Tony called up Fury to e in, and this time, Jane didn't stop him, as Fury explicitly stated that he would return all the equipment to Jane again. Though she was annoyed, right now, she would have to set aside personal differences.

  Fury spoke with Thor and formally introduced himself as the Director of SHIELD, finally uanding what they were fag. Though he had a general idea of how bad the situation was, getting to know it firstha a chill down his spine.

  The st time he faced an alien threat, he had help, and though this time too he had help, he didn't know if they could fa army. One was a robotic killing mae with persecution delusions, another was aistical super-intelligent man, and an exiled prihis wasn't looking good, but they would have to make do with it.

  "I will go and arrange for the wele of your brother," Tony said, and then he proceeded to fly off, while Fury went to talk with the World cil. They had never approved the Avengers Initiative. This was his ce.

  While they left, Thor and Liam versed. Liam articurly intrigued by how Thor was very accepting of him even though he wore the mask. The reasoning Thave was that esteemed warriors of Asgard, including the Valkyries, sometimes wore masks, so it wasn't very surprising that Liam wore ooo.

  Over the wo days, Liam found himself in the pany of Jane, Darcy, and Dr. Selvig, doing his best to blend into their world while keeping an ear open for any developments on Loki's impending arrival. It was sometimes difficult because he had to wear a mask at all times.

  Jane, caught up in her research, had little time to dwell on it, though she did give him an occasional curious gnce. With SHIELD returning her equipment, she dove into her work. Thor had opened a new world for her, and thus, she didn't want to lose the inspiration.

  Darcy, oher hand, was relentless.

  "So, mystery guy, what's with the whole 'never-showing-your-face' thing? Are you secretly, like, super handsome? Or is this a Batman situatiohe mask is the brand?"

  "Let's just say it's plicated," Liam answered.

  "It's always plicated," Darcy quipped, "but you're rolling with the Nod of Thuhat's peak plicated."

  "Not as plicated as you w as one of the 2 Broke Girls in a restaurant," Liam muttered.

  "I... What?" Darcy could only make out some words from Liam's mouth.

  "Nothing."

  That was another issue. He did eat, of course, but never around them. He always found an excuse to step away, ensuring that no one ever saw him without the mask.

  "A man who hides his face often hides something else," Selvig mused. "Not that I mind. I've worked with enough paranoid physicists to knorivacy is a choice. But I 't help but wonder—what is it you're proteg? Yourself? Or us?"

  "Both."

  Meanwhile, he spent time with Thor and the Warriors Three, who were less ied in his secred more intrigued by his bat abilities. Fandral had tried—unsuccessfully—to lure him into a friendly duel multiple times.

  "It is rare to meet a warrior who ceals both his fad his skill," Fandral remarked. "Surely, a small dispy of swordpy wouldn't be too much to ask?"

  "Not today," Liam said smoothly.

  "If we are to fight a battle soon, we must feast!" Fandral cpped a hand on Liam's shoulder. "e, masked warrior, surely you reend something worthy of an Asgardian stomach?"

  "Oh, I got you covered. Ever heard of Pop-Tarts?" Darcy reended.

  By the time the sed day came to an end, the lighthearted moments had begun to fade. The weight of what was ing loomed over them all. Loki would arrive soon, and with him, war.

  That night, Liam stood outside aloaring up at the vast sky.

  "Thor, when will you be able to lift that hammer of yours?"

  "The All-Father has banished me. I don't think I will ever be able to lift it," Thor replied.

  "Tell me, Thor, are you the God of Lightning or the God of Hammers?" Liam asked.

  This question stumped Thor a bit. He wao reply that he was the God of Lightning, but if he was, how e he couldn't use lightning?

  The Day of the War

  The weather was gloht from the m. Bck clouds hovered above, blog the sun and depriving the men on the ground of its warmth. Since SHIELD khat a war might take pce, the whole town had been evacuated. Jane and the others, too, were advised to leave, but she refused, giving the excuse that she wao see the Rainbe for her research.

  SHIELD agents formed a perimeter and made sure no civilians were allowed to witness what was about to happen. They were also equipped with guns, and even tanks were brought in. They couldn't let Loki's army get past the temporary barrier they had set up.

  "You must be Wraithborn. Natasha spoke about you. Thank you for dealing with those scums at the pier."

  It was Barton who came forward and introduced himself. Liam didn't uand the enthusiasm.

  "I am t Barton, but people call me Hawkeye."

  "He is a big fan of yours," Natasha added, ing from behind.

  "Huh?" Liam was still fused as to why Barton was so eager.

  "He watched you oape. Barton is an archer, so finding someoer than him has lit a fire under his ass," Natasha said.

  Now it clicked for Liam. Barton was a great archer, but when he saw the video of how Liam used a bow and arrow in slow motion, he was impressed and wao meet the man himself.

  Now that he was here, he had to introduce himself.

  "Hello... I just did what any parent or adult would have done," Liam said.

  Barton nodded. He would have dohe same thing. His wife had just given birth, and he couldn't even imagine his sweet child being taken away by someone. He would go tainst the world if that ever happened.