My Arms Are Tough But They Can Be Bent
Veins. The first thing Daisy thinks about is veins. More specifically the veins in Ward's arms. How prominent they are, how she used to run her fingers along them when she couldn't sleep. Or how in the early days before his Hydra reveal, she used to fantasize about how they would feel curled around her body. Which is an odd thing to come to mind, since half a second ago she was talking to her mother and now she can't remember what happened. There's a familiar ache on her face, her hands are trembling. When she has the strength to open her eyes, she's met with smoke and ashes. It's choking her. Daisy also comes to the quick conclusion that she is alone, and that shrill sound in her ear is an alarm going off. Why is she alone? Coulson and- oh god.
Daisy gets on her feet as fast as she can, sways, her leg is killing her so she settles for a limp. She can feel debris in her cheeks and blood in her mouth, but the rest of her feels fine. Upon further inspection the explosion (she can see it now) didn't do much damage. Which is weird. Bombs usually do. Daisy sees no bodies or parts around her, no blood, just rubble and smoke so thick and dark she can't breathe. Was she thrown far by the blast? Checks her surroundings, nope still in the room where her mom was. "Daisy? Daisy can you hear me?" "Coulson?" Her throat feels as if she's swallowed concrete. "Are you hurt?" "I don't think so. What happened?" "I'm coming in to get you". It's then she notices that the door is jammed into the wall, black from the fire. The fire that is quickly approaching her and she really should have noticed it sooner.
Coulson, Lincoln behind him break down the door, help her get out. They are a little beaten up, but not badly. It seems as if the building itself took most of the hit, Daisy studies the floors for Shield agents and finds them empty. "Coulson what happened? Where's my mom is she okay? Is Grant okay?" Panic seizes her, she has to get to Ward. "I'm sure he's fine, right now I have to get you to Simmons". Coulson helps her to the lab where Fitz and Simmons are ready for her, there are no other injured inside. What the hell?
"Put her on the table". As Simmons cleans her wounds Daisy demands to know what happened. Lincoln answers, "the bomb that went off we think was targeted at you and Jiayang. Daisy you saved her and everyone in the Playground". Her head feels fuzzy, then it hits her. "With my powers, like I did last time". "Exactly, you were the only one effected". "Where's my Mom?" Coulson clears his throat, "she's gone. I think she used to bomb to her advantage and got out of here. My guess is she didn't want Shield to take her back to California".
"Sir why would someone want to kill Daisy? She didn't do anything wrong". The doors to the lab fly open and Grant is standing before them, out of breath, putting his gun back in his holster. His only focus is on Daisy, she sees the worry and panic on his face. He rushes over to her, pushing past Coulson and ignoring Simmons who tells him she needs space. "Skye". She can almost taste the relief in his voice and is quick to assure him. "I'm okay". She's in his arms, one hand on the back of her head, his lips at her ear. Telling her that he loves her, thanking a god he never truly believed in that she's okay. It moves the Director of Shield, to see a man that is stone cold and hard, shown that much concern for a woman. But he'll never admit that.
"They were after you". Ward tells her, kissing her forehead and taking her hand. "They? Do you know something Ward?" Coulson asks. That's when Daisy sees blood on the collar of his shirt. "Grant are you okay?" "Not my blood babe. Coulson two of your agents set the bomb, I saw them before it went off". "And where are they now?" The look Ward gives him, is the answer. "Can't stop yourself from killing my agents can you?" "Sir they were after Daisy! They brought it upon themselves". Fitz goes to stand at Ward's side, Daisy winks at him. "Oh my". Simmons finally looks at her leg and gasps. "Simmons you're making me nervous what"- There's a piece of glass stuck in her thigh. "Oh my god". She knows why she didn't feel it much before, all the adrenaline in her system. But now, now it bites.
''It's not bad, shouldn't be too hard to remove right?'' Simmons takes a breath. ''Right, I'll just give you a shot and take care of it''. As Simmons is applying the medicine May, Bobbi, Hunter and Mack find their way to the lab, all right as rain. ''Why is D the only one hurt here?'' ''A couple of agents set the bomb''. A look passes between Ward and May, and he nods, she returns it. ''Why would they do that?'' ''Maybe they were trying to get to Jiaying''. ''Or they were mad at Daisy for another reason entirely''. Hunter comments, not bothering to hide his glare at Ward.
Daisy jumps to his defense. ''Don't blame this on him, it doesn't matter why they were after me. I'm just glad no one else was hurt''. ''Bobbi and Hunter have you secured the Playground?'' ''Yes sir, everyone is alright''. ''Good, leave the lab''. They don't have to be told twice. ''How badly is she hurt Simmons?'' The emotion on May's face surprises Ward, she'll always be the Ice Queen to him. ''A few bruises and scrapes, I've cleaned and removed all debris from her skin. Her leg is going to be the main thing, but she should be fine''. Daisy feels nauseated, her head screaming. Before she can react or move, she leans over and vomits on the floor.
''Oh, lovely''. Ward comes up behind her, rubs her back, holds her hair. And then she falls back, exhaustion taking a toll on her body. She's out for hours.
