Nick Fury Gives In

"Coulson, what do you think an ordinary person would feel if someone with superpowers suddenly appeared in their life?"

After supervising his former superior at the Farm, Coulson had returned to headquarters and was accompanying Director Xia on his rounds when he suddenly heard this question.

"Director, I'm afraid that's a difficult question for me to answer," Coulson said slowly, his voice gentle with careful consideration.

"For an ordinary person, having someone with superpowers suddenly appear in their life would undoubtedly stir up complicated and profound feelings."

"Oh, is that so? Would they feel afraid?"

Xia Ling casually snatched the mouse and keyboard from an employee who was playing a game. The man had been at it for ages, right in front of him, no less.

Did he really think being single for decades had made his hands that fast?

And he was so bad at it. He'd died so many times playing Metal Slug, and the most ridiculous part was that he'd even been killed by a bandit's thrown machete.

What kind of hopeless rookie was this? And he still wouldn't move aside. Let Director Xia show him what a one-credit clear looked like.

"Of course they'd be afraid. That's a perfectly natural reaction. But after that, people's responses would vary from person to person."

Coulson's eyes nearly rolled back in his head at Xia Ling openly commandeering an employee's computer to play games during work hours. But as a seasoned workhorse, all he could do was pretend he hadn't seen it and answer Xia Ling's question with a straight face.

"Vary from person to person? How so?"

Coulson gave a slight nod. His gaze lingered briefly on the game screen in Xia Ling's hands, then quickly shifted away as he continued his orderly analysis. "Director, everyone has a different capacity for stress, personal background, and willingness to accept the unknown. These factors directly influence how they react when faced with people who have superpowers."

"Oh, I see. Remember that. Next time you run into this boss, you need to move faster. How are you supposed to beat a boss if you play like you've got butterfingers?"

"Understood, Director. I've got it!"

Watching the two of them, Coulson was momentarily speechless. He had no idea whether Director Xia had been listening to him at all.

Sure enough, he was just a minor agent. His words carried no weight.

Xia Ling patted the rookie on the shoulder and told him to play for himself. He shouldn't bother the Director with everything. The Director was a busy man, all right?

"Coulson, how would you like to command a unit made up of people with superpowers?"

Xia Ling continued asking as they walked.

At this, Coulson's steps faltered slightly, and a flicker of confusion crossed his face.

"Director, didn't you say you were going to have Mr. Nick Fury lead the superpowered unit? Why are you asking me to command it now?"

Xia Ling shook his head, looking at him as if he couldn't believe how obtuse the man was.

"You people really don't know how to listen, do you? How are you ever going to get anything done? I clearly said I was asking whether he was interested, not that I planned to appoint him commander."

Coulson froze. The Director had been playing word games. From his tone and the way he'd hinted at it back then, anyone would have thought he really intended to make Nick Fury commander of the unit.

And now the Director was pulling this?

Coulson couldn't help mourning Mr. Nick Fury in his heart. At the same time, he made up his mind.

"Director, you're right. I misunderstood. I've completed the personal task you gave me earlier. I have the pager on me. Once we get to the office—"

"No need. Give it to me now."

Xia Ling cut Coulson off and held out his hand, signaling for Coulson to pass him the pager.

Seeing that Xia Ling was set on it, Coulson didn't dare object. He immediately took the pager from his pocket and handed it over respectfully.

Xia Ling didn't care in the slightest about all the people around them.

Now that it was in his hands, was anyone really going to steal it from him?

Xia Ling took the pager, gave it a casual squeeze, and slipped it into his pocket.

"Coulson, you work very efficiently. I'm quite satisfied. Keep it up next time."

Coulson gave an awkward smile. He thought it over, then finally spoke. "Director, Mr. Nick Fury has already given in. You should stop giving him a hard time.

"As for this pager, I suspect he deliberately let me get my hands on it. Otherwise, there's no way someone at my level could have taken something Mr. Nick Fury cared about."

At this, Xia Ling's lips curved in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. He stopped and turned to face Coulson.

"Of course I know. I sent you to get the pager without expecting you to have the skill to steal something right out from under Nick Fury's nose."

Ouch. That really stung.

Coulson's heart sank.

Xia Ling glanced at him and immediately understood what the old village chief was thinking. No wonder Coulson was known as the honest one among famous agents. Did he really think Xia Ling would send him on a mission he had no chance of completing?

"Coulson, don't get me wrong. I'm not putting you down. Actually, I arranged this on purpose. Fury's a smart man. He knows me, and he knows you.

"I sent you to get it to see whether Nick Fury had given in and admitted defeat. I wasn't expecting anything from your abilities."

Sorry for not being capable, I guess.

For a moment, Coulson wasn't sure whether he should be relieved that he wouldn't be sent on missions beyond his abilities or disappointed that his skills had just been belittled.

"Let's leave it at that for now, Coulson. I think you could command a unit of people with superpowers."

"Director, I don't have superpowers. How could I possibly command a unit of people who do?"

Coulson shook his head repeatedly. Whether he could successfully steal something from Nick Fury was still up for debate. Coulson thought he might not be completely hopeless at it.

But when it came to leading a unit of people with superpowers, he knew for certain he wasn't up to the job. He wasn't about to make a fool of himself.

"People need to have dreams. You may not have superpowers, but that doesn't have to stop you. Hawkeye doesn't have superpowers either, does he? And I still plan to have him join the unit as a squad leader. Right, Barton?"

Xia Ling patted Hawkeye on the shoulder, startling the man from the Middle Ages.

Hawkeye shot Xia Ling an annoyed look. But when he saw Xia Ling's friendly expression, he immediately put on a serious face.

"Yes, the Director is right. Not having superpowers isn't a problem."

As he spoke, Hawkeye rolled up his sleeve and flexed his arm to show off his muscles.

"So, Coulson, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Xia Ling smiled at him, signaling for the honest man not to be nervous.

"Of course, Director. I—"

"Besides, all you'll be doing is passing messages along."

Before Xia Ling had even finished speaking, Coulson heard him muttering under his breath, and his whole world crumbled.

I shouldn't have expected anything from the Director!