bravelittlemonkey | TFLN overflow 5/24 for badgirlshenanigans

[Jemma is snickering. Actually, it's more of a giggle because this is amusing the hell out of her. It was an effort to drag a case of Irn Bru aboard the Zephyr, but absolutely worth it. At least she didn't have a killer hangover to impede her in any way.

Her phone dings and she giggles again at the sight of the Quinjet and Zephyr.]

Much warmer.

Eeny meenie miney moe

[ Even through his pounding headache, he's able to take a moment to think. Which would have been the most logical for Jemma to be on? The Zephyr was capable of long flight, but they'd have had to have left at least two days ago for that to have been feasible if they got it straight from home.

But then, post offices were a thing, as was online ordering, and getting post from a PO box was much more feasible on their limited resources. He creeps over to the quinjet, poking his head up over the crest of the ramp, looking rather like a meerkat he's sure. ]

Jemma? Have I caught you hiding?

[Jemma would have loved his meerkat impression, but he's guessed wrong. She's sitting in the crew hold of the Zephyr, which has far more space, and is the closest she can ever get now to the Bus. Sometimes, she's nostalgic for that time.

When she doesn't see him in a minute, she texts back the only logical thing.]

Colder.

[ He hears his phone go off and when he checks the message, he kicks himself mentally. Still, for being hungover, he feels like he should at least be praised for having got this far.

She would hear his footsteps thumping down the walkway of the quinjet, unfortunately he's not in much of a mind to be sneaky about that. He does seem to take a bit more care in creeping up the ramp of the Zephyr. He tries to keep himself low, though the vague dizziness makes it more of an effort than he'd like. Carefully, he takes his phone out and sends her a message. ]

I see you.

[ Even if it's not entirely true. ]

[She does hear him, and he might hear her stifled laughter. This is the best prank / gift in a long, long time.

Fitz's message has her sitting up, and scanning around. This earns him:]

I see Irn Bru. Maybe I should drink it.

[She is not that cruel.]

[ It isn't so much her message he's listening for, but rather where her alert chimes out from. He hears it and can't help himself but to grin.

While he's not exactly trained in being stealthy, he manages to hang around the shadows around the outside while she texts him back.

He's almost upon her when his own phone chimes in his pocket and gives him away completely. ]

I... I really should have muted that... Would have been much more dramatic.

[Jemma is nearly doubled over with laughing. It's hard for her to get the top off of the bottle, and a little or the orange liquid splats on the floor.]

You're not with it today, but you've earned your prize.

[She holds it out like it's some precious gem, and not just a fizzy drink.

You look pitiful. I would feel bad, if I'd had the chance to be in the same state as you last night.

[ Even with how awful he feels, Jemma's laughter (even at his own expense), somehow makes him feel better. He's always loved how she just let herself go in moments of pure humour. It's moments like that which make him remember the reasons he's in love with her. ]

I should hope so. Have you any idea how far it is from the bunks to the hangar?

[ He takes the bottle as if it were an elixir from the gods and throws it back without hesitation. It doesn't immediately cure his hangover, but it takes him back to after secondary, and he looks as if he's about to melt into the floor with how weak the flavour turns his body.

When Fitz finally comes up for air, there's a satisfied sigh with a hint of nostalgia. ]

They don't make them like this in America. They really don't know what they're missing out on... Poor bastards.

[No matter how a part of her wants to fuss over him, she’s going to continue on her current track.]

Would you like the distance in metric or imperial?

[She cannot keep a straight face, but while her amusement comes from his current state, her pleasure comes from how much he’s enjoying his prize. This was worth the odd request of the last team that went to the UK.]

You may want to sit down. I’m not sure standing is on your schedule for the day. We can better lament the bias against British food and drink if you’re not about to collapse.

Metric. As if there were any other way.

