X marks the spot

The Last Day

They were in the Zephyr. Aaron could tell, both by the shape of the thing, the interior. But, mainly because of those damn logos that never seemed to fade. The promise of a better tomorrow. A promise that Coulson had made to him. A pledge.

You can be better.

"May." Aaron breathed out in relief, walking over and embracing the woman. She gave the hug back, which was surprising. She gave him a nod as they pulled back, that was the one thing he did expect.

"I wonder if this being here means that any of us make it." Coulson said, his gaze darted to the back of Aaron's head for a moment and then back to his best friend. Silently telling him that there was more too it and that it would be explained later.

"I doubt I make it." Aaron hit Daisy's arm, the one that wasn't fucked up.

"Ow! What the hell?" She groaned as she looked at her friend. He pointed a finger at her, "None of that!" He chided, before giving the family of three some space.

"You don't understand, they're not just dead. As far as everyone in the lighthouse was concerned, everybody...." He paused as he looked at the interior of the thing. Marvelling at it, "... Was torn to scraps. Not all still alive and living in an actual aeroplane."

"It's the Zephyr." Simon corrected, making his friend look at him with a confused look, "There's a difference?" Simon scoffed and nodded, "Yeah, huge."

"Fitz, your design really stood the test of time." Jemma complimented as they started taking off the extra layers of clothing on them. Deke's face turned to awe as he turned to the two scientists.

"Wait, you designed this? Damn, can't imagine what it must've been like to fly." Fitz cocked his head to the side a few times. Before clarifying that he was only the engineer and not the pilot. Simon rolled his eyes. Still modest, I see.

"Oh... Well, that's still cool, I guess."

"Holy hell. Is that Deke Shaw and Simon-damn-Johnson?!" A voice called from above. The pair broke out into smiles when they saw who it was. While Fitzsimmons only frowned at the newcomer.

"I'll be damned! Thought I was looking at your old man twenty years ago!" The man turned to Fitzsimmons with a friendly face, "Welcome." He said, before continuing to his friends.

"Oh my god, Voss !" Deke exclaimed, hugging the man tightly. The man let out a hearty laugh. Simon gave one of his own in disbelief, hugging the man of a similar age.

Well, technically.

"I should've known that even the Roaches wouldn't touch you."

"Never thought I'd see either of you tagging along with these folks." Voss teased. Deke looked at Fitzsimmons before replying.

"It's a long story."

"Well, let's hear all about it, huh? You can tell me whether these guys are the real deal or not –"

"Oh, they are." Simon assured as they walked through the rundown Quinjet, "I'm surprised you're the only two of ours to make the trip. And, Virgil?"

Their moods turned sombre at the mention of the man.

"Roaches." Voss sighed, but they still continued.

"I'm sorry. I've been playing catchup ever since. I feel like he could've told me that he was exchanging messages with my dead dad."

"We didn't know who to trust –"

"Clearly. So, where is he?" Deke asked, looking around for his father. Voss explained that he was transmitting from a radio tower a few days out. And that'd he'd be back soon. And assured that he'd be elated to see his son. Which Deke doubted.