If you want to help me financially, you can do it on
https://ko-fi.com/neverluckysmile
"If you'd like, you could have Hawkeye come help you."
Arthur walked inside while stepping over the scattered documents on the floor. "I think you should integrate all of these into the system. There are just way too many paper files, and in the end, they'll have to be destroyed anyway."
"Hawkeye's not an option."
Natasha shot Arthur a glance. "His relationship with SHIELD is… complicated. His stance could easily waver, and that's precisely why he still hasn't joined us. But in comparison, there are two other candidates, you'll need to make the decision."
As she spoke, she handed two files to Arthur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "So you were prepared?"
"I'm about to lose my mind. You think I don't want to put these documents into the system? But I have to sort them first, categorize everything. That's the most annoying part. I have to do it myself. In fact, I even roped in Prince T'Challa to help me, but it's still not enough to handle this mountain of work."
Natasha sighed, then suddenly looked up at Arthur. "Take a look, do I have crow's feet at the corners of my eyes?"
"No, you're still as beautiful as a little fairy," Arthur replied quickly.
"I prefer being a witch," Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Hot body. Alluring."
"…Fine, you are," Arthur replied, motioning for Brock to take a seat anywhere while he stood there, going through the two files in his hands.
The first file was of a woman.
The name at the top made Arthur's heart skip a beat: Sharon Carter!
And soon enough, he saw a familiar name listed under "Relatives." He lightly tapped the file with his knuckle and looked over at Natasha.
"As for trustworthiness… I assume I don't need to ask?"
Natasha said, "I've known her for many years. I understand her. She's just like me…"
Arthur exhaled softly, his emotions suddenly becoming indescribably complex. "But what about her? Her own willingness?"
"When you walk that path, whatever decision you make, we will follow you, even to death!"
Natasha looked at Arthur seriously. "In this world, no one will ever be more loyal to you than us."
"I just don't know if I should drag her into this," Arthur said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You know… she's spent her whole life fighting for something."
"Her goal has already been achieved. You destroyed Hydra." Natasha replied. "To this day, the fact that SHIELD is suppressing Hydra so thoroughly is entirely thanks to you. In fact, if you wanted to, Hydra might already be erased from the world."
"They no longer pose a threat to anyone. Isn't that exactly what she devoted her life to accomplishing? And besides, what we're doing now, isn't it for the entire world? Do you realize that once all of this is completed, we'll have nothing to fear, even in the future? This entire blueprint… even she wouldn't have dared to imagine it. But now, you're making it real, step by step."
As she said this, Natasha walked up to Arthur. "That battle seventy years ago changed a lot of things. If you hadn't left back then, maybe everything would've turned out differently. But now, what we're facing is the reality we have to accept. This... is our reality!"
Brock, listening to their conversation, felt like they were speaking an alien language. He had no idea what they meant.
Arthur gave a helpless smile. "So, this damn reality… Fine. If you think she's suitable, then bring her in. I don't know her well, but that doesn't matter. You handle the arrangements."
"Leave it to me," Natasha nodded.
Arthur then turned to the second dossier. It was about a Black man.
"Sam Wilson?"
Muttering the name, Arthur immediately knew who it was. He smiled slightly. "Captain introduced him, didn't he?"
"Sometimes I really want to crack open your skull to see how many secrets are still hiding in there," Natasha said. "He's a good friend of the Captain's. And he's a bit of a fanboy, for both you and the Captain."
"Fanboy…?" Arthur rolled the word around in his mouth and gave a helpless laugh. "His skills are probably more suited for combat, right?"
"Combat or paperwork, I think he can handle both," Natasha said. "The only difference is that he still needs a bit of training when it comes to documentation, but that's not a big deal. If we're short on frontline power, he can definitely join us and be part of the team."
"Alright."
Arthur handed both files back to Natasha. "Then, would you be so kind, amidst your overwhelming workload, to investigate something for me?"
"Go ahead," Natasha rolled her eyes. "Isn't all this work already for you?"
Arthur scratched his face and sent a photo from his wrist device to Natasha. "Help me find this child's parents."
"Based on just a photo?"
"Not just the photo. I also have the whole child…"
At that moment, Arthur was already holding a young child in his arms.
"Alright," Natasha said. "Give me a day. You can take her with you for now… she's probably not suited to stay at Camp Lehigh, right?"
"Exactly. I plan to take her home."
With the serious business concluded, Arthur and Brock left Natasha's office. This time, Arthur activated a teleportation circle with Brock beside him.
When they reappeared, they were in a different base.
And standing right in front of them, was Steve!
"Instructor?" Steve looked surprised to see Arthur. "Feels like I haven't seen you in a century, ever since the battle on Xandar. And this is…?"
"Brock and Venom," Arthur replied. "On the outside, he's Brock. Inside, there's a parasitic alien lifeform named Venom."
"Sounds complicated." Steve scratched his head. "I just came by to deliver food to the Mandarin. Not sure why, it was supposed to be a rotation, but recently it's become my solo quest. I think it's your turn next. He's probably missing your cooking."
"Really?" Arthur's eyes lit up.
"Probably!" Steve wasn't too certain.
Arthur looked disappointed. "Pity. I have to go to Asgard in a couple of days, and from there, to Xandar. I probably won't have time to show off my culinary talents."
Steve shivered. "Alright, alright, I'll take care of it for now. I've got something to do back home anyway. I'm heading out..."
Then he paused slightly. "Instructor, I saw someone recently at Camp Lehigh. Felt oddly familiar. Is there anyone there that I might know?"
Arthur froze for a moment, unsure how to answer.
But Steve shook his head. "Never mind. I'm probably just stressed and imagining things."
With that, he stepped into the teleportation circle, and vanished.