Secrets
Fitz was a scientist. He knew he was extremely lucky. Only about 14 million people in the entire world have a soul mark. He knew that there was no scientific explanation for why there was a sentence on his arm that would lead him to his "Soulmate". Unfortunately that didn't stop him from getting a hopeful pulse throughout his body when he saw it. But truthfully it made him sad too.
"Of course it would be now. I'm sorry but I really can't be your soulmate. Especially not now. You're pure and probably have people who care about you. I'm just... Not that."
The tiny paragraph was written in a script that you could only read if you were up close. The lettering was just tiny. Not messy.
When he met Simmons in the academy he felt this draw towards her that made him sure it must be her. He even found out from a mutual friend she also had a soulmark. Other than the two of them, only two others in the school had them. One had found their soulmate and the other was a professor and he hadn't been born with his. He got it when he was a year and a half old.
He spent three days debating wether or not to go up to her to see when he was beaten to it. They were partnered up in class.
When they were partnered up. He figured that what he said was first because what his mate said sounded like a response compared to an opener.
"Hey" he said walking up to her grinning holding up his hand for her to shake it. "Guess we're partners aye?"
Her face face for a fraction of a second and then she started smiling again. "Yes I suppose we are."
Turns out that she had been avoiding him to. She was just as nervous as to meet him as he was her. She felt the same pull towards him as he felt towards her. She had a simple sentence. Actually it was more of a question. Just five words on her palm compared to his 32 on his right forearm.
"Why, don't you seem Nervous?"
She was embarrassed by hers. He didn't see why. Her soulmate just met her at the wrong moment. He decided to show her his mark. He could tell it saddened her.
After this they became partners. One part of an unbreakable unit. They weren't Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons anymore. They were FitzSimmons.
Unfortunately tragedy struck some where in the years they were partners. Fitz fell in love with Jemma. He knew it was a bad idea. They were best friends. Partners. And they both had their own soulmates. He knew even though he probably won't have a happy ending with his soulmate-if his words were any indication- Jemma still had a chance with hers. One that she was looking forward to.
Still, even though she wanted to be with her soulmate, that didn't change his feelings for her. She was able to manipulate him very well. He knew she didn't do it on purpose, he doubted she even realized she was doing it. So when she came to him trying to convince him about going into the field what was he to say except "Yes".
Three months later they were on a bus with Phil Coulson. Yes, THE Phil Coulson. When they found out who they'd be working for they went through the roof. It even distracted from the fact the had to work with douche nozzle Grant Ward.
"Oh, you'll warm up to him eventually. He'll do the same!" Simmons told him with her usual optimism. Although he wasn't to sure.
Next they officially met Phil Coulson. They both felt the same pull towards Coulson that they felt towards each other. It was quite distracting. Then the pilot, Melinda May, walking in and that was like white noise in their ears.
Simmons had done research. She told Fitz later after they both left. People with soulmarks could sense others with them. And they could sense when two soulmates were connected. That was definitely the case with Coulson and May. The only exception is if the mark was covered by a new brand of make up that hit the market about 3 years ago. No one knows how it does it but it works.
They overheard a conversation after that proved there suspicions.
"They could sense it Phil."
"I know! I didn't think to check to make sure if any of my team had soulmarks."
"I didn't want to be out in the field in the first place. Now I have this to deal with."
"I'll deal with it. They won't say anything to you. Besides, you've made it abundantly clear that we aren't together anymore."
"I have half a mind to leave."
"It wouldn't be the first time." He finished bitterly. He walked back into the conference room and saw the disappointment in there faces. He asked to see there soulmarks, which they were allowed to decline but they didn't. Next he checked to make sure they were both registered with SHIELDs database. Then he showed them his. It was on his wrist, and they were both under orders not to say anything. To anyone. Especially May.
"Are you suits going to continue to stand in my way? Or will you just let me do my damn job!"
He hated himself for it but he was kind of glad they heard this story. It proved to Simmons that even soulmates don't always have a happy ending. Maybe they'd end up together. Like he said, he felt terrible about it.
Their first mission was in Los Angles. The two scientists didn't even know the mission began until Ward and Coulson dragged a tiny girl onto the bus with a bag over her head.
Neither scientist had anything to do with her that entire first mission. Even when they were talking to her, their words were relayed through May. Who was being annoyed to no end by the hacker. Especially after she saw the soulmark on the older woman's wrist.
"You're acting as though you don't realize we're following orders."
After they had saved Mike Peterson the hacker has an open invitation on the team. Simmons was over the moon. She had been complaining about how the males were overpowering the females. Both females started chattering like they were old friends. Fitz was stuck with carting her boxes. After they unloaded the first round of boxes there was only one left. Skye, the hackers name, refused to let Jemma touch it, so Fitz didn't even bother.
