Through the fire
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Marvel or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, nor am I associated with them in any way. This is a non-profit fan work written solely for the purpose of entertainment. This is in no way canon in any shape or form.
Replies to questions or statements:
-flevantein: Well, I would say anti-hero rather than vigilante. Anyway, thanks for the compliment and for taking the time to read this story.
Night had fallen by the time the SUV drove off the highway and pulled into a road with a few houses scattered about. During that time, the two occupants inside remained mostly silent until they began approaching the house that they were staying at for the time being.
"What is this place?" Grant asked as his sister began pulling the vehicle into the garage.
"It's an old safe house a friend gave me the key to a while back, in case I ever needed a place to stay," she answered as she shifted the car into park and turned off the engine. "Don't worry, this place is secure. You don't have to worry about anyone finding you here."
Exiting the SUV and entering the house, Calista allowed Grant access to the restroom so he could wash up along with a new change of clothes to replace Grant's dark blue fatigues. Using the can of shaving cream and razor, Grant shaved his beard off after taking a long and hot shower; the first real one he had in months. At the same time, Calista went off to dispose of the FBI gear she "acquired" and switch the license plates on the SUV for different ones.
By the time Callista returned a few hours later, it was already midnight. Saying they could wait until morning to talk; she showed Grant his room before returning to her own and turned off the lights.
When Ward woke up hours later, he could already smell the pancakes and bacon which were originating from the kitchen. Stretching his limbs and pulling himself out of bed, he entered and walked down the hallway where he could see Calista cooking a few pancakes and placing them in one of the two plates full of food beside her on the counter.
"Morning," His sister greeted with a smile, grabbing the two plates, and placing them on the table before taking off her apron.
"Smells good." Grant complimented as he took a seat at the table.
"Figured you could use a proper meal after being locked up and eating prison food for six months." She replied as she sat down in her own chair opposite to him.
"Thank you," Grant said before he picked up a fork and started digging into his meal.
"So, what exactly have you've been doing since we last met?" Grant asked as he took a bite out of his bacon, savoring the test since this was the first real food he had ever since he was locked up in Vault D back at "The Playground". Sure, he could live off the stuff his former team gave him, but it wasn't exactly filled with flavor.
"Nothing much worth talking about. I left the family not long after you were sent to juvie. Worked a few retail jobs before I decided to enlist in the Army for a couple of years. When I got out, I started working in the private sector as a merc, taking the odd job every now and then."
"Well, it sounds like you've been doing well for yourself."
"Eh, it pays the bills and puts food on the table. That's good enough for me and is all that really matters in the end." She shrugged.
"What about Thomas? How is he doing?" He inquired with a bit of hesitancy.
"From what I can tell he's doing alright for himself, working at a jewelry store." Calista informed. "Though, there is really no easy way to say this, he doesn't really like you all that much after you tried to burn down the house."
"I…I'm not surprised. If he's safe, I can live with that." Grant muttered quietly as he lowered his head.
"You know, if you want, I can call him." Calista offered. "Maybe I can convince him to meet you and- "
"No," Grant instantly denied. "It probably wouldn't help. Besides, he's better off without having me in his life."
"Don't be so hard on yourself." Cal reassured. "We all did things we weren't proud of when we were younger."
"Yeah… I suppose."
The next few minutes went by in relative silence, the only sound being that of the forks touching plates.
"Cal, I'm sorry I never got in touch with you." Grant apologized with as much sincerity as he could. "It's just that I- "
"Look, Grant. You don't need to explain yourself to me. Whatever the reason may be, it's good to see that you're alright after all these years."
"Well, you may change your mind if you hear about some of the things I've done."
"Hey, I may not know the exact details of what occurred. But I do know what kind of person you are. No matter what those idiots in the news or what people like Christian might say."
Grant stared at his younger sister with a stunned expression on his face, he didn't expect her to be adamantly defending him like that.
"You may not believe it yourself, but I do. You're a good man, Grant."
"Thanks…Cal. That means a lot coming from you." He finally managed to say after a several seconds of digesting her words.
"Still, it wouldn't hurt for you to be less stubborn."
"You're one to talk." The former HYDRA operative retorted as he gave his sister a genuine smile before finishing up the rest of his plate.
