Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bobbi-centric

Bobbi rounded the corner, her gun raised at eye level. Easily, she shot one man with an ICER. Another appeared after him, but Bobbi took him out as well. “Third floor clear. I’m heading back to the computer room.”

“May, take your men and meet her there. I want Alpha and Charlie units to cover the west entrance. Echo, take the north. Delta, finish evac on the second floor. Those people should be out of there already.”

Bobbi acknowledged the order in her comm and headed back down the hallway, stepping over the bodies of unconscious security guards and faux military personnel. She sprinted down the staircase to level two and to the computer room. There were five unconscious guards in here, Bobbi having taken out three of them herself. When she pulled the desk chair out to sit down, a movement in the corner of the room caught her eye. She whipped out her ICER and fired off a round. She watched a guard plop to the ground. There was a stinging in her arm, and Bobbi’s hand went to massage it. She hissed when she touched something tender and wet.

“Delta leader, I’ve got shots fired on the second floor!” a voice rang in Bobbi’s ear. She paid them no mind as she stuck a flash drive into the enemy computer and began offloading hundreds of files. “Permission to investigate?”

“Negative, Delta leader. Keep focused on evac,” commanded Coulson. “Agent Morse, status.”

“Download complete.”

“Any eye on the shots fired?”

“Enemy down, sir,” Bobbi managed. She ejected the flash drive and crashed the systems exactly the way Daisy had shown her hours before. Stuffing the flash drive into her boot, she struggled to apply more pressure on her wound. “Headed to the west exit.” The blonde stood and immediately collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. Only a moment later, May entered with two agents.

“Bobbi!”

May lowered her weapon the moment she saw Bobbi on the ground. In an instant, she was on her knees by her side. “I need a medic to the second floor computer room!” she yelled into her comm. “I’ve got an agent down.” She removed her jacket and pressed it to Bobbi’s shoulder. “Bobbi? You with me? Open your eyes, sweetheart. Come on, open your eyes.”

The blonde groaned and slowly opened her eyes. “M’fine,” she grunted. “Just a…flesh wound.”

“Not funny.” The joke made May smile slightly despite the situation. A wave of calm washed over Bobbi, and she relished in May's slight increase in happiness. The closer she was, the more Bobbi could smell, and she was practically ingesting May's scent just to give her something to focus on. Bobbi grunted as May shifted her slightly, jarring her back into the harsh reality of the bullet hole in her arm. When her Alpha's fingers came in contact with her open flesh, a sharp gasp left Bobbi’s mouth, and her eyes shot open. Sure enough, the bullet had gone straight through.

“Jesus fuck,” replied Bobbi.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry.” Then, into her comm, “Get me the damn medic!” She brushed the hair out of Bobbi’s face, cupping her cheek so delicately. “You’re gonna be alright, Bobbi. You’re gonna be okay.”

Once they made it to the Quinjet, Bobbi slipped into unconsciousness. Back at the base, May watched the medics wheel an incoherent Bobbi off to the medical ward. As soon as she was gone, May knew she had to find and tell her other girls what had happened. They had already thrown a fit at having to stay on base for the mission. Well, Daisy had thrown a fit. Jemma had clung like static to May and Bobbi until they had to leave. That was earlier this afternoon. The two had only been on mission for about an hour not including flight time.

Figuring it would be easier to tell Daisy, May headed to the lab to tell Jemma first. She found the woman working with Mack and Fitz on something related to the ICER. “The ICER doesn’t need any more improvements,” Fitz argued hotly.

“I agree that it doesn’t need them mechanically, but with what we’ve found out about Inhumans via Daisy, I think it’d be helpful to increase the potency of the dendrotoxin. However, the bullets would have to be modified to contain the new formula properly,” said Jemma with an obvious twinge of frustration in her voice.

May waited in the doorway to see how this situation would result while she decided whether or not it would be worth it to tell Jemma about Bobbi just yet. She needed this little argument to end well before she even could consider adding more to Jemma's plate.

“How much?” asked Fitz, crossing his arms. “Cause you know, it wouldn’t just be modifying the bullet. I’ll have to alter the other components to match.”

Looking at the specs on the tablet Jemma had handed him, Mack said, “Doesn’t look like much. Come on, turbo. We could probably be done with this by the end of the day.”

Fitz nodded, scratching at the back of his head. He smiled at Jemma. “Yeah, okay. Well, um, send me your plans once you’re finished, and we’ll whip something up. Whatever you need.”

“Yes, thank you, Fitz!” Jemma said happily, and May stepped in, not at all eager to have this conversation. She smiled softly at her scientist, and Jemma’s shoulders tensed. “Uh-oh. Excuse me.” May nodded to the boys and exited into the hallway with Jemma. Jemma had grasped her hand lightly, and May wasn’t going to deny her the contact. With her back against the wall, May cleared her throat and looked into the woman’s expectant young eyes. “You’re back...Is Bobbi in debrief?”

“No, Jemma. Bobbi’s in the med-bay.” May watched her face fall, her hands coming up to fiddle with her ears. “She was shot in the shoulder, one bullet, clean through.”

Graciously, Jemma took it all on stride. She asked if she could go see her. May allowed her to, of course, assuring she and Daisy would join as soon as she told Daisy the news. After a warm kiss and an “I’m glad you’re back,” Jemma went straight to the Zephyr. The poise with which her Omega handled the news was shocking to say the least. May was thrilled she had come so far with her coping skills. Hopefully, the scientist wouldn’t break later. Right now, May had to find her other girl.

She checked for Daisy in her bunk, the gym, the lounge, and even the kitchen. Finally, she found her walking down a hallway with Hunter, not far from the man’s bunk. Daisy attacked May in a warm hug as soon as she saw her. Hunter explained in hushed tones a couple feet away that he had only just convinced Daisy to eat something, and they were on their way to the kitchen. May politely took over, thanking Hunter for looking after her girl. He assured her it was no problem and returned to his own bunk. Once he shut the door, May tugged Daisy aside.

“Hey, Daisy. Bobbi is in the med-bay right now,” she said.

Daisy nodded. “Yeah, Jemma will probably be there too. Ever since Dr. Kasenge quit, Bobbi’s been on-call. I should say hi.”

“Daisy…Bobbi’s not helping out. She was shot in the—“

“Shot?!” May wasn’t prepared when Daisy broke free of the light grasp she had on her wrists, the expansion of her pupils, the tremor in her lip, and her voice when she spoke next. “She got shot? I have to see her. Where is she? Is she okay? Is—Where did she get shot? We need to go make sure she’s okay.”

“Hey, Daisy. Right now, baby girl, you need to breathe and listen, okay?” May waited to speak until Daisy was breathing a bit more deeply, although visibly she didn’t appear any more calm. “Bobbi’s okay. Yes, she got shot, clean through the shoulder. She’s being treated in the med-bay. She’s okay.”

“But can we go see her?” asked Daisy in the half-beat of silence.

May nodded firmly. “Absolutely. Jemma’s already there. They’re both expecting us, I'm sure.”

They started walking, but Daisy stopped not too far down the hallway. She turned and suddenly her hands were gripping the sleeves of May’s jacket. “Wait. Wait. May, are you okay? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

May smiled. She took Daisy’s left hand in her right. “I am okay--tired, but okay.” Daisy nodded slightly and muttered something. May didn’t ask anything since Daisy lifted her head and smiled slightly. Instead, the smaller agent reach forward and pecked Daisy on the nose. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

When Daisy and May made it to the med-bay, Bobbi and Jemma lit up with joy. The brunette was perched on a stool near Bobbi’s head, and the poor injured woman was slightly upright. There was a cannula in her nose, and Daisy frowned. Thankfully, Bobbi beckoned her over, so Daisy switched her hand from May’s to Bobbi’s.

“Bobbi?”

“The nurse was afraid the injury was gonna put my lungs into shock. Jemma says she was being stupid, but Jemma’s not in charge right now. I do appreciate the painkiller she got for me though.” Jemma rolled her eyes with a soft smile that Bobbi passed on to Daisy. “Tis but a flesh wound, my love.”

This time, May rolled her eyes, but she didn’t say anything as Daisy giggled. “You’re a fucking dork,” she teased. “Not fair to scare me like that.”

Bobbi’s smile faltered. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Daisy shook her head. “No, no. It’s not your fault. Just—Don’t do it again, okay? It’s about time someone else got hurt, don’t you think?”

