New York, United States - June 2011
Matthew was in his office, reviewing contracts his legal team had prepared for an acquisition in Europe, when Sarah Chen walked in with an expression he had learned to recognize as "we have an unexpected visitor."
"Boss," she said, closing the door behind her, "there's a man at reception who says he has a meeting with you. It's not on your schedule."
"Name?"
"He didn't give one. He just said you'd know who he is." Sarah paused. "He also said, and I quote, 'Tell him the director wants to talk about New Mexico.'"
Matthew smiled. It had been exactly two weeks since the incident with Thor, and he had been expecting this.
"Let him go up. And Sarah, cancel all my meetings today. This is going to be a long one."
Sarah nodded and left. Matthew leaned back in his chair, gazing out the panoramic window of his office on the 50th floor of one of Manhattan's most expensive buildings.
"Fury," he murmured. "He finally decides to make his move."
Five minutes later, the door opened and Nick Fury walked in.
He was exactly as Matthew remembered him from the movies: eye patch, long black coat, room-filling presence, and that "I've seen too much shit" look that only someone in his position could have.
"Matthew Harkness," Fury said, closing the door and studying the office with that single eye that was probably cataloging every detail. "Nice place. Successful businessman, philanthropist, and apparently, an underworld god who can infiltrate SHIELD facilities as if they were his own home."
Matthew stood up, extending his hand.
"Director Fury. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Coffee? Whiskey? I have a '52 Macallan that's finger-licking good."
Fury ignored the outstretched hand, walking towards the window.
"I didn't come here to socialize, Harkness. I came because I have a problem. And that problem is you."
"Am I a problem?" Matthew leaned back against his desk. "How offensive. I consider myself more of an... opportunity."
Fury turned, looking directly at him.
"Two weeks ago, you infiltrated a SHIELD operation without triggering a single alarm. You terrorized five of my best agents. You touched an alien artifact in custody. And then you walked away like nothing happened, leaving Black Widow a message that basically said 'you can't touch me.'"
"Technically," Matthew raised a finger, "what I said was that they didn't want to fight me. It's different. And in my defense, their officers pointed guns at me first. I just responded appropriately."
"Appropriately? You traumatized them. One is in therapy."
"Well, maybe they should train agents with stronger stomachs," Matthew shrugged. "Look, Director Fury, I know why you're here. You want to know what I am, what I want, and whether I'm a threat. So let me save you some time."
He walked over to his bar, pouring himself a whiskey even though Fury had refused.
"I'm Matthew Harkness, thirty-eight years old, born and raised in New York. But before that, I was someone else. In another life. In another universe. I died, was reborn here with powers I didn't understand, and spent almost forty years building who I am now."
"Another universe?" Fury raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to believe that?"
"You just saw a literal Norse god descend from the sky two weeks ago. You have a cube that can open portals across space. And I know you have a frozen Captain America somewhere in the Arctic waiting to be thawed out." Matthew took a sip of his whiskey. "Is the multiverse really that hard to swallow?"
Fury remained silent for a moment.
"Okay. Let's say I believe you. What do you want? Power, money? You already have those. Control? World domination?"
"World domination?" Matthew laughed. "Director, if I wanted world domination, I would have done it already. I have the resources, the power, and the patience. No, what I want is much simpler and at the same time more complicated."
"Enlighten me."
"I want to train. I want to get stronger. Because one day, I'm going back to the universe I came from, and I'm going to settle the score with some gods who deserve a kick in the ass." Matthew approached Fury. "This universe, Director, is my training ground. I'm not your enemy. But I'm not your soldier either."
"So what are you?"
"An independent player. Someone who will do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, without asking anyone's permission."
Fury studied it for a long time. Matthew could practically see the gears turning in the director's head.
"And what if your interests clash with ours ? "
"Then we have a problem," Matthew admitted. "But I don't see why they would clash. I don't want to destroy Earth. I don't want to enslave anyone. I just want to be ready when my time comes."
"And what if we need you? What if there's a threat that requires your... expertise?"
Matthew smiled.
"Then ask me. Politely. And I'll see if I'm interested in helping."
"That's not very reassuring."
"It's not my job to reassure you, Director. It's my job to be honest. And honestly, I don't give a damn about SHIELD. But Earth... Earth is my home now. My family lives here. People I care about are here. So if there's a real threat, an existential threat, I'm going to intervene. Not for you. For them."
Fury nodded slowly, as if that was an answer he could respect.
"Okay. I'm going to be equally honest with you. I'm watching you. SHIELD is watching you. And if you take a single step that endangers innocent lives, I'm coming after you with everything I've got."
"I would expect nothing less," Matthew raised his glass. "Does that mean we're... what? Acquaintances? Cautious allies?"
"It means I'm not going to put you in a cell. Not yet. But I'm not going to give you a free pass either."
"Fair enough."
Fury walked towards the door, then stopped.
"One more thing. Thor mentioned that you spoke with him. What did you say to him?"
"Advice from one god to another," Matthew smiled. "Nothing that threatens national security, if that's what you're worried about."
"Everything worries me, Harkness. It's part of the job."
"Can I ask you something, Director?"
"Forward."
"Have they found Captain Rogers yet?"
Fury looked at him with that eye that seemed to see through lies.
"How do you know about Rogers?"
"I told him. I know things. And I know they'll find him soon, if they haven't already. When they do... treat him well. That man is a genuine hero. One of the few left."
