He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the Washington D.C. skyline.
The sunlight hit his one eye, reflecting a complex light.
Fury thought for a moment.
"Go see her again," he said.
Coulson looked at him.
"Mavuika?"
Fury nodded.
"If it really is related to Asgard..." he said, "she should know."
He stood up and picked up the black trench coat draped over the back of the chair.
"Let's go," he said. "Come with me."
Coulson stood up and followed his lead.
The two walked out of the office, through the hallway, and into the elevator.
The elevator doors closed, and the numbers began to jump.
Coulson suddenly asked, "Director, legend has it that the Bifrost Bridge is the bridge connecting Asgard to the Nine Realms. Based on our current understanding, it should be something like a portal. So, who do you think... has arrived?"
Fury thought for a moment.
"I don't know," he said. "But no matter who it is, we'll meet them first and see."
The elevator doors opened, and the two walked out of the building.
Outside, a black sedan was already waiting.
Fury got in the car, and Coulson got in from the other side.
The engine started, and the sedan drove out of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, merging into the Washington traffic.
Target—New York.
...
Upper West Side, Mavuika's Villa.
Ten o'clock in the morning, the sun was just right.
Mavuika had just woken up, wearing a loose linen dress with her hair loosely tied back, and was brewing coffee in the kitchen.
Thor sat on the sofa in the living room, holding the TV remote and pressing it repeatedly at the glowing screen.
"Big sis, how do you use this thing?"
"Pressing the red one turns it on."
"I turned it on."
"Then press the up and down keys to change channels."
Thor pressed them, and the TV screen jumped from the news channel to the sports channel, to the movie channel, and to the shopping channel.
His eyes grew wider and wider.
"What is this?"
"Television," Mavuika said without looking back.
"This is actually quite interesting!"
Loki sat on a chair on the balcony, holding a cup of tea, quietly watching the street scene outside.
His gaze fell on the pedestrians coming and going, on the shuttling vehicles, and on the rows of skyscrapers.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were constantly observing.
This was a habit he had developed since childhood.
Watch first, then think, then act.
The doorbell suddenly rang.
Mavuika put down the coffee pot, walked to the door, and glanced outside.
Then she raised an eyebrow slightly.
Fury.
And another man she didn't recognize.
Mavuika opened the door.
"Director Fury," she said, her tone carrying a hint of surprise. "What brings you here today?"
Fury stood at the door, a perfectly polite smile on his dark face.
"Ms. Marvica," he said. "Sorry for the intrusion, but I have some matters I'd like to ask about."
His gaze swept past Mavuika's shoulder, glancing into the house.
Then he saw the blonde powerhouse on the sofa who was exclaiming at the television.
And the black-haired man on the balcony holding a teacup, looking at him with a half-smile.
Fury's pupils contracted slightly.
But the expression on his face didn't change at all.
"Please come in." Mavuika stepped aside.
Fury walked into the house, with Coulson following behind him.
As they entered the living room, Thor jumped up from the sofa.
"Big sis, do we have guests?" He strode over, sizing up Fury and Coulson. "Who are these two mortals?"
Mavuika patted him gently.
"Be polite."
Thor scratched his head.
"Oh, right."
Mavuika turned to Fury.
"Good timing," she said. "I was just looking for you."
Fury raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Looking for me?"
Mavuika nodded, pointing at Thor and Loki.
"Let me introduce you. This is my brother, Thor, and this is my other brother, Loki."
Fury's gaze swept over the two of them.
Thor.
The god of thunder.
The Aesir prince from myth who held a hammer, summoned lightning, and campaigned across the Nine Realms.
At this moment, he stood before him wearing an old T-shirt found from who-knows-where, a pair of clearly ill-fitting casual pants, and slippers on his feet.
He grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, looking—
Like a Blonde Big Dummy.
The corner of Fury's mouth twitched slightly.
He recalled the descriptions of Thor in mythology: 'Valiant God of War,' 'Incarnation of Thunder,''Strongest Warrior of the Nine Realms.'
Then he looked at the heartless guy laughing in front of him.
...The gap was a bit large.
Then he looked at Loki.
Loki stood by the balcony door, the teacup still in his hand. He was wearing a dark green shirt, black casual pants, and was barefoot.
His posture was much more elegant than Thor's, with his back straight, chin slightly raised, and a faint smile playing on his lips.
Those emerald green eyes were looking at Fury with an interested, sizing-up gaze.
Fury made eye contact with those eyes for a second.
He immediately realized—
This person was not simple.
Thor was the kind of person you could see through at a glance.
But this Loki...
Fury withdrew his gaze, putting on a standard social smile.
"Prince Thor, Prince Loki," he said, bowing slightly.
"Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. On behalf of Earth, I welcome you both."
Thor was stunned for a moment.
Then he burst into laughter, stepped forward, and slapped Fury on the shoulder.
The force was so great that Fury almost lost his balance.
"Hahaha! So there are people in Midgard who know proper etiquette!" Thor said loudly.
"Not bad, not bad. You're much stronger than I imagined!"
Fury steadied himself, the smile still on his face.
But in his heart, he had already begun to evaluate the force of that slap.
At least five times that of an ordinary human.
And that was without Thor using any real effort.
Coulson watched from the side, his expression well-managed, but his heart was already in turmoil.
The god of thunder.
The God of Mischief.
Standing right in front of him.
Alive!
Loki walked over slowly and stood beside Thor.
His gaze lingered on Fury for two seconds, then moved to Coulson, and then back again.
Mavuika watched the interaction from the side, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
"Alright," she said, "let's all sit down and talk."
The group sat down in the living room.
Mavuika poured coffee for Fury and Coulson, and gave Thor a glass of juice—she really didn't want to see him drinking alcohol first thing in the morning.
Thor held the juice, looking disgusted.
"Big sis, I want to drink ale."
"Why are you drinking ale so early in the morning?"
"But—"
"No buts."
Thor lowered his head and drank the juice dejectedly.
Loki chuckled softly from the side.
Fury watched this scene, gaining a clearer understanding of the relationship between these three siblings.
The big sister had the final say.
Both brothers listened to Mavuika.
Interesting.
"Director Fury..." Mavuika spoke, "you came to see me because of what happened last night, right?"