“Hmm…I shot the other guy. That count?”

May snorted. Jemma laughed, and Daisy shook her head with a fond smile. “No, cause you should have let me shoot him.”

Chapter Text

Maria x Daisy

May had been arguing with Coulson for the better part of an hour. Really, the whole thing started a day ago when May, Maria, and Daisy received the mission assignment. May didn't approve of the risk. Daisy wasn't entirely sure why. Sure, it was in an Alpha's nature to be protective of her pack, especially since she was going to have an Omega along for the ride. Daisy just didn't understand why this mission in particular had May so upset. It was an overnight, unintentionally so, and the women had been awake for almost 48 hours. Daisy lost track of exactly how long. No one had been injured, miraculously, and the mission was a success. At least, Daisy thought it was.

Coulson didn't seem to agree. When Daisy floated back into the present, the argument going on in front of her in Coulson's office had escalated. Coulson was shouting. May was pointing fingers and encroaching into his personal space. The pheremones rolling off of her would have been enough to make any wolf back off. Daisy could hardly stand upright without squirming, and she was only on the sidelines.

Too bad DC isn't a wolf , she thought.

Although, she mused that he would probably be an Alpha. That would have made things worse--one Alpha challenging another. Daisy had seen that enough. Images of imbalanced, volatile foster homes flashed through her mind like an accelerated movie reel, and Daisy left the room in all but body.

Maria noticed that Daisy was quiet. The two were standing near the door, where Coulson had ordered them to stop right when they walked in. Maria hated when he acted like her boss, Director Coulson, and not like Phil, her buddy from the academy days. She may have been working on his base, under his authority, but they both knew who was the real leader between the two of them. As leader, Maria would have dismissed Daisy and May after a quick debrief. Nothing went wrong with the mission.

He's out of line , Maria told herself, but she didn't speak up. It wasn't her place, and it wasn't her focus anyway.

At this point, Maria didn't care to know what Phil was on about, because Daisy had gone quiet and she was the new priority. Daisy was never quiet. Maria loved the Omega with everything inside of her, but that girl was never quiet. There was always a comment on the tip of her tongue, sarcastic, naïve, anything. If there wasn’t, it was because she was scrolling through her phone or hacking away at her laptop. Right now, Daisy's gaze was glossy, and sweat was dripping down her forehead. She had dirt on her cheek from the mission, and Maria wondered if she even knew. The spaced-out Inhuman seemed focused on staring straight ahead.

"Are you kidding me? What did I say, Melinda? I mean, just look at this!"

Maria heard Coulson throw some files on the table. Daisy jumped.

It didn't take another second for Maria to grasp Daisy's hand and tug her out of the office. They made it to the bottom of the stairs just outside, and Daisy had not protested in the silence. She was too pliable when she was scared. That had always been Maria's greatest fear for Daisy.

Coulson called out to Maria, but May snapped back at him in a lower tone. The shouting finally stopped, and Maria was grateful beyond measure.

The Beta hugged Daisy’s waist, walking side by side to the lounge. Finding it empty, Maria sat on a couch rather heavily, and Daisy copied her movements. She wrapped the girl in her arms, but she was like TV-static.

“You’re safe here,” Maria whispered close to the brunette’s ear. Daisy didn't respond, so Maria tried for a more direct approach. Reaching out through the mental link she shared with her mate, she told Daisy in that same gentle voice, "I got you."

Tears in her eyes, Daisy smiled and shook her head. She laughed, because she wasn't okay. Her lips were quivering as Maria brought her hand up to her face.

"Sorry. Too many pictures of…" The words faded from Daisy’s mouth and Maria stroked her cheek, drawing an inward sigh from the girl.

"It's okay."

They looked at each other for a few moments until Daisy took Maria’s free hand and intertwined their fingers. The Beta lifted her hand and kissed it. Daisy giggled and shook her head but soon surrendered to the moment and rested her head against Maria’s chest.

"Thanks, Ria.”

Maria’s heart soared at the praise, and she released a heavy breath she didn’t know she had been holding.

“Anytime, my love.”

Chapter Text

Daisy-centric

No one believed Daisy when she told them that Saturday morning cartoons were still a thing. Fortunately, Daisy had the ability to prove them wrong rather quickly. Once Mack had shown her how to switch to cable television from the usual S.H.I.E.L.D. channels, Daisy had become instantly drawn to the bright moving pictures and over-used sound effects.

It was 6:00 AM on a Saturday morning. Daisy plopped onto the floor, nearly spilling the entire contents of her bowl of cereal. Slightly leaned back against the couch, she shoved a spoonful of food into her mouth, which resulted in a bit of milk splashing onto her chin. Her cheeks full, she noticed someone in the corner of her eye.

“Daisy,” came the chiding voice of Natasha. “What are you eating?”

“Lucky Charms” or something similar to it. Natasha couldn’t make out exactly what Daisy said through the mouthful of cereal. What she did discern was that one of her girls was watching Looney Tunes and another was half-supervising from the kitchen while she prepared her own breakfast and a pot of coffee. That was when Natasha spotted an empty milk carton on the counter.

“I’m going to take a wild guess and say that is not your first bowl,” she suggested to the Omega. She sat on the couch above Daisy, noticing how quickly the food was getting eaten. “How did we even get this stuff?”

“Hunter went on a grocery run because he didn’t like the beer we had. I told him I’d watch soccer with him if he snuck some good cereal.” Daisy swallowed thickly and half-turned to Natasha. “You know, I hate to break it to you, but oatmeal is disgusting.” Natasha raised a brow, and Daisy frowned, returning to the TV. “Lucky Charms? I could eat that all day! I am currently on my third bowl.”

Genuinely Natasha was shocked. They’d been having pretty minor successes compared to the major steps backwards Daisy was taking with her eating disorder. Three bowls of cereal was unprecedented to say the least. She wanted to be happy, but she felt so surprised and uncertain.

“After this one, I’m cutting you off,” Natasha told her. “If you’re still hungry, you can eat something else, okay?” Daisy nodded, and Natasha kissed her brow. “Good girl. Good morning, by the way.”

“Morning, Alpha,” Daisy replied with a smile Natasha wasn’t even sure Daisy knew she had. It was the kind that melted hearts and made them whole all at once. “Where’s Jems?”

“Showers. Right where I left her probably.” Natasha glided into the kitchen, squeezing Bobbi’s arm gently as she passed by. “Good morning, gorgeous.” She pecked the blonde on the lips and then went to the fridge. Grinning widely, Bobbi returned the good morning and kept stuffing fruits and veggies into a blender. “How did you sleep?”

Bobbi responded by running the blender, her smile fading from her face. Once it stopped, Natasha hugged her from behind, resting her cheek gently in the space between Bobbi’s shoulder blades. “I had that dream about Ward again. Stupid psychosomatic pain to go with it.” She cleared her throat and poured her breakfast into a cup. “Must have been about 5:00. Daisy was already up. We thought we might hang out down here till you and Jemma woke up. I didn’t notice May leave...”

“She’ll be back this afternoon,” Natasha assured her stressed mate. “Got called to go in with the STRIKE team on a training mission.” Natasha let go of the woman and glanced over at Daisy. “I want you to be honest with me. When was the last time you stopped masking as a Beta?”

Bobbi tsked and cocked her head to one side. Part of her was glad Natasha remembered her—that she noticed. With the amount of attention Jemma and Daisy required, how often she actually got to spend time with any of them, it was easy for Bobbi to get lost in the mix. She knew Natasha loved and cared for her, never doubted that for a second. She also knew the redhead trusted her a bit more than the other two. Bobbi felt a bit of shame in thinking that trust may have been misplaced.

The blonde pretended to think for a moment and then turned to face her girlfriend. “Two days ago. Right before the mission in Juno. You know how Fitz gets real finnicky around Jemma because she gets nervous about us? I had to analyze some samples with him after the mission, and I—It just. I don’t know.” She bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Alpha. It won’t happen again.”

Natasha tilted her chin up with only her index finger. “Don’t be sorry, beautiful. I just want you to be taken care of, okay? You don't ever have to pretend to be someone you're not.” She received a small nod. “Listen, I’m about to kick Daisy off the TV. Why don’t you sit down, have your breakfast, and let yourself relax a little, huh?”

The woman couldn’t help but smile in response, causing Natasha’s heart to warm exponentially. “Okay. Um, Coulson needed me to sign something, but I’ll be back.” She started to leave but stopped herself halfway out the door. “Thanks, Alpha.”

