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The bitter cold wind bit at the two people who stood in the alleyway. Stray bags blew across the street. Cars honked in the distance, the late night traffic annoying everyone in new york. The moon glared at the pair.
"You've had months on 325. I expect you to have results." A gruff voice demanded.
"Not exactly, I-" The opposite person responded.
"If you do not give me valid information then it will be your head I take back to Strucker." The first person warned.
"Li- 325 presents no signs of celestial power."
"They are not exactly results. Chose your next words wisely."
The second person didn't need words, he simply handed the other a memory stick that he had stashed safely in his pocket.
"What is this?" The man demanded with a rough tone.
"325 stole a file of Operation Skyfire from the Avengers. She was also searching the evidence room and came across her own file from when they attacked our Hydra facility. The pages had been ripped out of course, she found out nothing. This memory stick is the CCTV footage. I deleted the original video so no one else will find out. This is the only copy." The second person explained, pointing to the small device.
"Good work. I will take this to Strucker. 325 is clearly still worth our time. Find a way to get the file she took back. We can't have the Avengers discovering we're onto her or 325 becoming suspicious." The first man ordered. "Take this vial, there is only one way now that we can know if she carries the celestial blood. Complete your mission. I will review Struckers orders for the next stage."
The man handed over a vial of liquid reeking of toxicity.
"Hail Hydra." They saluted.
****************
Lily's shift at the tower finished early that day so she took the opportunity to head home and change into something . . . Nicer, for the date with Grant.
"Hi Lily, did you have a good day?" Jason greeted as she walked through the door.
"Y-yes it went really well, Thor had a small tantrum about pop tarts though." Lily took off her shoes and followed her grandfather into the living room where they both sat on the sofa.
Jason laughed at that, but was quick to collect himself when he noticed his granddaughters expression. "What aren't you telling me?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I have a date tonight." Lily cautiously said.
"That's amazing news! With who? Boy, Girl, Neither?" He bombarded, sitting forward in his seat excitedly.
"He is a colleague from work. His name is Grant Ward." Lily explained, she couldn't help but feel that saying his name was wrong. Like it didn't flow or feel right. She knew this date was a bad idea and couldn't believe she had agreed to it.
"I can't wait to meet him." Jason said, daydreaming about how he would plan dinner if he ever met this man.
"It's only a one off date. And I'm not even sure if I'm ready for a relationship. I-" Lily paused herself before she mentioned the family she had lost.
"Lily," Jason knelt down beside her and took her hands in his, "You need to get yourself out there. I know it's scary. But not everyone is going to leave you like your brother, mother and - Gran did. I'm certainly not going anywhere for a good long while."
Tears shone in his eyes, his voice cracked from the painful memories. Lily nodded, a stray tear escaping. Stanley was right, she needed to stop being afraid.
"Now, go up and change." He ordered softly.
Lily got up with slightly shaky legs and trudged upstairs to her bedroom. Waiting for her on the bed, was Goose. Goose's head popped up alertly from his curled up body. Lily didn't hesitate to run over and stroke the cat's ginger fur for comfort. She tenderly kissed the top of his head, Goose purring in response.
Lily eventually picked out an outfit, she went for something cosy and not too formal.
Saying goodbye to Goose, she checked that there was still food in his bowl and fresh water. Goose let out a quiet meow and went back to sleep, curled up in the blankets on Lily's bed. Lily went downstairs
"Have fun, it's about time you took some time to yourself instead of having to endure my company." J told her firmly.
Lily gave a small smile, "I will but I happen to like your company." Lily embraced her grandfather in a quick hug and headed back to the tower. The sun had already set behind the New York skyscrapers but the city remained bustling with people rushing to get home.
Lily was surprised to see Grant already waiting in reception. She was also surprised to see him in a suit. It was very well fitted and completely crease free. His shirt was neatly tucked in and he wore perfectly laced shoes.
The reception was completely silent, no one passing by tripping over folders, or people complaining about how they've got to organise more builders to come in because Tony broke another window.
"You look lovely." Grant greeted Lily, looking her up and down.
"Thanks, you too." Lily said back. This was going to be a long night.
"Shall we?" Grant offered her his arm which Lily took hesitantly. She reminded herself, the only reason she was agreeing to this was because he threatened to alert S.H.I.E.L.D about her searching the evidence room.
"That dress does look good on you." Grant complimented once again, hungrily, "You know, I have the best espionage scores in S.H.I.E.L.D." He boasted..
"After Natasha Romanoff," Lily corrected, "she's tough to beat."
Grant clenched his jaw, leading her out of the tower and down the streets of New York. The bitter cold of the night bit into Lily's bare arms, causing goose bumps and making her shiver slightly. They must have walked for around 20 minutes before Grant took them into a quiet restaurant.
They were both seated at a cosy booth in the corner of the restaurant. The servers were very welcoming when they both ordered their food. Warm yellow lights lit up the restaurant. Lily's goose bumps soon disappeared.
As they waited for their meal to arrive, Grant was the first one to start talking. "So, how have you found working at the tower?"
"I'm really enjoying it. The Avengers certainly keep you on your toes." Lily laughed lightly.
"And what about Loki?" Grant asked.
"I like staying with him. He's good company."
"He's a villain. A murderer." Grant spoke, confused.
"Loki's made mistakes. I'm sure working for S.H.I.E.L.D means you've killed people. So have the Avengers." Lily defended.
This made Grant pause for a moment, taking in Lily's comment. She has a point. But he still hated Loki with every bone in his body. "He killed innocents."
"No one's innocent. We've all done bad things." Lily said, knowing she was winning the argument.
"Then if that's the case, what makes a villain different from a hero?" Grant raised his eyebrows.
