For a few seconds nobody said anything inside the broken penthouse.
Loki was lying on the floor after Hulk had thrown him around like he was nothing. The walls were damaged, glass was spread everywhere, and cold air came from the broken side of the room. Thor stood close to Loki while Steve kept his shield ready. Natasha had her gun raised, Clint's bow was in his hand, and Tony stood in his damaged armor.
Adam was standing with them, though he was still floating a little above the floor because Big Chill was active.
He looked at everyone once and then looked at himself.
'Come on, act normal,' Adam thought. 'You are standing with the Avengers after an alien invasion. Just act like this is a normal Tuesday.'
Of course, that was impossible.
Loki slowly lifted his head. His face showed pain and anger, but he still tried to speak like he had not just been beaten badly.
"If it is all the same to you," Loki said in a weak voice, "I will have that drink now."
Adam heard it and his mouth moved before his brain could stop him.
"I think you need a doctor before a drink."
Tony turned his helmet toward Adam. Adam could not see his face, but he knew Tony was staring at him.
"Kid, let him have his line," Tony said. "He just lost badly. This is all he has left."
Adam raised both hands. "Sorry, this is my first alien invasion."
Natasha looked at him once. "Most people scream on their first one."
Clint lowered his bow. "He froze things instead."
Adam wanted to say something back, but at that moment the Omnitrix started beeping. The green light on his chest turned red. Big Chill's body began to fade from him and his height started shrinking. His thin alien body changed back into his normal human body, and his feet landed on the floor with a small stumble.
Adam quickly balanced himself and looked down at his hands.
"Great timing," he muttered.
Tony looked at him from head to toe. "Now you look short enough to ask for autographs."
Adam's eyes went toward everyone before he forced himself to look back.
"Do not test me," Adam said. "I am one bad decision away from asking Captain America to sign my shirt."
Steve almost smiled, but before anyone could say anything else, the elevator doors opened.
Several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents came out with weapons and tactical gear. They entered quickly and spread around like they had already planned where to stand. Adam saw Brock Rumlow among them, and Jasper Sitwell was also there with a tablet.
Adam's smile disappeared a little.
'Ah, yes,' he thought. 'The future elevator problem has arrived early.'
Rumlow looked at Loki first, then at the Tesseract, then at the scepter. After that his eyes stopped on Adam.
"Secure the scepter," Rumlow said.
Two agents moved forward.
Sitwell looked at Adam and then checked his tablet. "Who is he?"
The room became quiet again. Adam felt that the joke from a few seconds ago was gone. Natasha was watching the agents. Clint's hand was still close to his bow. Steve was looking at Sitwell, and Tony was not moving away from Adam.
Sitwell tapped the tablet again. "There is no facial match, no S.H.I.E.L.D. file, and no clearance. He was seen using unknown abilities in the battle zone."
Adam swallowed. "When you say it like that, I sound very illegal."
Rumlow stepped a little closer. "Where did you come from?"
Adam knew the true answer would make everything worse. He could not tell them he came from another universe or that he knew many of their futures.
"New York," Adam said.
Rumlow did not look satisfied. "Which part of New York?"
Adam paused because he did not have a proper answer.
Tony spoke before him. "The part that was full of aliens five minutes ago. You can question him after sending flowers."
Rumlow looked toward Tony. "This is S.H.I.E.L.D. business."
"This is my tower," Tony replied. "Also, he helped save your city."
Sitwell still looked at Adam. "Sir, we need to identify him before he leaves."
Steve stepped in front of Adam without making a big show of it. "He fought with us. He helped civilians get away from the attack."
"That does not answer who he is," Rumlow said.
"No," Steve said. "But it tells you how to speak to him."
Adam stared at Steve's back. He had seen Captain America on screen before, but seeing Steve protect him in real life felt completely different.
Tony also spoke. "If the kid wanted to run, he would have done it while flying through walls and freezing half the army outside."
Rumlow's face became tighter, but before he could speak again, another voice came from the elevator.
"That is enough."
Nick Fury walked into the room with Maria Hill behind him. Several more agents came with them, but Fury did not look shocked by the broken tower, Loki, the weapons, or Adam.
Fury looked at Loki, then at the Tesseract, then at the Avengers, and finally at Adam.
"We are not going to trouble someone who helped keep this city standing," Fury said.
Sitwell lowered the tablet a little. "Director, he is an unknown enhanced individual."
"I can see that," Fury said.
Rumlow spoke again. "He is not in our database."
Fury's eye stayed on Adam. "Then make a new file."
Adam almost laughed, but he stopped himself because Fury was not the kind of man he wanted to laugh in front of.
Fury turned back to the agents. "The scepter is evidence. Secure it properly. Loki and the Tesseract remain under Avengers watch until Thor takes them."
Thor looked serious. "My brother and the cube will return to Asgard."
Fury nodded once. "I am not arguing with a god today."
Tony leaned a little toward Adam. "That is called choosing your battles."
Adam whispered back, "I need to learn that."
Fury still heard him. "You."
Adam straightened at once. "Yes, sir?"
"Do not leave before I speak with you."
Adam looked around the room at the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, a captured god, alien weapons, and one very angry director.
"I do not really have anywhere else to go," Adam said.
Tony looked at him. "That answer is sad and suspicious at the same time."
Fury kept his eye on Adam. "Then stay where I can see you."