You made me cum, in my pants, in less than a minute. Probably thirty seconds at most. Tell me what part of that doesn't destroy a guy's confidence around you."

Fitz had been worried about my opinion of his sexual stamina. You didn't worry about what your friends thought of that. And he'd specifically framed it as a male's confidence around me. Someone who wanted to impress me, wanted me to like them.

Still, wary of ruining things again, I tried to tread carefully. "Well, since I wasn't trying to do anything, I can't be sure, but I think I was sending vibrations right to your dick, wasn't I? That kind of direct intense stimulation would make a quick climax a foregone conclusion, right?"

Beet red now, Fitz looked down at my bedspread. "Never felt anything like it. And, no, I didn't have a choice when it felt that good."

I couldn't ignore that opportunity. "Well, I never wanted to destroy your confidence, but you're definitely building mine."

His head jerked up in surprise, and our eyes met. "What?"

"Maybe I wasn't trying to do that consciously, but my powers were being channeled by my feelings. That's a really specific way to vibrate someone, after all. And if I can do that on accident, think of all the things I can do if I try." This wasn't how I wanted to start this; it wasn't just about sex, but the possibilities were intriguing. And from the way Fitz was shifting uncomfortably and trying to subtly pull his sweater down further, I wasn't the only one who was intrigued.

"Skye, I…I mean, it's…" For once I didn't think his loss of words was from any brain damage. I'd legitimately made him speechless.

Taking his bad hand in both of mine, I said, "I care about you a lot, Fitz. I…I really like you. You're so unlike everyone I've ever met, and you have a ridiculous amount of kindness in you." I slid a hand to his cheek. "Your eyes, your hair…that accent. You're incredibly attractive, in all kinds of ways."

"You've been ridiculously attractive since I met you, and you only got more attractive as I actually got to know you. A beautiful girl who loved to listen to me talk, even when I was essentially speaking gibberish to you. Someone who would fool around with jokes and tease me like I was any other guy. Someone who actually knew me and liked who I was. But I always knew I was punching above my weight class, so I didn't want to ruin things between us with something I could never have." Fitz's eyes were glued to mine, and his good hand came up to cover the one I had on his face.

Ridiculous. "Do you remember when we were undercover as boyfriend and girlfriend?" When he looked confused, I added, "Before I got shot?" That made him pale and look ill, so I pushed on. "You said I kissed you on your cheek like your grandmum." Leaning in a little, I said, "I was pretty sure doing what I actually wanted to do couldn't be sold off as being committed to our cover."

Fitz closed the distance in a heartbeat, lips on mine with a hunger that bordered on desperation. I knew the feeling. As his lips moved on mine, it was clear that he didn't have much experience with this. But that was just part of what I loved about him: he didn't go for casual. It was only after years together that he allowed himself to pursue this. He was admirable to someone like me, someone who had chased connection for so many years that I had a string of exes, few serious, and all disappointments. Fitz had patience, knew it was worth waiting for someone special, worthwhile to come along.

Too soon, we had to stop for air. The first thing he said, panting, was, "Been waiting ages to do that."

"Both of us," I said. "And I'm not saying we take this really fast or that this is about sex, but…can I try to vibrate you again? Our talk has me curious about the things I can do to you."

His face went beet red again before he said, "I'm not messing in my pants again. I think Hunter might have noticed something last time when I passed him in the hall."

I tried to contain my grin. Gently pushing him back on my bed, I said, "Then we can open your pants and push up your shirt to minimize the mess. Would that be okay?"

It was increasingly obvious that Fitz had no experience with this kind of thing, and I never wanted to hurt him. I probably shouldn't even be experimenting with my powers like this. But last time it had happened because of a hug. My emotions could channel my power, and if I wanted to be gentle, careful, to take care of him, I was pretty sure I could get my powers on board.

"Don't have to act like I'm delicate," Fitz said, clearly picking up on my trepidation.

Shaking my head, I said, "You aren't delicate; I'm a wrecking ball. The last time I did this you ran, and I can't handle that again. So I want to be sure you want everything I do to you, that you enjoy everything. And given that I'm new at controlling my powers, I need to be very careful about how I do this. We don't have to do this now." I hated to say it, but… "I know I'm dangerous."

The nearly instant reply of: "I trust you, Skye," had my heart pounding like crazy.

