Welcome to New York

[agent_cupid]

Clint guided the Quinjet down onto the landing pad with careful hands and an alert eye. The aircraft prototype handled like nothing else, a joint project with tech from Wakanda and Stark Industries and Clint was still a little overly cautious when he was flying it. When anything with Stark was involved, he was half tempted to expect it to turn into a giant robot or worse, drop out of the sky with warning. Still, he pulled the landing off without a hitch, coming to rest smoothly outside SHIELD HQ as he flipped off the controls and cleared the last of the landing procedures with the pleasant female voice over his headset, who had laughingly returned his flirting and had him grinning as he moved back into the main body of the jet.

It was a strange sight, the two gods and two young women in the back of the jet. Thor was sitting on one of the benches – the place he’d been most comfortable for the flight – while Sif sat across from him, having watched the entire flight from the window with avid interest. Both Asgardians had been understandably wary about being transported in the jet – or metal wingless beast, as it had been originally dubbed - and Clint had had his hands full with talking Thor out of flying the entire way. Lucky Doctor Foster had backed him on that, but it had taken a taunting jibe from Sif to finally get the scowling thunder god on board. Clint was pretty sure he was the only one who’d seen the female warrior flash him a sly wink before following him inside. Clint was fairly certain she was his favorite person at the moment. He had not been looking forward to Fury’s lectures if they’d gotten back to New York just in time to field all the reported sightings across the country of a flying man.

“Welcome to HQ, kids,” Clint retorted with a cheerful grin, his hands propped easily on his hips as he came back. “Safe and sound and all in one piece. I’m sure the welcome party’s out there for you, but I need to get you up to the Director’s office before we wander off for more sightseeing.”

Since that was Clint’s favorite part, no matter how many glowers he got from Fury for stealing SHIELD assets out into the city at large. It wasn’t like he was going to lose them. Although, granted, he suspected keeping a leash on the Asgardians, Doctor Foster, and Darcy was going to be considerably more of a challenge than showing Bucky the sights had been.

Still, the thought had him grinning in anticipation as he hit the hatch that opened the hatch and let the landing ramp lower into the secured courtyard he’d landed them in.

Comments

[nick_fury]

"Yes, you." Fury's eyebrows raised, equally surprised by the fact that she wouldn't be expecting it. Then again, Nick Fury was not the world's leading expert on Asgardian culture. What he knew were a number of strong women who not only took great offense when they weren't asked, but shared their opinions anyway. Since Sif seemed to fit firmly into the category of "strong women," Fury had no doubt she'd have something to say on the matter.

"Mostly what you plan to do here. I've heard about your role in the fight at Puente Antigua, so I know you can do your share of damage. I'm hoping that at the very least, none of it will be aimed at us."

[shield_maiden]

Sif's lips curved into a bemused smile as she tilted her head to the side and studied him, her eyes warming a bit. "You don't have to worry about that, Director Fury," she answered mildly, waving a hand in dismissal before letting it fall to the hilt of the glaive at her side.

"As long as you don't make an enemy of my prince, you have nothing to fear from me. I did not come to Midgard with the intent of causing your people harm, or trouble. Thor is fond of your people - some of them in particular - and I would not bring danger to those precious to him. I admit I have my own reasons for leaving Asgard and coming to your realm, but they are my business alone and should not interfere with what it is you do here."

She meant those words. She hoped they were true, that Loki would not make a liar out of her. She had come here for answers, and she would stay until she had them. And probably longer, if her punishment for betrayal was as dire as she feared upon return to her home. With her princes here, there was little to lure her back at any rate, so it was best not to make enemies of the protectors of this realm. Not without ample cause.

[nick_fury]

Should not: two words that left far too much possibility for things to go disastrously wrong in Nick Fury's book. As much as SHIELD had attempted to prepare for something like this, the truth remained that human beings had pathetically few resources they could turn to when facing so much strength. The vast majority of humanity couldn't even comprehend most of what Nick Fury dealt with on a regular basis, and even his sense of reality had been challenged more times than he could count in the past few months.

Should not. Two words which pretty much invalidated everything else Sif had just told him.

