May didn't leave right away.
She stood still for a moment, trying to read Coulson's expression.
"What exactly are you afraid of?" she asked.
Coulson sighed.
"I'm not afraid of Ward right now. I'm afraid of what he could become."
May processed that in silence.
"So this isn't about discipline. It's about preventing something."
"Yes," Coulson said. "We don't know if anything is wrong yet. We don't even know if Alex is right. But I can't ignore a warning like that."
May nodded. She understood.
"You want surveillance?"
"No," Coulson said quickly. "If Ward notices, it could push him toward the wrong path even faster. I just need you to watch him the way only you can. Quietly. Honestly. If something feels off, tell me immediately."
May didn't hesitate.
"Alright. I'll handle it."
She turned to go, but Coulson stopped her with one more question.
"If it comes to a worst-case scenario… do you think we can save him?"
May looked back. Her face showed no emotion, but her voice was honest.
"I don't know. Some people don't want to be saved."
Then she left the office.
Coulson sat alone again.
He opened the file on his computer — Grant Ward, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Training history, psychological evaluations, field reports. Everything looked normal. Maybe even too normal.
He rubbed his forehead.
"What did you go through, Ward…? And who still has a hold on you?"
Before he could get further, his earpiece buzzed. It was Skye.
"Coulson? We've got a situation in the training room."
Coulson stood immediately.
"What happened?"
"Nothing bad!" Skye answered quickly. "Just… Simmons' bat made a whole lab bench melt and then turn into medicine. Fitz's cube turned into a drone and freaked out a rookie. And May— well… someone tried to spar with her."
Coulson paused.
"And?"
"They're unconscious."
Coulson closed his eyes for a second.
"I'll be right there."
He grabbed his jacket and headed toward the training room.
As he left the office, he gave one last order through the comms — quietly, and only for May.
"Don't confront Ward. Just watch."
May's reply was short.
"Understood."
And the monitoring began — quietly, without Ward noticing.
As Coulson arrived at the training room, he looked at the mess — and at Alex, who was standing by the door.
"Getting control of their powers won't be easy," Alex said. "Even other Avengers with all their experience needed time."
Coulson nodded. "I can see that."
They walked in together.
Alex spoke to the group inside, raising his voice just enough.
"Your new partners aren't just power-ups I gave you. It's like a new limb growing on your body. You understand it instinctively, but you can't fully control it yet. So yes — mistakes will happen."
Everyone went quiet.
Fitz rubbed his forehead.
"I didn't mean to turn the cube into a flying drill drone. It just— reacted to what I was thinking."
Simmons raised her hand like a student.
"My bat wasn't trying to melt the equipment. It was trying to heal what I was holding. I just didn't realize the solution was corrosive to metal."
A groan came from the corner — the rookie who had tried to spar with May was finally waking up. May stood there without emotion.
"I told him not to attack me."
Coulson pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Right. New rule. No sparring with May until further notice."
Skye raised her hand.
"And maybe no laboratory equipment while Simmons is practicing?"
"And maybe no thought-controlled flying weapons while Fitz is practicing," Ward added sharply.
Fitz looked embarrassed.
Alex stepped forward again.
"This is normal. You'll stabilize soon. The bond between you and your familiars grows with training — and with naming."
Simmons nodded slowly.
"I… think I want to name him 'Crimson.'"
The small bat chirped proudly and flapped its wings.
Fitz took a breath.
"Alright. Fine. I'll stick with 'Scan-ny.' I don't care if it sounds stupid."
The floating cube vibrated happily, as if liking the name.
Everyone looked at May.
She didn't speak at first — then she finally answered.
"…Mantle."
The giant mantis clicked once in approval.
Alex nodded.
"Good. That will help."
Coulson crossed his arms.
"So what now? We don't have time for another disaster."
Alex smiled slightly.
"Then I suggest they train hard before their next mission — or don't send them at all before that."
Coulson let out a long breath. He didn't like the answer, but he knew it was right.
"Fine," he said. "We'll schedule full training sessions starting tomorrow morning. Controlled conditions. No shortcuts."
Alex nodded once.
"That's the right choice."
Before they could say anything else, the intercom suddenly buzzed.
"Director Coulson, you're needed in Ops immediately. It's urgent."
Coulson frowned and rushed out of the room with Alex following behind him.
Coulson and Alex hurried down the hallway as the alert continued to flash red.
In Ops, Hill was already standing over the main table, staring at a live satellite feed. The room was tense.
Coulson stepped beside her.
"What happened?"
Hill didn't look away from the screen.
"A signal just appeared out of nowhere. Origin — Peru. Remote mountain sector. It matches the signature of an 084."
The room fell silent.
Alex raised a brow.
"An object of unknown origin."
Hill nodded sharply.
"And SHIELD isn't the only one who detected it. HYDRA already has movement in the region."
That was all Coulson needed to hear.
"Prep a quinjet. We leave in ten."
Hill exhaled. "Figured you'd say that. I'll brief the security team and compile regional data."
Coulson turned — and froze when Ward, May, Fitz, Simmons, and Skye arrived, already suited up.
Fitz adjusted his goggles awkwardly.
"We, uh… heard it was an 084."
Simmons swallowed nervously.
"We want to help."
Coulson hesitated.
"You're not ready. Bond or not, you haven't trained enough to be field-safe."
Alex spoke before the silence could stretch any longer.
"It's okay. Take them. I'll watch over them — at least Fitz and Simmons. May doesn't need help with anything."
Coulson nodded slowly, accepting the logic even if he didn't like it.
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