The air inside the secured S.H.I.E.L.D. facility was thick with tension, almost palpable as it clung to the room. A silent heaviness hung over the Avengers—captured in this moment of uncertain peace after the chaos of the Chitauri invasion. The echoes of battle were still reverberating throughout the city, ripples of destruction stretching far beyond New York's borders.
The Avengers had gathered in a small, nondescript briefing room deep beneath Avengers Tower. A place meant to contain plans and intel, but right now, it felt more like a pressure cooker about to burst.
At the head of the table, Nick Fury sat, a wall of calm authority, his one eye scanning his team, gauging them like he always did. The people around him, however, were anything but calm. Steve Rogers, as rigid and stoic as ever, his posture unyielding. Tony Stark, arms crossed, his mind already racing with questions and half-formed theories, a furrow between his brows that never seemed to ease. Natasha Romanoff, ever watchful, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of the room and the conversations that lingered unspoken. Bruce Banner, his calm demeanor betraying a touch of fatigue, the aftereffects of transforming into the Hulk still heavy in his gaze. Thor, godly and powerful, still radiating the presence of a being who had fought through realms and across galaxies—but even he was silent.
And Clint Barton—Hawkeye—who had been quieter than usual since the battle ended. His eyes were narrowed, his arms folded across his chest as he sat off to one side, always ready to speak up, but for now, lost in his own thoughts.
They were all here for one reason: to discuss the one thing that seemed to make the most sense in a world turned upside down—White.
The name had stuck, almost by accident, after the Battle of New York. No one was sure where it came from. It wasn't a name he had given himself. It wasn't even particularly fitting for the enigmatic figure. But it worked. And after White had ripped through the Chitauri ranks with terrifying precision, it became their catch-all term for the powerful, unpredictable force that had appeared when they needed help the most.
Fury's voice cut through the stillness, his tone calm but with an edge of control. "We need to talk about him. White."
Steve was the first to speak, his voice measured but tight. "I'm still not sure what to think. He helped us, no question there. But he didn't need to. The guy could've stayed out of the way. Instead, he took on the Chitauri head-on. Why? He could've let us handle it, or worse, watched us struggle."
Tony gave a quick huff, barely concealing his frustration. "Let's be honest here. The guy's a monster. Sure, he helped, but we don't even know what kind of monster he is. He didn't flinch when he killed those Chitauri. He didn't hesitate. Why? No one does that unless they have something to gain. What's his angle?"
Natasha's voice sliced through, smooth yet cutting. "And we still don't know why he was there. Was he tracking the Chitauri, or was he tracking us? Coincidence or something more? Either way, we don't know where he stands—or if we should trust him."
Thor's booming voice filled the room. "I trust him. His actions were noble, nothing short of heroic. I see honor in him, and his power—it was a force to be reckoned with. But what he is, I do not know."
Bruce, who had been silently observing, spoke next, his voice quiet but laden with concern. "We tried to test him, remember? We thought he'd show cracks under pressure. But nothing. He handled every attempt like it was just part of the day. No fear. No hesitation. He's... different. We can't read him like we do the rest of the world."
Fury's gaze sharpened, focusing now on the team. "That's the problem. We've thrown everything we have at him, and nothing sticks. He's too composed, too controlled. He doesn't crack under pressure. And that makes him unpredictable."
Tony leaned forward, his eyebrows raised. "So, we've got a guy who can handle all of our best efforts to unsettle him. And we still don't know if he's a hero or a threat."
Fury's voice grew low, almost a whisper. "I think we need to consider something else. The worst-case scenario... is that White is here for a reason. Not just random. Someone might have sent him."
A flicker of unease passed through the room.
"Loki," Natasha murmured, finishing Fury's thought. "He could've planned for White to be here. It's possible that White was never meant to be a hero in the first place. He could've been another test, another pawn in Loki's grand scheme."
Clint's voice cut through sharply, his gaze fixed on Fury. "We sure as hell don't need another wildcard on our hands, especially one who could go rogue on us at any second. Can we even be sure that he's not some kind of setup?"
Steve's gaze hardened, his fists clenched lightly. "If he's working for Loki... we have a problem. That's not someone we can let run free."
Fury gave them a moment, letting the gravity of the words sink in. Then, his voice hardened again. "We need to get more information. We keep monitoring him, try to draw him out. Maybe we'll find something. Maybe he'll make a mistake."
"I don't think that's likely," Bruce muttered. "He's not made a mistake yet."
Tony smirked. "So, we keep an eye on him. Great. I'll put that on my to-do list. What about the other wildcard?"
"Frost," Fury said, his voice cold. "Emma Frost. She's already in the picture. We've reached out to her. If White won't give us answers, she might. Or she might just complicate things further."
Clint's brow furrowed. "Frost? She's even less trustworthy than White. We don't know her motivations, either. She's a mutant, for God's sake."
"Which is why we need her," Fury shot back, his voice biting. "She's a player in this. Whether we like it or not, we need her resources. And we need answers."
"Great. So we've got another mystery woman to deal with," Clint muttered, rubbing his temple. "Just what we needed."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Well, it's not like we've had a shortage of them lately."
There was a beat of silence before Steve stood up, tension in his shoulders. "What's the plan, then?"
Fury stood as well, his posture unyielding. "We play the waiting game. We'll keep monitoring White, try to get more intel. And we'll start working on Frost. But don't expect any answers soon. We're in the dark on this one."
The room seemed to shrink as everyone absorbed the reality of the situation. No immediate answers. No guarantees. Only more questions.
Fury's final words hung in the air like a weight. "We need to be ready for anything. We can't trust anyone—not even him."
As the Avengers filed out of the room, the uncertainty followed them. It pressed on their shoulders, gnawing at the edges of their resolve. White was still an enigma, and now, there was the shadow of Emma Frost to contend with as well. They had no answers. But they all knew one thing: something was coming, and it was bigger than they could imagine.
And they weren't ready for it.