Daisy Stark

‘houses in my area’

‘affordable apartments for two people’

Daisy rolled her eyes. It was obvious that Simmons was house hunting. Even for an apartment for two. She and Fitz wanted to live together? Cute. She definitely would tease Simmons about it when she saw her. And yes, it was when she saw her, and not if.

Let’s add a new house to the site Simmons looked on most to find a place. Her own one, that she had inherited from Cal. Daisy couldn’t stomach staying there anyways, so if it would be a good fit for the two it was a win, and if she happened to have to present it to her ex-colleague then that would be a… Very happy coincidence. Especially since Daisy had recently found out that the watchdogs had the list of inhumans that S.H.I.E.L.D. protected. Daisy needed to find out how, and needed to protect the inhumans.

Daisy closed off her computer when she heard Nat coming home as well, they’d agreed to not think about work or vigilantism for the night, as Nat would go in deep cover tomorrow.

‘This is the deal, take it or leave it.’

Daisy had been going after a group of watchdogs all morning, and was now watching a weapons deal going down. As one of the masked guys threw down some money, Daisy left her hiding place. ‘I say… Leave it.’

Daisy blasted the weapons on display to the ground, then threw both of the armed guards to the wall, while some other ran off.  Good. They’d be less bold next time.

‘You go after inhumans who barely can control their powers, who do not pose any threat, but when someone who actually is a threat comes up you all run away? That says everything I need to know about you.’

Daisy directed her powers towards one of the leaders, who she had seen harassing a young girl who could change her appearance yesterday. She had only arrived once the watchdogs left, and it had been more important to get the girl to a hospital then it had been to get revenge. Now she didn’t have anything else to do. She took the money of the counter, reminding herself to donate it to the multiple charities put in place to help inhumans control their powers and protect them. Luckily there still were instances that offered protection of identity for minors and protested if the government went after them for ‘threat assessment’. Daisy scowled, it was horrible.

Then again, she’d once believed that S.H.I.E.L.D.  was wrong to keep things like this a secret, back when she’d been scared as well. She’d joined the rising tide, for gods sake. Mainly to stir things up, what side of the argument would her old self have chosen?

Her thoughts distracted her just enough to not realise that one of the men she’d thrown unconscious against the wall had awoken, and was aiming his gun at her. At least, not to realise it until she felt the stinging pain of a bullet in her shoulder. Daisy bit her lip to prevent any weakness from showing. She could not use that right now. Sending a shockwave to knock all remaining men out, she used her gloves to pick up the weapons, write a note for the police to pick these men up, leave evidence in the form of fingerprints on the gun, and finally left to get medical attention. She was supposed to meet with Simmons either way.

Once she had gone into the apartment unseen, Daisy allowed her mind to drift. It took too much energy to keep her mind in the present and she was safe now. It had been less so when she’d almost been spotted by a cop because her mind had drifted to the healthy debate about underage heroes, whether people should offer them help (Daisy argued with Peter and his safety in mind, Natasha with her own past and distrusts of single governments.) and whether they would need some help in controlling their powers. Eventually they had both said what they wanted to say and put on some music. It had turned out that both Nat and Daisy liked the song ‘Battle Scars’ by Guy Sebastion, both due to their own experiences working for S.H.I.E.L.D. and before that. The younger woman had been impressed at the spy’s ability to rap, while the spy had been pleasantly surprised with Daisy’s singing voice. Drowning in the memories of the night before, Daisy drifts away.

‘Hello’ Daisy jolts awake, immediately feeling the pain in her shoulder sting.

‘I’m here about the apartment.’ Simmons has arrived. Daisy forces herself to stand up.

‘Is anybody here?’ Daisy wants to respond, but her throat hurts so much that she can barely whisper.

Daisy has made it through the door, but collapses against it. The sound got Jemma’s attention. ‘Daisy?’

‘I’m sorry, I had nowhere else to turn to.’ Daisy groaned. Everything hurt.

A while later, Jemma had stitched Daisy up, and Daisy had explained the problem to her. Once Jemma had said that she had lie detector tests, Daisy had just put a gun to Jemma’s head, so Jemma could claim that anything that happened happened wasn’t her fault. You know, if someone puts their gun against your head, you comply.

It had been a pleasant surprise to learn that Jemma was head of science.

It had been a less pleasant one to find out Malcolm worked with the watchdogs.]

Then again, they had been saved by Robbie, which was both a pleasant surprise and something that just kept happening.

However, Daisy did not know how she felt about meeting back up with Coulson. Guilty, angry, confused.