"And Fitz?" When his eyes met mine, I said, "If I screw up and you cum in seconds, that's on me. I'm going for a lighter touch."

"Actually, I'm pretty sure it's on me. I mean, that's the whole point of pulling my shirt up." He was grinning as he said it.

I laughed and kissed him again, letting my hands wander downwards, feeling for that button that was the first step to getting him exposed. This whole thing was feeding into a fantasy I didn't know I had. Fitz wasn't delicate; quite the opposite, he was damn sturdy. He'd been through a hell of a lot and come out the other side, standing. Fitz was strong.

It was why this was so appealing: Fitz was letting himself be vulnerable for me. He'd been hurt before when he let his guard down and let people in, but he was still showing the parts of him that were raw and sensitive from those betrayals. Fitz trusted me. And I wanted to deserve every bit of his trust.

"Tell me what I'm doing; if I start doing something wrong," I said. I got his pants open and let my eyes trail downward. I saw Fitz fist his hands in the comforter, and I was pretty sure he was resisting the urge to cover himself. I didn't see why: he was average length, but a bit thicker than I was used to. I got wetter just looking at him.

When he pulled his own shirt up, I smiled at him, giving him a soft kiss. I laid down next to him, tucking myself against his side, one of his arms going around me. It seemed like a good idea to be closer to help me gauge and control my power. I slid a hand down to his hip, focused on being gentle. Those vibrations emitted from my hand, and Fitz groaned. I was doing well so far. Low and slow was my goal, and he started tensing and stretching beside me.

"God, Skye, that feels incredible," he said, voice soft. I watched his dick shake ever-so-slightly, and I realized I could turn him into a vibrator for myself as well. There were so many possibilities. Still, I restricted myself to simply stimulating his dick for now, and I increased the frequency.

"Ah!" Fitz said, the startled cry of pleasure quite satisfying. "What you're doing is…um…it's…"

When he couldn't find the word he was looking for, I asked, "Should I stop?"

"NO!" he said, alarm in his voice. "Don't stop. Never stop. I'm not sure there is a word for what you're doing to me."

I was feeling really good about myself, about my control. And that was where I slipped. Suddenly Fitz cried out, his body drawn tight against mine. He wasn't cumming, but he was suddenly close. Damn it.

Decreasing the potency of my power got me a whimper as his body started shaking independent of what I was doing. "No, please," he begged softly. "I was right there. Need you to finish me."

And hell if I could deny him. I focused on his dick, trying to get a tremor running up and down, like an earthquake handjob. Fitz was jerking against me, crying out. "Just like that!"

As his body grew taut again, my body started giving itself some feedback. I had been breathing deeply with how turned on I was at finally getting to do this with Fitz, to Fitz, but now I was shuddering as my clit started vibrating. Oh! Yeah, that felt amazing. And as my power ran amok in the best way, the intensity leapt up so quickly that it nearly gave me an instant climax. As I had lost my focus, Fitz seemed to be under the same level of my power as I was. And he came, his whole body vibrating as he did, which sent me over the edge.

I lost track of the world for a minute, my mind shorted out with bliss. I'd never thought about using my powers on myself. Fitz was staring blankly at the ceiling, panting. I pulled him into a kiss, which definitely got his attention. He slowly, lazily, devoured me. His body was calming, but he still wanted me.

"You've ruined me, Skye," he said at last. When I frowned, slightly hurt, he added, "I'll never be able to get off without some kind of vibration ever again. It just won't work."

That made me giggle like a stupid schoolgirl. I leaned to get a tissue to clean up his chest and stomach as he got his pants back on, then I settled into his arms, melting against him. At least until someone banged on my door. "Whatever you're up to, knock it off!" May called. "You're shaking the whole base."

"You know what they're up to," I heard Jemma say.

"Yeah, and that's the only reason I haven't broken down this door," May said.

"Um, sorry!" I called through the door. "I'll stop."

As I heard two sets of footsteps move away, I settled in and told Fitz, "I can't have an orgasm until I have full control of my powers. Talk about motivation."

"Well, I'll be happy to help however you need me," Fitz said, the arm he had wrapped around me stroking up and down my arm.

"I'm sure," I said, grinning.

"What? No, really. I can run diagnostics or work on dampeners to keep your power under control when you can't or whatever you need." He pressed a kiss to my cheek and said, "I'm always in your corner."

