Verity Noble could care less about Erik Selvig's abnormal behavior. In fact, the only reason she even slightly cared was because the doctor was her father's close friend. But that did not mean that Verity had to care about the doctor herself.

As it was, everything was getting rather suspicious. Within the past two or three months, the doctor had been acting strangely… or at least, stranger than usual. He was uncommonly quiet, often taking solace in being alone in his office. He only came out on Fury's orders, or whenever he had to give a report on the Tesseract's behavior. Otherwise, he was shut up in his little hovel, conducting feverish research about the Tesseract's power and what it could accomplish.

Verity had known Erik Selvig her whole life.

He was not like this.

She frowned to herself as she stormed through one of SHIELD's headquarters. Fury had just commanded her to summon Erik Selvig to council—it was time for another of those monthly meetings about "unlimited power," blah, blah, blah.

Those meetings bored Verity something awful. Fury would always talk about unlimited power, and how it could help humanity, but in truth, she thought that humanity was probably beyond helping at this point.

Humankind was frail, scattered, divided. They needed peace and order, something for them to unite under or with.

That was probably why she had become HYDRA. She believed in a system of unity, although she did not entirely agree with the idea that people needed guns to their head to achieve it.

Although she was a part of HYDRA—not SHIELD, as she had only involved in it for HYDRA's benefit—she felt like she was not entirely HYDRA. She was not as enthusiastic about the organization as some of her coworkers.

Verity scowled to herself as she reached Erik's office. As usual, he was talking to himself. That hadn't changed.

She raised her fist to knock at the door—

But then she stopped.

There was not one voice… there were two.

"Any developments, Selvig?"

"Nicholas Fury is correct. The Tesseract could be utilized for unlimited and intense power," said Selvig's voice. "The thing is, the humans do not realize what else it is capable of."

Verity pressed her ear to the door. What did Selvig mean? And why had he said "humans" as if he wasn't one?

She was about as curious as she could get—that was when she heard the second voice again, one she had never heard before, declare, "Of course they do not. They are petty and unintelligent. It is a wonder they have lasted this long on this earth without someone watching over them... How long until the Tesseract is ready to transport me here? I grow tired of waiting."

The voice was low and smooth and was certainly not Erik Selvig.

Verity was baffled. Was this person the reason the doctor had been so distant lately? How had he won over Selvig's loyalty?

"I have almost finished connecting the bridges between our worlds. It should be done in about a month. It won't be long now," replied Erik.

The second voice growled. "It better not be. It has been near three months already, and that damned cube has been in the humans' possession for all that time. The longer we wait, the closer they are to taking it out of our range. I must be here if my plan is to succeed—and I do not completely trust the Chitauri to help me get here, either. It must be done my way. Now get back to work."

Realizing the conversation was about to end, Verity burst into the office without knocking. She simply had to get a look at this person corrupting Selvig's usually peaceful and simple beliefs—

But when she entered, it was only Erik.

Deflated, Verity blinked and glanced around. As usual, the office was a mess; rather, a pigsty filled with papers, donut wrappers, and whiteboards filled with complicated formulas and science-y stuff that Verity did not understand.

"Hello there, Miss Noble!" chuckled Dr. Selvig good-naturedly, as if he had been expecting her. He did not notice the way her gaze darted around his office as he questioned, "Is it time for the monthly report?"

Verity nodded, not quite sure what else to say. She glanced around the room one more time, a scowl on her face. Her gaze passed over a mirror; something made her stop.

She narrowed her eyes and gasped—in the reflection was a very tall man wearing Renaissance-like armor, holding a scepter. His green eyes flashed when her blue-eyed gaze landed on him.

But then she blinked, and the man's reflection disappeared.

She whirled around, wondering where the man went. She was certain he had been there… she had heard voices… and now seen someone.

He had been talking about coming here.

"Are you alright, Verity?" questioned the doctor, stepping towards her, wearing a puzzled look.

Verity glared at him and jabbed a finger so close to his face that Erik had to cross his eyes to see it. "I know you're up to something, Erik. You've been acting… odd… these past few months, and I know I just heard voices. You're going to do something with the Tesseract, and you can mark my words when I say I'm going to find out what, and who the man is that you're working with. Don't object, I saw him!" she exclaimed quickly as Erik opened his mouth. "I'll find out, Erik. You know me. You know I will."

And with that, she whirled around, her long brown hair nearly slapping the doctor's face as she stormed out. Over her shoulder, she added, "Are you coming? Fury sent me to get you, you know."

