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chapter eleven
(April 17th, 2017
The Playground, Classified)
"WE HAVE to show the world who she really is."
Talbot scoffed at Coulson's words, "And it's well past time. Daisy now represents S.H.I.E.L.D. Everything has to be above board."
Sitting at the briefing table inside Director Mace's office, the group consisting of Coulson, May, the Director, Simmons, Roy, Daisy and Talbot discussed the Sokovia Accords for their very own Agent Quake.
"But marching into the Capitol Building so Daisy can sign the Sokovia Accords?" frowned Simmons. "Senator Nadeer will be there. It seems risky."
General Talbot leaned forward in his chair, trying to be intimidating, however, since his last━and very recent━run-in with Agents Simmons and Roy, he would be wrong not to be intimidated by them. Before he could say anything, however, Mace spoke up. Roy arched a brow at him, not very happy. But he was still here because Coulson believed in him. And she trusted Coulson━he believed in her, as well, and if it weren't for him, Roy would never be where she was now. "We're all aware of the dangers, some of us more than others."
Daisy smiled at Simmons, "I'm fine with it, Jemma," she said.
"Are you?" then countered Clara, turning to her friend sitting beside her. "It doesn't seem like you. And Coulson, you're letting her━" she rounded on the former Director, "━that's not like you, either."
She waited for an explanation, knowing full well there was some sort of plan behind this. Coulson's lips quirked up into an amused smile, as if prepared for Clara to figure it out. Like she said, she knew him very well. So, he said, "With Nadeer and her staff in the meeting, we have an opportunity."
Talbot stared at him, alarmed. "What opportunity? I wasn't briefed on any opportunity."
Coulson shrugged, "While Nadeer's in with Daisy, Yo-Yo, Leith and I will get into her office and plant surveillance."
Daisy nodded, "We can finally keep an eye on her, figure out her next move."
"What?" exclaimed the General, before shaking his head vigoriously. "No! No. No, there'll be no planning, no eyeing, no dream-surfing━" dream-surfing? Thought Clara off-handedly, that's a new one. Better tell Leith, that, "━no Yo-Yo-ing. S.H.I.E.L.D. is now legitimate! we have to remain above reproach."
Coulson arched a brow, "You mean like juicing our Director so he can pretend to be Inhuman?" Talbot sat back, as if not sure whether to be taken aback or offended. "Look, you were reacting to the situation we had. You put Jeffrey in place, I understand, but we're S.H.I.E.L.D. We have to proactive."
"This is politics, Phil," replied the General. "Which means politicians. They are a festering cesspool of toxic-waste fires. You swim in those waters, you could get pulled under."
"You and the Director can handle it," Talbot scoffed again at those words, but nodded. "We'll handle the rest. May, you with us?" Coulson turned to the Cavalry, who blinked, a frown etching onto her features.
Whatever trance she had been in, she snapped out of it. Leaning forward, she gave a stern nod. "Always."
With the meeting adjourned, the group of them travelled downstairs to the common room. Clara stayed with Jemma and Daisy, discussing in soft murmurs the plan. She and Simmons were to stay here with May for back end, but Clara was still whispering constant good luck to Daisy, sort of wishing she could be there with her.
Waiting for them, yawning and looking as though he had just woken up, Leith sent a loose wave and smile under a lazy attempt fluff of strawberry blonde curls. "Goodmorning, gov'nahs, could I help yeh to a cup of tea?"
Daisy frowned at him as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "You're a weirdo," she stated and Leith just shrugged, taking a sip of his jasmine tea. "You're already British, why do you put on an accent?"
"Protest," stated Clara's brother simply, moodily pointing at his cheek for Simmons to kiss.
Jemma rolled her eyes and instead poked his cheek which made him pout. "Work hours," she scolded him but had a smile on her face nonetheless.
"Not even a good luck one?"
Clara left them be, following Daisy into the kitchen where she went to make herself a tea. Her friend slipped in beside her, propping her elbows onto the bench. "You know," she said as she watched Simmons take a sip of Leith's jasmine tea as he slapped his cheeks, trying to wake up for his mission, "I originally didn't see it. But now ... it's like, they're weirdly perfect for each other."
Roy fixed her non-caffeine tea from one of her father's stash that she constantly refilled, even now, turned on the kettle and searched for a tea strainer in the drawers. "I think they balance each other out very well. Leith's matured a lot, and Simmons━"
"Has loosened up?"