"Any other unsolicited advice you'd like to give me?"
Matthew thought about it. He thought about everything he knew was coming. Loki. The Chitauri. The Battle of New York. But...
"No," he finally said. "The future has to unfold naturally. Just... keep your eyes open. Things are coming. Big things. And you're going to need good people to deal with them."
"Does that include you?"
"When necessary," Matthew confirmed. "When it's truly necessary."
Fury nodded and left, leaving Matthew alone in his office.
Matthew poured himself another whiskey, looking out at the city.
"First official contact with SHIELD: check. Didn't end in a fight: check. Fury considers me a controlled risk rather than an immediate threat: check."
She smiled.
"Everything is going according to plan."
Two days later - Matthew's Sanctum
Matthew was meditating in his ritual circle when he felt the disturbance. Not in the physical world. In the Underworld.
Someone was trying to cross. And not just anyone.
A powerful soul. Ancient. With knowledge of black magic.
"Shit."
He immersed himself completely in its power, projecting his consciousness into his Underworld realm.
He appeared on his throne, the dark palace extending around him, the hundred souls he had recruited awaiting orders.
And there, at the gates of his kingdom, stood the intruder.
It was a shadow, a humanoid but unstable form, trying to force its way in.
"Stop," Matthew spoke in a voice that echoed throughout the kingdom, "no one enters my domain without an invitation."
The shadow partially solidified, revealing features: a man, age indeterminate, eyes that shone with ambition.
"You," the figure spoke in a raspy voice, "are the new Lord of this Underworld. I have felt your power. And I come to offer you a deal."
"I don't make deals with intruders," Matthew stood up from his throne, his dark armor materializing around him. "But I'll give you a chance to explain before I kick you out."
"I am what remains of a dark sorcerer. Centuries ago, I attempted to conquer the Underworld of this world. I failed. I was destroyed. But my soul persisted, floating in limbo, waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"Waiting for someone like you. A new emperor. Someone who understands that the Underworld is not just a place of death, but of power."
Matthew studied him. There was truth in his words, but also ambition. Dangerous ambition.
"And what do you want from me?"
"Let me serve. I know secrets of dark magic that were lost millennia ago. I can teach you. I can help you expand your kingdom."
"And in return?"
"One body. One second chance. And a place in your court."
Matthew considered that. On one hand, ancient knowledge would be useful. On the other hand, this guy was clearly a manipulative swindler who had tried to conquer the Underworld.
"No," he finally said.
The shadow tensed.
"No?"
"No. I'm not going to give you a body. I'm not going to give you power. But..." Matthew walked toward him, "I'm going to offer you something different. Service. Volunteering. Without a body. Without power of your own. But with purpose."
"Purpose?"
"My realm is not like other Underworlds. It is not a place of punishment or torment. It is a place of purpose. The souls who serve here have a purpose. To teach. To protect. To build. You can teach dark magic to others. You can contribute to the knowledge of the realm. But without personal ambition. Without power struggles."
The shadow looked at him; clearly, it wasn't what he expected.
"What if I refuse?"
"Then I cast you out of my kingdom and leave you to float in limbo for another eternity. Your choice."
There was a long silence. Then the shadow bent down.
"I accept your terms, Emperor."
"Good," Matthew nodded. "Welcome to my kingdom. Now tell me your name."
"In life, they called me Kaius the Grim."
"Alright, Kaius. First lesson: here you're not 'the Grim One'. You're just Kaius. Leave your ego at the door."
Kaius nodded, and Matthew felt the bond form. Another soul in his realm. More knowledge. More power.
But also more responsibility.
"Being emperor," he muttered as he returned to his physical body, "is a fucking responsibility."
One week later - Luxury restaurant in Manhattan
Matthew was having dinner with a business contact when his phone vibrated. A message from an unknown number.
"We found Rogers. Thawed out. Alive. In case you're interested. - Fury"
Matthew smiled, typing a quick reply.
"Give him time. He's going to need time to adjust. And don't treat him like a relic. He's a person." - MH
She put her phone away, returning to her dinner, but her mind was elsewhere.
"Captain America is awake. That means the Avengers are months away from forming. And Loki is going to make his move soon."
"The Battle of New York."
His first major event. His first opportunity to be involved in something truly big.
"Not yet," he reminded himself. "It's not my time yet. Let the Avengers form. Let them prove themselves. And only then, if absolutely necessary, do you intervene."
But there was something he could do. Something the Avengers would need.
"Information."
He finished his dinner quickly, paid, and returned to his penthouse. He went down to his sanctum and turned on his computer.
He spent the next six hours compiling everything he knew about Loki, the Chitauri, and the coming invasion. Not everything. Not the specific details that would make SHIELD suspect he could see the future. But enough information "gathered from mystical sources" that might be useful.
He sent it to an encrypted server with instructions to forward it to SHIELD if it detected certain activity patterns. Specifically, if it detected a massive increase in the Tesseract's energy.
"There," he murmured, closing the laptop. "My gift to the future Avengers. I hope they use it well."
He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.
"Everything is in motion. The pieces are on the board. And I am exactly where I need to be."
"Waiting. Watching. Preparing."
"Because when the time comes... when they really need me..."
She opened her eyes, glowing violet in the darkness.
"I'll be ready."
END OF CHAPTER