Chapter 16: A Search For Truth and also Steve (Continued) (If At All Possible At This Point)

Disclaimer: Disclaimers suck, but Marvel doesn't so I'll put up with them and the fact that I don't own Marvel.

Secondary Warning: Homework during summer sucks and is confusing as hell so I decided to write this instead and it's gonna get me in trouble, but I don't care rn. I'm armed with tea in my pretty new Harry Potter cup and music so come at me homework! *cries when the homework takes a single step towards me* I'm so tough. And hella late with updating.(Sorry, loves) Anyway, please enjoy for this was emotional to write.


Strings!

Someone is pulling at Loki's strings!

Well… maybe. I mean it'd make sense. Someone is at least tugging at them. Maybe. I can't prove anything. It just feels right. Kinda. Sorta. A little bit.

Don't get me wrong I'm not defending Loki and his obvious crazy, but he has got to be working (or possibly being controlled by since he looks like he's an experienced hell resident) for someone to get that wicked scepter. And I mean someone besides that alien army. If they were powerful enough to have that scepter then surely they didn't need an exiled Norse god to get their hands on the Tesseract. They could have just sent one of their own guys down to get it and ditch. Someone has to be orchestrating all this, right? Who could possibly be sitting atop my imagined pyramid of power, though? I should talk to Loki again. I'm already starting to doubt my theory.

Wait, but also, why would Loki give up the Tesseract for the Earth? He knows exactly what the Tesseract is and is capable of, so why would he trade unlimited power for a floating space rock filled with beings he despises? That just doesn't make sense. Surely there is someone else involved in this. Right? Is it possible for someone else to be controlling him like he's controlling Hawkeye and Dr. Selvig? I feel like my brain is gonna burst. I should look further into this theory.

But, first I really gotta find Steve. I should retrace my steps. To the lab! Wait, I think as I turn to head to the lab, wasn't I having a conversation…. Okay, Eve, time to tune back into the real world. Woo, I think with my maximum amount of sarcasm as I turn back to the guys I had been conversing with, more weird looks.

"Uh… sorry guys. The train station got busy," I try to explain only to get more weird looks. Well, Phil gets what I'm saying at least. Man, I love Phil. He's great."Um, anyway, hate to to end the gossip circle, but I gotta go find Mr. America pronto to present him with his crown and bouquet for winning the pageant."

"Um," they all murmur while looking at each other with varying levels of confusion. Thor being the most confused and Phil being the least, just fyi.

"Buh-bye!" I bide them goodbye before they can actually say real words. I immediately start heading back to the lab with a skip in my step and a song in my head. I don't even realize that I start humming Fiddler on the Roof songs until I'm practically replaying the entire musical in my head. My grandmama and grandpapa loved Fiddler. They were really big into that kind of thing. Masterpiece Classic was one of their favorite programs. I spent a lot of weekends with them and that's where I came to love and appreciate good storytelling.

From there it spiraled into an obsession with stories and, as I got older and my family got internet, fandoms. Sadie didn't get very far before Luna was born, though. Luna got way more interested in working out, studying, and mind games, both of the psychology and learning kind. She still watched movie, tv, and read books in her spare time, but more casually. Then during my year long sabbatical from actively participating in the world of the living I got really into stories again cause they blocked out my own existence and replaced it with the existence and emotions of the characters in the story.

Wow. What a train derailment. Dummy brain. It's like it doesn't know that the world is in jeopardy. Thinking of jeopardy, though, you know what I need? A good day of watching Jeopardy and shouting out answers no matter how wrong they are.

Again, wrong train, Eve.

Now, focus. You gotta find Steve.


~le entrance into lab~

I finally meander into the lab while humming "If I Were A Rich Man" only to find an actual rich man sitting criss cross applesauce on the counter messing with the fancy computer screen and eating blueberries. Now that's what I'd do if I were a rich man. Bruce is actually working, though I notice him keeping an eye on Tony's hacking.

"Wow, I see you two have been productive," I say by way of greeting as I enter Both men hastily turn towards me with mildly concerned and/or fearful expressions. When they recognise me they immediately relax, however. Tony sends me a cocky grin while Bruce's smile is a slightly guilty one.

"Oh, we're are getting plenty done, don't you worry about that," Tony replies.

"Have you gotten in yet?" I ask him.

"Not yet, but JARVIS is getting close," Tony informs me with one of his trademark smirks.

"You know, he's probably trigger the security alarms by now," I comment.

"JARVIS is better than that," Tony quickly defends the AI.

"Suuure," I drawl. "Anyway, has Steve been by here since I left?"

"I'm afraid not, Ms. Greene," Bruce answers me.

"It's Eve, Doc," I remind him. He smiles and nods as he comes over to stand behind Tony and observe the hacking programs progress.

"You still haven't found him? You'd think he'd be easy to locate in that fashion disaster," Tony adds in his two cents.

"Don't let Phil here you," I laugh. "That suit is his pride and joy."

"Who's Phil?" Tony asks. He's joking right?

"Coulson?" My answer comes out as a question.

"His first name is Agent," Tony grins. Something in his manner suggests this isn't his first time telling that joke.

"That was lame. I've come to expect better humor from you, Tony," I tease him in return for teasing me. Tony's grin widens just as Fury walks in.

"What are you doing, Mr. Stark?" Fury demands as he walks in with his long coat flapping dramatically. I still firmly believe everyone here is a major drama queen, but Nick's outfit choices take the cake.

"Uh, kind of been wondering the same thing about you," Tony replies casually.

"You're supposed to be locating the Tesseract," Nick reminds him.

"We are," Bruce jumps in. "The model's locked and we're sweeping for the signature now. When we get a hit, we'll have the location within half a mile."

"Yeah, then you'll get your Cube back. No muss, no fuss," Tony adds. "What is "Phase Two"?"

Crash!

I spin around to the noise.

"Phase 2 is S.H.I.E.L.D. uses the Cube to make weapons," Steve announces.

Dun, dun, DUNNNNNNN! What'll happen next?!