Chapter 40
SHIELD Headquarters, Washington, D.C., United States
May 2011
Fury punched the wall.
He regretted it instantly. There was now blood on the paint in addition to the half-sorted disaster on the floor. His distasteful visitor had made quite a mess with her entrance and exit, though the news she brought had been worth it.
Fury pressed his barking knuckles to his lips and closes his eyes.
Fucking Romanoff. He should’ve seen this coming, but he’d been too preoccupied with the TAHITI project to pick up on the clues that were all too glaring in hindsight. Barton’s weird behavior of late, Romanoff’s reluctance to go out on her mission. No way was it to destroy a human trafficking ring in Brazil. He never should’ve fallen for such a simple ruse.
He’d still get his Brazil operatives and contacts to keep a weather eye out.
This whole Avengers thing was blowing up in his face. It was time to recall Barton and Hill. Rogers, too, if he could be convinced - technically the man wasn’t SHIELD, but Fury could certainly use a chemically and genetically modified supersoldier. Although he’d have to keep some of his less tasteful ventures hidden. Captain America was a fundamentally good person. Problematically so, at times.
But all of the Avengers had been worryingly distant to Fury when he’d visited last. He had simply stopped by to check on the scepter and personally verify their continued willingness to cooperate. The whole team had been aloof and cold. It was concerning, to say the least.
Time to start breaking up the Avengers. They’d served their purpose and were now becoming a liability.
He’d recall Hill as soon as possible and keep her close for a few years; separate Barton from the rest with lengthy field ops. Fury had several that would suit the assassin’s skill set nicely and hopefully distract him with pretty women ready for a few rounds on the mattress. Rogers—he was sure he could find something interesting for Rogers to do. If nothing else, separating him from the rest of the group would sever their growing bonds.
Then there was the science trio. Stark, Banner, and Foster. Banner could be diverted fairly easily; Fury found it difficult to believe the man was sticking around for any reason other than the scepter. He hated big cities and publicity, and Avengers Tower boasted both. With the scepter gone, Banner would take off, and take the Hulk with him. Fury would offer Foster a huge fee to travel with Selvig and study Einstein-Rosen bridges and other astronomical phenomena for SHIELD in some remote observatory. She loved her science; she’d never say no, even on condition of Darcy Lewis staying behind.
Because Lewis needed to be taken care of.
Fury made a note on the table in his own private code to arrange a little ‘accident’ for Darcy Lewis soon. There was no telling what she knew, but given that none of the Avengers had come snarling to Fury’s doorstep, she clearly hadn’t told them the truth. She remained a liability. The girl was too clever.
And then, with the Avengers scattered, Fury knew he would have his chance.
He looked around the disaster of his office and his chin lifted with conviction. It was a new and better world he was building, he knew it. There would be planet-wide safety, prosperity, and peace for the first time in human history, and it would be Nick Fury behind it.
Of course, no one would know it was him, but he didn’t need the credit. Just the power, and the knowledge that he’d fixed things, he’d healed the world—that would be enough.