Jemma Simmons is a terrible liar (needanewplan) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-01-30 05:58:00 |
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With the whole running of an entire division at the Agency, it wasn’t uncommon that Jemma often left earlier than Cosima for work. Friday mornings especially were days she was out earlier than usual just because she liked to try and get some things prepped for the upcoming week before she was divvying out projects and the like.
Of course, she was willing to show up later than she might normally on Friday (still early but not as early) in order to meet up with Daisy...no, she was still going by Skye and part of Jemma was actually hoping whenever her best friend started to Dream she’d start going by Daisy because it was confusing to keep alternating between names in her mind, but she would never say as much.
So it was meeting up with Skye at a cafe near both their jobs for something to eat and drink before heading in. It was quiet out at the moment, people waking up, going to work. Admittedly, she had subconsciously chosen a table where she could take in all the entrances and exits. Once you dream of SHIELD and then going on missions with Natasha...well, it became second nature. Especially given what had gone on with Cisco the day before and how he said something was coming. So really, it made sense that she would end up somewhere she would be aware of all entrances and exits.
Thus far, Skye had survived Orange County, but she had yet to actually have any Dreams. Or at least nothing that seemed to be the kind of Dreams that everyone else talked about. Seriously, sometimes she thought most people here, other than Jemma, were crazy. Other times, she thought she herself was going crazy and maybe she was dreaming this whole thing up because it was easier than dealing with the reality of her crazy stalker ex-boyfriend. But she’d never actually admit that outloud to anyone.
Except maybe Jemma because even now, Skye still told Jemma everything. She’d told her the real reason she’d been living in her van. Part of her still worried that her ex would find her, and she didn’t feel all that safe remaining in one spot. But Jemma was here, and honestly she missed her. So she was going to stay here, and if her ex showed up? She had Jemma.
Though she didn’t exactly like getting up early, she wasn’t a morning person, but she liked spending time with her quirky scientist friend. Skye was dressed casual, her usual attire for her job that didn’t require a suit. She arrived at the cafe to find Jemma already there, as usual.
“You know, I swear one day I’m going to get here first and surprise you,” she quipped as she plopped herself in the seat across from Jemma. “You might die of shock.”
If Skye’s stalker ex ever showed up, Jemma would stand by her. Of course she would and she wasn’t above using specific ways to get rid of him either. Ways that wouldn’t leave forensic evidence at that. She was protective of those she cared about even if sometimes she came off as cold or standoffish because she never apologised for her intelligence.
Nor was it surprising that Skye would dress casually and have a job that didn’t involve a suit, she just….couldn’t see it. Though no matter. At the moment, Jemma was looking over some notes when she heard Skye speak up. Smiling as she put her things away, the brunette just shrugged.
“Perhaps.” It was something she used to tease Skye about when they’d been together in the past. Jemma had always been an early riser, Skye not so much. So comments on one day Skye being there first really was a normal sort of situation.
At this point, Skye would be more than happy with Jemma getting rid of the stalker ex without leaving forensic evidence behind. But she was just going to hope it wouldn’t come to that, that the guy would stay away. Or better yet, not even find her. Living in her van and staying on the move for so long had definitely helped in shaking him off her trail.
“Hey now, it could happen,” Skye protested with a smile. The teasing had been their routine back when they’d been together, and it was so easy to fall back into that. Jemma was definitely the only person Skye was this comfortable around. Sure, she was a people person and could make friends easily, but Jemma was the only one she really opened up to.
Perhaps part of her was afraid of opening up because the stalker ex had done a number on her. Or maybe she just wasn’t as over Jemma as she’d thought she was. Whatever the reason, Skye was content to keeping everyone at a distance except for Jemma. Though she supposed that also meant that the day Skye tried to keep Jemma at a distance was the day Jemma would instantly know something was very wrong.
Or that Skye had turned into a pod person. Which clearly seemed to be a potential in this place.
“Mmhmm. I’ll believe it when I see it.” Grinning some, Jemma took a sip of her tea that she had ordered while waiting and motioned to Skye to look over the menu for what she wanted. True, she probably could have ordered for both of them as she had a good idea on what Skye would want but the order changing was more likely than Skye showing up to a morning cafe meeting first.
