Disclaimer - All the usual Yada Yada Yada. I don't own any rights to any characters in this fic save for my OCs. Don't sue me.
Anywho, without further ado - read on.
Earth-6161 [May 2012]
Maldives
–Nick Fury–
He watched as the Ravens vanished, taking with them the one voice that Weber listened to. In all the time that SHIELD had been tracking her, she never once listened to anyone but herself, even when she should have.
He barely restrained himself from asking Thor about a way to contact Odin because if the world had any shot of communicating properly with the walking talking calamity that was Samantha Weber, he needed someone she would listen to, and apparently, that would only happen when she was talking with someone of equal power and strength.
That was very much clear, as that was the only reason why she bothered with Thor's request. It galled him to realise that the Director of the foremost intelligence agency on the planet had to rely on half confirmed myths and stories passed down from centuries ago but the situation being what it was, he could excuse himself for it.
In the myths, Odin was said to be stronger, and not just a little stronger but far stronger than any other Asgardian, by far. It stood to reason that Odin was stronger than the current Thor by a very wide margin, and he had to hope that Odin was also stronger than Weber because it somewhat made sense if a literal alien warrior race full of near immortal beings was as strong as he was.
It most definitely did not make sense for a human woman, born of normal parents-he had checked–was anywhere near as strong as Odin himself.
Eh quietly sighed in relief as the Tesseract was tossed to Thor who promptly encased it in some Asgardian contraption because that damned thing was now responsible for creating not one but two very powerful human women who did not listen to any prison of authority at all. Why would they? Their mere presence was more than enough to upend the very authority structure of the planet.
It would make less sense if Carol and Weber actually did decide to listen to the politicians of the planet. As long as Odin came through with his promise of keeping the Tesseract away from humans, he would consider it a net positive, a rare thing in this positively shitty show.
He locked eyes with the Asgardian God who got his message, a rare thing, grabbed Loki and flew off with his mystical hammer. He bored holes into Stark, waiting for him to do the same but alas, tact and Stark were rarely uttered in the same sentence. So, with a sigh, he stepped forward, keeping an eye on the Sceptre's yellow glow which was now stowed into the bag.
Borrowing Stark's words, he really could not believe the audacity of this woman, to keep not one but two world ending artifacts in a simple tote bag with a little lady opening a can of tomatoes pasted on it.
"Ms.Weber," He began, aware that Tony had pointed something at him, likely a camera. Resisting the urge to shoot that thing off, he continued, "The world is very nervous right now, because of your actions that day. Don't get me wrong, I think they are grateful for your help but–"
"Am I supposed to care?" The bored drawl of the woman made him stop entirely, fists clenching as he thought of how he could proceed with this. Tony's barely muffled snicker did not make things easier on him.
"You should care," he went with that angle, playing up her heroic feats, "The world now knows you exist and more often than not, people are more scared of an unknown danger than they are of a known one. The people in power, they are shaken right now. I think we can both agree that the world would get a moment of relief if they get some sort of guarantee from–"
"I agree." He blinked owlishly at her. He did not expect to hear those words until after he had nearly begged and grovelled at her feet because the truth of the matter was that he had nothing, nada, zilch. No leverage, no stick, no carrot, nothing she wanted, no one she cared for save for Agent Eric and even if he dropped dead right now, she would not care much.
She continued, "I agree that they are scared, as they should be. As for your guarantee," he tensed, so did Tony and Eric as Weber took out the sceptre from the bag, the darkening skies and the yellow glow on her face making the whole scene straight out one of the many horrific flashes that his imagination had been providing him ever since he came to know that Weber was now in the possession of a mass mind control tool.
"--I suppose they want this now?" She brandished the sceptre towards the sea and he had to actively stop himself from flinching when a ball of energy shot out of the sceptre, creating an explosion in the sea nearby, showering them with small drops of water.
