CHAPTER FOUR.
THAT'S ENGLISH?

ALEXIOS LISTENED CLOSELY TO what Fury had to say to Loki, despite being completely bored with the whole situation. Something seemed off about the raven-haired Asgardian. Everyone could sense that and it was irritating Alexios to no end.

Natasha looked up at the group as Loki made a comment about Bruce. She and Alex, both, glanced at the man with a sympathetic expression. Alexios glanced back down at the screen as Fury continued his little show with Loki and a small smirk painted her lips as he threatened him.

Jab after jab, Fury finally put an end to the squabble and left the room. The video then ended and shut off, leaving the group to all look at each other.

"He really grows on you, doesn't he?" Bruce asked, breaking the ice with an awkward smile.

Steve then glanced at up and around at his team. "Loki's gonna drag this out." He looked to the friendlier Asgardian, "So, Thor, what's his play?"

"He has an army called the Chitauri. They are not of Asgard, nor any known world." He answered, turning to look at the group. His arms fell to his side as walked towards the large table. Thor continued, "He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the earth in return, I suspect, for the Tesseract."

"Oh lovely," Alexios muttered, rolling her eyes. Her voice went up an octave slightly, "Let's just lead an alien army into a world who has no idea what the heck they're doing or have any idea you exist. Freaking awesome!"

Her sarcastic comment earned her a glare or two from Natasha and Steve but was otherwise ignored. Alex huffed, crossing her arms and leaning back in the chair, not enjoying the fact that she was ignored.

"An army from outer space," Steve stated, earning a cold glare from Alexios.

"So, he's building another portal. That's what he needs Erik Selvig for." Bruce commented, taking his glasses off as he looked at the group.

"Selvig?" Thor asked, popping his head up and giving Bruce an expression of surprise.

"He's an astrophysicist."

Thor quickly replied as he eyed Bruce. "He's a friend."

"Loki has him under some kind of spell," Natasha informed, looking to the blonde god. She looked away from him. "Along with one of ours."

"I want to know why Loki let us take him." Steve stated, "He's not leading an army from here."

Alexios groaned, hitting her fist on the table. "I'm telling you, something's off about that pathetic god!" She cried.

"I don't think we should be focusing on Loki," Bruce suggested. "That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You could smell crazy on him."

"Have care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard and he is my brother." Thor was quick to defend him, stepping forward.

"He killed eighty people in two days," Natasha said, glancing at Thor.

Without skipping a beat, Thor replied, "He's adopted."

Bruce spoke up and diverged from the topic. "I think it's about the mechanics. Iridium... What do they need the Iridium for?" He asked.

"It's a stabilizing agent," Stark answered, walking in next to Agent Coulson and continued their small conversation. Alexios rolled her eyes as they were blessed with the man's presence. Tony continued as Coulson walked away. "It means the portal won't collapse on itself like it at S.H.I.E.L.D. No hard feelings, Point Break. You've got a mean swing." He walked past Thor and gently hit the god's bicep. "Also, it means the portal can open as wide and stay open as long as Loki wants."

Tony turned towards the agents down below them and stood at Fury's control command. He began muttering things which caused the agents to glare at him.

Alexios rolled her eyes, "He's the genius? Dear god, we might die."

Maria cast Alex a glance with a warning tone, "Miss Rhodes."

"That man is playing Galaga!" Tony exclaimed, causing the team to look at him in disbelief. Steve, who had no idea what Galaga even was, looked around cluelessly. "He thought we wouldn't notice, but we did!" Tony covered his left eye, glancing at all the computers with puzzled glances. "How does Fury even see these?"

"He turns," Maria answered, crossing her arms.

"Sounds exhausting," he replied.

"Oh, so troublesome." Alexios murmured.

"The rest of the raw materials, agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily." Tony continued, playing and tapping on the computers. "The only major component he still needs is a power source of high-energy density. Something to kickstart the Cube." He finished, clapping his hands and shoving them into his pockets.

"When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?" Maria questioned.

"Last night," he replied confidently. Maria and everyone else gave him a look that was mixed with confusion and disbelief. "The packet, Selvig's notes, the extraction theory papers. Am I the only one who did the reading?"

"Obviously, Stark." Alexios responded, earning a glare and an eye roll from the genius.

Steve sighed, "Does Loki need any kind of particular kind of power source?"

"He would have to heat the Cube to 120-million Kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier." Bruce started from behind, causing everyone to look back at him.

"Unless Selvig has figured out how to stabilize the quantum tunneling effect." Tony interrupted.

Bruce continued, "Well, if he could do that he could achieve heavy ion fusion at any reactor on the planet."

"Finally!" Tony cheered, "Someone who speaks English."

"In what country is that English?" Alexios scoffed, crossing her arms. She quirked an eyebrow at the two men who were clearly geniuses. "Or am I just that stupid?"

"Is that what just happened?" Steve questioned.

Tony walked around, introducing himself to Bruce. Alexios just looked over the table and over at Steve.

"Yeah, that is what just happened." Alexios confirmed, which earned her a small, tight-lipped smile from the Captain.

"And you, Alexios." Tony pointed to her, which caught her attention and she looked at him. She quirked an eyebrow in question. "I like the way you control fire and make things explode."

"Dr. Banner is only here to track the Cube. I was hoping you might join him." Nick stated, walking into the room and standing before the team seated at the table. He nodded over at Alex before looking back at Tony. "And Alexios is only here until she is needed."

"I'd start with that stick of his," Steve suggested, "It may be magical, but it works an awful like a HYDRA weapon."

"Great," Alexios muttered sarcastically. "Nazi organizations and aliens seem like a fantastic equation!"

Nick glanced at Alex, giving her a warning look for the unnecessary sarcasm usage and went back to Steve. "I don't know about that, but it is powered by the Cube. And I would like to know how Loki used it to turn two of my sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys."

"Monkeys?" Thor asked, seeming innocent as he looked at Fury. "I do not understand."

"I do!" Steve shouted happily like a child. Tony simply rolled his eyes as Alexios giggled. Steve looked back and around bashfully. "I understood that reference."

Tony sighed, turning to Bruce. "Shall we play, doctor?"

Bruce nodded and pointed down the hallway. "This way, sir." He stated, going off with Tony following behind him.

Nick sighed, looking to Alexios. "I know you mean well, Alex, but will you keep an eye on the gentlemen? I'm sure they might need it, or any help."

Alexios stood up and nodded, obeying him. "Of course," she muttered before scurrying off to find the science lab and the science bros.

• • • •

Whoop whoop! Here y'all go, another chapter. It's most likely unedited right now, but I will get to it some point soon.

I'm so ready for the next chapter as we get one on one, sort of 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️, with Tony and Alexios. Also! Go check out the chapter titled part one, because I sorta edited it and made an aesthetic for it. I'm pretty proud of it.

Anyway! I'm done. Much love and appreciation. 💕🧡