athosing | iv.

[ He watches her with warm eyes as she approaches, his body held still but there's no wariness about it. Instead it's the usual honest acceptance of her in her space, as though she should always be there. ]

Yeah? Maybe you can help me get out of them then. [ Because he's ... different now but he can still work it to his advantage at a time like this. ]

My pleasure, sir. [With a coy little smile and all. Somehow, the tiredness from driving all this time until here is evaporating, and the air turns both solemn and tender. Sweet, gentle. She doesn't take her hands off him, even if it's just to run just her fingertips down to the buttons of his jacket to open it.

Even if it's running her hands lightly up to help him take the sling off first, before pushing them under his jacket and pushing it down his shoulders.]

We better hang this somewhere so it doesn't get wrinkled... [He's likely a stickler for that, after all. She takes a step back, then another, turning to drape the jacket over the back of one kitchen chair.]

[ She's so very careful with him that he's not sure whether he should be touched or worried by it. Skye hadn't had to be the gentle one and now he's half afraid that their relationship will change for it.

It's funny, how after everything, dying, being possessed by alien writing, directing, it's this that stumps him. ]

I think I have a few button downs. If the suits are banned. [ And t-shirts and track pants which will probably be a revelation. ]

Oh yeah, totally banning suits here. [They're going to be Phil and Skye while here, right? Chilling, not getting too heavy-handed with the self-loathing, healing up and hopefully figuring out if the foundation of their relationship has indeed changed.

But it hasn't. Not by the loving way she still looks at him, not by the smile that's her exclusively-for-Coulson smile she gives him. He shouldn't worry, she's not being gentle because she's afraid. She's doing it because she has time to be gentle.]

What's wrong? [Her turn to spot the worry on his face, though.]

[ Not getting too heavy-handed with the self-loathing. He will try to keep that in mind. ]

Nothing. [ Whatever he sees on her face makes his own responding smile something sweet and relieved. ] You just have to decide what foodie appliance you want me to show off first, that's all.

[Okay? But...she's going to keep pushing, digging, until she has him figured out. And then, until she has them figured out. It's how Skye works, and it's how they work; she's never been fine with the precursory 'it's fine' answers from him.

For now, it's pretty clear she gives it a break, and strides back towards him with a sway in her step.]

I don't know, Phil, what toy do you wanna show me first? [Oh. Yeah. Intentional.]

[ His laughter is more genuine, fingertips dancing at her hip as she comes closer. ]

You know if you want me to have sex in the kitchen you're going to have to try a lot harder. I'm very protective of this place. [ She'll probably win him over eventually. But at least he can tease now. ]

[She likes that he laughs, she likes it so much. It makes her warm and pleasantly tingly inside again, and she sways a little closer to play with his tie before taking it off as she'd promised.]

You're implying I only want you for your body? [She glances up at him, coy from under her lashes. Half a smile,] It's true, but...[She stands up on her toes and brushes a soft little kiss just off the corner on his mouth.]

I also like that you feed me. [And because they're not in the role of Agent & Director, but Skye and Phil, she pinches his cheek before taking a few steps back with a skip.]

I'm honestly dying for grilled cheese. Maybe with that secret ingredient you can tell me all about?

[ Sometimes when they're alone he remembers that she can make him feel like this, like death and age has never touched him, that he's never been wounded or hurt. She makes him feel strong and virile and happy. And doesn't he need that feeling right about now? ]

If I tell you about the secret ingredient then you'll end up making your own grilled cheese. Where would I be then? [ He has to hook himself back in the sling and so he does that without asking for help, quickly and efficiently before he goes to unpack the groceries. ]

I'm not shooting myself in the foot like that.

[And in fact, because he's no less the man that he was before and they've already established that the most help he needs is when taking his clothes off -- and not as much, now that a few weeks have passed and motor skills have almost rebooted to a new setting -- she lets him. She hops up on the counter, like the kitchen is already as much hers as everything else of his is.]

It's true, I do just want you for your grilled cheese.

[ He likes seeing her like that. It's a very relaxed pose, like she's not afraid to touch or take up space. It warms him up inside. Because maybe he was worried they'd both feel awkward in a house like this - it's extremely domestic and Phil had brought it when he was more idealistic. He wasn't sure what she'd think.

He wasn't even sure he'd want to be around this place any more.

Some things get held to his chest as he walks to the fridge, fingertips free so he can pry it open and lean in. It's inelegant and disorganised but it's something. Maybe he could get a hostess trolley if he really needed it. ]

Which is why you're not getting the secret ingredient.

[She's filled with pride to watch him manage, because it's not stubbornness that ends up in a mess. He's resourceful, and smart, and those are two of the reasons she loves him.

Not unexpectedly, watching him bent over to stock the fridge sends a spark of desire through her. Given how they haven't discussed that, however, she stiffles it. All things in due time, and when they happen -- no ifs, she knows -- they'll have things to make up for.]

You're a tough negotiator. [And to test it out, because they're in his house being domestic and not falling under any other category but Phil and Skye, she adds,] Babe.

[ Babe.

