Coulson has 'The Chat'
Prompt Twelve: Story time with Coulson (Coulson tells Fitzsimmons and the gang about Cap and Peggy)
Coulson wasn’t blind to the truth and what was happening at the Playground but he often had to make the decision to ignore it. But now, with two more couples forming on the base, it was about time to have the talk. And of course, Mack had given it to himself anyway.
Coulson called a meeting for Fitz, Simmons, Daisy, Lincoln, and Hunter and Bobbi in the recreation room. He supplied snacks, baked cookies, and of course, had gone on a beer (and juice) run to accommodate everyone’s needs.
Coulson time and time again had to deliver bad news to these people, but by far this was going to be the roughest discussion he would ever have. Luckily, Coulson was a smart and clever man, and reached into his pockets to use one of the greatest stories ever told to talk about one of the most difficult topics. Essentially, he was giving the birds and the bees talk with adults. Coulson thought he would be saved of delivering this speech as he had no children of his own, or so he thought.
His agents filed in promptly on time, knowing how Coulson liked to work on schedule whenever possible.
“Party night?” Daisy exclaimed excitedly noticing the décor and food.
Jemma ribbed her, “he spent all day baking, and he ruined my pot holders.”
“Come, come, make yourselves comfortable,” Coulson said, shepherding them in to seats. Lincoln was hesitant, not sure what kind of SHIELD meeting this was. He eyed Coulson nervously.
“It’s been so long since we actually all hung out like this!” Daisy said, there was a hint of sadness tinged in her voice.
Daisy recalled that the last time they hung out when they used to play board games. She internally argued that they did hang out after Tripp died, but it was more of a downer then anything.
Fitz busied himself pulling together a plate of snacks; he pulled extra because Jemma would steal his food anyway. At least they liked different beers. Hunter went straight for the beer, commending Coulson on his selection of British beers.
Once everyone was happily munching or sipping (in Hunter’s case guzzling) away at their provisions, Coulson stood in front of the group, leaned against the table, and folded his arms.
“Can anyone tell me what you all have in common?” Coulson sighed.
Jemma’s hand shot up, as her mouth was full with snacks she stole off Fitz’ plate. Coulson looked around at everyone before nodding Jemma to explain. She swallowed the last thing she had been chewing and cleared her throat.
“We’re all agents!” She said excitedly, looking over to Lincoln.
“It is not as obvious as that,” Coulson responded, letting Jemma down. He continued to grill the group, who were all silent, except for the eating.
“Well, since no one else is taking a stab at it, I’ll be very frank with this. And before you say anything in protest… just don’t. Hunter, Bobbi, you are an ex married couple who are back to being a couple. Daisy, you left your com on when you kissed Lincoln, we all know. Simmons, Fitz, the security department likes to gossip… so we know what happened in the lab. Realizing we are a hairline away from a potential human resources nightmare as brought to me by Mack, who was concerned about my own relations with Rosalind, I have to talk with all of you about SHIELD protocol. Since I don’t want to bore you with a retelling of this section of the SHIELD handbook, I thought I would impart with you wisdom from SHIELD history,” Coulson spoke. He received nervous glances from everyone sitting before him.
“Oh bloody hell, we are adults, Sir,” Hunter put his head in his hands. His beer bottle wedged in between his knees.
“Yes, but I need to ensure that while during missions, your full dedication is on the task at hand and not putting your respective other in front of that,” Coulson said.
He lifted from the table, and walked a few steps in one direction, his head bent to the floor in a display of deep thought. Coulson was preparing himself for this. These were technically his kids.
