Magical Marvel: The Rise of Arthur Hayes

"Fancy seeing you here, Agent Fury." Arthur's voice cut through the warehouse tension like a scalpel through silk. "Shouldn't you be across the pond, polishing spy gadgets in some windowless building?"

His gaze shifted to the Skrull leader. "And Talos. I thought the plan was a grand tour of the universe with Carol, not slumming it in a London warehouse."

"Before we answer your questions," Fury countered, his tone clipped and devoid of pleasantries, "how about we drop the disguises? Mr. Tour Guide."

"Why would I do that?" Arthur examined his fingernails with theatrical fascination. "If you cared about real identities, you wouldn't be recruiting an army of professional identity thieves." His eyes swept the nervous Skrulls. "So what's the game here?"

"Don't think that if you don't drop disguises, I won't know who you are." Fury's smile widened. "Mr. Arthur Hayes."

The warehouse went tomb-silent.

"Oh? A name." Arthur tilted his head, all mock curiosity. "Someone's been doing homework. What makes you think I'm this... Arthur Hayes?"

"It wasn't hard," Fury stated, his voice flat as a redacted file. "Too many coincidences stacking up like dominoes."

He began listing them like evidence at trial.

"A wealthy, reclusive British teenager buys a mansion in LA months before Carol makes her visit to Earth. Don't know how you predicted that—maybe magic? Then MI6 whispers about recruiting the same prodigy, except suddenly he's magically crippled. Same exact time someone got hurt protecting Earth from Kree missiles."

Fury wasn't finished.

"Then London becomes a warzone. Crime lords dropping dead in 'accidents.' Magic rumors everywhere." His grin sharpened. "One person connects all the dots."

"Coincidences and speculation." Arthur examined his nails with feigned boredom. Expected better from the great Nick Fury. Where's the proof?"

"If I had proof," Fury shot back, "You would be on trial for breaking about a dozen international laws, starting with the Covenant."

"No, Arthur Hayes would face trial." Arthur's grin could have charmed snakes. "Not me. Who said you got the right person?"

Fury's lips thinned. "Denial won't help you."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Arthur waved a hand dismissively.

Arthur's hand carved a lazy arc through the air. Silver energy rippled outward, expanding like a soap bubble until it formed a shimmering dome around the three of them. An isolating barrier to block sounds from leaving the dome.

"Relax," Arthur said as Talos flinched. "I just prefer my serious conversations to be private. Now, Talos, what are you doing here with so many of your kind? Shouldn't you be charting star maps with Carol?"

The Skrull leader sighed, his shoulders slumping with a weariness that went bone-deep. "We were. But following Carol around in space with all the Kree hunting us wasn't practical. Too many dangers, and Carol couldn't protect us all the time. In the end, we decided she would search alone, and we would wait for good news."

"And if the good news never comes?" Arthur asked, his voice gentle but laced with steel.

"It must," Talos insisted, a desperate hope in his eyes. "The universe is vast. There are countless worlds. New ones, or old ones where life has died out. She will find one."

"But finding them in the vast emptiness of space would be impossible."

"That's the only hope we have." Desperation leaked through Talos's calm facade. "What else can we do?"

"Wait somewhere other than this planet." Arthur's gaze shifted to Fury. "Fury, didn't I warn you about this? How do you guarantee these people don't decide they like Earth enough to take it? A few replaced world leaders, and this planet becomes New Skrullos."

"We would not!" Talos protested. "We want our own home, not yours!"

"I have them under observation," Fury said coolly. "With Talos's cooperation."

Arthur's laugh could have frozen hell. "And when you can't deliver their new home? What then?"

"Then we'll leave without complaints," Talos insisted.

"You won't have complaints, but other Skrulls will. Working for free for Fury for years, then suddenly learning he couldn't deliver?" Arthur shook his head. "What then?"

"Then I'll build a sanctuary for them on this planet," Fury said.

"A sanctuary? On this planet? A world where people kill each other over the color of their skin, the god they worship, or the flag they fly?" He gestured vaguely toward the magical world beyond their bubble. "This planet can't even peacefully accommodate wizards. You think it will welcome an influx of shapeshifting aliens?"

"You're being too pessimistic." Fury grumbled.

"I'm a realist. I can foresee a dozen ways this ends in rebellion. Broken promises breed resentment, Fury. And when your private army turns on you, you won't be able to control them."

"That won't happen," Fury insisted.

"We will ensure it," Talos added, though his voice lacked conviction.

