New York, United States - May 2012 (Three days after the Battle)
Matthew woke up feeling like he'd been run over by a truck. Then the truck had reversed and run him over again. Just for fun.
"Damn it," he grumbled, rolling out of bed. Every muscle protested. The scar on his back, though healed, still throbbed with phantom pain.
He looked at his phone. 47 missed calls. 23 from Fury. 15 from unknown numbers that were probably other SHIELD agents. And surprisingly, 9 from his mother.
"Shit. Mom."
He dialed her number. Elizabeth answered on the first ring.
"MATTHEW ALEXANDER HARKNESS!" Her voice blasted through the phone. "THREE DAYS! THREE DAYS WITHOUT KNOWING IF YOU WERE ALIVE OR DEAD! THERE WERE ALIENS, EXPLOSIONS, AND YOU WEREN'T ANSWERING THE PHONE!"
"Hi, Mom," Matthew rubbed his face. "I'm fine. I was... busy with work. I had important meetings."
"Meetings? MEETINGS? The city was being invaded and you were having MEETINGS!"
"Mom, I promise I was in a safe place. And I'm fine. Not a scratch."
Complete lie, but she didn't need to know about the alien energy wound.
"Your father and I were extremely worried. Please call us more often."
"I will, I promise. I love you all. See you Sunday for lunch."
He hung up before she could scold him any further. He loved his parents, but explaining that he'd been fighting aliens alongside the Avengers would be... complicated.
Her phone rang immediately. This time it was Fury.
Matthew considered not answering. He considered throwing the phone out the window. He considered running away to Tibet and becoming a monk.
He answered.
"Good morning, Director. How is your day going?"
"Harkness." Fury's voice was dangerously calm. "We need to talk. Now."
"Is this about how I saved Tony Stark's life? Because I don't need thank yous, it was a pleasure..."
"It's about how you killed a Leviathan ALL BY YOURSELF, fought your way through the city saving civilians, and then disappeared bleeding without a trace. I have a thousand questions and you're going to give me the answers."
Matthew sighed.
"Can I at least have coffee first?"
"You have thirty minutes to get to the cafe on the corner of 5th and 42nd. The one with a view of Stark Tower. Or I'll send Romanoff to get you."
"Uh, threats. How sexy. I'll be there in twenty."
He hung up before Fury could reply.
Coffee on 5th Avenue - 30 minutes later
Matthew arrived dressed casually: jeans, a black t-shirt, a leather jacket. Nothing that screamed "I'm an underworld god who killed aliens three days ago."
Fury was at a table in the back, wearing sunglasses despite being indoors, because apparently the director of SHIELD is just that dramatic.
Matthew sat down, ordering a double coffee.
"You're late," Fury said.
"The traffic is awful. It turns out that when there's an alien invasion, the streets are a complete mess."
"I'm not in the mood for your sarcasm, Harkness."
"And I'm not in the mood to be interrogated, but here we are." Matthew took a sip of his coffee. "What do you want to know, Fury?"
"Everything. Start with how you killed a Leviathan without armor, without weapons, using only... what was that? Shadows?"
"Basically."
"Basically."
"Look, Director, I told you from the beginning that I have powers. That I am a reincarnated god. Did you think it was a metaphor?"
"I thought you were powerful. I didn't think you were 'kill-a-building-sized-alien-ship-with-your-hands' powerful."
Matthew shrugged.
"Surprise."
Fury studied it for a long time.
"The Avengers want to meet you. Officially."
"Oh, really?"
"Tony Stark especially. He says that someone who took a plasma blast for him deserves at least a beer."
Matthew smiled at that.
"Stark is a good guy beneath all that arrogance."
"So you're going to meet with them?"
"Eventually. But not now. They still need time to process what happened. To solidify as a team. My presence would complicate things."
"Or are you afraid they'll ask you to join?"
Matthew laughed.
"Director, I'm not afraid of anything. But I'm not Avenger material. I work best alone. Or in the shadows. I'm not the type to wear spandex and pose for photos."
"The Avengers don't wear spandex."
"Cap literally wears spandex."
Fury almost smiled. Almost.
"That's fine. For now. But eventually, you're going to have to come out of the shadows completely. Especially if you keep interfering in major events."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because," Fury leaned forward, "things are coming. Bigger things than Loki. Things that will require every powerful player we can muster. And you, Harkness, are one of the most powerful I've ever seen."
