[ gently, ] She's also helped plenty of people unlock their potential.
[ Discovering their powers for the first time. The techniques he's applying now are cribbed from her guidebook, after all. Although Fitz purposefully stays away from her endeavours, Daisy is the foremost expert on unlocking and training powers. She's the best, absolutely, but Fitz's own work on powered individuals was decidedly less savoury, and every time he learns someone's ability, he catalogs it, as if part of a horrific, inevitable subroutine: Level of danger, potential, and whether or not Ophelia would have wanted it for herself.
The nights Fitz wakes up in a cold sweat are twisted in dreams of the work he did alongside her.
Even now, teasing out Dick's power isn't as simple as helping a friend. How does Fitz know he won't use any one of his friends or their abilities to serve his ends? You don't. But Dick trusts him, at least with this, even if the look on his face is — stunned? It's often Dick reaching out to touch him first, he supposes, with Fitz more unused to the contact after his time in solitary.
Doesn't matter, in the end, 'cause he says yes, and Fitz beams, pleased to be trying experimenting with something new. As Dick makes his way over, he finds another rock, testing its weight one-handed again. When Dick slides beside him, he doesn't shift his focus, no need, even when there's a brush of skin, bringing the bond online with the skitter of unfamiliar emotions. He's expecting a hand at his wrist, then, or a light touch against his arm (uncharacteristically short-sleeves being a necessity in this weather and all). Only they're suddenly holding hands, with surprise rising and flowing from Fitz as Dick settles slightly behind him. Just a brief glance downward, to check they're very much holding hands. Oh. Nothing strange, really, except — Connor had been the one to reach out like this, typically. Had told Fitz that he was the first one to show him what it meant, to hold someone's hand as a means of signify care.
He thinks about it now, with a flutter of some confused, bittersweet emotion slipping through the net of his control. ]
Okay. Good. [ a squeeze of their linked hands, so Dick doesn't think he's done anything wrong. Fitz casts his gaze out ahead again, fingers brushing over the rock. ] First time it happened, it was instinctive, like the ability was an extension of what I wanted, even when the wanting was, well, just laziness. So, I want to get from here [ tipping the rock in front of them and then to the side. ] to there. [ the sharpness of his focus cuts through their connection, bolstered by determination. His hand flexes slightly, still grasping Dick's own. Eyes locked on the route, he runs his tongue over the back of his teeth. ]
And just bloody-well go for it. [ said with a thrill through the bond and wind-up of his swing, tossing outward and upward. Only this time, something feels different, almost like an electric current runs rivulets through to his fingertips. Far less precise than his previous fare, the portal opening stretches from a foot or so above them down to the dirt and debris, digging into the ground and swallowing a chunk of the earth along with the rock. Even faster than before, the exit-portal ejects much farther to the right than he intended, so much so that the debris sprays against the metal wall of the warehouse with a deafening clatter — and a smattering even ricochets back.
Being an agent of SHIELD and the former, feared head of HYDRA, Fitz makes a startled noise and jumps, skittering into Dick despite their still-linked hands. ]
no subject
[ Discovering their powers for the first time. The techniques he's applying now are cribbed from her guidebook, after all. Although Fitz purposefully stays away from her endeavours, Daisy is the foremost expert on unlocking and training powers. She's the best, absolutely, but Fitz's own work on powered individuals was decidedly less savoury, and every time he learns someone's ability, he catalogs it, as if part of a horrific, inevitable subroutine: Level of danger, potential, and whether or not Ophelia would have wanted it for herself.
The nights Fitz wakes up in a cold sweat are twisted in dreams of the work he did alongside her.
Even now, teasing out Dick's power isn't as simple as helping a friend. How does Fitz know he won't use any one of his friends or their abilities to serve his ends? You don't. But Dick trusts him, at least with this, even if the look on his face is — stunned? It's often Dick reaching out to touch him first, he supposes, with Fitz more unused to the contact after his time in solitary.
Doesn't matter, in the end, 'cause he says yes, and Fitz beams, pleased to be trying experimenting with something new. As Dick makes his way over, he finds another rock, testing its weight one-handed again. When Dick slides beside him, he doesn't shift his focus, no need, even when there's a brush of skin, bringing the bond online with the skitter of unfamiliar emotions. He's expecting a hand at his wrist, then, or a light touch against his arm (uncharacteristically short-sleeves being a necessity in this weather and all). Only they're suddenly holding hands, with surprise rising and flowing from Fitz as Dick settles slightly behind him. Just a brief glance downward, to check they're very much holding hands. Oh. Nothing strange, really, except — Connor had been the one to reach out like this, typically. Had told Fitz that he was the first one to show him what it meant, to hold someone's hand as a means of signify care.
He thinks about it now, with a flutter of some confused, bittersweet emotion slipping through the net of his control. ]
Okay. Good. [ a squeeze of their linked hands, so Dick doesn't think he's done anything wrong. Fitz casts his gaze out ahead again, fingers brushing over the rock. ] First time it happened, it was instinctive, like the ability was an extension of what I wanted, even when the wanting was, well, just laziness. So, I want to get from here [ tipping the rock in front of them and then to the side. ] to there. [ the sharpness of his focus cuts through their connection, bolstered by determination. His hand flexes slightly, still grasping Dick's own. Eyes locked on the route, he runs his tongue over the back of his teeth. ]
And just bloody-well go for it. [ said with a thrill through the bond and wind-up of his swing, tossing outward and upward. Only this time, something feels different, almost like an electric current runs rivulets through to his fingertips. Far less precise than his previous fare, the portal opening stretches from a foot or so above them down to the dirt and debris, digging into the ground and swallowing a chunk of the earth along with the rock. Even faster than before, the exit-portal ejects much farther to the right than he intended, so much so that the debris sprays against the metal wall of the warehouse with a deafening clatter — and a smattering even ricochets back.
Being an agent of SHIELD and the former, feared head of HYDRA, Fitz makes a startled noise and jumps, skittering into Dick despite their still-linked hands. ]