Chapter Text
Skye was fifteen when her father kidnapped her from the orphanage and threw her into the terrigen mist. Cal always insisted on calling her Daisy even when she had formed her teenage identity of Skye No-Name. But having a father was something that no system could ever hold up to. Her father may have done experiments on himself to induce Hulk-like rage and was basically the equivalent of a conspiracy theorist, but he was a father.
After her transformation, continuing to hang out with Miles just seemed like a pointless endeavor. Miles who was so principled and so angry at everyone and everything. She could relate. Or at least, she could before. Now she had a family and more confusion than anger. His problems just really didn’t seem to compare. Not when the ground beneath her feet was literally falling apart.
“I was kind of hoping it was wings,” was all her father had said. California seemed like the logical place to migrate to. There was better camouflage for her control issues there. As disappointed as Cal was, his daughter was still Inhuman and his glee at her condition soon became contagious.
When Skye was twenty-one, California had a 5.0 quake. Not strange by any means, but Skye remembered this one. It was how they found her. She was at a convenience store when she saw the Suit.
Cal had always told her when the men in suits with dark glasses spot her to run. He didn’t want her to end up on "The Index," whatever that was. Cal, who somehow had insider knowledge about the guys who covered up the aliens, told her everything she ever needed to know.
For the first time, she didn’t listen.
“Daisy Johnson?” The guy must have been over six feet and refused to take off his sunglasses even while indoors. Skye immediately disliked him.
Antagonizing him seemed like a worthwhile endeavor. And she knew she could take him, if she really needed to. He didn’t know who she was, no matter how much he thought he did.
“No.” Skye turned back to the rack of postcards to send to family she didn’t really have. Cal never let her out of his sight, let alone the state.
“No,” he repeated, seemingly in disbelief that someone had actually said that to him for the first time in his life.
Skye had kind of assumed that would make him go away. He still hadn’t taken off his sunglasses.
“Father Calvin Zabo?"
“So?” asked Skye.
“So we have to have a talk.”
Definitely not going away.
“Do we?” Skye asked.
“Orders from up high.”
He was definitely government and daddy always told her not to talk to tall men in suits. No matter how chiseled their jaw was.
“You know who I am,” Skye said. “Then you know I could have this corner of the street in a pile of rubble in seconds.”
“I’m not here to hurt you,” he said.
“Or we can do it another way,” Skye replied. “I just start screaming and someone is going to take away the big scary man.”
He almost sounded annoyed that she wasn’t afraid of him. “I think we both know you’d rather start a quake.”
The struck her silent for a moment. The way he said that – it didn’t sound government. Not the kind Cal always warned her against anyway.
“You don’t know me.”
“I know your type,” he said. “Anti-authority, government. You’d rather just see the world burn than be a part of it.”
“So take me in,” Skye said. “See what happens.”
“Okay, we got off on the wrong foot,” he admitted. That was something at least. This must be a high pressure assignment for him. He said the orders came from up high. “I’m not here to take you in. I’m here to offer you an opportunity.”
“Why?” Skye asked suspiciously.
For a moment, he almost smiled. “You got a name you go by? Your father said it was Daisy.”
“You talked to Cal,” Skye said. “I don’t have a real way out of this. Do I?”
“Got a name?”
“Skye,” she said hesitantly. It didn't sound real on her tongue and he seemed even more doubtful that it was real. “That’s what they called me in the orphanage.”
“Not what your father named you?”
“Are we here for an interrogation?” Skye snapped. “You said there was an opportunity. But then again, you already talked to my father.”
“He’s been contracted.”
“You mean I’ve been contracted.”
“I’m just the messenger,” he said.
“The messenger for what?” Skye asked. “That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?”
She didn’t know why, but she tensed for a moment. The tall, clearly defined man was as still as a statue. That reminded her of the orphanage. That made her think she was about to get a smack. Instead, he just took off his sunglasses. His dark eyes almost turned gold when the light hit it. Somehow, his face just made it worse. He was way too good looking. She definitely hated this guy.
“I’m here to make you a one time offer.”
“Hooray.”
“Listen.” He clearly had a low tolerance for humor of any kind. It made her want to do what he said. Not because she was afraid but because he was serious. She never thought she would meet someone so serious.
When Cal went into his rages, she could always feel it in her bones. It was like tremors in the earth that were easy to spot a mile away. This person – this suit – was stone cold and she would never be able to predict him in a million years. This coming from only knowing him for three minutes.
“I work for a secret organization,” he said clearly, “that is looking to recruit someone with your talents.”
“It sounds like Cal already made that decision for me,” Skye said.
“The decision is yours,” he answered. “The choice is always yours. I’m just here to let you know that you have one.”
Choice. That was the key word. She never remembered having a choice in her life. And here was this prince charming on his white horse telling her, what?
“What does that mean?” Skye asked.
“Do you know what The Index is?” he asked.
Skye shrugged. “Is that where they hide the aliens?”
“Probably,” he answered. That wasn’t the answer she was expecting. “It’s where they put high risk gifted’s such as yourself. And if they deem it necessary, they cross you off.”
A chill ran down her spine.
“Don’t be fooled,” he continued. “You are very strong and very powerful. Never forget that. But mankind always fears what it doesn’t understand.”
“And what are you offering?” Skye asked.
“It’ll be hard but fun,” he offered. For the first time, that sounded like something she could actually enjoy. Coming from his guy. “But you won’t ever have to worry about men in dark suits putting a back bag over your head.”
“I can’t help but notice you happen to be in a dark suit,” Skye said. “And with sun glasses to boot.”
He did grin this time. She finally decided that he actually was very good looking. Damn. “That’ll be the fun part. I promise you.”
“I don’t believe promises from strange men,” Skye said.
“You shouldn’t,” he answered. “But this is got a ticking clock.”
“How very suspicious,” Skye said.
“Well?”
“I like fun.”
The agent put his glasses back on, his stern gaze shielded from her.
“You got a name?” Skye asked. “I gave you mine. Unless I get a mysterious black bag over my head.”
“Ward.”
“Ward?” Skye asked. “That’s it? What is that like Kesha?”
He didn't seem to get the reference. “Just Ward.”
It was now her mission to get a name out of this man.