“You’re welcome, gorgeous.”

When Natasha firmly suggested to Daisy that she turn off the TV, the girl nearly had a conniption. Instead, she groaned rather loudly, turned the TV off, and set her bowl in the kitchen sink with a loud clink. “I’m gonna go find Mack.” Reluctantly, Natasha moved out of her way. Before Daisy left, she sighed and went back to Natasha. "That was kind of harsh. I'm sorry, Alpha."

Natasha shook her head with a fond smile. "You test me, Daisy." Then she pecked Daisy on the forehead and ruffled her hair. "Go have fun with the big guy. Try to get some work done today too, okay?"

Daisy tried. She really did. Somehow, she was floating between jobs, between rooms, between people. Everything rushed by her and dragged on at the same time. She did some hacking, some filing, some training. About an hour later, she was in Coulson’s office, giving him an update on the Inhuman team.

“Now that Joey’s finally cleared, we can put him on the—“ A sudden sharp pain in her stomach made her pause. The woman flinched, and Coulson noticed.

“Daisy? What is it?”

“Noth—“ Daisy got cut off by another stabbing pain. This time she clutched at her stomach with her hand. “I’m gonna get back to you, AC. That cool?”

He nodded, still clearly disturbed. “Yeah. Are you okay?”

“I will be. Excuse me.”

Daisy left the room rather quickly, but the movement had her nearly doubled over in pain. Finally, she made it to the nearest bathroom. Checking that no one was there, Daisy threw open a stall door, dropped to her knees, and threw up in the toilet. When she was about finished, she pulled out her phone and shot off a text to Natasha.

Daisy: bathroom 2E. code 1.

Natasha: omw

Daisy waited with her back resting against the stall door. She hadn’t flushed the toilet, and the smell of her own vomit was starting to sicken her. The last time she threw up had been...under different circumstances. Since then, May and Natasha had come up with a few rules. Bobbi and Jemma, scientists extraordinaire, had firmly supported said rules. Although, up until now, they had been more scientific in their handling of the issue. Daisy understood. She really did, and she didn’t desire to change them. She just accepted that they weren’t going to be her shoulders to lean on for that issue.

Daisy thought she would dread the moment she had to make this text. She thought she would never bring herself to do it, but right now, she just wanted to be held by someone who really loved her and drowned in her Alpha’s calming scent.

A bit later, she vaguely registered the sound of the door slamming open. “Daisy?” It was Natasha’s voice.

“In here,” the girl croaked.

Several fast paces later, the door opened, and Natasha was right there with her. “Oh, Daisy, solnishko. What happened?”

Daisy shut her eyes once she saw Natasha reach for the handle on the toilet. “I know what it looks like, but it was not on purpose.” She clutched at her stomach as another wave of pain hit her. “I don’t think it’s over either. Jesus.”

Another bout did hit. Thankfully, Natasha was there to help. She did everything a good girlfriend should. She held back Daisy’s hair, rubbing gentle circles into her back, talked her through the pain, and even carried Daisy to their bunk when it was all over. She set the girl gently on the closest bed, frowning when the girl tried to pull her down with her.

“I’m just gonna get you something to help, Daisy. Okay? I’m gonna be right in the bathroom.” After a brief moment, she returned with a thermometer and a damp washcloth. She held the thermometer in front of Daisy’s forehead and tsked when it beeped and turned bright red.

“What’s that mean?” asked Daisy. Natasha set the washcloth on her forehead. “Bullseye?”

“And then some.” The number on the thermometer was 101.7 degrees. Natasha adjusted the cloth on Daisy’s head and sat down next to her on the edge of the bed.

Daisy frowned. “I didn’t do it,” she insisted. “I mean, I did it cause it happened, but it wasn’t on purpose. It was not on purpose, I swear.”

“I believe you, malishka,” muttered Natasha. She started stroking Daisy’s cheek with the back of her finger. Her skin was so terribly warm, but it already felt like it was cooling down. “I think it was all that cereal you ate.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I screwed up. I said I wouldn’t, but I—I’m sorry, Alpha.”

Natasha shook her head. “Stop that. You have nothing to be sorry for. We’re just gonna have to keep a closer eye on what’s going into your body.”

Daisy forced a smile with closed eyes. “Oh great. The whole pack gets to baby-monitor me.”

Natasha hummed and tapped her cheek lightly. “That’s what happens sometimes when you’re the littlest pup.” A buzz ran through the mattress, and Natasha checked her cell phone. With a flash of a smile which Daisy didn’t notice, she set it back down. “I’m sorry you’re sick, malishka. I’m gonna keep you here in bed for a while—let you rest up.”

Daisy turned onto her side and the washcloth fell off her forehead. She didn’t care though as she readjusted to curl into Natasha’s side. “Comfy,” Daisy muttered.

Only a couple quiet minutes later and Natasha had resigned herself to being Daisy’s body pillow. That was when the door to their room inched open. Daisy huffed but didn’t move at first. Then there was the sound of the door shutting and of Daisy sniffing. Natasha chuckled to herself when the brunette’s eyes widened, and she craned her neck to see the figure in the doorway. Her amusement morphed into adoration when Daisy crawled into a sitting position, partially leaning against Natasha, her mouth pulled into a tired grin.

“Alpha!” she said with weak enthusiasm. “Are you okay? How was the mission? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

May toed off her shoes and joined the two on the bed, taking Daisy’s other side. “I’m fine. How are you, baby girl?” Her scent poured over Daisy like a waterfall, and the woman wished she could literally bathe in it. May squished Daisy between herself and Natasha, wrapping their legs together.

“Not a baby,” Daisy shot back. “Just whiny.”

Both Alphas chuckled. “Well, our little whiny Omega, what say we waste the rest of the day in here with you?” offered Natasha.

“Movie night?” asked May.

Of course, Bobbi and Jemma joined as soon as they finished work for the day. Jemma picked the movie as she knew Daisy’s movie taste best. After picking 101 Dalmatians, they settled in with enough snacks to substitute for a dinner for one night. Daisy was pumped full of fluids, resulting in two bathroom breaks during the first movie. When her fever finally subsided, she was conscious enough to pick a movie for herself, deciding on Den Brother, much to everyone’s surprise. According to Daisy, one of the characters reminded her of Maria. Not one to deny their Omega her comfort characters, her pack snuggled together, eventually falling asleep to the trashy DCOM.

Chapter Text

Bobbi-centric

Growing up, Bobbi tripped on just about everything. See, the unspoken curse of being even slightly tall was that typically you wouldn’t have control of your limbs from age 10-17 or even early twenties for some unlucky folks. Thankfully, Bobbi wasn’t extraordinarily unlucky since she stopped growing when she was about 16. No, the unfortunate part was how hard it was for her to gain control over her body. It had taken a strong-willed SO and years of work to hone her body into the focused, fighting machine it was today. Nobody would know that looking at her. By the time she came out of the Academy and eventually became Mockingbird, there wasn’t a trace of clumsy long-legged Bobbi to be found.

Then her pack came along and decided to undo all that hard work. At first, it was May, Natasha, and Maria. Then came the addition of Jemma, and much later, Daisy joined the group. Bobbi felt comfortable around them, relaxed even. The bad thing about being relaxed? She got clumsy.

Take October for example. The pack was getting ready to decorate their house for Halloween, Bobbi’s sixth favorite holiday. (The first five were all her mates’ birthdays, which she persistently argued should count as holidays.) Suffice to say, she was thrilled. Daisy, Bobbi, and Maria went shopping for decorations. Natasha insisted they had enough decor but still smiled when she sent them off with her credit card. Thanks to Maria’s firm hand, they only left the craft store about $100 lighter than they had entered, a record low for Bobbi when Halloween shopping.

The next day, the blonde had woken up before the others and gotten started decorating right away after a cup of coffee. May chided her for her reckless caffeine intake but wordlessly got out the ladder to help Bobbi hang spider webs from the second-floor banister. Gradually as the others woke up, they joined in on the fun. Cheesy songs like “Monster Mash” and “Ghostbusters” were playing softly through the speakers. Maria was teaching Jemma a pumpkin pancake recipe in the kitchen. Natasha was sorting through the bins of decorations and placing them in the appropriate rooms. May was helping Bobbi whilst floating between the others. Daisy was…Wait. Where was Daisy?

