It's not like I missed you or anything
"It’s not like I missed you or anything," Coulson says as they leave the common room, and Daisy laughs softly.
"Sure, Phil. I've heard from Elena and Mack about just how much you didn't miss me." She bumps her shoulder against his. "More pine than a forest, Mack said."
"Traitor," he mutters, and she laughs again, then grabs his hand and laces their fingers together, and he wishes he could feel it properly, but his latest prosthetic is still not that sensitive.
"I was going to go and grab a snack," she tells him. "Want to come with?"
"How about I make you a grilled cheese?" he suggests, and her whole face lights up.
"I'd – I'd like that, Phil, thanks."
He nods, then wonders if he should free his hand from hers, but it doesn't seem like she's desperate to let go, and he'd be lying if he said he wanted her to stop holding his hand, even though it's bound to cause comment.
Strangely, though, they don't meet anyone in the hallways as they walk through them, so he relaxes into the pleasure of holding hands with Daisy. He doesn't dare to tell her that he'd like to always hold hands with her: that'd be absurd, and he's fairly sure she's only indulging him in this way now because she's relieved that they managed to stop Robbie's uncle.
Once in the kitchen she does let go of his hand, and he wonders if he's imagining her reluctance to do so, then they begin getting out the necessary bits and pieces for him to make grilled cheese sandwiches for her.
"How many do you want?" he asks.
She bites her bottom lip, then says tentatively, "I'm quite hungry."
He smiles. "Three?"
"Three's being greedy," she says, very seriously.
He leans towards her, sliding his hand down her back, then wraps his hand around her side to pull her body into his. "No, it's not. You've been overusing your powers in the last few months, and have saved countless lives – three isn't even close to being greedy." He presses his lips to her temple, and she sighs, then turns towards him, her arms wrapping around him, and he gladly hugs her back.
"You must've really missed me," she observes. "You're not usually one for PDA."
"It's not every day my favourite superhero comes back after months away," he says.
She chuckles. "Cap was gone 70 years."
"Cap who?" he teases, and she laughs harder, and he hugs her more tightly. He wants to kiss her, wants it so desperately he can almost taste it, but he doesn't. He pulls back slowly, then says, "These grilled cheese won't make themselves."
"True," she agrees, then she kisses him – it's a light, fairly chaste kiss, but it's unmistakably her mouth on his, and he feels such a strong surge of desire spike through him that he's rooted to the spot.
"Sorry," she says, pulling away. "I – uh – I don't know what came over me."
"Don't be sorry," he says immediately. "I was thinking just now about how much I wanted to kiss you."
"Yeah?" She sounds so doubtful, and he draws her body back against his, and kisses her a bit less chastely than she kissed him.
"Phil," she gasps, and grinds against him, and he groans quietly as he feels that same strong surge of desire hit him.
"You should eat first," he tells her. "Then we can talk – and other things, if that's what you want."
"Yes," she says quickly.
They pull themselves apart, and concentrate on the food: while he's making the grilled cheese sandwiches (Daisy insists he make 'at least one' for himself to keep her company), she puts together a bowl of salad under his requested supervision – he's pretty sure she could assemble a salad on her own without any difficulty, but if she wants him to supervise, he can do that. She also pours two glasses of milk – a large one for her as she needs all the calcium she can get, and a smaller one for him. Then she goes digging through the cabinets and brings out a packet of Little Debbie cakes.
"Whose are these?" she asks, brandishing them, and he raises an eyebrow.
"Mine. I thought they were well hidden."
"Oh."
"I'm happy to share," he says. "But only with you."
She smirks, then fetches a tray and sets the Little Debbies on it, along with the bowl of salad and the glasses of milk.
Ten minutes later he leads the way through the halls to the bunks. Daisy hasn't been allocated one yet, so they're going to eat in his. He slightly regrets the fact that he doesn't have the Director's quarters any more, but he's sure they'll manage.
