6835/Welcome Home

Welcome Home
Date of Scene:	10 March 2019
Location:	Triskelion, New York City
Synopsis:	Skye welcomes Grant Ward back into the arms of SHIELD, and touches upon a few raw nerves as a result. Then again, they have never lied to one another - why start now.
Cast of Characters:	Grant Ward, Quake

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Grant Ward has posed:
He had been away for quite sometime, in fact long than he expected. Best laid plans do not always go as...well planned. He had not been back long, just long enough to drop his duffle bag and make his way down to the SHIELD's new guest whose file he had read on the return flight. His suite was just how he had left it, perfectly organized and spotless, much like the man himself. Everything in the suite had a place and he would certainly notice if something were ever to be moved.
He was often left alone, not exactly the most social of the agents and was seldom sought out to "hang" out on downtime. He knew he would have to debrief in time, but he was looking forward to relaxing a bit after coming back from the training room.
Yet, the knock at the door once agin has thwarted best laid plans and the Agent makes his way to it in his running pants and sneakers, having removed his shirt and showing a large dark bruise on his ribs. The door is opened and he blinks a few times. "Agent Johnson." He even magaes the slightest hints of a smile.

Quake has posed:
Skye... was not known for being your typical agent, and while one Grant Ward might have been planning on spending some quality time alone, she had other ideas. Ideas that involved a Gino's pizza and some frou-frou beer (long story there; she sometimes forgot that others didn't appreciate the in joke, or the sentiment and failed to bring other brew besides. Oops).

"Ooooo, he remembers my name. Sort of. And since when do we hang on titles." She grins at him. "You lost your chance to Agent Johnson me when you hiked off to parts unknown and failed to SO me into a proper state."

Okay, so that was partly true, but if Agent May couldn't make a 'proper' Agent of Skye, it wasn't going to happen. Besides, Skye happened to know Director Fury liked her just fine the way she was.

"Thought you'd probably have nothing in the fridge, so I brought pizza." She holds it up. "And beer." Also held up. "Because. Though you can tell me to shove off if you want. I'll only snag half the loot before I go. Fair's fair. I did pay for it."

Grant Ward has posed:
He could always count on Skye to make a dull time exciting. In fact if there was anyone in SHIELD that could get the "Robot Agent" to loosen up a bit; it was Skye. He treated her a little different, and even he did not know why. "Pizza and beer. How did you know I had nothing in my fridge." He steps aside and waves a hand to escort her into the suite. "Just set it anywhere...well not the couch." The door is softly closed behind her and he makes his way to follow.
"For the record Skye..that hike off to part unknown was a necessary mission. It was not exactly my choice. I clearly would have been much happier trying to train the Hyped up Hacker." He hand moves to pull the large black duffle off the table in front of the couch, setting it on the floor beside it. "It's good to see you Skye. I mean that. It's good to be back." That is about emotion as he was going to reveal right now.
"I got something for you. We can eat first first and then I can give your little gift." His eyes motion to the duffle bag. "You have never been one who was able to wait tho..have you?"

Quake has posed:
"How did I know," Skye ponders, lips twitching upwards at the edges. "D'uh. They're making me stay in one of these lousy units too." She shrugs. "At least until they figure I get myself under control. First night back here there was nada in the fridge. Not even a pack of coffee for the coffee maker - say, did you know that stuff is better than instant? Like for years all I drank was.. nevermind."

Her grin remains. "You missed your chance, dude. Totally level 5 now. Like I'm serious stuff." And, if he'd paid attention to international news in the interim, she'd also been a wanted international terrorist (while on mission, though given it was Skye, and her rocky start at SHIELD, that one could have gone either way with ease).

She pretty much makes herself at home, closing hte door behind herself and laying out both pizza and beer. "Good to have you back. And, okay, so the caf makes decent enough food. This was just a good excuse to come visit and say welcome back. I know you weren't pissing around out there for shits and giggles."

He's pegged her right about the gift, though, as she's already leaning forwards, trying to get a glimpse of what it might be he's brought back.

