Chapter Text
Post Credit Scene: The Face of Fear (Erik’s POV)
Erik wound his way through a dimly lit maze littered with mysterious boxes and barrels in the basement of a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility in New York City. Every corner turned, every agent passed, his anxiety grew just a little more and he began to regret leaving the relative safety of the pop-up lab in New Mexico where Jane and Darcy were still working. He would even prefer to be in the presence of Thor and Loki at this point, though they also made him nervous. Meeting the characters from childhood stories, the gods of an ancient religion, was unnerving to say the least. While they were kind enough to him and the girls, Erik found some of the old stories to be concerning, if they were true, so he was always on guard around them. The Asgardians would periodically pop in and out to advise them on the practical application of their research but were, for the most part, sequestered in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s R&D department. He strongly suspected they were involved in weapons development, though neither would confirm when he asked.
Once upon a time, seeking answers to the unknown was exhilarating – it was why he became a scientist! But now, the unknown was becoming increasingly more frightening as more of it was revealed. Loki had revealed that he and Thor were sticking around to protect Earth from some sort of danger. Some alien concerning enough that Asgard was preparing all the worlds within Yggdrasil for an invasion. While Erik hadn’t been privy to that particular discussion they’d had with S.H.I.E.L.D., he figured if the Asgardians were concerned, probably he ought to be as well.
Nervous, anxious, and concerned, Erik slowly padded down the hall, his footsteps reverberating ominously.
“Doctor Selvig.” Director Fury’s voice rang through the dark, startling him. Erik turned abruptly to see the man, himself, standing calmly in a narrow corridor, hands in his pockets, waiting for him. The hairs on the back of Erik’s neck stood up and goosebumps crawled across his skin. He took a deep breath and approached, making a nervous joke about being brought down there to be killed. Yet somehow, Erik couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom – the feeling that every step he took toward Fury was another step closer to death. He wanted nothing more than to turn around and run away, never to look back, but he felt an inexorable pull toward the man and found his feet moving him closer despite his fear.
Something or someone was present. He could feel it in his bones. He knew it in the depth of his soul. A very primal part of Erik’s being was aware in a way he had never before experienced. And just as he acknowledged that feeling in his mind, that presence slithered away. Arms still covered in goosebumps, Erik tried to remain calm as Fury discussed “the New Mexico situation.” Erik replied to him on autopilot, a familiar researcher to funder conversation. However, when he said that their work was “unprecedented,” Fury’s facial expression suggested otherwise.
“…isn’t it?” Erik asked curiously. Surely he would have heard of gateways to other dimensions if they had been studied before.
Fury kept a strong poker face but turned and led him to a silver case while waxing poetic about legend and history combining. Erik wasn’t listening closely – he couldn’t. His ears were roaring and every instinct in his body was screaming for him to run as Fury flipped open the latches on the case. And just as a blue glow began to emanate from it, all the fear was mysteriously soothed away. He felt calm, curious, excited even.
As he stared at the blue cube, crackling with electricity, Erik asked, “What is it?”
“Power, doctor,” Fury said with a small smile. “If we can figure out how to tap it, maybe unlimited power.”
As Erik contemplated the cube, he saw something move in his peripheral vision. His instinct was to turn and look, but he found himself unable to. Just as fear began to spike, it was once again soothed and he found himself replying to Fury, “A worthy endeavor. I’d be honored to work on this.”
Fury nodded and, as he turned to close the case, Erik flicked his eyes toward the cabinet to his left. Next to his reflection he glimpsed a strange gray face with a heavy brow ridge and no nose. In an instant, the strange face was gone and Erik was staring at himself, wondering why he was looking at his reflection. It seemed like he had seen something, but he couldn’t remember what it was. Clearly, it wasn’t important. No, working on this cube was more important. He couldn’t wait to get started.