“Millie?” Natasha’s voice rang through the hallway. “I’m going to wake up sleeping beauty for breakfast.”

May handed Bobbi a spider made out of felt and smiled. “Okay, Maleficent .”

Natasha glided through the living room, poking May in the side as she walked past. “You’re the evil one.” Bobbi smiled, and Natasha must have noticed. She reached and yanked Bobbi down from her stepstool and into her arms. “What are you smiling about, baby?”

Bobbi giggled and kissed her Alpha on the cheek. “Halloween makes everybody happy,” she told Natasha, “as it should. It’s awesome.”

The redhead chuckled, pecking Bobbi all over her face. “I’m gonna go wake up Daisy, and we’ll see if she enjoys it as much.” She set down Bobbi, and the woman playfully pouted. Natasha shook her head fondly, walking out of the room. About five minutes later, she returned with a sleepy Daisy who clung to her arm. The brunette’s eyes widened as she took in everything. There were spider webs, pumpkins, skeletons, and so much more all over. Then the rich smell of pumpkin flooded her nostrils.

“Woah,” she mumbled. Pure astonishment was in her eyes as she walked through the living room.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Natasha didn’t let her stop, knowing she would never make it to breakfast if she did. “Maria and Jemma made breakfast.”

May pat Bobbi’s back and gestured to the rest of the pack who was now in the kitchen and dining area. “Let’s go join them before Tasha eats all the pancakes.”

Bobbi laughed and set down a hollow plastic skull that had been in her hand. In her hurry to get to the kitchen, she didn’t notice the box sticking partially into the doorway.

The tall woman banged into the box, falling to the floor with a gasp.

May was by her side immediately, assessing the situation with more severity than it deserved. Noting the grimace on Bobbi’s, she turned her focus to the woman’s problematic knee.

“Does your knee hurt?” asked May.

Bobbi knew better than to lie to her Alpha, so she told her yes. When May scooped her up and carried her to her seat at the dining table, Bobbi wished she had lied just this once. It was a dull ache really, just the reminder of what Bobbi had been through.  “Alpha,” whined Bobbi. She noticed now that the others were all staring at her from their places. “I’m okay,” she assured everyone.

“Just clumsy?” asked Daisy. A smart look from Natasha made her retreat into her seat a little. Then she looked at Bobbi with wide, concerned eyes. “I didn’t mean anything rude. I was just guessing how it happened. And last night, Maria was telling me stories about how you used to be all lanky and out of control kind of like how I am, except I don’t have an excuse cause I’m not tall. I’m just out of control. But I’m actually really sorry you’re hurt. Are you okay?”

Bobbi smiled with a hesitant nod. “Yeah? I got lost there. I’m okay though.”

Maria couldn’t help but laugh at the exchange. In the minute where Daisy had rambled on, she snuck away to the fridge and grabbed one of the many ice packs in the freezer. Walking over to Bobbi and May, she handed the pack to May first, knowing how the Alpha wanted to be the one to help Bobbi. May thanked her and gave Bobbi the cold compress. Grabbing an extra chair, she arranged it so Bobbi could prop her leg up. Then she placed the ice pack on the blonde’s knee.

“Twenty on,” May reminded her gently. Then she placed a kiss to Bobbi’s temple and took her seat at one of the heads of the table, opposite Natasha and between Jemma and Bobbi.

Now that everyone was actually sitting, they were able to begin the delicious meal. Bobbi’s pain instantly subsided when she tasted the pancakes. “Oh my god, Ria, they get better every year, but how ? And Jemma! You genius! ”

A thousand praises gushed forth, and Jemma was a blushing mess. Maria said thanks the first time and progressively grew more sarcastic until eventually she stopped responding.

Bobbi had finished a pancake when Daisy finally managed to take a bite of her own. The orange-ish tint had her uneasy, but when the food touched her tongue, Daisy seemed to have an out of body experience. That expression carried on throughout her whole first pancake, each bite taken painstakingly slowly with wide-open eyes.

“Yummy,” she finally said out loud. She wasn’t smiling, still too stunned to react properly. She gave Jemma an appreciative nod, then Maria. “Thank you.”

“Thank Bobbi. It’s her family’s recipe,” Maria revealed. “The clutz is good for something.” Natasha swatted Maria on the arm. Bobbi flipped off the Beta with a chuckle, earning a light swat on the arm from May. Bobbi hardly even cared. She wasn’t mad at Maria. How could she be? It was Halloween for fuck’s sake.

Chapter Text

Jemma-centric

May’s mornings usually started when one of her girls woke early. Today was Jemma’s turn. Whimpering, she crawled behind May, clutching onto the back of her shirt.

“Alpha?”

“I’m here. You’re safe.” After a moment, Jemma settled in, but she didn’t loosen her grip on May. “Maveth?” asked the older woman.

Jemma shook her head. “The ocean…”

May cursed herself for her momentary forgetfulness. While being her most delicate mate, Jemma had been through so much. In only her first year with the team, she had contracted a lethal virus, launched herself out of a plane, nearly drowned at the bottom of the ocean, hidden undercover with the enemy, and generally been in the field far more than she should have. May let Jemma snuggle up to her, memories flying through her head at lightning speed. “I’m sorry, Jemma. Try to go back to sleep if you can.”

Jemma tried, but she couldn’t shove the images out of her head. May’s scent was enough to calm her down so that she could close her eyes without panicking, but when 4:00 AM rolled around, Jemma crawled out of bed and decided to face the day. After a quick breakfast, she headed down to the lab to get to work.

May came in not too long after, dressed in yoga pants and a tank top, two water bottles in hand. She noticed her Omega sitting on a stool and reading over a binder filled with handwritten notes and equations. Greeted with a sad smile and toned arms wrapping around her torso, Jemma hummed and relaxed into May’s touch. “I’m gonna go workout,” May mused, her fingers clasping on top of Jemma’s bellybutton. “I’ll be back at noon to check on you. We can eat lunch together, you and me.”

Jemma smiled and allowed her gaze to leave the page in front of her in favor of the hands resting on her stomach. For a brief moment, she turned her head, May’s breath ghosting comfort across her neck. “Sounds lovely.” A shudder ran down her spine, and Jemma turned directly back to her work. “See you then.”

May let go slowly, and Jemma missed her scent the moment she stepped away. She didn’t mention anything. Then May left the room after a mutual goodbye. A few minutes later, she turned around and stared at the empty doorway. As she looked back, she noticed a water bottle on her desk. May had left one for her.

Fitz arrived around 7:00 AM. Jemma’s back was turned, but she could smell Mack on him. She shook her head and smiled to herself.

“Hey, Jemma,” he greeted, “have you gotten through with the hexane test on the samples I sent you yesterday?”

“No, I—“ Jemma faced him, and her breath hitched. Fitz’ hair was longer, soaking wet, and extra curly. His eyes were bloodshot, irritated, and his scruffy beard was gone. Jemma inhaled deeply. He smelled like salt with only a trace of Mack.

“Taking that as a no?”

Jemma shook her head, and Fitz came into focus once more. This time, his hair was dry, and his eyes were clear. The scent of seawater was gone, and Jemma breathed a sigh of relief.

“The, um, the hexane test, right. No, no, it’s finished. I can give you my notes or write up a proper report if you’d like?” she asked.

Fitz nodded. “Oh excellent, yeah, I’ll just take your notes, if you have ‘em?”

Jemma handed over one of her many notebooks, which was open to the latest page. Fitz thanked her and set to work. For a while, Jemma tried not to pay him any mind. Every so often, saltwater hit her nose, and she was a bit short of breath. There was no warning when it would come, and no signal when it was about to leave. Given the constant warbling of the scents around her and the closeness with which she had to work with Fitz, Jemma felt an extreme sense of relief when Mack came to take Fitz for their lunch break.

The great disappointment came when the saltwater lingered. Jemma shook her head, attributing it to a touch of dehydration. Thankfully, May arrived only ten minutes after Fitz left. Eager to get out of the lab, Jemma immediately said hello. She wanted to at least. Then she saw that May’s hair was wet.

“Had to shower. I’m a little later than I had hoped.”

Jemma nodded along, but her eyes held a familiar sting. “It’s okay,” she muttered. “That’s okay.”

May frowned and approached Jemma. “What’s wrong?” She was a couple feet away when Jemma stepped back. The Omega bumped into the table behind her, causing a loud clatter. May froze. “Jemma?”

