If You're In Love Then You Are the Lucky One
They meet outside a coffee shop. It's a cool November morning, the sky full of dark clouds and a small icy breeze. He spots her first, how could he not? Long dark hair, her profile half hidden behind a cell phone. She seems unaware as she's walking down the sidewalk, boots clicking against the concrete. He watches her, somehow so captivated by this woman he doesn't know.
Ward sips his coffee in silence, part of his morning routine he's perfected over the years. The woman stops suddenly, her thumbs moving faster than he's ever seen across the screen of her phone, her lips spread into a smile. She's beautiful and Ward finds himself drawn to her for reasons he will never understand, she passes him and he can smell her vanilla perfume.
His reflexes are quicker than lightning, so he's able to react when her coffee cup slips from her hands and spills all over his chair, soaking the metal instead of his dress shirt and jeans. The woman looks startled for half a moment, before lifting her brown eyes up to him, an apology hanging from her mouth. ''Wow, I've never seen someone jump up that fast. Pretty impressive''.
Skye observes the man while he gracefully gathers a wad of napkins and hands them to her, she realizes then that some of the coffee got onto her shirt. ''Oh, thanks. Sorry about that''. The first thing Skye thinks of is how handsome he is. Like drop dead most gorgeous man she's ever seen in her twenty three years. Smooth face, clean cut hair, and don't even get her started on those cheekbones.
''It's fine, don't worry about it''. He has a rich deep voice that soaks her like honey and Skye finds her fingers shaking slightly. She can tell from the outline of his shirt and they way those jeans fit him just right that's he built in every kind of muscular way imaginable. Army maybe? Special forces? He has that way about him Skye observes, that he's seen too much in too little time.
They stand there awkwardly on the sidewalk, like they're suspended in time. Skye chunks the solied napkins into her soggy paper cup, adjusts the strap on her shoulder and gives the man a small smile. ''Sorry again for almost spilling hot coffee on you. Thanks for helping me''. He nods, licks his lips in a very distrating manner. ''No need for apologies. Have a good day''. And tall dark and handsome walks off.
That should have been the end of it, just two strangers who exchanged a few words one day and never saw each other again. It was a normal thing, nothing to give either of them indication for anymore interactions. But fate has a funny way of working. Skye sees him again two weeks after almost drenching him in caffeine. She's slumming out of her van, wrapping an old jacket across her shoulders, when she trips over her boot and lands face first onto the ground.
A strong hand is suddenly there, supporting all of her weight llike she's nothing more than a sack of feathers as she's lifted upright. She meets dark amber eyes and her stomach drops, it's the man from the coffeee shop. ''You okay?'' He asks, keeping a modest distance from thier bodies, his hand already gone from her skin. ''Yeah, thanks. What are you stalking me now?''
Ward didn't understand her sense of humor then, so he's immediately on the defense. ''I was just being a caring civillian, next time you fall I won't bother stopping''. When Skye looks back up from picking her phone off the ground, hot handsome stranger is gone. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't disappointed.
It's a month later they cross paths once more. Ward is on his way back to his apartment after a meeting with an old friend, when he's passing by that damn coffee shop. He sees her, the beautiful woman he can't seem to get out of his head since he first laid eyes on her. Sipping out of a bright blue mug, face buried in a laptop. He feels it then, that pull, that drive to be close to her.
And he doesn't understand it. He's been with plenty of women and none have ever been this way for him. In his line of work it's a sneak out before the sun comes up kind of deal, he's never had a desire to linger before. He doesn't even know this woman's name but he finds himself wanting to know. All the answers she holds in those doe eyes, every mystery she's seen, where she's been.
Which makes no sense because they've barely exchanged ten words to each other. Her voice keeps him up at night, smooth bourbon and starlight. He can tell by the slump in her shoulders, the way she holds herself, carries her weight that she's seen hardship. That she's searching for something, something she might never find but keeps at it. Ward is an expert at reading people, that doesn't fade because he's on break right now.
So he can tell the second she sees him, takes into account how stiff she becomes, sees the dark look in her eyes that he recognizes all too well. ''You know when two people run into each other more than once, it's not a coincidence. I'm almost sure you're stalking me now''. Ward stops walking, turns back to look at her. She's wearing a deep blue shirt that compliments everything.
