The Standard of Cats

S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters.

Coulson and Melinda knocked on the door of the director's office with grave expressions.

Though this mission posed no danger, professionalism demanded they maintain the necessary seriousness for a Level 7 assignment.

"Come in."

Hearing the permission, Coulson and Melinda exchanged a glance, opened the door, and stepped inside.

"Director, we're here to report on the mission."

Closing the door, Coulson and Melinda approached Director Nick Fury's desk. The former placed a compiled document on its surface.

Even a Level 7 clearance mission typically didn't require a personal report to the director, but this one was different—riddled with oddities from start to finish.

Besides, it was a mission the director had personally assigned.

"Any findings?"

Coulson and Melinda were startled to see that the director—a man who, before them, or rather before all agents, was almost always stern, self-disciplined, and equally strict with others—was actually...

He was smiling!

Coulson couldn't help but rub his eyes. Nick Fury wasn't entirely humorless; in his younger days, he'd been something of a joker. But in his current position, his smiles were mostly sardonic.

Now, though, with the trained eye of a seasoned Level 6 agent, Coulson was one hundred percent certain the director was smiling out of pure joy.

He hadn't even read the mission analysis yet—just knowing they were back had made him happy...

Coulson felt touched for a second, then snapped back to reality—

That was absolutely impossible.

The director was smiling because of the mission's content.

Melinda's expression was equally odd. She shot a covert glance at Coulson, whose face mirrored hers—

If the mission target had been a woman, well, even a man, that would've been acceptable.

But they both knew the real target was that orange cat named "Goose."

The director was pining after someone's cat?

Or did he have some peculiar hobby?

Hiss—the more I think, the more unsettling it gets!

The two of them, lost in wild speculation, clearly didn't escape the one-eyed man Nick Fury's notice.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He cleared his throat:

"As fine agents, zoning out during a mission report makes me question your professionalism."

"Ah, sorry, Director."

They snapped to attention, realizing they hadn't answered his question.

"Though that plant shop seemed harmless on the surface, we did uncover several suspicious points."

Coulson looked at Melinda, who gave a slight nod and pulled out a USB drive:

"Director, this is the video footage."

Nick Fury nodded. Melinda plugged the drive into a port on his desk, grabbed the remote, and pressed a few buttons. The wall display began playing the footage.

It covered their entire visit to the Emerald Dream plant shop, from entry to exit.

"Quite an interesting shop assistant."

After watching the video, Nick Fury shot a subtle glance at the stone-faced Coulson and Melinda:

"Let's set aside the effects of that potion for now. Melinda, your instincts were right—Goose did react when she heard my name."

A gratified look spread across his dark face:

"It's touching. The little one still remembers me."

"You mean you know that cat?"

Melinda nodded in understanding:

"Maybe it was a pet you once owned? Though I trust you're not the type to abuse your authority—otherwise, the bar for a Level 7 mission would be far too low."

Too low didn't even cover it—it would be a joke.

But both Melinda and Coulson knew the real issue was the strange behavior of that amusing shop assistant at the mission's end.

Sure enough, Director Fury flashed the sardonic grin they knew well. He pointed at the frozen frame on the display—Melinda about to pet the cat:

"To be honest, at first, I was genuinely relieved you both made it back safely."

Fury stood, hands in the pockets of his black leather trench coat, and paced slowly to the display:

"Agent, what makes you so sure this is a cat?"

He pointed at the adorable Goose on the screen:

"Because it looks like a cat, meows like a cat, eats cat food, has cat-like habits, probably needs its FVRCP shots, and wears a cat collar?"

"Director, I think if it meets those conditions..."

Coulson pursed his lips, then decided to voice his opinion:

"Then it really is just a cat."

"..."

Fury shook his head noncommittally:

"Fine, but if a cat scratches you, how long does it usually take to heal?"

"Shouldn't take long—maybe a week or two?"

Coulson wasn't sure, since he preferred dogs.

"About that, but Coulson," Fury pointed at his black eyepatch, "do you remember when I lost this eye?"

"You once said it was the price you paid for trusting someone one last time. If I recall correctly, that was 1995."

Coulson glanced at the startled Melinda and shrugged:

"Back then, the Director and I were still field agents."

"So the real story isn't as symbolic as the Director made it out to be."

Melinda pinched her chin, thoughtful:

"Those three scars... were from an orange cat?"

At that point, a Level 7 agent like Melinda naturally latched onto the absurd yet likely truth.

"And here I was, taking your words as a motto to inspire my career."

Coulson covered his forehead:

"You're right, Melinda. Reality really is more ridiculous than novels and movies."

"Hey! You two!"

Nick Fury put his hands on his hips—his dark face hiding any blush:

"That's not the point. The point is, this scar hasn't faded one bit in thirteen years, and I've tried everything!

Goose here isn't your average orange cat!"

He cleared his throat, satisfied to see his two subordinates turn serious again:

"This is a cosmic creature, a Flerken. Let me put it this way, Melinda—if that shop clerk hadn't interfered, given Goose's expression right now,"

He glanced at the monitor again; Goose's look was a dead ringer for the scene thirteen years ago when he'd been too curious for his own good:

"The next moment, scarring would be the least of it. She could easily wipe out a fully armed elite unit."

"The Flerken's danger rating is 'Extreme Danger.' In that same rating system, a regular agent's rating..."

As if recalling a painful memory, Nick Fury's mouth twitched:

"Is 'No Danger.'"

Melinda let out a long breath. So she'd just narrowly escaped death?

A cosmic creature? A Flerken?

Keeping something that dangerous at home as a pet cat—no wonder it was a Level 7 mission!

"And judging by the clerk's reaction, at least he knew Goose was special. Not only wasn't he scared, he could give her commands..."

Nick Fury narrowed his one eye and turned to Coulson:

"Any new findings on the shop owner, Oaks Lin?"

Starting on the recommendation list today...

First time on the list this early, and the word count's a bit low. Getting on the list means your follow-through is strong—keep it up!

For an ordinary author, recommendations only care about follow-through now, so please don't hold back your support~

Feel free to comment. I usually check messages at most every other day. Speak your mind if you have questions—old readers know I answer what I can. Thanks for the support!