A hero will sacrifice you to save the world. A villain will sacrifice the world to save you. "Villains haven't had their side to the story heard." Lily said quietly.
Grant shook his head and sighed. "So Lily, where are you from?" He asked, changing the subject with interest.
"I was born in Missouri and then moved here when I was 15." Lily replied.
"What made you come to New York?" Grant asked again.
"I initially wanted to go to study English Literature and New York has a really good college. But it didn't work out that way." It wasn't the full story, but the full story was too much to bare. "Have you always lived in New York?" Lily asked Grant.
"No, I was actually born in Lewisham, England. I travel around the world working for S.H.I.E.L.D. America is where my current case is." He explained.
Soon the waiter came with their drinks and placed them on the table. "Thank you," Lily smiled at the waiter. She took a small sip of her drink and put it back on the table, a sour taste exploding in her mouth instead of the expected sweet one. "What is your current case?"
"You've worked with the Avengers long enough to know I can't tell you that." Grant took a swig of his drink.
"Right, yeah, sorry. Confidential" Lily stuttered.
"Do you live with your parents or have your own apartment?"
Lily thought it was an odd question to ask but still answered anyways. "I live with my grandpa, we moved from Missouri together."
"What about your parents?" He pressed.
Lily couldn't help but feel cornered by his questions. "My mother died when I was 8 and I never knew my father."
"Oh, I'm sorry." He gave her a sad smile, "So, you're an only child?"
Lily gulped, even the slightest thought of her brother sent uneasiness down her chest. "No, I have a Twin. A Twin Brother. His name is Peter."
"Where is he now?" Grant leant forward, becoming more and more interested in her.
Grant's questions left Lily feeling on edge. "He went missing. I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him in years." Lily was close to breaking down, Grant saw that and diverted the conversation but not before the waiter came once again with two plates of food.
Lily took a nervous bite of her meal while, feeling her stomach begin to burn slightly. Grant took a fork full of his. "I have two brothers." He started. "Well one now. I killed Christian."
Lily gulped, "Y-you killed your own brother?" She repeated, not wanting to believe it.
"Yes, he manipulated me into almost drowning my younger brother Thomas, in a well. So he had to go." He spoke so easily, eating as he did. "You know how it goes."
Lily's stomach churned and she found she wasn't hungry any more. Lily played with the food on her plate, moving it around in circles.
"I also ended up killing my parents, but they saw that one coming." Grant added, almost finished with his meal.
"Did you not love them?" Lily asked, her voice cracking. She had never felt this much uneasiness in her life.
"No. Love is for the weak. I learnt that the hard way." Grant said coldly. He looked up at Lily and reached over the table, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. An unwelcome shiver travelled up her spine as she moved away from his hand. "You're hair looks better up." He commented.
"Why take me out on a date Grant?" She asked the question she desperately wanted to know.
"You intrigue me, Lily Meredith Quill."
Lily noticed he had finished his meal, all she wanted to do was go home and be in the comforts of her room where she could get away from this 'date' if you could even call it that. "I-its late, I should head home. Thank you for dinner." She was about to get up when Grant grabbed her arm. This time his grip was a little more gentle than it had been in the evidence room.
"Let me walk you home." He offered, standing up and putting his jacket on.
"Oh that's not necessary, its not far, I can manage." Lily tried to dismiss.
"I insist. It's dark out. Who knows who's out there." Grant said with a sinister undertone.
Lily thought, it was true, it was pitch black outside. "O-okay, if it's not too much trouble." She decided.
"Of course not," Grant moved to stand beside Lily and placed his hand on the small of her back. Lily almost jumped away from the touch but thought better of it and chose to stick it out until she got home.
The walk was spent with small talk. It surprisingly wasn't awkward and the pair were distracted with trying to navigate New York in the dark. When they finally reached Lily's apartment, she stood hesitantly at the door. "So I guess this is goodnight." The burning in her stomach was worsening as the night drew onwards. She bit her lip from the pain, almost keeling over. Lily was about to turn around and open the apartment door when Grant spoke up.
"I enjoyed tonight, we should do it again sometime." Grant stood on the doorstep, edging himself closer to the doorway, completely oblivious to her discomfort. "Don't suppose I could trouble you for a drink of water?"
"I don't think-" Lily paused, her eyes squinting shut tightly. The sour taste from the meal's drink lingered on her breath.
"Are you quite alright Lily?" Grant said with no hint of concern. He had gotten so close to Lily that she could feel his unnerving breath on her cheek.
Lily's breathing grew ragged, unable to respond, merely nodding her head. She wouldn't admit vulnerability to a man she didn't trust. Sucking in a deep breath, "I'm fine. I just need to get some sleep. It's been a long day."
Grant snaked his hands on Lily's waist and pressed a firm kiss on her neck. Lily squirmed uncomfortably and pushed as hard as she could on his chest. "Don't touch me." She spoke up, as firmly as she could.
His uncomfortably hot breath was on her cheek, on her neck, breathing in her shakes of fear. "Just remember," he whispered, "I know your secret."
Grant finally left her at her apartment door. She hastily entered the comforts of her home. Lily jumped slightly as the door clicked shut, but headed straight into the kitchen. Her Grandfather must've been asleep as he didn't greet her when they walked in.
Her back slid down the kitchen wall as her legs caved underneath her. She clutched her chest from the pain which grew tighter and tighter with every breath she tried to take. Tears flooded out of her puffy eyes. Lily pulled her quivering legs up to her body and hugged them tightly.
Before she knew it, she was doubled over the sink, spewing out the contents of her stomach. She couldn't comprehend what exactly had happened but knew the night's events would play vividly in her mind that night and many nights to come.