"You put it in such a negative way," frowned Clara. "I was going to say is less anxious when it comes to scheduling things. She sort of lets some things happen, now."
Daisy just smirked, playful. Then, a thought occured, "Hey, is Fitz joining for back end?"
Clara shook her head, leaning against the bench with her as she waited for her water to boil. "No ... you know Fitz ... he needs a little more time to himself when he's processing things. And he's been processing quite a lot recently. I just have to be patient with him, and supportive, but also try to reason ... it's complicated, but I've learnt how to be there for him when he's like this since the Academy."
Still chatting by the table, Jemma checked her watch for the time, knowing they should be probably going to get ready. "You need to finish that tea, Leith," she glanced at him, "you have to be on a quinjet in ten."
She watched him sigh, suddenly his serious self as he set the tea aside and leaned a hand onto the table. Jemma tilted her head, ready to listen as he muttered, "Don't you think this is risky? I mean, so much could go wrong, and then we'll be in bad waters."
Jemma pursed her lips, very much agreeing. "Believe it or not, I said those exact words in the meeting━it being risky, I mean. But Coulson has his mind set on this, and I suppose, if it works, we'll be a big step above Nadeer and her plans. I guess you have to outway the risks with the possibilities."
"It's just ..." Leith shrugged, shuffling his feet. "Not that ... not that I've ever had anything against illegal stuff in the past, but ... seems I always just get back into it one way or another: doing something illegal."
Simmons smiled at him softly. She reached a hand up to rub his arm, hoping to release some tension from his shoulders. There was a small ache in her chest to see the deep furrow of his brows. "Hey," she said gently. He met her gaze. "This is different, okay? You're doing this to stop others getting hurt." She didn't say that the words he said; wanting to step away from it completely━anything illegal━made her want to smile, considering that only just recently, he had broken the law without even thinking and enjoyed it. Not that it was to do something bad, but to see him thinking about it, weighing out his choices ... Leith was growing up. He was evolving into someone thoughtful, loyal, kind and still rather playful. Someone that she ...
Jemma froze for a second, her eyes widening a little in realisation of how she wanted to finish that thought. It made her breath hitch, not expecting it━but like everything in their relationship, it had just snuck up on her.
Leith frowned, confused by her sudden change of mood, "Hey, what is it, darling?"
Simmons met his gaze, struck to silence. She didn't know why she found this revelation so terrifying, but she did. She stared back up at Leith and realised that she loved him, and she had no idea how to tell him━scared that for some reason, it was too soon, or that he didn't feel the same way ... every single variable she had to be sure of.
"I━erm━" she cleared her throat, shaking her head and quickly pushing it down. She'll worry about it later. But despite that, her heart continued to race, noticing how close she was to Leith, and how he had touched her arm in concern, "━I just, you should go before you're late."
"What?" chuckled Leith, light and joking, "Sick of me already, Jemma Simmons?"
"No," she quickly assured him. He arched a brow, confused. So, she put a smile on her face to counter, "You sick of me?"
He matched her smile; warm and caring and she couldn't help but wonder whether it was loving━ "Not even close," said Leith, and despite being in work hours, kissed her forehead. "I'll see you later, Jem."
Her throat suddenly hoarse, Jemma let him go with a quiet, "Good luck," that weighed heavier than it used to.
After Leith and Daisy took off together for the quinjet, Clara told Simmons she'd see her soon and made a quick journey down to the bunks. Already knowing the answer, she wanted to ask Fitz if he wished to join them despite it━or perhaps she just wanted to check up on him.
Knowing that they disagreed right now on A.I.D.A. she had been trying to give him space, but also be there for him if he needed━and it was a complicated situation. But she knew him better than he knew himself. She knew he hated being alone even though he sort it out. Just her coming to check up on him would be secretly what he'd be looking for after some time in his thoughts.
Reaching their room, Clara opened the door and peered inside. She saw him where she expected, perched up on the bed against the pillows, his work set out in front of him. He glanced up when she came in, giving him a small smile that he replied with a tiny upwards tilt of his lips.
"Hey," she greeted, closing the door behind her.
Crossing the room, she grabbed her tablet that she had left on charge. Fitz glanced back down at his work, evaluating something he held in a document to a file on the system. "You, Simmons and May ready for the op?" he asked.
