X marks the spot

Making Friends And Influencing People

"I want you to get used to this, it's a sniper rifle." May said as she held up said weapon to show Skye. As she did, Hunter and Mack had wheeled in some gear; they paused to look at the rifle.

"Pardon me. Just one quick question. You went to SHIELD academy, right?" Hunter asked Skye as he leant against the cases he was pushing.

As Skye went to answer, May spoke up for her, "You didn't. If you did, you would've known better than to shoot us." She said, holding a bit of spite in her words.

"Apology number 470, I'm very sorry, agent May."

"Don't be sorry. Just wait." Was all she warned Hunter of.

"But, Aaron did it too. And, if I'm not mistaken, he didn't go to the academy either. Plus, he's used one of those." He said, pointing to the sniper.

"Aaron didn't, he had a more traumatic academy to go to. And, besides, May gave him an awkward conversation when coming back. So, they're working things through." Skye said in service of her friend who wasn't present with them. She made sure to gloss over certain things the two had spoke about, knowing that some were a secret. And she made sure that she was going to keep that secret to the grave if she had to.

"We just had a little wager. So, did you...." Mack trailed off, looking to Skye with a questioning look.

"Go to the academy? Yeah, no.." At her answer, the two sighed; Hunter with more flare as he put his head against his elbow that still rested on the case.

"Alright, well have fun with inventory," Mack said as he patted Hunter on the back, "And remember, Koenig likes them neat. Oh, and none of those Euro sevens with the lines through 'em. Drives him crazy." Mack said as he walked away, giving Hunter a mocking smile.

Hunter then pulled the pad off and leant against the things he was meant to be delivering as he continued to talk to Skye, "Coulson said you were a field agent with a badge and everything."

"More like a work-study thing. Badge I had for, like, a day before SHIELD..." She imitated an explosion.

"You know, Hartley, she loved her blade but hated guns. Idaho, if on job, someone ended up dead, he'd go to church and light a candle. Said it'd balance the karma. See, I knew them. What they'd do. Not do. So, us being work-mates and all..." He paused, his point getting across.

"You're wondering if I've ever taken anyone out." She deduced.

"Have you?" He prompted.

"Not that I know of." She answered truthfully as she then walked away from the conversation.

"Hey," May said as she hit her clip against the glass, gaining Hunter's attention, "Don't you have inventory?" She said in a kind-of teasing tone.

"I suppose now I do," Hunter said as he went back to the trolley and pushed it, "Good afternoon, ladies." He said as he left them, Skye giving him a mock salute as he passed them.

May then turned to Skye, "Practice. I want you to get used to the recoil." She said as she handed Skye the magazine for the rifle.

As Skye took it, Coulson then left a room, the door closing gaining their attention, "And, for the record, experience doesn't make it any easier to cross someone off." May said in warning to her mentee.

"So why does Aaron seem to do it in his sleep?" Skye asked, always wondering that about her friend and how easily he seemed to kill someone.

"He knew no other way. It's second nature to him; like breathing or eating is for us."

Skye knocked at her friend's door, waitning a moment before repeating it. May's words had unnerved her a little; but, with how May had taken off before she could test the weight of the weapon fully, she had to go to someone else for aid on that front.