That last part might’ve contributed to the fact that Daisy ended up fighting with a mob of watchdogs while locking Coulson and May out. Both of which returned just in time to save her life. But that was just the way things went, Daisy tried to save her team, her team ended up saving her. It had been the way of life for so long.

But then she had left. And even while she had been happy with Natasha, falling in love, teaching Peter, being taught by Colleen, it hadn’t been her team. Daisy had tried to ignore it but now she couldn’t. Daisy missed them.

Colleen was an amazing teacher, but she wasn’t the woman who would silently make tea when Daisy couldn’t sleep.

Peter was a waterfall of words, he was sciency and cute, but still, he was only a boy, and couldn’t be a close friend like Fitz was.

Nat was amazing, and Daisy loved her, but she couldn’t talk to her as she had with Jemma.

And most of all, Daisy had missed Coulson. She could still have contact with her family when she was with the team, but not contacting Coulson while with her family was hard.

And now he was here, he had her back.

And if she was being honest, she didn’t want to leave again.

Daisy needed to say goodbye.

First to Colleen, as she was the easiest:

‘Hi Colleen, I know I had already postponed out sessions due to vacation, but I have found a new job in another city, so I can’t come to training anymore.

Then to Pepper, this one hurt more, as she knew Pepper was hoping the younger Stark would start fulfilling her role in the company already. The current agreement was that Daisy would get introduced to the world when she became thirty-five as the Stark heir, and that she would stop her current job to get more responsibilities until Pepper retired.:

‘Hi Pep, I am returning to S.H.I.E.L.D., our agreement still stands though. I just missed my old team a lot. Besides, Nat would never fall in love with me. It’s better if I stay away from her, before I ruin our friendship too.

Don’t overwork yourself, you’re just as bad as my father, don’t deny it. Take care of him too though, he isn’t doing as well as he pretends. Don’t tell him I said that. Bye’

Now Rodhey:

‘Hi Rhodey, I am returning to S.H.I.E.L.D., I realised that I missed them badly, and accidently ended up joining their missions, and I just can’t leave now. It’s confusing. I do hope you’ll contact me if anythings wrong.

Keep an eye out for my father, he isn’t as alright as he pretends to be. Don’t forget to look after yourself as well though, you might be able to operate War Machine again, but I know you haven’t always kept on schedule with your physical therapy. I’ll keep an eye on your computer to make sure you do them. I warn you. Bye’

Peter:

‘Hi Pete, I’m afraid I have to stop with training you as I have returned to my job at  S.H.I.E.L.D., it’s a long story. Continue going to the compound to practice your punches and swings in safety though. I’ll send you a link to the woman I took self defence from, go there, pretend not to have super strength, learn the moves and practice them later. It’ll help you tons.  

I know you already bury Happy in phone calls, but keep me posted when something happens or if you just want to talk, about whatever. Don’t get into dangerous situations without backup or I’ll have your head. Bye.’

Tony:

‘Hi dad, listen, I know you were glad I left S.H.I.E.L.D., but sorry, I returned. I gotta admit, I missed my team. Coulson most of all. You know what I mean. After all, you know him too. Please tell either Rodhey or Pepper about Siberia. Or at least about the letter. Let someone in. If the roles were reversed, you’d want me to do the same. Take care of yourself alright? I’ll send Peter to bother you day and night if you don’t eat or leave the lab. Don’t think I won’t. Or that I won’t know for that matter. I long programmed F.R.I.D.A.Y.  to alert me. Bye.

Then the last one. The hardest one. The one Daisy had to write down as she was at loss for words about what to say. She loved Natasha and wished that that love was returned. But she’d heard Natasha say it herself. ‘Love is for children.’ There was no chance that the spy loved Daisy. So here it came:

‘Hi Nat. (a long sigh) I don’t know how to tell you this but I’ll have to. I’m returning to S.H.I.E.L.D., I missed my old team to much, which I didn’t realise until I ended up doing a mission with my old team. I know you won’t hear this until after your mission has finished but when you do, please call me. I wouldn’t want to lose our friendship. Besides, I won’t rest anyways until I know you’ve returned in one piece.

I’m not certain how long you’ll stay in LA, but feel free to keep living in the apartment, or in the compound when you return. Turns out my father put both on my name. Take care of yourself. (another silence.) I need to force myself to say goodbye, but here it is… Bye’

A tear rolled over her cheek. ‘It’s for the best.’

‘It’s for the best.’

Daisy whispers it to herself when putting away the phone. She loves reunions, even if they are complicated, but nothing hurts as much as saying goodbye. She’d prefer leaving without saying anything, but she has to. It’d be unfair otherwise, and she doesn’t want to betray another friend.

Even if that’s all they’ll ever be.