[ He gives her a look that says, "come on, really?". But he does take her suggestion to have a seat, taking the opportunity to lean against her and let her dote on his poor aching... everything. ]

You're right. Right about everything. That's why I love you, Jemma Simmons. [ He sighs and nestles against her shoulder. ] I miss chocolate. Proper chocolate. Not this... plasticky, sugary mess they think passes for proper sweets. God I miss real sweets.

About 200 metres, give or take 10 metres. I couldn’t’ve made you go any farther without you leaving the base.

[Of course she knows the distance.

Jemma puts an arm around him and kisses the top of his head. She feels miserable for him really and wanted to give him something to engage his brain, though his poor, body had to suffer the trip.]

I know what to ask for on the next trip to the UK. All the sweets for you.

And now I’m craving a hot chocolate with a Flake.

Sweets... more Irn Bru.

[ And being reminded that he still had half of one in his grip, he takes another long, savouring drink. He does feel badly and offers her some, despite the fact that there's still an entire case of unopened ones at her feet. This one is convenient. ]

God you read my mind. America does some things right but the crispiest chocolate bar they've got can't compare to a decent Flake. Or Maltesers.

[ He turns his head to smile at her, just letting the tunnel vision from his throbbing head to let him focus in on her. ]

I feel like I don't tell you you're pretty nearly as much as you deserve to be told.

I just got you a whole case!

[She's teasing. She'd keep him supplied in Irn Bru for his whole life it made him happy.

She turns down the sip, moving to push his hand away gently. The floor got her portion earlier.]

I want a Twirl too. All this craving for things we can't have. It's either unhealthy, or we're goal-setting.

[She's going to go with the latter.]

You once told me I was magnificent, or was that the picture on the wall?

[Some light teasing, she smiles back, but it's not as bright seeing how tired he looks this close.]

You have to tell me who got you into such a state.

[No Irn Bru for them.]

And you think once people catch wind to how great this stuff is that it'll last?

[ On having Jemma turn down his offer, he takes another drink himself. The alcohol content is thin, but it does take the edge off. ]

Or a Curly Wurly? Still don't know how those haven't jumped the pond yet. So simple. So pure and perfect... Same with Kebabs. A good proper kebab when you're absolutely pissed beyond reason.

[ His stomach rumbled a little at the idea. ]

No.. No, you're magnificent all the time. Especially now.

[ He lets a soft smile rest on his lips for a moment before ne nuzzles back against her shoulder. ]

You were gone. Mack and I decided to play games. Turns out he's better at Xbox than I am. For the future: Halo is much harder to play with 8 shots in you..

Who said we're sharing?! Everyone else can find their own hangover cures.

[Something just for them: a rare thing in the lives they lead.]

For me, it's a good curry. That needs to take off on this side of the pond. A take-away curry after a night out down the pub? It's a perfect ending.

[Even she heard that rumble.]

No more food talk, not until your equilibrium's back.

[He's going to get another kiss for that.]

I'm going to start thinking Mack's a bad influence on you.

[No she's not.]

[ Jemma's insistence that these treasures were for them alone brought a smile to his face. He finishes the bottle she'd given him and carefully reaches down for another, using Jemma's leg to steady him. He cracks it open and has another drink. ]

Maybe. But you were always the one saying I needed interests outside the lab. Mack's been.. He's been good. Helped me while you were undercover. I haven't forgotten that.

[ His smile warmed a bit more. ]

I'm thankful to have you both.. well, all of you, but you two in particular. Especially you. I don't deserve you. But I'm not giving you up for anything.

[22 bottles left, which equals a lot of Halo, or nights when they both partake too much.

Jemma places her other hand over the one on her leg. For this moment alone she’d keep him stocked up on the fizzy drink.

Her lips thin at the mention of when she was undercover.]

I thought it was for the best. I thought I was helping.

[It’s her usual refrain when it comes to that rather bleak period.]

Don’t say you don’t deserve me. I forbid it, because if you don’t deserve me, then I don’t deserve you either.

