Chp 7. Talk

"Mister Esteban, it's nice to meet you by the way. I'm Agent Coulson of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, would you mind if I have a word with you?" Coulson walked alongside Paul who was fiddling with his phone trying to take out his sim card.

"Nice to meet you too Agent Coulson from… I forgot, it seemed to mouthy for a Division name. Any who I don't mind, what do you want to ask?" Paul said as he looked at the sim that was a bit wet then rubbed it in his shirt to dry it.

"We're working on the name for the moment, so where were you born Mister Esteban?" Coulson asked as he kept walking on Paul's side.

"Uhm, I was born in the Philippines." Paul did not care at all cause he knew they would have no information about him since he was from another world entirely which was also more advanced in technological advancement than this world.

"Were your parents Filipinos too Mister Esteban?" Coulson looked at Paul and was thoughtful at how nonchalant he was about him and his questions.

"Nope, my mother was Chinese but was raised in the Philippines while my Father is Indian." Paul said which made Caulson look at him as Paul was a very white person and his eyes were the only indication that he was Asian.

"Oh, you seem curious of my skin aren't you? Don't worry, my Father has an Indian Nationality but he is much whiter than most Irish people." Paul said as he walked towards a shop that seemed to sell phones.

"I see, are you Islamic or Hindu?" Coulson found himself unable to tell if Paul was lying or not as he felt that all his words were true and not one falsehood in it but he could hear in his earpiece that there were no match on him anywhere even with all of that information he gave. Either he is a very good liar which even his boss could not tell while being a great spy not bothered by his presence or he just popped out of nowhere.

"Nope, I am Baptist through and through. But I am not religious though, only my parents." Paul said as he took a Motorola Razr and bought it but he was missing a bit of bucks then looked at Coulson who saw his predicament. The Agent took his wallet and gave Paul a few 20s to him, which concluded the transaction.

"I see, but why is it we have not found any records of your arrival here in the US?" Coulson asked a bit more important question.

"Oh that, I don't know. Just woke up yesterday here in New York and now I got attacked by mutants out of the blue." Paul inserted his Sim to the new phone and walked back towards his hotel not minding the Agent by his side.

'Phil keep following him and make sure to gather whatever you can.' Coulson heard Nick's voice within his earpiece and followed the order silently as he walked besides Paul towards the hotel which was found out to be where he stays by the agents.

"So who was that? Was that your boss? What would you like to learn about me?" Paul looked at Coulson besides him who looked a bit shocked at Paul's words but he saw Paul point at his ears and say. "I have improved senses, so I could hear what was being said in the earpiece."

"I see." Coulson nodded as he followed the weird target that has no records whatsoever. But one question popped up in his mind that he felt he should try asking.

"Are you by any chance not from Earth Mr. Esteban?" Coulson asked as he looked at Paul who paused for a bit and looked back at him with a smile.

"Am I from Earth, yes… But this Earth no." Paul skipped as he walked like he has no care for the world which left a stunned and speechless Coulson trying to process what Paul just said.

"Mr. Esteban what do you mean by that?" Coulson ran after Paul catching up to the guy who was now standing in front of a concierge of a Hotel.

"You will know if your boss would like to meet me with no one else listening." Paul said as he went to the Elevator followed by Coulson.

"Whatever you want to say to our Director you could say to me." Coulson was looking seriously at Paul while thinking of what might be the meaning of the earlier words of Paul.

"No can do, I feel an unbalance in the force if I speak of what I try to divulge to the ears of people not strong willed enough." Paul said with a very thick amount of joking and mockery but it was not intended for anyone.

'Tell him I accept.' Coulson heard his directors voice and was about to say when Paul interrupted with him speaking.

"Really? Can you come now? I have a date to prepare for tomorrow." Paul smiled as the doors opened and he walked to a room three doors away from the elevator.

'Wait there.' Nick fury's voice was heard again in the ear piece and Coulson looked at Paul as he felt there was no need for him to talk for the moment.

"Sure thing, you thirsty?" Paul went to a drawer where he left the rest of the money he has because all he had planned earlier was jogging and not a fight with an Omega level Mutant.