I couldn't remember the last time I felt this way. Maybe I never had. It was like I was floating in a bubble at the same time I was curled up under the most comfortable blanket. "I've never had such a supportive boyfriend," I said teasingly. We hadn't spelled it out, but we both knew it was happening.

"And I've never had a girlfriend," Fitz said. "Brave new world for both of us."

It was a little surprising. "No girlfriend? I mean, I didn't think you dated much, but…" But how had no one noticed Fitz and leapt at him yet? Even when we first met, he was awkwardly charming. His highly impressive intellect should have drawn all the brains at the Shield Academy to him. He should have been beating them off with a high-tech stick he made himself for just that purpose.

"I've always been too shy," Fitz said. "Once I left the lab, once I joined Coulson's team…once I met you, I started to change. Before, I couldn't even have attempted to flirt. Betcha didn't think all those awkward passes I made were the improved version." He sounded amused.

"You've always had an awkward charm," I said. "But you don't have to flirt to be appealing. It's just natural for you." I let my hands play in those curls on his head.

"Pretty sure you're the only one who sees it that way," he said.

"Good," I said, smiling as I pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "I might crack open the Earth if I had to fight to keep you."

Fitz just pulled me down into a deeper kiss. When we parted, he just asked, "Mind if I bunk with you tonight? Not sure I can face everyone just yet."

"Definitely feel you on that," I said. "My orgasm causes an earthquake. The world should be afraid if we lose control with each other."

That made my boyfriend beam at me. "We'll have to see if I can do an even halfway decent job at pleasing you compared to your powers."

"Pretty sure your learning curve is more like a right angle, so you'll be driving me insane pretty quickly." I nudged him to move over so I could lift the covers and we could climb in. I was incredibly tired all of a sudden.

"I have detailed plans to thoroughly study every inch of you," Fitz said as we settled in.

I snorted. "And you try to say you can't flirt."

"It's something I can only say to you," he replied. "Not flirting, just the truth."

But then he pulled me in his arms, and I belonged. I had my ear over his heart where he lay underneath me. The combination was like the best sedative, because I started falling asleep immediately. And I was pretty sure I said, "I love you," as I was drifting off.

(Afterward)

I left a note for Fitz and snuck into the kitchen. It was still early, so I was hoping not to run into anyone. But Fitz and I had both skipped dinner, so he had to be as starving as I was, maybe more. The base was quiet, with whoever was taking late shifts finishing them up.

Two sandwiches were ready to go when I heard: "So, you can make earthquakes with alien magic. I'd like to see Harry Potter beat that."

I turned to see Hunter pluck an apple from the fruit bowl on the table. "It isn't magic," I said.

"Sufficiently advanced technology and all that," he replied easily, taking a bite. "It's impressive."

"Thank you," I said, because I supposed I should have expected Hunter to take it in stride. He was a great guy for someone capable of being such an ass. I couldn't help but smile.

"How often do you shake Fitz up?" Hunter asked, grin sly.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I asked. I wasn't telling Hunter anything.

"Yes, I would like to know. That's why I asked. I like the sound of my own voice, but not that much." He took another bite and said, "Your answer means last night was the first time. Not to mention we would have noticed the side-effect."

Frowning, I said, "I make earthquakes on accident all the time. I'm trying not to, but it isn't unusual."

"Wait, do you not know?" Hunter said, eyes lighting up as a grin made of mischief took over his face. "I mean, I figured you didn't do it on purpose, but did no one tell you?"

"Tell me what?" I wasn't going to like this.

"Last night, you and your boy wonder were getting up to whatever naughtiness you're into, and the base was still until one big shockwave went through the whole place. And it was less an earthquake than a full-body vibration. Never felt anything like it. It caused a lot of awkward situations."

My face was burning, because that couldn't be true. "You're messing with me."

"Not at all. Bob and I enjoyed it a lot. I know May and Coulson were up in his office at the time, so who knows if those two finally got up to some shenanigans, and Mack had an audience of trainees he was showing around. The trainees were impressed, but Mack wasn't happy."

I felt sick. My alien powers made Mack cum in front of strangers. Yeah, he was never forgiving me. And now I couldn't blame him.