[ Oh no. He's said something stupid without thinking again, hasn't he? There's a look of panic on his face and he straightens up and takes her hand. He may have been upset at the time, but as the years have grown on, he's more or less gotten over it. He understands. ]

N-no! It's not like that at all! I get it... and I'm here now, aren't I? Better? Not perfect but, hopefully put-together enough for you to love?

[ As if there was any doubt. He lifts her hand and presses her knuckles to his lips, as if to apologise through his kisses. He hadn't meant to upset her. ]

I just.. I meant only that you were the one to keep me focused all these years.. If I hadn't had you keeping me straight in Academy... I might've ended up like Donnie Gill. I'm always so grateful you came into my life when you did.

[He doesn’t need to panic. It’s never going to be a pleasant memory, her time undercover at Hydra. It was a mistake, her leaving, and she’ll always stay quiet that Mack thought it wasn’t. It’s good Fitz has friends.]

You, Leopold Fitz, are perfect, for me.

[It sounds schmaltzy but it’s true. It just took her a while to realize it. Now her smile’s a little brighter when he kisses her hand. ]

You would never have become him. You had your mum keeping you on the straight and narrow long before I came along and monopolized all your time.

[ He's easily placated when it comes to Jemma's reassurances. She's the only person he can consistently trust not to lie to him to make him feel better, and he trusts her when she says things like that. His smile gradually returns, gentle and warm. ]

Thank you, Jemma. Can I still insist it was both of you? I do know I wouldn't be here without you. Probably stuffed in some lab somewhere bored out of my mind.

I don’t know.

[Jemma can’t take any credit for Fitz. He was a sweet boy when they first met but they’ve, in a way, grown up together. She often sees that same sweet boy now.]

Only if I get to insist that almost every brilliant thing I’ve ever done, you’ve been there with me.

Are you starting to feel better?

[ His cheeks flush red and he can't help but look a little bashful as he plays with his drink. Jemma was always brilliant even without him, and though he had more or less overcome his injury, he knew it was still holding him back on occasion. He dare not hold it against it her, but even if they had been close in intellect before, she's clearly leagues ahead of him now.

But hearing her say that makes him feel good, so he nods. ]

If you insist.

[ He tosses back the rest of the bottle and gives a deep, satisfied sigh. ]

Not perfect, but much better. Thank you. How did you know to bring it, anyway?

[There's something extra adorable about him when he blushes, or trips over his words. He's a genius whose had to overcome so much.]

I insist. I absolutely insist.

[Reaching to take the bottle from him, Jemma wants to replace it in the case. They may be risking May's ire by meeting in the Zephyr, but that doesn't mean they have to leave a mess.]

This place is a hotbed of gossip. Several people were happy to tell me it might be needed.

[The one agent who announced "I heard a drunk Glaswegian" and found it hilarious earned a glare from Jemma.]

[ When she takes the empty bottle from him, he turns to watch her, his hungover brain trying to calculate her actions as she makes them, but falling just slightly behind. Her line about gossip makes him swallow and cast a glance toward the gangway as if he expects someone to make their way up it and interrupt their private time at any moment. ]

That so? I feel like I should meet these other agents. At least so we've got a touchstone of the UK when we need it.

[ Either way, he's happy to have a taste of home.

How are you feeling? You've had a long trip, haven't you? The UK is pretty far... Are you sure you don't need a rest?

[Jemma's just trying to make things easier own him.

She follows his gaze toward the gangway and she can't help but wonder when someone's going to interrupt. Living in the base gives very limited privacy.]

I'm sure they'll make themselves known soon enough. Nothing is ever a secret for long in this place.

[She's surprised by the question. She feels fantastic. There's a burst of energy she gets from making him happy. There's another burst of energy from being able to be creative while doing it.]

I'm fine. I'm more worried about the state of your head.

[She's going to reach up to put a hand to his forehead. It's hardly a scientific method of diagnosis, but she's being fussy about him.]

TFLN overflow 5/24 for badgirlshenanigans

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sorry for the delay! Hope I'm not too late!

not at all!

♥

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