Matthew thought about that. He thought about Ultron. About the Accords. About Thanos.
"You're right," he admitted. "Things are coming. And when they do... I'll consider coming out more openly. But on my terms. Not as a SHIELD soldier. As an independent ally."
"I can live with that."
"Fine." Matthew stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a company to run and wounds to heal."
"One more thing." Fury pulled out a tablet, sliding it across the table. "Loki mentioned something interesting during his interrogation. Before Thor took him back to Asgard."
Matthew looked at the tablet. It was a transcript.
Questioner: "Who was the shadow man who fought during the invasion?"
Loki: "The Dark Spectre? Interesting, isn't it? Not human. Not Asgardian. But definitely divine. Smells of death, that one. Of inevitable ends. It would be fascinating to study it. Or recruit it."
Interrogator: "Do you know him?"
Loki: "No. But my... benefactor might be interested in him."
Matthew felt a chill.
"Your benefactor?" he asked, although he knew exactly who she was referring to.
"He didn't elaborate. But whoever he is, Loki works for someone else. Someone powerful. And now that someone knows about you."
"Great," Matthew murmured. "Just what I needed. A cosmic villain interested in me."
"Do you know who that is?"
Matthew thought about lying. Then he decided it wasn't worth it.
"I have suspicions. But nothing confirmed. If I find out anything concrete, I'll let you know."
That's a lie. I knew exactly who he was. Thanos. The Mad Titan. The son of a bitch who was coming for the Infinity Stones.
But I couldn't tell Fury that. Not yet.
"Do it," Fury stood up. "And Harkness, watch yourself. If there's someone more powerful than Loki out there... we're all in danger."
"I know," Matthew replied earnestly. "Believe me, I know."
That afternoon - Stark Tower
Matthew was in his office when he received an unexpected visitor.
"Mr. Harkness," his secretary sounded nervous over the intercom, "there's a... uh... a man here who insists on seeing you. He says he's Tony Stark."
Matthew almost spat out his coffee.
"Stark? Tony Stark?"
"Yes, sir. He has ID and everything. And there are like... reporters outside?"
"Shit." Matthew stood up, smoothing down his clothes. "Okay. Let him through. And tell security to clear the reporters."
Two minutes later, Tony Stark entered his office as if he owned the place, sunglasses on, a lopsided smile, and that chaotic energy that characterized him.
"Matthew Harkness," Tony took off his glasses, looking around. "Nice place. Not as nice as my tower, but respectable."
"Tony Stark," Matthew approached, extending his hand. "An honor. Although your tower is technically under repair after Loki used it to open a dimensional portal."
"Details," Tony said, shaking his hand firmly. Then, more seriously, "JARVIS analyzed all the battle footage he could find. It's you, right? The guy in the shadows. The one who took a bullet for me."
Matthew considered denying it. Then he realized it was pointless. Tony Stark was a genius. He was obviously going to find out.
"Could be."
"Maybe," Tony repeated, smiling. "I like your style. Mysterious. Dramatic. Very Batman."
"I prefer Hades, but Batman will do too."
"Hades. The Greek god of the underworld. Really?"
"Oh really."
Tony studied it, and Matthew could practically see the gears turning in his head.
"JARVIS," Tony spoke into the air, "show me the analysis."
A holographic projection emerged from his watch. Video of Matthew during the battle. Killing Chitauri. Saving civilians. Killing the Leviathan.
"That's you," Tony said, pointing to the image of Matthew digging his hands into the Leviathan. "And that," he added, pointing as Matthew intercepted the shot, "is you saving my ass."
"I technically saved an unconscious Tony Stark's ass. You didn't even know it happened."
"But it happened. And I'm alive because of it." Tony closed the projection, looking directly at him. "So, thank you. For that, and for helping throughout the battle."
Matthew nodded, somewhat uncomfortable with the sincere gratitude.
"You're welcome. I wasn't going to let you die. You still have a lot to do."
"How do you know that?"
"Intuition. Besides, the world needs Tony Stark. You're annoying as hell, but you're important."
Tony laughed.
"Annoying as hell. I like it. Can I use it?"
"It's all yours."
Tony walked to the window, looking at the city that was still being rebuilt.
