World Traveler Villain

{Chapter: 280 Can You Hug Me?}

William turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and saw Hill walking briskly toward him.

"Commander Hill, what a coincidence," he said with a disarming smile. "Are you here to use the restroom too?"

Maria stopped in front of him, giving him a sharp look. "There's no restroom in this direction. What exactly are you doing here?"

William blinked innocently. "I was... captivated by the charming scenery on this aircraft carrier. You know, the ocean, the wind, the sky—it's easy to get lost in it all. When I came to my senses, I realized I'd wandered here."

"Tell me the truth," Hill said flatly.

William raised his hands as if surrendering. "Alright, alright. Honestly, I just needed a break. The command room was a bit too stuffy. I figured a breath of fresh air wouldn't hurt."

Hill stared into his eyes for a long moment. "Tom… you're supposed to be an ordinary aircraft carrier soldier, right?"

"Absolutely. One hundred percent. Just your regular, no-name, blend-into-the-background kind of guy. In fact, today is the most attention I've gotten in my entire life." There was no lie in that—at least not entirely. After all, most of SHIELD had only ever known him as "Tom."

Hill's brow furrowed slightly. "But I think there's more to you than meets the eye."

"Oh? What makes you say that? Is it the way I operated the systems in the command room?" he asked with mock innocence.

"That's part of it," she replied. "But it's not just that. Your reaction time, your decision-making, your composure… Everything about you suggests that you're far from ordinary. In SHIELD, someone like you would never go unnoticed for long."

William gave her a crooked smile. 'Sharp as ever. No wonder she was a Level 9 agent. Her instincts were finely honed.'

"Well, I've always tried to live a low-key life," he said, placing a hand on his chest, as if making an oath. "Flying under the radar has been my specialty."

Hill crossed her arms. "Then why aren't you staying low-key now?"

William's eyes softened, a rare sincerity emerging from beneath the teasing mask. "Because I met someone."

Hill's expression shifted slightly. "Who?"

"Someone… like you," he said, his voice dropping into a more intimate tone.

"Me?" She blinked, clearly caught off guard.

"Yes. You. Because you're a good leader. You're the first person in my entire life to genuinely care about me. That kind of warmth—it's new to me. And I wanted to respond to that by giving my best."

His words were direct and raw, not the usual polished flirtation for a man. For a moment, even Hill was silent.

"I… actually..." Hill started to speak, but he cut her off gently.

"It's alright," William said. "I know that when you were reprimanding me earlier, it was just standard procedure. But to me, it felt like something more. Like you were actually looking out for me. That's rare, and it meant something."

Hill exhaled softly. "You're unbelievable."

"Thank you, ma'am. I take that as a compliment."

Then, with the most shameless grin he could muster, he asked, "Commander Hill… may I hug you?"

Hill stared at him as if trying to decipher whether he was serious. After a long pause, she muttered, "Okay."

William's eyes widened with dramatic surprise. "Ma'am, you actually agreed? I didn't think you would! That just proves how kind you really are!"

"Can you stop talking nonsense and just get it over with?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said with mock seriousness. Then his expression shifted—playful, mischievous—and he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a firm, full-bodied hug.

Maria's body stiffened slightly at first. The warmth of his embrace, the firmness of his muscles pressing against her—it all caught her off guard. She could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady, and to her surprise, her own heartbeat quickened in response.

William leaned closer and whispered in her ear, his tone low and teasing, "Ma'am… this moment feels amazing."

"Don't speak," she snapped quickly, cheeks slightly flushed.

But William didn't let go just yet. In fact, he pulled her a bit closer, letting his broad chest press gently against hers. Maria's eyes widened, a flicker of anger mixing with embarrassment.

"You…" she growled under her breath.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, it's just… this feels too good. I couldn't resist. I really couldn't," he said with exaggerated remorse, though he had no intention of letting go.

Then, a deliberate cough echoed from nearby.

Maria immediately shoved William away and turned sharply in the direction of the sound. Standing a few steps away, arms crossed and eyebrow raised, was Natasha Romanoff.

"Well," Natasha said with a slight smirk, "I do apologize for interrupting. I had no idea this was a private moment."

William scratched the back of his neck, suddenly looking very sheepish. "Ah… Agent Romanoff, you're just in time to save me."

Hill glared at him. "Save you? I should have punched you."

Natasha chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll let you two finish your little bonding session later. Right now, we've got work to do."

