The Brewing Storm

S.H.I.E.L.D

3.

"Right, so you remember everything I've taught you?"

"You mean everything I've taught myself?"

"With the information I gave you!" Eugene slaps my cheeks gently, and pulls my jacket onto my shoulders. "You are going to blow them away."

"It's like you're dressing me up to meet the next King of England."

"They're actually being ruled by a Queen-"

"I don't care." I roll my eyes, and brush through my hair with the comb my brother claims he had set aside for me.  "So, what will you do while I'm away?"

"This and that." He replies vaguely.  I roll my eyes, and pour myself a glass of water. "Matt will want this information soon, so Hells Kitchen will be the first stop."

"And you're still not going to tell me what the information's for?"

"No, if one of their valued goods is on the loose, we have to find it before they do."

Although I still have n idea what he's talking about, I sigh, "Sounds exhausting." and turn to face the sink, taking a quiet, steady breath, before turning to face my brother.

How have we ended up here? We agreed that we would have nothing to do with SHIELD, but now, Loki's back, and everything we've ever said has just flown out of the window. Why? Why should I change my plans because he's back? He abandoned me. He chose to leave me in the dark, I'm going to make him see what this has done to me. How his so called 'death' affected me. I can admit that now, it did take it's toll. I mourned every day for him. I wanted- prayed for him to be alive... But now that just seems foolish.

"Do you think you'll need anything?" Eugene calls from the bedroom. "I mean, if you want to take your toothbrush-"

I grin at his kind, but unnecessary remark. "I'm sure they'll have one already waiting for me."

He wanders out of the bedroom, his eyes remained fixated upon the file he was holding close to his face. I watch him for a moment, as his beautiful eyes speed from one end to the other. Slapping the paperwork shut, he hands me the file, and smiles gently.

"Be careful."

I place my hand against his cheek, and smile back. "Of course. I always am."

~

The wind blows gently through my hair, as I set the file down on the wall beside me. Pulling my coat tighter around my body, the harbour was busy occupying their fishermen, and customers who were walking to and from stores. Other business men and women speed through the streets, only having to worry about deadlines and all of the meetings they are required to attend. For a short moment, I wonder what it would be like to live a normal life, having to worry about such mundane things, not knowing what's out there, the real dangers.

In my eyes, their problems are laughable. They're not being hunted for their abilities, or restrained because the world believes they are in danger, or imprisoned to discover how they were created. They run on their ability to wrap their minds around a fantasy that the world is safe, simply to protect them from the reality they face.

I sigh, and go to pull out a cigarette when a large silver object lands smoothly on the harbours water. Although I desperately want to believe differently, I couldn't mistake SHIELD'S logo stuck visibly on the side of the jet. A woman emerges from the jet. her face stern, with an earpiece stuck to the side of her head. She talks into it quietly. before noticing me sat waiting for her.

"Eris Denali?" She questions, silencing the receiver on the end of the line.

I glance around, just to double check that I'm the only one here."Were you expecting someone else?"