The aftermath of the Chitauri invasion left New York battered, but the true negotiations were only beginning.
Roy stepped into the SHIELD command room, his long silver hair glinting under the fluorescent lights. Fury, Maria Hill, and several high-ranking SHIELD officials waited, tension thick in the air. The room went quiet as Roy approached.
"Loki and the Tesseract are to be returned to Asgard," Roy stated calmly, though the sheer presence in his aura made the officials shift in their seats.
Several voices immediately protested. "We cannot just hand over such assets!" one official argued. "This is a matter of national security!"
Roy's blue-diamond eyes flicked to the man. With a simple gesture, he tapped a holo-document on the table—the launch sequence of the nuclear missile over New York, all mapped and logged. The officials' faces turned pale.
"This is what happened because of recklessness," Roy said, his voice carrying the weight of judgment. "You will treat this as a negotiated settlement, not a debate."
Some officials tried to push for compensation or throw in arrogant demands, but Roy's presence was absolute. He stepped forward slightly, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. They felt it—the aura of someone who could casually destroy universes. Every hesitation, every bold demand, evaporated. They were not dealing with a negotiator; they were standing before an emperor.
One by one, their objections faltered. The deal was finalized:
Loki and the Tesseract returned to Asgard. The scepter remained under SHIELD's supervision.
Thor arrived in a flash of lightning, took the Tesseract, and escorted Loki back to Asgard, his eyes occasionally glancing at Roy with the faintest trace of pride.
Roy Confronts Tony
Roy turned to find Tony in the corner, wiping soot from his armor, eyes sparkling with pride.
"Tony," Roy said, his tone equal parts calm and deadly, "do you have any idea how reckless you were?"
Tony, smirking under his helmet, shrugged. "Hey, I saved New York. You should be proud of me."
Roy raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "You almost became a debris ornament in a nuclear blast. Do you even—"
"I know, I know," Tony interrupted, grinning. "Relax. But, you know what? I bragged about you to Loki."
Roy's scowl softened for the barest moment. "Bragged, huh?"
Tony's grin widened. "Yeah. I told him your hair glimmers like a freaking diamond, your skills, your… everything. He actually seemed impressed."
Roy shook his head, partly exasperated, partly amused. "You never change."
A Surprise Call
Just as the tension eased, Roy's communicator vibrated. It was Maria Hill.
"Roy," she said softly, "lunch. Just us."
He smiled, nodded, and soon they were seated at a quiet rooftop café. Conversation flowed effortlessly—strategies, quips, and laughter. As the sun dipped low, painting the sky in gold, Maria leaned forward, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Without a word, she pressed her lips to Roy's. The kiss was brief, tender—but it left both of them blushing. Maria pulled back, smiling shyly. "See you around, Roy."
Roy watched her leave, a small, satisfied grin on his face. In that moment, the chaos of universes, Tesseracts, and wars felt far away. Here, with family, friends, and allies, he allowed himself a fraction of peace.
And somewhere, deep in the cosmos, a shadowed dragon god smiled quietly.