{Chapter: 021 - Aiden Push Plane And Jemma Simmons}
Aiden wasn't particularly surprised by Daisy's decision to assist S.H.I.E.L.D. Deep down, he had always expected her to make that choice. Even if she sometimes played the rebel, the truth was written into the core of her being—she was a natural hero. Whether in comic panels or in this world of shifting allegiances and invisible wars, Daisy Johnson was the kind of person who couldn't look away from injustice. It was in her blood to act, to fix what was broken, and to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves.
And then there was the pragmatic side of things. This wasn't just an act of kindness or justice. It was an opportunity.
Normally, an individual like Daisy would have to climb their way into S.H.I.E.L.D's ranks—enter through their tightly regulated channels, endure a rigorous training program, pass psychological evaluations, prove their loyalty through countless missions under scrutiny. Then, and only then, would they be allowed to work at the core of the agency. But now? This was a shortcut. A fast-track bypass through the red tape. Phil Coulson had offered her a key into a world most never got to see. And she was walking through the door.
With purpose in her eyes, Daisy seated herself at a large holographic console in the plane's operations room. The entire space hummed with quiet intensity—glowing screens, projected maps, and the soft beeping of systems scanning the world in real time. The agents around her couldn't help but throw glances over their shoulders, surprised by the way she handled the equipment. Her fingers danced across the digital interface with practiced ease. The system was complex—state-of-the-art surveillance networks, encrypted databases, secure communications—but with S.H.I.E.L.D's tech at her fingertips, she was in her element.
"Impressive," one of the agents muttered under his breath, nudging a colleague as they both watched Daisy work.
Aiden, meanwhile, leaned back in one of the side chairs, one arm resting lazily on the backrest, the other flipping a small coin through his fingers. He wasn't exactly the sit-and-watch type. While he didn't mind letting Daisy do her thing, his patience wore thin quickly when there wasn't something to blow up or fix.
"If you're bored," Phil said, appearing beside him almost like a ghost, his voice low and casual, "you could take a tour of the plane. Might find something interesting."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Phil tapped the communicator in his ear. "Jemma, if you're not busy, come up to the operations deck. I have a special tour request for you."
A few minutes later, a woman in a crisp white lab coat walked in, her long brown hair neatly tied back, her eyes bright with curiosity and kindness. It was Jemma Simmons—one of S.H.I.E.L.D's top scientific minds and a core member of Coulson's team.
"Jemma," Coulson said with a smile, "this is Aiden. Would you mind giving him a walkthrough of the plane? He's got that 'I might set something on fire if I get too bored' look."
Jemma chuckled. "Well, we can't have that." She turned to Aiden and gestured for him to follow. "Come on, I'll show you our flying science fortress."
Aiden stood, offering a polite nod. "Appreciate it. Honestly, this plane's a masterpiece. I've never seen anything quite like it."
As they walked through the corridors, Aiden took in the high-tech interior—walls embedded with sensor panels, reinforced blast doors, labs filled with buzzing machinery and blinking lights, and even a small gym in one of the lower levels. The place was part warship, part science lab, and part command center.
"You know, I've thought about getting something like this one day," he mused. "A mobile base. Something that can cross continents and vanish into the clouds."
Jemma looked over her shoulder with an amused expression. "Oh, well, good luck with that. I'm afraid you'll need a few billion dollars, access to alien alloys, some Stark-level engineering… and a blessing from S.H.I.E.L.D itself."
Aiden grinned. "Maybe I'll just build one myself—or borrow one permanently."
Jemma laughed. "Please don't. I quite like this one."
What Aiden said was true; he was really interested in this plane, which was a technological marvel.
However, trying to get a vehicle like this was not easy at all. Maybe when his system upgrades and he can retrieve things from the other planes, he can figure out how to build one or just steal one.
As they continued the tour, Aiden began to notice something about the scientists onboard. Many of them were eccentric—hyper-focused, brilliant, and a little awkward. It was like stepping into a hive of geniuses, each one absorbed in their little corner of the universe. Some barely looked up from their microscopes as the two passed.
But Aiden wasn't paying attention to them for long. His gaze drifted to Jemma. She had this spark in her eyes when she talked about science, and it made her... well, oddly charming. Even if most of what she said went straight over his head.
"So… do you have a boyfriend?" Aiden asked casually, completely throwing her off balance.
Jemma blinked, clearly not expecting the question. A small smile tugged at her lips, and she shook her head. "No. I, uh... I just finished my Ph.D., actually. Got recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D right after graduation. So I've been... a little busy saving the world."
"And no time for romance?"
She gave a soft laugh. "Honestly? Not really. It's hard enough finding time to sleep. What about you? Daisy, is she your girlfriend?"
Aiden nodded thoughtfully. "Daisy's my girlfriend. Kind of."
"Kind of?"
He shrugged. "We're figuring it out."
"Well, she's very brave," Jemma said, then quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, I've read some of your files. You're... interesting."
"Interesting? I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should. According to the medical team, you absorbed Extremis and didn't suffer any side effects at all. That's... unheard of. No cellular degradation, no violent outbursts, no overheating. It's almost as if your body adapted to it instantly. If we could isolate the gene or the biological trait that allows that, we might be able to save lives—maybe even neutralize the dangers of Extremis and the Centipede virus for good."
As she spoke, her excitement built. She wasn't just talking science—she was talking hope, possibilities, solutions to real-world suffering. But when she glanced at Aiden's expression, she noticed the way his smile had faded into something more guarded.
