158: The Avengers' First Meeting (2)
Gwen breathed easier seeing Tony safely escort Anna away.
Hearing from JARVIS that Anna was unharmed especially relieved her worries. With Anna now aboard a jet with Captain Rogers and Iron Man, her security was guaranteed.
"Keep close surveillance on Loki when they reach S.H.I.E.L.D., Red Queen," Gwen instructed.
"And keep tracking down the Tesseract..."
Before the AI could respond, a knock interrupted Gwen.
"Are you in there?" her father George called through the door.
Gwen panicked, hurriedly closing her laptop lid.
"Yes, come in Dad!"
George entered happily, saying "The police matters are finally wrapped up, so I came home early to have dinner with you."
After long days handling Green Goblin's case and submitting reports, George had rushed back as soon as he could.
"Welcome home!"
Gwen said brightly, the stress seeming to lift off George's shoulders seeing her joy.
"Since I happen to be back, why not invite that Andrew boy for dinner too?" George suggested. "I rather miss his cooking."
While partly true, George mainly wanted to observe how close his daughter and Andrew had become.
At the mention of Andrew though, Gwen's gaze fell. "He had to make an urgent trip to his Hometown actually. Not sure when he'll return..."
Disappointed to hear Andrew wasn't around, George sighed. "No matter, let's eat. Your mother's cooked all your favorites."
He then noticed Pikachu sitting quietly and frowned. "Gwen, I've told you - don't keep dolls and food together. It attracts bugs!" As he moved to tidy up, Gwen quickly stopped him.
"Didn't mom just call for you? Best see what she needs so dinner won't be late!" she said hastily.
"I'll take care of this, you go on."
After George left, Gwen sighed in relief.
"That was close...he almost grabbed you again."
Pikachu mimed wiping sweat from his brow. They couldn't risk George discovering him.
"Go lie down for now, okay Pikachu?" Gwen said.
"I'm heading to dinner."
Pikachu eagerly nodded, not keen to risk George's scrutiny again.
As Gwen exited, the Red Queen's voice emitted from the closed laptop, "Miss Gwen, Mr. Stark is now battling Thor..." But Gwen was already gone.
Deciding better than to continue unheard, the AI fell silent again.
Elsewhere,
In a dark forest, deafening thunder suddenly cracked as blinding lightning struck the earth. The powerful blast uprooted trees and kicked up debris clouds, leaving a sizeable crater when the dust settled.
At the crater's rim stood Loki, somehow transported from the jet. He gazed down indifferently.
"It shouldn't be so easy to die."
"That wouldn't be fun."
In the crater below, Tony, Rogers, and the newly arrived Thor slowly stood up from the hard landing.
Thor had claimed Loki from the jet but Tony pursued to stop him. Rogers interceded and landed a shield blow that created the large blast just now.
This was the unplanned first meeting of the three core Avengers. Thor was shocked finding himself evenly matched by two mortal men.
Underestimating them had cost him, but with full focus, he was unsure of guaranteed victory either.
"Is it over?"
"When we're done, let's go back to S.H.I.E.L.D to talk."
Rogers mediated firmly. Their equal standing lent weight to negotiations.
Thor set aside his rashness and nodded in agreement. "No Problem."
In the jet, Loki was once more seated silently while the tension between the other three remained palpable.
Black Widow sought to cut through the awkward air.
"Thor, can you get Loki to reveal the Tesseract's location now?" she asked. "It would make this simpler."
Thor regarded the mute Loki. "Tell us, where have your men taken the Tesseract?"
Loki shrugged. "Now I really don't know where my subordinates took it."
"Barton is not your subordinate."
Black Widow bristled at hearing Barton deemed Loki's subordinate.
"He is very loyal to me, even if I want him to die now, he will not frown."
She gripped the controls tightly, willing herself calm. Were Loki not vital to solving this, she would already have put a bullet through him for Clint's sake.
Through gritted teeth, she accused, "You're out of chances Loki. It's time for truth."
Loki deigned no response.
Seeing Rogers also unable to entice facts from the captive god, Tony quipped rudely, "Maybe Point Break here intimidates him. You are quite aged, after all."
Shooting Tony an irritated look, Rogers prompted Thor, "You did claim you and your brother have lived for centuries..."
"How old does that make you two then?" Tony challenged.
Rogers and Tony both fell silent. This Asgardian far outstripped anything they knew.
Soon Black Widow spotted the helicarrier through the clouds.
"Director Fury, we have the prisoner secured. Requesting permission to land for transfer."
Fury's voice acknowledged.
"Good work. Bring him in and meet me on the bridge."
As Black Widow maneuvered toward the landing strip, Tony couldn't resist one Parthian shot. "I'll have someone fetch your walker down, Gramps."
Rogers rolled his eyes but didn't rise to the bait.
Facing down this smug billionaire for the duration could test even his resilience...
To be continued...
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