Nick Fury stood before the floor-to-ceiling window in his office as usual, gazing outside. To be honest, as a true man of action, he did not enjoy being stuck in an office.
But as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., commanding the bigger picture was more important than personally going out on missions. After all, there were plenty of agents to carry out missions, but only he could coordinate everything and keep the entire organization running efficiently.
He stood there as motionless as a statue. His tightly furrowed brow showed that he was thinking about something—and not something pleasant. Then, a ringing phone interrupted his thoughts.
Nick Fury turned and walked over to his desk, pressing the speakerphone button. "Speak," he said coldly.
The person on the other end seemed accustomed to that tone and replied professionally, "Director, Agent Coulson has returned."
Nick Fury had arranged for him to be notified the moment Coulson returned. "Send him to my office immediately."
"Yes, Director," the person on the other end answered.
"One more thing." Nick Fury seemed to recall something and added, "Take the dog he's leading straight to the cafeteria. I don't want to see it."
"...Yes, Director."
Although Coulson had initially flown on the same plane as Tony Stark, his original mission had been to go to Afghanistan and assist the local US Army in searching for Tony Stark.
However, after Tony was found, he had been assigned a special mission. His original mission became a cover to conceal the new one. So, when the plane stopped to refuel midway, he left Hubbs with Tony. After sternly warning him not to speak, Coulson transferred alone to the military transport plane.
The transport plane flew directly to one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secret research facilities. The moment it landed, the facility's security team, which had