The drive back from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters was quiet, the hum of the city outside the car windows doing little to calm the storm inside Metis's mind. Fury's words echoed in his head, weighing on him more than he had expected. The choice laid before him wasn't simple. It wasn't just about his power; it was about trust, control, and a future he hadn't fully considered.
Joining S.H.I.E.L.D. would mean putting himself under the agency's thumb. Sure, they offered guidance, resources, and the knowledge to help him understand his system, but at what cost? Metis wasn't naïve—he knew what S.H.I.E.L.D. was capable of, the kinds of secrets they kept. But going at it alone had its risks too. His power was growing, sometimes unpredictably, and that was dangerous. Not just to him, but to the people around him.
By the time he arrived back at the Avengers Tower, his mind was still a tangled mess of thoughts. He walked through the familiar lobby, greeted by the occasional nod from staff members, but he barely acknowledged them. He needed space to think, and there was one place in the tower where he could always find that.
Metis made his way to the rooftop, the evening breeze cool against his skin. The city sprawled out before him, a constant reminder of the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders. Somewhere out there, normal people were going about their lives, blissfully unaware of the powers that shaped their world. It seemed both so close and so distant from the battles he had fought.
As he stood there, staring out into the twinkling lights of the city, the familiar sound of footsteps approached from behind. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Thought I'd find you up here," Natasha said, coming to stand beside him, her gaze sweeping over the skyline.
Metis didn't respond immediately, still caught in the web of his thoughts. He glanced at her briefly, appreciating her presence, even though she didn't press him to talk. Natasha always had a way of knowing when to stay quiet, when to let the silence do the talking.
After a few moments, Metis finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual. "Fury knows about the system. He offered me a deal."
Natasha's expression didn't change much, but there was a flicker of understanding in her eyes. "I figured it was only a matter of time before Fury got involved. What's the deal?"
Metis sighed. "He wants me to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. They'd help me control my power, figure out how to use it better. But…" He trailed off, his gaze falling back to the city. "I don't know if I trust them. I don't know if I want to give them that kind of control over me."
Natasha leaned on the railing, her body relaxed but her mind clearly working through the information. "Fury doesn't offer deals lightly. If he's reaching out, it means he sees potential in you. Or he sees you as a potential threat. Either way, he wants to keep you close."
"Yeah, I got that feeling," Metis muttered. "But what if I don't want to be 'kept close'? What if I want to figure this out on my own?"
Natasha was silent for a moment, weighing her words carefully. "There's always a risk in going solo. You've got power, Metis, but it's still new to you. The system's been a game-changer, but it's also unpredictable. Going at it alone could mean losing control at the worst possible moment. And if that happens…" She let the sentence hang, the implication clear.
Metis nodded, his stomach twisting at the thought. "But giving S.H.I.E.L.D. that kind of access… They could use me. I don't want to be another weapon in their arsenal."
Natasha gave him a sideways glance, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Welcome to the club. We're all weapons in Fury's arsenal—at least, that's what he thinks. But the trick is learning how to make your own decisions, even when you're part of the machine."
Metis stared at her, surprised by her candidness. "You sound like you've made peace with it."
"I haven't," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "But I've learned how to live with it. You have to decide what's more important—having full control over your life or making sure you can handle what's coming."
Metis considered her words. He knew Natasha had lived in the shadows her entire life, balancing between the agency's control and her own sense of agency. If anyone knew how to navigate this kind of situation, it was her.
"I'm not sure I can do that," Metis said finally. "I've spent my whole life trying to stay under the radar. This system, it's put me in the spotlight in a way I never expected. Now it feels like everything I do is being watched, judged."
Natasha turned to face him fully, her eyes softening just slightly. "You've been through a lot, Metis. More than most people could handle. But that doesn't mean you're not capable of making the right call. The fact that you're even thinking about it tells me you're not going to let the power control you."
He appreciated her faith in him, but there was still a gnawing sense of doubt. "And if I make the wrong call?"
Natasha's expression hardened just a bit, a hint of her usual steely resolve shining through. "Then you deal with the consequences, just like the rest of us. But you don't have to do it alone. You've got the Avengers now. You've got me."
Metis felt a strange mix of emotions at her words—gratitude, relief, and something deeper, something he wasn't quite ready to acknowledge yet. Their bond had grown since the battle, and though there was an unspoken understanding between them, neither had fully addressed what it meant.
"Thanks, Nat," Metis said, his voice sincere. "That means more than you know."
She gave him a small nod, her usual stoicism returning. "Don't mention it. Just make sure you don't let Fury push you into something you're not ready for. If you need time to figure things out, take it."
Metis felt a weight lift slightly from his chest. "I will."
They stood in silence for a little while longer, the city continuing its endless rhythm below them. Metis's mind still buzzed with questions, but the immediate pressure had lessened. He wasn't alone in this, and that made all the difference.
Eventually, Natasha pushed off the railing and stretched slightly. "Well, I've got some reports to finish. If you decide to take Fury's deal, just make sure you get something out of it. Don't let him hold all the cards."
Metis smirked. "I'll keep that in mind."
Natasha shot him a playful glance as she headed for the door. "Good. And try not to stay up here brooding too long. It's a bad look."
With that, she disappeared back into the tower, leaving Metis alone with his thoughts once again. But this time, he felt a little more grounded, a little more sure of himself.
He turned back to the skyline, his mind wandering back to Fury's offer. Natasha's advice rang in his ears—don't let Fury hold all the cards. If he was going to work with S.H.I.E.L.D., it had to be on his terms. He needed to learn more about the system, to understand what it was doing to him and why it had chosen him in the first place.
But for now, he would take things one step at a time. He wasn't ready to make a decision just yet, but at least he knew he wasn't facing it alone.
As the night deepened, Metis turned and headed back into the tower. There were more battles to come, more challenges on the horizon. But for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of control, a sense of purpose.
And that was enough for now.