"Water would be fine." Coulson went and sat on a sofa in the living room. Paul rented a room but it was big enough to have a bedroom, bath, living room and a fully equipped kitchen.

"Okay, haven't had breakfast yet. Do you want some?" Paul gave Coulson a glass of water as he went to the fridge to see if there was anything that fancies him. Looking inside he felt that maybe his shopping for groceries last night was a bit much cause the fridge was full.

"No, but thank you for asking." Coulson looked around the room and felt there was not much to look for. It was just the standard type of hotel room and the only thing that was different was the clothes as well as personal effects.

"Was everything you said to me true?" Coulson asked out of curiosity but Paul answered immediately.

"Yes, I got no reason to lie to you." Paul said from the kitchen as sounds of chopping was heard. Coulson felt that maybe there were more so he walked around and saw a bag where there was a hospital gown that looked old and worn out but still seemed clean.

"Been to any hospitals recently?" Phil asked as he felt that he might have more information to gather.

"If you call some research centers with hospital equipment one then yes." Paul said calmly as he started cooking some stir fried noodles.

"A research Center? What kind of experiments were you doing there?" Coulson was still skeptical at how calm and cooperative Paul was at how calmly he gave information to them.

"Nothing much, just had some researchers stick needles to me and get full body scans from time to time." A smell of good food wafted to the room which made Coulson swallow a bit internally as he felt the smell was quite tempting.

"What were the doctors for?" Coulson was curious what kind of research they were doing, maybe it was similar to the super soldier serum that made Captain America.

"Well, they were searching a cure for ALS which I had." Paul said as he flipped the noodles on his wok or a pan that was quite close to what a wok is.

"ALS? So does that mean you were cured?" Coulson asked as he too knew that this was one of the terminal diseases still at large with no means of cure.

"By the doctors? No…." Paul smiled as he could tell from his senses that Coulson was getting annoyed at his nonchalant answers which are making the poor Agent not know which is which.

"But you said you had ALS which means past tense, meaning no more. Do you still have ALS or not." Coulson asked as he sat back down again at the sofa.

"Nope, no more ALS." Paul smiled as he set aside the stir fried noodles and looked at the fried chicken he was cooking.

"Then what cured your ALS?" Coulson was keeping small talk at this point as they were waiting for the director to arrive.

"Don't know, just woke up and ~ta-da it's gone~!" Paul said in a sing-songy manner.

"Then your powers?" Phil looked at the table and felt that maybe he should help out a little since he was a guest. But as he was cleaning the table he placed some small listening devices in small crevices which he had been doing since earlier.

"Like I said, I woke up here in New York and ta-dah I am cured. Then somehow was stronger that I was when I could not even sh*t without a nurse taking care of me." Paul looked food he had done and started making some simple steamed bok-choi and lastly he got some puddings to be placed as dessert.

Seeing that he now have the dishes almost ready he went a prepared a salad with a simple dressing and drizzled with olive oil. Taking the plates he went to the table and placed them in the middle. He them went to get three sets of utensils which made Coulson take notice but he remembered something he should have asked when he saw the room.

"So Mr. Esteban, this hotel and the groceries. How were you able to afford all of these when you have non records of employment nor any time at all to have a job here in New York?" Coulson asked as he helped in setting the table.

"Well one thing a city doesn't lack is pickpockets so I stole from them, it's stolen money anyways." Paul said with no care at all as Phil was stunned at how he just confessed to a crime but thinking that it was from pick pockets also means that he somehow did a good thing.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

"It seems your boss is here already, would it be okay if you go open the door as I finish breakfast preparations here." Paul said as he went to get glasses as well as a box of mango juice. As he went back the table he saw Nick Fury standing there with Coulson behind him.

"Nick Fury, Director of Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. This thing you want to talk to me better be important Mr. Esteban, I had to come here with no sort of security at all." Fury was looking at Paul like he was trying to read the man in front of him.

"No security huh?" Paul said as he looked at three directions where he is visible in windows making eye contact to the snipers that were pointed at him and even waving his hand to them.