Her voice was drowned out by a rushing in Jemma’s ears. The girl flinched at the volume, and another look at May confused her further.

“I’m sorry,” Jemma mumbled. “I’m sorry. Please go. I can’t do this. I—Please leave.”

May did not leave. She stayed where she was and took in her surroundings. The lab was empty apart from Alpha and Omega. Very slowly, May took a step closer and emitted as calm of a scent as she could. Jemma started shaking, and the short hairs on her arms stood on end. “Jemma. I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re not in danger. You are in the lab, safe, with me. I’m here. I need you to come to me, please.” Jemma’s lip began to quiver as May’s voice filtered through her ears. “Come here, Jemma.”

Jemma launched into May’s arms, a choked sob escaping her throat. Gently, May lowered them both to the ground, pulling Jemma into her lap. “It’s okay, Jemma. I’ve got you.”

Jemma let the clear, deep voice wash over her, bathing in her Alpha’s scent. Gradually, the seawater was replaced with the familiarity of May. Jemma touched May’s hair and felt that it was only a bit damp, not completely soaked. Her clothes weren’t wet, nor were her eyes bloodshot.

Finally, Jemma was able to breathe regularly. Her hands rested on either side of May’s face. “I’m not okay,” Jemma admitted with a soft laugh. She rolled her eyes at herself and stroked May’s cheek. The woman clasped Jemma’s hand in her own but didn’t move her. “I’ve been smelling saltwater all day. Fitz looked—“ She hiccuped. “He looked just like he did after Fury grabbed us out of the ocean and took us on the helicopter.”

May breathed deeply, her eyes staying fixed on Jemma’s. “He’s okay, Jemma,” she said quietly. “He wasn’t for a while, but he’s gotten so much better . He’s okay.”

Jemma nodded. “But I’m not.”

“That’s okay.” Jemma let go of May’s face, but the older woman didn’t let go of their clasped hands. “I’m not going to let go of you. You’re here, with me, safe. You’re mine, and I am going to do everything to make you feel okay.”

“I lost my grip on reality.”

“For a little bit there, I think you did, yeah. But you’re not gonna hit the bottom. I’ve got you.”

There was always one more rope May could throw that she could grab onto. She was always there when Jemma choked. No matter what, she could love Jemma through every struggle, even if Jemma was too scared or distracted to do so herself—to take a moment to breathe. Every single time the waves were too high, May took power from the moon itself and would pull back the waves—long enough for Jemma to catch her breath, long enough for whatever she needed.

“Alpha?” Jemma asked.

“Yes, little love?”

“I’m not okay, but I trust you.”

May smiled, leaning her forehead against Jemma’s with unparalleled gentleness. “Thank you for trusting me.” She let her eyes close for a few breaths before returning to the moment at hand. “I think we should get up and get some food into you, okay? And we can figure out where to go from there. How does that sound?”

“Sounds lovely.”

Lunch was calming. Jemma and May walked in as Fitz and Mack left, and Jemma was grateful that Fitz looked like his current self. May sat Jemma down at the table and returned about five minutes later with two plates balanced on one arm, and the other hidden behind her back. “Do you think you could hydrate a little?” she asked.

Jemma nodded. She could be okay with May. She could be okay. She could drink water.

May set the plates down and moved her other arm to reveal a fresh bottle of water.

It was good. It was okay. Jemma was okay.

“I think it’s a good idea if someone sticks around with you the rest of the day in the lab,” May suggested. “Or you take the rest of the day off and hang with someone else. What do you think?”

“I’d prefer to stay in the lab,” the scientist responded immediately. “Do you think…Do you think Daisy would be willing to be with me?”

She was willing. Daisy didn’t know why Jemma asked her to join her in the lab, but she didn’t ask. She just set up her laptop at Jemma’s desk and plugged in one headphone, leaving the other ear open for her mate.

Jemma focused. Jemma was able to focus . When she wasn’t busy being proud of herself for focusing, she split her time between checking in Daisy and doing her own work. It was interesting. It was familiar.

Skye was Simmons’ friend before everything went to shit—before Ward dumped FitzSimmons in the ocean. Everything was different now. Skye was different. Skye was Daisy . Daisy never drowned.

Jemma slammed a containment device shut, startling both herself and Daisy. Instantly, the hacker took out her earbud. “Hey, what’s up? Are you okay?” the younger asked.

“No,” replied Jemma. She turned and smiled at Daisy. “But I’m working on it, and you’re helping.”

Daisy frowned and stood from her chair. Without prompting, she hugged Jemma. “I’m sorry,” she spoke into Jemma’s shoulder.

“Don’t be,” Jemma assured her, “you’re doing everything I need.”

Chapter Text

The Pack

None of them make much senses when they’re utterly shit-faced. Here’s some of what they say to each other during those shameless hours.

“Raccoons have hands, and that doesn’t alarm any of you?” -Daisy

“Maybe if HYDRA starts recruiting raccoons.” -Natasha

“We need to get to them first!” -Daisy

“Nothing lasts forever, except this dick.” -Bobbi

“Fuck your dick.” -Maria

“ Clearly I want you to!” -Bobbi

“Both of you stop it. You’re too drunk.” -Jemma

“My cast! What happened?” -Daisy

“You got it taken off earlier today, baby girl.” -May

“Oh…Fuck!” -Daisy

“Daisy! Why would you bang it on the table?”-May

“What the hell? It still hurts!” -Daisy

“I’m quitting with a flash mob in Coulson’s office tomorrow, and no one can stop me.” -Maria

“You can’t hold your brandy. Oh fuck, this is rum?” -Natasha

“Yeah, well, my lightsaber—“ -Bobbi

“I swear to god, Bobbi, if you call your dick a lightsaber one more time —“ -Maria

“I’m drunk, and I’m horny, and it’s a school night.” -Jemma

“You don’t go to school.” -Daisy

“I’m drunk and horny.” -Jemma

“Ah fuck it. No…Fuck me !” -Bobbi

“Don’t tempt me.” -Maria

“I really want chicken or a hot girlfriend. I'm not crazy about commitment, and I'm really craving take-out.” -Daisy

“Dude, you literally have four girlfriends!” -Bobbi

“ Five , babe.” -May

“Oh shit. I forgot me.” -Bobbi

“Can I have chicken still?” -Daisy

“I’m gonna turn everyone’s computer background into one of your nudes if you cut me off from the tequila.” -Maria

”That’s your nude, love.” -Jemma

“Can you c’mere and snuggle me?” -Daisy

“Aw. Of course I will, Daisy.” -Bobbi

“I was talking to the vodka.” -Daisy

“Alpha? I think I’m quite drunk.” -Jemma

“You are, Jemma.” -Natasha

“Interesting. I haven’t been this drunk since the academy.” -Jemma

“You got black-out drunk last week.” -Natasha

“I did? Interesting…” -Jemma

“Look at them, Millie! We have the cutest fucking pack on the planet!” -Natasha

“Don’t tell Stark. He’ll be jealous.” -Maria

“Fuck Stark. No. Don’t actually.” -May, wasted

“No way. I’ll bet his dick isn’t half as big as Bobbi’s.” -Daisy

“Oh my god.” -Maria

“Fuck yeah.” -Bobbi

“01000110 01110101–“-Daisy

“Am I too drunk or is that nonsense?” -Jemma

“Damn it, Daisy’s flirting in binary code again.” -Maria

“We don’t speak robot!” -Bobbi

“Not even sexy robot?” -Daisy

“No!”

Chapter Text

Maria x Melinda

By 8:00 AM, Agent Hill was in a mood, and half the base knew it. Maria knew it as well. Instead of continuing to fight the urge to terrorize the agents around her, Maria packed up some files and her work laptop and headed home to hopefully have a better day there. The moment she stepped in the door, there was a presence in her mind.

“ Maria. You’re home early. ”

“ I meant to call, ” Maria lied. In all reality, she had forgotten May was home. Discussions from this morning’s breakfast hit her like a couple bricks. Jemma was in bed recovering from a virus she contracted from ‘some bloody idiot in the lab who never leaned to sneeze into his elbow.’ As a result, May had stayed home as well in order to look after her. Maria assumed they were in their rooms or one of the two when she entered, because she didn’t see or hear them. Of course, May sensed her anyway.