"Whatever." Arthur's voice turned deadly serious. "I'm not too worried about myself. But warn everyone not to cross me. If they do, I'll have to do a cleanup on this planet. And just like I found you today, I'll find them all."

Without warning, Arthur unleashed his magic.

The barrier shattered. Pressure slammed down like a giant's fist. Skrulls throughout the warehouse buckled, gasping. The very air seemed to thicken, making each breath a struggle.

Then reality shifted.

They stood in a ring of fire. A masked ninja appeared—moving with inhuman speed, blades flashing. Pain exploded through their bodies as steel pierced flesh. Death came swift and brutal.

And then they were back, gasping, alive.

The vision had lasted seconds. It felt like eternity.

"I understand your pain," Arthur said, his voice now a cold whisper turning to everyone. "And your desire for a home. But this is your one and only warning. Whatever happens, do not set your sights on this planet. Because if you do…" He let the threat hang in the air. "…what you just saw will become your reality."

He withdrew his magic as if flipping a switch. The pressure vanished. The air grew light again.

Then as if nothing had happened, Arthur's demeanor shifted completely. He grinned at Fury with genuine amusement.

"So, Fury! I never took you for the romantic type. When did you fall in love?"

"What?" Fury actually sputtered.

"That Skrull woman. Varra?" Arthur's grin widened. "The great Nick Fury, going soft for an alien? I will have to tell Carol. You will invite me to your marriage right? Don't worry, I won't scare your guests like today."

"Don't make things up. We're just friends." Fury protested.

"Whatever makes you happy." Arthur's knowing smile said otherwise. "So when was the last time you spoke to Carol?"

"A few months ago." Fury straightened his jacket, desperate to reclaim dignity. "Through Talos's ship."

"So she didn't return? Busy fighting the Kree?"

"Yes. Now, my turn," Fury said, his professional mask snapping back into place. "How did you find us?"

"This is my city, Fury. I'm the British tour guide, remember?" Arthur replied with a glib shrug. "Frankly, I'm shocked you held this meeting here. It's almost like you wanted me to find you."

"Our location was secure," Fury insisted.

"Not secure enough, apparently. So, what's your clearance level at SHIELD these days?"

Fury hesitated. "Level Seven."

"Climbing the ladder quickly. Aiming for the Director's chair?"

"That's classified."

Arthur turned to Talos with a look of mock concern. "You should be careful, Talos. A man this ambitious will keep your existence a secret from his superiors, use you to get to the top, and then discard you when you're no longer useful."

"Don't try to drive a wedge between us, Hayes," Fury warned. "I'm transparent with him."

"There's that name again. Is he as charming and powerful as I am?"

"You should know. You are him," Fury said, his patience wearing thin. "So, what's the plan? Abandon the wizarding world to build a business empire in ours?"

"You should ask him yourself. I hear he's open to meetings," Arthur said airily. "But from what I've heard, the wizarding world rejected him, and he was more than happy to return the favor."

"While breaking their most sacred law?"

"For the truly powerful, rules are merely suggestions," Arthur stated, his voice taking on a philosophical edge. "Look at your own world. Powerful corporations and countries operate above the law every day. When you are strong enough, the rules bend for you. It's the simple, ugly truth of the world."

"You have a skewed view of how things work."

"I just see things as they are. Now," Arthur said, his tone brightening again, "do let me know when Carol is back in town. We should all get together for a catch-up."

Before Fury or Talos could respond, he gave a casual wave.

CRACK.

He vanished without even a proper goodbye, leaving Fury and Talos standing in a warehouse full of confused Skrulls.

"Well," Talos said after a long moment. "That was—"

"Yeah." Fury holstered his weapon with hands that definitely weren't trembling. "It was."

"Are you certain his name is Arthur Hayes?"

"Positive. Carol confirmed it." Fury's laugh held no humor. "Tricked her into revealing it."

Varra approached cautiously, her son Gravik hiding behind her. "Nicholas? What happened? The pressure… the things we saw…"

"A powerful wizard," Talos answered before Fury could, his voice grim. "We just met someone who could end every one of us without breaking a sweat. And he made sure we knew it."

Fury looked at the assembled Skrulls—his new assets, his secret weapons. For the first time since hatching this plan, he wondered if he'd made a terrible mistake.

Because Arthur Hayes was right about one thing. When desperate people realized their savior had failed them, they rarely forgave.

And shapeshifters with nothing left to lose? That was a nightmare even Nick Fury didn't want to contemplate.

"Alright, people," he called out, his voice a commanding bark that cut through the fear. "Show's over. Let's get to work."

"We've got a planet to protect."