Grant Ward has posed:
There is a shake of his head and an actual smile as he too reaches for a slice of the pizza, careful to not drip anything on the carpet. "You are more than welcome to go through it. Just some dirty clothes, a fake mustache, quite possible a Japanese massage parlor business card and what I brought for you." He takes a bite and waves a hand again. "Go on..."
" I have heard about your exploits and quick rise in SHIELD Skye. I must say I am impressed, tho not suprised. You were always one to march to a different drummer, hell you were in your own marching band. I am proud of you...and I must admit that I am a bit upset I was not around to fully see it or be a part of it."
A beer is then reached for and opened, a small sip taken. "Talking about piss..." Yet despite his words another sip is taken. "Thanks for this. Not what I expected at all. Hench...my appearance. Let me go get a shirt at least."

Quake has posed:
"What, the fake moustache isn't for me?" Skye makes a mockingly disappointed face and reaches first for a beer, which she opens, and second for the duffel bag - because, hey, he said she could.

"Enh," the young woman mutters as she sorts through his dirty unmentionables, "It took me a bit to figure out here was where I wanted to be. Almost walked more than once. May actually gave me the option." She shrugs. "That's when I realized I'd drank the koolaid. Was so pissed for a time after that. Was pissed before that, but for different reasons."

Obviously, as the different reasons prior were 'you can do the agent thing, or a 6X4 cell, your choice'.

"And dude, you know they have laundrymats places, right? Like this is gross." Totally teasing, even if it is also true. After all, she's the one opted to dig through his duffel bag. Figners finally snagging the parcel that's for her. "And thanks. Nice to hear one of the premier Agents of SHIELD thinks I have some chops."

The idea of her being her own marching band gets a grin, though it fades fast enough. "Say, uh.." Skye worries at her lower lip. "Did you hear about the rest?" Nodding when he begs time to put on a shirt. "Up to you. Not like I haven't seen you half naked before."

Grant Ward has posed:
"You are more than willing to wear that mustache. Who am I to deny your exploration into the other side. He takes a sip and smirks behind the bottle. "You know the live of a SHIELD agent is not for everyone. I had my doubts when we frist brought you in. You have proven me wrong Skye and that's hard to do."

"It isn't all that much. I assure you it did not belong to anyone prior and was not taken of someone I may or may not have shot." There is a small pause and he nods once to affirm his words. "Certainly not off anyone dead. Nope." He peers down at her, tilting his head to the side and looking closer. "Make sure you check the bottom of the back in the ring case. Don't get all worked up..I am not proposing. Arrow boy would love that. I just had to travel it through a magnetic scanning proff container or it would wipe it clean."

Ward forgoes the shirt fetching and moves to sit down on the floor, leaning with his back against the couch, taking another sip and watching her. "The rest? I mean aside from you shacking up with Clint? There is more...wait don't tell me...that Thai place down the street closed? Damn it. I knew it. One rat scare and there goes my Pad Thai fix."

Quake has posed:
"Ha! No. That place is open still. Totally living off of SHIELD interests, I might add. Though we'll have to introduce you to this nifty ramen place off the beaten track. Clint showed it to me. Figured I might want to know what the stuff should taste like instead of that packaged shit I was so fond of." She grins. "Turns out that packaged stuff is really gross."

The compliment has her nodding, with a quick duck of head before she looks back at him, utterly serious, "I'm a good Agent, Grant. A really good one." It's not a thing she says often, because it's really not 'her' to admit such things, but it does happen to be true. "I like my job. I like who I am here. I figured it out."

She does rummage through the ring box, finding the USB stick. "Okay. This is odd. You know I can get these here, right?" Which tells her it's not the stick, but what's on it that is her actual gift. "And you know I'll be checking that kimono for blood stains right?" Totally going with what she hopes is a joke.

"No. Not the shacking up with Clint part, though that was a bit of a surprise to us both, too. More the why I went to China, and what happened when I got back. The whole kidnapped by Hydra and trying to turn me over to the Dark Side thing. Oh, and uh.. these."

She lifts her hands, displaying the fact that she's wearing custom made gloves.

Grant Ward has posed:
"You don't like the cheaper ramen? Well don't go looking through my cabinets. The stuff keeps well. It isn't to bad in a quick fix." His glance goes to the kimono and he actually laughs a bit. " I promise you, it is brand new and comes highly recommended by this shop owner in downtown Osaka. Would not shut up unless I bought one. So there you go."

