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@sciencefitz

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Ward waited until Fitz seemed settled - and done choking on his drink - before he settled himself. It wouldn’t exactly be a good thing if Fitz had a choking incident while alone with him. Someone might suspect he’d tried to ‘finish the job’. The cold feeling that settled in his gut at the reality of that possibility was, to say the least, uncomfortable. Heavy and damning, to say more. “Could be okay. It’s not like I’m not used to working under pressure.” Ward could have said more, about how he had made a ‘mistake’ by becoming attached to the team; without that ‘mistake’, it wouldn’t bother him half as much that things weren’t going up at a decent rate. “Well, thank you for all of this.” He replied. “It’s been a good night.”

Fitz smiled and patted Ward's knee again, vodka flowing through his system and making his mind feel pleasantly calm and his body relaxed. "It has been a good night. You know, since I haven't been much use to the team, I don't get to talk to anyone much. And..." Fitz hesitated. "Honestly, there's only a few I would even want to talk to at this point. Anyone who is under the impression that you're somehow a Nazi, or ever actually followed HYDRA's or its ideas, is out - I don't have the patience for it." The alcohol in Fitz's bloodstream was loosening his talk even more now. "There's a lack of intelligence and deeper thinking if they know what happened and still refuse to believe the truth. So...my point. My point is." He paused, frowning, then remembered. "Right. My point is, I like having someone to talk to. So thank you."

It was endearing, how certain Fitz was that there were little things here and there that he could do to change the course of things. To make it obvious to everyone - familiar with him and otherwise - that anything that came before was in the stage of being atoned for. Maybe he needed to be more aggressive about parading that party line around. “I’ll think about- hey.” Ward reached over, thumping Fitz’s back gently when he failed to suppress a cough. “Take it easy.”

Taking a ragged breath, Fitz set his drink down. Maybe that was enough for now. Relaxing back into his seat, Fitz glanced at Ward. "You know..it's going to be okay," he said quietly. "You're doing the best you can, so just keep doing that. I know you intend to make amends. Thank you for..." He gestured at the drinks, and at Ward himself, unsure of his own point. "All of, you know, this. I like having you around again."

usingthebritishness

Jemma shook her head, “He almost killed you. I don’t know how you can get past that. I don’t know how I will be able to.”

"Well he didn't mean to, did he? He said himself that he was trying to save us. He'd been ordered to kill us and he knew the only way we'd get off that ship alive was if he dropped us...and the pod was meant to float."

Well, that couldn’t have been more pointed if Fitz had tried. Even if he hadn’t fumbled his recovery, Ward would have caught on to what he was being told. “Point taken,” he said, just a bit gruff, “I’m probably still be a cold bastard.” It might be why the girls couldn’t seem to take his attempts at reconciliation even the slightest bit seriously. “I should try to, you know… Unclench.”

"No," Fitz replied, sounding slightly strained. "I didn't mean you're a - a cold bastard. I think it's just good to, you know, open up a bit. Show that you're willing to talk?" Even as he said the words, Fitz knew that they'd likely do no good. This was advice fit for someone who had accidentally insulted another person's family member, or something. Not for what had happened with Ward. Fitz took another gulp of his drink, trying to suppress a cough afterwards.

Ward laughed, before tipping back the rest of his glass. “What was that look all about? That wasn’t about the, well…” he shrugged. “Apologies?”

It was a good place to start. Fitz being more than a “less kind person” or not, the issue wasn’t that he hadn’t been handing them out. Or… Maybe it was. He couldn’t remember anymore, what things he’d said to Skye and Simmons to try and reconcile things. He was half-sure there were a good dozen ‘sorries’ in there, though. “Where’s the line between friendliness and weird, though? Because I don’t think I can be much friendlier…”

"Well..." Fitz hesitated, unsure of how to word it. "I mean, you're doing much better now. But at first you have to admit you were closed-off. I understand with the ones who were just yelling at you every chance they get, but you pushed me away too when I was trying to reach out. So I suppose..." He shook his head. "You're right, it's a fine line. It's more of waiting until they come back to you, isn't it?" He patted Ward's knee gently. "They'll come around."

usingthebritishness

Jemma stared at him for a beat before gathering herself from the shock, “Really? How so?”

"Well, it doesn't make sense to keep getting on his case when he's working on proving himself. He's going to be sticking around, and...well, we talked, and I listened, and understood some things a bit better." Fitz shrugged. "I'm not one to refuse to give people second chances, really."

"Presentable and comfortable," Ward chuckled, raising his glass. "You and I have some very differing ideas about those things. As long as you’re comfy, though." He would admit that possibly the best part of being on probation was that he wasn’t required to wear a suit and tie. Ever. It was nice to be able to move outside of the monkey suit.

"Was it entirely out of nowhere?" he questioned, then paused, thinking about Fitz’s own. It would make sense to try and let people have things, without having to constantly work at it. Especially with the way his… lifestyle had changed as of late. ”What do you think I should hand out like Halloween candy? Because I don’t have a damn clue.”

Fitz shrugged. He was very fond of his clothing, thank you very much, and it was comfortable. And secure. And warmly layered.

"Well, I suppose there was celebration involved, so 'out of nowhere' may not be entirely accurate. But still, you didn't ask for it, and I still brough tit." He frowned slightly. "I don't know," he responded. "Less kind people might say 'apologies' but I'd be more inclined to say 'attempts at friendship.' Or at least a more open sort of friendliness."

usingthebritishness

She kept quiet for a bit then admitted in a rush as if she was ashamed of it, “I told him I would stop biting his head off. I just can’t keep being so angry all the time with him. It’s exhausting and obviously he isn’t going anywhere.”

