AN: Hi guys. Lets start as usual with big thanks to my Beta MegaDiary123. Now, I know that you haven't seen a lot of action yet and this is because for a few more chapters I'm establishing the backstory. The action will come, just later on, so please bear with me. Thank you for reading this story and don't hesitate to review or PM me if you want.

All rights go to Marvel

Skye's POV

I had been at the Academy for six months. Six months that went by quit quickly to be honest. My day-to-day life usually consisted of training, classes and then more training. It wasn't really that bad. I had to admit that it was so much better than High School. The main reason for that being Simmons.

We spent most of our free time together, but it was a little bit tricky. She had quickly become very popular in her Academy because of her ideas and how smart she was. And she was extremely smart. Sometimes she would get lost in her own thoughts and mind and began rambling about what problems one formula had or why something else didn't work. Most of the time I couldn't even keep up with her for more than five minutes when she was in that state.

But other people from her Academy could understand most, in the best case scenario, of her gibberish. So, she fitted there perfectly and it was only natural that others looked up to her despite her being just a year older than me.

Not that I hadn't become famous myself. But, in my case, a lot of other cadets weren't very fond of me. That was because of two factors, the first one being the high rate of washouts. Who knew that having a fifteen year old girl that could keep up if not be better than most of them would make a lot of people see me as a threat.

The second factor was the people I hang out with. Simmons might have become popular, but we were always seen together. She did most, if not all, of the talking and I was a great listener. So whenever she would go out with her other friends I would usually tag along, because she was saying that I was spending too much time alone with my computer. She was so nice, and the first truly good friend that I had since I could remember myself that I couldn't say no to.

This is how everyone had learned that we were a package deal. Wherever one went, the other would soon follow. But sometimes even that wasn't enough.

"So, tell me. Did you make any new friends?" That was usually how our conversations with Natasha started and this time wasn't an exception.

"No… you already know the answer to that question. Why even bother asking?"

"Because I'm your friend and I care?", she said back. I sighed and I must have been louder than I expected because she picked it up quickly. "Hey what's wrong?", her tone changing to that of concern fairly quickly.

"Nothing's wrong. Everything's good" I said not truly believing it. I was having a really bad day.

"Good, but not great. I know you for four-five years Skye and I know when something is bothering you. Is it Ward again? I swear, if Fury ever puts us in the same mission, even if he allows us in the same base I'm gonna have a long talk with him" her words full of venom. Her protectiveness coming out every time Ward's name was mentioned.

"Nah, it's not him. After all he will go in a mission in a couple of months to prove his worth as a field agent. Then, hopefully he will earn his budge and I won't have to see him again" I said before I thought of what had just come out of my mouth.

"Skye…" Natasha's voice suddenly became low. The only warning sign that I needed. I facepalmed and pressed my temples thinking of how stupid I was. "You promised, no more hacking in the servers".

"I couldn't resist! Plus, I'm in Ops not Communications, so how else was I supposed to practice. It isn't the first time and it won't be the last, we both know it". I decided not to lie to Natasha, she would know and then everything would just be worse.

I could hear her from the other end of the line taking deep breaths. I missed her more than I dared to admit. As I opened my mouth to tell her about why I was having the worst day in the past six months, my laptop buzzed.

"Shit, I have to go Nat! I'm really sorry for cutting our conversation short, say hi to Phil, May and Clint from we, will you?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it". I was about to end the call when I heard her call my name and I placed the phone back to my ear. "You know that you can tell me anything right?", her voice was soft, and it spread a warm feeling in my chest.

"Of course" I replied just as softly. "Talk to you soon, be careful out there" I ended the call before her voice reached my ears.

My head rested on the wall I was sitting against and I closed my eyes trying to control my breath.

Ward's POV

I was doing my late-night run in the forest next to the Academy. Garrett had informed me that I was to go undercover in a few weeks and my excitement was giving me more energy than I needed. I really wanted to make him proud for taking me in and teaching me everything I knew, I didn't want to let him down.

Because of that my head was full of thoughts almost all the time every day since I was informed about my graduation test. These runs helped empty my mind and enter the trance that I yearned for at the moment.

The forest itself had a built path for whenever we did endurance exercises. But after exploring the woods, I rarely used the indicated path. And I was the only one that did that, at least as far as I knew. That was why I stopped short and hid behind a trunk once I heard other footsteps closing in near-by. My breath forming white in front of my face because of how low the temperature was.

Even more to my surprise I saw the kid running alone in the dark. That brought an idea to my head and a smile to my face. It was pay-back time.

"What's up kid?" I asked when she came close enough. As if in instinct she threw a kick my way which I barely escaped. Now that she was facing me she put her hands in front of her face, ready for a fight.

"Don't you know that you shouldn't sneak up on people?", annoyance clear in her voice. Her words came out breathlessly as she still tried to catch her breath. This was the first time that I saw her breathless. "What do you want Ward?", her eyes were a narrowed and never leaving mine.

That's when I saw it. The tiniest bit of tear paths, frozen to her cheeks. If her being here had surprised me, then this put a whole new meaning to the word. I just stood there, unable to do anything. Just keep on staring at her brown eyes who were calculating me and my every movement.

Not long after she got restless and lowered her hands. "I don't have the time or the mood for this" she dismissed and turn to restart her running.

I wasn't even sure why I did it, but my hand was wrapped around her arm, just like that first day in training.

We both stopped moving at once. She slowly turned her head to look at my grip and then lifted her gaze to meet my eyes. There was a threat as clear as day in her eyes even before she spoke. "Let go" she didn't even shout. Her tone so quiet and serious that I had never heard before. Slowly I did as I was told.

"Are you okay?", I asked, not faking the concern in my voice. God, I had never seen the girl show much emotion, what with her always having a facade on all the time. This uneasiness that rose inside me when I understood that she had been crying was something I hadn't planned, but was still there asking for an explanation.

"Peachy! Now, if you'll excuse me" she said and once again turned to leave.

I didn't dare grab her again and so I just run after her. "Hey, what's wrong?", but she continued to her routine, trying not to pay any attention to me but I could see her turning stiff. "I think you should head back" I tried reasoning with her but still nothing. "Skye…" this made her stop.

"What Ward? What do you want? Don't pretend like you care" she said and was well justified.

Ever since she arrived I had made her life a living hell. That was because in a matter of days, no-one ever respected me. I was the top of my class, everyone was looking up to me. But then she came, and everything was turned upside down. But as much as I hated what happened, I always admired her.

Being fifteen in an Academy like that and with her skills wasn't an easy task. And as if that wasn't enough of a reason, she was on top of the class, always there and with the answer or skills to do what was asked of her. She acted in a way that nothing seemed to bother her, no matter what others thought or whispered behind her back. Truth be told, I might have started some of the rumours myself, but I was acting out of a grudge that had lasted far more that it should.

"I–" I started but didn't even get to finish.

"No, you listen to me" she came closer with every word. "You never liked me. You never even called me by my name until now". Now that was something that I hadn't even realised before she mentioned it, but it was true. I always called her 'newbie' or 'kid'.

"And I'll say this once and I would suggest you don't forget it" she said, stepping closer. For someone so small her presence was tremendous and I had to hold myself so as not to step back. "Today, never happened. If I hear that you mentioned it or even send it as an email or message to anyone, I'll know. Trust me. And you don't want to see me angry."

And with that she left me alone in the dark.

Alone in shock and with more questions about her than I had before.