Time Keeper and Grim Reaper

Chapter 6

[Alex's POV]

"Is everything a joke to you?" "Funny things are." Tony raised his eyebrow in defiance, and I shot him a look. It's not the time. Tony, what are you doing? "Threatening the safety of everyone on this ship isn't funny. No offence, doctor." "No, it... it's alright. I wouldn't have come aboard if I couldn't handle pointy things." Bruce quickly gave a small reply, eyes darting nervously between both men. "You're tiptoeing, big man. You need to strut." "And you need to focus on the problem, Mr Stark" "You think I'm not? Why did Fury call us and why now? Why not before? What isn't he telling us? I can't do the equation unless I have all the variables." Tony defended before his eyes shot up to meet mine. "You think Fury's hiding something?" "He's a spy. He's the spy, Alex. Of course, his secrets have secrets. And it's bugging him too, isn't it?" He pointed at Bruce and he looked like a deer in headlights. "Uh...I just wanna finish my work here and..." "Bruce?" I asked lightly and he finally sighed, looking defeated. "'A warm light for all mankind to share', Loki's jab at Fury about the cube." "Yes, I heard it," Steve confirms it and Bruce nodded, continuing. "Actually, I think that was meant for you. Even if Barton didn't post that all over the news." "The Stark Tower? That big ugly... building in New York?" Tony made a face. "It's powered by Stark Reactors, self-sustaining energy sources. That building will run itself for what, a year?" "That's just the prototype. I'm kind of the only name in clean energy right now."

"So why didn't SHIELD bring him in on the Tesseract project? I mean, What are they doing in the energy business in the first place?" Bruce was making a good point. Damn, I was too focused on Loki and I forgot about SHIELD. "Energy... Tesseract... Is SHIELD trying to use Tesseract as a point of energy for some other usage?" "That's a good point. I should probably look into that once my decryption programmer finishes breaking into all of SHIELD's secure files." "I'm sorry, did you say...?" "Bambi, how many times did I tell you not to hack into other people's stuff?" "Don't tell me you didn't enjoy the process of hacking too." Smirking, Tony nudged my arm and I shook my head in defeat. "You could have asked me." His face quickly morphed into a questioning one and I immediately sigh. Oh right. I had totally forgotten about my hidden identity in SHIELD. Probably even little Nikkie couldn't access and doesn't even know about my founder file. "It's alright. Please continue." Tony mouthed, 'we are so going to talk about this later', before continuing. "Jarvis has been running it since I hit the bridge. In a few hours, we'll know every dirty secret SHIELD has ever tried to hide."

"Blueberry?" Tony held out a bag of blueberries, prodding me. I shook my head and he whipped around, a hand extending to Bruce. He broke into a grin, fingers dipping in to grab a few. "Yet you're confused about why they didn't want you around?" "An intelligence organization that fears intelligence? It's not possible." "I think Loki is trying to wind us up. This is a man who wants to start a war, and if we don't stay focused, he will certainly succeed." Bruce observed and Steve nodded in agreement before noting. "Director Nick's orders, we should follow them." Frowning, I shot Steve a look. When did he become such a follower? Tony snorted. "Following is not really my style." "But you are all about style, aren't you?" "Of the people in this room, who is wearing a spangly outfit, and not of use?" "Steve, tell me none of this smells a little funky to you?" It seems like a slap across his face, as Bruce gave a small smile. I bet Steve had never met such a type of person. Intelligent and not a push-over. Not to mention there are two of them. "Just find the cube." Steve barely bit out, warningly, as he stomped out of the lab. I pondered for a second, before stretching lazily. It might be best if I speak to Steve and get some fresh air too. "Hey, sweetchicks! Where are you going?" "Need some air!" I replied, eyes rolling fondly.

That worrywart Tony.

"Steve? Where are you, Steve?" I muttered as I made my way down the various hallways. Nope, this leads to some random dead end. I highly doubt Steve will be there. Nope, this will reroute back to the meeting room. Damn, never knew that one and only glimpse of the Helicarrier's map would come in so useful. "Steve, Steve, Steve. Where might you be? Woah!" I yelped, crashing right into someone's chest at a turn. Immediately, he held my arms steadily. "Alex?" "Steve?" Gazes locked, and we broke into smiles. "I heard someone's looking for me." "Yeah, me." I gave a deadpanned look. "As if you wouldn't know with your enhanced hearing. Come on, we had lots to catch up on. And probably also on the point that I still haven't forgiven you for that plane crash." Tugging him along, I pulled him to an empty place. Probably a room which is rarely used.