Chapter Text
It was a blip. She told herself it was a blip. Again and again. It was a blip. It was a blip. But it wasn’t. She knew it deep down and close to the surface. It wasn’t a blip. It isn’t now and it never was.
On the outside her face was as inscrutable as ever; his was seemingly guileless as usual. On the inside Phil and Melinda were roiling. He alone could decipher the glimmer in her eyes and he was scared. Her emotions visible only in micro-expressions ranged from a desire to devour him whole to a desire to rip off his arm and beat him with it. He was completely down with the first option, excited by it but if she settled on the second he was doomed.
At their morning briefings, she watched him quietly. No surprise there really but she was thinking about something other than assignments and paperwork. She was thinking about him. Phil could feel it in the weight of her stare and the tightening in his crotch. But if he tried to approach her, he could feel her resources draining in restraining her hostility. The situation was not sustainable and could compromise their work soon.
He thought that he knew what she needed. She needed to be away from him. She needed to work off some of her anger. He was right in some ways. She definitely needed to work off some anger because he’d shot her with an icer. Who wouldn’t be angry? And he wore that stupid tie. He should’ve burnt the green and yellow monstrosity. It was a visceral reminder of the marathon Asgardian-succubus-prompted-sex-pollenesque orgy and subsequent throw down with Ward and Lorelei. Fortunately they had protocol for that but all of her bruises had yet to heal. She rubbed absently at the bite mark beneath her breast that she didn’t want to fade and cursed Phil Coulson to the furthest reaches of hell knowing full well that she would follow him there without hesitation. Still, she owed him some revenge.
Planning was not her favorite thing, she preferred action, but that did not mean she couldn’t be brilliant when required. Every great prank required a great plan and great revenge would need no less. She started tightening the screws on Phil as soon as he singled her out in the cockpit. He knew that she would be out for his blood, he just didn’t know when or how. So she’d let him twist in the wind for a bit. She’d let her wounds heal and she’d savor with anticipation the day that he was dreading.
Four days after the incident, Phil once again sought her out in the cockpit. She sat guiding the Bus, staring out the window in her aviator glasses, her expression more neutral than Switzerland.
“May, I’ve been thinking that maybe you need some time off” he began with no pre-amble. Oh shit! That got her attention. The last thing she needs is time off, her job is to watch him. To make sure he stays himself. To cross him off if he doesn’t. She does not need time off. She turned to him coolly, eyebrow cocking as she takes note that he once again was wearing THAT tie. Oh yes, it is time to pull the trigger she thought as her inner self grinned smugly.
“Why would you say that Phil?” her tone as guarded as Fort Knox.
“Look, the last few days have been uncomfortable. I hurt you and I am sorry. I have apologized but you can’t seem to get past it. This isn't like you May. I need you fully here to help me, not to look at me like you are going to rip me a new asshole and use it for a broom closet.” She couldn’t help but smile at the mental image of a broomstick in his ass.
“You’ve got to get over being so butt-hurt about the icer.” She snorted at the irony that her butt was about the only thing that didn’t hurt in the aftermath of their foursome and she had him to thank for that. “I think a few days down at the Cabana and some extra training sessions with Fernando, Santiago and Sebastiano would do you some good.”
“Phil” she sighed with seeming reluctance, “I don’t want time off. I don’t need it. I just couldn’t imagine you shooting me. It’s thrown me off balance.” She hoped she wasn’t laying it on too thick when she took off her shades and stared soulfully into his eyes. “I don’t need The Cabana Boys to help me.” She paused and tilted her head just a bit, then said “I need you.”
He released the breath that he didn’t know he was holding and asked simply “What can I do?”
“Give me four hours of your time.”
“OK”
“Then meet me in your office at seven. Bring six ties. No questions.” And she turned back to the controls as she silently dismissed him.