"One of SHIELD's founding members as you may know, is Peggy Carter. She founded this organization with Tony Stark's father, Howard, and Colonel Chester Philips. They fought hard together during World War II in the European theater alongside Captain America. Carter, Stark and Philips all knew Steve Rogers before he was given the super serum. Carter and Steve developed a close friendship that would climax to romantic interest right before Rogers was presumed to be killed. Both Carter and Philips confirm this. Agent Carter, did not let her feelings for Rogers in any way, shape or form come in the way of her involvement with the SSR. She never compromised her job for Rogers, and the same went for Rogers. SHIELD isn't just a convenient way of saying Strategic Homeland Intelligence Enforcement and Logistics Division, no, Carter named it in memory of Rogers and what he stood for. I want you all to remember this story, because while their story ended in tragedy, they didn't compromise their job in bringing down the Red Skull and that iteration of Hydra. We are facing a world similar to the world these people endured, and while there aren't imminent threats and catastrophes like the second World War, we have very large problems, one being the resurgence of Hydra. In order for us to take down this organization for once and for all, I need my agents to be on their best behavior. I need you to work and think of your own lives later. You have answered the call of SHIELD. If anyone of you feel that you cannot handle both, please talk to me and I will arrange a different position for you. But let it be known I will not let you compromise our missions and the lives of your peers. SHIELD needs you first, and I hope you all behave in that manner. Now, secondly, the rules of the Playground remain intact. Remember there are cameras all over and you are never truly out of the eye of surveillance here. So, be wary if your relationships have taken the next step or look to take the next step. Any other company would not allow relationships within its walls, but I understand that SHIELD is the entirety of ours lives and is all we come to know. Our circles are small, so dating other SHIELD agents is quite common. Another caveat, if your romantic relationships do not pan out, please see me as well. I can’t have two agents hating each other work side by side if I deem emotions will get in the way,” Coulson recited, all while not looking at any one of them.
There was complete silence in the room, not even the sound of eating. Coulson turned to look at the group, who quite frankly looked stunned. Everyone was frozen, especially Simmons and Fitz. Daisy’s bottom jaw moved as if she was about to say something, but she quickly closed her mouth and looked down at the floor and then at Lincoln. Coulson would need to follow up with something to hopefully lighten up the room. He had also prepped a speech about sexual encounters, but he scrapped that upon seeing the flabbergasted responses. He hoped his warning about the surveillance all over the base would knock some sense in to them not to be reckless. They were after all younger adults, and he didn’t want any mistakes being made under his roof. ‘What could I do?’ Coulson wondered. ‘Ground them?’ he answered in his head. It made him chuckle which caused a second wave of confusion throughout the room, he had to cover it up. He reached for the first thing to pop in his mind.
“And, Jemma, Fitz… about damn time,” Coulson added.
That was the trick. While it nearly mortified Fitz and Simmons to the point where there faces each turned red and they looked away from each other, Daisy leapt from the couch.
“Oh my god, FINALLY!” she screeched, startling everyone with her enthusiasm. Hunter made an accompanying whooping noise.
“Thanks, Sir,” Jemma said with a flat voice.
“I need to know the details,” Daisy added, wedging herself in between Fitz and Simmons and extending her arms behind both of them on the couch.
“You really don’t,” Fitz said. Jemma nodded in agreement.
“Coulson, how did you know about Peggy and Captain America?” Bobbi asked. She took all this very calmly.
Coulson looked at her, happy that she was the most level headed out of them all.
“I had my suspect about their relationship and when I was recruited to SHIELD and worked with Fury, I also got a chance at working with Ms. Carter before her retirement,” Coulson said.
“What was she like?” Jemma’s mood completely changed, her face lit up with the fact that Coulson knew Peggy Carter, one of her idols.
“Let me tell you this, she is terrifying, could beat any one of us up and the most classy, intelligent woman I’ve ever met. And you know what else, she liked Rogers before the super soldier serum,” Coulson said proudly.
Jemma ogled at this information. It took her mind off for a second the complications of her and Fitz friendship…relationship? They had been dancing around it for thee past few days, trying to act as if everything was still normal. Daisy kept nudging Fitz and Simmons to talk in anticipation.
“Daisy, Fitz and I have a lot to work out, right now, should I ask how you and Lincoln are doing?” Jemma said, setting Daisy straight. She pouted in response, and went back to her own seat.
“So, you all understand?” Coulson ask for confirmation.
The group sullenly nodded their heads and mumbled affirmations.
“Good, now enjoy yourselves, but not too much,” Coulson quipped, exiting the room.
He sighed to himself, hoping the message had gotten through. “Those kids.”