As they were walking up the stairs after an awkward silence Jemma finally said, "Well, we're all glad to have you here! Aren't we Fitz?"
"Yeah, no more complaints about the testosterone level now you're here!"
Skye then tripped over her own two feet, but the box broke her fall. She muttered a string of obscenities, then looked up trying to look at the two scientists trying to see if they were laughing at her. To their credit all they did was try to help her up.
They landed in Peru next. And once there Fitz developed an itch under his skin. The chalked it up to the air. He already didn't like the field. Then when the were in the temple the started getting shot at. He really didn't like the field.
As they were leaving the temple, the rebels starting shooting at them. Fitz really had he hands full with both the 0-8-4 and his dwarfs. Yet once he saw that Skye was in the line of fire Fitz reacted on some instinct that he had no idea he had.
She tripped and landed on her butt when she was in the line of fire. Without thinking he dropped both the 0-8-4 and his dwarfs to jump in front of the bullet meant for Skye. It landed in the back of his shoulder.
When the 0-8-4 hit the ground it released an energy pulse that hit a truck, scattering the rebels. Thankfully no one was hurt. He was gripping his shoulder and surprisingly not crying like he thought he would be.
Everyone was scrambling towards him.
"Fitz! Are you alright?" Coulson asked.
"Damn, Fitz! I didn't think you had it in you."
"Fitz! Move your hand! I can't get a look at your wound with it in the way."
In the end May grabbed him by the bicep and dragged him to the little bus. Coulson thanked his friend the commandant. And they brought the 0-8-4 to the bus.
As they were in the lab as Simmons was working on Fitz's shoulder. Simmons and Coulson both were going on about how much of a hero he was. Ward was continuing to say how he didn't think Fitz had it in him. May was sitting in the corner after coming from the cockpit. She waited until Fitz made eye contact with her and slightly nodded.
He tried to explain that he had no idea why he didn't it but that wasn't taken for an answer. All the while, the person who Fitz expected to be the most grateful looked pissed. Skye was giving him the evil eye.
Later that night when everyone went to bed Fitz was still in the lab. He was working on his latest project and it had taken him twice as long due to the fact he was only using one arm.
Right as he passed into the corridor an arm grabbed him and slammed him into the wall.
"Do NOT do that again." Skye said, furious. But if Fitz didn't know better he would've thought there was some concern in there as well.
They were on their way to Malta looking for Professor Hall explaining to Skye how the Gravitonium work. They got half way through when Skye said, "Guys! High school dropout here."
Jemma started to give Skye a horrified look and Fitz was sure he was giving her an identical look.
"Yeah I know, I know. How horrible I didn't want to continue my education."
They went slower so she could understand. After they had briefed the rest of the team and uploaded the spects to HQ, Fitz pulled Skye aside.
"Hey, I know you want to be a field agent and even though they don't need a upper level of education they do need at least a GED."
Skye was silent. She raised an eyebrow like May does. "Is there a point to this?"
"Well I figured that you'd want to-um- take it. So if you need someone to help you study. Just ask."
He walked away before she could snark at him. Jemma has shaking her head at him. Next she started grinning. She looked over his shoulder and then "Somebody's got a crush!" She said in a sing song voice.
"What?"
"First you get all flustered by her all the time. Then you take a bloody bullet for her. Then you offer to tutor her? Will there be candles and wine in this tutor session?"
"Oh shove off! Besides there's someone else." He said, the last part not very confident. But even as he said it, when he thought of Jemma the feelings weren't as strong. Which kind of worried him.
"Oh, Fitz!" She said exasperated "Chances are you won't be meeting your soulmate for years! No one says that you can't enjoy yourself in the meantime!" She said sounding completely unlike herself. But when it comes to soulmates, Jemma usually doesn't.
When Skye's communicator went out Fitz is ashamed to admit that he had given her a back up in her purse without informing her. When he told May and Jemma this. They did not look happy.
"It has nothing to do with trust to be honest! It just.... I didn't think she could be subtle if she knew it was there. This way if her communicator went out or it was found we could still have an update on what happens!"
They were about to go into him, her backup started speaking.
"--Warrant out there somewhere?" Quinn said
"Probably." Skye said with a confidence that should not have been present in the context.
"No family." There was a pause from Skye's end, "I'm sorry, have I struck a nerve?"
"What does that even mean?" Jemma exclaimed, "how does one NOT have a family."
As the conversation went on it became obvious that Skye was selling out SHIELD. Fitz tried to keep the peace.
