Chapter Text
Days off for Grant Ward were rare, so when Agent Barton, his S.O. gave him a 48 hour leave he practically ran out the door. It’s not that he didn’t love training, he did, really, but he had started the program nearly 9 months ago without a single day off, and was beginning to get a little stir crazy. Barton's shadow, Natasha seemed to sense this, hence his 48 hour leave in London.
Truth be told, he’d much rather have his time off in the states, at least that way he could visit his brother, but beggars couldn’t be choosers and it would be nice to get out into the real world, if only for a little bit.
Before he left the S.H.I.E.L.D training facility, Natasha had told him that the best place to go for the holiday was Harrods, she warned him it’d be a cluster-fuck of people, but that the large department store was completely decked out for Christmas and they had the most amazing tea and mince pies around. Checking the tube schedules, he hopped on the tube that would take him to the Knightsbridge station, right next to the world famous department store.
He stepped out into the cold London night, breathing in the crisp Christmas air. London really was a city made for Christmas. Every shop had holiday decorations and lights shinning brightly, giving the whole city an ethereal glow that permeated warmth in everyone within it’s limits.
Christmas trees were decorated brilliantly, displayed proudly in the Harrods store windows, and even with all the hustle and bustle of people doing their last minute shopping, Grant couldn’t help but feel the electric holiday spirit thrumming through his veins.
He had never really been one for the holiday season, his childhood hadn’t left much room for the wide eyed naive wonder of Christmas, but here, in this place it was impossible not to get swept up in it, even for a stoic Specialist like him.
Heading into the massive store, Grant was struck by the enormity of it all, Natasha was right, the inside looked like something out of a Christmas card, or the Nutcracker set. If he had thought the rest of the city was decorated for Christmas, then Harrods was the crown jewel of the collection.
Never in his life had he experienced Christmas the way this store presented it. Had he been a kid, it would have been enough to make him believe in the magic of Santa and all the hope and good cheer that came with it. He was so busy admiring the decorations, he was jolted off guard when a small body collided with him.
“I’m terribly sorry!” the voice was melodic and breathless, and Grant looked down and was pleasantly surprised by the honey colored eyes that stared up at him. A cute button nose crinkled in embarrassment as her cheeks flushed pink, “I should’ve been paying attention to where I was going.” she smiled softly up at him and the only thing that Grant could think of was,
“Beautiful.”
When her blush deepened, Grant realized he spoke out loud, and now it was his turn to blush.
The two just stared at one another, the rest of the crowds faded away and Grant swore they were the only two in the store. She was petite, barely coming up to his shoulder, and she had these soft doe eyes that were framed by long thick lashes, that Grant wanted nothing more than to feel them flutter against his cheek.
“Jemma hurry up!”
The voice pulled them out of their little bubble, and suddenly the noise and general chaos around them became apparent.
The girl, Jemma giggled softly, her smile widening even as her cheeks remained blushed, “Happy Christmas.” she leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Grant hadn’t even realized he closed his eyes until she was gone.
He turned to search for her, but she had disappeared into the throngs of shoppers. Raising a hand to his cheek, he could still feel the warmth from her lips, and the flutter of her lashes as they had brushed his.
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last 'til the end.