Day 5: Saying their name | Dressing fancy

Daisy Johnson (Skye) & Phil Coulson, Agents of SHIELD, AU

-------

Skye—Daisy—twisted and turned in front of the mirror, biting her lip as she considered the full skirt with its layers of tulle and silk, the little flowers with tiny green leaves worked in glimmering thread around the waist and square neckline, the fluttery short sleeves that showed off the muscles she'd spent the last few years acquiring.

The whole thing made her feel more like a Disney princess than a SHIELD agent, but she actually didn't mind. Not for a night, certainly.

The deep red dress was a Christmas present from Coulson, overwhelming in that it had been custom made for her, with real silk and everything. It had hidden pockets for her phone and anything else she might want. Even the embroidered flowers had pink daisies mixed with red roses.

Just as exciting was that Grant had no idea what she was wearing tonight, other than it being red. The thrill of imagining his reaction, made her suddenly shy, and she turned away from the mirror, pressed the cool backs of her fingers to her flushed cheeks.

A knock at the door of her small bedroom, and she stilled, alert as a rabbit till Coulson's query made her smile.

"Daisy?"

"Come in!" She tried to stand confident and relaxed, but her fingers still twitched, so she clasped her hands behind her back to hide it.

Coulson didn't look up until he was in the room, door mostly shut behind him. When he did, the slow drop of his jaw, the smile that made his face all soft, the murmured, "Wow," made tears spring to Daisy's eyes.

"It's even more beautiful than I thought it would be. You make it beautiful." Coulson passed her a handkerchief, and she tried not to smudge her makeup, suddenly glad she'd gone minimal today.

"Really?" she sniffled.

"Of course." His eyes seemed to be suspiciously shiny too. "My mother had a red dress, something like that. You're just as pretty as she was."

Daisy thought she might melt through the floor at such a compliment, the idea that she might be considered as much a part of Coulson's family as the woman who had been his own blood. She stepped into his arms then, hugged him tight.

"Thanks, AC," she whispered. "Thank you. For all of it."

The dress, the compliments, the hug, his trust in letting her date Grant... She owed him so much.

"My pleasure." He kept his arm around her shoulders as she pulled away, smoothed her skirts back into place, found a watery smile for him.

"You look great too," she said. He was wearing a much nicer suit than usual, black, white shirt, white gloves, and with a red bow tie, as seemed fitting for a chauffeur. "You're sure you don't mind driving us?"

"Are you kidding? You think I'd let some random limo driver take my two best agents anywhere? Someone's gotta be packing for the night. Besides, it's Grant's birthday. It's the least I can do."

Daisy grinned, his chatter lightening the air. "Are you gonna dance too?"

"I'll steal you for one number." Coulson stuck out his hand, smilingly serious. "Deal?"

"Deal." She shook his hand gravely.

"Five minutes?"

She watched him step back out, suddenly noting how much happier she felt, how much more confident. Just like how a dad should make his daughter feel before a big date night. "Should I put my coat on now, or wait till we get to the car?"

He smiled back over his shoulder, quick and amused. "Grant's in the common room. Maybe let him see you first."

"Okay." Again her cheeks warmed, thinking of her boyfriend, hoping his face would light up at seeing her as much as Coulson's had.

"See you at the elevator, Miss Daisy Johnson."

She rarely heard her full name, and sometimes she wasn't totally sure it belonged to her, but the way Coulson said it warmed her down to her toes.

"Thank you, Philip," she answered, giving him what was meant to be a graceful nod of dismissal. "That will be all."

She had to turn away hastily to hide her snort, as the door shut on Coulson's muttered, "Well, I guess chauffeurs usually get called by first names, don't they?"

Nerves now exchanged for elation, Skye hurried to grab the rest of her things, humming Taylor's 'The Best Day' under her breath.