The potion worked wonders on Fury, restoring him to perfect health—even healing his injured eye. The unexpected recovery left Fury amazed at the effectiveness of the medicine Dave had provided.
"You have a lot of things that could help a lot of people," Fury said as he approached Dave, who was watching Captain America and Hawkeye spar with their newfound powers.
"Or cause nations to wage war against each other," Dave replied calmly, his gaze fixed on the sparring session. Fury remained silent for a moment, acknowledging the truth in Dave's words with a nod.
"You're a dangerous man, Dave Garcia," Fury said, shifting his attention to the display of powers being tested before them.
Dave smirked, unbothered by the remark. "Dangerous to those who deserve it, maybe," he said with a chuckle.
Fury folded his arms, his tone serious. "You possess things that could easily make you a tyrant. History is full of people who couldn't resist that temptation after getting a taste of power."
Dave turned to him, his expression unchanging. "I'm no tyrant, Fury. I'm just a curious man fascinated by magic and eager to explore many worlds."
Fury studied him closely but remained unconvinced. "Still—"
Before Fury could finish, Dave interrupted, his voice sharp but not aggressive. "I know. Your paranoia won't stop you from having a contingency plan in place in case I go astray."
Fury raised an eyebrow, impressed but wary. "I didn't know you could read minds."
Dave chuckled again. "I didn't read your mind. It was just the obvious thing you were going to say."
Fury gave a small nod, acknowledging the truth in Dave's words before turning to leave, deep in thought.
Dave watched Fury's retreating back, his expression calm yet contemplative. Inwardly, his thoughts swirled with evaluation.
"He's too rigid, too entrenched in his ways. A man like that, while effective in certain situations, isn't suited for the vision I have for the best version of SHIELD I plan to create," Dave mused silently.
He leaned back, crossing his arms as his gaze returned to Captain America and Hawkeye sparring, their new powers on full display. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"A leader needs to adapt, to evolve with the times. Someone who can see the bigger picture, not just the shadows in the corners."
He made a mental note to start looking for individuals with the potential to embody the ideals of his future SHIELD—a force unshackled by outdated paranoia and dedicated to true progress and protection.
Dave stood there for a moment, watching Captain America and Hawkeye continue their sparring, testing their new powers. The flames from Cap's hands flickered like a living entity, while Hawkeye's lightning crackled in the air, arcing and illuminating the surroundings. They were both improving, growing into their new abilities, just as Dave had expected.
His mind, however, wasn't focused on their progress. Instead, he was already thinking about the future—about how he would shape the organization he intended to build. He couldn't afford to let figures like Fury or others stand in his way.
"Fury's approach might have worked for the old SHIELD, but it's outdated now," Dave thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The world needs something more—something more flexible, more in tune with the times, and above all, less bogged down by fear and secrecy."
He couldn't let his vision be clouded by the limitations of others. The new SHIELD would be a force for change, a beacon of hope, and most importantly, a shield against the growing threats that lingered in the shadows of the multiverse. And for that, he needed people who could see beyond the horizon, who weren't afraid to step into the unknown.
****
Fury walked back into his office, reflecting on the conversation with Dave. "I wonder what your weakness is," he mumbled to himself as Maria Hill entered.
"Are you okay?" she asked, noticing his expression. Fury nodded. "I am."
"We still haven't found anything about Loki's intentions, but Dr. Banner and Stark are working on his scepter. It's emitting some gamma radiation, so we're thinking maybe we can use it to find the Cube's location," she said. Fury nodded thoughtfully.
"How's the progress?" he asked.
"They're working on it. Maybe in a few days, we might get something," she replied.
Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the room.
"What was that?" Maria asked, looking toward the sound.
The explosion echoed throughout the facility as the guards in the hall scrambled. Loki, in his cell, smiled as he heard the blast.
"We're under attack. This is not a drill. I repeat, we are under attack!" the alarm blared as the intercom came on, with the voice of someone in the cockpit warning everyone.
"The helicopters are surrounded!"
Fury looked at his tablet, seeing multiple jets on screen, with a woman flying directly in front of the helicopters. He narrowed his eyes.
"She can fly now?" Fury muttered under his breath, seeing the woman's eerie blue eyes glowing under Loki's influence. She wore Demon Gear, with two cutlasses—Agni and Rudra—glimmering at her sides as she flew toward the helicopters.
Black Widow raised her two cutlasses, her dark energy swirling around them as she charged toward the helicarrier. With a swift motion, she slashed the air, sending two red and green streaks of energy toward the target. They collided with the helicarrier, causing minor damage. Tony quickly intercepted the other attacks, blocking the attacks with ease.
"Well, aren't you the beautiful spy," Tony said, his eyes narrowing as he sized her up. "I see you're working for Loki now."
Black Widow's gaze hardened, and before Tony could react, she lunged, attempting a high-speed strike. But Tony, quick on his feet, dodged her attack and delivered a punch to her gut, sending her stumbling back.
"Poor woman," Tony muttered, glancing at her as she fell back. He reached down, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her back onto the helicarrier. "Let's get you out of here before things get even more complicated."
Despite her strength and agility, Black Widow seemed momentarily winded, struggling to regain her composure as Tony dragged her inside.
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