*
''Where are we headed first?'' Daisy glances away from her laptop to Ward, who is laying shirtless on their hotel bed. It's very distracting. It's been a week since she left New York to come see him in Dubai. A week since they decided how much they needed each other. Daisy has decided she wants to get out of the city. ''I'm thinking somewhere with a beach''. ''Mexico?'' ''Maybe''. ''Florida?'' ''No''. ''South Carolina?'' She takes a sip of water and thinks on it. ''Mexico''. He smiles, swoops down for a kiss and shutting her laptop at the same time. They don't make it to the airport for another two days.
Daisy could get used to this. Warm sand, cool ocean, a cold beer in her hand. And Ward, Ward looking so care free and happy it makes her smile every time she looks at him. In all her days of knowing him she's never seen him in this state, it's a glorious thing. Currently he's sitting next to her in the sand, pretending not to look at all the exposed skin she's showing. Daisy likes Mexico, could see herself staying her for a long time. Especially if it continues to make Grant act like he couldn't care if the world was burning.
They've been in Mexico for a month when Ward comes into the bungalo they've rented out, a grin on his face. ''What?'' He joins her on the bed, kissing her nose. ''I love you''. ''Love you too Robot''. ''How long do you want to stay here?'' She curls her tan legs with his. ''For the rest of my life. Why? Do you want to go somewhere else? We have time''. ''I know, I just''- He stops talking and traces her lips with his fingers. ''Are you tired of Mexico?'' He'd never admit it because he wants her to be happy, to enjoy her life. Doesn't want anything else to be ruined by him.
But he finds himself longing for a white picket fence, a house and a dog. The whole american dream with the woman he loves. Grant, for the first time in his life wants to settle down. To have a piece of land of his own, not just a safehouse. But a home. A home he wants to share with Skye, something that is just theirs. ''We should go somewhere with mountains next''. Daisy cradles his face with her hand, ''okay''. When she kisses him she tastes like sugar and pineapple which has become his new favorite fruit.
*
''Ward I promise you she's going to be just fine. The bomb on top of her powers and injuries just took it out of her, she'll wake when she's ready''. ''It's been three hours''. ''Like I said before, give her time''. ''Any word from Jiaying at all?'' Lincoln asks Coulson. ''Nothing''. ''How do we know she isn't responsible for the bomb?'' It's May who answers. ''Ward said two agents set it''. ''Oh and we can trust what he says now?'' ''Hunter do I need to order you to leave the room?'' ''No Sir''. ''Hunter Jiaying was in the room with Daisy, no way could she have set it''. ''She could of had those agents working for her, love. Betrayal in this job is practically a requirement now a days''.
Daisy wakes in a bunk, Ward is sitting next to her on the bed, holding her hand. ''Hey you're awake, how are you feeling?'' Simmons rushes over to her, puts a hand on her forehead. ''I'm fine, I think''. The room isn't spinning so she's going to take that as a good sign. Her team has squeezed into the small space, all concerned for her. Daisy picks Lincoln's expression out of the rest of them, there's something off about it, he's too keyed up she thinks. ''Everyone needs to leave, Daisy needs her rest''. Simmons announces, starts to clear the room.
''Wait''. Ward helps her sit up and lean against the head board. ''I want to talk to Lincoln, everyone else can leave''. It's a given that Ward isn't included with the rest of them, or so he thinks. ''Babe you too''. ''Not likely''. ''Grant please, just five minutes''. He searches her face, seems satisifed for the moment by what he finds. ''Five minutes''. He follows May out, Lincoln shuts the door. Before he can speak Daisy says, ''you know something''. Lincoln scoffs, crosses his arms.
She makes a grab for her phone and hacks into the security cameras, she'll never trust Coulson alone with Grant. When Daisy is satisifed to see her boyfriend alone, she turns her attention back to Lincoln. ''You know something, don't you?'' ''I don't know what you're talking about''. ''I don't believe you''. ''Don't care''. ''Lincoln come on, I just saved your life. Tell me what's going on''. He sighs, closes his eyes. ''Those two agents weren't working alone Daisy''. ''There were more people involved?'' She knows that isn't the truth, but doesn't want to accept the alternative.
''Daisy Jiaying planned all of this, she wanted to be taken by Shield for this reason''. ''But why?'' 'She still hates them, still wants to destroy them''. She doesn't comment on the fact that he says them instead of us. ''That can't be right she told me she''- Daisy catches herself. ''Is rebuilding the Afterlife, I know. I've been there''. Her head is starting to hurt again. ''Wait okay, so Jiaying's plan is to destroy Shield because she still holds a grudge. She's also rebuilding the Afterlife''. ''Yes''. ''And this bomb is her fault''. ''Yes''. ''Did she know I'd be caught in the middle?'' ''She had faith in your powers''.
It's a blow to her chest. She really deserves the Mother of the Year Award doesn't she? Suspicion creeps in, ''Lincoln how do you know all of this?'' He smiles, ''isnt it obvious?'' ''You've been her man on the inside this whole time''. ''Yeah''. ''But you said after the last time''- ''That was before I was taken by Hydra, before I realized that Jiaying has a goal I'd like to be apart of''.
Hunter was right. Betrayal is a requirement when you come and work for Phil Coulson. Daisy just can't decide if she hates Lincoln for this, or if she wants in too.