She heard footsteps behind her and figured that Erik was following her. Together, they started walking through the halls.

Though at first it was silent, Verity, not quite ready to push her curiosity aside, asked lightly, "So! Doctor Selvig. Who was that man I saw? A long-lost cousin, perhaps?"

Doctor Selvig failed to notice her sarcasm. "More like a figment of your imagination, my dear."

Verity laughed, though it was without humor. "Do not play games with me, Doctor. You and I both know that you've been acting odd recently. I have known you since I could walk. You cannot fool me, no matter what lies you might shoot my way."

Erik chuckled. "I am not fooling you at all, Verity. When have I ever lied to you?"

"There is a first time for everything, Erik," she laughed softly in return. She did not believe the doctor—Verity trusted no one, if not herself, no matter how long she had known someone. "And I am a thorough believer in the idea that anything can happen."

She was answered with silence, which all but assured Verity that what she had seen and heard was true.

Verity couldn't withhold her smirk. It appeared she was onto something, after all. It only made her more determined to figure out what exactly Erik Selvig was researching—and, more importantly, who he was giving the information to.

Within another few minutes, they were outside the room in which the Tesseract lodged. Both Verity and Erik knew that Fury would be inside… Verity was the first to open the door and dramatically gesture the doctor inside.

Erik stepped past her with a chuckle; Verity smirked again and followed him in.

"There you are, Selvig," greeted Fury, his eye—singular, as he wore an eyepatch over his right eye—on the doctor. "I was wondering if maybe you'd skipped off."

"I'm sure he wouldn't, not so deep into the game," remarked Verity, raising an eyebrow.

Fury chuckled at that. "Perhaps you're right, Agent Noble. Anyway, thank you for bringing Selvig here. As it is, I will spare you from the council meeting. This is just a discussion between Selvig and I."

"Oh no!" mocked Verity, throwing her hands to her cheeks in fake horror. Her blue eyes widened in supposed distress. "I cannot take part in all these scientific discussions I have no knowledge of?"

Fury laughed. "Your sarcasm is as sharp as ever, Agent Noble."

The tone of Fury's voice clearly labeled that Verity was dismissed—she smirked and curtsied dramatically before exiting the room, her tall black heels clicking over the floor as she did.

Verity sighed once she was back in the hallway. She wouldn't have anything to report to HYDRA—not that she gave a damn. She just wanted to go home and watch Criminal Minds and not have to worry about that revolting thing known as work for a while.

The man in the mirror flew through her mind again… Verity wondered if she might return to Erik Selvig's office to gain a hint about who the man was.

Although she thought it was a good idea, she abstained, if only because the man, according to what he said, was not actually with the doctor when they'd spoken. Somehow, he must have projected a hologram of himself or something so he might speak with Erik…

Another scowl found Verity's face, but she just shook off the thought.

Perhaps tomorrow she might be able to weasel some information out of Erik. She was, in fact, very good at being manipulative.

"All thanks to my big brother," she chuckled darkly before setting off for home. If she had work left to do, too bad.

She'd rather be watching Criminal Minds.

"She knows."

Loki scowled to himself as he paced. Although he was somewhat pleased at Selvig's report, there was still a month before he could arrive on Earth. But now that the skeptical female caught sight of his projection, time was much more precious.

He glared down at the ground. He didn't have time.

He would have to gain it somehow.

There was only one thing for it—he had to kill the girl before she found anything out about him.

"Yes," he sighed to himself. "That will work."

Loki stopped pacing and shook his head. He was starting to sound like that insane—albeit possessed—doctor, talking to himself like that. With a smirk, he exhaled through his nose and tightened his grasp on his scepter.

That was when a neat little idea popped into his head.

He glanced sideways at the weapon in his hand. The jewel of the scepter that Thanos had given him was filled with power. A manipulative power. He already knew it was capable of changing people's allegiances… Doctor Selvig was living proof of that. Who was to say he had to kill the girl when he could simply make her obedient? That way, he might have another pair of eyes, another scientist he could rely on, another pawn to speed up the process.

He smirked. He'd only had a glance at the girl, but she could be a promising ally. Or, if not that, she could at least be promising sport.

Hello, lovely people! So this is my new story... I came up with the idea for it after watching Thor tonight. I simply had to write it down, although I'm not sure if I will write more in it. It was sort of rash, but I'm going to continue on with it, at least for a little while longer.

Have a MARVELous day, everyone! Please review!