"A finger is extended as he takes another sip of the beer, directed at the usb stick. "You can't get what is on that Skye. The reason I was in Japan. On that stick is some very important information about some terrosit funding through one of the largest banks in Japan. Something about a major tech deal. The problem is, I was eventually able to download all the transactions and records, but, I was not able to crack the encryption. It's deep Skye. Well, maybe not for you."

His eyes then drift slowly to her, taking one more sip. "You can spare me the Clint details. We both know how work relationships end up." Was there a small hint of jealouosly or regret lingering in his words. Even an Agent such as Ward finds it diffuclt to mask those things. "I was going to ask about those gloves. They really don't fit your unique sense of style, but who am I to judge. I wear the same suit everyday."

Quake has posed:
"Well, to be honest, after you've had the real stuff, it's kinda just yellow water and mushy things. I learned how to make the real deal in Hong Kong, you know? One of the few foods I can actually cook. Real ramen. Roast chicken. Oh, and pasta if you're not expecting too much of the sauce." Adding with a saucy grin. "Bagged salad with the sauce stuff for it. You know. Classy things."

The stick is given a nodded look. "Hrm. Right. So the kimono is the gift. The stick is my job. Gotcha. I knew there was a reason they kept me around." Not that she minds, though she's got a few jobs on the go at the moment. Though Zola will keep - it's not like he's not a known pain in their ass; this, however, could be nipped in the bud before it happened, and by virtue of that, jumps the queue. "I'll get to it after we eat and see what I can do. Nice job getting it to us."

"And work relationships? Ha. Actually, that's only been recent. When I got my field agent promotion, Clint was assigned to fine tune my skills. Then the whole China affair happened."

She ponders. "Actually, we might be partners by default at this point, though May made some noises about the new recruits. I think there are things in the pipes."

The gloves, though, she brought up, and it really was a thing she'd rather he heard from her than someone else. "Yeah. About these. So, turns out I'm an 084. Used to be the only human one, but you met our other already, so yeah. But uh.. So. Whatever, you're going to hear it anyway. Turns out I'm not quite human. Not quite sure what I am - Inhuman is the term we're using right now - oh, by the way, my father is here, too. Don't piss him off if you can help it. He's working with us right now and we'd like to keep it that way."

"Hydra kidnapped me to test some crystals on me. Sounds like there are more of people like me hidden all over, only it's kinda not obvious until we're exposed to this crystal matrix. I got exposed. I.. uh.. I make things happen. Vibrations mostly."

Grant Ward has posed:
She had said a lot, did she even stop to take a breath? Yet, Agent Ward had given his utmost attention between sips of the"craft" brew that Skye had brought. "Well then Skye, sometime I shall have to have you make me one of your gourmet meals. I will do my best to reciprocate the favor. And then we can simply order out after we realize my failure.

His finger extended to point to the usb stick. "You have no idea the lengths it took to get to that information. Infiltrating that company proved to be a little more difficult than initially thought. It would appear that employees just tend to go missing from time to time. Apparently, they make sure their tracks are covered in every possible way." A casual shrug was given and he moved to change the subject.

"I can't wait to see what rookie May assigns me now. Let's just hope they are as interesting as you are. I always tend to get the difficult recruits. I don't know why. It must be my charming personality and people skills." He said those words so seriously, but the small smile behind the bottle raised to his lips hinted at his knowing this was absolutely a joke about his personality."

"So inhuman is the term? Sounds barbaric. You seem a little more civilized than that would suggest?" He raised his finger to symbolize a small amount. "I mean a bit?you walk upright and all." His gaze leveled on hers once again. "So some enhanced powers it would seem then? Seems your stock in SHIELD just went up?and your oversight. So those gloves?they keep that vibrating thing in check then?" A glance to her hands allows for a closer look, the beer raised in mock salute. "Fuck Hydra."

Quake has posed:
Skye snorts. "I was not a difficult recruit," she lies. "Besides, you didn't stick around long enough to try me out." She'd actually been unique in that Fury had allowed her to have two SO's. Until Ward had been called off..

"And your cooking can't be as bad as mine. Ask May or Clint if you don't believe me." Not that inedible should be a competition.