''If I was stalking you, I wouldn't be this obvious about it''. She cracks a smile. ''You use that line on all the girls?'' ''Just one. I've never met a woman who complained about seeing me so much in such a short period of time''. ''Wow good looking and cocky, what a great combination''. ''So I've been told''. She laughs and Ward finds himself fighting back a smile of his own. There's just something about her, he can't put his finger on it.
''I'm Skye''. She tells him, holding out her hand. Surprising himself because he never gives out his real name, he takes her offered hand. Her skin is smooth like he exptected, ''Grant''. ''Nice to meet you Grant''. A smile lights his face and Skye finds herself at ease and calm as he walks closer to her table. ''Are you hungry? I know this killer taco place a few blocks from here''. She asks, an eyebrow raised.
Ward doesn't know it yet, but him saying yes will be one of the best choices in his entire life. And the rest is history.
*
Eight Months Later
Skye pads barefoot across the freshly mopped tile, her toes cold from the air conditioned apartment. It's dark, the only light source from the refridgerator, she reaches it and pulls out a water bottle. She sits on the counter and rehydrates quietly, adjusting the long shirt against her thighs as some kind of cover against the chilly night.
His apartment is still bare and modern, and while she's added a few personal touches of her own since she moved in, it's still functional and classy, like Ward will be ready to pack up and leave at a moment's notice. Which she supposes, he is. She hears him move around in their bed, searching for her more than likely. He does that, can feel when she leaves the mattress and a part of him is already on alert.
With a glance at the clock over the oven, two a.m. she sets her water back in the fridge and makes her way back to the bedroom. She feels her way into the sheets and curls back into Ward's side, his arms curling protectively and warm around her. This is where she feels safest, wrapped up in him. ''Relax super spy, I was thirsty''. She whispers in his ear, feels him smile.
''Go back to sleep''. He murmers and she turns to face him, slowly hitches her leg across his hip. If he wasn't one hundred percent awake before, he is now. He pulls her to him and kisses her hard, her hands roving over his broad back.
Skye never thought she'd have something like this. A relationship, a home, someone she'd die for in the blink of an eye. And even though their relationship is barely cresting upon the year mark, she's never felt this way about a man before. Sure she's had flings, brief lapses in time that are blurry now. But nothing like this. She can't exactly put it into words.
Just that she was a puzzle and Ward fit every single piece until she was complete. And she wouldn't give him up for the world. Skye thought she'd been in love before, that she knew what it felt like, she was wrong. So wrong. No one compares to Grant, he's everything she never knew she needed. Yes he's locked down, secretive, over protective and very anal about things, but she wouldn't change him.
When Skye wakes Ward per usual is already gone, his side of the bed long cold. She takes a shower and dresses, walks out to the living room. Ward's apartment is functional, couch, TV, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, patio. Basic. Nothing personal or any touch of home. That was before she moved in though, now there are throw pillows on the couch and picture frames on the walls.
There's a red rug in front of the TV stand, an afghan blanket folded neatly against the spotless white couch. She rubs her face and pours a cup of coffee that Ward started when he woke at five. She's eating a bowl of cereal when the front door unlocks and Ward walks in, a smile on his face. ''Hey''. ''Hey''. He's all sweaty when he kisses her but she takes it.
''God, this is why I hate coming over here, can we keep the sexual tension to a minimum please?'' Skye rolls her eyes and gets up from the couch, taking a long sip from her coffee. ''Kebo you love spending time with us and you know it''. Ward's oldest friend, which he has none because of his work, winks at her. ''I'm here for the free food. Skye where were you a year ago? I could of been eating Lucky Charms instead of all that healthy crap he had''.
Kebo shoves his head into the pantry and pours himself a bowl, coming to sit next to Skye on the couch. Ward drinks a water bottle and comes to rest in the recliner beside Skye, ''how was your work out?'' She asks him, snagging a bite of Lucky Charms while Kebo is distracted by the TV. ''Good, knocked Kebo on his ass''. ''I could knock Kebo on his ass babe''.
