That awareness of being watched makes him feel uneasy even before he falls to the ground with a sharp pinch of pain to his hip. The blue viscous fluid sloughing off of his skin doesn't ease his mind at all. If anything, it makes him hyper aware of how this is not what he'd expected at all. His hand runs over his features and he feels how the goop is clinging to his beard and stuck in his hair. He knows he needs to get up, to move from wherever this is, but he's also aware of pieces of conversations he's picking up just by being silent. The explaining of things that don't make sense -- the reasoning that no one knows why or how.

The blue fluid, the pods for captivity - it all screams alien tech to him. Chitauri, Kree anything that could remotely pull this off is top of his list. When he finally rises to his feet and reaches for a towel, he's quick to notice the progression of people to the showers. Another moment and he spots the lockers. Heading toward them he's intuitive enough to match the never before seen tattoo to the numbers on the lockers and he finds the shaving kit along with not very much else in way of clothing. He brings the waterproof electric razor with and retreats with the rest to the showers.

After a shower and shave, he feels slightly better - but still uneasy about what this all is. He'd been on his way to Christian, to his brother and despite not wanting to be taken there his second option wouldn't have been to this place. He dresses in the jeans and t-shirt, leaving the dark grey jumpsuit behind and tries to figure out if he should head to the floor marked on his arm or try the lower decks as advertised.

Among the sea of faces that are unfamiliar, there is one curly head of hair that stands out. Ward can feel the tightness in his jaw increase as he recalls the last encounter with Fitz. There's nothing pleasant about having the oxygen pulled from his holding cell and he doesn't blame Fitz for wanting that sort of revenge. He can understand wanting to make things even, to settling an old score. It doesn't mean he likes it directed at him, but he can understand that need.

A few varied conversations have made him aware that not everyone is pulled from the same time. It's possible it could be more things related to aliens, to their understanding of things that are well-beyond their own capabilities. It also means that there's a chance that this might not go as poorly as he's anticipating. Especially since it seems Fitz has spotted him.

It's best if he meets it head on. His pace slows, trying to assume that this is going to be fine. That this isn't going to end with him having to make a choice he doesn't want to make right now. He even turns to look at Fitz, nodding slightly in recognition of the scientist. There's something... off, though and he's not sure if it's the environment or something else, but whatever good feeling he might have been hoping for has slipped away.