{Chapter: 024 - Uninvited Guests}
While waiting outside the temple as the other agents and researchers continued their excavation inside, Aiden leaned against a crumbling stone pillar at the base of the ancient structure. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the overgrown clearing. A subtle breeze rustled the leaves, but Aiden's attention remained fixed on a small object in his hand — a sleek, matte silver lighter with a worn fire insignia etched onto its surface. He flipped the cap open with a flick of his thumb, igniting a small, dancing flame.
With an idle grin tugging at the corner of his lips, Aiden played with the flame like a toy. A narrow lance of fire stretched forward, twisting and spiraling into the shape of a blazing arrow. Then, with a shift of his palm, it curled inward and bloomed into a fiery orb, spinning like a miniature sun. Finally, with a twirl of his fingers, the fire shot into the air and exploded into a whirling vortex — a fire tornado, its tendrils licking the sky in a hypnotic dance.
But just as he was preparing to morph another shape, something changed.
Aiden's pupils slightly narrowed, and he stopped twirling the flame. Suddenly Aiden's enhanced hearing due to Extremis picked up two disturbances in the surroundings…His hearing zeroed in on two faint rustles — barely audible, but enough. Two different breathing patterns, both too quick, too cautious. His gaze drifted to the treeline without moving his head.
A single twitch of his finger.
Two ember-like fireballs detached from the lighter flame, zipping through the air with a high-pitched hiss.
"AHHHH!"
Twin cries of pain pierced the tranquil dusk. Two soldiers burst out from behind the trees, flames crawling up their uniforms as they threw themselves onto the ground, rolling desperately in the dirt to smother the fire.
"Sh*t! Open fire! Open fire!"
Their cover blown, more armed soldiers sprang from hiding. At least a dozen emerged from the shadows of the forest's edge, their boots thudding heavily on the ground as they formed a tight semicircle around Aiden. Laser sights from assault rifles dotted his chest and head, dancing as the soldiers barked orders and threats, fingers tightening on triggers.
The commotion drew attention from the temple entrance.
Agent Melinda May strode out with lethal calm, her eyes sweeping the scene in a single calculating glance. Her instincts were faster than thought — her arm moved in a blur, drawing her sidearm and leveling it with practiced ease. Not a tremor in her grip, not a flicker of emotion on her face. She didn't ask questions. She was ready to shoot.
But Aiden simply smiled, a confident, almost lazy grin forming as he glanced over his shoulder.
"Relax, Miss May," he said in a cool, collected tone that seemed to mock the tension in the air. "This won't take long. Just sit back and enjoy the fireworks."
Then, he turned to the enemy without a trace of fear, stepping forward slowly — deliberately — his boots crunching the dirt and gravel underfoot. The soldiers shouted again, warnings laced with panic.
"Stop right there or we'll blow your f***ing head off!"
Aiden didn't flinch. Instead, he twitched his hand once more.
The small flame he had been playing with ignited into a chain reaction. From thin air, a salvo of blazing arrows appeared in a circular formation behind him — dozens of them, swirling like a fiery halo. With a mere flick of his hand, they launched forward with terrifying speed and precision.
Thuk. Thuk. Thuk.
Each arrow found its mark. No wasted motion, no second shots. The first line of soldiers collapsed like puppets with their strings severed — holes burned straight through their helmets and skulls. There were no screams this time. Just the lifeless thud of bodies hitting the earth.
Gasps and shouts erupted from the remaining few, but Aiden had already turned his focus elsewhere. Without changing his posture, he pointed his palm toward the parked military vehicles behind them.
A deep rumble resonated in the air as a big fireball — easily the size of a small boulder — formed and launched like a meteor.
BOOM!
The first vehicle exploded into a violent storm of flames and metal shards.
BOOM!
The second followed, then the third. One by one, the convoy turned into blazing wreckage, lighting up the forest like a battlefield inferno.
Aiden casually dusted off his hands and took a seat on a large rock nearby, the glow from the burning vehicles casting flickering shadows across his face. He tilted his head at May, who hadn't moved an inch.
"See? Told you I had it covered."
May exhaled slowly and lowered her gun, giving him a look that teetered between exasperation and admiration. She holstered her weapon, shook her head, and muttered under her breath.
"No wonder Fury wants you on the team. You're a one-man warzone."
The sound of footsteps echoed from the temple's entrance again. Agent Phil Coulson emerged, flanked by two researchers and another field agent. His eyes widened in disbelief as he surveyed the battlefield — corpses strewn about, vehicles still burning, and smoke rising toward the sky.
"What the hell just happened out here?"
