*****
See more on my P@treon.
[email protected]/Dreamerlord Just replace @ with a
Read more than 155+ chap there
******
"And that," Ethan said quietly, "is why we need to stay ahead."
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters
Coulson stood inside Fury's office, giving his full report about Asgard and everything that had happened.
After listening carefully, Nick Fury leaned back in his chair, looking troubled.
"Did Ethan really say Asgard once invaded Earth?" Fury asked.
"Yes," Coulson replied. "According to the records he has, they did."
Fury's expression hardened slightly. "And this Sorcerer Supreme… he was the one who protected Earth?"
Coulson nodded. "That's what Ethan implied."
"Can we contact the Sorcerer Supreme in case of an emergency?" Fury asked.
Coulson hesitated. "I didn't ask him that."
"Call Ethan and find out," Fury said.
Coulson shook his head slightly. "Is that wise? We still don't know how many moles are inside S.H.I.E.L.D. Our communication systems might be compromised."
Fury sighed. "Then make a quick trip to him. Ask everything directly."
Coulson nodded.
Fury then changed the subject. "How is Hawkeye doing?"
"He's recovering well," Coulson replied. "Last time I saw him, he was training under Storm. He looks much stronger. He'll now operate under Ethan with the codename 'Deathshot.' Soon, he'll be officially introduced as one of Arasaka's chief guards."
Fury raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Coulson placed several files on the desk.
"Storm Shadow. Real name: Thomas Saburo Arashikage. A modern-day samurai and ninja. Extremely loyal to Ethan. Ruthless toward anyone hostile to him."
He slid another file forward.
"Frank Castle. Codename: Punisher. Former military. Recruited by Arasaka at a very high cost. Current status mostly classified, but his combat record shows a large number of confirmed kills."
Another file.
"Aria Arasaka. Also called '2B' by Ethan. An advanced android. Highly combat-capable. Equipped with multiple heavy weapon systems."
Next file.
"Sharon Carter. Codename: Violet. Enhanced suit provides energy manipulation and high mobility. Close combat specialist."
Final file.
"Clint Barton. Now 'Deathshot.' Elite sniper. Near-perfect accuracy."
Fury looked at the stack of files quietly.
"It makes me wonder," he said slowly, "if I'm building the Avengers… or if he is."
Coulson looked at him carefully. "You're smiling."
Fury paused, then noticed it himself.
"Damn," he muttered. "I am."
There was a brief silence.
"I'm proud of him," Fury admitted quietly.
"You should meet him," Coulson suggested.
The smile disappeared from Fury's face.
Silence filled the room.
"You know I can't," Fury said finally. "It was his mother's last wish. I intend to respect it."
"You won't meet him even as his father?" Coulson asked carefully.
Fury nodded once.
"No," he said firmly. "As far as Ethan knows, he has already lost his family. I don't want to walk in now and suddenly claim that I'm his father."
He looked away.
"Besides… I don't think he would take it well. Especially if I tell him I'm the reason his mother died."
Fury sighed, looking like he had aged several years in a few seconds.
Coulson gave a small nod. "I'll go see Ethan then. Is there anything you need?"
"Yes," Fury said, placing a file and a black card on the desk. "Have him build something based on this concept. The funding is already arranged."
Coulson picked up the file and raised an eyebrow. "Toolbox?"
"A portable device that can access and manage the entirety of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database," Fury explained. "As you said, we don't know how many moles are inside. I plan to archive everything—securely—and prepare it for the next S.H.I.E.L.D. director."
Coulson looked at him carefully. "You're retiring?"
"No," Fury replied calmly. "But if I die, I don't want the next director starting blind."
Coulson nodded slowly. "Understood."
He turned and left the office.
Fury remained seated, staring at the closed door for a moment.
Then he opened a drawer in his desk.
Inside was an old photograph.
A beautiful woman holding a baby in her arms.
Fury picked it up quietly, his expression unreadable as he looked at the image.
Fury looked at the photograph for a long moment.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he muttered quietly.
He exhaled, then carefully placed the photo back inside the drawer and closed it.
After that, he straightened in his chair and pulled another file toward him. Work resumed. The moment was over.
The Next Day – Ethan's Mansion
Coulson arrived at Ethan's estate the following morning. He was escorted inside and soon found Ethan waiting in a spacious meeting room.
Ethan looked at him and smirked slightly.
"You should consider changing jobs and working for me," he said casually. "All I see is you spending more time here than at S.H.I.E.L.D."
Coulson smiled politely. "I might one day. But S.H.I.E.L.D. still needs me."
Ethan nodded once. "Fair enough. So, what do you want?"
Coulson stepped forward and placed a file on the table.
"Director Fury has a request."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "That sounds expensive."
"It will be," Coulson admitted. "He wants you to build a portable device. Something that can access, manage, and securely archive all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s databases."
Ethan leaned back slightly. "A master access tool?"
"Yes. He's calling it 'Toolbox.' It needs to be secure, encrypted beyond standard military levels, and independent from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s main communication network."
Ethan tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.
"Preparing for a worst-case scenario," he said.
Coulson gave a small nod. "Exactly."
Ethan opened the file and skimmed through the details quickly.
"And the budget?" he asked.
Coulson placed a black card on the table.
"Unlimited within reason," he said.
Ethan gave a faint smile.
"That's always a dangerous phrase."
He closed the file.
"Alright. I'll build it. But I'll need direct parameters from Fury. No middle-layer restrictions."
"I'll arrange that," Coulson replied.
Ethan studied him for a moment.
"You look tired," he observed.
"Occupational hazard," Coulson said lightly.
Ethan stood up. "Tell Fury he'll have his Toolbox. But once I build it, it won't just be a storage device. It will be intelligent. Adaptive. Harder to compromise than any system S.H.I.E.L.D. has ever used."
Coulson smiled faintly. "I expected nothing less."
Ethan gave a small nod.
"Anything else?"