We're Not Lovers We're Just Strangers
''Don't. Don't love me. Just treat me like some random girl you picked up in a bar''.
''I will never forgive you''. ''Not asking you to''.
''This doesn't change anything, I hate you''. ''And you have every right to''.
''What do you want Ward?'' His brown eyes stare into her's, her lips are parted she's breathing heavy beneath him. The feel of her skin against his is distracting. Like he's finally made it back to the home he belongs to.
''What I've always wanted Skye. You''.
*
Skye wakes to slow careful breathing beside her. The feel of ribs against her back as they move, a hand resting on her hip fingers slightly running back and forth along the skin there. It takes her a moment to remember what happened, who's couch she's lying naked on. The person wrapped around her like he never left it feels so right so complete, almost as if these long months of separation were just a bad dream.
A pause in their lives and now someone wants them to press play again. The lights are off, small rays of sunshine filter through the curtains under the back door, the house is quiet the only sounds are her and Ward's breathing. She knows he knows she's awake but Skye can't find it in herself to face him yet. Yesterday after not receiving a phone call from Kebo she thought something terrible happened.
Kebo wasn't answering his phone and she even went as far to find out Ward's new number but he did not answer either. In full panic because she may be angry with him still but she doesn't want him dead, Skye rushed out of the Playground dropping Ward's file on the floor mat of her car and came straight here. So to see her husband alive and well after she thought the worst, well Skye just reacted.
There's a bad feeling in her stomach that says Ward might think this means she forgives him, that she wants to get back together. But she doesn't. There's more to the story with Grant than she originally thought yes, but that does not mean he's excused for all the horrible acts he's committed. However Skye can't deny how much she's missed him, lying here with the couch cushions smelling like him.
The taste of him still heavy on her lips her skin brushing his when she shifts slightly. God what the hell did she do? Ward is the enemy she should be arresting him not snuggling back into his side attempting to fall back asleep. ''You're thinking too loud''. He whispers causing her to jump. It's been a long time since she slept next to anyone. The couch is far too small for both of them but neither makes a move to get up.
Skye is waiting for the familiar bitterness to creep back inside at the sound of his voice. The hatred to sting her skin like acid, for her words to wound him like they have these past few months, for her body to get up and leave this house never looking back. To hurt Ward in every way possible, but it never comes. Instead she allows him to wrap his arms around her, bury his face in her neck.
She's tracing a scar on the back of his hand when finally she turns around. Ward raises his head and really she's seen this before too many times to count. His sleep mused hair, the intensity of his gaze as he watches her. Now would have been the time he'd smile and kiss her good morning, they'd be late for work because they simply can't keep their hands off each other. Oh how times have changed.
If she could go back in time and tell her former self all the misery waiting if she married Ward, if she went back to the night they met, would Skye tell herself not to do it? To turn around and go back to Miles, forget about the Shield agent who would love her to pieces? Skye looks at him now so different from the man six years ago yet still the same. Back in his arms all feels right in the world she doesn't want to leave.
She can't remember placing her hands on his chest but there they are and Ward is smiling down at her. She should be demanding he put his hands behind his back, not leaning up to meet his kiss. Not straddling his hips moving her hair out of the way, kissing him as if she's been dying all this time and he's brought her back to life. Skye tells herself to shut up and shivers when Ward runs his hands down her bare back.
Skye actually forgot about his injury. Ward sure as hell acted as if it didn't bother him but a few hours later she sees him wince as she's falling back asleep. Reminding her of the bullet he took for her, if it wasn't for him she'd be dead. And if it wasn't for Kebo scrambling around to get a doctor Grant would be dead right now. ''I'm fine''. He says sitting up and Skye follows. ''No you aren't''. She spies a bottle of pills on the floor and tosses them to him.
Both he and Skye are waiting for the reality of the situation to come rushing in, for her to yell and run out of here. It hasn't happened yet but Ward won't get his hopes up. She's looking at him now with affection in her face it throws him, Skye hasn't looked at him like that in a long time. They should talk about it, why she's here what this means. He knows she will never forgive him that she'll never share her life with him again.
''You took a bullet for me''. She says quietly, sitting up and wrapping a blanket around her body. ''Yeah''. Skye without even thinking about it places her hand on top of his. ''You could have died Ward''. He rolls his eyes, ''if I can count on Kebo for one thing it's to make sure I don't die''. ''It's not funny''. ''I'm not joking. Skye that shot was aimed to kill, I wasn't going to let that happen. I'd do it again if I had to''.
Skye isn't sure how to respond to that. God what the hell is she doing here? She should being doing two things, calling May for backup and putting cuffs on Ward. But instead she's looking over her shoulder at him and he's staring up at her in that way of his. It's one he's perfected over the past six years that never fails to leave her breathless. ''Stop looking at me like that''. He grins like this is a normal morning.