However, it was the other bits that have her back to serious again. "Well, they're not entirely sure what I am. My father has more information." Like the fact that her mother was alive. And that there were more of them. "Mmm, enhanced is one way of putting it. Blew up a Hydra base. Not nearly as much fun as you would think."

She lifts her bottle in return. "Fuck Hydra.. well, not literally. They're kind of gross." Then, "This data, though. So, what am I expecting to find?"

Grant Ward has posed:
"For the record it was not my request to be called off. I was actually looking forward to it. I mean look at the fun we are having. Pizza. Beer...I mean it a party if I have ever seen one." He did feel at ease with her, he always had. He often felt she actually understood him, but he would never let her know that.

We are going to have a cooking contest. Ice cubes and toast. I will send you the time details." He leaned over to set the bottle on the low table in frount of the couch. "So I can only assume you have been undergoing all sorts of tests and assessments like that Sam girl."

A quick change in direction to address her other concern. "What can you expect to find. Well, from what /I/ understand...it is every transaction made from this terrost cell to purchase tech from Osaka Steel. Which is really a cover up company for manufactured tech. Shipping orders, payments made, names of those involved. The problem is...not only is it encrypted, I am pretty confident if not careful it will wipe a system clean. I need a new laptop."

Quake has posed:
"Ice cubes and toast, huh? You realize the epitomy of my cooking was instant coffee and cup'o'ramen, right?" Of course she'd had cooking lessons since. Not that it had helped much. Skye might be a brilliant hacker, and a genius when it came to outside the box thinking, but her culinary skills were decidedly lacking.

"I'm glad you're back," she says with a lopsided grin. The ease was something she felt too. Which was odd, given that it had taken her forever to begin to feel she had a place at SHIELD. "You realize Clint and my place is kinda where everyone hangs, right? Not sure how that happened, but you're welcome to drop in whenever. Most of the tests are done now, though. Only so much bloodwork will get you. The rest has been learning to use my abilities. Keep finding new applications. Kinda cool, really."

She nods as he explains about the data in her pocket, while munching on pizza. "That's okay. I generally do that shit on a clean system anyway. I don't like anything I"m working on to touch SHIELD systems." And her own systems had layers of firewalls besides. Skye, as it happened, was paranoid with a capital P. She knew what she could do. She didn't trust anyone. Besides, there was still the Zola problem, and as long as he had his dirty little computer fingers in SHIELD's pie, Skye was careful what got disseminated through regular channels.

Grant Ward has posed:
"I knew you were the right person to give it to. I have complete faith that whatever is on there you are going to find and do so safely." He peered over at her and added with a narrowed eye. "If you can set it up so we get a constant feed of futre transactions that would serve us well. My skills only go so far."

"He raised a hand again to run over the back of his neck, "I might take you up on that offer, but you know me. Life of the party. The King of social awkwardness in the room. I can only imagine what people say about me behind closed doors." A small smile is offered. "I'll stop by some time. Do I like bring brownies or something?"

His hand reached out and lightly rested it on her shoulder for a brief moment. "You are going to learn a lot about yourself Skye. A lot. I have no doubt that you are going to be a continued assett here at SHIELD. Hell, powers like that..you might push me to a desk job."

Quake has posed:
"Dude. Have you met me?" Skye just shakes her head at Grant, grinning all the while. "Seriously. Dumb question. Of course I can do that. Once I get the thing unencrypted. Which is usually the trickier part. Luckily, I have mad skillz for that, too."

Totally sassy about the matter.

The touch, and the reassurance, however, leave her looking contemplative. "It's been hard. But people have been good. My friends, I mean. It's like I'm just Skye for them, you know? It's just something they didn't know until now." Another of those grins. "Probably more shocking for me as it happens. And you'd go stir crazy at a desk job. Trust me, when I run the place.."

She doesn't finish that thought.

Grant Ward has posed:
"I don't question your skills behind a computer at all Skye. Why I don't have a Match.com profile. You would hack the hell out of that." She is shoulder nudged. Ward did not really have any close friends. Truth be told he was usually all business and it was a rare person who saw him relaxed like this. "If I was ever forced to be behind a dek for any extended period of time..I am so out. I mean I am sure Darcy could get me a shift or two at Sonic."