Still, Jemma would definitely notice if something were wrong with Skye, if she pulled away and it was one of the many reasons she feared her ex dreaming. Because there was the part of her that would always love Skye and she knew how her actions appeared even if she also knew the information she’d had at the time, knew what her thought process was. She just didn’t want Skye to suffer and god the Dreams brought so much pain and suffering. And being in Orange County…. But that was a bridge she’d have to cross once they got there. She was just thankful for the lull in her Dreams after getting back to their time, though she knew there was more to come.
Or she could hear a commotion outside. It was early so there weren’t too many people but as more people were getting ready for work and…
“Bloody hell. Skye, get behind me!” And she was up, hand going for her gun. This was definitely one of those times she was thankful she’d had Ruby work on weapons based on previous fights because it looked like they were about to be dealing with another invasion. Which...she probably should have checked the network before to see if anything was going on. Too late for that now. But it would certainly add up to Cisco’s...whatever it had been the day before.
Right now, she had a cafe and more importantly, her best friend, to protect.
Skye just shook her head at Jemma’s comment. Because really, while Skye could get huffy and commit herself to getting up early, she also knew that was not going to happen. Or if it did, she’d have to have a really good reason. Or just cheat and pull an all nighter.
She picked up the menu and started looking through it. Skye wasn’t certain what she wanted that morning. Did she want tea or did she want to go full octane and have coffee? And what did she want to eat? So many choices.
At Jemma’s command, Skye looked up at her confused. “Say what?” She followed where Jemma was looking and...what the actual shit was she seeing? “Umm what the hell?” Yes, Skye knew Orange County got crazy by this point. But given she hadn’t started Dreaming yet, the reality of that hadn’t completely sunk in. Invasions and weird occurrences weren’t the norm for her yet.
“Dude, is that a gun? Since when do you carry a friggin’ gun?” Skye commented even while she obeyed and got behind Jemma.
Cheating and pulling an all nighter was basically the only way Jemma could see Skye ever meeting up with her early and then getting to the agreed location earlier than her. Which was fine, but it was still cheating.
All things considered, it was just a good thing that Jemma said Skye and not Daisy. Because she was only all too familiar with invasions thanks to the Dreams and so it would have been so easy to slip into that mindset while dealing with whatever was going on. She was a master at compartmentalization, but it also wouldn’t have been completely unheard of either. Then again, by the time Skye went by Daisy, she was also much more comfortable and familiar with her abilities and would have been fighting as well.
“Welcome to Orange County.”
The comment was sarcastic and she managed to get a clean shot of one of the Scourge that was trying to get in. Then there was the question which...okay, that should have been expected but Jemma was a bit distracted with the latest invasion to think about how this all might appear to Skye.
“Not the time, Skye.” Because really. Jemma was a bit distracted at the moment.
If Jemma ever let the name Daisy slip, it would confuse Skye completely. Though who knew, maybe it would also propel her to ask about the name. After all, Skye had no idea what her real name even was or who her biological parents were. By this point, she was convinced they were dead and she was just searching for ghosts.
“Okay you may have a bit of a point, but when exactly is it the time to discuss you pulling out a gun and…” Her voice trailed off when she realized Jemma shot that thing with deadly accuracy. “Jesus Christ, are you Double-Oh-Seven now?” This was so not the Jemma she’d dated and fallen in love with. Well okay, yes it was, but seriously where did these gun-wielding skills come from?
It wouldn’t be all that surprising for something to happen where Jemma got the names mixed up. There were plenty of high energy and stress situations both in the Dreams and Orange County. It was only a matter of time really.
“Preferably when I’m not keeping a cafe that has civilians in it from being overrun?” It was a simple request really. Though that was broken up with the shooting of the scourge and then Skye’s next question. “Pretty sure James Bond doesn’t run an entire science division.”
Well, it wasn’t a no. With the cafe owner coming over, Jemma pulled out her nondescript badge that tended to work when dealing with civilians. Less questions. Turning to look over her shoulder briefly, Jemma nodded to her bag.
“Skye, can you check my mobile, see if any messages have come through or on the network?” She’d like to see if there was anything up yet either from whomever’s Dreams this came from (she felt like she’d seen something like this before and the woman Jaina had taken responsibility then) but she wasn’t positive) or if something had come from Natasha. While Skye wasn’t technically cleared for that information, Jemma didn’t care at the moment because she was busy and needed answers. That and she trusted Skye with her life.