As if nothing has changed.
Before he can ruin whatever moment this is Skye finds herself kissing him again, is about to ask if this is okay because he's injured (a little late for that anyway) and they're lost in each other again. Ward wakes when Skye's breathing changes, it shifts and he knows she's awake. He isn't stupid, she came here because she thought he was dead. It's understandable, he isn't about to take one second for granted though.
His wife in in his arms again he couldn't ask for anything more, six months ago if you told him this would happen Ward would have laughed. It may be brief it would probably never happen again, Skye is impulsive and it's only a matter of time before she's gone again. But for now he's content to lie here next to her and kiss her skin, those are limited. He's missed her. Not just her body but everything about her.
Her smile the way her nose crinkles when she laughs, the way she says his name. He's missed her snark, no one has ever gotten under his skin the way Skye has. Ward is about to brush her hair back because it's getting in her eyes something she's always hated, when he feels moisture on his arm. Then he feels her shoulders stiffen like she's trying to hold them in place. She's crying, it breaks something in him.
Skye is crying over him again, he pulls away from her and she sits up quickly. Ward feels awful so worried that he hurt her somehow but she turns to him her eyes puffy. ''I read your file''. That wasn't what he was expecting to hear at all. Why is she upset about that? She already knows everything inside it, his horrible family, his skill set at Shield. ''Skye''- ''Your family was terrible to you and you think John Garrett saved you.
But he didn't. He just threw you into another hell, Ward he isn't a savior''. Her words burn and he rises from the couch, throws a pair of jeans on. ''Whatever Kebo told you he doesn't know the whole story. You don't know anything''. Skye stands and slips on his old Academy sweatshirt again. ''So tell me. Grant why the hell are you doing all of this? Because Garrett is dying? You should let him''. ''God you sound like Kebo''.
He's angry suddenly, where the hell was this attitude all those months ago when Shield first fell? Did all it take was reading his file and a misguided conversation with Kebo and she's jumping on the wagon that he's brain washed? Poor little Grant Ward who can't fight his own monsters. If she feels sorry for him he doesn't need it. ''Look whatever twisted history you have with Garrett, I didn't see it before.
I wasn't ready to listen, I still hate you I can't forgive you. But maybe this wasn't all your fault''. Ward stares at his wife as she wipes her face, brushes her hands against her bare legs. It distracts him only for a moment then the anger is back. ''We're not discussing John''. ''Why not?'' ''Because Kebo has no idea what the hell he's talking about. Everything I did good and bad I did of my own free will. I'm not brain washed I'm not a vitim''.
''I didn't say you''- ''We're not having this conversation Skye. If that's all you wanted you can go ahead and leave''. ''Wow. You're really kicking me out?'' ''If you want to feel sorry for me then yes''. Skye chews on her lip hands on her hips and Ward stares right back at her. ''This was a mistake''. She says finally, gathering her underwear from the floor. For a moment the fury fresh in his chest Ward agrees with her. She shouldn't of come here.
But then he nearly says this is the opportunity to try and fix their marriage, closes his mouth though because just like last time it probably won't go over well. This was nothing more than Skye thinking he was dead and feeling sorry for him, it was just sex he knew that. Doesn't make it hurt any less when she's looking for her jeans. Skye is about to put on the jeans when the front door flies open and suddenly Ward is in front of her with his gun out.
''Jesus christ Ward it's me! Get the damn gun out of my face you crazy person. What are you doing awake anyway? It's two in the morning are you in pain?'' Ward sighs and puts the gun away, is just waiting for the inevitable freak out that is about to happen. ''Nope''. Skye makes a noise and Kebo takes a sip from his ever present flask before raising an eyebrow at Grant. ''Did you kidnap someone while I was gone?
Dammit Ward I told you to stay in bed you stubborn piece of''- Skye leans around Ward's back and Kebo chokes on the alcohol in his mouth. ''Why does everything good happen when I'm gone?'' Skye puts the rest of her clothes on while Kebo paces the floor yelling at the two of them to get their shit together. ''The last time I checked you wanted nothing to do with him Skye''.
Ward doesn't miss the way she's refusing to meet his eyes, how she's silent to Kebo's tantrum. When she moves to the front door Grant finds it hard to breathe, but he doesn't stop her either. Kebo does though his hand on her arm, ''you know you always run from your problems Cupcake, it's an unattractive flaw''. ''Let her go Kebo''. ''But Ward''- ''Now''. At Grant's tone Kebo obeys and Skye runs out of the house like it's on fire.
''Go after her you bloody moron''. Grant doesn't move. Just stands there frozen. What the hell just happened?