The beer is reached for but no sip is taken. There is little that gets past Gran Ward and after some internal debating he decided to call her out. "When you run the place? Interesting." He turned his head to look at her once more. "Strangely enough...I could see that. People would listen to you."

Quake has posed:
"Sure you don't have a Match.com profile? Are you /really/ sure about that?" She looks so pleased with herself, then laughs as she's shoulder nudged. "Darcy has been out in the field, you know. Seriously. Though she did fuck up my arrest. Totally would have gotten off on a technicality if it weren't for the whole Fury smoothing things over with the UN business."

There's a nod. "Yeah. I could see me running the place," Skye says, possibly jokingly. Until Grant says he can see it. "Seriously?" A pause. "Actually, they kinda do." She did have a habit of giving orders, and thus far, even those who outranked her had been wont to listen to them. It had been peculiar as such things went.

Grant Ward has posed:
There is a moment of panic. Did she really find a match profile he may or may not had a while back. He is not touching that one. Nope, move on from that. "I know she has. I just have to treat her that way or she is going to eat me alive. I have a reputation Skye. I dread to think what that is, but one thing I do know is I am Agent Grant Ward. I go by the book. I am the book. And at night I plug myself back in for the next day."

"You see Skye. I read people. It's part of what I am good at. People listen to you because they want to. They believe you. You have that going for you Skye. Hell, I bet everybody pours their little hearts out to you with their problems. They trust you."

There is a small pause before he starts again. "Me. They listen to me because they need to. In some cases if they don't people die. Do you see the difference?"

Quake has posed:
Skye tilts her head at Grant. "People tell me everything. Like now. You. You just did the same thing. I don't get it. I mean, I'm a one woman walking secret factory. I should have detail on me like five sectors deep given what I know. It's bizarre, and right from the start it was like that."

She really doesn't see it about herself, other than she knows it's true, because it keeps happening.

"Yeah. Big difference. You scatre people. They listen to you because they're afraid of what will happen otherwise. Me, people listen to because they want to please me. And they believe in me." She makes a small face. "They also really want to protect me. It's weird."

Grant Ward has posed:
"It's a lot to handle. Carrying the burden of everyone elses secrets on top of everything expected of you. I don't envy you Skye. Howeve,r it does speak to the person you are and have become." He takes another sip of the beer and lowers it slowly, pondering am oment before continuing. "Rule exist to keep people safe Skye. Protocol is in place to make sure at the end of the day or misson people come back.".

It is not often that Ward ever opens up like this. In fact, Skye is seeing a side that he would kill anyone who possibly witnessed it otherwise. "I could learn a lot from you, but you could learn something from me. You know what a good leader is Skye? Robert E. Lee once said: /To be a good soldier, you must love the army. To be a good commander, you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love./ Could you do that Skye, send those you care about into certain death for the mission?"

Quake has posed:
Skye settles back with her beer. "Yeah. I know. Fury and I had a talk. Well, I talked. He smiled - as much as he smiles. I figured out he didn't want me to be a by the book person. And I guess the harder thing I figured out, is that once I learned that that was my place here, I had to learn when to use it, and when not to. So, sorta what I'm doing now. Learning that part of it."

Fury, it should be noted, had been very pleased she'd figured that out by herself. It had proven his faith in her.

She drinks more of her beer and is quiet for a time. "When Tidepool started, I had to break out of here. Clint and I didnt' talk much beforehand about what we'd do if missions came up. In fact, I wasn't a field agent. I was a deck jockey. Kind of. I'm the one who went to Fury and told him this was the mission, and why we had to do it."

She worries at her lower lip. "Was fucking hard breaking out of here. But there I was, a doorway between me and freedom, and there was Clint, confused as fuck as to why I was betraying them all. So I shot him. I shot him because it had to be real. Everyone had to believe that's who I was. I was DarkSky returning to her roots. I'd fucked you all over but good."

Her gaze lowers. "Was the worst time of my life, that mission. Being hated for who and what I was, knowing the truth. I don't think the rest is any different."

Grant Ward has posed:
"The things we do and go through. In the end we come out on the other end sometimes for the better and sometimes worse." The beer is tipped back for a long sip. "I have done things I regretted at the time. Hell, there are things I still regret. You can't change them. You try and learn and move on. You can't let these things get to you. You wanna know a little secret Skye?" Here he was telling her something, just when she had stated it is waht everyone burdened her with."

