𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 || 𝕆ℂ 𝕩 𝕆ℂ

Chapter 1

The sun shone down on the beach, sending down harsh waves of heat and reflecting off the rippling ocean. The air had a sweet coconut smell and the breeze was soft. Ace would have loved to spend the day getting a nice tan, but she had orders. 

For the past few weeks, she had been tasked with following an ex assassin by the name of Finnegan Reed. Her job was to see who he had been in contact with. Although he did meet many suspicious people, she was looking for one man in particular. 

This was her last steak out before she would head back to S.H.I.E.L.D. and get her new assignment. He had no information about the man they were looking for and she planned to leave after he got back into the city.

She watched from her seat at the bar as he sat at one of the chairs by the water. Every few seconds she would glance at him, making sure he was still there. This continued for a few minutes until the bartender walked over to her and handed her a drink. "I didn't order this," she told him confused, examining the cup. 

"That man over there did, for ya," the bartender said, tilting his head to someone behind her. She turned around quickly, making eye contact with Finnegan. He looked at her with a smirk, holding up his drink in hello. 

Ace sighed, turning back towards the bar. A few seconds later, she heard someone sit in the seat next to her. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that it was Finnegan. "I'm assuming you know what my name is," he said, twirling the small umbrella in his drink. 

Ace didn't say anything, not taking her eyes off the drink in front of her. "What's your name?" He asked, looking over at her. Again, she said nothing. "Maybe you should have some of that drink, you need to lighten up," he continued.

Ace adjusted her seating position, getting ready to take him down, if necessary. "Here, how about I take a sip so you know I didn't poison it or anything," he suggested, grabbing the drink from in front of her and taking a gulp. "Woah," he said shaking his head a little, setting it back down in front of her, "that's strong. I thought you'd like something bitter. After watching you, I figured that would be your kind of drink." 

"How long did you know?" Ace asked sternly, turning to him.

"Ahh, she speaks," he cheered. She sent him a 'seriously' look, but he only smirked. "I was an assassin, I think I would know if someone was following me. Though, I am surprised it took me so long to realize, I found out a few days ago. I'm impressed," he complimented. 

"I'm not trying to impress you," she deadpanned.

"Come on, you don't need to be so tense were bonding," Finnegan smirked.

"Yeah, you wish," she scoffed.

"I know your trying to take me to S.H.I.E.L.D." He stated, dropping his playful attitude. 

"Yeah?" she asked. That was not  the plan at all, but this conversation was taking an interesting turn and she would be a fool not to let it take it's course. 

"You don't want to take me there," he told her seriously.

"Why's that?" She asked curiously.

"I can be your inside man," he negotiated.

"What?" She was genuinely confused now. Never has one of her targets willingly offered information without any influence. 

"I have contacts that can get you information to help with your secret spy work," he continued, smirk returning. 

"I know you have contacts, but I don't trust a thing you say. Your just going to walk away and go into hiding again."

"Well, I'm going to do that anyway," he teased.

"Your not as smart as I thought you were," giving him a look while reaching for the dagger hidden in the waist of her shorts. She wasn't actually going to hurt him, but her action would definitely make him hurry up. 

"Okay, okay just hear me out," he said, grabbing her wrist, which she quickly pulled from his grasp. "I know you think that I'm gonna trick you and run, but I wont. I'm not a bad guy."

"That's hard to believe," she grumbled under her breath.

Choosing to ignore her remark, Finnegan continued, "I know you're after Luther Maxwell. I haven't had contact with him in years, but if you give me some time I can. Just to prove that I'll keep my word, I'm going to give you something that's really important to me, so you know I have to come back for it and I won't trick you."

 "And what would that be?" She asked, leaning on the palm of her hand.

"My father's wedding ring," he said, taking the ring off his finger, "I never go anywhere without it. It's the only thing I have from my father, he died when I was young."

Ace softened a little at his story, but hid it quickly. "How do I know your not lying?" She asked with raised eyebrows. 

"If you look at your little collage of me, you'll see that I always have it on," he said reaching for her hand. She quickly knocked his hand away. "Will you stop being so dramatic and let me put the ring on you?" He sassed. 

She sighed, allowing him to slip the ring onto her thumb. She knew she could take him if he tried anything and he was willingly going to give her information, it seem too good to be true. 

"So, are we good?" Finnegan asked.

"If you double cross me, I will find you and I will kill you," she said seriously.

"Calm down, butterfly. I wouldn't dream of it," he said winking at her as he got up from his seat.

She watched from her spot as his figure got further away from her. "Call me Finn," she heard him yell. 

She let out a little laugh as she turned back around to face the bar, taking out her phone. A smirk made its way onto her face when her phone lit up with a red dot moving away from the crowded beach. 

Earlier that day, she had thought that she would be leaving empty handed, but he had willingly gave her information and an opportunity to keep track of him if he choose to betray her, without break protocol or straying from the mission. This meeting went much better than she could have ever imagined. 

Author's note:

A short first chapter, but I think they're cute!