Tony kept his hands folded in front of his chin which had dropped to the table at some point within all the words everyone gave into the grouping. His usually sharp mind was bogged down with guilt and remorse to the point where he didn’t feel like he could formulate a plan. He opened the folders before him and tossed a few manilla envelopes to various people.
“Here are some upgrades.. some protective gear.. Some designs and some things that have yet to be purchased that I checked out for each and every one of you. We’re going to need to prepare first and foremost before we even consider drawing him out, although that’s not too bad of an idea.” He trailed, eying Thor as something clearly clicked in his mind, and he rose from his seat, gesturing mildly as he spoke.
“The general consensus is we need more information. Not all of us can cross the planes of existence as he can, so Natasha, Steve, Bobbi and Thor, I’m putting you all together to brainstorm with Thor about ideas that could possibly assist. Rhodey, I need you with me in the lab, man, there’s a ton of work to be done and I need another pair of clever hands with me. Peter, Banner, you too, There’s some things I can’t do that I’m gonna need to geniuses like you two to work out. ” Tony raised his finger to instruct the others but was interrupted by the door to the war room suddenly popping open. He paused and folded his arms over his chest with a somewhat disgruntled expression.
“Hill. I don’t remember inviting SHIELD to this meeting..”
“Yeah, well, I guess we have a habit of showing up anyway, don’t we?”
Maria walked into the room and looked around, taking into account all present. Since this entire situation had begun, Tony Stark had been running around secretively, hardly anyone knowing what he was up to. She was sick of it. She should have known to step in further when he agreed with her on Clint Barton’s suspicious behavior. But she was too late as he’d come home that very night with Clint’s mangled body; Barton had been murdered. An act in which she still hadn’t a full clue on what happened.
She stalked around the conference table dominantly, her eyes skimming past everyone with a hint of disdain before they finally settled on Stark.
“I know you’re planning something… And I know it’s in reference to Loki.”
As she spoke of the trickster’s name, her glanced meandered to Thor and then back to Stark. She leaned forward, the palms of her hands flat on the table.
“We want in…”
As she spoke, she did so with a smug impression. Director Fury had walked in almost as if on cue. He stood tall with his arms crossed and a no-bullshit expression. Fully prepared to back her up. At least, he’d better be. He was half the reason she was here.
