Temporary Allies

Deep in the tunnel, the refugees gradually quieted down. Shendu curled up in a corner, half-closing his eyes as he watched his surroundings.

More than a dozen civilians huddled together, quietly sobbing and praying under their breaths. More simply stared blankly at the tunnel ceiling, their eyes hollow.

Captain America stood at the shelter entrance with his back to the crowd, one hand gripping his shield and the other pressed to his ear. "Hawkeye, report."

Static crackled through the communicator, followed by Hawkeye's voice. "Stark blew up one of the motherships, but the portal still isn't closed. The Chitauri are still pouring out of it. How are things on your end?"

"I escorted a group of civilians into the subway tunnel. They're safe for now."

Steve paused. "Also, I ran into a... special situation."

"What kind of special situation?"

Steve glanced back at the dragon curled up in the corner. The instant Shendu sensed Steve's gaze, he lowered his eyes and buried his head between his front claws, putting on a harmless appearance.

"Never mind, I'll explain when I get back." Steve withdrew his gaze. "Keep watch. I'm going to meet up with Natasha."

The communication ended.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the refugees before finally settling on Shendu. Shendu could feel the scrutiny and hesitation in that look.

He remained curled up, perfectly still.

Footsteps sounded, drawing closer and closer.

Steve crouched before him and stared into his eyes for several seconds before suddenly asking, "Can you really understand everything I say?"

Shendu hesitated briefly. Should he nod or shake his head?

Nodding meant admitting he possessed high intelligence, which might make them wary.

But shaking his head would contradict what he had done earlier. He had already nodded several times.

In the end, Shendu nodded.

Steve's expression barely changed, but his eyes narrowed. "Where did you come from?"

Shendu raised a claw and pointed upward.

"Up there? New York?"

Shendu shook his head. After thinking for a moment, he began scratching at the ground with his claw.

The subway tunnel floor was concrete, and his claw tips left pale marks as they scraped across it.

He first drew a rectangle, dotted several points inside it, then drew an arrow pointing outside the rectangle.

Steve frowned at the crude drawing. "You mean you suddenly appeared in New York from somewhere else?"

Shendu nodded.

"How did you get here?"

Shendu spread his claws and tilted his head, acting as though he did not know either.

Steve fell silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Why did you save me just now?"

Shendu froze.

Save him? He had only shoved that trash can over to create chaos so he could escape, while testing Captain America's fighting ability along the way.

But in the other man's eyes, that had been helping?

Shendu swiftly adjusted his expression, making his gaze sincere.

You saved me, so I helped you. It was only right. He conveyed that message with his eyes, adding a touch of gratitude.

Steve stared at him for a long time. Shendu thought his act had been exposed.

Then the big blond man suddenly smiled. "All right."

He stood up. "There are still a lot of questions, but now isn't the time. Can you still walk?"

Shendu stood and moved his hind legs. The wound still hurt, but it did not affect his movement.

He nodded.

"Then follow me."

Steve turned and headed deeper into the tunnel. "It isn't safe here. The Chitauri might search their way in. I know another, more secluded place."

Shendu followed, calculating as he walked.

Captain America was harder to fool than he had imagined. That look earlier had clearly been a test.

But that made him all the more worth approaching.

Once wary people accepted you, they became the most reliable allies.

After walking several dozen meters, they reached a fork in the tunnel.

Without hesitation, Steve turned into the narrower passage on the left. Shendu followed behind him.

Just then, a set of footsteps came from ahead.

Steve immediately raised his shield and pressed sideways against the wall.

Shendu stopped as well, his ears pricking up.

The footsteps were light but hurried, and there was more than one person.

Then a woman's voice came, slightly breathless. "Captain, is that you?"

Steve relaxed. "Natasha."

Black Widow emerged from around the corner, her hair slightly disheveled and her bodysuit smeared with dust and blood.

When she saw Steve, she was about to speak, but her gaze suddenly landed on Shendu behind him.

She froze.

So did Shendu.

Black Widow.

Natasha Romanoff.

He had heard that name in the museum. When visitors discussed Black Widow, he had heard every word from inside his glass case.

A super-spy, ruthless and skilled at seeing through people.

The hardest kind of person to deceive.

Shendu immediately changed his strategy.

He could not play tricks in front of her.

He lowered his eyes and shrank farther behind Steve, putting on a timid appearance.

Natasha watched him for two seconds, then looked at Steve and raised an eyebrow.

"You got a pet?"

"Not a pet."

Steve explained, "I ran into it on the way here. The Chitauri were hunting it."

"So you brought it along?"

"It saved me."

Natasha's expression turned strange. "It? Saved you?"

Steve briefly described what had happened.

After hearing him out, Natasha looked at Shendu again, her gaze becoming even sharper.

Shendu kept his eyes lowered and remained perfectly still.

"It can understand us?" Natasha asked.

"Yes. I tested it just now."

Natasha was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said in Russian, "What are your intentions?"

Shendu did not react at all.

Another test. But he genuinely did not understand Russian.

Natasha switched to Chinese. "Are you from China?"

Shendu raised his head, looked at her, then nodded.

Natasha's expression relaxed slightly. "It understands Chinese."

Steve was somewhat surprised. "You speak Chinese?"

"A basic skill for an agent."

Natasha turned to Shendu and continued in Chinese. "What's your name?"

Shendu hesitated for an instant.

Valmont.

He had used that name before.

But he could not write now, only gesture.

Natasha frowned. "Valmont?"

Shendu nodded, then gestured at their surroundings and spread his claws, indicating that he did not know how he had gotten here.

Natasha and Steve exchanged a glance.

"It's a little complicated."

Steve said, "But there's no time to ask in detail. Where's that secluded place?"

Natasha withdrew her gaze and pointed ahead. "Two hundred meters farther on, there's an abandoned substation. I checked it out. It's safe for now. Banner is there too."

"Banner?"

Steve was surprised. "Why is he here?"

"When he can't turn back into the Hulk, all he can do is hide underground."

Natasha said, "The Chitauri were chasing him too closely earlier, so he was forced to transform once. He's exhausted now and resting over there."

Steve nodded. "Let's go."

The three continued onward. Shendu followed behind, rapidly processing the information he had just heard.

Banner. Bruce Banner. Hulk.

That big green brute was here too?

They reached the substation.

It was a semicircular, vaulted space, its walls covered in electrical boxes and pipes.

Discarded equipment was piled in one corner. In the open space at the center, a man in a tattered shirt leaned against the wall with his eyes closed, breathing heavily.

Bruce Banner.

He looked far more haggard than he had in the films. His glasses were broken, a dried streak of blood marked his forehead, and his hands trembled slightly.

At the sound of footsteps, he opened his eyes. Seeing Steve and Natasha, he forced out a smile. "You're here."

Then he saw Shendu.

His expression stiffened.

"What is... that?"