"I… I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I forgot for a second that you're not just some lab sample. I didn't mean to treat you like an experiment."
Aiden shook his head slowly. "No need to apologize. It's not like I don't get it. But my blood, my secrets—they're not easy to give away. Not without something in return."
He stopped walking and turned to face her fully.
"So," he said with a half-smile, "you want to study me? Fine. But let's talk about the price. What are you willing to offer?"
Jemma blinked, caught off-guard again. She was used to negotiating grants, not favors with enhanced humans who could probably punch through steel. But there was no fear in her eyes—only curiosity, tempered with respect.
"Really? You'd actually give me your blood? Just like that? What do you want in exchange?" Jemma asked, her eyes widening with both shock and excitement. Her voice trembled ever so slightly—caught between scientific curiosity and a strange, unfamiliar tension rising in her chest.
Aiden looked at her with a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He stepped a little closer, enough for her to catch the faint scent of mint and something she couldn't quite name—something... warm. "I want you," he said softly, locking eyes with her.
Jemma froze.
Her brain faltered. 'He wants me? What does he mean? Like… me me?'
The silence stretched for just a second too long. Aiden tilted his head, his smile deepening as he watched her fluster. "What? I thought you said you'd pay any price for science. For all those innocent people dying from the centipede virus, right?"
Jemma's mouth opened and closed a couple of times. She could feel her cheeks heating up, her heart pounding in her chest like a jackhammer. He wasn't serious… was he? But then again, he didn't look like he was joking.
After a long moment, she drew in a breath, squared her shoulders, and said, "If you really give me your blood so I can research it... I... I can promise you one thing. You'll have a chance—an honest chance—at being in a relationship with me. I'm not promising anything more than that. But I'll give you that chance."
She held her ground, even though her heart was thudding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Since she could always refuse him, she has nothing to lose after this opportunity.
Aiden blinked.
He hadn't expected her to agree. He was teasing. Flirting. Stirring the pot, as he always did. But now she was standing there, serious and flushed and genuine. A small laugh escaped his lips, half amused, half surprised.
"You're serious," he said, more to himself than her.
Jemma nodded. "Yes. I'm serious. I know it's crazy, but... there are other reasons too. Not just the blood."
"Other reasons?" Aiden asked, his tone dropping just a little. There was something intoxicating about this moment—about her vulnerability.
Jemma looked down, fidgeting with her fingers. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't know. There's just something about you. Something I can't explain. You're dangerous. The database says so. But when I look at you... you don't feel like a threat. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just... I want to give you a chance. That doesn't mean I go around falling for every guy who helps me. I've never done anything like this before. I honestly don't know what's gotten into me."
Aiden studied her for a long moment—long enough for her to shift uncomfortably, cheeks flushing under his gaze. But he wasn't just staring—he was seeing. Really seeing her.
Smart. Passionate. Braver than she knew. A little awkward, sure, but it only added to the charm. The way her lips moved when she was nervous, the fire in her eyes when she spoke her truth—it was adorable. Disarming, even. A strange warmth stirred in his chest, one that made his usual sarcasm falter just a bit.
Then, in true Aiden fashion, his brain betrayed him.
"Do I have… the Protagonist Halo… and Harem King Skill unlocked at the same time?" he muttered under his breath, eyes wide in mock disbelief. "God-tier RNG."
Jemma blinked, utterly confused. "What?"
"Nothing," he coughed quickly, then mumbled, "Just wondering if this is love at first sight or my hormones having a midlife crisis."
Before she could respond, he suddenly leaned in, slow but confident, and gently tilted her chin up with two fingers. His touch was featherlight but electrifying. Jemma's breath hitched, her eyes locking onto his like a deer caught in a pair of smirking headlights.
"Either way," Aiden murmured, his grin deepening, "I regret nothing."
"You're adorable when you're nervous," Aiden said, his voice low and teasing. He slowly closed the distance between them.
Jemma's breath hitched. Her eyes fluttered closed.
And then—soft, warm, and completely electrifying—their lips met.
Her first kiss. It was nothing like she imagined. It wasn't awkward or sloppy. It was sweet. Intense. Brief—but enough to make her knees wobble.
When Aiden pulled away, he grinned. "Actually, I was just teasing you. What I really meant to say was… I wanted your first kiss. But now? After what you offered… I'm changing the deal. I'll woo you, Jemma Simmons. You've just become a personal science project of mine."
Jemma blinked, dazed. Her lips still tingled. She slowly nodded. "O-okay. But this… it's just between us, alright? Daisy can't know. Not yet. I… I really don't want her to get the wrong idea. And I still can't believe I made such a bold move. I'm really not like that. I'm not a casual girl."
"I know you're not. That's why I like you," Aiden replied.
Jemma looked away, trying to suppress the smile tugging at her lips. Her voice dropped to a softer pitch. "Let's take it slow. One step at a time."
"I'm good with slow. As long as you keep holding my hand like this."
She glanced down, realizing their hands were still intertwined. But this time, she didn't pull away. Instead, she tightened her grip.
They resumed the tour of the plane, hand in hand. The humming of engines and chatter of agents created a white noise around them. No one seemed to notice, or maybe no one cared.
Jemma was still rambling about the engine power output and air density systems, her inner nerd on full display—but now she was stealing glances at Aiden every few seconds, her cheeks still flushed.
And Aiden? He just listened. Smiling. Teasing her every now and then.
Who would've thought flirting in a high-tech plane filled with agents and top-secret tech could feel like a scene straight out of a rom-com?
But hey—stranger things had happened.