"Yeah," she answered, returning back to the dresser beside the door, "we've got it covered." Her eyes travelled down to the documents he held, curious at what he could be working on. "Um ... you know," Clara held her tablet close to her chest. Fitz met her gaze again, "we could always use a fresh pair of eyes if you'd like to join us?"
He shook his head. She expected it. But even then, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Everything was always better when Fitz-Roy-Simmons worked together. "Yeah, no," he managed a smile at the slight furrow of her brows, "I've ..." he set the tablet down face-first onto the duvet, "... I've got stuff to do here."
"Okay," nodded Clara. She went to ask whether he wanted help, but decided against it. She started towards the door, deciding it would be best to just leave him alone a little longer, but something stopped her. Roy scratched at her nose, "Um ... Fitz?"
"Yeah?"
"You know that ..." she dropped her fingers down to her tablet, running them along the smooth edge, " ... one of the upsides of having a girlfriend is you get to talk about what's bothering you."
"Yeah, well ..." Fitz flipped onto the next page of the document he was reading. He gave her a brief bounce of his brows, "doesn't really sound like an upside for the girlfriend."
Clara shrugged, "It is if the boyfriend is very much worth it."
When he didn't say anything and just sighed. Clara pursed her lips and just went for it in saying, "Look, I know you're upset about A.I.D.A., and ... and I know we both disgaree on that subject. I'm in a strange situation. I don't want to intrude on you while you're ... processing, but, even if we disagree," she quickly walked up to sit on the bed with him, "I want you to know that you can talk to me. Always."
Fitz pursed his lips. He reached out and rubbed her knee. "Yeah, I know," he said. "Just, uh ..." his hand squeezed her leg reassuringly, "you know I go all quiet when I'm━" he pulled it away gesture at his head, "━processing."
Clara had a strange feeling that he wasn't being completely truthful━that there was something more to it. But she didn't press. Instead, she just smiled, "Okay."
She met his lips for a chaste kiss before standing back up. Fitz sent a last smile before she let him be, stepping out into the hall and closing the door behind her.
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(April 17th, 2017
United States Capitol, Washington D.C)
"YOU'RE CLEAR, sir. Go ahead."
Leith gave the man a smile and stepped onwards to Coulson and Yo-Yo, clasping the fake I.D badge to his suit. Yo-Yo had a small, coy smile on her face as he joined and the three of them continued down the narrow hallway. Polished, old floor-boards thudded softly under Leith's foot and yellow-white plastered walls stood either side. Leith felt out of place in his suit and these shoes, but he just fixed the blazer and moved on, absent-mindedly also fixing his hair to make sure it wasn't too messy.
Under her breath, Yo-Yo said, "That went well."
Coulson nodded, "Fitz is an artist," he said in the same tone.
Leith arched a brow and glanced down at the name on his badge. He was an artist for fake identities, sure, but he always picked ridiculous names for Leith━it was an ongoing joke; no matter the mission. And Leith was sure if he wasn't so good at making them authentic, people would raise many eyebrows at: Augustine Cassius Nimbus Thorne. Leith was certain by now that he just searched up the most unique boy names and played a game of closing his eyes and pointing randomly━because each time they just seem to get bigger and bigger.
Yo-Yo read his name and had to hide her snickers in short cough that she turned into clearing her throat.
"Oh, ha, ha━" Leith nudged her side a little harsher than usual.
She gave him a mocking pout, "Aw, mijo, are your feelings hurt?"
"Yes."
Elena smirked. But then, it faltered as something crossed her mind. She pursed her lips and turned to Coulson, "So ..." she began carefully, "Mack ... personal time, huh?"
Immediately, he shook his head, "Don't put me in the middle of this."
"What middle? No middle."
Leith made a face, "Eh ... seems like there's a middle."
"But Coulson knows something," she frowned, admittedly a little frustrated. She and Mack were finally stepping into a relationship, and while Leith loved it, he really didn't want to be a part of any problems, and he was sure Coulson didn't want to be, either.
"It's not for me to say," said the old Director, shrugging simply. "Mack's a very private person. All I know about him is what's in his file."
Yo-Yo sighed. She turned back to Leith. He frowned, "What?"
She gestured to him, "You're his best friend. You obviously know."
