Fury had no answer to that. He just smiled, tight and a little pained.
Hill and Natasha both felt the heat rise in their faces.
The Cosmic Cube had always been S.H.I.E.L.D.'s highest-classified secret. And yet they'd never even figured out what it actually was. Meanwhile Hermione, the "outsider," understood the Infinity Stones better than any of them , the supposed professionals.
It made them uncomfortably aware of how wise it had been to get on her good side when they had the chance.
Even Thor, the God of Thunder, prince of Asgard, had no detailed knowledge of the Infinity Stones.
Hermione rattled them off like a shopping list.
That did something to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Their awe of the wizard race deepened, quietly and without ceremony. Somewhere in the back of their minds, wizards had already eclipsed the gods of myth and legend.
The feeling was equal parts excitement and dread.
Exciting, because Earth had something powerful enough to stand against threats from the far reaches of the universe.
Terrifying, because what did that leave ordinary people? What could anyone possibly use to stand against a wizard?
"So these stones all need a... home base?" Tony stroked his chin, eyes moving across the six glowing projections.
Hermione nodded. "The Infinity Stones are too powerful for ordinary people to wield. Force the issue and you're looking at severe injury at best. At worst, you're ash."
"They need specially made containers to keep that power in check."
She paused. "You've already seen two examples — the Cosmic Cube and Loki's scepter."
"The Reality Stone's vessel is the Aether. It belongs to the Dark Elves. Thousands of years ago, the Dark Elves fought a war with Bor, King of Asgard — Thor's grandfather — and after that, the Aether disappeared."
"The Time Stone's vessel is the Eye of Agamotto. It's on Earth right now, kept by the Sorcerer Supreme."
"As for the Soul Stone and the Power Stone..."
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know where either of those are. I didn't even know where the Mind Stone was until recently, but now..." She gave the scepter a small shake, the corner of her mouth curving up.
Fury stared at the scepter and felt something twist in his chest.
He finally understood why Hermione had reacted so strongly when she heard Loki had used it to control Barton.
This wasn't just a scepter. This was a relic on par with the Cosmic Cube.
If he'd known that from the start, he never would have agreed to her terms. Not for anything.
And now all he could do was watch it sit in her hands.
Go back on his word? Not a chance.
He'd seen her temper up close. If he pushed her, there was no telling what she'd do.
Tony was still working through it. "Sorcerer Supreme. That's a serious title. I'd like to meet this person."
"Can Barton still be helped?" Natasha's hand closed around Hermione's arm. Her voice was tight.
She didn't care about Infinity Stones. She didn't care about cosmic crises. She cared about the partner who'd had her back through everything.
"Relax, Natasha." Hermione patted her hand, easy and unhurried. "Small problem. Next time I see him, I'll break the control."
Natasha exhaled slowly. She kept hold of Hermione's hand and didn't let go.
Beside them, Steve finally put it together , why so many people treated this girl like she was something else entirely.
She knew everything.
What he couldn't figure out was how someone her age had crammed this much strange, impossible knowledge into one head.
"Ahem." Banner pushed his glasses up and steered them back on course. "Whatever aliens are coming, if they want to invade Earth, they'll need to open a spatial portal. That requires the Cosmic Cube." He paused. "Loki's a madman. No point burning too much energy on him. Right now, the priority is finding the Cube."
"Watch what you say." Thor's brow furrowed, his tone sharp. "Whatever he's done, he's still Asgardian. He's still my brother."
Hill cut in without missing a beat. "He killed eighty people in two days."
Thor went rigid. A few seconds passed. "He's adopted," he finally said.
Then he couldn't help himself , he glanced at Hermione.
Eighty people. Right. These people had no idea there was someone sitting in this very room who'd wiped out an entire clan in ten minutes. Next to her, Loki was practically a humanitarian.
Hermione watched Thor's expression cycle through loyalty, defensiveness, and convenient distance at impressive speed. Internally, she clicked her tongue.
Plastic brotherly love. One sentence and suddenly it's "he's adopted." No wonder Loki spent his whole life plotting rebellion.
Tony, meanwhile, had been standing off to the side like a spare part for the last several minutes, unable to get a word in. It was deeply uncomfortable. Like being the class slacker stuck watching honor students run a seminar.
Then Banner mentioned the portal, and Tony's whole posture changed.
Science. Finally. His territory.
He stepped forward and took the floor before anyone else could. "If Loki wants to open a portal, he needs a high-density energy source."
Hill looked at him sideways. "Since when do you study thermonuclear astrophysics?"
"Since last night." Tony's expression said: was that supposed to be hard?
"Selvig's research papers are right there. Skim them and it's obvious." He glanced around the room. "Did none of you do the reading?"
The look on his face said everything his mouth didn't. Genius. Obviously.
Everyone else ignored him completely.
Banner, however, lit up. He drifted over to Tony's side, and the two of them launched into an enthusiastic back-and-forth, trading scientific principles like old friends.
Fury stood apart, frowning. Something was nagging at him. He couldn't name it.
"Actually..." Banner turned to Hermione, adjusting his glasses. "Could I borrow the scepter for a bit? I want to analyze its energy signature. It might give us a lead on the Cosmic Cube."
"Sure." Hermione handed it over without hesitation.
---
Everyone scattered to their own tasks. Hermione, with nothing in particular to do, drifted through the helicarrier.
After a moment's thought, she turned toward the specialized cell where they were holding Loki.
"Well, well. The God of Mischief himself." She strolled up to the glass, unhurried. "It's been a while."
Loki looked back at her through the barrier, that familiar smirk firmly in place.
"It has," he said. "Long time no see, Midgardian witch."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. Then she Apparated directly into the cell.
Loki didn't flinch. He watched her with quiet interest and said nothing.
She raised her hand and cast a transparent barrier around them both, cutting off sound and sight from outside.
Once it was up, Loki's expression shifted , just slightly. The smirk stayed, but something more deliberate settled underneath it.
"Got the scepter?"
Hermione nodded slowly.
➤ Next: Don't Touch My Scepter!
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