X marks the spot

Eye Spy

When Aaron woke up, according to the clock in his room, it was five in the morning. He stretched before going down to the cargo bay.

Entering the place, he found a pistol on a crate and picked it up. Looking down the sights, he remembered the first time he had to use one. It wasn't pretty, or something he'd want to talk about. Ever.

"You okay firecracker?" A voice broke him from his thoughts, and he turned to see Ward walking towards him. He sighed as he let the gun fall to his side.

"Yeah. Just.... Old wounds. Which is a bit stupid. Considering I'm around seventeen. Yet, here I am talking as if I'm like sixty." He said as he looked from the floor to meet Wards eyes as he said the last part. Ward took the gun from him gently and cocked it and gave it back to him.

"It's not stupid. You suffered because of those bastards. You looked like you were somewhere else. You don't have to talk about it. But if you want to, I'll be in your corner." Ward said, making Aaron frown but then make a teasing smile play upon his face.

"Was that a nice thing you just said to me?" Aaron teased, making Ward look down with a smile before looking back up at him.

"Maybe." He said before he told Aaron to aim the gun forward. "You're holding it wrong. Who taught you that firecracker?" He asked as he put a hand on the gun and pushed it down.

"Someone who gave me that name." Aaron said.

"Damn it. Sorry, didn't mean to bring up bad memories." Ward apologized.

"Not your fault. You didn't know. Besides, that name was associated with some bad shit back then. But now? Well, maybe it can be associated with something good." Aaron said, Ward nodding before he completed moving his hands around into a new position.

"You know how to disassemble it?" Ward asked as Aaron adjusted himself to his new position. Aaron started deconstructing the gun, and to Ward's surprise, did it quickly. Aaron caught his look after he had finished.

"Instead being taught how to read, write and that shit. I was taught how to break a gun, and other things." He told him as he put it back together and passed it back to Ward.

"You don't need to train all the time. Take a break, get a drink. Just...relax for once. I get what this means to you. Okay? I do. But you need to unwind." Ward said, Aaron realized that he had a point, leaving and going up to the main lounge. Spotting the crate of beers from before. Grabbing his own, he opened it before taking a sip. He felt the alcohol wash down his throat, it was different to the alcohol he was used to. But, ultimately found himself liking it over all.

He spent a while like that, curled up on the sofa. When he finished his bottle he just sat there, listening to the plane, even going to the window to see the world go by. Soon, he fell asleep there.

He was woken up sometime later by Coulson, who tapped his shoulder. "Have you seen Skye?" He asked Aaron, who shook his head as he adjusted to the world.

"No sir. Sorry, must've fell asleep." He said as he got up and put his face in his hands and slipped them down his face.

"It's alright. Besides, I was going to look for you after. Need you for something." Coulson told him.

Together, they found Skye in a van. Feels like home to her,  Aaron thought to himself. Coulson gaining the new nickname of AC, thanks to Skye. Coulson asked Skye several questions, almost all being answered with a no.

Aaron, Coulson, May and Skye were all in Sweden. Walking down a hall when Coulson started explaining what they were doing there. "Yesterday, 55 men, all military, were hired by one of the largest gem brokers in the world. They dressed the men in identical outfits, gave each one a randomly assigned briefcase, and sent them along 25 different routes here in Stockholm." Coulson said as they walked.