Leith's eyes widened. Despite the situation, a small smile formed on his face. He pointed at himself. "Mack considers me his best friend? Did━did he say something? What did he say? Did he say I'm pretty?" Realising she wasn't in the mood for it, Leith sighed. "Yo-Yo, yes, I know, but it's not for me to say. And I still bet I know less than you, okay? I know, here's an idea, Yo-Yo, how about you ask him about it?"
She sighed and muttered something in Spanish. Leith frowned, hoping it wasn't insulting. But Coulson understood and he chuckled, "Well, I don't know about annoying him, but you might be starting to annoy Leith."
Yo-Yo scoffed at this, amused. Leith shrugged, not admitting it, but also not denying it. He grinned, though, all in good faith.
Coulson then added, "Isn't it better to learn things organically instead of all at once in a report?"
"No," disagreed Elena immediately, "all at once. Much better. Private person, secrets? Same thing. Must be even tougher with May."
At this, Coulson stopped in the centre of the hallway just outside Senator Nadeer's office. He stared at her, taken aback and Yo-Yo smirked. "If it's better to get to know each other in tiny, slow, annoying pieces━"
"I don't think that's how I put it━?"
"━then you two will never get together."
"Me and May? No, it's not like that."
Leith snorted at that. "Okay," he said, not at all believing it. "Sure, whatever you say, Phil. You know, at this point, I think you and May might just exceed the timeline of how long it took for Fitz and my sister to get together..."
Coulson went blank-faced, not liking this conversation at all. But Yo-Yo just nodded, humming in agreement and tapping Leith's arm. "You're right," she mused. "And no one wants to beat that record. How long was it?"
"Had to be like twelve or thirteen years. Actually, I think Coulson and May already have. How long have you guys known each other? What? Twenty years? Thirty years? Though, in your defence, May was married for a huge part of that time."
Yo-Yo clicked her tongue, shaking her head, disappointed. She made a quick comment in Spanish, and by the tone of it, Leith could tell it was in bewilderment of what Leith just said. "Everyone loves a slow burn but not that slow, Coulson. You better catch up. Take things fast for once━"
And like that, she disappeared. In under seconds, she returned, waggling with the pass from the security guard into Nadeer's office in between fingers, grinning.
Coulson scowled, albeit amused at her and Leith, "You know," he chided them, "no one likes a smart-ass."
"Yes, Dad," joked Leith.
Yo-Yo chuckled, scanning the badge and adding cheekily, "That hasn't been my experience."
The door opened, Leith high-fived Yo-Yo discreetly, and they entered Nadeer's office.
As soon as the door closed, Leith tapped his ear-piece to turn the mic on for his comms and said, "Okay, guys, we're in and clear so far. And wow, this place sure matches her boring personality. It's like I stepped into a fake movie set."
And he meant it. Maybe personalisation wasn't something considered wise in politics, but Leith seriously felt as though he had stepped onto the set for a character in a movie with no background, no development and no emotion. The carpet was obnoxiously clean, but it smelt of years and years of history━and that was not a good smell, ever. Much like the rest of the building so far, Leith noticed plaster walls above re-furbished heritage wainscoting. Her desk, like every other piece of furniture was dark wood, and the only thing that Leith could see in regards to Nadeer whatsoever was a set of framed pictures of female politicians, and what looked to be possibly her mother and someone Leith recognised as a younger version of her supposed 'missing' brother, Vijay.
"Why does she have to hate Inhumans?" muttered Yo-Yo as she glanced around the office. "America needs nice-versions of her in politics. Everyone is practically white and a man."
Coulson sighed, "Yeah," he muttered. "Can't disagree with that."
"I hate her," went on Yo-Yo, "and yet I want to repsect her━it's very confusing."
"I know right?" agreed Clara on comms. "I mean, not that I understand what it's like━I mean━I just━female power━I'll just ... yeah ..."
"We're in position," stated Coulson, getting them all back on track.
"Okay," began Simmons. Leith, Coulson and Yo-Yo gathered up the small surveillance cameras they brought, handing them out to each other to distribute evenly. "Place the cameras around the room, and they'll give us geometric scans."
"They're so small," whispered Leith, eyeing one in the grasp of the tweezers before carefully placing it discreetly under a politician's nose. He chuckled at himself. "That's what she said━"
"Leith━"
"Right, sorry."
