Avengers Initiative

"What's wrong?"

Seeing this, Pepper asked softly.

Hermione said nothing, merely gazing ahead in silence.

Tony also realized something was wrong and quietly moved to shield Pepper behind him.

In his opinion, their "Miss Wizard" might have a rather explosive personality, but her abilities were beyond question.

There had to be something up ahead.

"It's fine. Someone I know. No need to be nervous."

Hermione smiled faintly, then raised her wand high.

"Lumos!"

In an instant, the entire hall became as bright as day.

A figure dressed in black from head to toe stood frozen in place.

The figure hadn't expected the hall to suddenly light up. Caught halfway through a dash toward the couch, he could neither move nor stay still with everyone watching.

His bald, dark head stood out especially clearly in the spacious hall.

It was none other than Black Egghead.

"Pfft!"

Hermione couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

How could she not see what Black Egghead had been trying to do?

He had simply sneaked into Tony's home ahead of time to wait. Once the agents watching outside informed him that Tony was home, he would immediately settle onto the couch, then suddenly switch on the lights for a dazzling entrance that would shock Tony into next week.

Create an air of mystery, demonstrate his power, seize the initiative-agents on TV always made their entrances that way, and Black Egghead was no exception.

What he hadn't expected was for Hermione to spot him early, leaving him exposed before he had even gotten into position.

It couldn't have been more awkward.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Tony looked furious as he demanded an answer.

Pepper had recognized him by now, too, but she wasn't particularly pleased with S.H.I.E.L.D. casually breaking into someone else's home. She let Tony take the lead without stepping in to smooth things over.

After only a moment of embarrassment, Black Egghead quickly composed himself and strolled toward Tony as though nothing had happened.

"Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Fury said without batting an eye.

No wonder he had risen to a leadership position. Nobody could compete with skin that thick.

Hermione silently snarked at him.

"I'm here to talk to you about the Aven-"

Before Fury could finish, Tony cut him off. "Not interested. Whoever you are, get out of my house right now!"

"Looks like I'll have to upgrade security. First Obadiah, now this guy. Can just anyone waltz in here whenever they like?"

He didn't give Fury an inch.

"Mr. Stark, I would still suggest hearing me out..." Fury frowned slightly, keeping his voice patient.

He knew what Tony was like.

Although he'd gotten off to a bad start, he still had a mission to complete.

"I..." Just as Tony was about to say more, Hermione suddenly waved.

"Hey, Nick Fury!"

"Good evening, Miss Wizard." When Hermione addressed him, Fury gave it some thought. She took priority over Tony Stark, after all.

That egghead nickname, though...

Quickly figuring out what Hermione meant by it, Fury's cheek twitched.

"What are you doing here? Where's Natasha?" Hermione asked.

"Agent Romanoff is on a mission."

"Oh."

Hermione nodded and said nothing more.

Nick Fury's expression froze.

Huh?

That's it?

What the hell was that "oh"...? That's not the right reaction!

Wasn't Natasha your favorite pretty lady?

How can you hear she's out on a mission and not even ask how she's doing?

His gaze fell on Pepper, who was holding Hermione's little hand, and shock flashed in Fury's eyes.

Oh, crap!

The thing he'd feared most had happened!

Someone had stolen her right out from under him!

However powerful a Wizard might be, she was still only a child. Children always favored the new over the old, and they grew close to whoever treated them well.

No wonder Hermione hadn't been visiting S.H.I.E.L.D. lately and had instead been hanging around Tony Stark every day.

He had assumed she was close to Stark, so he hadn't been too worried. However well they got along, he could never fill Natasha's role.

But now it seemed they had misunderstood.

The one Hermione was close to was Pepper Potts! Stark just happened to be there!

A massive strategic blunder!

"Tony, let's hear him out first," Pepper said, patting Tony's back. "Whatever else you might say, they did everything they could to help when you were kidnapped. Without S.H.I.E.L.D., I couldn't have confirmed you were safe, and I wouldn't have met little Hermione."

Listening to Pepper, Fury knew she meant well and was speaking up for them, but something about it still felt strange.

It felt like his ex's new partner telling his ex, "If it weren't for your ex, we never would've met, so we ought to thank him," while pulling his ex closer right in front of him...

"Yeah, yeah, let's hear Nick Fury out first. They did do a good job protecting Pepper last night, after all," Hermione urged as well.

Translation: Be a little nicer to your ex. He did pay for our hotel room last night, after all.

It's over.

Fury's vision went dark.

Little Hermione had clearly been corrupted beyond saving.

For a moment, Fury wanted to abandon the mission, recall Natasha, and figure out how to win Hermione back first.

But reason ultimately prevailed.

Since both Pepper and Hermione had spoken up, Tony could only swallow his irritation and prepare to hear what Fury had to say.

Forcing himself to remain composed, Fury said, "I came today to discuss the Avengers with you."

"Avengers?" Tony frowned. "Who does S.H.I.E.L.D. want revenge on?"

"..." Fury faltered before continuing. "It's not about revenge. It's a plan to assemble a team, a response team made up of people with extraordinary abilities, to deal with potential future crises that ordinary people can't handle."

"I call it the Avengers Initiative."

"What a lousy name..."

Tony muttered under his breath. By now, he had caught on. This director of whatever S.H.I.E.L.D. was had clearly come to recruit him.

Apparently, being Iron Man carried quite a bit of weight!

At that thought, his smug expression returned.

"You've got a good eye," Tony said, lifting his chin and puffing out his chest. "But Iron Man alone is enough to keep the world safe. There's no need to join your little wonder-boy squad."

Fury: "..."

It's fine. This is Tony Stark. Nothing unexpected.

"Is that so?" Fury said evenly. "Then why did the all-powerful Iron Man get beaten so badly by Obadiah last night that he ultimately needed Miss Wizard's powerful magic to save his life?"

Tony's breath caught.

The One-Eyed Dragon before him had struck precisely at his weak spot. He could hardly argue, because it was the truth.

Without Hermione, he and Pepper would probably have died at Obadiah's hands long ago.

"That... that was only because Obadiah stole my work. It was basically like using my own suit against me," Tony insisted stubbornly. "At the end of the day, Iron Man still won."

Just then, Pepper tugged on his arm, her expression turning serious.

"Tony, I think you should give his suggestion some serious thought."