Fitzsimmons

Love in the Time of Hydra (2)

Quick Note: the sad version of last chapter.

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"Fitz, you daft, bleeding idiot!" Simmons shouted, her voice cracking from the angry tears welling up in her eyes. It was all his damned fault they had been captured, his fault they were pacing the floor in an inescapable Hydra cell. Him and his inseparable feelings for her.

Fitz remained silent, hands planted on his hips, taking her insults with long, sad stares at the floor. "Honestly, Fitz! You're a genius, whether you've changed or not, and this was a stupid, stupid, idea! Turning yourself in..." Jemma trailed off, still fuming and unable to find words for her rage. "How could you?!"

Fitz stayed silent, waiting for her to release all of this negative energy before he could talk to her calmly. Simmons stomped towards the heavy metal door blocking their exit, and kicked it forcefully, repeatedly, the clanging probably alerting a whole squadron of Hydra guards. Slowly, however, her anger simmered down to mere irritation and pity.

A brief silence passed between them as they prepared for an actual conversation. "I won't explain why I did this," Fitz spoke, clearly and calmly as ever. "Because you already know. And we've already discussed it."

Simmons resisted every urge to turn away and end the conversation. Instead, she stared intently at Fitz, noticing for the first time his new quirks and nervous tics. He's changed so much. Even these little things are so different.

"You don't need to chastise me for this. I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do," Fitz continued, checking her reaction. "But it was the right thing to do. At least, I think it is."

Simmons was left speechless now. She tried to find the right words for a proper response, but she fell short, for likely the first time in her life. She couldn't find the words to tell him she loved him back, and not just the pitiful kind of love. She couldn't find the words to explain that she couldn't ever hate him, no matter the size of the disagreement they would inevitably have.

But the words didn't come to her. So instead, she brought her lips to him.

They were interrupted far too soon by a Hydra agent opening their cell door. He smirked at the two of them, still in each other's arms, staring fearfully at where he stood blocking the doorway.

"Jemma Simmons," the agent called, reading her name off a file in his huge hands.

Fitz stepped forward with a stern look crossing his face and ushered Jemma behind him. "Take me instead."

"Hate to break it to you, Romeo, but this is non-negotiable," the agent responded, trying to step around Fitz and being stopped. "I need the girl," he repeated, only a few feet away from Jemma now.

Jemma pulled Fitz back close to her, cupping his face in her hands and forcing eye contact with him. She pressed her forehead to his, then whispered, "Fitz, I don't think there's a scenario where we win this."

"We have to try," Fitz croaked.

"Shhh," Jemma silenced him. Her own voice shrunk to a heartbroken whisper. "At least I get to tell you, at least once."

"No," Fitz managed, as though he could do anything to stop this before she was taken away. He dug his fingers into her forearm, trying to secure her as the agent approached quickly behind him.

"I'm sorry there's no more time," Jemma breathed, closing her eyes to better focus on what she believed to be her final moments with Fitz. His grip was tight on her arm, his breath warm on her mouth. "I love you, Leo," she barely got out before the man's arms were tearing her away.

"I love you, too, Jemma," Leo sobbed, following her struggling figure to the door, trying to pry the agent's arms away. He was knocked to the floor in the process, his eyesight blurry from tears and blackening from the hit to his head.

The last thing he saw was Jemma elbow the man in the face before the door closed.