In the short minute afterwards, they worked to place as many cameras as they could; on the side of books, under the tables, in the cracks behind paintings and on the underside of the desk lampshade. Leith set a few in the corners of the room to help Simmons and Roy create a geometric scale ratio of the room ... or whatever maths terminology they meant. He was fixing one in a very secretive place beside a house spider's web when Clara suddenly spoke up, urgent.
"Coulson," they all stopped, meeting each others gazes, alert. "Security officers approaching the location. Hold."
Just as she said so, outside, Leith heard muffled chatter; it grew louder as the secuirty officers approached the office, and he froze up, very tense, wondering how on Earth they were going to talk their way out of this if found. He glanced at the window ... that was a last resort, but ...?
They were so close, Leith heard their footsepts, could almost make out what they were saying━they were right outside the door ...
But they passed on.
Clara sighed, relieved, "Okay, they're moving past. All is good."
"We're going to die," decided Leith but just went back to planting the scanners. He set down the final and turned back to the case he was given. Following Fitz-Roy-Simmons's exact instructions, he activated the cameras. "Okay, got it━should be transmitting now."
He waited for a response. When he didn't get one, Leith frowned. He tapped his comms, turning the mic on and off. "Hey, Simmons, did you get that?" Nothing. "Jemma? Clara? May?"
"Hey," Yo-Yo brought their attention over to Nadeer's desk. She seemed to have found something in an slightly open drawer. "What's this?"
Delicately reaching out her fingers, she pulled the drawer open further. A light flashed, and it was too late━
The blast knocked even Leith off his feet. For a second, he was blinded in complete white, his ears ringing━the door opening was muffled, and so were the orders of the security officers. He hit the wall of framed certificates and plaques so hard his head buzzed. Leith tried to understand what just happened as fell forward, head knocking onto the wooden floor. But when he tried to push himself up, that was it━
Leith slumped back down, unconsious.
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(April 17th, 2017
United States Capitol, Washington D.C)
EVEN BEFORE Leith had completely regained focus, he was forced back up onto his feet. He blinked, shaking his head━feeling light-headed as if he had been drugged. Hands grasped his arms and when he tried to move his own, he found them clasped tight in hand cuffs. The back of his head hurt━stung like a terrible bee sting and ached at the same time. He wondered whether the glass of the frames had caused it. He stumbled a little being urged onwards, wanting to just drop back down. His eyes were dazed, but he noticed Coulson and Yo-Yo on either side of him in very similar predicaments.
Still blinking, he slowly commanded back some conscious knowledge of what was happening. Leith tried to think how they figured it out━what tipped them off. But his head was swarming with pain and barely coherent thoughts; if he wasn't sure of the other two beside him, Leith might've thought he was being led to that cell in Afterlife all over again.
But then a door opened, and he was met with many people seated in many seats. They all glanced back, and Leith recognised Daisy's eyes amongst them, seated right at the front opposite a long bench of official looking people. Leith realised, and he wanted to curse, but he just took a breath, forcing himself to stop from letting his head drop. He heard the flashes of cameras, confused murmurs, and Nadeer's smug, dilligent words:
"━moments ago, my people apprehended three S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives breaking into my office. Seems they were tying to instal surveillance equipment to spy on my staff and me."
Leith winced as they walked past a bright camera flash, coming to a stop right by the front for everyone to see. Coulson set his jaw, catching Talbot's disappointed look admist Mace and Daisy. Their Director looked too stunned and at a loss to come up with an excuse on foot; his weak, "Uh, there ... there must be some mistake here..." was easily countered.
"This Inhuman, Ms. Rodriguez?" Nadeer arched a challenging brow. "She signed the Sokovia Accords, but now she's been caught red-handed in a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sanctioned operation without U.N. approval, just as S.H.I.E.L.D. did with Agent Johnson, and exactly what they have done right now with Inhuman, Mr. Roy. Who, not only is facing a second offence to action without U.N approval, is also an unconvicted criminal."
That made Leith spark awake immediately, almost as if he never had hit that wall. He watched Coulson tense beside him and Daisy's eyes widen. She shared a quick glance with Director Mace and Talbot, and Leith wondered how the hell Nadeer knew.
Mace tried to step in, "That's incorrect━"
"No it isn't," Nadeer stated, locking gazes with Leith. He hated the glint in her eyes, very satisfied with how this went. "Mr. Roy, feel free to explain your criminal record━or should I say it? You've been listed for conspiring in the transportation of illegal drugs, armed robbery━to list just a few in only your time in Chicago, working close alongside known, dangerous gangs."