He paused for a moment before responding. "I'm glad. I think that's the best course of action. I've reached an understanding of sorts with him as well."

"You’re, uh," Ward made a show of looking Fitz up and down with a very obvious look of disdain. "You’re comfortable, in those clothes? I mean, you’re kind of all…" He gestured to his own neck, indicating Fitz’s ever-present tie. "That’s comfy?"

Ward shook his head. “After what happened, you had no reason to play along and try to be friends again. So, good friend. Just take the compliment, Fitz. I don’t hand them out like halloween candy.”

Fitz stared back, affronted. "Of course I'm comfortable. Why would I be wearing these things if they weren't both presentable and comfortable?"

He shrugged. "All right, I'll take it. I suppose it does take a good friend to bring you alcohol out of nowhere." Fitz smiled. "So what DO you 'hand out like halloween candy', then? Or does everyone have to work for everything, with you?"

usingthebritishness

"Nothing no. I just…" She started the movie then settled down beside him, "I don’t know. I randomly remember how it used to be. It’s sad." There was no better word she could think of than sad.

He kept his eyes on the screen as the film started up. "Oh...well, yes. Suppose it'll never really be like that again, will it?"

usingthebritishness

"It really was." Jemma stood up to set up the movie, a frown etching her face as she did, "The last time we watched this Ward and Skye teased us for ages."

Fitz settled in, getting ready to watch. "Well, I don't know what they're gonna do about it this time. What's so bad about watching this?"

"Better than just my jacket?” Ward said, reaching for the bottle to refill his glass. “So, what, you’re angling for my whole wardrobe? I gotta tell you, Fitz, it might all be a bit too big for you…”

"You’re drinking it because you know I like it?" That made him grin. "You’re a good friend. You could have brought beer for yourself. I do appreciate the vodka, though."

Fitz rolled his eyes. "I'm very comfortable in my own wardrobe, thank you very much." Unspoken was Fitz's certainty that Ward's clothing would be incredibly comfortable. That thought had to be a product of the vodka quickly working its way into his system.

"Well, I wasn't thinking about what I would want," he replied. "And I'm not so sure about me being a good friend but I'm glad you like the drinks."

"Fitz," Ward coaxed, leaving his hand where it had been on the other’s back. "Do you and my leather jacket have something going on behind my back?"

"As long as you don’t start sputtering again," Ward said, leaning back in his seat once more and taking another drink. "I’ll remember that we should keep to beer, for your sake, next time."

Fitz sighed, just barely, and thought to himself that Ward's hand on his back should not have felt as comforting as it did. After all -- well, no, he wasn't going back down that road again. Forward only now. "No," he replied, torn between disbelief and laughter. "I could do better than just your jacket."

"I'm fine. It's going down smoother already. I'm still not fond of the taste, but I know you like it, so that's what matters. Your first drink in quite some time. Has to be good."

"It’s the principle of the matter, Fitz, come on, keep up," Ward said, flatly, though his smile in the next second negated that tone. "I’m sure it’s in quarantine somewhere." He looked over, meeting Fitz’s eyes. "You really miss it?"

He took a sip of his own vodka, grinning once he’d swallowed. “Wow. You can’t really handle your liquors, can you?” He reached over, patting Fitz on the back. “You gonna live?”

Fitz held the eye contact for a moment before glancing away. "Yeah, always thought it was pretty nice," he muttered, taking another sip of his drink.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine," Fitz rolled his eyes. "You don't have to tell me. I warned you but you insisted. It's better now that it's getting colder," he added, taking a bigger drink.

Ward raised his eyebrows, grinning easy. “Sneaking out, huh? Should I go get my leather jacket and stand under your window? I’m pretty sure we can liberate one of the SHIELD motorcycles for our illicit burger mission.” Nevermind that there was no way he could stand under Fitz’s window (unless he stood underground), with the way the base was built. The joke stood.

As did, apparently, his ability to goad Fitz into things. “That sounded threatening.” He commented, light, raising his own glass. “To promise,” Ward agreed, clinking his glass against the engineer’s.

Fitz frowned. "You can't stand under my window, remember? That doesn't even make sense. Although I wouldn't mind the leather jacket, I miss the familiarity."

Shaking his head, Fitz took a mouthful of the vodka in his glass, and promptly nearly choked. "Whoa," he huffed, squeezing his watering eyes shut. "See, not exactly threatening," he coughed. "I'm better with beer, even if this isn't the worst stuff out there." Swirling the ice around the glass to cool the vodka down more - trying to reduce the harshness of the taste - Fitz let out a breath. "Not bad, really."

Ward laughed, probably loud enough to be startling to anyone walking by the lounge they’d staked out for their impromptu drinking chat session. It had been too long since he’d seen the ravenous look Fitz got when true food was brought up and he was just slightly hungry. “Wow, you gonna last until Coulson gives you the green light, or should I be the hero and warn everyone we’re about to drown in drool?”

Waving to the bottle, he waited while Fitz poured himself a drink, frowning slightly. “You’re going to make me paranoid if you don’t drink a little more than that…” He raised his glass again for emphasis, the ice clicking against each other. “I’ve had at least two. I know it tastes like rubbing alcohol, but I figured you’d have more than that.” Not that he was trying to pressure Fitz into drinking, but… “Celebrate my new jewelry and the new year with me. There’s promise here, right?”

Fitz couldn't help grinning when Ward laughed. "I might not last until Coulson says so, you're right. We might have to sneak out. Secret mission, type of thing."

He raised his eyebrows at Ward and seized the bottle again, filling up the glass more. "You're going to see why I didn't do that the first time around in a moment," he smirked. "All right. To the new year, and your new jewelry, and a new start. To plenty of promise." Fitz raised his glass and watched Ward in anticipation.

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