Shadows
Christmas finds the Stilinski house full of the scent of cinnamon and pine as Stiles, with the help of Derek, makes snicker doodles, waving off Clint who asks him why he doesn't just use his magic to bake.
“Because it's more fun to do it by hand!” Stiles had argued back, causing the archer to hold up his hands in mock surrender.
Now as Stiles sits with Derek on the couch, plate of snicker doodles in his lap, with his head resting on Derek’s shoulder while Clint and Natasha sit on the floor, watching some Christmas movie that Barton had insisted on putting on.
The door opens and Noah steps through with Peter and Chris in tow, the three men kicking off their shoes as they return from getting the potatoes for the Christmas dinner.
“Now can we open presents?” Clint asks, glancing at Natasha, who sighs.
“Yes, Barton,” she murmurs. “Such a child,” she says fondly.
The archer gives a cheerful woop of excitement as he all but dives for the tree, grabbing presents and handing them out.
In the middle of the excitement, Phil steps back inside from the back porch, sliding his phone back into his pocket, catching Noah’s eyes. For a moment, they hold each other’s gaze, not saying anything, before Noah nods to the kitchen. Together they enter the other room.
“You got an op, don't you?” the sheriff asks. “On Christmas.”
“The world doesn't stop for holidays, unfortunately,” the agent sighs. “I'm sorry to drag your son away.”
Noah shrugs. “I know what it's like,” he says. “Usually it was the other way around, though,” he says, glancing into the living room where Stiles is unwrapping a gift. “Where is it?”
For a moment, Colson considers not answering, knowing that it's technically classified, but at the same time, the sheriff has both earned his respect and trust, knowing that the man would do anything to protect his son. “DC, there was apparently a lot that happened that was kept from me, involving Iron Man and some terrorists, we will be working damage control…nothing too dangerous.”
“Thank you,” Noah nods. “For telling me.”
“You’re welcome,” Coulson says before stepping out of the kitchen. “Suit up,” he calls out. “We have an assignment,” he explains, not keeping the disappointment from his voice as he watches the faces of his assets fall before turning to stone. Stiles snaps his fingers and in an instant, the team’s civilian clothes are replaces by their work uniforms.
Standing to his feet, Stiles moves to his father. “Sorry,” he murmurs.
“Don't worry about it, kiddo,” Noah says. “Though I now know what this feels like, and although I hate it…your job is important,” he grins as he pulls his son in for a hug, before turning his gaze to Derek and nodding, letting the other man join in the embrace. “Just promise me that you two will be safe.”
“I concur,” Peter says smoothly as he rests his hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “I refuse to lose any more of my family.”
“I'll come back,” Derek assures his uncle.
“We both will,” Stiles agrees.
---
Landing back in DC, they pile into a car that had been waiting for them. However, as they pull away from the airport and start heading for S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters, arriving at the building, they b-line for Fury’s office where they are welcomed inside.
“I'm assigning your team to clean up crew,” he tells them. “Stark has an incident with a bio-terrorist enhanced who, following the usual mark up, wanted to perfect the world, in doing so Ms Potts, his assistant was effected with the man’s strain of enhancing mutations…she has been cured thanks to Stark, but I want your team ensuring that everything that needs to be swept under the rug is and burn the rug.” he instructs.
“Understood,” Coulson nods. “So, where are we headed?”
“Melbourne,” Fury replies. “But I wanted you to stop here first, so I could give you this,” he says before sliding a folder over to Coulson. The senior agent arches a brow, but accepts the folder nonetheless. Opening, he skims over the documents inside before closing it and standing to his feet. “Oh, and Coulson,” the director calls out. “Take the bus.”
“Let's go,” he murmurs, turning on his heel and leading the team out of the room.
“What was in the folder?” Clint asks Coulson who pointedly ignores him.
They head for the hangar, where a massive plane, bigger than any that Stiles has ever seen, is waiting for them. At the base of it, a man and a woman are bickering back and forth, while another man is standing against the plane, his head resting against the metal.
“Who are they?” Stiles asks Natasha.
“Fellow Agents,” she answers. “Grant Ward,” she explains, jutting her chin to the man against the plane.
“And Fitz-Simmons,” Clint grins as he gestures to the duo bickering. “Fitz makes really cool gear, and Simmons can tell you everything you need to know about the human body in her sleep.”
As they approach the group, Coulson clears his throat, causing Fitz and Simmons to immediately cease their discussion while Ward stands at attention.
“Sir,” he greets before narrowing his eyes at Derek and Stiles.
Seeing this, Coulson grins. “Easy ward, they’re with us…this is Agent Stilinski and Agent Hale… Stilinski is capable of turning everyone in this hangar into bunnies and Hale….well let's just say Hale is enhanced.”
“Wait…you’re magic?” Fitz exclaims as he looks at Stiles.
“What? Don't believe in hocus-pocus?” Stiles grins as he conjures an orb in his hand.
“Well, theoretically speaking, magic is nothing more than a manipulation of energies around us,” Simmons begins. “So it's not technically magic, just an execution of the law of conservation of energy, it can't be created or destroyed, just manipulated.”
“I don't know,” Ward says, eyeing the orb of crackling energy in Stiles’ palm. “That looks pretty magical to me.”
“She’s not entirely wrong,” Stiles shrugs, dismissing the orb. “Magic is more about manipulating the arcane energies around us…pulling on them and bending them to what I want…though I'm a bit more special than most,” he grins.
“And what’s your enhancement?” Ward asks Derek, who levels a cold look at the man in response.
Chuckling, Stiles shakes his head. “Derek takes some time warming up to people,” he explains.
“If we’re finished introducing ourselves, we have an assignment,” Coulson cuts in, though a small smile is spread across his face.
Together they all enter the plane, whistling in amazement when they see the luxury of it.
“Welcome to The Bus,” Coulson says. “Quarters are in the back, I can give a full tour later, but right now, we need to be getting to Melbourne,” he says before heading for the cockpit.
Stiles walks with Derek, Clint, and Natasha towards the back of the plane where they set their bags down before conjoining in Derek’s quarters. Waving his hand, Stiles seals the room of sound.
“So are we not going to talk about the fact that Coulson looked rattled when he looked in the folder that Fury gave him?” Clint asks.
“Not only that, but we’re suddenly working with other agents?” Stiles asks. “Have either of you ever worked with Ward, or Simmons, or Fitz?”
When the two assassins shake their heads, Derek sighs. “Ward is weird,” he growls. “There is something off about him,” he adds. “I just can't tell what?”
“Aside from the fact that he’s a pretty boy who thinks that it will get him far in life?” Stiles scoffs. “I don't know, this all just seems weird,” he settles on.
“We have to trust Coulson,” Natasha cuts in. “And Fury.”
“I trust them,” Stiles nods. “I don't trust Ward, and I don't know the other two,” he huffs.
---
“Bringing in more strays?” Melinda May arches her brow at Coulson.
“They’re good,” he says. “I trust them to have my back…like I trust you.”
They are silent for a moment before May speaks. “You think it's true?” she asks.
Phil is silent for a second as he thinks. “I don't know,” he admits. “I trust Fury’s gut…but I have to hope that it's not.”
May nods in agreement. “Where to?” she asks.
“Melbourne,” he answers. “We have to help with damage control for Stark…even though I would rather be here.”
“You and me both,” She says before starting the engine of the plane and going through her routine.