“Come see me. ”

Maria sighed to herself but decided it was best to obey. Still shouldering her laptop case, the Beta entered May’s home office. ‘Office’ was a loose term. There was a desk and a computer as well as a single bed. In the rare case that May’s hormones were way off, she could use the office as a space to isolate from the rest of the pack. Everyone but Daisy had one, and Jemma shared with Bobbi as the two of them worked from home the least often.

May was sitting at her desk. There was a small phone-sized monitor propped up on her desk that was clearly being used to keep an eye on Jemma. Maria could just barely tell the girl was in the second bedroom. The images on the screen were a live feed of Jemma in one of the master beds. Once Maria came in, the Alpha fully shifted her focus.

“Why did you leave work?” May asked bluntly.

Maria sighed. “I just—I don’t know. Off day? I’m still trying to fix my sleep schedule after that mission in Jakarta.”

May narrowed her eyes, but the half-quirk on her lips was enough to tell Maria she had not upset the woman just yet. “Your sleep schedule was in dire need of assistance a long time before Jakarta.”

Maria couldn’t fight that remark. Some days she worked from her bed. Some nights she slept at her desk. Some mornings, she popped a melatonin and drifted off to foreign films on the living room TV. Some evenings, she finished a workout and decided to head back into the office to finish off the paperwork she should have completed ages ago. Jakarta had only been a three-day mission, and that was nearly a week ago.

Maria sighed again, and May shook her head lightly. “You said it,” the woman teased. “I’ll be right here if you need anything, okay?” Maria told her that was very okay, and May smiled. “Good. C’mere, babe.”

The Beta did as asked with a light blush she poorly attempted to hide. May reached up and kissed her, each of them enjoying the rejuvenation offered by the other.

The former deputy director was well aware of her imbalanced schedule and poor habits, but her pack still liked to give her reminders whenever they thought she needed them. When she settled into one of the large beds in the master bedroom, she found herself thinking more about her mates than the spreadsheets laid out all around her. Miraculously, she only spent fifteen minutes of spinning in circles (and ensuring Daisy through the mental link that she was perfectly fine). After that, the productivity gods rewarded her with a burst of determination to match her ambition.

Maria had no idea how long she had been working when she sensed her Alpha at the open door. The woman knocked, and Maria was in adoration of how thoughtful her mate was. Mixed with May’s scent was the delectable smell of Maria’s favorite coffee.

The Beta hit ‘save’ on her latest project and beckoned May in. The shorter woman walked in with two mugs—one with leaf water and one with the delicious nectar of the coffee bean. Maria playfully wrinkled her nose at the steaming cup of tea when she noticed there was another scent in there.

May chuckled as she set the coffee next to Maria on the nightstand. “It’s a hot toddy,” she provided. She took a generous sip and jerked her head towards Maria’s. “Threw some Bailey’s in yours.”

With an unabashed gasp, Maria reached for the mug and took a sip. A pleasant hum reverberated in the stillness of the room. “You know how to woo a lady, Alpha,” complimented Maria. “Any reason you’re treating me to coffee in bed?”

“You should be happy to see me , not coffee,” May teased lightly. An outsider might have guessed she was upset, but Maria knew better. Maria knew May (and all her mates) better than they knew themselves. According to Natasha, that was one of the best parts about Maria—how observant and attentive she was to her pack. Maria hadn’t understand one hundred percent what her Alpha had meant then, but now she did. Now, it was 10:10 in the morning, and Maria could see how pleased May was to be comforting her Beta while simultaneously wishing there was more she could do. She was digging; and Maria needed her to stop, because there was really nothing to unbury this time.

“I am happy to see you,” Maria said with half-lidded eyes and a semi-grin, always so non-chalant. “I love you so much more than Bailey’s and coffee. You never answered my question though.”

May tactfully postponed her response by taking another drink, allowing herself time to form a proper answer. “If you’re going to be here, might as well be comfortable.” But of course, it was more than that. It always was with May; she didn’t believe in one-off gestures. They both knew it, and Maria didn’t have to verbally call her bluff. Resigned, May exhaled through her mouth. “You’re sure you’re alright? You might have caught what Jemma has.”

“I feel fine. I’m a little tired, and I just didn’t want to be around idiotic agents anymore.” At least as far as Maria could tell, that was the truth. She wouldn’t be surprised if some underlying, subconscious motive for leaving came up, but for now, she was just tired of people. Well, people that weren’t May. She could never get tired of May. “I promise, Alpha.”

One promise was enough. May trusted her Beta and knew that continuin to push the subject would only result poorly anyway. Maria was a lot of things, invariably patient was not one of them. The shorter woman leaned forward and kissed Maria on the lips. Whiskey and honey met with Irish cream and dark roast.

If Maria was being honest, she never would have put the pair together. Whiskey and coffee was a little bitter and strong for her liking. Cream and honey was far too sweet with nothing of real substance to offer. Yet, somehow the pair worked perfectly. When May was hurting, struggling with the weight of the pack on her shoulders, Maria lightened the whiskey with sweet cream. When Maria gave into her own bitterness, she was always soothed with May’s honey—slow, calming, and reaching into her chest like a hug around her heart.

May pulled away and smirked when she saw how Maria tried to recapture her lips, slightly out of breath. “Get back to work,” she whispered.

“How am I supposed to focus now?” asked Maria with a whining tone. “You ruined my flow.”

May laughed darkly. “I can ruin so much more.”

”I’d like that,” Maria responded with as much want as her dignity let her use. After years with May, safe in her presence, there was still so much desire evident in her voice. This was what she needed, a sweet, screaming release.

”Yeah, you would?” Maria nodded eagerly. “Tell me how you want me to ruin you then.”

Chapter Text

Jemma x Daisy

Daisy watched Bobbi twirl the escrima sticks, treating them as an extension of her body. “They’re weapons,” the blonde spoke between moves. “But when used correctly, they’re more than that.”

“They’re dildos,” murmured Maria. May smacked her arm, and Jemma ducked her head in a beet-red blush.

“Good ones too,” Daisy commented. She flinched when Natasha swatted her on the arm, but she didn’t lose her smile. Regardless, six in the morning was a little early to be getting smacked in her opinion. It was also a little early for pack training, but Daisy knew better than to argue at this point. Well, sometimes she knew better, and for the sake of her arm, this morning was one of those times.

When Bobbi finished her lovely demonstration, Daisy and Jemma clapped excitedly. Natasha whistled with her fingers and shot Bobbi a sly wink. May offered supportive, non-verbal words of affirmation that made Bobbi blush a little. It was the modest kind of blush too, not like Daisy’s usual horny, rosy-cheeked complexion.

“Here, you need to sit,” instructed Jemma in her firm yet loving ‘Dr. Simmons’ voice. “Get some weight off your knee after all that twirling around.”

The blonde took a seat next to Jemma on the long metal bench, throwing her legs onto Maria’s lap. The woman rolled her eyes but adjusted accordingly to accommodate for ‘doctor’s orders.’ She just wished Bobbi’s stupid knee would heal already. Really, she wished Bobbi didn’t have to keep getting hurt because of the rest of them and that she could beat up all the people who hurt her poor mate…But that wasn’t going to happen any time soon of course.

“You like my twirling?” asked Bobbi.

“I’m conflicted. On the one hand, you seemed to be moving with great precision, and I’m sure you could’ve taken down any opponent in front of you. Not that I’m the proper judge of that. My primary weapon is a fire extinguisher.” Jemma began to wring her hands together. “On the other hand, I would much prefer you to sit on this bench and stop risking further harm to your body or even impeding the healing of your pre-existing injury.”

Bobbi rolled her eyes and kissed Jemma on the nose. “There was a compliment somewhere in there, and I’m gonna hold onto that.”

“You’re up, little one,” May said to Daisy calmly. “Why don’t you show us what you’ve been working on with Wanda?”

Daisy nodded, her bottom lip tucked underneath her upper teeth. As she stood and walked to the center of the room, she was feeling incredibly out of place, like a monkey wearing a tuxedo. That image in her mind gave a whole new meaning to monkey suit, and Daisy found her nerves subsiding with her self-induced state of amusement.

“Okay cool,” she said out loud to no one in particular. “So basically, um, well, I can’t make it sound like Mr. Miyagi’s Daniel-san spiel, but what I can do is explain sorta kinda what Wanda told me to do. Bear with me. Remember, high school dropout.”

Jemma giggled despite herself, but she was still wholly fascinated by the specimen in front of her. Daisy started walking towards a punching bag on the far side of the room as she spoke.

