UNKNOWN GUEST

#14 The Tesseract

As Uncle Clint and I stepped out of his car, I was greeted by the sight of a colossal building standing alone in the darkness. The sleek, modern architecture of the structure loomed over us, its glass façade reflecting the scant light from the surroundings. It felt both imposing and awe-inspiring, a testament to the high-tech world my father was now a part of.

"What's this place?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Uncle Clint, already moving toward the entrance, glanced back with a playful smirk. "You'll see," he replied, his tone hinting at something intriguing.

As we approached the building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The building's grandeur was overwhelming, and its presence seemed to dwarf everything around it.

Clint broke the silence, his voice cutting through the ambient hum. "So, where have you been yesterday evening?"

I smiled, recalling the previous night's events. "A Chinese restaurant, just next to Stark Tower," I said. It was a small victory to have managed a pleasant evening with my father, despite the challenges of bridging his past with the present.

Clint nodded thoughtfully. "So? Is your father getting used to this new surrounding?"

I sighed, my shoulders sagging slightly. It's been a struggle to break through his shell. He tends to isolate himself, spending hours in the gym, pounding punching bags as a way to deal with his frustration and disorientation. Despite my persistent attempts to engage him, he's snapped at me a few times.

Last week, I managed to get him out of the facility and show him around the city. Yesterday, I took him near Stark Tower, and when he heard about Tony Stark—Howard Stark's son—it seemed to give him a bit of comfort. I enjoyed the evening with him, seeing him relax, even if just a little.

"He will need more time," I said, reflecting on the situation. "And I understand. We both are... men out of time."

Uncle Clint gave me a reassuring pat on the back as we stepped into the elevator. The doors slid closed with a soft whoosh, and the elevator began to ascend.

The elevator dinged softly as it reached its destination, and Uncle Clint and I stepped out into a space that starkly contrasted with the sleek exterior of the building. The hallway was dimly lit, and the interior had a distinctly industrial feel, illuminated only by the soft glow of overhead lights and the blue luminescence of various machinery.

As we walked towards the room, I could hear the hum of equipment and the murmur of voices. Entering the room, I saw it was filled with people outfitted in high-density glasses and safety vests, their attention focused on an array of advanced technology and glowing apparatuses. The air was filled with a mix of anticipation and intense concentration.

Uncle Clint called out, "Dr. Selvig," and a man turned towards us. He had gray hair and wore a pair of thick glasses. His expression was one of mild irritation mixed with curiosity. "Hey, Agent Barton," he responded.

Uncle Clint introduced me, "This is Dr. Erik Selvig."

I nodded respectfully, recognizing him from his renowned thesis. "The best astrophysicist alive," I remarked, though Dr. Selvig merely scoffed and turned back to his work.

Dr. Selvig turned his attention back to the machine he was working with. My gaze followed his, and I saw the object in question—a blue cube emitting a strange, ethereal glow. My heart skipped a beat as I realized it was the Tesseract, the space stone. The realization hit me like a jolt: Loki was about to make an appearance, and this was the key to it all.

I glanced at Uncle Clint, who was intently watching Dr. Selvig, and the gravity of the situation settled heavily on me. I was on the brink of revealing the looming danger, but I had to remind myself of the importance of letting events unfold naturally. The Avengers' formation and the eventual battle were pivotal, and interfering could jeopardize the timeline.