'Moth*r f*cker.' Fury cursed as he saw Paul's actions but he was surprised that Paul did not react much but instead placed the Mango Juice on the glasses while also gesturing to Nick to sit down if he wants

"I'm sure that was precaution because if you have talked to the ones in the Park they might have mentioned how I got my heart pulled out and I still live." Paul smiled as he started serving himself food while also passing Fury the plate with the salad.

"Well this was all I could do on such short notice." Nick said like it was a warning that he could do more if he wanted to but whoever Paul was kept bugging him as he has no information about the guy at all. Yet his instincts tell him that somehow Paul seemed to show no sign of aggression when he even let Coulson follow him to his hotel.

"Sure, but I did say I wanted to talk in private. But I don't mind others watching as long as the words that come out of my mouth after breakfast will only be heard by those in this room only." Paul did not eat much salad as he lifted his hands and placed some small things on the table which Coulson realized to be the things he placed around the room.

"So you won't care if men keep watch to you as long as what we talk about here is between only us here in this room?" Fury asked as he ate some salad while Coulson was beside them also eating but his presence was barely felt by those present.

"Yes, as long as you abide to these then I'll tell you who and where I come from. Could you pass the steamed greens to me?" Paul nodded as he tried to reach for the bok-choi but he will need to stand if he reaches out. Fury nodded as he passed it and started on the noodles.

"This is too relaxed for some reason." Coulson said by the side which made Fury notice how the atmosphere was very peaceful. But he kept eating since Director work was quite tiring and good food is rare to come by, he had thought that maybe Paul drugged the food but from the face of Coulson he knew Paul did no such thing.

Somewhere in three locations the SHIELD snipers were stunned at how their director ate without a care at all with this new guy they had just discovered. Even the agents that were monitoring the situation in the New York HQ were looking at each other until one guy audibly gulped as they can see from the cam-piece on Coulson the spread of food on the table.

"Wow, I just eat cereal during breakfast but this guy cooked a feast." A beautiful stoic looking agent said as she looked at the screen trying to diffuse the awkward situation.

The other agents were nodding as they did not even have time sometimes to cook as they eat in the cafeteria just to not be late to work. Nick Fury was still looking at Paul as they ate as he was not sure what the endgame of this guy right here.

He had expected to be poisoned after being led to a trap that was why he has a group of Paramedics four floors down to treat him in any event he'll be in danger. But so far there were no such indicators that Paul was planning anything and it irked Fury to the bones.

Seeing that the food was going to be finished and Coulson had eaten his dessert already Fury gestured with his chin towards the windows making Coulson stand-up and cover every open window in the apartment.

"I don't mind of the windows are open though." Paul saw Coulson's actions and said this.

"Lip readers, there are a lot of them these days." Fury said as he still gauged what Paul was going to say or is this ultimately a trap set up for him. But he still has to come cause he needs to find out otherwise if this mysterious person in front of him is an enigma that is unknown to him or just another person trying to get to him using the fact that he is someone Fury would not neglect.

"I see, so how are you going to prevent them from listening?" Paul asked and Fury answered by taking a circular object and pressing a button on the middle. Coulson went and played the radio by the side for some reason but Paul did not mind as he too pushed his senses to the highest it could and see I there are any other thing that might be used to eavesdrop on them.

He felt that there are two groups of people downstairs that were waiting but Paul felt that they were mostly Fury's men. He does not hear much from their equipment means that there are no listening devices like those used by investigators during stake-outs in movies.

"Okay, it seems things are in order." Paul said as he looked towards Fury who seemed to taking out some devices on his coat like small cameras and placed them on a small cup then was covered by Coulson with a cloth after he too took out some devices.

Paul felt that they no longer have anything on them other than clothes and weapons. So he stood up and started cleaning the table and was a bit thoughtful for the moment, he had remembered the guys in authority from the movies he watched together with his father and adult weeb friends who infected him with their interest in Comics and anime.

Though he was only partially infected with the Weebo disease he still remembered a bit to know that there are people in the Marvel Universe that could help you in case you arrive here with nothing on you. Because other than the comics they also showed him the world of Fan fiction which when Paul thought of it he looked to the side looking at air feeling that there seems to be something observing him.

