You're Ripped At Every Edge But You're A Masterpiece

Skye sits on a bench with her legs crossed, phone in hand. Acting like she's using it her thumb flying uselessly across the keys. It's all for show. For the strangers passing by it would look as if she's casually texting, engrossed in the device. That's not the case. What she's really doing is observing the man who just sat down on another bench directly across from her. His watch is what drew her attention.

Nothing flashy or anything, just a typical silver watch she's seen a hundred times on other men. But for some reason she can't take her eyes off it, perhaps there's something inside some hidden secret she's not supposed to know about. For whatever reason she keeps watching him through hooded eyes and if he notices he never shows it. Never meets her eyes once. This lasts for about ten minutes before he rises from the bench and walks away.

She's played this game dozens of times. A few boys at the orphanage taught her tricks and Skye has learned quite a few herself over the years. Barely fifteen but already a genuis with computers, she knows the Rising Tide have been watching her, ever since she dropped out of school. When she left the orphanage she erased herself from the system, no one is going to come after her no one cares that she's gone.

Skye keeps enough distance away from the man and his slicked back hair, he has this way about him that she can't pin either. Like he's seen too much in his life but doesn't want anyone to know. Her stomach growls loudly as she walks down the street, a painful reminder of why she's doing this. She pushes down the feelings of self pity, of the parents that she's still searching for and continues her walk.

She makes her move when he's stopped at the cross walk waiting for the light to inform him that he can pass. Slowly carefully with light fingers she reaches into his pocket where she sees the outline of his wallet, Joe one of the boys that taught her to do this said she might of been born for this kind of life. Skye grazes the cool leather of the wallet almost got it, her mind on the dinner she's going to get aftet this.

''Wouldn't do that if I were you''. She freezes her stomach in knots food fogotten. His voice is deep, an edge to it that causes her blood to freeze. Skye looks up she's never been caught before. The man is smirking at her as she pulls her wrist away. So Skye decides to play it cool, to brush it off like nothing happened. After all sarcasam and wit has always been her defense mechanism.

''I don't know what you're''- ''You're too young to be doing this already''. He gestures towards her hands. ''What's it for huh? Drugs? You're too pretty''. Skye opens her mouth but he cuts her off again. ''But it's always the pretty ones I suppose''. With a sigh like this is a major inconvenience for him, he takes out his wallet and holds up a twenty dollar bill. Her eyes must light up, she's been stealing Ramen Noodles for days now.

''Tell you what I'll take you to dinner''. Skye takes a hesitant step back. Why would he do that? If he's being nice why not just give her the money and be on his way? ''Relax I'm not a serial killer, you're too thin. Just want to make sure you eat, don't want my hard earned money to buy you drugs''. ''I'm not into that''. He raises an eyebrow, ''well can't blame me for being too careful''. The man glances around the street before turning away.

''You coming?'' He asks over his shoulder and Skye after debating with herself, follows. It won't dawn on her until later that she could of easily just walked away and pick pocketed someone else, but she'll realize that John had this vibe to him, this pull. He had a way of convincing people, a skill she will later learn and perfect herself. Which is how fifteen year old Skye finds herself sitting across from a stranger in a cold burger joint.

''What's your name honey?'' Skye crosses her legs but says nothing, glancing around the room every so often so she doesn't have to look at him. He must be able to tell how nervous she is because after twenty minutes of attempting small talk, he caves. (On purpose but she didn't know it at the time.) ''You don't have to be afraid of me, I'm just trying to be a good Samartian. Poor girl like you doesn't deserve to be on the streets''.

''I'm fine thanks. Don't need your pity''. ''Wasn't offering it, look I'm not a bad guy. After you eat you'll never have to see me again''. Skye meets his dark eyes sees how relaxed his face is. He fishes something out of his pocket, a small leather case and glances around before opening it. ''I'm one of the good ones, you can trust me''. Skye recognizes the badge as soon as he flashes it. Silver, a big ugly eagle with the word Shield written across.

She's not one of the best hackers for no reason, she's heard of Shield before. Secret government agency that protects people, but she has her doubts. ''Sorry government agencies don't really do anything for me''. He laughs before slapping the case closed and putting it back in his pocket. ''And did you think showing that to me would make me less nervous? Just because you wear a white hat doesn't mean you can't have horns underneath''.