"It would help," Tony said, drawing everyone's attention towards him. The man shrugged, stepping forward, trying to act casual but he could see the way his fingers trembled and the way he took very short steps forward. Tony was scared, as he should be, as were all of them.
"I mean, you come onto the scene, totally unannounced. Look all badass, hold off an entire alien invasion, create a floating ocean on top of Manhattan and then ferry almost a million people out of the city–they are still people who have yet to reach their homes, by the way– and then disappear with two of the most important things the world has seen by now. I mean, I don't blame the old fucks from being outright terrified of you."
Tony then sat down on a rock after flashing a smile at everyone.
"So, you would have me bow down to old men with too much power at their helm?" Weber asked Tony, finally turning around to make eye contact, which made the man falter in his words.
Credit to him, he picked off a moment later, waving off the very notion, "Pfft. As if. No one will ask you to do that. Even if you wanted to, the second you appear in front of them–well, let's just say their assistants will be running out to get new diapers by the crate. But getting a tool of mind control, mass mind control apparently back in the hands of the people the majority of the population trusts, barely, would be a good thing. I think?"
Tony finished with a nervous smile aimed at Weber. He remained silent and signalled Eric to remain silent as well because as much of a smartass as Tony was, he would not be doing this without a plan. That would be too risky and reckless, even for Tony.
Weber smiled, which invoked a sense of dread in him, instead of relief, and then turned around to look at the sea, picking up the half empty bottle of alcohol. Good Lord, were they dealing with a drunk Weber all this time? He really hoped she could not get drunk because dealing with a sober version of her was the biggest pain in his ass.
"No." He exhaled in resignation, knowing that it was coming but disappointed all the same.
"Okay," Tony continued, without missing a beat, "What can you do then? You can't just expect the world to forget that a lady capable of wrecking cities exists on the same planet that normies like me live on, breathing the same air and drinking the same water, can you?"
Weber sighed, "Tony Stark, it is not my concern what people think of me. I would have been dead long before you would have been born had that been my mindset. Also, no, I will not be handing over something that is just as dangerous as the Cube to the government. I have seen what you people did with the Cube. Lastly, I do not care about the old fucks who govern the planet, as long as they leave me alone."
She then turned to stare at them, eyes glowing, "Take that message to your masters. Now, leave, before I make you leave."
"D-Director Fury, I really think you should leave now," Agent Eric said and he turned around to look at the man in surprise, only to be hit with the sight of their helicopter, the one they relied on to be their ride home, suspended right above them, held together by water. With wide eyes, he nodded.
_____xx____
Triskelion, Washington D.C.
"And that is how I am sure that we or anyone else on the planet, will not get the sceptre from her hands," He finished, waiting for the cacophony of shouts that arrived not a moment later from the people who were supposedly the top diplomats from their respective countries, supposed to be representing the planet as a whole.
"Director Fury! The decision regarding the Sceptre might have been out of your hands but you had no right to let the Asgardians take the Cube away. It has been in SHIELD custody for decades now." Pierce spoke, with a disappointed tone.
He clicked his tongue, as if that was in his hands, "May I remind you all to read the official report once more. The decision to give the Cube to Thor was taken by Weber, at the behest of Odin."
Councilman Singh interrupted, "You were there, you could have—"
"I could have done what?" he asked, the room becoming silent at his question. He was aware of the bitterness present in his tone, of being reminded of the helplessness he felt that day.
"Weber listened to Odin. She actually agreed after a single sentence from Odin. The same Woman who would massacre all of us if we were to presume to order her around. So, no, I don't think the decision was in my hands. Now, she has expressed her intent to continue her current arrangement with SHIELD, of non interference and I intend on continuing it. Should you have any other ideas–well, you people are the only ones who can fire me. So, go ahead,"
With that, he stormed out of the room, waving his hand to shut down the call, not caring about their opinions at all because he knew what it would be. Just a tantrum thrown by the people who had never once in their lives expected to be as helpless as they are now while dealing with a human.
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