The screen went black, leaving only Alex's reflection in the dark glass. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a quiet breath through his nose. The city lights glowed faintly through the wide windows, the hum of traffic a distant, constant background.
For a moment, he just sat there, staring at the untouched glass of amber liquid on his desk. Then, almost absentmindedly, he picked up the deck of black-edged cards beside him and turned one over between his fingers. Symbols shimmered faintly across its surface, pulsing like a heartbeat.
He set the card down again, face up, and let his eyes rest on it. "Banner's just the start," he muttered under his breath, his tone calm but certain. "One piece in something bigger."
A faint chime sounded from the computer. Another file opened automatically, names and faces filling the screen—some familiar, some not. Each one was tagged with notes, warnings, and classified markings.
Alex's crimson eyes reflected the glow of the display. He tapped his finger once against the desk, steady and thoughtful.
"Step one," he said quietly. "Teach the monster he's more than teeth and fists." His gaze moved over the files as if already thinking three steps ahead. "Step two… prepare for the storm coming next."
The monitor's light shifted as another window opened, this one encrypted with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s seal. At the bottom was a simple line of text: New Assignment Pending.
Alex leaned forward, the corner of his mouth lifting in the faintest hint of a grin. He closed the file with a flick of his finger, leaving only his reflection staring back at him in the dark screen.
"Guess we'll see what the Director wants me to clean up next."
Outside the window, thunder rolled far in the distance, though the sky above the city was clear. Alex's eyes lingered on it for a long time before he finally pushed the untouched drink aside and stood.
***
The hallway outside was dim, quiet, only the soft hum of the building's systems breaking the silence. Alex's footsteps echoed faintly as he walked, measured and unhurried. His presence alone carried weight; agents he passed by didn't speak, only straightened instinctively, offering silent acknowledgment.
He made his way down to the private elevator, sliding his card across the scanner. A metallic click, then the doors opened.
Inside, he leaned against the wall, hands in his coat pockets, eyes half-lidded but alert. The elevator dropped smoothly, and in the polished metal of the doors he caught his own reflection again. For just a second, he thought he saw another shadow in it — horns faint, curling, like an old echo of something darker. He blinked once, and it was gone.
When the doors slid open, Maria Hill was waiting in the lobby. She was already holding a tablet, expression sharp.
"Director Fury wants you on-site tomorrow," she said without preamble. "High-risk containment, downtown sector. Potential enhanced individual. This isn't a favor, Alex — it's classified assignment now."
Alex smirked faintly, stepping past her. "Figures. One monster quieted, and you've already got another lined up."
Hill didn't look up from her screen. "That's the world we live in. And Fury thinks you're the one who can handle the jobs nobody else wants."
"Or the ones nobody survives," Alex muttered, but there was no complaint in his voice. He adjusted his coat and paused at the glass doors leading outside. "Tell Fury I'll be there. But next time, I'm setting my own fee."
Hill glanced at him then, just for a moment, before lowering her voice.
"…He already knows you're not doing it for money."
Alex stopped, the faint grin fading into something unreadable. He didn't answer at first. Instead, he tilted his head and said,
"I hope I get a partner. A sexy spy, to be exact."
Hill scoffed, smirking with disbelief.
"So that you can sleep with them like you did with Natasha?" she shot back.
Alex's grin returned, sharper this time. He nodded without hesitation.
"Yeah. That's the reason."
Hill rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"You really are reckless. Cocky, proud, and dangerously charming. I'm pretty sure you'd flirt with fire if it looked back at you."
Alex stepped a little closer, lowering his voice in turn.
"And what about you?" he asked smoothly. "You've got that stone-faced look, but I can tell… you don't let just anyone get close. That makes you interesting."
Her lips pressed together, the faintest twitch of a smile threatening to form but never quite surfacing.
"I'm not that easy to break through, Alex," she said firmly.
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly, the grin softening into something more calculating.
"Hmm. A challenge. I like that," he said.
Hill gave him a long, pointed look before exhaling through her nose.
"Just get to work," she muttered, turning away to hide the flicker of heat in her expression.
Alex leaned back against the edge of the desk, watching her with that infuriating calm of his.
"You know, the more you say no, the more it sounds like you're waiting for me to prove you wrong."
Hill let out a short laugh, low and disbelieving. She crossed her arms.
"You don't have the patience for that."
"Patience?" Alex repeated, tilting his head. "Hill, I don't chase what's easy. If it were easy, it wouldn't be worth the effort."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of interest she quickly masked.
"You're wasting your effort here. I've seen your type before—men who think they can wear down a wall with charm and persistence. I don't bend, Alex."
Alex smirked, standing tall again and stepping just close enough that she had to tilt her chin slightly upward to meet his gaze."Good," he said quietly. "I don't want someone who bends."
He scratched that thought in his head almost immediately, realizing how badly it sounded. Actually… in the right position, someone who bends is exactly what I need.
Alex gave a small nod to himself, amused by his own correction.
*******
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