"Good." But Fury wouldn't reveal his doubt, risk putting either Thor or Sif on edge. So long as they both went with it enough, then that gave Fury time to prepare some sort of response, a plan for the worst case scenario. His features relaxed, not enough for the man to smile, but to signal that some worry had been eased instead of added.

The elevator doors opened then, and it wasn't by coincidence. Fury had agents monitoring the conversation, ones who had been trained in the subtle signals so often used by spies. He headed off first, marching in the direction of a large display where the security video had been set up to play. On a table nearby, one surrounded by chairs, the phone and a file with the details of the events and tests alike sat waiting.

"Whenever you're ready, we'll begin."

[thunders]

Thor was silent as Sif spoke. Their vows and duties toward the mortals were not the same, and he preferred that Nick Fury know that from her.

He stepped off the elevator after Fury, stopping at his shoulder to fold his arms across his chest and watch the image of Loki move across the screen into what looked like a brothel of some kind. Thor watched silently as he read, the image all too familiar despite everything around it, and then he stood and smiled and walked through a wall.

"Even now, he plays games." Thor's fingers twitched against his own arm, but he shook his head. "Show me the rest."

There was not a great deal to show, save for field reports and the transcripts of a conversation with another mortal. There were no deaths, no injuries, only mischief so far. He leaned back in the chair he'd claimed, thumb stroking absently across his beard.

"He has never contacted you before now?" He asked finally, looking at Nick Fury. "Perhaps you are right, and my coming has once again brought trouble into your midst, or disturbed what peace he has found here in Midgard."

[nick_fury]

"Not that I am aware of." Because that was one thing Fury was quickly coming to learn: these new forces were powerful ones, beyond human imagination and certainly their capability. It was why the two now considering the evidence were so important; not only did they know this Loki, but they could fight against him--and at least one had said he would.

"Whether it's your fault or not, I don't let hostile forces dictate who my allies are. It sets a bad precedent." The last image SHIELD needed to portray was one of fear, where they broke the newly formed truce with Thor because Loki got it into his head to 'play games,' as it had been said.

"Anything you can tell me about your brother's abilities, his strengths and weaknesses, and what he might be planning would be greatly appreciated."

[thunders]

Thor smiled slightly at that. There was a reason he liked mortals. "A sound philosophy, Director Fury."

He laced his fingers in front of him, blunt nails digging into the backs of his hands. "My brother's plans have never been simple in nature, and now I fear his mind is... twisted." He shook his head once, lips tightening briefly before he dismissed the thought. "But we have fought together many times. He is a trickster by nature, quick and clever, and though he is not as powerful as I in single combat, he is by no measure weak. I would not recommend that your people engage him directly."

[nick_fury]

"Twisted." Fury repeated the description, one that clearly had a story behind it, from the look on Thor's face. However, the man not only elected not to share, but ended his report with a recommendation that SHIELD not attempt an upfront confrontation. Fury saw the logic in it, of course, because Thor was right; the incidents in New Mexico had shown, without doubt, that the average group of humans would be lucky to last a few minutes against any one of these Asgardians.

Unfortunately, Fury didn't have the luxury of taking the recommended course of action.

"I'll take that under advisement. However, the reality is that my people may not have a choice. Loki's already gone after one of my agents, and that tape certainly did not look like a farewell salute." Fury rested his hands on his hips, tilting his head back to better meet Thor's eye.

"So what can we do?" A question Fury already had started to answer, but he wanted to hear the answers Thor would provide.

[thunders]

Thor almost didn't respond. No question had been asked, so perhaps he could avoid it, but he needed to be sure they were absolutely clear. "Loki rarely acts without reason, even now I think, but there is madness in him that darkens every thought.

"When we find him, I will handle Loki. I mean this as no insult to you or yours, Nick Fury, but he is still a prince of Asgard and... And I do not wish to see more blood spilled at my brother's hands, not if it can be helped.

"When you must fight him..." Thor paused, thoughtful. "You're a very clever lot, your strength lies in that. I would not know what weaponry you have that could give pause to an Asgardian, not without seeing it, but perhaps there is something."