"Fury says you don't want to join the Avengers."
"It's not my style."
"Why not? You have the powers. You have the skills. You clearly care about saving people."
Matthew approached, standing next to him.
"Because the Avengers are a symbol. They are hope, light, the epitome of humanity's best. I am not that. I am darkness. I am what lurks in the shadows. I am the guy who does the things heroes can't do."
"It sounds lonely."
"It is," Matthew admitted. "But it's necessary. Someone has to play that role."
Tony nodded slowly.
"I respect that. But..." she turned, looking at him, "if you ever change your mind, or if you need help with anything, call me. Seriously. You owe your life to my subconscious self."
Matthew smiled.
"Are you giving me your number?"
"I'm giving you my personal number. Only about ten people on the planet have it. Use it wisely."
She handed him a card. Matthew looked at it. Sure enough, a handwritten phone number.
"Thank you, Stark."
"Tony. The guys who save my life can call me Tony."
"Tony," Matthew corrected. "One thing. When you rebuild the tower... consider improving the defenses. Particularly against aerial threats. And maybe install something in the reactor core that can close dimensional portals. You never know."
Tony looked at him suspiciously.
"Do you know something I don't?"
"I know many things you don't. But in this case, it's just common sense. You've already been invaded once. Prevent it from happening again."
"Sound advice." Tony walked toward the door, then stopped. "Oh, and Harkness, one more thing. Rogers wants to meet you. Personally. He says someone who sacrifices themselves for others without hesitation is someone he wants to meet."
"Cap is a good guy."
"The best," Tony admitted. "But never tell him I said that."
"Your secret is safe with me."
Tony left, leaving Matthew alone with his thoughts.
That night - The Sanctum
Matthew was meditating in his ritual circle, processing everything that had happened, when he felt the disturbance.
Something was crossing into his kingdom. Something powerful.
He submerged completely, projecting his consciousness into the Underworld.
He appeared on his throne, his full armor materializing around him. The one hundred souls he had recruited were on alert, sensing the intrusion.
And there, at the gates of his kingdom, stood... a woman.
She was beautiful in an otherworldly way. Long black hair, pale skin, dressed in a green dress that seemed made of mist. Her eyes shone with a sickly green hue.
"Greetings, young Emperor," she said in a voice that sounded like the whispers of the dead. "I am Hela. Goddess of Death. Of Asgard."
Matthew felt his blood run cold.
"Hela," she repeated, recognizing the name immediately. "Thor's sister. The one Odin has locked up."
Hela smiled, surprised.
"You know about me. Interesting. Then you also know I shouldn't be here. And yet..." He looked around, "your kingdom called to me. Death recognizes death. And you, little god, are death incarnate."
"What do you want?" Matthew kept his voice steady, even though internally he was recalculating all his defenses.
"Curiosity," Hela walked through the doors, which didn't stop her. "I saw your fight against the Chitauri. Through the eyes of the dead. I saw how you killed the Leviathan. I saw your power." She came closer. "And I wondered: who is this new god who claims dominion over death without asking anyone's permission?"
"I don't need permission," Matthew stood up from his throne, descending the stairs. "This is my kingdom. Built with my power. I don't have to answer to anyone."
"Audacity," Hela laughed. "I like it. But little god, you should know something. Death is my domain. It always has been. And when I finally break free from my prison..."
She approached until she was just inches away from him.
"We're going to have a very interesting conversation about jurisdictions."
Matthew did not back down.
"I will eagerly await that day. But until then, Hela, Goddess of Death of Asgard, I ask you to leave my realm. Now."
Hela studied him, her eyes gleaming with something that could be respect. Or threat. Or both.
"As you wish, little Emperor. But remember this:" his eyes turned completely black for a second, "true death, the death that existed before the universes and will exist after... that death is greater than you and I combined. And it is coming. Soon."
"What does that mean?"
But Hela was already fading away, her laughter echoing throughout the kingdom.
"You will discover it. Everyone will discover it."
And she left, leaving Matthew standing on his throne, with more questions than answers.
"Hela," he murmured. "Thanos. Loki's 'benefactor.' Everyone's starting to move."
He looked at his kingdom, at the souls that looked at him waiting for orders.
"The pieces are in motion. The game is accelerating."
"And I need to be ready."
END OF CHAPTER