Simple Touch

Written by WickedSong.

Disclaimer/Note: I do not own AoS. So, ever since I did that Fitzsimmons oneshot that had multiple people asking me 'why', I thought I might want to try the same sort of idea (but also different) and this time with Skyeward. I hadn't really had any general ideas up until I saw a particular piece of fanart on tumblr that inspired me. It's by a really talented artist, astridv, and I would link the post if I could but I can't (I didn't realise it didn't let you link anymore in the stories, oops), so it'll be on my profile page and I would insist you go look at it either before or after reading the fic because it really is quite emotive. Also this is a twoshot so the second part should be up by next weekend.

"You do know this would be a totally lame way to die?"

Skye says this in a voice that she hopes makes it sound like she's totally in control of the situation. Her main focus is keeping the conversation light, making sure he knows that everything will be fine and that he is not by any means allowed to close his eyes right now.

Grant Ward just groans at this but keeps up with the teasing in her tone, so she doesn't see that it hurts. "I don't know what's worse; the fact I've been shot or your attempt at humour."

Skye gives a derisive snort, keeping the cloth she ripped from the bottom of her shirt close to the bullet wound on his shoulder. "Well, all I'm saying is that in all the stories the heroes go out in a blaze of glory; like saving someone's life or during a big final battle?" She looks around their surroundings. "Not in some shady alleyway in New York City."

"You really think I'm a hero? I'm…touched," he mocks once more, one more dig just to prove everything's fine, he's okay. There's a stab of pain in his shoulder that causes him to grimace and he catches the façade she was hiding her worry behind slip away.

Or at least that's what he thinks he sees in her eyes because everything's going a bit blurry and it's hard to keep his focus, his eyelids wavering. Soon enough, Skye is shaking him slightly. "Wake up or else I'll make you walk to the BUS when the rest of the team gets here."

She wouldn't really but she has to say something.

"Some SHIELD agent you are. Can't even handle a graze," she teases gently as she places more pressure on the wound. No matter how much she does this, though, it just won't stop bleeding, why won't it stop bleeding?

Her hands are a little red and stained with his blood. They're also shaking a little (a lot) but she continues on as she has been doing since Ward was shot fifteen minutes ago by some guy with information about the latest in the long line of super-powered they were chasing. Anxiously she peers down the alleyway to find that help has not yet arrived, and twists her lip trying to think of any way to keep the conversation going just so that he won't close his eyes.

That's how the bickering started. She should've figured they'd still do that, even under circumstances like this.

His eyes open, slowly but surely and she lets out a breath she wasn't even sure she was holding. "Hey there sleepyhead," she says with a soft smile and soft voice and she realises as she does it that she's not keeping enough pressure on the wound.

Focus, Skye, focus.

She keeps her eyes focused on his but straightens up a little. She rips another piece of cloth from her shirt, and discards the used up one by her side. Quickly she presses it to his shoulder. She hears his breath come in a little shallower, a little slower. It doesn't mean anything though, it doesn't. The team will be here soon and it won't matter, it won't.

"You okay?"

It's quiet but it's a voice and it tells her that he's still breathing. It's enough.

She nods, but realises he can't really see her from the way they're positioned. She's behind him, his head in her lap and she's using the cloth to stop the blood – why is there so much blood? She doesn't know an awful lot about the human body but she's sure there shouldn't be this much blood in one person.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she tells him. She had a graze on her shoulder from falling into a wall during the chase, but she had patched that up quickly enough on her own before tending to Ward with the admittedly little first aid she knew. Living in an orphanage for all those years, kids would get into scrapes and fights. She was one of the oldest so she'd always be there to patch them up. It didn't really prepare her for this but it's something, and that something keeps him alive more than nothing could.

He gives a sigh, and she notices him blinking furiously. "Still think I'm a robot now?"

She gives a smile despite the situation, wondering how he's getting the strength to even try to bring that up. "Pretty sure this is just oil that looks like blood, buddy." She's joking and telling herself things like that because she doesn't like the alternative very much.

She hears him slightly chuckle at this. Leaning forward a little more, so that her hair almost touches his face, and she's looking straight at him, she adds, "The team's going to be here soon, Grant, I promise," she says quietly.

Maybe it's the loss of blood going to his head but he manages to tilt his head just enough so he's looking up at her. Initially he just nods and he looks so pale and so unlike her SO, it scares her beyond belief. She thinks he doesn't have the strength to say anything else but he surprises her once more. "I like that…when you call me Grant."

She blinks back the tears but she's determined not to cry in front of him, and straightens herself once more. "Don't you go getting all sappy on me now, SO. There's plenty of time for that crap when you're better." But she likes that crap, something that she's not going to admit while he might be bleeding out in her arms, a thought she just can't afford right now. She's running through all the possibilities in her head, and instinctively runs one hand through his hair in a soothing motion, the other still clutching at the cloth over his shoulder. When she feels extra pressure on her hand she looks down to find his hand over hers and she's never realised before that moment how calming one simple touch can be.