Skimmons #56 and #69 please? I love love love your work!!!
56 is “I can’t stand the thought of losing you” and #69 is “why the hell are you bleeding?!” so I had to put them together to make…a high school AU. Yes.
Normally it’s impossible to get Daisy to come to school. When she does, she comes full of complaints, bemoaning her bad luck and noticeably counting the moments down until it’s time for lunch, free period and the end of the day. Everyone -including Daisy’s teachers most likely- know that she only shows up for two reasons: one of them being an attempt to avoid the truancy officers. The other, more important reason being Jemma Simmons. Jemma never expected that she would be the primary motivation to get Daisy Johnson to come to school, just like she never imagined that she would be sickeningly, embarrassingly, mid-90’s teen rom-com in love with Daisy Johnson. But life has a way of surprising her.
Just like the recent surprise of Daisy dragging her heels after the final bell of the day has rung and not making a desperate break for it as usual. Most afternoons after school, Jemma helps clean and organize the science labs after the freshmen classes have had their way with them and most of the time she just meets Daisy and their other friends at the diner or park or one of their houses until obligations send them their separate ways. But today Daisy is keeping her company, allowed to hang around only after several vehement promises not to touch anything at all.
Not that she’s doing a very good job of keeping that promise.
“Don’t touch that,” Jemma sighs as she turns to see Daisy tapping at one of the large jars containing a dead shark. “What happened to not touching things?”
Daisy holds up her hands. “Technically I’m not touching it,” she protests. “I’m touching the container.”
Jemma gives her a look. “You are still breaking the rules,” she informs her with affection in her tone. “Remind me again why you’re here in the first place?”
Daisy starts to answer but it’s not necessary. “Oh, right, because you broke the rules at home as well,” Jemma continues with a smile on her face. “And your foster mother grounded you.”
Daisy scowls. “If my foster dad had been home, it never would have happened,” she grumbles. “He’s such a softy.”
“Aren’t you breaking the rules of your probation right now?” Jemma questions, giving the counters a final wipe down. “Aren’t you supposed to go straight home after school?”
“Ah, but see, there’s a loophole,” Daisy says proudly, “I haven’t left school yet.” She taps the side of her head. “I’m clever that way.”
Jemma grins even as she rolls her eyes. “Or something,” she says as she moves closer to Daisy. “I’m finished here, so-”
Daisy whines, leaning against the counter behind her. “You can’t be done. Then I’ll have to go home.”
“It’ll be okay,” Jemma assures her, putting her hands on Daisy’s shoulders. “It’s only for a few more days and-”
Daisy kisses her, effectively putting an end to Jemma’s platitudes. “But see, if I’m grounded I can’t do that.”
Jemma looks up at her. “You just did.”
“You know what I mean,” Daisy retorts, poking Jemma in the side. “Wouldn’t you rather just stay here and…”
“Make out in the science labs?” Jemma finishes. “No. I wouldn’t. And you need to get home before your foster mother-”
Another groan. Jemma is getting used to this as a fixture of dating Daisy. “You’re not fun. You always follow the rules.”
Jemma arches an eyebrow. “And I’m not the one grounded, am I?”
Daisy starts to retort but stops, unable to think of a good response. Jemma feels pretty victorious about the whole thing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It’s not that she doesn’t miss Daisy. Of course she misses Daisy. She misses hanging out with her after school, working on homework (“working” in Daisy’s case) together, having her over for dinner, texting and talking long after she should be asleep. But she doesn’t want Daisy to get into more trouble and thus prolong their separation. Someone has to have a level head about all of this.
Though, Jemma has felt like her room is much lonelier now without Daisy taking up space. She’d never want to call her life boring or uneventful -just very orderly and focused on academics- but without Daisy to keep her company…the hours do seem longer and much duller.
It’s approaching ten thirty and Jemma is ready for the next day; her outfit is picked out, her lunch made, her work all packed up in her bag, waiting by the door. She’s about to change into something more comfortable to wear to bed when there’s a knock on her window. At first, Jemma ignores it, writing it off as a sound inside the house or something her little brother is up to. But the knock comes again and she turns around to see a figure crouched on the eaves outside her window.
Jemma is not at all surprised to recognize the figure as Daisy. Honestly, she’s a little surprised it’s taken this long for Daisy to make an escape.
“What are you doing here?” Jemma questions, her voice an odd pitch thanks to the barrage of emotions contained within those few words: worry at being overheard by her parents, exasperation at Daisy’s antics, excitement to see her.
