I'm Actually an Angel

Tony drove away in the car S.H.I.E.L.D. had arranged for him, the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters gradually shrinking in the rearview mirror.

"JARVIS, pull up Pepper and Happy's locations." Tony issued the command while driving.

"Miss Potts is currently in her office at Stark Industries. Mr. Hogan is on standby in the underground parking garage. Both have normal vital signs," JARVIS reported from inside the car.

Tony breathed a sigh of relief, but his brow remained tightly furrowed. "Monitor Valmont's location. Get his real-time vital signs if possible."

JARVIS paused for a moment before replying, "I'm sorry, sir. Mr. Valmont's life signal completely vanished three seconds after leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. He cannot currently be tracked."

Tony slammed on the brakes. Horns blared behind him, followed by the angry curses of other drivers.

Tony ignored them. He stared hard at the steering wheel as Shendu's words echoed through his mind.

Two hearts... the true target of the New York nuke... just how much does he know?

Meanwhile, Shendu's only son walked through the streets of Manhattan, blending into the crowd with the Monkey Talisman. A faint smile lingered on his lips.

"Tony still doesn't believe me. But he has no other choice now. He needs someone inside S.H.I.E.L.D. to work with him."

Shendu turned into an alley, and Natasha and Steve emerged from his shadow.

The two lowered their heads and dropped to one knee behind Shendu.

"Report." Shendu's voice carried no emotion.

"Even the ordinary agents in S.H.I.E.L.D. have noticed that something is wrong with Fury. He's currently purging agents who harbor dissent," Natasha said first.

Steve took out a stack of documents and handed them to Shendu. "This is Fury's next plan. He wants to use your abilities to hollow out the military and bring the United States completely under his control."

Shendu reacted as though he had heard a joke. "Use me? What a bold little insect."

Steve added, "He's preparing his next move against the military while strengthening surveillance on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s upper ranks. Hill has been removed from core positions. Coulson appears obedient on the surface, but he's secretly gathering evidence."

S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, the director's office.

Fury stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows with a glass of whiskey in hand, his one eye fixed on the view outside. He had already begun planning for what came after taking control of the United States.

There was a knock on the office door. Fury did not turn around. "Come in."

Shendu pushed the door open, wearing an appropriately respectful expression. He stopped three steps away from Fury and dipped his head slightly.

"Director, Stark has been sent back."

Fury turned and studied Shendu. "He didn't resist?"

Shendu shook his head. "No. He doesn't dare make any rash moves now."

Fury nodded in satisfaction and sat behind the desk nearby. "Tony is a smart man. The weakness of smart men is that they care too much about their feelings."

Fury paused, then looked up at Shendu. "Do you think he'll obediently hand over the technology?"

Shendu fell silent for a moment. "He'll hand it over, but he'll definitely keep something in reserve. He won't reveal all his cards."

Fury sneered. "A backup plan is meaningless. As long as we get the core technology, we can research the rest ourselves. Besides, with you here, he won't be able to make any waves."

Shendu lowered his head. "I am willing to serve you, Director."

Fury rose and walked over to Shendu, patting him on the shoulder. "Do your job well. I won't treat you poorly. You're my most loyal right-hand man now."

Shendu looked up, a trace of gratitude flashing through his eyes at just the right moment. "Thank you for your appreciation, Director."

Fury clapped his hands in satisfaction. "Keep an eye on Tony. Report to me immediately if you see anything unusual."

Shendu acknowledged him and turned to leave the office. Fury added from behind him, "Keep Steve and Natasha under watch too. If they do anything unusual, report it to me."

When Shendu returned to his residence, he spotted an ant in the corner of the room. He turned it into a miniature Fury, then crushed it beneath his foot.

Soon. That fool Fury still thinks everything is under his control. Once he can no longer restrain his ambition, once Tony crushes him, once everything becomes irreversible and Fury summons Captain Marvel...

"Captain Marvel, cosmic-level combat power," Shendu silently calculated.

His communicator suddenly rang. It was Tony's number.

Shendu answered, and Tony's weary voice came through. "Valmont, I need to see you."

"Now?"

"Now." Tony paused. "There are some things I can't explain over the phone."

Shendu did not agree immediately. After a moment of silence, he said, "Location."

The call ended. Shendu straightened his clothes and turned to leave. His shadow stretched beneath the lights behind him, then split apart.

Half an hour later, in the corner of a Manhattan bar.

Tony sat in a booth, the liquor in front of him already drained. When Shendu arrived, Tony raised his chin to signal for him to sit down beside him.

"What'll you have?"

Shendu shook his head. "Nothing."

"What, afraid of getting drunk? Don't forget, I studied your blood. You can't get drunk." Tony's tone was provocative.

Shendu did not respond.

Tony sighed and opened another bottle for himself. "You said you have two hearts. I believe you. But I want to know more."

Shendu leaned back in his chair, his expression calm. "For example?"

"What exactly are you? An Eastern dragon? Honestly, I have no frame of reference for that. Right now, I'm more inclined to believe you're a Chitauri biological weapon." Tony was blunt.

Shendu's voice remained even. "You're very smart, Mr. Stark, but knowing too much won't do you any good."

"Also," Shendu shifted the subject, "don't compare me to inferior creatures like the Chitauri."

Tony gave a cold laugh. "Cut it out. This isn't our first time working together, but I still can't determine what kind of creature you are."

Shendu raised a hand. Dark magic swirled in his palm, and Tony was startled to discover that every sound around them had vanished.

"A little trick to make sure our conversation can't be overheard."

Shendu lowered his hand. "Since you want to know, I'll tell you part of it."

Shendu looked into Tony's eyes and "confessed," "In your world's language, our world is called Heaven."

Tony's eyes widened at that. Heaven—something that existed only in legends. But thinking of Shendu's two hearts, his ability to transform and control inanimate objects, all of it did resemble angels somewhat. And the little trick Shendu had just mentioned was, in Tony's eyes, something impossible.

"There's a problem in this world. I was sent here to carry out a mission, but it wouldn't be convenient to reveal what that mission is."

Using the power of the Mind Stone, Shendu now shimmered with holy light in Tony's eyes.

A pure presence, one that tolerated no desecration, echoed endlessly within Tony's heart.

"You can see it too, can't you? I... am actually an angel."