That was definitely not a no, and Skye made note of it. Because really, what the hell had happened? Had Jemma gone to boot camp and joined the military when she wasn’t looking? It was more than a little frightening, and right now she didn’t know if Jemma’s abilities with a gun or the undead things were more frightening.
“Phone, right. Yeah, I can do that.” It was something she could do other than cower there like a helpless child. Which didn’t particularly sit well with her given some of her experiences in foster families, but she didn’t have a choice right then. She went for Jemma’s bag and dug through it a little until she found her phone.
Skye crouched behind a booth, using it as a barrier between her and the things outside. It gave her a running chance if the things overran the cafe at any rate. She checked Jemma’s messages, finding one from Cosima mentioning undead things. “Uh, Cosima texted. She says there’s some undead things attacking. Not just zombies apparently? She seems convinced she saw a skeletal gryphon fly by your apartment.”
Okay….well, that was worrisome but Jemma couldn’t really get back to the flat and she also knew that with everything going on, she’d most likely be spending the next however long this went on in the streets doing field medic things instead. Which was fine, really. But she did worry since Cosima wasn’t a fighter. And while Jemma hadn’t been a fighter, the Dreams and then training with Natasha had changed that.
“Oh that’s just bloody brilliant.” Because that meant that there were more things than just the undead. And….there was a burst of rose petals that took out a bunch of the horde which turned out to be Ruby. Of course her one engineer was out there. Of course. But it did give them an opening to get people out.
“Right, okay then.” Turning to the other civilians, she first addressed them - letting them know that she could get them to shelters or clinics but most people seemed content to just leave and try to get home in the lull thanks to Ruby’s fly by taking down of the undead creatures. Looking to Skye, she bit her lower lip because she didn’t want to just leave her but she also had a job she was going to need to do.
“I can get you somewhere safe, but I’m going to be needed in the field for medical support. Is there somewhere you’d prefer to go?”
Seriously, some days this place was just way beyond the point of unbelievable and went straight into ridiculous. This was not a situation Skye was equipped to deal with. A ton of snow in Orange County in December? She could deal, even if that wasn’t the norm for that kind of climate. Killer snowmen? Right now she’d probably take those over the undead. Those she could at least fight by picturing them melting. The undead? Not so much.
She took a slow breath once things settled down enough where Jemma could calm everyone else in the cafe. Standing up, she put Jemma’s phone back in her bag. She was tempted to hack the thing and figure out where the hell these new skills came from, but she was smart enough not to do that infront of Jemma.
At the question, Skye was tempted to tell Jemma to just go do her thing and help others, that she could manage on her own. But the truth of it was that Skye didn’t think she could manage on her own. Sure, she’d played her fair share of video games over the years, but shooting pixels was a hell of a lot different than the real thing. Skye was woefully unprepared for this.
“Um, home? I think home would be the best place for me right now.” At least there she wouldn’t be alone in the building. And it was a building. So unless some flying thing decided to take out a couple of floors, she should be fine.
It was a lot to take in, Jemma was all too familiar with that. She may be desensitized from it all, on top of her habit of compartmentalizing things (probably to an unhealthy degree), but she did know how the first real invasion could be for someone. And she was just thankful that Skye wasn’t alone in all of this.
So she nodded some.
“Alright, we’ll head that way.” Because there was no way she’d be able to do her job with Skye tagging along, no matter what she said. She’d worry too much and well… home was probably safer. She could probably have Clara or Duncan make sure she was okay and knowing Clara she probably had something in place to keep the flat protected in general.
It would take a few more of these types of events to help desensitize Skye. Maybe once she got a little more used to them, she could actually do something other than just cower and wait for someone else to do the saving. Skye hated feeling powerless, but there was nothing she could do about it right now.
Though she didn’t exactly feel like learning how to use a gun. Maybe martial arts, she could do that, and it’d be something better than just hoping to be rescued.
“Thank you,” she said to Jemma, giving her a smile. It was a genuine one, though it was also partially masking the fear she felt about these things that were attacking. But at least once she was back at the apartment, she knew she’d be relatively safe. And if something did come attacking, she could contact Jemma and someone could come deal with the matter.