The latter wins out. Jemma pulls Daisy to her quickly for a kiss that is over far too quickly.
“I wanted to-”
This time it’s Jemma doing the interrupting. “Why the hell are you bleeding?!” It’s a little harder to keep her voice quiet now that she’s noticed the gash across Daisy’s forearm.
“Oh…I…” Daisy looks down at herself like she’s just noticed this. “Well, when I was climbing out my window I kinda fell into the bushes so…” She shrugs.
Jemma takes Daisy’s arm in her hands, studying the cut closely. “It doesn’t look too terrible…it just needs to be cleaned and-”
Daisy grins. “I didn’t come over here so we could play doctor but I’m not going to complain.”
Jemma gives her a push toward the edge of the bed. “Sit down,” she says firmly, which doesn’t help Daisy’s grin. “Behave while I go get the first aid kit.”
Of course, Jemma realizes all too late that she should have chosen her words a little more carefully. “Yes Dr. Simmons.”
“You’re the worst,” Jemma mutters as she leaves her room, going to retrieve the aforementioned first aid kit.
Daisy is still seated on the edge of Jemma’s bed, keeping her bleeding arm held close to her chest so as not to make a mess. Jemma ignores her smile, busying herself with cleaning the gash; the sting of the antiseptic does a pretty decent job of quashing Daisy’s flirtations.
“So,” Jemma says while she works, “why did you decide to climb out a window?”
“To see you, of course,” Daisy says with a shrug. “I can’t take being grounded anymore. I think I’m going to lose my mind. I needed a little jail break.”
Jemma shakes her head. “You’re going to get in trouble.”
“Not if I don’t get caught.” Another shrug.
Jemma gives her a look. “You really don’t think May heard you go crashing into the bushes?” She questions. “Even Dr. Gardiner had to have heard that, softy or no.”
Daisy starts to retort and then pauses, considering. “I didn’t think about that…”
Jemma sighs. “Daisy-”
“What?” Daisy gives her an innocent look. “It was totally worth it. I’m getting to see you, aren’t I?”
Really, it’s annoying. Jemma never considered herself to be the type of person to get all mushy and swoony when it came to love and sweet-nothings and significant others. She’d dated before, with minimal interest and excitement. Clearly what she’d needed in her life was Daisy Johnson.
Jemma leans in to kiss Daisy again. If she’s already here, breaking the rules of her grounding than they might as well make the best of it, right? And she has missed Daisy…it’s hard to refuse her smile, the sparkle in her eyes, the touch of her hands and her lips…how exactly is Jemma supposed to be the bigger person and tell her to go home?
Eventually Jemma is able to finish putting a few Band-Aids on Daisy’s cuts, satisfied with her work. Daisy looks pleased, no doubt by the attention and the fact that she’s no longer being chastised for being here. “Are you going to kiss it and make it better?”
Jemma kisses her lips instead. More hygienic that way. Daisy doesn’t complain.
Daisy slips her arms around Jemma’s waist, pulling her closer. “Aren’t you glad I came over?”
Jemma hums, a noncommittal sound. “Yes,” she admits with feigned reluctance. “But that doesn’t mean I like the idea of you sneaking out of windows and falling into bushes…you need to be more careful. I can’t stand the thought of losing you.”
“It was only a window,” Daisy tells her. “Hardly high risk.”
Jemma looks pointedly at her cut and bruised arm. “Okay, fine,” Daisy says, “this time. Normally I’m way better at sneaking out.”
Jemma rolls her eyes. “You need to be more careful.”
“It’s sweet that you worry about me,” Daisy teases, kissing Jemma’s forehead. “Totally makes the sneaking out and the wrath of May worth it.”
“I hope you remember that when she’s yelling at you later,” Jemma says.
Daisy shrugs. “Oh, she doesn’t yell,” she replies. “Totally makes it scarier.”
Jemma brushes a lock of hair away from Daisy’s face, tucking it behind her ear. “You need to get on her good side so that you don’t have to sneak over anymore.”
“Yeah but isn’t sneaking over half the fun?” Daisy questions. Once again, she gets a noncommittal sound. “Well…since I’m already here…maybe we should just…”
“Hmmm…perhaps we should just make the best of it,” Jemma says with a decisive tone, already leaning in to kiss Daisy again. “Might as well…”
When Daisy has to tell her friends -and girlfriend- the following day that she’s been grounded for an additional week for her little stunt, she’s quick to add, “It was totally worth it, though,” with a smile in Jemma’s direction. Jemma can’t help but agree.
