AN: Please give thumbs up to my Beta MegaDiary123. Also a big thank you to all of you who read and support this story.

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Skye's POV

I had to practically drag Simmons out of bed the following morning, so much for sleeping early. But she was kind of forced to properly wake up after the third time that I corrected her stance. After that we had a blast, mainly me laughing at her as she tried to copy my movements and desperately failed to do so.

It was around 6 am when we decided to call it a day and head for some breakfast. Normally Simmons would eat around halfway my first training session, since she didn't have any early morning classes. But now that she was up, she could come with me as I grabbed something light before cardio.

I picked my bag with clothes for both of us, since my roommate didn't have any training clothing in her closet and started heading out.

That was when the door to the gym opened and Ward appeared there, blocking our exit. We locked eyes and I could sense Simmons holding her breath as she recalled who he was. His eyes darted from me to her and I instinctively stepped in front of my friend in a protective manner. "What do you want Ward?" I didn't even try to hide what my feelings towards his face were and my tone was filled with different emotions. The dominating ones being annoyance and hatred, having yet to forget our meeting in the woods. And here he was, sure enough to bring it up. So much for starting my day peacefully.

"Can we talk?", he simply asked. Not demanded, which made me rise an eyebrow.

"Okay…" I replied turning my body towards Simmons', but my eyes stayed glued to his for a while longer. "I'll see you at the canteen".

"Are you sure? I can stay if you want me to". Maybe some of my protectiveness was rubbing off on her.

I nodded, trying to show confident even if I didn't feel that way in the slightest. "Go, I'll meet you there". Thankfully she didn't object, took the bag from my hand and made her way to the exit. Ward stepped aside for her to exit the room and she looked at me one last time before I lost her from my sight. Ward closed the door behind him, which made me tense, but he was smart enough not to lock it.

"I just wanna talk" he said as he stepped away from the door and to the mats with his hands raised.

"I don't have anything to say to you" I said back biting my words. I tried to take a step towards the exit but he got closer to the door as well. "Fine" I told him when he made it clear that he wasn't gonna move. And I really didn't want to have a fight this early in the day. Couldn't he wait to get his ass kicked during our sparing sessions?

"I want to ask for a truce".

To say that his words took me by surprise would be an understatement. From the shock I even stumbled back a little bit, but quickly recomposed myself. "I'm listening" I said, curiosity evident in my voice.

"I know that you probably hate me and you have every right to do just that. I also know that the way I've treated you so far hasn't been fair and I am not going to make up any excuses for my actions. So, all I can ask for is a truce. I understand that asking for forgiveness may be a bit too much right now, but I would like to have that as well one day" I listened carefully until he finished.

Maybe it was some of Jemma's stupid positivity that was rubbing off on me this time, but I was actually considering his words. I mean, I didn't have anything to lose except for him trying to humiliate me. Nothing new, right?

"It doesn't have to do anything with what happened the other day, now does it? I don't want you to do this out of pity" I challenged.

"No, it has nothing to do with this. I just finally understood how you deserved none of what I gave you since you got here" he said confidently. A practised reply, but honest nonetheless.

"Fine, you'll have your truce. And you can have my forgiveness as well" I could see him relax a bit. "But…" and he tensed again, "…don't expect to have my respect. Respect is something that is earned, and you have all but done that".

I walked up to him and he tried hard not to step away as I extend my hand. Maybe he thought that I would strike him or something. But, why would I when I just told him that I forgave him?

"No hard feelings" I waited for his reaction. Upon hearing my words, he let a deep sigh and shook my hand.

"No hard feelings" he repeated with a smile, not as smug as his usual ones.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a breakfast to eat and a friend who's waiting for me" and without any other word I left him alone in the gym where I would meet him once again in less than an hour.


The news seemed to travel faster than I thought throughout the Academy. My rivalry with Ward was a well-known fact and everyone was very eager to learn more about. Who would have thought that in the Academy of Operations people would be so interested in gossip? We weren't the Academy of Communications for crying out loud.

So, when I arrived at the gym everyone else from our group already seemed to be there and discussing the new hot topic, our truce. Once I stepped into the gym no-one dared to speak. All eyes were on me and I felt like the newbie who knew nobody again. Davis, a guy that came a few months before me and who was destroyed by Ward on my first training session stepped forwards and all eyes were now on him.

"So, is it true? Did you ask from Ward to end the competition between the two of you?" I didn't see the second question coming at all. But I couldn't possible let people think that, not when it wasn't even true.

"First of all, there was never a competition in the first place. Not from my part, that is. No matter how you intercepted it, it was never a matter who was the best" I looked at every and each guy and girl in the room making sure they heard me loud and clear. I didn't spot Ward though… but I kept going. "And second of all–" I didn't get to finish before being interrupted.

"And second of all, I was the one who asked for a truce" Ward came and stood next to me, hands behind his back. Some went as far as to gasp a bit. "Skye is an exceptional cadet who deserves to be here as much as every single one of us. She is a great addition to our group and my behaviour so far was wrong" he looked at me. Something told me that he wanted to place a hand on my shoulder but was smart enough not to do as much.

"Now, agent Hill said that we are a family and I know for a fact that she has won the respect from most of you in this room. I also know that it was because of our disagreement that she never really became part of that family. But now that that's over, I think it's only proper to welcome her among our 'ranks'".

I watched as Ward took his place among the front of the others as they stood in lines, in the same order as the one we use for our training. Ward saluted and everyone seemed to copy him, not saying a thing.

I mimicked their moves and as soon as the little unofficial ceremony was finished everyone rushed to me and I was surrounded from every direction. I caught a glimpse of Hill in the door smiling broadly at me and nodding her head a little. I pleaded her with my eyes to start the training so that I would escape this, but she was having the time of her life.

After two excruciating minutes her voice echoed loudly in the room. "Everyone, get ready for warm-up".

No-one needed to be told twice. "Yes, ma'am" echoed similarly though the room from thirty-three combined voices, one of which was mine and for the first time I felt like I belonged there.