Chapter Text
Dinner at St. Agnes was always loud: metal trays clattering, kids shouting over one another, someone crying, someone else laughing too hard, the constant hum of fluorescent lights buzzing above it all like they might burst.
Daisy settled into her seat and stared at her dinner of pale mashed potatoes, canned green beans, and something they said was chicken. Across the room, she saw one of the little ones, Mia, staring down at her empty tray with hollow eyes. The nuns caught Mia sneaking a lollipop from the common room and cut her dinner. Daisy knew that kind of punishment, but she also knew it wouldn’t make Mia any less likely to steal. It would just make her hungrier next time.
Sighing, she got up. “Here,” she said, dropping her tray in front of Mia.
Mia looked up like she had been caught again, but Daisy just ruffled her hair and walked off before anyone could stop her.
By lights out, Daisy’s stomach was eating itself.
She curled up in her bunk, waiting for the footsteps of Sister Anne to fade down the hallway. When it was safe, she silently got up, pulled on her hoodie, and crept across the dormitory floor like she’s done a hundred times before. The window latch was sticky – it always groaned when she slid it open, but no one stirred.
She dropped to the ground behind the hedges and took off down the block. She knew the little bodega on the corner of Ninth and Beverley would be open late, and that the guy behind the counter didn’t care much about anything. He sold cigarettes to high schoolers and expired candy for a dollar. She’s only stolen from him once – a bag of chips months ago, and he didn’t even notice.
The bell above the door chimed when she walked in. It was too bright inside, and it smelled like mop water and burnt coffee. She pulled her hood up and snuck into the back. Her eyes scanned the fridge and saw a sad little plastic-wrapped sandwich, the deli turkey and cheese already curling at the edges. He would probably throw it out in the morning anyway. As soon as he turned to restock the cigarettes, she grabbed it and ran.
Unfortunately, she only made it three steps before he caught her by the arm.
“Hey!”
She froze, teeth clenched, already planning to yank away. But he didn’t hurt her. He just looked... confused. And maybe a little worried.
“You trying to steal a sandwich?”
She didn’t answer. She stared at the floor and waited for it to go bad.
May was two minutes from signing out when the call came through.
“Petty theft, Ninth and Beverley. Minor caught with food, no damage.”
Her partner, Phil Coulson, leaned over the cruiser they just parked and groaned. “So close.”
May glanced at the clock ticking to midnight. “Go home, I’ll take it. It’s on my way back anyway.”
The bodega was quiet when she arrived. Seeing her, the owner looked relieved as he held out a half-crushed sandwich in a plastic bag.
“I’m not pressing charges,” he said immediately. “Just… look at her. It’s midnight and she’s stealing food. I don’t care about the five bucks. I’m worried about the kid.”
May looked past him to the kid, slouched against the freezer door with her arms crossed. Her face looked like she was trying to look pissed, but instead she looked kind of embarrassed.
May recognized the dark hair and posture instantly. “Daisy.”
“Oh, hey…” Daisy muttered as she looked up. “What are the odds?”
May looked at the sandwich, then at the girl, then at the owner. “How much?”
“Forget it,” the man said. “I just want to go home.”
May nodded and handed him a ten anyway. “Get in the car,” she said to Daisy.
Daisy didn’t argue.
“You arrest everyone who’s hungry?” Daisy asked dryly as they drove off.
“You always this snarky after curfew?”
“Only when I’m starving.”
May didn’t answer. She didn’t say anything when they passed St. Agnes either, despite Daisy’s confused glare. Instead, she pulled into a parking spot in front of the 24-hour diner without a word.
Daisy looked out the window confused. “What…?”
“You’re hungry,” May said simply. “Let’s go.”
Inside, the diner was mostly empty. The waitress chewed her gum loudly and poured a cup of coffee for herself in the corner. May lightly nudged Daisy towards an empty table, watching as the girl slid into the booth like she expected to be thrown out. When the menus came, Daisy barely touched it.
“What do you want?” May asked, careful to keep her tone casual.
“I don’t know.”
May cocked an eyebrow. “You said you were hungry. Get whatever you want.”
“I’ll just have a grilled cheese,” she mumbled.
It was the cheapest entree on the menu. “Anything else?”
Daisy shook her head.
May didn’t argue. “Okay. I’ll have the same. And fries and a chocolate shake.”
Daisy kept her hands to herself for exactly three minutes.
Then, as May sipped her shake, one fry disappeared. And then another. She didn’t say anything, she just slid the plate closer to the girl and added a straw to her shake.
Daisy took a sip. “You gonna ask me what happened?”
“No.”
That seemed to surprise the teenager.
Their sandwiches came out and they ate in silence. The grilled cheese was buttery and warm and better than anything Daisy had eaten in months.
“I didn’t eat lunch,” Daisy blurted out suddenly. “My school gives out vouchers but they ran out today. And then I gave my dinner to one of the kids at St. Agnes. She’s like six and got her dinner taken away for something stupid. So, yeah… I took the sandwich.”
May didn’t say anything. She just nodded like it made sense.
And for some reason, that made Daisy’s throat close up.
After they ate, May pulled up to the side entrance of St. Agnes and put the car in park.
Daisy didn’t move. “Thanks for the grilled cheese,” she said eventually.
“Don’t make it a habit.”
“Of thanking people?”
May glanced at her sideways. “Of stealing sandwiches.”
That made Daisy laugh, short and surprised.
“Call me next time. We’ll get grilled cheese again.”
Daisy hesitated and didn’t respond. She just slipped out of the car and into the shadows.
May waited until the door shut behind her before pulling away.