The murmurs were unsettling. Leith didn't know what to do. He felt like he had been placed in quicksand, and was sinking with no way out. Just like that, his entire past was being exploited with cameras and strangers present. Secrets that only S.H.I.E.L.D. knew━that he thought only S.H.I.E.L.D. knew. Leith found it hard to breathe; his lungs were filling up with sand.
"If I may," General Talbot spoke up in a strong voice, "Agent Roy has been commended on extreme good behaviour. He has done extensive service under S.H.I.E.L.D.━"
"Service and good behaviour don't excuse these offences, General," replied back Nadeer sharply. No one else made a move to stop her, completely enamoured by the information they were being fed. Not even Leith found himself able to defend his pride, just sinking lower and lower and lower ... "Mr. Roy should be sentenced in jail, not out on the streets working in an organisation deemed to be bettering itself. And he is not the only criminal S.H.I.E.L.D. has recruited."
"What?" demanded Daisy, frozen in her place. "You don't know that━"
"I do know that," Nadeer scowled her way and Quake set her jaw, furious. "It appears that S.H.I.E.L.D. really is a criminal organisation after all."
Leith was shocked. He couldn't speak. As he was forced out of the room, hearing questions and demands for pictures, he felt as though his voice was nothing but tar. His mind was even worse. How did Nadeer know all that? Where did she get that information? Leith was terrified, not sure what this meant. Was he going to jail━was his past finally catching up to him with something more horrible than a bite on his behind?
He felt exposed━like he was standing in the centre of a market completely naked. All his mistakes, his dark past, exploited just like that, as if it was nothing. As if he held no power whatsoever. Leith prided in the way he kept most things in his life a secret, and like that, none of that even mattered. Everyone knew━he was sure Nadeer's words were now broadcasting on different channels. S.H.I.E.L.D.-Hired Escaped Convict ... Leith felt sick.
They were sat down on the bench outside as Mace and Talbot pleaded their case with Nadeer and the official party. Leith had his head in his hands, unable to speak, unable to move. He felt Daisy place her hand on his back, as if that was supposed to comfort him━not that he even spent much time noticing it. He had no idea how they were going to talk themselves out of this one.
Daisy sighed, watching them all talk through the windows of the doors. "That conversation does not look fun..."
"I have a feeling no conversation with that woman is ever fun," grumbled Yo-Yo.
"Just give me over," muttered Leith, revealing his face as he let his arms fall against his knees. "It's the easiest solution."
"No," said Daisy, giving him a stern, determined glare. "She didn't state even half of the story, Leith. As soon as they hear all the good that you've done in the years since━"
"That won't change how that'll look for S.H.I.E.L.D.," scoffed Leith. "I did those things she said. More, even." He sighed, hanging his head. "I had this coming ... I always knew my past was gonna come back, but I just kept running ..."
"If you go to jail, then we go to jail," stated Elena, vicious. Leith met her gaze, startled. "We're all criminals, now."
They all glanced at Coulson to hear his input, but he stated a different problem on their minds, "She knew we'd be there," he said, scowling at Nadeer. "Not just any Inhuman. You and Leith specifically." His gaze moved to Yo-Yo and Leith, frowning. "And she knew sensitive information from Leith's file specific to S.H.I.E.L.D."
Daisy nodded, "There has to be a leak."
"Yeah," Coulson set his gaze back onto Mace and Talbot. "There has to be."
They watched the Director and General Talbot return through the doors, neither looking happy about what had been discussed. They stopped in front of the four agents, and even Mace could sense the great, gaping chasm of tense waters between them.
"Well," he began, stiff in his attempt to stay positive, "we're all free to go."
Daisy's brows knitted together; they would never be let off just like that, not after what happened. "Because there's a catch, right?"
"Well, maybe a slight━"
"You're damn right there's a catch!" snapped Talbot, furious. "There's gonna be a full investigation." At this, Daisy sighed, frustrated and Leith leaned back, taking a deep breath to keep calm, "starting with a senate committee hearing. They may even bring charges. And your criminal friend here━" he pointed at Leith, "━is more than likely to be sentenced to high security prison."
"He's different now," argued Daisy.
"Oh, sure," rebutted Talbot, sarcastic, "He's different now is a great defence in law."