DJ-PC-DJ-PC-DJ
They talk as they eat, and Coulson feels himself relaxing properly for the first time since Daisy got Swayed. Once they've finished, Coulson puts the dirty crockery onto the tray and leaves that on his corner table, then he decides to clean his teeth because if he's going to be kissing Daisy, he'd rather his mouth was minty fresh.
"I should do that," she says, then frowns. "Although my toiletries are in my van, which is parked outside Robbie's."
Her expression turns inward and sad, and he wraps an arm around her shoulders. "There's bound to be spare toothbrushes in the bathroom – unless you'd like to go and get your van?"
She shakes her head. "I'll leave it until tomorrow – I need to take his car back to Gabe anyway."
"Would you like me to come with you?"
"Would you?" Her expression lightens at the suggestion, and he presses his lips to her temple.
"I can do that," he says.
"Then it's a date," she says brightly, then frowns. "Or, you know – "
"Daisy." He cuts her off. "It's definitely a date."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"I think we should clean our teeth, so I can kiss you," she says, and he chuckles quietly.
Okay."
A few minutes later they meet again in his bunk, and Daisy raises an eyebrow when he sets a box of condoms down on his nightstand. He blushes a bit, then says, "I thought it was better to be prepared. I mean, we don't have to – "
She grabs his shoulders and tugs him closer, then kisses him, cutting off his babble, and he immediately wraps his arms around her and kisses her back. It's much better than the rather more tentative kiss they shared before, and he can feel that he's growing aroused.
"Daisy," he whispers.
"Mmhmm?"
"Can we lie down?"
She pulls back and smirks at him. "It's your bunk, Phil, so you're calling the shots."
He shakes his head. "I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."
She gives him a quick kiss, then shuffles sideways towards his bed, and he moves with her until they can settle on the bed facing each other as they lie on their sides, her boots and his shoes on the floor.
"I sort of can't believe you want this," she tells him.
"Why?" he asks gently. "Do you think you're not worthy of being loved?" She gives a shrug, and he says, "Oh Daisy", then kisses her more energetically than ever, before wrapping his arms around her and holding her close.
"I've loved you and wanted you for ages. You are the most desirable woman I've ever known, and you're smart and sexy, and I would give you the world if I could."
"Phil." She looks as if she might cry at any moment, so he kisses her again.
They don't have sex that night – they just kiss and cuddle, and talk more than he thinks they've ever talked before about personal stuff. Coulson doesn't regret the lack of sex, though – he is glad of the chance to reconnect with Daisy after her long absence.
Around ten she texts Jemma to find out where her new bunk is, and is surprised to discover it's just two doors down from Coulson's – with Agent Piper's in between – and since she doesn’t have any of her things with her, Coulson lends her a pair of sweatpants, an old (but clean) SHIELD tee, and a sweater, and they arrange to have breakfast together fairly early the following morning before they take Robbie's car to Gabe and collect Daisy's van.
Even though their bunks are just two doors apart, Coulson walks her to her bunk, and he can tell she's amused by the gesture, but at the same time, he thinks she likes it. She slips her hand into his and brings him inside before she lets him go for the night, and they say their goodnights in Daisy's new bunk.
"You don't mind if we take this slow while I find my feet again?" she asks as they stand just behind her door, arms wrapped around each other.
He cups her cheek and rubs his thumb across it. "I told you, you set the pace for this. I'll be happy to give you whatever you want or need."
"Ugh," she says, sounding quite disgusted. "You're far too nice to be real."
He chuckles. "You're just gonna have to get used to it, Daisy, if you're gonna do this with me."
She sighs very dramatically, then giggles softly. "I'll deal," she tells him.
"I'm glad to hear it." He gives her one last squeeze and a deep kiss, then pulls himself from her arms. "I should go."
She bites her bottom lip, then nods. "You probably should. Although some time soon I'd like to spend the night with you – even if we don't have sex."
"I'd like that," he assures her. "Goodnight, Daisy."
"Goodnight Phil."
He slips out of her bunk, then goes into his own: he has a feeling he'll sleep well tonight, now that Daisy's under the same roof as he is. He's so glad to have her back.