"Quit with the face like he's going to hunt you down, Skye. He's not a bad guy, and he loves your little boyfriend, so he'll come round. Pretty much everyone came to their senses yesterday when Fitz read us the riot act." He looked me in the eyes, serious for once, and said, "I didn't have a problem to begin with, but it would have been nice to know. And if last night happened and no one knew how or why…I'm not sure Shield would know where to begin looking for an enemy that causes earthquakes and erections."

"Wait, it was just turning people on?" I asked.

"Well, yeah, what did you think it…oh!" Hunter looked like I'd just given him a puppy for Christmas. "Fitz is a lucky man. You gonna get really kinky and get him off in public?"

My face was burning, and Fitz was suddenly there. "Stop teasing her, Hunter."

"Oh, come on, mate. You two have all kinds of fun; let me have a bit of it poking fun at you."

Fitz just kept glaring at Hunter and put his arm around my waist. Not wanting a stand-off, I said, "Hunter, don't be a dick."

"That's a tall order." I turned and saw Mack entering the common area headed towards the kitchen. He looked wary and irritated, but not like he hated me. It was a decent start.

"Hi, Mack." It was the best opener I could think of.

"Now I see why Turbo has been going on and on about not all alien things being bad," Mack said. He didn't stand and talk with me though, going to the fridge to examine his options.

"Yeah, we wanted to tell people, but first we wanted to make sure no one would try to attack Skye for things she can't control," Fitz said, voice stern and pointed.

Mack flinched. He didn't turn to look at us, but he said, "Look, after what that city did to me…you don't know what it's like to have something get inside you and kick you out of the driver's seat."

"Maybe not, but I know a lot about alien phenomena that's out of my control." Mack finally met my eyes and I said, "You weren't the only one who changed in that city. And only one of us gets to have that influence stripped away and get back to normal. My DNA changed, Mack. I don't think I'll ever be who I was."

Fitz pulled me into a hug, saying, "You're different now, and that's okay. There's nothing wrong with you."

I lived in his arms. This was home. "I love you, Fitz." The words slipped out so easily.

He pulled back enough to meet my eyes, grinning, as he said, "I love you, Skye. Not sure where I'd be without you."

"I'd be in some honeycomb cell, afraid of myself and hating everything about my life," I said. "Or I'd be dead."

Pressing a lingering, meaningful kiss on my lips, Fitz said, "Good thing you won't be without me anymore."

And I felt my control slip when he kissed me again. Just a little. And Mack said, "That! I don't care about the rest of it, but you keep a lid on that shit! I've found three love notes in my garage since last night. I don't need that kind of attention."

I tried so hard not to laugh, but Fitz and Hunter didn't, so I couldn't help it. "Mate, they saw the goods, and they've come to buy," Hunter said.

"Of course you draw eyes with hardware like that," Fitz said, grinning.

"There are worse things than being chased by three women," I said.

Mack paused, and with that matter-of-fact tilt of his head, he said, "One is a guy, actually."

Hunter nodded without hesitation. "Makes sense. Blokes aren't immune to your charms."

Fitz looked curious. "Is that a problem?"

And with that blunt honesty that was just so characteristic of him, Mack said, "No more than the other two. Now I have to fend off all three, and I don't even know who to watch out for."

That brought some banter and bickering amongst the boys, but a thought was creeping up on me. Hunter wasn't surprised by this information; he knew. And earlier… "-and he loves your little boyfriend…"

I looked at Mack interacting with Fitz. The smile he couldn't hold back, that admiration in his eyes…okay, Mack might actually be in love with Fitz. And suddenly those eyes were meeting mine. I smiled softly and nodded at Fitz, tilting my head in unspoken inquiry. His eyes got wide, and he hurriedly made excuses, grabbed a protein shake, and left.

Life never got simpler. Things kept changing and complicating. But…life was different now. Maybe for the better, hopefully not for the worse, but it was okay. As Fitz put his arms around me, I knew everything would be okay.

(-)

So, I threw a slight curve ball at the end there. The Afterward got out of control. But I love Mitz and Skitz both, probably Mitz more because yes, big muscular guy with adorable genius.

Not sure what you'll make of this, but hopefully most of you enjoyed it.

And I have a polyamory follow-up one-shot with Fitz and Mack and Skye. Not sure what you'll make of it, but I hope you enjoy it when I post it. Stay tuned.