It wasn't until their footsteps disappeared at the top of the stairs that Tony turned his head and noticed Henry lowering his voice.
"Alright… now can you tell me? What's going on? That expression on your face makes it look like someone broke into the house."
"Almost," Henry said, his smile fading, replaced by a cold, steely expression.
"Not a break-in, though."
"Then what is it?"
"A bald egg came to the house."
"A bald egg?" Tony looked puzzled. "What the hell is that? A nickname you just made up? Who's it for?"
Before Henry could answer, the lights in the living room suddenly snapped on with a click.
The sudden brightness made Tony squint instinctively.
When his eyes adjusted and he saw the figure standing in the middle of the room, he froze.
It was a tall black man in a long black trench coat, slowly turning around.
Most strikingly, he wore a black eyepatch over his left eye.
Tony glanced at him, then thought back to Henry's earlier words. He looked at Henry with a "now I get it" expression.
"Alright, you weren't kidding… that is a bald egg."
The one-eyed black man—Nick Fury—walked forward slowly.
He first glanced at Tony, then locked his gaze on Henry. His single eye glinted sharply.
"Finally, we meet, Mr. Stark," he said, his voice deep, firm, and authoritative.
"I am Nick Fury, director of the Strategic Homeland Defense, Assault, and Logistics Bureau."
"You two have been making quite a scene lately—armor showings, press conferences, stirring up the stock price of Stark Industries," he paused, his tone serious now.
"But that does not give you the right to act recklessly."
"Yeah, yeah, we finally meet. Honestly though, I wish we hadn't," Henry shrugged nonchalantly and walked to the bar, pouring himself a drink.
Tony couldn't help laughing. He poured himself a drink as well, then looked at Nick.
"I've already asked once—when will you change that tongue-twisting name of yours? Can't you make it simple? Like S.H.I.E.L.D or something?"
Nick's mouth twitched subtly.
Looking at these two unruly playboys, he felt his blood pressure spike.
Damn it… what the hell is happening here?!
This is not how I planned the introduction! I was supposed to intimidate them first, then take control!
Then what the hell is this?!
"Mr. Henry Stark, that joke is not funny," he said seriously.
"Perhaps our medical department has medication for cases like yours—overexcited minds."
Henry feigned relief. "Good thing you didn't rule the country," he said, sipping his drink, giving Nick a look like he was an idiot.
"But a sunny, cheerful little pony can lead an international organization? Seems like the world security council needs a management shake-up. Stark Industries funds them every year, not to let them put strange people in charge. By the way, where's your boss? Let him speak."
Nick Fury felt his temples throbbing.
"I am the director!" he said, his voice rising, trying to assert dominance.
"Please take this seriously, Henry Stark!"
Tony, not missing the chance, nodded solemnly.
"Yeah, Henry, you really should drink less. See? You're starting to talk nonsense."
They sat down on the sofa, legs crossed, drinking leisurely, treating Nick as if he were air.
Nick Fury nearly drew his gun.
Years as a director, interrogating the craftiest spies, confronting the deadliest criminals—but he had never felt his intelligence and dignity trampled like this!
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He sat on another sofa, trying a gentler approach.
"I've never heard of you, Mr. Stark, being a nationalist."
"Shut up! You one-eyed Bald Egg!!" Henry yelled, putting down his glass.
"Motherfucker!!"
Nick Fury couldn't hold it any longer. He leapt to his feet, pointing at Henry.
Henry laughed, legs crossed, relaxed and carefree
"Get this straight, Director Egg. We are the Starks—the richest in this country, perhaps the world. If I announce tomorrow that you, an international director, trespassed into the home of the world's richest, attempting kidnapping… what do you think would happen?"
Nick Fury imagined all the possibilities—suspension, organizational disgrace, the world security council in chaos.
He was completely dumbfounded.
All his pride, strategy, intimidation, coercion—they were jokes in front of these unreasonable bastards.
Finally, he took a deep breath and sat back down, full of helplessness:
"Alright, that was abrupt, gentlemen. Perhaps we should talk properly."
"No need to talk," Tony flatly refused.
"Good enough for now," Henry nodded, continuing his teasing tone.
"You can leave. Honestly, that bald guy Coulson last time seemed fine, at least reliable. Tell me, can S.H.I.E.L.D not pay its staff? Everyone's balding. If you can't, I could generously donate to your employee fund. Money's the one thing I'm not short of."
Nick Fury was completely pushed to the edge. He stood up abruptly.
"Next time, we will talk properly, Mr. Henry Stark. Goodbye." He started heading downstairs.
"I have a cleanliness fetish—you better not touch anything," Henry's lazy voice called from behind him.
Nick Fury almost turned around and shot him.
He took a deep breath, reminded himself of Henry's mysterious nature, and forced himself to restrain.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked, voice full of suppressed rage.
Henry snapped his fingers.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., see him off. Give him a rollercoaster ride."
"Understood, sir."
J.A.R.V.I.S. immediately responded. In the next second, the underground lab doors silently slid open.
A red-and-gold Mark I armor roared out with mechanical howls!
In Nick Fury's stunned gaze, Mark I snatched him up like an eagle carrying a chick.
The massive living room window automatically slid open.
Mark I flew him outside, circling the villa, then dropped him in a free-fall straight onto the lawn below.
"Have a pleasant journey, Mr. Fury," J.A.R.V.I.S.'s calm voice said through the armor.
The armor then flew back to the lab without looking back.
Nick Fury lay on the soft grass, staring at the full moon above, feeling that his life had never been more absurd.
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Our goal is to hit 200 stones before monday, I'll post 2 bonus chapters if we reach it
Come on boys i know we can do it!!
On a side note if you're feeling few words are out of place or doesn't flow well then it's because i removed few unsavory rac*st words against fury.
So what do you guys think, should I keep removing those or keep it like original.
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If you're interested, you can read upto 20+ advanced chapters
p-atreon.com/Redestro666