One-Mississippi (Agents of SHIELD, Philinda)
Alright, if i’m going to talk the talk, I might as well walk the walk.
My entry for #philindachallenge, week one: Summer.
Want to join the challenge fun? It’s easy!! The more, the merrier!
It’s a rare night off- 12 hours really- where the world is calm. Whatever lurks around the corner can wait until the morning.
The air outside is thick with the smell of rain, the type of humidity that settles into your lungs and doesn’t let go. Heat shimmers against the asphalt in the hangar.
It fills Phil with an energy he hasn’t felt in months.
He slides into his favorite pair of jeans and a light t-shirt and soon finds himself at the door of Melinda’s bunk.
She’s propped against the head of her bed, legs crossed, eyes flicking back and forth over her tablet.
Hands jammed in his pockets, he leans against the doorframe. “Got plans tonight?” he asks.
Her mouth quirks up into the tiniest smirk but she doesn’t look up. “I never have plans.”
“I was thinking about taking Lola out for a spin- stretch her gears a bit.” He watches as she uncurls her legs and put her tablet down. Her muscles ripple under the straps of her tank top. He tries not to get distracted. “I could use a copilot.”
“You’ve never needed a copilot before,” she says skeptically. Her eyes betray her though- he sees the playfulness behind them.
He shrugs. “Maybe I could just use some company.”
Melinda shuffles off the bed and moves towards him. “Are you asking me on a date, Phil Coulson?”
He chokes on his words. The shift in their relationship has swirling around them for weeks. It crackles in the air, rumbling through their unspoken conversations. Maybe something is on the horizon.
But wherever they are, they aren’t there yet.
“I-” he stammers, feeling the flush creep up his ears. “No, I-”
She rolls her eyes, shoving against his shoulder as she moves past him. “Let’s go.”
They drive, chasing clouds that see city fade into countryside. Minutes roll into hours and finally they stop on a hill overlooking a small lake- nothing around them except the sound of cicadas and the fleeting glow of fireflies passing by.
Melinda immediately toes off her sandals and sighs contentedly. They sit down in the grass together. He can feel a sheen of sweat settle over his skin, and is grateful for the slight breeze blowing across them.
“Outside,” Phil muses. “I could get used to this.”
She laughs, throaty and quick. “Concrete and beige getting to you?”
A strand of hair falls out of her ponytail, and he has to stop himself from sweeping it away from her face. He settles instead for letting his foot nudge against hers.
They sit in comfortable silence for some time, soaking in the early evening. A flash of lightning appears to the west, and Phil reflexively starts to count.
“One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi, Three-Mississippi,” he says softly.
Melinda arches an eyebrow. “Really?”
He nods while waiting for the coming rumble of thunder. When it passes, he turns towards her. “Nine miles away.”
She reaches over and taps his prosthetic. “You can’t, like, connect to the National Weather Service with that thing?”
“No,” he says, with just a hint of disbelief. “And even if I could- this way is better. Connects you with Mother Nature.” He stares up at the sky again.
“Alright, Zeus. Suit yourself.” She shifts ever so slightly to lean against him.
The wind changes direction, this time blowing with a noticeable chill.
Phil starts to reach for his keys. “Think we need to reconsider?”
Melinda shakes her head. “Been through worse.”
Another bolt arcs above them. He starts counting again, this time to himself.
One-Mississippi.
Two-Mississippi.
Before he gets to three, Melinda’s lips are slanted over his. They’re soft and warm and his brain reacts enough to reciprocate.
The hair on the back of his neck stands on end.
She pulls away and he focuses enough to see her eyes crinkle in a smile.
“Closer than you think,” she murmurs against his mouth.
