Chương 40: Unexpected Visitor
"Yep. What took you so long? I thought you'd be here before I finished my second cocktail." Liam smirked. "You should try one; they're really good."
"Come, take a seat. I'll order you one too," he added, gesturing to a chair.
Coulson took the offered seat. "So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" he asked.
"This time, you're the one getting straight to the point, huh?" Liam chuckled, waving a waiter over. "Two midday cocktails, please."
"No need," Coulson declined, "I still have to drive after this."
"That's alright, I'll drink both," Liam responded with a grin. "It's been a while since I last saw you, Coulson. How's everything going?"
"Yes, it has been a while," Coulson replied.
"By the way, did you enjoy my last gift?" Liam asked.
Coulson barely managed to stay polite, he squeezed out a smile as he answered. "I liked it a lot."
Liam pulled a small box from his pocket and held it out with a smile. "I had to make a bit of room so my gift could fit, I believe these belong to you? Do you want them back?"
Coulson's professional smile slipped as he looked at the box of trading cards. "Yes, I would like them back, Liam," he said, barely hiding his frustration.
"Very well," Liam said, pausing dramatically. "I heard you did a good job relocating my grandpa, so I'll give them back… on one condition."
Coulson's expression tightened. "What do you want?"
"Call Fury and tell him I'd like to meet in three weeks to discuss some details about his 'little project.' We'll meet in New York, at the same bar where you and I met."
"I'll call him now," Coulson agreed, reaching for his phone.
"Good." Liam nodded.
Coulson dialed and waited. "Director Fury," he said when the call connected.
"Report," Fury's voice replied.
"Liam Hawthorne says he wants to meet with you regarding your 'little project.'"
"Agree to his terms," Fury replied before abruptly ending the call.
Coulson slipped his phone back into his pocket and looked at Liam. "He agreed."
"Perfect. Here, take your cards." Liam tossed the box over to him.
Coulson caught it, visibly relieved. "Thank you."
"Have you changed your mind about joining S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Coulson asked.
"No," Liam replied firmly. "As I said, I don't want to be ordered around nor do I have the time for that. You've got your own agents for that."
"A shame. Well, if you change your mind, reach out." Coulson handed Liam his number.
Liam took it, giving his number in return. "I'll keep that in mind."
Coulson stood up, glancing at his watch. "I've got another appointment. Until next time, Liam."
"Bye, Coulson. Until next time," Liam replied as Coulson walked away.
After paying his bill, Liam left and headed to a nearby hotel where he'd planned to stay for a week. He dropped off his things, pausing to think.'I should head over to look around Stark's research facility. A little knowledge on how the location looks won't hurt.'
Liam exited the hotel and made his way towards the Stark Industries Headquarters.
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters…
"Agent Romanoff, he's checked into a hotel for a week in Los Angeles. Retreat from New York and start making your way there."
"Understood. I'll be there in six hours," Romanoff responded before ending the call.
After scouting the HQ for a couple of hours, Liam returned to his hotel room. It had become night, and he looked out over the city. 'If necessary, I can contain the situation. Fortunately, Stark Industries headquarters is quite close to this hotel.'
Sitting down to meditate, Liam focused. 'I'll wait one more hour, then I'll use a small portal to check in. I want to confirm if Obediah's suit is indeed complete outside an arc reactor.'
An hour later, Liam opened a small portal just the size of his eye, positioning it in the upper corner of the research hall to avoid being seen. Looking through it, he confirmed what he had suspected. The armor is ready outside of an arc reactor. 'Now, I just need to wait for tomorrow.'
Closing the portal, he leaned back, reflecting. 'I can't babysit Tony every time something happens. If they start relying on me, what will happen when I'm not here? Or if I'm in outer space? Earth would be hopeless against any challenge. To make sure that doesn't happen, my involvement in this fight needs to be limited. He needs to experience as much of the struggle himself otherwise there will be no drive to improve.'
He called for room service, deciding to continue training his astral form while he waited. 'Might as well start learning Latin. Many spells, like the Tendrils of Ikathalon, require Latin to learn them.' After thirty minutes, a server knocked, bringing in a tray.
"Here's your dinner, sir," the man said, setting the dishes on the table.
"Thank you," Liam replied, handing over a generous tip. "Have a great night."
The server smiled, pocketing the tip. "Thank you very much, sir."
After enjoying his meal, Liam continued studying, diving into his Latin practice while meditating. Two more hours passed before he called it a night. 'Time for bed. Tomorrow's going to be busy.'
Liam closed the curtains, locked the door, and fell asleep.
The next morning, Liam woke early. 'Eight a.m. Plenty to do today. Let's start with breakfast.'
He ordered room service, freshened up, and got dressed. Fifteen minutes later, a knock sounded at his door.
"Coming," Liam called as he walked over. Opening the door, he was met with a surprise. Standing there was a beautiful woman with red hair. 'What the…?' Liam thought, his surprise showing for a split second before he masked it with a smile. "Come in, please. Just put it on the table."
"Anything you wish, sir," she replied with a warm smile as she entered with the service tray.
Liam leaned casually against the table, his expression curious. "So, what's a beautiful woman like you doing working a job like this?"
The woman's smile didn't falter. "It was the only job available close by," she said warmly.
"So you live nearby?" Liam questioned. "Why not look further out?"
The woman's smile changed into a sad expression. "My mother's sick. I want to stay close to help care for her."
"How considerate." Liam nodded, reaching into his wallet and handing her five hundred-dollar bills. Internally, he was chuckling at the situation. 'My acting's not half bad. Maybe I should quit magic and take up acting.'
The woman's smile returned. "Thank you so much, sir."
Liam watched her, noting how genuine her expressions seemed. 'It's creepy, knowing this is all an act. She really does live up to the name 'Black Widow.''
With a polite nod, she exited, and Liam locked the door behind her. 'I can't talk freely here—who knows how many bugs S.H.I.E.L.D. has set up. Her presence complicates things, though. She might try to interfere with Tony's fight against Obadiah.'
Liam considered his options. 'I'll have to keep her from interfering somehow, but I also need to keep an eye on the fight myself.'
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Thanks for all the kind comments on the last chapter, I feel great currently.
Some exciting chapters are coming up :).
Also, do you want characters thinking to be 'Hey, this is my plan.' or 'Hey, this is my plan.' ?
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