𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐘𝐀𝐑𝐃━︎━︎M. Hill ✓︎

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX:
JUST DOING MY JOB

HAVING ROXANNE NOT AT HER side, was an unusual feeling for Sage. Roxanne was her best friend, someone that had been at her side since the beginning of everything. And knowing that she was just walking right back into HYDRA's arms just didn't sit right with Sage. She knew why the woman was doing it. She wanted to fix herself, just like Sage wanted to do. She wanted to be on the right side. And being undercover for the Avengers definitely qualified as doing just that. All Sage wished was that Roxanne would have allowed for her to come along as well. But she knew Roxanne was right.

Knowing that Malia's grave was here, Sage didn't think she'd be able to be so far away, scared that someone would want to destroy the last thing that represented Malia ever existing. Sage sat there, fiddling with the necklace that Malia had always worn, a present Sage had given her when she turned thirteen. The wound was still fresh, the death of Malia Young constantly flashing behind her eyes. Malia didn't deserve to die, however, slowly but surely Sage was growing to understand that Malia died the way that she would have wanted, and Sage knew that eventually she would have to accept that. 

Maria watched the woman from afar, her hands in her pockets as she tried to decide whether or not she should walk up to the woman. However, that decision was quickly chosen for her when Sage spoke up.

     "This is the last thing I have of her." Sage swallowed thickly, rubbing her thumb over the heart of the necklace. Maria slowly made her way towards Sage, standing beside of her and looking down at the necklace that she held tightly in her hands. "This and her headstone are the only things to prove that she ever existed. Everything else, the pictures, the memories, all of that was left back at the HYDRA base."

     "I'm sorry." Maria whispered, placing hand on Sage's knee. "I'm sorry for not getting there sooner."

     Sage looked at the woman, managing the smallest of smiles as she shook her head. "It's not your fault." She looked back at the necklace before motioning it towards Maria, silently asking if Maria would place it around her neck. Maria nodded, grabbing Malia's necklace from her hands and standing up, moving to stand beside of Sage and placing the necklace around her neck. Sage adjust the necklace, before looking at Maria once again as the woman sat back down.

     Sage pursed her lips for a moment, meeting Maria's eyes before nodding her head. "I never really thanked you for everything that you've done for me."

     "There's no need." Maria assured her. "I was just doing my job."

     "Oh, don't pull that shit." Sage scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I saved your ass, you saved mine in return. Maria, you don't understand that what you did meant everything to me. My whole life I've been trying to make it to a point where Malia was old enough to understand that she didn't have to live the HYDRA life. I've been trying to find a way to get her out, to get both of us out. And when you offered that solution. . . I know I was hesitant at first, because you were working with SHIELD, but you're the reason that we got out."

     "But you didn't get out, Malia―︎"

      "Died doing what I have been doing my whole life. She died protecting me, and she knew that I would've done the same damn thing." Sage cut her off. "It took me a minute, but I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that Malia died the way that she wanted. Her death was something that I couldn't control, no matter how much I want to believe that I could have prevented it. I can't focus on that anymore, Malia's probably yelling at me from the grave. She'd want me to move on, she'd want me to do what I wanted with my life."

     "And what do you want to do?" Maria questioned, a small smile curling at the corners of her lips.

     Sage let out a teary laugh, meeting Maria's eyes. She looked at her for a moment before nodding her head. "This." She leaned forward, pulling Maria closer to her and connecting their lips. Maria was surprised by the action, but found her eyes fluttering closed as she kissed the woman back. Sage pulled away, her eyes never leaving Maria's. "I want to flip my life around. I went with HYDRA because I had no other choice, I didn't know they were the reason my family and friends were dead, I was a kid who was manipulated to believe we were the good guys and you were the bad. But I am no longer blind to the truth, so maybe, if you'll have me, I'd like to start training to become a SHIELD agent."

     "I don't know." Maria hummed. "It's gonna take a lot of work, and a lot of convincing."

     "I'm sure HYDRA has put me through more work than you lot ever will." Sage commented. "And as far as convincing people goes, I don't know about you, but I think that's my specialty. I mean, if I can convince Maria Hill, Nick Fury's right hand woman, that my name is Sarah Gillies, I think I can convince the Avengers that I'm actually on their side."

     "If I hadn't let my guard down for two seconds, you wouldn't be here right now." Maria pointed out.

     "That is true." Sage nodded her head. She smiled before leaning forward and giving Maria another kiss. And as she sat there, Sage realized that maybe everything was going to be okay. She realized that she was going to be okay.