AN.1: Hey guys! Look who is finally posting ^^' I know, I know, it's been a while. I'll say more at the end of this chapter, but until then, I shall continue strong with my many thanks to MegaDiary123 and to everyone who reads and supports this story! Enjoy!
All rights go to Marvel
Skye's POV
Some things needed to be discussed with people. And not every person in the Tower knew the same things as others already did. Everyone has various versions of what I did to Coulson, what happened to him and all that.
Natasha and Clint knew the most out of everyone but Jemma. Well, that is not technically correct. They knew less in some aspects and more in others than the biochemist did.
Jemma knew that Coulson was alive, but not the details behind as to how that came to be. And while she knew that I had been under Loki's control, she still didn't know that it was I that killed him in the first place. She was also completely unaware of my previous connection to him and his lack of recognition towards me.
And then there was the rest of the Avengers and Pepper. All of whom knew of Coulson to be dead and by Loki's hand.
So, you can understand how telling all of them about the current situation that we are in was a lot more complicated than I had initially thought when I told the pirate that I wanted to let everyone know about Coulson being alive. Because it was not just a case of telling them just that. They needed to be brought up to speed about everything that happened before that. And I think that this was the part that I was dreading the most.
I looked up from my lap, as everyone had gathered around me in various positions. Because the room was too small to fit everyone, I had been rolled in a wheelchair in the main living room used by the occupants of the Tower when we'd all meet. I did try to convince them to let me at least walk there and sit on one of the sofas, but several threats of having me restrained should I even consider lifting my butt off the wheelchair were thrown my way and I didn't bother arguing anymore.
Natasha, Pepper and Jemma combining their powers was a sight to be seen.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" Pepper asked. "Whatever this is can wait a few more days until you're feeling better" she continued and took my hand in hers.
I returned the small smile that she gave me, though I felt that it came out more like a grimace than a smile. "It's alright. And, after all, they should be here as well, help explain a few things" I replied and pointed to where Maria and Nick were standing to the side. "They need to get back and… honestly? The sooner this is out of my chest the better"
Natasha threw a, somewhat, threatening glare their way. As if daring them to push me into doing something I was not ready to do.
"Promise me you will hold your questions till the end?" I asked around the room. They all gave hesitant nods, still not knowing what this was all about.
So I took a deep breath, steeling some nerves.
"There are a few things you don't know about what happened to Phil," I started. My eyes moved around the room to take in everyone's faces. I could see realisation being drawn to Nat's and Clint's faces as to what I was about to say, and their eyes travelled briefly to the two high-ups of S.H.I.E.L.D. before coming back to my direction.
"Phil Coulson came in the room where Loki was kept in hopes of stopping him as he had escaped his cell". But before I could continue any further, and not caring at all about the 'questions at the end' rule that I had set only a moment ago, I was interrupted.
"We all know about this already" Tony spoke up. "Why are you bringing this up again?" He asked, clenching and unclenching his fist. For all that Tony showed liked he didn't care for anyone but himself, he had taken this loss quite personally.
"Stop it, Stark," Steve said as soon as Tony phrased his question. His tone clipped, understanding the heaviness of the atmosphere. He nodded in my direction to continue and I returned it.
"As I was saying, Phil came in. Thor was in Loki's cell, about to drop from the Helicarrier. And that's when he walked in, weapon in hand, as he pointed at the alien Nazi". A lump formed in my throat and I swallowed it hard before resuming. "I was in the room with them, still under Loki's influence, with his spear in my hand and with clear orders to protect him at all costs" I paused for a second, letting my words be processed by the people who didn't know and I could see it in their faces that realisation was starting to settle in. "And I did"
It was as if the room's temperature dropped significantly, as everyone held their breath, hoping that what I had just said was a sick joke.
"You're kidding" Tony broke the quiet once more. "You have got to be kidding. Tell me you're kidding" he said over and over again as he shook his head, distrust all over him. He looked around at the others who had yet to take their eyes off me. "Come on, people… someone! Back me up here!" And when no one else said anything he turned back to me. "Skye, stop this… why?"
"Because I have been hiding the truth for more than 2 years now and it is time for everyone in here to know, you all deserve at least that much" I replied. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner, I couldn't"
"Who knew about this?" Steve asked, using more of his 'Captain America' voice than his more relaxed tone.
"We did" Natasha and Clint stepped forward. "Us and those two" she pointed to the aforementioned agents waiting on the side. "No one else but us four knew of this. And in case anyone is actually doubting her," she pointedly looked at Tony. "…she's telling the truth".
Again, I gave everyone a moment to digest this before I continued. I, briefly, felt brave enough to look over at Jemma's side. She was taking things in but when our eyes met all I saw was acceptance and it made it a bit easier. The same with Pepper, who squeezed my hand.
"You all good before I continue?" I asked around, giving people a chance to say something.
Natasha and Clint exchanged a look. "There's more?" Clint asked, having figured that what I had just revealed to everyone was what I had gathered them here for.