He observes her quietly for a moment, hands folded under his chin. Dark eyes never leaving her face, lips pursed. ''That's a very good point. I like how you think''. And that is how it all begins. Let it be known that John Garrett was not a stupid man, he knew exactly what he was doing. Planted himself in Skye's life, the lonely fifteen year old girl who was dying for a family but never got one. It didn't take a lot of convincing on his part for her to latch onto him.

''What if I told you there was a way to get everything you want? A house, clothes, food. That I could give you everything you've always wanted and more? You'd never go days without eating or showering, I'd show you the world. No one would ever hurt you again''. A smile full of promises but full of venom. And he did indeed do all of those things, but they always came with a price. Always. She just didn't know it then.

''I'm John and I promise you, you will never have to be afraid or fight to survive again''.

Which is how Skye finds herself for the next ten years faithfully by his side, doing everything he asked. And John had no doubts about where her loyalty was, even at the very end.

*

''I killed someone''. Kebo and Skye have been back at her apartment for an hour and this is the first time she's said a word. They're standing in the kitchen, Bucky clutched to her chest and even from here Kebo can see her hands are shaking. ''I killed a Hydra agent because he was going to shoot Ward''. He has to tread very carefully here, taking a life that's something you never forget. Something no matter how much time has passed, doesn't leave you.

Skye's voice is blank and empty, ''and I should feel awful right? I do. But he was a Hydra agent, a bad man and he was going to kill Grant. What was I supposed to do?'' She glances at the carton of cigarettes collecting dust on the windowsill and winces, Kebo knows she's thinking about John. ''Ward told me once getting the gun is one thing, but pulling the trigger is another. I didn't have it in me with Quinn, but today I did. I killed someone''.

She starts rambling about how John should be here that he's the only one who'd understand how she feels. He's been with her for everything in her life he promised he would always be by her side whatever she needed. But he's not he's dead Coulson killed him she'll never see him again. She's this terrible ugly person and maybe Raina was right, maybe there is darkness in her. Gentle, as gentle as he can Kebo puts both hands on her shoulders.

Looks down at her, her chin quivering her lips trembling. ''Slow down take a deep breath, like this. In and out just breathe Cupcake. You're going to be okay, you were defending the man you love. That Hydra agent was going to kill Ward, you were protecting him''. Skye shakes her head, ''it was still wrong it's not okay. He was someone's son, could of been someone's husband or an uncle. I'm a killer''.

''So am I, so was John. So is Ward, hell eight percent of everyone at Shield is a killer, love. Coulson, May, the Black Widow, Fury. They all have blood on their hands and they've killed people for far less reasons than you have. This life isn't innocent or kind, you do things you aren't proud of. I'm not justifying myself or Shield or you, but it was kill or be killed in that situation. You were protecting the man you love, it was instinct''.

Skye's face crumbles as she cries into his chest and he holds her there in the kitchen for two hours. He coaxes some food and water into her, makes her take a shower and then sits next to her on the couch. Bucky every so often hisses at him if he gets too close to Skye, but otherwise they watch television in peaceful silence. ''I told Ward I was in love with him''. She tells Kebo at around two in the morning.

He chokes on the water he's currently drinking, they're laying side by side in her bed the curtains drawn, the room dark. ''What?'' He can't see her face but can tell by her body language that she's on the verge of becoming upset. ''He was arresting me so I thought what the hell? Thought it was going to be the last time I ever saw him. So I told him I loved him and then I kissed him''. He's shocked, about to comment how super spy lost his chill, but refrains.

''Wait back up, what all happened in that hotel room? Because you've made it sound like Ward hates you, doubt he'd stick his tongue in your mouth if he hated you''. With a deep sigh Skye gives him all the details. How she told Ward she was sorry, how she thought the pod Jemma and Fitz were on was going to float. How all she wanted was to save John, that's been her life for a decade. Months with the team were not going to change ten years of a life together.

That Grant finally admitted he doesn't hate her, all this time she thought he did. Skye told Grant everything, how John found her and she dedicated her life to him. He took her in off the streets gave her food, shelter, clothes, gave her a purpose, the father she'd be chasing all her life. ''Do you think he sees you differently now?'' Kebo feels Skye shrug. ''I don't know. Didn't get a chance to ask on account of the machine guns crashing the party''.

