Chapter 72: Who Slept With Who?

Maria Hill eventually left the grocery store with a lighter wallet and a sense of existential dread. Meanwhile, Luke? He wasn't in any rush to head to the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. Why should he be? He knew how the story played out. If he arrived too early, he'd just end up sipping coffee while everyone else got screentime. Better to wait for the Avengers and Loki to gather first. That way, the plot points would really start raining in. Patience brings profit. ... Aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier... The main control room buzzed with activity. The hum of advanced technology blended with the murmurs of high-level discussions. Dr. Bruce Banner stood quietly, glancing at the monitors while adjusting his glasses. Tony Stark leaned back in a chair, feet propped up on the console, flipping a small screwdriver between his fingers. Steve Rogers, clad in his iconic star-spangled uniform, stood with his arms crossed, trying to make sense of the sleek, alien-looking tech around him. Natasha Romanoff hovered silently behind Fury, eyes scanning, ears listening. They were all here, all except two. Hawkeye, still missing in action. And Luke Yale, the wild card. Nick Fury's one eye narrowed slightly when he saw Maria Hill returning, alone. "Agent Hill," he said sharply. "Where's Yale?" Hill tensed. 'Here it comes.' "I explained the situation to him," she said carefully. "He said he'll contact me when he's ready. I left my number." Fury sighed. Not surprised, but certainly not pleased. Luke was not a man who moved on anyone's schedule but his own. Fury had learned that the hard way. He could only hope the kid would show up when it counted. Still, something felt off. Fury studied Hill's face. "You're holding something back," he said bluntly. "What is it?" Hill hesitated. Her grip on the folder tightened. Part of her wanted to stay silent, but another part, a loyal colleague, a concerned friend, wouldn't let her. With a sigh, she gave in. "I think... we should recall Sharon." Fury's brow rose. "What?" "She's... too skilled to be stuck in that store. That grocery shop isn't just odd, it's changing her." "Explain," Fury said, voice low. Hill shifted uncomfortably. "When I arrived, she was cooking breakfast. In an apron, smiling. She looked like a housewife." Tony, lounging nearby, perked up with mild interest. Fury blinked. "Cooking?" "And she slept there last night, apparently, she's living there now," Hill added. Fury's reaction was instant and loud. "What?! They slept together?!" His voice echoed through the control room. Bruce's eyes widened slightly. Steve turned toward the commotion, confused. Tony sat up straighter, grinning like a kid who just heard a scandal. "Whoa. Who slept with who now?" Fury immediately covered his mouth with a curse. Too loud. Way too loud. Hill's face flushed with frustration. "That's not what I said! She's living there, but not like that. She shares a room with Wanda, not Luke." Tony whistled. "Oh-ho. Roommates now, are they? This is getting good." "Focus," Steve muttered, shooting Tony a disapproving look. Fury rubbed his temples. "Why did I ever let Sharon take that assignment..." "She's completely compromised," Hill said flatly. "And if we leave her there... we may never get her back." ... Back at the Grocery Store... Luke sneezed suddenly, nearly spilling the bowl of cereal in his hand. "Someone must be talking about me," he mumbled with a sniff. Sharon, ever watchful, handed him a glass of warm water without a word. Her fingers lingered on his as she passed it. She was quieter these days, but her gaze was warmer. There was something soft in her eyes, something unspoken. That moment in the crowd, when Luke had taken her hand, something had shifted. Whether it was the influence of Luke's system or just her own heart finally catching up, Sharon didn't know. But she liked it here. She liked him. Despite what others might think, Sharon and Luke weren't sharing a bed. She shared a room with Wanda. Somehow, instead of jealousy, the two women had become friends, allies, sisters in mischief. Their relationship was... strangely peaceful. As if they'd come to some mutual, wordless understanding. Luke, naturally inexperienced with relationships, remained oblivious. Still treating Wanda like his sister, and Sharon like his assistant. Life was good, simple, just how he liked it. ... Meanwhile, deep underground... In a hidden base lit by flickering blue light, Loki stood tall and smug. Beside him were Hawkeye and Dr. Erik Selvig, both under the thrall of the mind scepter. Their eyes glowed with unnatural blue light. Their minds twisted, but their brilliance remained. Selvig was hunched over his equipment, murmuring calculations to himself. Above his head, the Tesseract shimmered, locked in a containment field, its power pulsing like a heartbeat. "Once the portal is stable," Selvig muttered, "we can summon the army you spoke of... but we need a place that can provide enough energy." Loki gave a pleased nod. Nearby, Barton rolled a throwing knife through his fingers. "I know how to break S.H.I.E.L.D.," he said calmly. "You want chaos? Unleash the Hulk." Loki arched an eyebrow. "The green beast?" Barton smirked. "You rattle him enough, he'll destroy that flying fortress from the inside out. No cage can hold him." Loki's smile widened. "You're quite the tactician." "And the rest?" he asked. "Who are these defenders Earth throws at me?" "One by one," Barton said. "Captain America, enhanced super soldier. Straight-laced. Predictable. Old-school." "Tony Stark, brilliant but reckless. Armor tech. Keeps a miniature nuclear arsenal in his pants, probably." "Hmph," Loki scoffed. "Dr. Banner, obviously unstable. He's your target." "Natasha Romanoff, spy, assassin, manipulator. Deadly, but still human." "And then... there's someone new. A name I've only seen on files." "Luke Yale." Loki frowned. "What is he?" "Used to be a nobody," Barton said. "But ever since he opened that grocery store... strange things have followed him." "Strange?" Loki echoed, narrowing his eyes. "His dog is a monster. His car... transforms. And there's something about his little sister." Loki waved dismissively. "A mortal surrounded by toys." "Maybe," Barton said, though there was a flicker of unease behind his blue-tinged eyes. "But we focus on Banner," Loki concluded. "He's the key to breaking them." As the Tesseract pulsed behind them, Loki's grin grew sharper. He had a plan already formed in his mind, he could already see himself sitting on a throne, as the new ruler of Midgard. ...