He stared out across the suite, not making eye contact ." I am not always an asshole. Just what people have come to expect. I can be fun. Just the other day I had ice cream after ten. I know right..try to control your disgust."

Quake has posed:
Skye laughs outright. "You rebel you."

She manages a shrug, and downs the remainder of her own beer, offering him another as she gets herself a second. "I regret things. But they've also been good, too, you know? I learned a lot. I learned what I don't want. And what I won't accept. And what I'm willing to take on my shoulders - kinda like that could I send someone out to die. I know who I am now. Or at least I'm comfortable with what I know about myself now. I could accept those things if I had to."

She lifts her beer to him. "My dirty secret. Skye Johnson can be serious and deep. Everyone thinks I'm this.. well, a little more ice cream after ten and not much the rest of this."

Grant Ward has posed:
Ward reaches for another beer and opens it, toasts her and then takes a long sip. "You have a serious side. I have seen it before. I won't tell anyone. OUr secrets are safe in Casa de Fuckward. Deal?" He raises his beer to her in another toast. "Don't ever change Skye. Not for anyone. Everyone needs to have a little Grant Ward mentality in their life. Most people have just yet to discover this."

"Ypu are always going to get the honest truth from me Skye. Like I told that Sam girl you brought in. I don't sugar coat it. Some people tell you what you want to hear. With me...you will get what you need to hear. Promise." It was true, and she perhaps knew it. The Agent known for his ability to lie his way through any mission was not afraid to tell someone what they needed to hear.'

Quake has posed:
Skye's bottle is touched to his. "Appreciate that. I don't need ass kissers. Had enough of them in Rising Tide. Bullshit stinks no matter how you pretty it. And I can't do my job if people are telling me things they think I need to hear."

Which might surprise any number of folks to hear Skye atlk like this. She has, it should be noted, grown immensely in the past year.

Grant Ward has posed:
"You know, word gets out you like to talk to me like this, it is going to euin both our reputations. I guess that's the chance we take. You know my door is always open. It's safe here if you need to step away from reality. Nobody else visits." He laughs slightly. "Can't say that's a bad thing though."

"I guess it's good I wasn't assigned to you for your sake. Who knows where or how you would have ended up."

Quake has posed:
Skye laughs, "Oh, who knows. In jail? Your boss? Better than you. The possibilities are endless. Besides, May was a good SO. She made sure I got what I needed. Not sure I always made her proud, but I tried. At least after I stopped feeling sorry for myself I did. She was the kind of person I wanted to be."

That gets a wry look from the young woman.

Grant Ward has posed:
"You wanted to be like Agent May? " He pauses a moment to digest this news. "You don't really have the scare factor May has. I mean you could get it." He smiles over to her. "What you want to be is respected Skye. People respect Agent May. She has that reputation. You want respect. That's what you really seek. Be yourself Skye and you will earn the respect."

"Go on, tell me I am right. It's okay. Say it Skye. /You know Ward...you are right. Man, you are so smart. I wish I was just like you." He smirks behind the bottle.

Quake has posed:
"You should see what I can do now. It is actually kinda terrifying. But I hear you. I mean, I know what you mean. Not sure I'll ever have the kind of respect she does - but here's the thing, I think she respects me. And Clint does. And you know, the people who know and love me. That whole they want to do things for me? Because they want me to see them like that. Weird, huh?"

Lips pruse. "And no, that does not mean you are right." Even if it actually totally does.

Grant Ward has posed:
She would never admit he was right. He knew that, she did not have to admit it. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. "I needed this Skye. You are the first person to ever really come here. Thanks." His is silent a moment before venturing a question. "Between you and me Skye...what's thw word around the Trisk about me?"

Ha ward shown a small sense of insecurity of how he is viewed?"

Quake has posed:
"Mmm, let's see. You're a bit of a dick. Okay, a lot of a dick. Tough taskmaster. Folks think you're smug. Aloof. Not sure how to take your joking - which is funny, because I snark all the time and there isn't that problem."

