In the Shadows

Chapter Two

Season Two, Episode Three: Making Friends and Influencing People 

In the time since I had seen Ward, my mind was never at rest. He had spoken about knowing what had happened, about why I had been left at the orphanage. After his tip about Creel turned out to be true, I couldn't help but wonder if he was telling the truth about his knowledge of my abandonment as well. There was no reason for him to lie while in the cage. There was no reason for him to lie about it at all unless he was hoping to get me on his side, which would be a long shot even for him. 

I shook the thoughts of Ward from my mind as I squeezed the trigger of the gun, lowering it only to see where it hit on the target before me. As per May's request, Skye and I had both hobbled out of bed at seven in the morning to come to the shooting range. Regardless of the fact that Coulson took on the responsibility of being my S.O. after Ward's betrayal, I often found myself training with May whenever I was on base. 

I raised the gun in my hands again, pulling the trigger a few times, barely flinching at the recoil. I wasn't all that good with guns, never had been. My specialty with Coulson was hand-to-hand combat, as well as negotiation and interrogation. I usually left the weaponry to Skye or May, but I needed to do something to blow off steam rather than stew in my feelings. 

The sound of a cart rolling down the hall caused me to flick the safety back on my gun before setting it down, ensuring the barrel was facing the targets just as Hunter and Mack came to a halt. 

"Pardon me," Hunter spoke, causing the three of us women to turn our attention to him, but his gaze was fixated on Skye. "Just one quick question. You went to Shield academy, right?"

"You didn't." May cut in, not giving Skye a chance to respond as her eyes narrowed at the mercenary, causing me to stifle a snicker. Hunter had been an absolute idiot on his last mission, deciding it would be a good idea to shoot May with an icer, which was a grave mistake on his part. "If you did, you would have known better to shoot me." 

"Apology number four hundred and seventy." It was clear that Hunter could barely contain an eye roll as he spoke. "I am very sorry, Agent May." 

May shook her head, a small smirk rising on the corner of her mouth. "Don't be sorry. Just wait." 

Mack finally broke his silence after a few moments. "We just have a little wager going. Uh, so did you...?" His voice trailed off as he looked toward Skye. 

"Go to the academy? Yeah, no." Skye shook her head. "Neither did Melanie, though." 

Both boys turned their heads to look at me, causing me to raise a hand and give them a sheepish wave. 

"Wait, if you didn't go to the academy, how did you get your position?" Hunter questioned, a confused look on his face. 

"Well, for starters, I've never shot May." I shrugged my shoulders, humor lacing my voice as I poked fun at the man. 

"Again, I'm sorry!" Hunter held up his hands in mock surrender before turning his head back to Skye. Mack still had his eyes on me, a look of what I thought to be suspicion in them, but I brushed it back as I reached over for my gun, moving to put it away. 

"This was entertaining and all, but I have to go," I spoke up. My gaze flickering between everyone in the room for a moment before brushing past the boys as I began to walk down the hall. 

"Wait, Mel!" I heard Skye shout after me, causing me to turn and face her once again, a single brow raised. "Are we still on for movies tonight?" 

"Yeah, of course."

***

"Most likely scenario, Hydra's looking for another weapon," Coulson spoke, briefing us on the mission at hand. "From what we've been able to piece together, Donnie Gill had limited powers when he entered the Sandbox, but..."