“So it’s like, everything has a little earthquake inside of it. And I can feel them all. But also, I can use the earthquake in me to reach out and affect other ones. When everything vibrates, I can feel it, and, like, tap into that, I guess. So here, it’s kinda like this.”

Daisy hopped to the other side of the punching bag and held up a hand. Without much warning and an intensely focused facial expression, Daisy jabbed her arm forward, and the punching bag flew across the room. That earned several gasps, including one from herself. Daisy smiled at the bag lying on the floor a few yards away. Then, slightly out of breath, she lowered her arm and her smile, turning to see the mixed expressions of her pack.

“ It doesn’t hurt you anymore? ” Natasha asked her through their mental link. The unease was clear even without the blunt question.

“It doesn’t even hurt a tiny bit,” Daisy replied out loud, to the relief of the pack. The entire atmosphere lightened, and Daisy grinned widely once again.

Maria smiled back at her. “That’s fucking badass, Daisy,” she complimented.

“Maria,” May chided. Then she turned to Daisy. “That is excellent work, baby girl. Great control.”

The Omega blushed and returned to the space she had been occupying between Jemma and May. “Great work, rockstar,” Bobbi told her. “You’re a little spitfire, aren’t you?”

“Okay, grandpa,” Maria teased.

While the two devolved into their standard childish bickering, Daisy looked to her remaining mate for confirmation she had done well. Jemma might be an Omega as well, but she was still Daisy’s mate, for whom she cared very deeply.

“I still can’t believe this whole thing has happened quite honestly,” the scientist began. “Diviner aside, difficult as that is to say. I mean, how Wanda can utilize her knowledge of what seems to be genuine supernatural gramarye while training your Inhuman power is impressive in and of itself. How you took that small amount of training and turned it into this demonstration is just astounding really.” Jemma grasped Daisy’s hand lightly and smiled. “ You’re astounding, love.”

Daisy gave Jemma a lopsided grin, kissing the back of her hand. “I don’t know what Wanda knows about grammar, but she’s pretty good at magic.”

Jemma laughed. “Gramarye, not grammar.”

“Right, cause that clears things up,” Daisy muttered. “Were you gone for the part where I said I’m a highschool dropout, Miss Over-Analytical?”

That earned a tight smile from Jemma. “I was very much here, thank you. I don’t want to presumptuously limit your knowledge based on your lack of traditional education. If you’d like me to be really overly analytical, I could, but I’m sure you wouldn’t like my findings.”

“Your findings? You don’t think I’m smart!” Daisy accused.

She leapt to her feet in a moment of intense realization, and Jemma followed suit. By now, the pack was listening and watching. Natasha wanted desperately to intervene but knew that superimposing her Alpha pheromones wasn’t going to actually resolve this issue that had come up. Now was not the time to throw a blanket on the fire.

“You think I’m overly analytical!” Jemma fired back.

“Because you are!” Daisy defended. “You read me and Bobbi essays about how we did. You could’ve just said we did good.”

“I might say that you did well ,” Jemma stressed. “Bobbi understands when I explain things to her. She’s a scientist too, you know. Besides, do you want me to be sorry I was concerned for her health and well-being? And for yours, for that matter? That I was confused as to how you got a grasp of your powers?”

“I pay attention to our pack just as much as you do. That’s not what this is about, Jemma, and you know it. Why can’t I just be good at something? Why can’t you just let me be good at something without breaking apart every piece of it, of me, and throwing me under a microscope?”

“As if you haven’t questioned me every time I tell you something even mildly scientific that you don’t understand, which happens quite frequently. Go on then! Be good at something. I’ll leave you alone. Become the next damn Avenger, see if I care!”

“That’s enough.” The commanding voice of Natasha only added to the tension. “Both of you.” She didn’t stand. She didn’t need to. Jemma’s head was bowed in shame, and Daisy was seething with stilled anger. “Daisy, go take a breather, please. And not in the bedroom.”

Daisy scoffed. “Hope I don’t get lost on the way out.”

Once she was gone, Natasha turned to Jemma with a grim expression. “Go to our bedroom and wait, please.”

“Yes, Alpha,” came the teary-eyed response.

Both girls were gone, and the rest of the pack was stock-still. May was the first to move. She stood from the bench and went to Bobbi, offering a hand to help her up. “You did some good work. Now you get to ice.”

“But wh—“

“Take Maria’s office. Both of you,” May said. Maria accepted the instruction with a firm nod and headed off with Bobbi.

Now only the Alphas remained. Natasha came behind May and slung her arms around her shoulders. Her forehead dropped onto May’s shoulder with a huff. “How did that even happen?”

“I’m not sure,” May responded. “Not yet.”

“Was there something we missed?”

“Maybe.”

“Alright, we need to take care of this.”

“Agreed…Who do you want to talk to?”

Natasha let go of her mate and shrugged with a light smile. “You go high, I go low?”

Chapter Text

Natasha found Daisy in the second gym, a small area adjacent to the hangar. The brunette was sitting on top of a chin-up bar, her legs dangling below. Natasha strolled in, trying her best to ignore the strong scent of blood oranges and fresh soil.

“You look like you’re expecting someone,” Natasha remarked casually.

“You,” Daisy replied. “Or May, or Maria, or Bobbi. Maybe even Coulson. Anyone.” What some might have interpreted as being nonchalant, Natasha recognized as the brink of a nervous breakdown. Seeing as Daisy was up in the air, Natasha really wanted to avoid a breakdown of any kind. “That’s what happens when I’m in trouble.”

“What makes you think you’re in trouble?”

Daisy crinkled up her eyebrows and frowned. “You told me to go, and I’m not allowed to go to the bedroom.”

Natasha nodded. “You’re correct about those things, and you are in a little bit of trouble.”

Daisy shut her eyes, and Natasha came closer in the silence of the moment, positioning herself just a step away from her Omega. “Alpha?” the girl asked with closed eyes. “Would you catch me if I jumped down?”

Natasha’s brain seemed to work in slow motion. It didn’t take her very long to figure out the double meaning, but she was stuck on why Daisy had to verbally ask it.

After Daisy’s month-long stay with Wanda to help control her powers, Natasha had been having more difficulty than she wished to admit in ascertaining where Daisy was mentally. She had matured in some ways. Her sheer physical ability was the manifestation of that, but this? This was a kind of dark maturity conflicting with residual childlike hope. This was too similar to the Daisy that May described joining Coulson’s BUS a few years ago.

“I would stop you from ever jumping,” Natasha replied. “If somehow, if hell was real and I didn’t stop you, I’d beat you to the bottom and be there to catch you.”

Daisy sniffled pitifully and wiped at her dry face. “Jeez, it’s just a chin-up bar.” She shifted and hopped down from the mechanism. Natasha waited with open arms, enveloping the girl the second she was close enough.

“Sure it is. What’s going through your head, baby girl?” asked the redhead.

Daisy sighed into the embrace, her arms resting around Natasha’s shoulders. “That I missed being around your scent all the time.”

Natasha chuckled and smiled softly into Daisy’s chest. “You’re a charmer, really.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, it’s one of your best skills. Right up there with avoiding confrontation.” Daisy stiffened and tried to pulll away. Natasha established a light grip around her wrists, keeping her close enough.

Daisy huffed. “What? A girl can’t just yell a little and be fine?”

“I hope not,” Natasha replied. “Your words have meaning. You and Jemma said some very mean things to each other.”

“I know, but I…” Natasha waited, but the words didn’t come of their own. Patient green eyes watched remorseful brown ones scan the gym mats for the answer. Natasha slid her fingers from Daisy’s wrists to her hands, clasping them together. “I didn’t mean it though. I was just mad.”

“At Jemma?” Natasha hummed.

Eager for more comfort, Daisy let go of Natasha’s hands in order to burrow herself fully in the other woman’s arms again, her back flush against Natasha’s front. “Sort of? You wouldn’t get it. You’re a confident badass. Everyone is. Even Jemma gets all excited after she shows the new self-defense moves she learned. Even before the powers were a thing, I hated showing you what I could do, because it never felt like much. Especially when I go after everyone else who’s done perfectly. I got excited because it was like the powers finally gave me something to be proud of.”

“And when Jemma didn’t seem to be proud, you got upset.”

“Yes, Alpha…” Daisy exhaled slow and shakily.

“But she was proud of you, baby girl. She said so, right?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Natasha sighed. Now wasn’t the time for robot responses. She needed obedience, sure, but not HYDRA-level compliance. The Alpha rested her forehead against Daisy’s upper back.