More thoughtfully, she adds, "You've been gone a long time. I know that's part of the job, but we don't have so many go on undercovers that are that long. I thought mine at a few months was hard. I think folks just don't know who came back. Been a lot of shit go down while you were gone. I think they're waiting to see what Grant Ward does with that."

Grant Ward has posed:
The truth hurts, but nothing she said he did not already know. He knew how he was thought of. He was a taskmaster, he did come across as a dick and even when he tried to be funny, people were afraid to even smile. Well, he wasn't exactly a comedian. "Well, you don't hold back do you. You could have filtered it a bit" He reaches out to lightly punch her shoulder. "I might need an ice pack after that one."

He gives a carefree shrug. "You want the truth Skye? I don't know what I am going to do with that. Yeah, that's right. Agent Grant Ward does not have a plan. But that stays in this room. I did not expect to be gone that long. A few weeks tops. It was bigger than I had anticipated and I went alone." Another long sip is taken. "And what do you think I am?"

Quake has posed:
Grant is given a direct look. "You can have the sugar coating, or the respect of the truth. Thought we were in the respect one another category." He is offered a softer smile to go along with the words, though. "Not sure filtering would have helped you. It's why they treat you the way you do. The wide berth in the hallways. The way people grow quiet when you enter a room. Like you said, they do things you say because they're scared of you. Didn't say anything you didn't know, and you'd have thought less of me if I'd said otherwise."

At least that was her assessment of it.

"The second part was the filter. What to expect. How you can change things and find your place here."

His question draws a long look from her. "What do I think you are? Scared. I think you're scare of people seeing the real you. Because if they did, you don't know what they'd think of you. And would they still respect you and listen to you. Deep down, you're afraid if they saw the real you, they'd see someone who they couldn't respect. So you give them the other."

Her smile turns into a sad sort of look as she waits to see how far off the mark she is, or how closely she's landed that bombshell.

Grant Ward has posed:
It was true. He had tested her to see if she would tell the truth. He already knew what people thought of him. They did give him the wide berth in the hallway, they did grow quiet when he entered a room. He almost demanded such a reaction and liked it. However the girl sitting beside him had no idea that her second part was an atom bomb going off in the suite.

There was a slight shift of his weight, an uncomfrtable motion from the steadfast statue that War was always portraying. He is silent amoment, actually setting his beer down before speaking. His tone is soft, and obvious guard down. Eventually he looks over to her, catching her expression. "I've got a past Skye. We all do. Not even SHIELD has my whole story." He tries to cover, this is unchartered territory for him. "I need to be the way I am. People depend on it. Do you understand that? My actions keep people safe Skye. If it takes fear for them to listen then so be it. It's how I need to be. Structure and protocol and training. It keeps people safe."

It is clear he is trying to not admit she pegged him deadcenter. "I keep people safe Skye. I keep them safe." That is the best she is going to get from him that she was right."

Quake has posed:
"Hey. I get it. And, yeah. I guess I hit the target, huh?" Because it was obvious she had, though she might not know all the reasons why - even if she could (and she had the clearance to) look up his files.

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. I'll just put it in there with the rest of them. Seriously, should not be allowed out alone without a security detail. I'm a huge security risk."

She says it like she's joking, only the element of truth that lies as the bedrock of that statement is probably blatantly clear to someone like Ward.

"Anyway, didn't mean to eat up all your time. You're probably tired, and we can finish this talk later." She holds up the USB stick. "I've got a job to do."

She gets up, and tucks the empties back in the beer case. "I'll leave the rest for you, and my door is always open, right? You got that?"

Grant Ward has posed:
Ward pushes himself up from the floor with a slight wince, moving to stand and walking to the door to open it for her. "A little tired I guess. Have a few things to do before I can rest. You came befor ei was able to finish my push-up routine." He winks and then leans against the open door. "Don't work to hard Skye. Don't let me get into what 3 days of sleep deprivation does to the body." Perhaps there is a story there. There most certainly is."

It is obvious he is joking with her as his tone quickly turns to typical Ward as another Agent walks by the open door in the hallway outside. "I don't care if you have other things to do. This is a priority Agent Johnson. I expect what I need on my desk by 10 am tomorrow morning. Do I make myself clear?" He pauses as the Agent departs out of sight, double checking by peering out into the hallway. "Whenever Hack-Fu."