...
"Pierce, Pierce, Pierce. What am I going to do with you?" I sighed, tapping against the desk between the two of us. "Fury tells me you're refusing to talk."
It hadn't even been a day since Jane had lost her apartment before Fury had come hounding me again- To the point, the woman had literally just urged me to deal with it before trying to help her. Telling me I ought to prioritize better.
I wasn't particularly surprised to find out that Alexander Pierce, as well some of the other Hydra members Steve Roger had already caught recently had realized that while the seal forced them to tell the truth, it hadn't forced them to speak in the first place.
I continued tapping the desk, idly watching the others gaze like a hawk might watch its prey.
"I'll tell you, what I've been telling him. I'd like to speak to my lawyer." The aged man sniffed, raising his nose at me.
"I am your lawyer." I deadpanned immediately, earning a twitch out of the man. "Legal advice? You're going to jail for the rest of your life."
Of course, I knew the real reason Fury had wanted me to 'help' him with the interrogation. He was hoping that I did in fact have another seal that would force them to speak up- Which I didn't. Unfortunately, that particular aspect involves either a very old, by my having experienced it standards, shinigami ritual, or an unforgivable curse. Neither of which I had enough knowledge nor experience with to replicate properly. Given I rarely felt the need to use either.
If you're going to cast an unforgivable anyway, go hard or go home.
Voldemort hadn't been a fan of that motto. Though his crew was usually on the receiving end of it.
Besides, it was a lot easier to avoid Azkaban if the only witness was a corpse.
I could try to make a seal that forced them to speak regardless of course, but that would very likely backfire and either kill the test subjects or worse, give them Joker-level mental control and sanity.
I wish I hadn't been speaking from experience on that one.
My Wizarding World adventure had been a real treat.
Pierce made no response, merely tilting his head up as he palmed his cuffed hands together.
I sniffed, idly leaning back into my chair.
"You know, there really isn't a good scenario for you where you don't end up in jail."
A hint of confusion swept through the man's gaze at the words.
I reached a hand into my left jacket pocket at the look and took out a piece of paper that held a list.
"I am sure the rest of your cult's already noticed- and are no doubt barricading themselves somewhere 'safe' given Captain America and Tony Stark are playing Where's Nazi Waldo with a cheat sheet..."
"Without actual, physical, evidence, it's meaningless." Pierce opened his mouth for the first time since I'd gotten into the room with him. "And no court of law will judge one on a coerced admission. Presuming you can even force one to speak up."
I promptly pushed the piece of paper towards the man, his gaze turning from me and towards it as his eyes took in the list.
"
That's fine and dandy and all. You know, free speech does give you the right to choose when to use it after all. Even if silence is damning." I shrugged. "Hell, I'll throw you a bone and say the seal won't even stop you from pleading the fifth." I resumed my tapping as Pierce's complexion paled the slightest as his eyes went down the list of names- Nearly every big-wig Hydra member was on it, both currently arrested, and still at large. "But I think, you're misunderstanding the point of this little interrogation."
His gaze snapped up towards me, his expression tempered by anger and fury.
"See, Fury doesn't need you to tell him who to go after." I waited a moment, idly looking towards the camera installed into the top right corner of the room. "Fury just needs your admission to make it as seamless and smooth as possible."
Pierce's eyes narrowed as he grit his teeth, his lips trembling for a moment as he tried to force what I presumed was a lie out, to no avail, given the way he snapped shut said mouth the moment a single letter left his mouth.
"'Cos if you don't, well, there might be a public outroar? The trials could take forever- And worse, some of you might even be able to buy your way out, or some other nonsense." I waved a hand, uncaring. "Make no mistake, he knows you're involved- Zola and Bucky Barnes said as much-" Pierce's eyes widened briefly. "-But I doubt any courts going to take a calculator's words seriously, or the Nazi's killing-machine's for that matter... See, the problem comes after Fury's... Preferential way of dealing with things falls through... Because more than anything right now, Fury wants to avoid that- Because if all else fails, then he'll have to rely on me to solve it for him."
A passive expression took over the rest of the man's face, his expressive eyes the only sign that he wasn't as unfazed as he'd like me to believe.
"Pardon me if I sound like I am repeating myself here- But make no mistake Pierce, you can't ever get away from me. There isn't a place on this planet, galaxy, or universe that you can hide out of my sight in."
I stood up, smiling at the man briefly as I tilted my head, raising my eyebrows the slightest. "And fyi there's really only one way I know how to deal with problems." I leaned in closer, watching as the man pushed his head back the slightest, his gaze snapping between me and the camera in the room briefly. "And unless you want me to portal you into the nearest star, I suggest taking Fury's option. And, you know, figure out a way not to drop the soap wherever you end up."
"You can't do that-" The man immediately snapped out. "That's against the law. And if you think I am going to let you threaten me without cause-"
"Do I look like the type of guy that even knows the law in the first place?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "Besides, if there's one thing I've learned, obeying the law against fuckers like you, is the equivalent of putting a clown outfit on and dancing in the bloody circus, without pay." I pulled myself to my full height and gave the man another smile. "If you want to bring any of that in court, go ahead. But if you, any Hydra agent for that matter, somehow, someway, get out of this?" I put my right hand up into an open palm. "Star." Put my other hand up into a fist. "You." And smashed them together. "With, or without Fury's approval." I lowered my hands down, into my pockets. "Feel free to keep that list." And promptly walked out.
Fury's face on the other side of that door, was not amused.
"I think he might be more willing to talk, now." I grinned at him and promptly opened a portal back to Jane's newest apartment.
I got her one about half the city away from her old one- Not too far from the hotel Banner was currently staying at for that matter.
Not my first suggestion in truth... Unfortunately, she hadn't been too keen on living on another planet.
Apparently, the Sling-ring taxi service to her, everywhere, wasn't enough of a reason to move into outer space.
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