But he shook his head for a bit to clear it and looked at Fury, Paul mostly started talking about what he did when he arrived here and the progress in how he ended up in Central Park.

"Really? Ten buckets?" Coulson asked as he looked at Paul unbelievingly as he saw neither signs of fatness nor signs that such body proportions could handle ten buckets of chicken but he remembered that they might be dealing with a possible Omega level Mutant here.

"Yes, it was ten but anywho it was then our dear Agent here approached me after getting a date with a hot blonde girl." Paul smiled as he say back down in the table and took a sip of mango juice.

"When you said you are from Earth but just not from here, what did you mean by that and why must it be spoken to me privately." Nick was thinking how from a penniless person this guy in front him was able to find clothes and money to be able to rent this apartment in one day was more like a skill of a great Spy or agent.

"Well… how do I say this. I come from another earth or should I say another Universe entirely. Different from your world as mine was already in its late 21st century or maybe end of the 22nd one, so you would find no records of me anywhere at all because I never existed here." Paul's words made Coulson and Fury wide-eyed as they heard Paul's words.

It was then that Fury was thinking how they have no literal records about this guy at all even if they have that much data gathered from the guy.

"Wait wait, so are you saying that you came from the future?" Coulson asked as he looked at Paul seriously.

"No, not like that, it is more like another reality entirely. Because some of my historical knowledge is vastly different from what I have learned here so far. Try to think of it more of like the Multiverse, there are many realities out there where you are different in some small ways or another." Paul said as he sat back on the chair in a rather laid back fashion.

"So you are actually not from this Earth huh? How are we going to believe what you speak is true then?" Nick Fury was thoughtful as he asked Paul in a no nonsense tone.

"Well, there are many differences but there are also similarities which might be useful for you and the world in the future. But my presence here might change things up a bit." Paul said as he looked at Fury in seriousness also.

"Yeah, and what might these thing be?" Fury looked at Paul and feeling that maybe having no one listening here is a good idea even of he felt he was risking his life in doing so.

"First of all, you are here to scout me if I fall under the requirements of yours for the Avengers Initiative won't you?" Paul smiled as his words made Fury alert at his words but Paul did not stop there.

"I also know things that might happen to SHIELD which you might need time to prepare for. I also know that for the moment I am under Index's list of threats needed to be assessed and hearing from the X-men you might have listed me already." Paul took a sip on his juice while he looked at Fury's reaction which was subtle but obvious that the man seemed agitated at Paul's knowledge.

"Why do I know this? Well like I said I come from another Earth similar to this but with small differences and that mine if already in the future so it was easy to know who you are when Coulson went and introduced himself." Paul looked at Fury who was frowning hard as he felt exposed in from of this man they have no knowledge of.

"So you know what's going to happened in the future? Are there threats that we need to prepare for or events that might be noteworthy in your history?" Coulson asked as he felt that they might gains something from someone that might have knowledge to what might happened.

"I'm sorry I could not say that, like I said there are differences and my presence here changes things. In my world if was Kerry who won and not Bush so I don't know if that led to some butterfly effect here, but if it helps the Avengers was a success though, it did save the world from many threats it faced." Paul said vaguely but he saw am imperceptible smile hang on Fury's lips.

"Anyways, if I want to gain you trust on me then I'll divulge some things that might happen so you could prepare for what is to come. But for a price…" Paul smiled at Fury who looked eager to hear from Paul.

"Name it." Fury seemed thoughtful as he was still in a dilemma if he should trust what the words of this man said but hearing that his Avengers Initiative was a success means that he is going the right path.

"Okay, first I need your help in booking me a restaurant for my date with that beautiful girl earlier."

"Deal"

"Wow so fast. Second, I want some monthly allowance of about $100,000 as some form of fee for having one consultation with me. And you'll place it in an account of my name tax-free as well as papers for my stay here but please don't give me any citizenship."

"Granted"

"Really? Damn I knew I should have asked for more… anyways third is…what movie is great to watch for tomorrow?" Paul asked thoughtfully.

"There's this new Movie Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in theaters this week." Coulson said in the side.

