"Is Liam Hawthorne home?" Agent Phil Coulson asked, standing in the doorway.
"No, Liam doesn't live here at the moment," replied Harold, Liam's grandfather, his tone calm but held back.
"May I come in?"
'I can't refuse an agent, besides he'd just come back with a warrant or, worse, take me in.' Harold nodded. "Yeah, come in," he said, gesturing inside. "Take a seat while I get some coffee."
After retrieving two cups, Harold returned, setting one in front of Coulson before sitting down across from him.
"So, what's this about?" Harold asked, a slight edge to his voice.
"It's about your grandson, Liam." Coulson looked directly at him. "We have reason to believe he's involved with some... dangerous people."
"Dangerous people?" Harold raised an eyebrow, surprised but skeptical.
"Yes. He could be in real danger if he stays around these individuals," Coulson continued, his tone careful.
"Even if that's true," Harold replied, "I don't know where he is right now. He only mentioned going to the other side of New York."
"So, you don't know where he's currently staying?" Coulson leaned forward slightly.
"That's correct. What did these dangerous people he's supposedly involved with do?" Harold's gaze was steady.
"There was a gang fight in February—a lot of people were killed. According to witnesses, Liam was close to the scene, so we're required to check on him and confirm he wasn't involved," Coulson said, avoiding the truth.
"Do you still have a way to contact him?" Coulson asked after a moment.
'Since it's only a suspicion it's better to take care of it as fast as possible.'
"Yes, I can reach him. But I doubt he was involved in any gang fight—he would've told me." Harold paused, then added, "I'll give him a call so you can sort this out."
"That would be appreciated," Coulson said, nodding.
---
Ring ring
Liam paused his training with Incursio to answer his phone. Seeing it was his grandfather, he quickly picked up.
"Grandpa?"
"Liam," his grandfather's voice came through, serious. "There's a gentleman here who wants to speak with you. Says he's worried you might have gotten mixed up with the wrong people."
"Mixed up with the wrong people?" Liam asked, puzzled. "Since when?"
"Something about a fight in February," Harold replied.
Liam's thoughts raced. 'Wrong people, gentleman, February... must be S.H.I.E.L.D.'
'So, now that Tony's escaped, they're shifting their focus back to me? And they fed my grandpa some cheap lies to make him contact me while also making him worried. This is blatant disrespect to both of us.' "You can give him the phone, Grandpa," Liam said, his voice calm but slightly angry inside.
"This is Agent Phil Coulson, with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," Coulson introduced himself smoothly.
'As expected.'
"Hello, Agent Coulson. This is Liam Hawthorne. What seems to be the problem?" Liam asked, keeping his tone under control.
"I'd like to invite you to meet with our department for some questioning," Coulson replied. "And I'd also like to know where you're currently staying."
"We can meet—just let me know the time and place, and I'll be there." Liam replied, 'As for my location, didn't my grandfather tell you? I'm on the other side of New York."
After the call, Liam wandered through the Sanctum, searching for the Ancient One. Upon finding her, he spoke up.
"Could I use the portal to get to the New York Sanctuary tomorrow?"
"And why would you want that, young Liam?" she asked, watching him with a calm gaze.
"I have some unfinished business in New York that I need to take care of," Liam replied.
"Very well," she said after a pause. "Ask Wong to bring you to the portal room, and you may go whenever you need to."
"Thank you," Liam said, bowing his head slightly in gratitude.
Back in his room, Liam sat deep in thought. 'This meeting is inevitable,' he reasoned. 'But how am I going to handle it?'
He began looking at his priorities: 'First, I need to ensure my grandfather's safety. I'll negotiate with Fury to relocate him somewhere untraceable—and it has to be off the record. Second, I need to stay alert for any Hydra agents. And I'll have to watch out for any bugs Coulson might plant on me. He couldn't trace where I've been the past few months since I was in the Sanctum, he won't hesitate to use a GPS tracker if he gets the chance. I also need to be careful not to alarm any Hydra agents that I know they're watching.'
With his plan in place, Liam packed some extra clothes and other supplies.
After packing, he sought out Wong.
"Do you have the Ancient One's permission, Liam?" Wong asked.
"Yes, Wong, it won't be for long. It's just to take care of some business for today and tomorrow."
"Follow me."
Wong led Liam to a room he had never been in before. Inside were three doors, each marked with a name: New York, Hong Kong, and London. Behind him was a door labeled Tibet.
"Where are we right now, Wong?" Liam couldn't help but ask.
"We're between dimensions," Wong replied. "Our Ancestor created this space when he formed the seal that protects Earth—it's the fastest way to travel between Sanctums. Now, go through the New York door, and the master there will help you return when you're ready."
"Thank you, Wong," Liam said, nodding, before stepping through the New York door.
Stepping into the New York Sanctum, Liam took in the different surroundings. 'Damn, that's cool,' he thought.
After greeting the Sanctum's master, Liam stepped outside into the city, immediately hit by a disgusting scent. 'Definitely didn't miss that,' he chuckled to himself.
"Time to make some preparations," he muttered with a small smile, setting off towards a nearby park.