"Okay, okay," Mace held his hands up, "charges and Leith going to prison are both unlikely, so let's all just take a beat━"
"Unlikely?" Talbot turned to him. "They're gonna drag us in front of every subcommittee, asking us who we are and what we do."
"This was the risk in going legit," said Couslon, stern but calm.
"No, this was the risk in going after Nadeer."
"We couldn't have known she'd be ready for us━"
"I don't know, maybe if somebody had warned you first?"
"Guys," Daisy spoke up but was immediately talked over.
"No," the General pointed an angry finger at Coulson, "you do this all the time, Phil! I give you the benefit of my expertise, and you just ignore it."
At this, Coulson stood up, his own anger brewing. "You're never up front with us, General. You lied about Tawian, you lied to us about Jeffrey━"
"They kidnapped my son!" Coulson bit back his tongue at Talbot's seething words. "And I put Jeffrey in that position because you and your prodigies have too damn much baggage to hold that position yourselves!"
"We have very different styles. We always have."
"And your style just gave the bad guy all the ammunition she needs to go after us."
"That's not how I see it."
"Oh, really?" Talbot's voice was dangerously low. Leith shared quick, anxious glances with Daisy and Yo-Yo. Beside the General, Mace was uncharacteristically quiet. "How do you see it?"
"This move just exposed the fact that we have a leak," announced Coulson, glowering. "Someone tipped Nadeer off that we were coming, giving her not just information on the op, but also sensitive information on one of our agents." He bounced his brows at Talbot accusingly. "You opposed the op," he offered. "Did you warn her?"
And Leith knew Coulson had made a mistake. General Talbot took a deep breath, straightening his posture with a look in his eyes that could almost be hurt. Setting his jaw, he said in a softer, but still livid tone, "I believed in you when no one else did, Phil. No. I am not the leak. S.H.I.E.L.D. only exists because of me." He fixed up his jacket. "And maybe that's a mistake."
Finished, General Talbot marched off, and the air left in the hallway was tense; solemn with regret.
✲══〖✰〗══✲
(April 17th, 2017
The Playground, Classified)
"I DON'T know what's going on, but someone gave us up."
Clara ran a hand through her hair, taking a deep breath as she, May and Simmons marched back into the lab. The worst possible scenario for their op had happened━not just for them, for S.H.I.E.L.D., but also for Leith. Just like that, his entire life was exposed, and Clara wished she could be there. She wanted to be there with him. She wanted to defend him. She wanted to hold his arm and declare that her brother was one of the best people she knew. That his mistakes didn't define who he was today. That he was the most caring, most loving, most thoughtful and brave━that he's risked his life, been through hell, and came out the other end still with a smile and laugh on his face. That he was one of the best of them. But because of this leak, because of Nadeer, none of that will matter. Leith will be condemmed for a person he was, and not the great man he had become. And no matter the hope, no matter what they'll say, Clara knew that a good ending for him was near impossible. His future was frozen, destroyed, and they might not be able to do anything about it.
She was furious. Whoever did this, she wanted to━she didn't know, exactly. But Clara knew that they'll regret it. They destroyed her brother's future; one that he deserved.
"The senator had inside information," went on May in a whisper.
"I know," said Jemma, hands wringing. "Details. There was no way she could know about Leith without it."
"Yeah," murmured Clara, "it's almost as if Nadeer had eyes inside our ..."
She trailed off. Roy's eyes settled on a desk diagonal from hers, where Fitz hunched over his tablet, having not realised they arrived. Her blood went cold. No ... Clara took a sharp breath through her nose, feeling a sudden array of emotions. Anger, hurt━he ... he lied to her; he had lied to her again, and now ...
Her feet moved before she told them to. Hesitant steps turned to strides━Clara stormed over to Fitz's desk, heart pounding against her ribs as she realised what he had done. Where his obsession with A.I.D.A. had gotten them. And when she snatched his tablet away from him before he could even comprehend she was there, Clara knew she was right, and she was horrified.
Fitz jumped, "Hey, Clara, what━?"
He stopped, seeing the look upon her face as she caught him red-handed. She looked up, unable to speak for a moment. Fitz froze up, not sure what to say, either.
"What?" Simmons and May joined them, Jemma glancing between the two of them to try and understand. It didn't take long. Her eyes widened, and she let out a furious, "Fitz!"
