four.
Hunter drove was Fitz was leaning against the window with his eyes closed. Hunter knew he wasn't asleep, but he left him be. He didn't know what had happened to Fitz, but he did feel a sense of guilt from him. He wasn't going to say anything, but he had a feeling that Fitz wanted to make that device so he could stay there a little longer. Pay for whatever crimes he had committed. He didn't plan on saying anything until he saw the shiny gold and silver chains on his neck.
"You still wear them." He wasn't sure if he intended it as a question or a statement. But whatever it was, it hung in the air.
"Yeah." Fitz didn't continue for a while. "You were right. Having a physical reminder helped. Even after I got better."
Usually, Hunter would've made a remark about how he was always right, but it felt wrong. Instead he smiled. "I'm glad."
"I gave one of them to Daisy, thought it might help her. Lincoln died and Daisy took it pretty hard. She blamed herself for what had happened with Hive and his death... She ran. I yelled at her and needed to make it right." Fitz swallowed "It helped me, thought it might help her too."
"Did it?"
Fitz nodded. "Yeah, think it did anyways."
"But she gave it back?"
"After the Framework, I was going to to turn myself in. They convinced me not too. Clearly I ended up getting arrested anyways but... She said I needed them more. She was right." Fitz gave a chuckled that set off alarms in the back of his mind. Never had Hunter witnessed Fitz being so... self-depreciating. "I don't deserve it."
For a moment Hunter thought he was going to take off the chains, but his hands never moved.
"What happened in there, Fitz?" Hunter's voice was barely above a whisper. He couldn't remember the last time he hadn't been loud or blunt.
Fitz shook his head. "Bad things. Murder, torture... I hurt the whole team, one way or another."
"Do you believe you are a bad person?" Hunter surprised himself, he didn't even know where that question came from. He expected Fitz's answer, but that didn't mean his heart didn't break any less.
"Yes." His voice cracked and Hunter made sure to keep his eyes on the road. "Do you?"
"No. I don't believe for a second you would've done those things if you had a choice."
Fitz didn't reply and Hunter had nothing else to say. He would never believe, for a second, believe Fitz was a bad person.