Nick Fury paced his safehouse, scratching his head in frustration.
How could he possibly prove he wasn't Hydra?
He'd never imagined facing a day like this, as absurd as proving he was himself.
When Maria Hill revealed he was suspected of being Hydra, it felt like a dream—or a sick joke.
Who could've thought the S.H.I.E.L.D. director, who'd gone to every length to protect the world, would be branded a Hydra agent?
Yet this very situation left him trapped, unable to defend himself.
"If they're convinced I'm Hydra, it means they've confirmed Hydra's presence in S.H.I.E.L.D."
Fury muttered to himself. This was his safehouse—no bugs to worry about.
"So, who's the confirmed Hydra agent that's got those old soldiers thinking I'm one of them?"
A sudden realization hit him, and beads of sweat dotted his gleaming forehead.
Alexander Pierce.
Only his old mentor, who'd pushed him to become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director, could tie him to Hydra.
Pierce, always supportive, had lingered low on Fury's list of suspects.
Now, Fury slumped onto the couch, drained.
He had no way to prove he wasn't Hydra. Even in the old soldiers' shoes, he wouldn't trust himself.
"Thanks to Hill, I guess."
Fury didn't stay down long. He couldn't afford to.
He could guess who'd tipped Hill off—Dum Dum Dugan and Peggy Carter's crew.
Who else could be called "important people" but the veterans who'd fought evil in that war?
To break this stalemate, Fury needed to prove his innocence.
Hill had given him limited trust, but those soldiers might not.
His name could already be on Dugan's kill list.
"Frank, Rumlow… who else can I trust?"
Frank Castle's bond with him was rock-solid, stronger than Hill's trust.
Rumlow, though, might be the one who'd caused this mess.
Fury reviewed recent events, zeroing in on Rumlow.
He'd been in constant contact with Dugan lately.
But why had Rumlow convinced them? They'd had no prior connection.
Rumlow was undoubtedly the one who'd exposed Hydra, but from Fury's perspective, why tell Dugan and not him?
Fury knew about the attack on Rumlow, but why hadn't Rumlow pursued it?
Did Rumlow never trust him?
Even after the elevator ambush, Rumlow had acted unbothered.
Did he already know who those attackers were?
Fury's mind raced through a flurry of thoughts.
But the pressing issue remained: how to prove his innocence?
In the world of espionage, suspicion didn't require proof—just action.
He didn't know what Dugan and Rumlow planned, but if they moved before he cleared his name, a big bullet might be waiting.
Fury straightened up, changed out of his sweat-soaked clothes, and tidied his appearance before leaving the safehouse.
The only one who might help him now was the old woman on her hospital bed.
"That's all I wanted to say."
Fury spoke to Peggy Carter, who lay with her eyes closed.
He sensed eyes watching from outside the room.
"I'm glad you came to explain, but it doesn't clear you."
Peggy kept her eyes shut, looking like a neighbor's grandmother basking in memories.
Fury's approach didn't scream Hydra. If Hydra knew they'd been exposed, they'd usually opt for the most brutal solution.
But his actions didn't fully convince Peggy.
"I know. I'd think the same."
Peggy withheld judgment. Fury was a skilled agent—his every move was hard to trust.
Outside, on a tree, a monkey in camouflage perched.
A person in a tree would be spotted, but a lighter, stealthier monkey was harder to notice.
Fury kept silent about his suspicions regarding Pierce.
Mentioning it would only deepen Peggy's doubts.
It'd look like sacrificing a pawn to save the king.
Anyone who knew his ties to Pierce wouldn't believe they were unconnected.
Even now, Fury doubted his own conclusions.
Elsewhere, the Werewolf led the Howling Commandos into a secret base.
They'd begun their move.
The Commandos were prepared to leave no survivors, ensuring no risk of exposure.
The Werewolf and the Mummy worked alone. The Werewolf handled the assault and cleanup, while the Mummy secured all exits.
The base was confirmed Hydra territory. Their goal: gather as much intel as possible.
Hydra rarely produced traitors, and the Werewolf had no interest in interrogating their members.
Dugan, meanwhile, sat in his tavern, eyes on a monitor showing the Hit-Monkey's perspective.
After Hill's feedback on Fury, he'd anticipated Fury would seek out Peggy.
Fury's thinking mirrored his own.
Within S.H.I.E.L.D., an investigation was already underway.
The agent: Sharon Carter, Peggy's niece.
Raised by Peggy, Sharon was perfect for covert missions. In Dugan's eyes, she outshone even Black Widow for stealth.
Black Widow's fame was just too loud.
(Chapter End)
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