Out of the Shadows (Into the Light) - A Grant Ward Redemption Fic
AN: Just a snippet of what I’ve been working on—a long fic (M-rated) dedicated to helping Grant Ward find redemption alongside his former S.H.I.E.L.D. partner, the live wire Inhuman Olivia Murphy (OC), as they set out on a new mission: bringing an end to HYDRA and finally getting themselves some closure. They are the relationship equivalent of a shaken up can of soda and a bag of funyuns (Guess which is which, it’s won’t be hard.) This fic is primarily set post season 1, and maintains most of the season’s canon up until 1x22: “Beginning of the End”.
“Olivia," Ward says more firmly.
Murphy's eyes carry a tempestuous gleam as she shrugs exasperatedly. “I don't know what you want me to say, Ward—that I deal with my trauma just fine? That I crack jokes to keep things light and funny, even though all I see when I close my eyes is a highlight reel of the horror shit show that happened at the Asylum?"
She steps up in front of him, nearly toe-to-toe, and tilts her head to look up at him. Storm clouds swirl before her eyes flash with indignance. "At least I don't deal with my trauma like a washed-up, emotionally-inept high school quarterback who thinks his coach's dream of seeing him make it in the big league is all he could have ever hoped to achieve in life.”
The room would be suffocatingly quiet without a bottled natural disaster like Olivia Murphy to keep things lively, and if the rickety old air conditioner weren't buzzing besiegely like a mechanical beehive held together by good old F&D—A whole lot of faith and duct tape.
When Ward opens his mouth, Murphy clamps it down with a sharply raised brow. She backs off, but her razor gaze never wavers.
It's a blessing in disguise, her silencing him. Gives him the opportunity to think, stay logical. Collect himself rather than act on what he'd rationalize as self-defense. Murphy's only lashing out because she feels backed into a corner. It's not him, it's her.
Ward has to be careful of his word choice because he feels like he's tightrope-walking on a power line, and if he so much as slips fourteen thousand volts could burn right through him. A pissed off Murphy is not one he's seen enough to familiarize himself with, even before she was taken by HYDRA, and the way she is now is like the hair-raising static charge in the air right before a lightning strike.
It would be easy, how deeply Ward could cut her. He's certain she knows it, too.
Despite how long it's been since Murphy’s death, Ward never threw out what he learned about her over the years. He's a bit of a packrat in that respect. His greatest weapon is his memory, though more specifically, all his little observances. When he picks up on something, he just can't seem to let it go. What he did know about Murphy he compartmentalized. Whether out of grief, shame, or mere sentimentality—or just for the sake of cleaning up the space—he can't say. He knows her ticks, her tricks, and most everything that would make her bleed. All he would have to do is dust off the folder with her name, and turn to the first page.
He could do it. He could absolutely eviscerate her.
There has only ever been one time when Ward has done it—torn into Murphy with everything he had. It was back at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy. When he had panicked about his attachment, about ruining his mission, about disappointing Garrett, about wanting a real friend. All because a young woman named Olivia Murphy decided to devastate his life.
He was vicious. He was cruel. He threw the whole damn book at her and laughed.
Garrett would have been proud.
It was fucked up that she even came back to him after that, though he did admittedly find a semblance of comfort in knowing she was almost as messed as he was. He's not sure Murphy would do that again today, not after everything she's been through. Not after learning all the things he's done. Not after learning the Ward she knew as her best friend for almost a decade was just HYDRA’s puppet. He was more real with her than anyone if he’s to be completely honest with himself. He's trying to make himself better for her, make himself good and real enough to her that she stays, and enough to convince himself that he feels worthy of it.
If he does that to Murphy now, verbally slaughters her, he's certain she'd never look twice at him again.
Her file is twice at thick now compared to what it was then. Even considering that makes him sick. Without another thought, Ward takes his file on Olivia Murphy and hurls it into the deepest, darkest depths of his mind—right where he keeps his worst memories. Because fuck that part of him to hell.
He hates it. He hates it. He—
Shame washes over him, humbling him like a day spent in a pillory.
God. He can’t ever do that to her. She’s all he has.
Hold a gun to his head, he doesn't care. He'll tell whoever is behind it to pull the trigger because he’d rather die than lose Olivia Murphy again.
1. If you could go to one of your oc’s bachelor/bachelorette party, which would you choose (also: who would have the wildest one???)
I think any of the Bards of Mothercreek would throw bachelor parties I’d happily attend. Although Jon’s would probably get too wild and I’d have to leave early.
2. What’s your favorite time of day to write?
After breakfast all till dinner, then after dinner until bedtime encompasses all my favorite times to write.
3. What’s your favourite ship in your WIP? (platonic or romantic, I get ya)
Davarta, because it’s based on my own experience and because there’s going to be a twist that will absolutely sucker punch all of you. (No spoilers, but I’m glad the twist is my own idea and not something that actually happened.) But at a close second, my most adorable, fluffy writing is from Gaziekh, and as far as platonic ships go, Sartikharn needs its own buddy comedy. (Please do not ship Sartikharn any way other than platonically. It’s flat-out wrong.)
4. How far are you into your WIP?
Five chapters (and one prologue,) 19 scenes, 110 pages, and 18,950 words. I’ll be posting chapters soon, let me know if you want to be on the taglist!
5. If you were stuck in a broken elevator for twelve hours, which oc would you choose to be stuck in there with you? (note: you have to be in there for the twelve hours!!! no houdini escape!!!)
I’d say Dav because we’re kindred spirits, but he wouldn’t fit in the elevator in the first place because he’s a dragon, so Olivard, because we can jam on his lute.
6. What’s your favourite colour? (generic, I know)
Green.
7. Where would one of your oc’s propose to the other? (if this question isn’t up your alley, replace “propose to” with “surprise attack hug”)
Ginzaekh would take Gazi and Ash on a hunting trip and have Ash pretend he can’t make it, and Ginzaekh would act very disappointed because this is a special hunting trip in the mountains and he doesn’t want him to miss it, but then be happy the whole time that he and Gazi are alone together, and then they’d fly to the top of a mountain to watch the sun set and Ginzaekh would do it.
Dav would mumble something about really liking Narta’s family and wanting to be part of it.
8. Which oc is most like you?
Davard Natrash Arrissa.
9. Do you prefer writing with ambient noise, music (if so, with or without lyrics), or in silence?
I usually prefer writing with music, especially live music like radio sessions or concerts.
10. If you suddenly got the power of teleportation, where in the world would you go first?
Back to London with a keyboard so I could busk. The first place I’d probably busk would be outside Pimpernel & Partners on King’s Road.
Tagging @narwhal-writings, @blueinkblot, @inked-foundry and @inkovert.
