X marks the spot

Girl in the Flower Dress

"Hey" A voice broke him from the darkness as he woke up to see Ward kneeling to his level.

"Hey. What time is it?" He asked as he sat up.

"Early morning. How'd you sleep?" Ward asked.

"For once? I slept well. This thing –" He said as he held up the comic book, "- Helped distract me for a bit." Aaron said.

"Well, that's good. Like I told you, you need moments of relaxation." Ward said, Aaron nodded as he rubbed his eyes. When he lifted his head again, he saw Skye setting up a board game, she caught his gaze and gave him a smile and a wave. He returned it; he looked at Ward with raised eyebrows at the board game, "We all need breaks kid." Ward simply said before he walked away. Aaron picked up the comic book and remembered the page he was one before closing it.

"Hello Aaron." Jemma greeted when he walked into the lab.

"Hi Jemma." He replied. His words sounded more natural now.

"What brings you here?" Fitz asked as he looked away from his work.

"I'm just strolling around really. I'll go if you want- "He started before he was interrupted by an alarm going off. The three looking at each other before all leaving to go the planning room.

In the planning room, Aaron stood next to Skye, the pair both leaning on the table, "Chan Ho Yin. Just a struggling street performer until a few years ago. When Mr Yin began to exhibit... moderate pyrokinetic abilities." Coulson started to explain.

"So, what gave him powers?" Fitz asked. Fair question.

"Still under investigation but Chan did live near the decommissioned Won Ti nuclear plant when it caught fire. To our knowledge no one else in the area have shown similar traits." Coulson explained.

"So how did we find out about it?" Jemma followed up with.

"Informant told us that they saw him doing a light show lighting up a torch. With his pinkie." May said. Show off.

"Brought it to SHIELD's attention. We told him to keep his abilities under wraps. And he's been on the index ever since." Coulson informed. Both Skye and Aaron looking confused at that.

"The index?" Skye asked for the pair. "It's a list SHIELD keeps on objects and people with powers." Jemma explained.

"Wait what? How many are there? Are you saying there are more?" Skye found herself asking.

"Not many." May answered almost immediately after with.

"Enough for a list." Aaron said.

"It's a short list, meant to protect them." Coulson said to the pair.

"Although in rare cases SHIELD has had to take action." Ward followed up with.

"Action against objects or.... People?" Skye asked, but based on the faces she got after that, she understood.

"Well that's – drastic with a side of creepy. How are they monitored? Tapped phones? Satellite surveillance? Body probes in dark and unpleasant places?" Skye asked, Jemma shuddering at the last one. Aaron caught the quick look between Ward and Coulson, though.

"Body probes? No, that's ridiculous. SHIELD doesn't do that. We don't do that...Do we?" Fitz asked. You know what uncertainty and secrets get you? A web of lies and a dark, long tunnel of excuses to try and hide the truth away.

Coulson waited some time before responding with, "The methods vary." Making Skye frown and Aaron shudder slightly, not because of the answer, but because of the memories it brought with it.