Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Silent Encounters
The S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft, known as the "Shuttle," was in a rare moment of tranquility. After the last tense mission involving the gravitonium, Coulson had granted the team three days off. Everyone was enjoying the downtime in their own way, and the atmosphere on the shuttle was calm, almost serene, as the agents tried to relax before the next operation.
That morning, May walked down the stairs of the shuttle silently, as she always did when beginning her morning ritual. Taichi was a constant practice in May's life. She valued the way the fluid, precise movements helped her center her mind, maintaining control of her inner calm. The cargo hold was the perfect place for this, spacious, quiet, and secluded.
But as she approached the door to the compartment, she noticed something unusual. The room was not empty, as usual. Sitting in a meditative posture in the center of the room was Ward, his eyes closed and his breathing deep and rhythmic. His body was completely still, and he looked so peaceful that May hesitated for a moment, surprised.
She stood in the doorway, watching him for a few moments, intrigued. She had never thought of Ward as someone who practiced meditation. The young agent was known for his military discipline, combat skills, and serious demeanor, but this calm, introspective side was something she had not expected to see. After a few minutes, Ward seemed to sense her presence. He slowly opened his eyes, remaining calm, and turned his head toward the door.
Seeing May, he smiled slightly, a calm expression on his face.
"Good morning," he said in a low, almost whispered tone, respecting the silence of the room.
"Good morning," May replied, walking further into the compartment. "I didn't expect to find you here. I thought this was my morning space."
Ward laughed softly, rising from his meditation position with the grace and fluidity of someone accustomed to controlled movement. He stretched his body, releasing the tense muscles from his meditation, but his posture remained straight and alert, as if he were always ready for whatever came next.
— "Sorry to invade your territory," he said with a half smile. "I usually do this early in the morning, before the rest of the team is awake."
May crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.
— "I didn't know you meditated."
Ward shook his head.
— "I started when I joined the SEALs. At the time, I was dealing with a lot of high-pressure missions, and it was hard to turn my mind off after each operation. One of my instructors suggested I try meditation. At first, I thought it was silly, but... over time, I realized it worked. It's a way to de-stress, find some peace."
May was silent for a moment, processing this. She understood exactly what he meant. Tai Chi had a similar effect on her. The calmness of the movements helped to dispel the memories of difficult missions, especially the ones that had left a mark on her, like Bahrain.
— "I know what it's like," May said finally. "That's why I practice Taichi. It keeps my mind centered, helps me process what happened without letting it consume me."
Ward nodded.
— "That's what I've noticed. I think we all need something like that, especially with the kind of lives we lead."
May looked at him with renewed respect. She had always seen Ward as the perfect soldier, disciplined, efficient, and unwavering. But this conversation revealed a more human, more vulnerable side to him. It was easy to forget that behind their combat skills, everyone had their own methods of dealing with the emotional toll that came with missions.
— "I've never seen you meditate before," May said, a trace of curiosity in her voice.
— "I usually do it at times when no one else is around," Ward explained. "It's a personal thing. It's never been easy for me to turn my mind off. My childhood... well, it wasn't exactly peaceful, so meditation was something I had to learn as an adult. Something that helped me find balance."
May nodded, understanding. She also knew the weight of the past and the scars it left. Practicing Tai Chi was her way of keeping control over her emotions, especially after Bahrain, when her life had changed drastically.
"Sometimes you have to find a way to process everything," she said, almost speaking to herself. "Taichi is that for me."
Ward gave a small smile, genuine.
"It seems we have more in common than I thought."
May let out a small smile, something rare for her, but genuine. There was an unspoken connection between the two of them in that moment. They were both warriors in different ways, but they shared the need to find something that kept them at peace amidst the chaos that surrounded them.
"And you still have time to train Skye," May commented. "How's the training going?"
Ward relaxed a little more, as if the change of subject was a welcome distraction.
— "She's doing well," he replied, a note of approval in his voice. "Skye has a lot of potential. She still has a lot to learn, but she's focused, and she's determined. That makes a big difference."
May raised an eyebrow.
— "Do you think she'll make a good S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?"
Ward pondered for a moment before answering.
— "I think so. She has the drive and the intelligence to do it. The rest is just practice and time. If she keeps up this pace, she'll get there."
— "And you, as an instructor?" May asked with a hint of teasing in her voice, something she rarely let show. "How's it going in that role?"
Ward smiled, a small but sincere smile. — "It's been a while since I've trained anyone, but... I like it. It reminds me of when I used to teach Green Team. And SERE. It was challenging, but rewarding."
— "You're doing a good job," May said, surprising Ward with the direct compliment. "Skye trusts you, and that's not easy to come by."
Ward stared at May for a moment, and there was a quiet recognition in her eyes. He knew that coming from her, this was a meaningful compliment.
— "Thank you," he replied simply, accepting the words humbly.
May stepped back a little, giving him room to compose himself.
— "I'm going to start my Taichi now. Want to join?"
Ward seemed to consider the offer for a second, but then shook his head.
— "Not yet. I think I'll stick with meditation for now."
May smiled slightly and began to move to the center of the room, preparing to begin her routine.
Ward watched her for a moment, admiring the precision and fluidity with which May executed her movements. There was something incredibly serene and powerful in her gestures at the same time. He understood now why she did this every day, it was her way of dealing with what she carried inside.
As he walked out of the cargo bay, leaving May to her practice, he reflected on the connection they had made that day. They were soldiers, both carrying visible and invisible scars, but both finding their own ways to maintain inner peace despite it all.
And in that shared silence, there was a mutual respect that only warriors like them could understand.
During the three days off, the team enjoyed the rest, but with the certainty that new missions were approaching. Each one, in their own way, prepared for what was to come. Ward continued his moments of meditation, and Skye, Fitz, Simmons, and Coulson respected each other's space.
The Bus was quiet for now, but they all knew that chaos would soon return. And when it did, they would be ready stronger, more focused, and, above all, more united.
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