"You're right, but I can't just intervene right now. If I attract the Ministry of Magic's attention, it could damage relations between Muggles and wizards."
Hermione sounded as though she wanted to help but simply couldn't.
Pierce, you have a lot to answer for!
Fury nearly choked.
You just had to spout that wizard-threat nonsense, going behind the actual director's back to feed it to Miss Wizard. Now she's taken it seriously! What am I supposed to do?
Fury took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and said:
"Miss Wizard, some people in S.H.I.E.L.D. have a limited perspective. They don't understand that encouraging more interaction between ordinary people and wizards is the right way forward. Please don't let that kind of rhetoric mislead you..."
"Mm, so that's how it is. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm..."
Hermione's voice was muffled.
"Crunch, crunch... slurp, slurp..."
"Hm? What's that sound on your end?"
Before Fury could finish, a series of rustling noises came through the phone.
That didn't sound like anything Hulk and Blonsky would make while fighting. Were they gnawing on each other?
"Oh, don't mind that. What were you saying?"
Hermione munched on an apple, thoroughly enjoying the gladiatorial spectacle below.
"I said, please don't let that kind of rhetoric..."
"Crunch, crunch..."
The sound interrupted Fury again.
Fury: "..."
"Miss Wizard, just tell me. What will it take for you to intervene?"
Sensing that Hermione wasn't going to budge, he gave up and put the choice directly in her hands.
Hermione dropped the apple core, hitting Hulk in the back of the head. After thinking for a moment, she said:
"Hmm... I heard S.H.I.E.L.D. has collected quite a few rare plants and materials lately..."
Fury breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was room to negotiate, they could work something