“цвести…you get discouraged so easily, and I wish you didn’t. I wish I could take that away from you so that you could be as proud and happy for you as the rest of us are. Jemma wants the same thing, I promise. She worries about you. She’s seen you hurt so many times, more than I have. Do you remember how painful it was to suppress your powers?” Daisy nodded. “Jemma remembers too. She was with you the whole time, running scans, reading, researching—anything to help make your pain go away. I think she’s struggling with the idea that you can use your powers and not feel that pain.”

Daisy spent a long few quiet moments, and Natasha let her, sending out a small dose of calming pheromones. The Omega finally let go after a minute and looked at Natasha.

“Can I talk to Jemma? I’ll be nice.”

With a light smile, Natasha kissed her temple. “Of course. But, I still want Maria and Bobbi there with the two of you.” No Alphas, because Natasha knew they would both feel pressured to say exactly the right thing in front of them now, having been called out in front of the whole pack.

“I can work with that,” Daisy mumbled. Then she smiled up at Natasha with hopeful eyes. “Let’s go find her.”

It wasn’t hard. Jemma was in the bedroom with May. After a couple silent, tense minutes, Bobbi and Maria arrived, switching places with their Alphas. Once May and Natasha were gone, the atmosphere immediately changed, and Daisy was grateful she didn’t have to talk with them there just this once.

The brunette sat on the left side of the large bed. Jemma sat on the other. Maria was sitting in an armchair caddy-corner the bed, and Bobbi was sitting in her lap, her leg propped up on the arm rest.

“Act like we’re not here either,” Maria told the two youngest, who had yet to talk to each other. “We’re just security.”

Jemma nodded, biting her lip, and Daisy frowned at the bedsheets. “That sucks,” the brunette admitted. She looked up at Jemma. “I don’t want you to ever think you need security from me.”

“I don’t,” Jemma replied instantly with a smile. “But you know that our Alphas don’t trust us two alone anymore.”

“Because we fight?” Daisy asked numbly.

Jemma scoffed. “Hardly. Because usually we cause trouble for other people. Somehow, you’re always getting me into trouble, Daisy. How does that happen?”

“You mean how do I get the most straight-laced, button-up girl on earth to ice a bald guy at the Hub?” Daisy laughed, but her eyes still held a certain hollowness. It was as if she was looking right through Jemma as she spoke.

“That was an accomplishment,” Jemma said. “I don’t even know how you do it.”

Daisy shrugged. “Guess I’m just dumb enough to try.”

“You’re not dumb, Daisy.” Jemma’s frowning face was enough to wipe the half-hearted grin off her mate’s face. “You’re not dumb, and I’m very sorry I ever made you think that.”

“I’m sorry I got mad at you and called you overanalytical and—“ Daisy’s chest collapsed once she let out the rush of words and frowned at Jemma. “Do you forgive me?”

“Absolutely, I forgive you…Do you forgive me?”

Daisy responded by yanking Jemma into her chest and kissing her face all over. “I forgive you, Jems.”

The two fell backwards onto the bed in a fit of laughter. Jemma’s head rested on Daisy’s sternum, her laughs dislodging her every time they hit. Jemma didn’t care. She was exactly where she needed to be. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bobbi and Maria whispering to each other and smiling at her and Daisy.

“You know,” Jemma mused to the ceiling, “despite how I sounded earlier, I would very much like to see Daisy Johnson become the next Avenger.”

“You’re gonna have to wait on that one,” Daisy hummed once her laughter calmed down.

“Not too long. You’re improving so much, Daisy. You’re incredible.”

“If you say so…” Grateful Jemma couldn’t see her blushing, Daisy slid a hand down to play with the hem of Jemma’s t-shirt. “You know, every superhero needs a name. I don’t have one.”

“Mack has been calling you tremors, but I don’t think you should go with that…Maybe we can pick one together?”

Warmth flooded Daisy’s chest, and she grinned at the ceiling. “That’s a great idea.”

Although, Daisy was throughly convinced she would agree to any of Jemma’s ideas when she had the woman lying on top of her—Jemma’s hair tickling her chin, Daisy’s hands on her hips. Each other’s scents were just one mixed aroma, an incomprehensible cloud resembling the togetherness of two mates at ease in each other’s arms.

Chapter Text

May x Natasha

S.H.I.E.L.D. had finally tracked down the leader responsible for ordering a hit on Maria, a hit that resulted in the Beta sustaining a fractured collarbone and a plethora of bruises and cuts on her torso.

Natasha had been pissed when Maria got hurt. Then she kept getting sent on missions to keep her busy and away from everyone else. To be away from her pack while one of them was suffering made Natasha livid. Finally, she enlisted Tony and Daisy’s joint skills to locate the bastard who hurt her Beta.

Natasha fought every urge to do terrible, terrible things to the Frenchman with a thick head of knotted hair. When she chose to put handcuffs on him and drop him off in a S.H.I.E.L.D. cell, she was still pissed. There was no doubt she had the right man. There was no doubt he’d get locked up for life. But none of those thoughts eased the bloodlust, the desire for nothing but torturous vengeance.

Like most days she couldn’t sleep or couldn’t shake the wolf instincts within, Natasha went to the gym. Stomping into the room was Natasha’s first mistake. She was a super spy; she wasn’t supposed to make noise. But damn it, she was pissed, and she didn’t care about formalities right now. All she wanted was to shoot the punching bags and punch the shooting targets.

She wrapped her hands, because she didn’t need anyone asking questions. Like that would work. She had felt Bobbi trying to poke into her mind since she got on the quinjet to Arlington almost a day ago. Since she made it back to base, Daisy joined the mental barrage. Natasha needed them to leave her alone, but her cryptic replies were more efficient at keeping them from worrying about both Maria and herself.

Natasha was angry, but she was disciplined and smart. At least, she thought she was.

“Your right’s slowing down.” May’s voice came from the doorway to the gym. Natasha continued wailing on the leather punching bag. “Elbow’s flaring. Weight’s not centered. Something you’d like to share?”

“Respectfully, fuck off.”

Natasha sensed her mate lunge, and she spun out of the way. Furious words punctuated every movement.

“Leave me alone!”

Taped hands shot out at the moving catsuit, missing their intended target.

“Stop sulking.”

A lunge and a flip in the opposite direction—

“That bastard should be dead!”

A punch, a block, a counter—

“We don’t kill.”

A kick, a roll away—

“ You don’t kill.”

May got her hands on Natasha and slammed her to the mat, finally pinning her down with one arm cradling her cheek, and the other restraining her free hand. The majority of her body weight was being used to immobilize the rest of the redhead. They were both out of breath.

“What is going on inside your head?”

Natasha squinted her eyes shut. “I do kill! I am a killer, and—and something’s missing!”

May’s eyes shot wide open. “You didn’t kill that guy that—“

Natasha shook her head. “I didn’t kill him. I didn’t kill him. The mission—I—The Red Room—I know it’s not right, but I can’t stop it. I killed so many people, Millie, and I still want more ? What’s wrong with me?”

“I love you, Natasha Romanov, for all you are. All of you.” Tears threatened to spill past May’s eyelids, and she didn’t fight it anymore. “Maybe I’m being selfish. Maybe I just want my mate standing by my side while we help our pups.” Finally, droplets began dropping from May’s eyes and onto Natasha. She felt it mingle with the sweat, and her heart ached. There was a painful howl deep inside that begged to be let out. “I care about Natasha. Not grievances, not kills. One day you’re gonna come to terms with that and forget about your ledger like the rest of us have.”

“When?”

May gave her a watery smile as she began to stroke Natasha’s hair away from her face. “I don’t know, my love. But I’ll be here every day before and every day after.”

Natasha laughed. “You’re a fucking sap.”

“Don’t let anyone else hear you say that.”

With a couple smooth moves, May got off her mate and helped her to her feet, taking the opportunity to kiss her properly. The outside world meant nothing to them. In a few minutes they would join the rest of the pack gathered in the bedroom, where Maria was condemned to bed rest. They could wait. Just a minute.

Their faces were only centimeters apart, and Natasha was catching her breath. May leaned over and murmured against her lips.

“Go clean up. You know how to find me.”

Yeah, Natasha thought. I do.

Follow the scent of whiskey and honey, and the heartbeat that seemed to be perfectly in sync with her own.

Chapter Text

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Melinda-centric