Hill sighed, regaining her composure. "You're lucky she showed up," she muttered to William before turning to walk back toward the command center.

William watched her go with a smirk. "Yeah… lucky."

Natasha lingered a moment, giving William a sideways glance. "You're playing a dangerous game."

"Well, don't get the wrong idea. There's absolutely nothing going on between Tom and me," Maria whispered defensively, her voice low but firm.

Natasha raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "No, no, I didn't misunderstand anything. Not at all. It's just... surprising, that's all."

Hill shot a sharp glare at William, who stood there feigning innocence. "I'm trusting you. Don't let me regret it." With that, she spun on her heel and strode away quickly, her normally composed face faintly flushed—a rare sight indeed.

Natasha watched her go, then turned her gaze toward William, arms crossed. "Well, well, what exactly did you say to Maria to make her blush like a schoolgirl? That's not something you see every day. Definitely not simple."

William gave her a sly grin. "That's a secret between a man and a woman. You know how it is."

Natasha chuckled. "You're something else. Ever since I've known Maria, I've never seen her lower her guard around anyone. She's like a fortress. Always cold, always commanding, like the whole world owes her money. And now here you are, charming your way into her heart like it's nothing. Not bad, rookie."

William raised his hands in mock surrender. "Please, don't overthink it. There's really nothing between us. It's just... mutual respect."

Natasha leaned in a little, eyes twinkling. "Come on, no need to play coy. Honestly, if you did win Maria over, it would be headline material at SHIELD. Everyone would be talking about it. We might even throw a party."

William met her gaze curiously. "Miss Romanov, I have to ask—what brings you here anyway?"

"I came to check on our little guest," she said smoothly. "Loki, the so-called god of mischief. Care to tag along? You might find it educational."

"Absolutely. I've been meaning to see what a self-proclaimed god looks like up close." William smirked. "Should be fun."

With Natasha leading the way, the two made their way through the secured corridors of the Helicarrier to the heavily guarded containment chamber. Loki was held inside a transparent cylindrical cell made of reinforced glass—originally designed to restrain the Hulk, it now served as a prison for a far more cunning and manipulative creature.

Loki stood with his back to them, his hands clasped behind him as if lost in thought. Then he spoke, his voice smooth and arrogant. "Two visitors? What an unexpected pleasure. Ah, Natasha... I thought it might be you."

"You were expecting me?" Natasha asked, voice as cool as ever.

Loki turned to face them, wearing that infuriatingly smug smile. "Of course. When Director Fury runs out of options, you're the one he sends in. The soothing voice, the gentle persuasion. You'll try to appeal to my conscience, make me talk."

"I'm not here to play games," she said flatly. "I want to know what happened to Barton."

Loki tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Oh? Is that concern I hear? Or perhaps... love?"

Natasha didn't blink. "Only children talk about love. I owe him a debt. That's all."

"Fascinating," Loki murmured, clearly amused. "Tell me more."

Taking a steady breath, Natasha began, "Before SHIELD, I was already known... but not for noble reasons. I followed orders without question, took lives without thinking. SHIELD marked me for elimination. They sent Barton to take me out. But instead of pulling the trigger, he offered me a second chance. He gave me a way out."

"A touching story," Loki said mockingly. "So now you're here to repay the man who saved you. And if I let him live... what would I get in return?"

Before Natasha could speak, William stepped forward with a cocky smile. "How about a steaming plate of shit? That'd suit you perfectly."

Loki's smile faded slightly as his eyes narrowed. "You... the young soldier from the bridge. Do you even have the right to be in this room?"

William shrugged, unfazed. "Whether I do or don't, it won't matter. You'll be finding out soon enough, 'Your Highness.'"

"Such insolence," Loki said with a sniff. "You're not worthy of speaking to a god."

"And you're not worthy of calling yourself one." William shot back. "I've seen cockier thugs in back alleys who made more sense than you."

Natasha cut in before things escalated further. "Let's stick to the point. What do you want in exchange for Barton's life?"

Loki's eyes lit up. "Freedom. Release me, and I'll return your friend—intact."

"That's never going to happen," Natasha said flatly, her expression stony.

William chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Let you go? You must be out of your damn mind. Honestly, if it were up to me, I'd stick you in a zoo and let kids throw peanuts at you."

Loki sneered but said nothing, clearly irritated by William's audacity.

The air in the room grew tense, the line between interrogation and confrontation thinning rapidly.

*****

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