𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒔, 𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝒎. ¹

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳. 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘺 𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘦

the garage buzzed with the hum of machinery and muffled conversations. olivia wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her glove and squinted at the engine in front of her. the hood of her ancient volkswagen beetle was propped open, exposing a tangle of wires and metal that had seen better days. she adjusted the flashlight clamped between her teeth and leaned closer, the scent of grease and motor oil filling her nose.

"olivia, you good over there?" dean's voice called out from across the garage. he was perched on a stool, spinning a wrench between his fingers like a drumstick.

"i’m fine," she grunted, spitting the flashlight out into her hand. "but if this car had a soul, it would definitely hate me."

dean laughed, shaking his head. "it’s not the car, liv. it’s the fact that it’s older than both of us combined."

she shot him a glare. "your dad wouldn’t have hired me if i couldn’t handle this. besides, it’s my car. if i can’t fix it, i shouldn’t even be working here."

as if on cue, dean’s dad, jim morgan, appeared from the office doorway, wiping his hands on a rag. he surveyed olivia with a critical but approving eye. "she’s right, dean. Let her figure it out. And you—stop distracting my best mechanic."

dean mock-saluted. "best mechanic, huh? she’s been here two days."

"two days is long enough to know she’s got the grit for this," jim said, a hint of pride in his tone.

olivia felt a warmth rise in her chest at the compliment. turning back to the car, she adjusted the tension on the alternator belt and tightened a bolt. slowly, her frustration started to ebb away, replaced by focus.

a minute later, the engine roared to life. olivia jumped back, startled, as the car coughed and then settled into a steady purr. she let out a victorious laugh, her hands in the air.

"would you look at that?" dean teased, clapping his hands slowly. "livy jane, master of rust buckets everywhere."

"shut up," olivia said, grinning despite herself.

jim gave her an approving nod. "not bad, fitz. now clean up and grab some lunch. tomorrow, we’re tackling that ford truck that’s been sitting in the corner."

as jim walked back to his office, olivia leaned against the car, wiping her greasy hands on her coveralls. dean sidled up beside her, smirking.

"see? told you this job would suit you," he said.

olivia rolled her eyes but smiled. "you might be right, morgan. but don’t get used to me saying it."

dean nudged her shoulder. "never doubted you for a second, liv."

for the first time in a long while, olivia felt like she belonged.

dean reached a hand out, wiping the oil off her cheek with his thumb. "you should totally come over for dinner tonight, my mum is dying to meet you." he gave her a soft smile and she pushed herself off the car.

"ah, you're luring me to your home with food? how did you know that would work on me?" she laughed, the sound echoing through the room as he shrugged.

"because you only wanted this job for cash so we know it's tight over there," he teased back as she shoved him with her elbow. "fine, how about i buy us coffee during lunch with my new girl money." she suggested and he nodded.

"well, ive been paying for it so it's the least you can do."

she rolled her eyes as she pointed at her jacket on the table across from where they were stood, "just get my card while i change out of these dirty clothes." she mumbled, lifting up the green overalls that she was wearing. luckily they matched her eyes.

"yes, motherfucker." he mumbled as he walked away, he found her purse in the pocket of her jacket, he flipped it open and removed her card when something fell out of the purse.

it fell to his feet as he leaned down to pick it up with his gloved hand, it was a picture. it was a bit old and worn out, like she had taken it out plenty of times. it was a picture of a little boy with bright red hair and deep green eyes.

he looked about a few months old and he was wearing a spiderman onesie. dean smiled at the picture when he heard olivia call out to him as he put the picture away before shutting her purse and putting it back where he found it.

"im coming." he grabbed her jacket, starting to walk over to his friend. she smiled at him and he was drawn in by her deep green eyes and her bright red hair.

she hit his shoulder and he realised she had asked him something, "do you want to drive or walk?" she repeated and he shrugged, "we can walk. work out in the process."

she smiled, "you read my mind." and with that the two of them left the shop and walked to the nearest shop they could find but dean couldn't stop thinking about the boy. the boy in her purse, with the spiderman onesie.