"Really? Can you get me tickets for two tomorrow?" Paul asked.

"Sure thing, anything else you might want to add" Fury was thinking that he could grant these things easily so he kept calm during the situation thinking of many things.

"I want to ask for some personalized equipment just for me, I'll draw it later and give it to you. Also, would it be possible to leave me alone cause I'll stay here in New York for some time until I could find something else to interest me." Paul looked at Fury with seriousness in his voice.

"That can be arranged, but I can't take my eyes away from you because even now you are still in Assessment." Fury said as he looked at Coulson who wrote the request on a note.

"Well, if you are ready now Mr. Esteban we would like to hear this 'advice' of yours in this 'consultation'. Fury hoped that whatever he will hear will be useful but Paul's words made him pause at the absurdity of the fact.

"HYDRA is still alive…" That was all he said and Fury as well as Coulson was wide eyed.

"What do you mean HYDRA? Like The HYDRA with Red Skull and all of that?" Coulson asked as he knew these parts of history well due to being a great fan of Captain America.

"Look for Project Paperclip, the US has hired so many former Scientist of HYDRA that some slipped in and festered within the US. But I'll advice you to not make a move for now Fury, not until next year when you would find someone to be part of your Avengers Initiative project. Also keep this information within the three of us, not even the ones you trust Fury should hear of this as HYDRA was hidden itself deep with the System." Paul said in all seriousness that even Fury was frowning more than ever.

"What the hell happened?" Fury asked as he wanted what happened that HYDRA was able to be known by someone from the future. Though there might be a chance that Paul was someone in the know or inner circles but he could not tell that.

"There are many things hiding under your nose Director Fury, but I'll say this. You could start your plans once you are able to thaw out someone in the Ice…" Paul smiled as he stood up and took a glass of water while looking at the faces of the two Master Spies.

"And who would that be we should take out from the cold? Is that some euphemism for prison or something in the future?" Nick also stood up and looked at Paul attentively.

"Someone important and no it is not a euphemism for prison, I was literal in the sense that you need to thaw out someone trapped in Ice." Paul was serious as he said this to Fury who was lost at what Paul meant.

"Then who are we going to thaw out Mr. Esteban, the missing link or Santa Claus?" Fury was eager to hear the one that might help him cause from what he could tell Paul knew certain things that might be prevented if he has planned for it.

But he was getting a bit impatient as he still felt caution towards Paul as he could not still think clearly that his SHIELD is infested with Nazis.

"First of all, Santa Claus if real so don't bad mouth him. He was just depressed about what the Germans did in WWII so he stopped giving presents, it was mostly the Canadians fault for inventing War crimes. Also the Missing Link is nowhere near who I was going to say but if you can try to find that guy cause he's a radioactive mess that explodes from time to time." Paul was thoughtful as those characters did indeed appear and were quite strong too. One could 1 v 1 the Hulk while another was a very powerful Mutant with reality bending powers.

"Wait, are you saying those two exist for real?" Fury was stunned cause he did not know how his silly question was met with a serious answer.

"Then who were you going to have us wait for?" Coulson spoke as the conversation was getting out of track.

"Oh, just a star spangled man with a plan. You'll soon meet him and could get your cards signed." Paul smiled as he saw Fury and Coulson's face gain a look of realization at who Paul was insinuating at.

"Wa-wait wait wait… are you saying that…" Coulson suddenly changed from the quite incognito type into a ten year old fanboy looking excited while Fury also raised his brows thinking.

"But we've never found the plane the Valkyrie since it crashed in the Arctic." Fury said as he looked at Paul feeling conflicted whether to trust the man or suspect him more since he knows many things that might happen in the future. But hearing about how HYDRA is still present and ever pervasive in the US society made Fury feel that he should not push back the person that could help him in times like these.

"It's not that surprising, the landscape changes all the time and by next year you'll have your boy scout up and running." Paul smiled as he sat on the sofa and turning on the TV, Fury understood this and went to the cup that was placed far away along with the gadgets Coulson planted earlier.

From what he could gather is that Paul could sense if there was something spying on him so maybe it will be better if he gave him some space for now.