Lightly she elbows him in the ribs and they laugh. ''How in the hell did you manage that anyway?'' ''You'd be surprised at how many people are still willing to help out Garrett's Number Two. Though now that Whitehall is dead and you were the last known person to see him, that might change''. Kebo has already heard rumors that Skye was the one to kill Whitehall, Hydra isn't very happy with her.

''It wasn't me it was Ward''. ''I guessed as much''. They lay there for a while, Kebo is waitng for her to fall asleep to see if she'll have nightmares. They don't happen very often but he has a feeling tonight could change that. ''Shield is going to come after me again''. ''Probably''. ''Ward won't let me go a second time. He's the picture perfect Shield agent for god sake, he never fails''. Kebo puts a hand on her arm.

''Listen cupcake whatever happens no one is going to hurt you. If I have to march into the Playground myself and pull a Rambo out of my ass to get Coulson off your back, I will''. Skye chuckles and turns away from him, curling into a fetal position. ''What would I do without you?'' ''No idea honey cakes, no idea at all''. She's quiet for a long time he thinks she's fallen asleep her breathing even when she says, ''I kissed him''.

Kebo sighs, the drama it seems never ends with these two. ''Oh god did you sleep with him? Because the last thing I want to''- ''No. No we just kissed, and then I saw his stupid Shield lanyard and it killed the mood. In my defense I didn't think I was going to see him again, so I thought what the hell?'' For some reason this makes Kebo feel guilty and he realizes after a few seconds why that is.

Because Ward is sleeping with May and Skye has no idea. She's in love with a man who is doing everything he can to get her out of his head. He thinks about telling her but then decides against it. That would only hurt her and besides it should come from Ward. And he'd have no way of explaining to Skye how he knows that information about Grant, neither of them have any idea he's friends with both of them.

''I've screwed everything up. Sometimes I hate John for making me go onto the Bus. I'm not a Specialist how did he not expect me to get attached? Besides him they were the only family I ever had. And it killed me to betray them, but John was my dad, was I just supposed to let him die?'' Skye wipes a tear from her eye as Kebo shifts so his arm is underneath her head, her back curled into his chest.

''You did what you thought was right Skye, you didn't know any better. Garrett took you and made you into his own personal little doll. You were brainwashed love, even if you can't see it yet''. She scoffs, ''that's what that therapist said you made me go to''. ''And she was right''. Skye closes her eyes as Bucky jumps onto the bed and rubs his head against her neck. ''What am I going to do Popeye? Shield won't let me get away twice and neither will Ward''.

''You just keep doing what you're doing, you survive like you always have. If there's one good thing that bastard taught you it's how to survive, you're damn good at it. You don't give up you keep going, because you don't have another option''. Soon after that she falls asleep, he waits until six in the morning to slip out of the room. She had two nightmares but eventually calmed down an hour ago, he really considers leaving her with a few sleeping pills.

After a thorough search of the apartment, hissing back at the stupid cat who hates him, Kebo leaves. Makes a mental note to run to the store next time he's in town because Skye is running low on coffee and hand soap. His phone rings as he's getting in his car, it's Ward. He has been calling Kebo off and on all night but he's been ignoring it. ''Would you stop calling me? I was otherwise occupied last night, I'm not at your beck and call always robot''.

''What are you doing tonight?'' ''I already know you want to meet for a drink. Eight o'clock work for you? And please leave the attitude at the door alright? I don't need your locked down Specialist brain cramping my style''. Grant sighs, ''fine. I'll text you the address. And we both know you weren't with a woman last night, you remember I can tell when you're lying?'' Kebo curses, both at Ward and the too bright sunlight.

He hangs up before he says something stupid. Tonight he has a plan, he's going to subtly try and talk Ward out of hunting down Skye once more. He's known Grant for so many years, he maybe the best since Romanoff but Kebo can easily read him. Usually knows what he's feeling or thinking better than anyone. Kebo knows how to brush things under the rug with Ward, it's how he's kept being friends with Skye a secret for so long.

Kebo's main goal after he pulls Ward's head from his ass, is to try make him see that Skye isn't this horrible terrible person. She's just a girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, who trusted a man she shouldn't of. Who didn't see the wolf under sheep's clothing (sometimes she still doesn't.) That she was manipulated into this life, she never asked for it. If Grant can understand that maybe he'll be on his way to forgiving her one day.

He can only hope. He wonders when this became his life, how in the hell it became his job to put his two best friends back together. He won't stop until he does, and neither Shield nor HYdra is going to get in his way.