In the wake of The Blip, the multi-verse has expanded knowledge of the universe in ways no one thought possible. For the first time, journeying between realms and realities is a tangible possibility.
Ex-SHIELD agent and Avenger, Lilith Lenore, is h...
I grimaced at my old colleague as I knelt down to pick up the knife. I slipped it back into its sheath and tugged my pant leg back down to cover it before standing to face Nick. He was still before me, his larger frame blocking the majority of the doorway between my bedroom and the rest of the apartment.
"How did you find me?" I asked pointedly.
I stepped around Nick and whipped my small backpack off, pulling the damp paper bag containing my dinner out of the pack and tossing it onto the ground beside the tattered couch in the same motion. I crossed the floor to the tiny kitchen, the space scarcely large enough for the round, ratty table and two mismatched chairs I'd procured from a thrift store. I pulled back one of the chairs on the side farthest from Nick and sat down, eyeing him skeptically.
"My dinner is cold, thanks." I lamented, still eyeing him as I began to eat.
Nick smiled wryly.
"Apologies. But you changed your number, so I wasn't sure how to get in touch with you."
I gave him a disdainful look.
"And you didn't take that as a hint?" I asked flatly.
Nick gave me a knowing look and crossed the room in my direction. He seated himself on the arm of the tattered loveseat in what was supposed to be the living room, if you could call it that. The loveseat was the only piece of furniture I'd acquired to fill the space so far. He took a look around at his surroundings before he spoke, taking in everything from the outdated kitchen, to the same faded, red walls in the living room that matched the bedroom. I felt an eyebrow involuntarily raise in skepticism. Had he not gotten a good look around while he was undoubtedly waiting for my return? I was sure he hadn't just gotten in when I made it home, knowing Nick's fondness for turning up unannounced.
"You know you don't have to hide." He said finally. His tone was soft, apologetic. "Everyone who didn't sign the Accords were pardoned shortly after The Blip."
I shrugged, keeping my eyes trained on the wrap in my hands rather than looking in his direction.
"I'm not hiding." I said simply.
He scoffed.
"Oh really, Samantha? Isn't that it? Why hide your name if you aren't running from something?"
I shrugged again, still avoiding his piercing gaze.
"Just because I'm laying low doesn't mean I'm hiding. I'm just retired."
Nick shook his head.
"Retired. Give me a break. Lilith, you're too damn special for that. You've done a hell of a lot for this planet, you know."
I laid my dinner down on the bag and pushed it across the tabletop. Suddenly, my appetite was gone. I felt my stomach turning as the last decade came flying back into my mind. The good deeds I had done in service of the Avengers, sure. But there were also the not-so-good things I'd done before I was involved with SHIELD. And, regrettably, the things I'd done for SHIELD without knowing they were really HYRDA in disguise. The things I'd agreed to, not truly knowing the reality of the mission. The innocent targets. I could feel the sting of tears beginning in the corners of my eyes.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
