we've not yet lost all our graces

I PLAY WITH SIDEBLOGS. I enjoy your muse even if it comes attached to a blog that isn’t a primary. Promise. Adore you all the way.

“Captain America. Should I call you sir? Is that a thing that people do? Can’t imagine many of them call you Steve.”

And the worst part was– the worst part was that if he returned her feelings, which he did, he wouldn’t be able to tell her that. He had to keep them separate. It was too dangerous for both of them, if he gave into it. 

“Then you’re better off calling in your guards and having me dragged off to be brainwashed. Because I’m not going to work for you anymore.” Jemma shrugged, looking down and away. “We’ve accomplished more than enough, we can go our separate ways now without needing to be concerned. SHIELD knows better than to mess with either of us. We’ve gotten what we wanted.”

“I’m not going to force you to stay here, if you really want to go.” She knew the rules about resignation. (Not a word about HYDRA to anyone outside of the organization.) And she was undercover enough that no one would be after her. SHIELD couldn’t even try to take her down; Jemma was too good for that. She’d be safe.

“You’re gonna be okay,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to Jemma’s temple lightly. “But this is shitty, I know.” 

Jemma groaned. “Shitty isn’t quite the word I’d use in this situation, Grant.” She used a tissue to wipe her mouth, this time instead leaning against him. “Your child is a brat. I cannot wait until this whole morning sickness thing has passed.” 

He was worried about her, but he knew that all the symptoms she’d been going through were normal, which... eased his concern a little. Even if they weren’t a normal couple, at least she was healthy.

“Maybe I’ll just try and stay awake this time. Better for both of us.” Better for him if he didn’t have the images flashing behind his eyelids. And then she could sleep, at least. He sipped at the tea and pretended like he still had some dignity.

                                 That was as close as she was willing to get to     a personal confession, at least for tonight. Having only been a      part of the team a few weeks, she was still trying to find her feet-     while the two in the lab were sweet the only thing she really had     in common with them was the fact they were all Brits, and Ward     and May were as stoic as she was herself, so it was nearly     impossible to sustain conversation. Perhaps this would      help ease things during the day, if only temporarily.

“You should sleep, if you can. I’ll stay up so I won’t wake you up again.” He managed a slight smile. He had more of a temper when he was tired, and if she was the same way, that wouldn’t make for a fun couple of days. 

 “Good. Just be smart with how you do it. If you blow your cover, we aren’t coming to pull you out.” And that was a shame, because really, she was useful. 

“Yes, sir. I can maintain my cover. I promise.” She seemed to hesitate for a moment, head tilting to the side with concern. “Who will take care of you while I’m gone?”

“I don’t need to be taken care of,” he said, huffing a laugh. “I’ll be fine. Focus on the task, don’t worry about me.” And for a second, he almost forgot that he was controlling her. Almost. She was acting as if she cared-- but he knew she didn’t, really, and it was pathetic how easily he fell into that trap. 

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He allowed an amused expression to pass over his face. “Sure, I’ll let you. If you behave.” Maybe it’d be nice to stand back and let someone else do it, for once. “If you’re good at it–” which he was sure she was– “I’ll let you interrogate, too.” 

“You say that like I’m some sort of pet.” She huffed, nose turning up in response to his remarks. “I’m not a child, Ward.”

He sighed. “I was joking. I know you aren’t.” Shrugging, he gestured forward. “Well, go on. Ladies first.” It was easier to forget about what had just happened if he focused on the mission. Not that he wanted to forget. 

@quietandpasty || @yourecallwrong || @monkeyinawell || @greatdarkprotector || @antagxnized || @anxlgesic || @amaremater || @whoaguyshailhydra || @iwantedflowers || @exhacktivist || @waywardagent || @siinful || @wewereagoodteam || @tremoriisms || @scottishengineer

“Doesn’t matter.” He slung his arm over her shoulders, trying not to lean with his whole weight– he didn’t want to knock her over. “We don’t have a choice. Anyone asks, just say I’m drunk, or something.”

Jemma nodded and supported him around the corner to the motel, moving slowly for his sake. “Can do. Drunk friend. Sounds good.” She managed to deposit him on a bench in the small lobby as she checked in, grabbing the key and going to help him. “We’ve got the room right around the corner.”

“Great,” he muttered, feeling his words begin to slur. He looped an arm around Jemma’s shoulders, his vision starting to blur around the edges. “’m passing out,” he said hazily, grimacing. He wished he could still control how much weight he was putting on Jemma, but he was stumbling.