Fitz tried to speak, but his words stumbled, unable to make it past his lips more than stammers to try and explain to Clara, but she shook her head. She shook her head and he looked down, clenching his hands. "You━you've been studying A.I.D.A.," she finally managed, voice terrifyingly calm. "You ... you've been━you were ordered not to."
He stood up, carefully raising his hands as he took a few steps towards her. "Y━yeah, Clara, o━okay, I━I━"
"I gave you a wide berth," she went on, her grip starting to shake on his tablet that showed A.I.D.A.'s entire coding system; pages and pages and pages ... "I━I tried to understand, I tried to be there for you, I wanted to━" Clara bit back her words, feeling an ache form in her throat. She was so angry, she was so hurt, she was ... she's ... she's never been this angry at Fitz before. It terrified her. Roy took another deep breath, not wanting to let the building energy inside her escape, but it was growing with every hit of anger she receieved. "I trusted that you were going to worry this through but━but━but this is an obsession, Fitz! You turned it on, didn't you."
He shook his head, not meeting her gaze, it made her want to slam his tablet down onto his desk. "It's not an obsession━"
"Fitz," she bit back her want to snap, but it made her cheeks flare up, bright red in her anger. "Tell me━Did you turn on A.I.D.A.'s ocular receptors?"
He understood where she was going, and his eyes widened. He stepped closer, "O━Okay, okay, okay, yes. I━I━I see where you're going with this ..." Clara set the tablet down and brought a hand to her hair, clutching it as she glanced up at the ceiling, unable to believe this, "a━a━and you're not wrong━"
"You and Simmons personally gave Radcliffe Deathlok eye technology," she cut him off and he pressed his lips together in a firm line. They didn't realise Simmons stepping away, trying to give them space, but couldn't help but listen, her face contorted with shocked anger. Nor did they realise May leaving, rushing out of the lab. "A.I.D.A. has it inside her head, doesn't she?"
"Yeah, but Clara━"
"A camera, Fitz! A camera, watching us the whole time━"
"━Clara━"
"━A.I.D.A. hacked our base!" Clara spun around, and the sparks from her fingers were unable to stop. She clenched her hands, refusing to lose it. "It could've been broadcasting━everything, all our files, our ops━Nadeer knew the details of our mission. She knew Leith's past, Fitz━"
"No," Fitz kept his gaze on the tiles, taking a deep breath of his own to keep his head coherent, but his sentences were getting choppier, and he was getting frustrated. "That's━that's impossible━I━I wasn't in that briefing. A.I.D.A. never saw that━"
"Why would you do this?!" Clara turned back to him, her voice rising. "Are you satisfied? Are you happy? You put us all at risk in a hundred ways━!"
"━Clara━"
"━Leith could go to prison━!"
"━Clara, just listen to me━"
"━All because of your bloody obsession with A.I.D.A.━"
"━It's not an obsession!"
Clara's words were cut off completely. Her breath hitched, startled as Fitz raised his voice. It took her off guard. He's raised his voice at her, they've had fights, but not like this. He's never snapped because of her like this before, and it made her almost choke up.
It was silent as he turned to her, hands on his hips and scowling. Clara pursed her lips, crossing her arms, stubborn herself. Fitz sighed, immediately regretting it. Her eyes flickered down, too, feeling her own guilt wash up for letting them get to this point.
Finally, knowing she won't cut him off, Fitz nodded and told her:
"Clara, It's an investigation."
✲══〖✰〗══✲
a/n: short chapter? yeah, sorryyy, but there was so much may fighting in this episode and i wanted to end it off here to get into a better explanation of radcliffe next chapter.
i'm excited to write the next episode. and yes, it's because of fitz angst ... i just love writing angst, especially fitz's angst, even though it makes me physically hurt. that man deserved way better than what he got. at least he's happy now with his little family in perthshire <3
also, petition to give leith a break:
(just a reminder that comments are appreciated, and they're really motivating when it comes to writing big books like these. okay, cool, i feel bad for writing this lets move on--)
just a note, in the time between this chapter and the next, clara and fitz definitely spoke thru the argument they had. i just feel like i should say this cos the show kinda jumps over it because of the plot, and it's probably obvious, but just wanted to say this incase you think i'm not resolving stuff.
oh, and season 7 is finally on disney plus australia, which is cool. i already had the episodes, but now i can watch daisysousa content whenever