I nodded.
"Coulson is alive," I said.
And if I thought that the silence before was absolute, then I would not be able to say what was happening at this moment.
If a pin dropped, two floors above, we'd still be able to hear it.
"He is alive, after Fury used an experimental drug on him which he had saved in case an Avenger fell in the Battle. But to keep his resurrection a secret from us, he doesn't remember me" I continued. "For all he knows, he met me about 2 months ago, when he picked me up from my undercover mission and I have been part of his team ever since"
I could tell these news took everyone by surprise as some jaws opened and closed a handful of times, unable to think of anything to say, and several pairs of eyes travelled between Nick, Maria and myself trying to decipher a hidden meaning behind this.
And you can probably guess who it was that broke the silence.
"Under how heavy of a medication are you right now?" Tony all but screamed. His eyes travelled to where Bruce was standing, who actually lifted his tablet to check that number.
"Really, Tony?" I said back, hurt bleeding in my voice. Bruce lifted his head to look at me and I just shook mine. "This isn't something I thought I saw or just came up with! Are you seriously thinking that I would mistake seeing and spending days with the man that was like a father to me?", my tone was sharp.
"This is not someth—," Jemma tried to say something, probably help me out but was cut off quickly by the same man.
"Who's to say that this is not just your PTSD acting up?" He countered and I tightened my jaw so that I wouldn't say anything back. "We all know how hard his loss was for you, and with this new information it makes all the more sense" he continued. "And you had to miss the 2nd anniversary of his death because you were undercover. Pepper told me how hard you took that!"
"Oh my God! Will you stop and listen for a second?" I couldn't hold it back in. I could feel my emotions getting the better of me, and my vibrations were still not 100% under control, which led to a small quake shaking the floor. And if anyone had shifted their attention elsewhere, I had, once more, all the room's attention on me. "It wasn't that bad because of the missed anniversary! It was because just the day before I had come face to face with the person that I had killed, who did not even recognise me. Can you fathom that for just a second? I know you really don't want to believe me, but why would I lie about something like that?!"
"Skye…" Pepper voice and her squeezing my hand made me turn to look at her. Her eyes pointing to my torso.
I looked down, only to see a red patch where my stitches were. Only then did some pain start to register, as I was too riled up before. My free hand automatically went to that spot, my fingers getting stained red when they pressed on the wound. "Shit," I said under my breath.
I let out a breath, trying to reign in the vibrations that had escaped. When the room stopped shaking and it felt like it would stay that way I smiled at Pepper who seemed to understand and let go of my hand.
"If you have any other questions, feel free to ask Maria or Nick. They are the ones that know everything" I said and it was clear that I was done with this whole conversation. At least for the moment.
"Let's get you patched up," Bruce said and made a move to come close but my next words stopped him. "Jemma has it handled, right?" I asked, looking back at her who nodded and took her position on the back of my wheelchair ready to push me. I was still a bit hurt but how quick he was to seemingly agree with Tony's words.
"Please come and find me later," I said to Nat, Clint and Pepper. "I'd like for us to talk about this and to be given a chance to explain more". I could still see the hesitation and the sharpness of the look that the two agents threw to Maria and Nick. I knew that my exit would be followed by a long, tedious and probably on the upper volume 'discussion'.
"You know where to find me" I tuned to also look at Bruce and Steve, the latter nodding his head. "As for you…" my eyes travelled to Tony. I told a deep breath and let it out, shaking my head and Jemma got the cue to roll me out of the room.
As soon as the doors closed on the elevator, a burst of arguing voices was heard from the room that we had just left.
I felt Jemma's hand on my shoulder, showing her support. I brought my not-stained hand to grip hers as I let the tears roll down my face.
AN.2: So... Have I finally made the plot for Book 3? No.
I decided to just start writing and see where it goes. I have a vague idea of where I am heading, still have a lot of the details not planned, but this has been the way that this story has formed all the way up to here. So I figured why change things up now? Many thanks to a Guest that commented on the last chapter with an idea as to where the plot should go, it helped a lot.
I really do appreciate every single one of you, either you are just reading, following or commenting on the story.
As some of you that have been part of this journey for a while might know, my updating schedule currently is a bit all over the place. I am trying to get chapters done, but I don't want to post anything half baked or that I am not happy with. Sometimes I might have more inspiration and manage to get a few chapters relatively close to each other, but other times it might take months. This one, for example, is the second version of the same chapter that I ended up scrapping and re-writing from the start. I do apologise for the delay, but this is just how things are. I just wanted to let you all know as we move into Book 3. But, as I have mentioned before, this story will not be put into a HIATUS unless something extreme happens. It will continue, it just might take a while to get there.
Ah! One final thing before I go. As I mentioned in the previous chapter, this Book is called HYDRA Uprising. I just couldn't fit it in the title and decided to go with the same pattern I have gone with Book 1 and Book 2 on this platform. When this chapter is posted on AO3 it will be under that name instead :)
That is all for now, sorry for this long AN. Until next time...