How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

5| Dr. May

The next few months seemed to go by in a flash as the two new agents settled into their new work habits while waiting for the rest of their friends to graduate.

Phil started trying casually dating some other girls there with little avail. Everyone there was people they knew at the Academy, some older people, some younger, no one new. Phil mostly gave up after a few weeks, and he jumped right into work when his SO, Nick Fury, was stationed there too.

"Just like old times," Fury grumbled as Phil passed him his morning coffee. "You better have gotten my order right."

Phil grinned. "How can I forget? You've drilled it into me since the first time I messed it up." He took a sip from his own cup. "I still don't know why you decided to pick a scrawny teenager from Wisconsin out of a crowd of buff dudes to mentor."

Fury cracked a smile. "I didn't want a buff dude. They're harder to teach. And you know, I kinda wanted to be able to make you into something better than just a regular agent." He rolled his eyes as a fangirling agent passed by. "I wanted you to be great."

"'Wanted'? As in, not anymore?"

The man shrugged. "You're a good kid, Phil. I did what I did to you and you're holding up well. You've still got a bit to go, but you're on the right track, and you know just enough people to be able to pull some strings." Fury glanced at his watch. "Want to go on an adventure?"

"Depends on if it includes combat," Phil said, draining his coffee. "If the word is yes, I need my fighting shoes."

"Just a joyride/stakeout combo," Fury assured him. "If you want, you can tag along on my lunch trip with Director Carter."

"The Peggy Carter?" Phil fanned his face. "Oh my god, I'm going to melt. Really?"

Fury snorted. "Not if you're gonna act like that," he said dryly. "Pop quiz: who was the first fallen SHIELD agent?"

"Historically or officially?" The two of them were strutting as they walked down the front steps of the building. "Cause it's different."

"What do you think?" Fury walked them to his car. "What comes up more?"

Phil considered it as he got into the car. "Barnes comes up more in history because he connects more to the people and Captain America. Sousa is technically the first fallen agent since the organization started in 1949, since he died in '55. So..." he glanced at Fury. "Barnes."

The older man smiled. "Okay. Now, what was the first ever 0-8-4?"

"Obelisk, seized from a HYDRA scientist named Reinhardt. Director Carter directly supervised it." Phil turned on the radio and tuned it to that Beatles station that May liked. "It turns people into weird flakey black statues."

"First SHIELD base?"

"The Playground, built under the direct supervision of Director Carter." Phil sighed. "She's so awesome."

Fury rolled his eyes. "You better not act like this when you meet her."

"I can act," Phil promised. "Also, are we actively staking out someone right now because we've been driving a big circle around the same six blocks."

"Glad you noticed."

The two of them cruised around for a while as Phil got a phone call from May.

"What's up, Lin?" he asked, subconsciously running a hand through his hair. "Date going okay?"

"It's going," May reported glumly. "He's trying to psychoanalyze me. He went to get drinks but I kinda want to ditch it."

"No, no, just stay a while, see what he thinks. If he's an asshole about it, you can throw the drink at him for extra effect." Phil grinned. "Besides, isn't this your seventh date with this guy? You must really see something in him if you're still there, even if it's on a subconscious level."