"I'm sure she was just figured out! She was just trying to play alo--"
And then the device went online. Fitz grinned on his teammates as his statement was being validated.
They were sitting in the van analyzing the signal that would trace back to Coulson's protege.
Skye was still a bit bitter about Coulson implying she was some sort of thief. Then when Ward told her to Pee in the bottle she had been fuming.
Her mood was contagious. As she was getting angrier so was Fitz.
Suddenly Skye was able to get rid of the interference. And there was the scene was a van. A white van that looked identical to their own. Skye grabbed both Scientists hands and dragged them out of the van.
As they all got clear, a truck slammed into the side of the van. Both truck and van went off the embankment.
Jemma stood up quickly and then, Amador kicked her in the chest sending her over the embankment as well. She drew a knife and swung it in a downward arc right at Fitz's head.
Suddenly a tiny form hit him from the side. Skye hit him and as they were going down he heard her take a sharp intake of breath. After they hit the ground he looked up to see her gone. He felt a heavy warm liquid all over his right forearm.
"Now we're even." She said, then she slumped onto his chest unconscious from the pain.
They were on the bus, everyone talking in the lab. They were watching Amador through her eye. Jemma was working on cleaning Skye's wound so she can stitch it up. This was evident by the sudden hisses and curses coming from Skye sitting in the chair with no shirt on.
"How's it looking, Simmons?"
"Oh she'll live." Simmons said, "but I'd keep her from the field for about two days. On her left side the wound went from her should to about 6 centimeters from her hip bone; it was pretty deep as well. And--" she tensed up. She pointed directly at something. "Skye? Is that what I think it is?"
As she touched whatever she was pointing at, Skye tensed up. "Don't."
"Oh my god it's--"
"Doctor/Patient privilege! You can't repeat anything to ANYBODY." She said putting emphasis on the last word knowing that Jemma knew exactly what she was talking about.
She was fuming in anger before she finally burst out. "Dammit! Everyone out so I can talk to my patient!"
Everyone cleared out pretty quickly after that. No one had heard Jemma have a tone like that before. After the door closed and the windows tinted, they could all hear muffled shouting. Then Skye rushed out and Jemma looked a little scared and sad.
When Skye looked weird about the meeting about some hacker Miles Lindon? Something like that. Fitz could tell something was up.
He wasn't proud of it but he turned on the backup communicator. He wasn't sure why, but he wasn't in the greatest mood. Ever since Belarus, the itch from Peru came back. It had gotten 3x as bad. And Simmons was of no help to get rid of it.
To his horror she was talking to this hacker. And to the outside of his control Coulson walked in and her the conversation making Fitz trace the connection.
They had just finished in China when Coulson pulled Skye into his office. She had betrayed them to another hacker, then when she realized May was trailing her she shot her with an ICER. He and Jemma suspected the last part was the worst because even though they were broken up, Coulson was very protective of May. And vice versa as well.
Plus Miles had gotten away. Fitz suspected they were more than just colleeges in the Rising Tide.
The three younger agents waited out side to see what would happen to her. Simmons and Fitz both agreed that Ward was hoping she would be kicked off the bus.
Suddenly the door slammed open. Skye stormed out, tears in her eyes. Coulson going after her trying to get her to come back oddly apologizing.
Skye stopped by Jemma, "And just so you know, there are people who don't have families. Not everyone has a perfect life and perfect family." Her tears started going off freely. She stormed off again.
"Ummm," Ward began,"is there something we shou--"
"Skye has put in her resignation."
"Fitz," Jemma whispered to him tears in her eyes as well "Maybe you should go talk to her."
"Why me? I'm pissed at her as well!" He said, which was only partly untrue. He had been pissed at her. Furious even. But it had passed almost immediately.
"Because," she said. "Did you hear what she said to me? About families? It means she heard what I said in Malta. She knew that communicator was there! She knew we'd be listening!"
His facial features softened. "Why would she listen to me. I was the one who put it there!"
"Well she obviously not going to listen to anything I'll say. Coulson as well. Ward will only make it worse and I sincerely doubt that May will be willing...." She said babbling and trailing off.
"Fine. Fine!" He said getting up to go talk to her.
He found her with her back to him violently shoving things into her boxes that barely more than a month ago he was helping her move.
He knocked twice and she said, "Go away, Fitz."
"How'd you know it was me?"
She waited a moment before answering. As if she were to figure out how to answer correctly. "Obviously Simmons wouldn't come here after I only slightly overreacted. Slightly."
He grinned. "Well still."
"Are you going to be the one convincing me to stay? The one who put the thing in my purse in the first place?"
"The device you knew was there the entire time?" She stopped moving. "Believe it or not, I did it to protect you. I didn't think if Ya knew it was there you'd have been subtle if you were caught in Malta."
