Coulson visits

Grant was interrupted in his exercises by the sound of the Vault D door opening. He made to sit on his bed, as Phil Coulson walked down the steps. He was as inscrutable as ever, his face giving nothing way as he approached Grant.

"What brings you to my little corner of the world, Coulson?" Grant asked, a smirk playing on his lips. Even though he wanted redemption, he refused to act like the Grant Ward they had thought they knew. He wouldn't pretend anymore.

"Information, mainly," he said, holding up a picture in his right hand, "do you recognise these symbols?" Getting as close to the picture as the forcefield would allow, Grant nodded.

"Garrett was drawing them on anything he could find after he was injected with GH-325. These are slightly different though. Where did you find them?" he asked.

"That's not something you need to know." Coulson said, putting the picture down again.

"Coulson, Garret went insane drawing those symbols. Whatever they are, they're not safe. You need to tell me who's drawing them!" Grant insisted.

"I am." Coulson said. Grant stared.

"Why the hell did you just tell me that?" he asked, completely perplexed. He hadn't expected his plea to actually work. Coulson frowned.

"Because... I needed to tell you who was drawing the symbols." He didn't seem sure of that answer himself, but Grant noticed how he had almost repeated Grant's words exactly.

The biggest grin appeared on Grant's face as he came up with a theory. A gift of 'truth'... If he was right...

"Coulson, you need to let me out of this cell." he ordered. Immediately, Coulson pressed a button on the small pad he was holding. The forcefield dropped, and Grant was free. His grin only got wider. It had worked! Oh, this was incredible! Truth! If he stated a fact, that fact became true! Oh, he was going to have so much fun with this...

"Coulson, you forgive me for everything!" he said, high on adrenaline at his new powers. Coulson didn't even need to say anything, Grant could see it in his eyes. There was no hate there, no distrust. Grant laughed, slightly maniacally. Imagine all he could do with this power! He could get anything he wanted! In fact, why not start right now?