"So, now that you're out, what are you going to do now?" Calista questioned as she stood up and picked up the two now empty plates, taking them to the dish washer.
Grant went quiet for a moment before responding. "I-I've been thinking about joining back up with HYDRA, there's something I got to do."
"What for exactly?" Calista asked as she sat back down.
"Let's just say I made a promise to someone."
"You mind giving me the who and why?" While Calista already knew the full picture, she wanted to hear it from him. After all her memory wasn't perfect and things might've been different than how she remembered it.
"It's sort of a long story."
"I say we got time."
Grant let out a sigh in resignation, knowing that his sister wasn't going to let this go. Ever since they were kids, she could be really persistent at times which often resulted in her getting into a lot of trouble with their parents which resulted in them, mainly mom, to take it out on her.
After about two hours, Grant revealed everything to his sister. About Garrett, the team he grew close to, he finished off by talking about…Skye. Calista just sat there listening patiently, absorbing all the information as she drank her morning coffee. Only speaking up whenever she had a question or needed clarification on a certain topic or event.
He finished up by explaining to her about how he made a promise to get Skye to meet her father, and that the only way to do so was to join up with Whitehall.
"So, if you don't mind answering, I just have one question."
Grant gave a nod for her to go ahead as he waited for her inquiry.
"What exactly do you hope to gain by doing this?"
"I told you; it's a promise I made. That's it."
"Grant…" Calista asked softly. "You may be a secret agent able to fool people with ease. But I can always tell when you're hiding something from me, or yourself for that matter."
"Why do you ask?"
"I mean, I don't mean to rain on your parade but from what you told me, it doesn't sound like she's going to be all that forgiving even if you do keep it."
"You don't know her like I do, Cal." Grant retorted.
"That may be true." Callista admitted. After all, she had never actually met the team in person. "But I do know you, Grant. I know how emotional you can be when it comes to things like this."
"Calista, I promise you. My feelings for her have nothing to do with this."
"Really?" Cal asked with skepticism. "Cause the way I see it you're doing this because you hope that if you do this, she'll forgive you."
"That's not the reason."
"Than what is?"
"It's just something I have to do, alright." Grant said with finality. "Now, I appreciate you freeing me, but you aren't talking me out of this."
The two siblings stared at each other for what felt like an eternity to each of them but was really only about a minute in real time. Eventually, the younger of the two let out a sigh as she leaned back in her seat.
"Alright…" Calista relented with clear reluctance and disappointment.
Grant let out a sigh of relief. However, before he could say anything, Calista spoke up again.
"So, what can I do to help?"
"Cal… you've already done enough. If you think you have some kind of commitment, then no. You don't." Grant tried to dissuade.
As much as he was appreciative of the fact that Calista was offering her assistance, he secretly did not want her involved. This was an obligation he made, not her.
Additionally, as much as he hated to admit it, he was scared that she would see him doing something that would make her think less of him. While she had assured him that she doesn't think of him as a monster, he couldn't push away the fear of him doing something that would make her hate him.
He wasn't sure if he would be able to handle that, another person that he cared about despising him.
Or worst, dying as a direct result of his actions.
His sister, the one person who was always there for him and the only remaining family member he still had that could actually be called "family", dead because of him.
Grant would never be able to forgive himself if that were to happen.
"Grant, this isn't an obligation for me, alright? If you think for one second, I'm going to let you do this on your own, then I'm sorry; but you're sorely mistaken. I just need to know we have each other's backs on this."
"Always," Grant replied without missing a beat. Despite this being something that he felt like he had to do, he did not want to do anything that would put Callista as risk.
Therefore, he told himself he wouldn't do anything that would potentially put his sister on HYDRA's, or his former team's, radar. Not unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Good," Calista replied with a nod. "Besides, you need someone to make sure you don't do something stupid."
"Hey!" Grant replied in mock offence, causing Calista to raise her hands in surrender before the two of them chuckled.
Suddenly, Grant began feeling nostalgic, like he was a kid again. When it was just him and Calista versus the world. The two of them looking out for one another despite their differences and taking on whatever the world threw their way.
He couldn't stop the small grin growing on his face even if he tried.
"Alright," Cal leaned back into her chair, "so what's the play?"
That's it for now. Hope you guys liked this chapter.
Have a good day. And remember… stay frosty, gents.