''Could not! How do you expect to do that anyway if you don't let Ward teach you how to fight?'' She shrugs, ''don't think I'd need any kind of skills to beat you up Popeye''. Ward laughs and Kebo is left pouting into his bowl. Grant watches Skye carefully, observes her mood. She's good, happy. Now would be the perfect time to tell her that he has a mission in Paris, that he'll be back in a few days.
She's no stranger to missions or him being gone for weeks on end. And while in the beginning it put a strain on their short lived realtionship, almost to the point where Skye was about to give up, now she's okay with it. And that's only because she understands, she understands him, all of the weight on his shoulders.
Ward told her, all of it everything about him. He had to to stop her from leaving, the thought of her walking out of his life pained him more than any injury he'd sustained at Shield. So he broke down, told her about his family, John Garrett, Shield. Ward is a Specialist, the best since the Black Widow, so he knows personal attatchments are not wise. Just like having someone you care about know about the government agency you're involved in is not smart.
But he's not an idiot, he told her the basics. She doesn't know every single skelton in his closet, all of the blood stained on his hands. She knows more than Kebo but not more than John. And he'll keep it that way. She's a light he never knew he was searching for until it was right in front of him. Grant has never been in love, never allowed himself to open up to the opportunity, the idea of it.
Skye is his whole world, she's become so apart of him that he can't remember how he survived all of the years without her. He'd burn the entire world if she asked, if it came down to Shield or her, he'd pick her. She looks away from the news to find him watching her, a smile graces her tan face. She leans over to kiss his nose and rest her hands on his chest. ''I need to talk to you''.
Her smile falls, he can feel her body become tense. Ready for him to say the words, ready to face nights alone in this cold apartment. ''Where are you going this time?'' Kebo turns down the TV. Ward takes her face in his palms, traces her cheeks with his thumbs. ''Paris, I won't be gone long''. ''Don't listen to him Skye, he says that every time, and the next thing you know you're calling me crying because you miss him''.
Skye takes a pillow and hits Kebo in the face, sloshing the milk in his bowl around. They both freeze, hold their breath and pray nothing spills. Breathe a sigh of relief when the milk stays where it belongs. Ward would have aneurysm if they ruined his couch. Skye turns back to her boyfriend, kisses the frown away from his face.
''I'll be fine. Go kick some ass. Can you bring me back one of those mini Eiffel Towers?'' She's looking at him with those big eyes, how can he say no? Later that night she's sitting criss crossed on the bed, watching him pack. Crisp folded shirts, freshly cleaned pants, and weapons. She isn't going to deny how hot he looks holding a gun though. ''Are you going in alone?''
''Yes. Like I said, only a few days. They need me to retrieve a package. Nothing serious''. They stay silent as he finishes and zips his bag up. Skye has buried herself in the tan comforter, her hair spiraling out onto the pillows. Ward leaves her there and locks up the apartment, sets the alarm, checks the windows. Does a secuity sweep around the perimeter before joining her, turning off all of the lights.
It's the same routine every time. Skye wraps herself around him like ivory, her lips hot on his neck. ''Promise me you'll be careful''. ''I promise''. He never breaks them, not with her. She's aware that every time he walks out that door it could very well be the last time, and the thought of never seeing him again puts stones in her chest. So they don't sleep until the wee hours of the morning, his hands warm and inviting on her skin.
She wakes with him at five a.m. blurry eyed and half asleep, but still adorable to him all the same. Watches him work out in the gym, a hot travel mug full of coffee in her hands. Ward has tried to convince her to work out with him, but it's no use. She flat out refuses. As they walk back to their apartment Skye has both arms around him, clinging to him like she never will again.
''I'll be back soon baby, you won't even have time to miss me''. His bag in slung over her shoulder, he's dressed in a nice suit and tie and Skye is awake enough to admire how sexy he looks in a suit. ''Just be careful, please? Try not to get shot again''. ''I'll do my best''. He bends down to kiss her, long and slow. Her arms wrap around his neck, she stands on her toes and deepens the kiss.
''I'll be gone a few days''. ''Bye Grant''. He kisses her cheek, gives her a wink before walking out the door and locking it behind him.
What neither of them know is that that was the last normal day they would ever share. That their lives will change in a matter of days, they will never be here in this moment of innocence again.
The world is going to crash down around them in ways they were never prepared for. Never even saw coming. Can their love survive even the darkest of times?