His head comes up so fast he nearly brains himself on the fancy fridge and it's door. ]

Seriously? We're going to be that couple? [ He tests it out in his thoughts and then out loud. ] Babe.

[She bites her lip in wait for his reaction, a jolt to her stomach when he asks seriously. Well now she feels ridiculous. But then there's the way he puts it -- that couple.]

Are we one?

[ He looks at her for a long moment before he smiles. ]

Yeah, okay. I can be a babe man.

[She lets out a little choke of a laugh, and squirms where she's sitting. Squirming is actually her holding back, because she could be bouncing.]

Seriously, Phil, [Serious face, Phil.] Are we a couple now? [Instead of the odd arrangement where he ties her up and fucks her into his mattress, or the one where she tells him she loves him when they're spend from marathon-like screwing, she means.]

[ Oh. Well, he thought it was obvious in the fact that he brought her here. But sometimes Skye needs more than just action. She can get herself convinced in his insincerity. And so he closes the fridge and leans against it and looks at her properly. ]

Do you want to be?

[Well, he did bring her here, and she came, so... Yes, she wants that. But everytime she wants him more than for half an hour a day, she thinks again that 'people like them don't have good things'. This is the first time they've actually been away from the base without there being a war separating them again, and it's not running away like she'd told him they could, but...

She looks down, shifting to sit on the edge of the counter, her fingers curling around the edge.]

Yeah. [And looks up at him again, serious but also hesitant. She wants that, but she can also settle for whatever he's comfortable with.]

I do, but only if that's something you're comfortable with us being.

Skye, you're the only person I've ever brought here. This - [ Gesturing to the kitchen around them. ] - this is the last stop for me if things get bad. It's not just a safe house, it's what I'd have without SHIELD.

I wouldn't have bought you here if I didn't already consider us something of a couple. But you need me to say it, so yes, I want us to be legitimate. I want to be your partner.

[Well, couples kiss. Except no, it's not fair of her to open with that. She doesn't want to either, because he wants them to be legitimate, and he calls her his partner, and it makes her soul soar. She grins like he just handed her the lottery.]

Well that answers my question about what to call you. Boyfriend would've felt weird. [Partner makes her want to make finger-gun movements, but it also makes her want to jump off the counter and walk over to the fridge. If there's anything else in his hand, she takes care to get it out and leave his hand free so she can stand on her toes and kiss his cheek. Near his mouth. The thirst is real, but so is the patience.]

I would've loved to show you Afterlife. It was all I could think about while I was there, that I wanted you there with me...so...I know it's not my safehouse, but.

[ They haven't kissed since she was taken away from him. He feels the longing for it now when he knows just how easy it would be to shift a little and press his lips to hers.

But he settles for lifting a hand and tucking her hair behind her ear. ] I would have loved to see it.

Mm. [See, it's so easy to reach up and cup his hand ever so gently, to touch his palm to her cheek and nuzzle it before brushing her lips across his pulse.

It's a shame he never saw Afterlife, but she thinks about him being there sometimes. She thinks about him being left alone in the office with her mother, and that is not a loss she would've recovered from easily.

(Her mother having turned out to be such a complicated mess isn't something she's recovered from yet, and she only knew her for a few days; Cal, she'd only liked for a few days too, and the loss of him is just as hard. But Coulson? Coulson might've wrecked her.)]

The alternative being that you're, you know...I can take that.

Yeah.

[ He'd lost both of his parents quite young. But the trauma that she suffered is unknown to him. He's surprised she's still standing sometimes. He might not have. ]

I'm here, I'm fine. And so are you. And there's nothing that's going to stop us from sorting things out while we're here.

[Maybe she would tell him that he underestimates his own fortitude. Skye wouldn't. There's no doubt in her mind that he happens to be one of the strongest people she's met, with fortitude and courage to spare and spread around.

If she weren't already in love with him, she'd be guilty of hero worship. (He's her Captain America, see?)]

Yeah. [Okay, that's good, they should talk. She looks up at him, and grilled cheese can wait because there are things she needs to know first. Quietly,] Phil... [And then,] Why haven't you -- ugh, there's no way to put this without sounding like a dick about it, but -- I guess I'm curious. Is it just the hectic aftermath of...everything? Or is it more?

[And smaller,] You haven't kissed me in a month. [Okay, it's ridiculous; she's called him babe and he's tried it with her and they're partners, and it's official that they're a couple -- as opposed to two people having a fantastic sexual arrangement that never seemed to cross over into the professional lives despite the similar hierarchy ther -- but she's just connected the timeline, and it's been that long.

Before San Juan. One month, and it feels like ages ago.]

Oh.

[ He sounds surprised that she even noticed it. But of course she did. And for a moment he's worried that he's hurt her in his urge to protect her. ] I didn't want to rush you. I thought with everything that's been going on and everything that's happened you might need some space.

[ And there's also the fact that he's physically changed. He sighs a little and then speaks again. ] Also there's ... this. [ Moving his sling a little. ] I don't think you'd be the kind of person to not want me because of it. But there will be things we'll come across and have to deal with the logistics of it all.

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idek how to make grilled cheese??????

now u do

the other one is done, y/y?

absolutely

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