She turned and grinned. "Either way, we understand if you leave. But we'd prefer you not to." Her grin faded and she got a sad look on her face. He turned and walked out the door. With out turning around he said, "I'd prefer you stay." And continued to the common area.
Ward and Simmons were still there. As he walked back in they both stood up. He shrugged his shoulders and they both sat down disappointed. Five minutes later she walked in. She was messing her fingers around what looked like a microchip.
"Uhhhh," she said looking at her feet. "Where's Coulson?"
"Office!" Both Jemma and Ward said a little too quickly.
She went in and came out after about 35 minutes. As she walked past then all she gave both Ward and Jemma a "May Head Nod". She winked at Fitz. Then when she though no one was looking gave herself a horrified look.
After this Skye had purposely avoided him. The closest he had come was when Jemma got back onto the plane. He overheard a bit of conversation between them.
"I get it," Jemma said holding back tears. "I understand why you didn't tell--"
And that was all he was able to hear. Then he heard what she had done for them at the Hub but still she avoided him like the plague. He started to try to prank her but then there was that nonsense about a ghost. He was beginning to think Jemma was right. He had a crush.
When Coulson was kidnapped, she was inconsolable. She wouldn't let anyone near her. Not Ward. Not Simmons. Especially not May. Finally Fitz was able to corner her in her bunk.
"Get out, Fitz!" She screamed, and tried to push on his chest. Even though she had been doing strength training with Ward, he had barely moved. She did it three more times before he grabbed her arms and pulled her into a hug. "That's what they do in movies? Right?" He thought to himself.
Luckily his instinct was right as she started crying against him. Once she was done she stopped and said she had an idea. An idea that got her kicked off the bus. And he didn't seem her for the next three days.
Fitz wasn't sure what Coulson had said to Skye at Sci-Tech but he had never scene her like this. She was determined and hard working. Twice he had to wake her up to pretty much carry her up the stairs to her bunk.
They were sitting across from each other, he was listening to her awful impersonation of his accent. She got up and started talking to the conductor stealing his key. Once to sell the relationship she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. Unfortunately, he didn't realize that is what she was doing. He turned and her lips accidentally were planted on his.
After they both got the hell out of there. The itch that he had been feeling since Belarus just turned into a burn. He just chalked that up to the embarrassment though.
All throughout setting up the equipment, there was an awkward silence between them. Then everything went to hell. The security chief broke into their cabin. The two against one approach made the fight even. Until he pulled out a grenade.
Acting in the instinct that he forgotten he apparently possessed. He wrapped both arms around her back. He twisted so that his body was shielding her slightly smaller body.
A familiar voice shouted "Get down!"
And there was a "Papoof!" And they both turned to see Jemma fall to the floor. Dendrotoxin flooding into her system.
After they had covered her up and gave her an ICER to defend her self. They followed CYBERTECH to a mansion that held Ian Quinn. He went to disable the cars so no one could get away. As the rest of their team got there.
"I'm going in." Skye said.
"No!" As he grabbed her arms.
She looked at him for a moment than said, "Hurry up and disable the cars then we'll both go!"
"Aye!" He said as he slid underneath the first car. Once he slid back out he could tell that she had ignored him.
Suddenly a burning sensation hit his entire right arm. Everyone else was back and storming the building. His arm would have to wait. As they looked for Skye, he heard the painful cry of Coulson.
Even hours after they were put Skye in the chamber, he could feel Simmons stare. It was piercing and wouldn't go away. It was even there in the waiting room.
Finally the surgeon walked out. "It doesn't look good. Does she have any family? Parents. Siblings. We need a direct family member to make this choice."
"No." Coulson said, not even trying to hide the defeat in his voice. "She has no one."
"What about her soulmate?" The doctor said, "he/she can make that choice as well."
"Skye doesn't have a soulmark." Coulson said holding out his wrist. "I would've felt it."
"I'm not surprised" the female doctor said. She's been applying 'MarkUp'"
The entire team sat there in shock. Another secret Skye had kept. Then looking at her past Fitz could understand why. Everyone who had ever loved her, left her. Even her parents who were supposed to love her unconditionally. Why would her Soulmate be any different. Rat Bastard.
The doctor held out a picture of a few words Fitz couldn't see. All he could see was the ugly scar on otherwise beautiful skin.
"Fitz," May said in disbelief snatching the paper from Coulson as he refused to move. She handed him the picture. In his hand writing her skin wrote,
""Yeah, no more complaints about the testosterone level now you're here!"
He just stared at it in shock. The doctor was looking at him.
"Sir? What do you want to do?"