He barely finished the sentence before two agents approached, dragging an unconscious woman between them.
"Sir, we found someone in the underbrush. She's alive. Looks like she was caught in the blast radius but wasn't targeted directly."
They lowered her carefully to the ground. Her black tactical suit was singed, her body a little bruised, but her breathing was steady and stable.
Phil knelt beside her and turned her head gently.
"…Camilla?"
Aiden's eyes narrowed, his expression calm but alert, like a panther stretching before a pounce.
He didn't bother turning his head. Instead, he flicked his lighter open with a soft click, the flame dancing between his fingers. A lazy smile tugged at his lips as he murmured, "Guess we weren't the only ones invited to this party."
The sudden tension in the air pulled Phil's attention. When he caught sight of the woman being escorted in chains, his brows lifted in surprise. "That's the Peruvian commander," he said, sounding both cautious and intrigued. "Also... an old friend."
Aiden turned, the corners of his grin sharpening. "Old friend, huh? I'm afraid she's not just a simple friend, Agent Coulson. And judging by the way she glares at us, your friend doesn't seem particularly friendly."
Phil let out a long breath and gave a half-smile, avoiding Aiden's probing gaze. He crouched down as Camilla stirred and opened her eyes. The two exchanged a few curt formalities that quickly melted into nostalgic banter.
Aiden raised an eyebrow at the strange ease between them. "You sure now's the time for catching up? I get it—you two had some... missions together. But this isn't exactly a reunion party."
Phil didn't reply directly. Instead, he stood, brushing dust from his pants. Camilla remained silent, only watching with keen eyes.
"Now is not the time for Phil and it's better if you leave your friend here."
"Why?"
Aiden shook his head. "Phil, I don't like her."
"That's not a real reason, you know."
Phil rolled his eyes, what kind of reason is this?
"Forget it then, but let's hurry up and leave, I think there will be trouble soon."
Outside, the SHIELD agents began packing up their gear. Crates were being loaded into the truck, protective tarps pulled over ancient artifacts and the mysterious 084. Melinda May was already at the driver's seat, checking over the controls with her usual silent focus.
Aiden lingered near the vehicle, glancing back toward the temple ruins and the dense jungle stretching behind them.
"Time to move," he said, nodding at Phil, who was still loitering near Camilla.
As if on cue, the sharp echo of gunfire tore through the forest.
Ratatatatatatata!
Everyone's heads snapped in the direction of the sound. Within moments, figures burst from the trees—rebel soldiers wielding rifles and shouting orders in Spanish. Amidst the chaos, Camilla twisted free of her restraints, sprinting toward the rebel line like a shadow melting into darkness.
Phil cursed under his breath. Aiden didn't stop her.
"I wanted you to see it yourself," he said to Phil. "She made her choice."
Phil's jaw clenched. "We trusted her."
"Yeah, and look where that got us."
Aiden stepped away from the group and cracked his knuckles. The soft creak of his joints was drowned out by the renewed burst of gunfire.
"You all get on the plane. Keep it ready to take off." His voice was calm, but firm.
May nodded and gunned the engine. The truck lurched forward, tearing over broken roots and uneven earth.
Daisy grabbed Aiden's sleeve for a moment, her eyes wide with worry. "Be careful. Please."
He gave her a soft grin and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, love. This is just a warm-up round."
Phil moved closer. "If you see her again, bring her back. She's dangerous."
Aiden didn't respond. He simply turned, shoulders rolling as he walked toward the gunfire, a strange calm overtaking him. The shadows of the jungle seemed to welcome him, swallowing his figure as he disappeared into the undergrowth.
As the SHIELD team sped off, Daisy looked back through the dust-streaked window.
She whispered under her breath, "Come back safe..."
---
Amidst the smoke-filled chaos of the street , bullets tore through the air like deadly hornets, zipping past shattered rocks and burning wreckage. The scent of cordite and ash clung to every breath, yet Aiden moved through it all with eerie calmness, weaving between the deadly hail of gunfire with almost casual grace.
Each step was calculated, every movement honed, not just for survival—but for growth. This wasn't a desperate scramble. No, this was deliberate.
Aiden was training.
His expression was focused, eyes scanning the treeline, debris, and collapsed ruins for any sign of Camilla. Dozens of rebel fighters had opened fire the moment they caught sight of him, forcing him to duck, dive, and twist through the barrage. He could feel the Extremis flowing through him—hot, alive, reactive. It pulsed like liquid fire in his veins, pushing his reflexes and perception far beyond human limits.
"You should surrender!" one of the rebels bellowed from behind cover. "Resistance is futile!"