Oceans Away || Leo Fitz Book Three

Chapter SixtySeven

"Let's go, let's go," Jemma urged as they rushed out of the elevator and back on to the main floor. From behind them, the other side of the grunt, was the guttural yell of a guard charging for them. The two women whirled around to face their attacker, ready, when he let out a cry. His skin began to disintegrate in front of them, pealing back to reveal muscle, bone, body crumpling to the floor and life left the man who was just trying to do what he was paid to do. The two Shield agents stared up in horror as they met the cold gaze of the alien controlling Grant Ward's body.

"Well, well, well, this is certainly an interesting development," he mused in Ward's voice. Asia's gut clenched. Ward. As much as she hated him, the man he had become, her feelings about him would always be complicated. And even if she wanted him dead...he didn't deserve this. This destruction of what remained of his body. He was supposed to be gone.

The thing impersonating Ward looked...sallow. Cheeks sunken in an odd way which almost made him appear sickly. He was wearing a long black coat that ended just slightly below his ankles, made of wool. He was staring at her with eyes that raced over her body, as if trying to decide how to best handle this situation. "Never expected they would put another Inhuman right into my lap like this. Though I can't imagine they expected to find me here, either." His words were musing, almost playful. A cold chill ran down Asia's spine.

Jemma clutched Asia's lower arm hard, nails digging in and bringing Asia back to reality. "Run," Jemma said, calmly and evenly, not taking her eyes off of the target in front of her.

"Jemma you know I can't leave you here," Asia whispered back, just the smallest shake of her head, both of them taking a step back as It took a step forward towards them.

"You have to," Jemma said just as direct. "There's no other option. You can't be turned. I'll meet up with you again later but you have to go." With as much force as Jemma could muster, she shoved Asia behind her.

Asia looked at Jemma one last time and closed her eyes, saying a tiny prayer to the universe that she would be safe. And then she turned around and ran down the hall, searching for a back door, anything. Mack should be here by now. She had to get out, get somewhere safe. "Hive is here," she said over comms, before she plunged further into the darkness.

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Asia opened the door to the hotel, breathing heavily, to find Mack inside. "Where's Fitz and Simmons?" He asked, putting a hand on her shoulder to help brace her and she breathed heavily. "I thought I heard you say Hive was on sight? What happened?" The questions filled Asia's ears, along with the blood pumping so loud she could hardly hear.

"They're still back at the location," She said between deep breaths, leaning on her knees trying to catch up on her oxygen intake. "It is on sight. Jemma forced me to leave. She didn't. Me getting exposed." She shook her head. "Leo isn't back yet? He was with Radcliffe, convincing him to join us. He should be here." Guilt washed over her body like a cold wave, hitting her in the stomach. "I have to get back out there. He should be here by now."

Mack grabbed her arm, stopping her, the same moment that Jemma burst through the doors. "You can't do that, Frosty," he said, using one of the many nicknames he had given her. "You know what could happen." At the same time, Jemma let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're alright."

"Is Leo with you?" Asia asked Jemma in a rush of words. "He's not here, he's not back yet." Her voice was starting to spike with panic. For a moment, she wanted to admonish herself for getting so upset on a mission, but she decided she didn't care. His life was at stake.

"No, no I thought he'd be back already," Jemma replied with a frown. Asia noticed her hands were shaking. Something had happened when the redhead was escaping.

"What's wrong?" Asia asked, frowning, stepping back for a moment. "What happened with Hive?" She was here, and alive. Hive hadn't killed her. Had she had to take him out? Asia imagined Jemma had never had to shoot anyone in her career.

"Hive....I shot him," Jemma admitted, hugging her arms to her chest protectively. "A few times actually, though I doubt it didn't much of anything. I don't even think that he bleeds." She sighed, shaking her head. "I always said I'd shoot Ward, but I never...never imagined it to really be this way."

Asia stepped forward again, wrapping her friend into a hug, letting Jemma melt against her. "It's alright. The first is the hardest. But you're out now, and you're alive. You did exactly what you needed to do to make sure that happened." Jemma nodded against her shoulder.

"The same goes for you, and for Fitz," Jemma said after a moment. "He'll be out alive, and running through that door to check on you sooner than you'd even blink." Asia couldn't help but smile slightly at her friend's comforting words.

"You know, Frostbite, I'm really sorry about the way I treated you when we met," Mack said, sitting down on a stack of cases holding their equipment. "I didn't know you, didn't know how much you cared about Turbo. And I was wrong, the things I said." Asia looked to Mack and nodded, smiling. He didn't have to apologize. As their eyes met, it was as if he was telling her Yes, I do.

"Thank you. Both of you," Asia said after a moment. "Your words mean more to me than you'll ever know." She truly meant it. In this moment of panic, their words brought her gentle peace. The reminder that things would be okay, regardless of what happened. That curses and the universe trying to keep people apart wasn't real.

"Well," Mack slapped his palms on the tops of his thighs. "How about Jemma and I finish loading everything on the jet, and you can wait here in case Fitz comes back?" He looked between the two of them. "Plus, between you and me, Jemma could use some weight training." Jemma scoffed, rolling her eyes good naturedly.

But the two agents made quick work of grabbing the black crates, leaving Asia alone in the room and her thoughts. At least she could start wiping the makeup off her face. She was in the restroom, grabbing a makeup wipe, when she heard the door open. "Asia?" A familiar voice called out, as the door slammed shut without a care. Asia rushed back out into the living room area, hands shaking. Was it really him?

"Leo," she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him, rushing forward to wrap her arms around him, the two meeting together like two pieces of a puzzle, as they always did. "Where have you been?" she asked him, pulling away. "I was worried."

"I was out there looking for you," he sighed, yanking at his tie to loosen it from his neck. "I didn't know if you had made it back safely or not."

Asia crossed her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow at him. "I was here. At the rendezvous point. Like we agreed. Like we all agreed." She shook her head at him, not truly annoyed, just worried, and glad he was here now.

"And where are Mack and Jemma?" Leo asked, looking around the hotel room, which was void except for the two of them. "Did they make it back alright?"

"Of course," she sighed, dropping her arms. "They came back here to meet, as planned. Now they're in the Quinnjet loading up the rest of the supplies."

Leo looked around to room, before dropping his duffle to the ground and stepping forward. "Good," he said quietly. "I'd like to keep...talking." Was the last thing he uttered before his lips were on hers, gently, passionately. Her hands wound up his arms, over his shoulders, to cup his cheeks as he slid his suit jacket off, dropping it to the ground behind him.

"Asia," he said, breaking the kiss for a moment and grabbing both of her hands in his, looking down at them and kissing her knuckles.

"Yea?" she said back breathily, unsure of what he could be stopping for.

"Your hands," he muttered to her, chuckling lightly under his breath. "Are like two little ice cubes." He pressed one against his bare cheek again, feel the coolness of her palm.

Asia couldn't help but laugh in spite of herself, looking at her hands. "Are they really? I swear, it's not something I'm doing...I think it's just cold in here." He laughed right along with her. "Well, do you think you can brave it?"

Leo kissed the tops of her hands again, holding them close to his heart as his eyes met her, grinning. "I'll do my very best to power through." Then he leaned forward, his lips finding hers in a delectate kiss as he began to walk her backwards towards the empty bed.