Chapter 4: Iron Man's Unveiling, Coulson's Confusion, Lawyer Up!
The air in New York was thick with anticipation, a palpable hum of excitement and fear. Tony Stark was back. The world was collectively trying to process the impossible: a billionaire playboy returning from a cave, not with a tan and a new yacht, but with a glowing chest and a sudden, inexplicable aversion to weapons manufacturing. Adam, perched on a rooftop overlooking the Stark Industries press conference, felt a familiar smirk tug at his lips. This was it. The public unveiling. The "I Am Iron Man" moment.
"Alright, System," he murmured, adjusting his tie – a surprisingly classy accessory his new body apparently owned. "Time to observe, influence, and generally make Phil Coulson's life a living hell. Because, let's be honest, the man looks like he needs a good prank."
[Achievement Trigger: Make 10 Heroes Angry at You (or at least one very annoyed agent/hero). Objective: Annoy Phil Coulson. Achievement Trigger: Make People Think the Real You is a Hero (subtly, as a competent if eccentric PI). Objective: Enhance public perception of Adam Stiels. Achievement Trigger: Gain New Ally. Objective: Recruit Matt Murdock.]
He watched Tony, looking surprisingly well-adjusted for a man who'd just escaped a terrorist cave and built a flying suit of armor. Pepper Potts was by his side, looking relieved but still perpetually stressed. Rhodey, ever the straight man, stood a few paces back. And then, there he was: Phil Coulson, standing stoically in the crowd, radiating a quiet, watchful intensity. The perfect target.
Tony began his speech, the usual Stark bravado mixed with a newfound solemnity. Adam waited for the opportune moment. Coulson, ever vigilant, took a sip of his coffee.
Pop!
Adam focused, a faint hum in his palms. He pictured Coulson's coffee cup. Not disappearing, not yet. Just… changing.
[Illusions & Holograms activated. Target: Optic Nerves. Effect: Coffee to Jell-O.]
Coulson took another sip. His eyes widened. He pulled the cup away, staring into it. The dark liquid had solidified into a shimmering, suspiciously orange Jell-O. He blinked, poked it with a spoon, then looked around, a flicker of confusion crossing his usually impassive face.
Adam, unseen, chuckled. "Phase one: The Jell-O Gambit. Subtle, yet deeply unsettling. You're welcome, Agent."
The press conference continued. Tony, in a moment of pure, unadulterated Stark, declared, "I am Iron Man." The crowd erupted. Adam watched, a genuine sense of awe mixed with his usual sarcasm. It was iconic. He'd seen it a hundred times, but seeing it live, knowing he was here, in this world, was something else entirely.
Later that day, back in his office, Adam was reviewing the news reports. His phone rang. It was Pepper.
"Mr. Stiels," she said, her voice strained. "Tony is… well, he's being Tony. But he's also… confused. He keeps talking about 'phantom glitches' and 'impossible coincidences.' And Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to think someone is messing with him. He's asking about 'unregistered super-powered individuals.'"
"Phantom glitches? Impossible coincidences? Sounds like a case for a very good therapist, Ms. Potts," Adam replied, trying to sound innocent. "And 'unregistered super-powered individuals'? Goodness, the world is getting stranger by the minute. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out. For a very generous additional fee, of course."
"Just… keep doing what you're doing, Mr. Stiels," Pepper sighed, clearly at her wit's end. "Tony seems to… respond to your presence, even if it's just to complain about it."
"My pleasure, Ms. Potts. My pleasure." He hung up, a triumphant grin on his face. Achievement unlocked: Annoy a Hero. Coulson was definitely annoyed. And Tony was baffled. Two birds, one stone, and a whole lot of Jell-O.
The next few days were a blur of subtle interventions. Adam would make a reporter's camera briefly malfunction just as they were about to ask an intrusive question about Tony's personal life. He'd make a S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance drone briefly display a dancing banana. He was building a reputation, not just as a competent PI, but as an eccentric, almost mystical force of nature. People were starting to talk about "Adam Stiels, the PI who gets results… and makes weird things happen."
His agency was growing, albeit slowly. He needed legal counsel. Someone who could navigate the increasingly bizarre world he found himself in. Someone who understood the nuances of "superhuman" law, even if it didn't officially exist yet. He knew just the guy.
He found the address in his meta-knowledge. A small, unassuming law firm in Hell's Kitchen. Nelson and Murdock.
He walked into the modest office, the scent of old paper and cheap coffee filling the air. A young woman with kind eyes, Karen Page, greeted him.
"Adam Stiels," he announced, extending a hand. "Private Investigator. I'm here to see Matt Murdock. I hear he's the best lawyer in Hell's Kitchen. And I'm looking to retain the best. For… unusual cases."
Karen looked at him, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "He's in his office. Go right in."
Adam walked into Matt's office. Matt Murdock sat behind a desk, his eyes obscured by dark glasses, a thoughtful expression on his face. He looked young, but there was an intensity about him, a quiet strength that Adam recognized.
"Mr. Murdock," Adam said, pulling up a chair without being invited, the squeak of his own office chair echoing in his mind. "Adam Stiels. I need a lawyer. A good one. One who won't bat an eye when I tell him I need to sue a guy for, say, accidentally teleporting his prized poodle into a dimension of pure glitter."
Matt raised an eyebrow, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips. "Mr. Stiels. I'm not sure I've handled a case quite like that before."
"Oh, you will," Adam promised, leaning forward. "My cases tend to be… unique. Let's just say I have a knack for attracting the strange and unusual. And I need someone who can keep me out of jail when my 'knack' goes a little overboard."
He looked at Matt, a subtle illusion playing around his own eyes, making them seem to shimmer with an otherworldly light for a fleeting moment. Matt, despite his blindness, seemed to sense something. He tilted his head, a faint frown on his face, as if trying to discern a scent or a sound that wasn't there.
"You're… an interesting man, Mr. Stiels," Matt said slowly. "Very… distinct. What exactly are these 'unusual cases' you refer to?"
"Let's just say, Mr. Murdock, that the world is about to get a whole lot weirder," Adam said, leaning back, a knowing glint in his eye. "And I need someone who can navigate the legal loopholes when the laws of physics decide to take a vacation. You in?"
Matt paused, a long, thoughtful silence. Then, a genuine smile spread across his face. "I'm always up for a challenge, Mr. Stiels. Tell me more about this poodle."
Adam grinned. "Excellent. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful, legally complicated friendship."