When Nick Fury tracked down Tony, the latter was lounging on the giant donut sign of a burger joint in his sleek Iron Man armor, devouring a freshly baked cheese pizza...
Half a minute later, they were seated inside the famous burger restaurant, casually ordering a combo meal.
"I don't want to join your super boy band." Tony dismissed the one-eyed black-clad man's proposal without hesitation.
Iron Man never needed teamwork, he could protect New York and save the world all by himself.
Moreover, Tony fundamentally despised working for the government. He had no intention of following his father's path... using wealth to gain political capital for higher status. The freedom-loving Iron Man detested being shackled by rules and regulations.
"You're not doing well, Tony." Nick Fury studied the mustached man with a grave expression, "You appointed Pepper Potts as CEO, gave away your assets, and let your friend fly off in your armor... Are you preparing for the end?"
The one-eyed director had extended an invitation to Tony before. After the Avengers Initiative was approved by the World Security Council, he'd approached Iron Man, only to be bluntly rejected by the then-triumphant Stark. Knowing the timing wasn't right, Fury hadn't pushed further.
Having dealt with Howard Stark before, Fury understood that father and son shared similar pride and stubbornness. It wasn't until palladium poisoning and public scrutiny weighed Tony down that Fury reappeared... after all, offering help in desperate times always garnered more gratitude than adding flowers to a bouquet.
"No, I'm doing great!"
Tony shook his head defiantly, a hint of relief on his exhausted face, "A few hours ago, that bastard Sean gave me a lithium dioxide injection. The damn palladium poisoning symptoms have eased significantly. Tomorrow, I'm heading to Umbrella... apparently some hot scientist developed something called the 'Cradle', some cutting-edge medical tech that can restore my health."
Hearing this, even the seasoned spymaster was stunned. This had been his meticulously planned solution to recruit the unruly Tony Stark, yet someone had beaten him to it.
"Next, I need to find a palladium substitute, test every possible element combination. Sean was right, I shouldn't give up so easily. The Starks have never been cowards who accept defeat!"
With his burdens lifted, some color returned to Tony's ashen complexion. His recent reckless behavior had merely been an outlet for the fear and pressure of facing mortality, not everyone could stare death in the eye without flinching.
Though Fury had countless arguments prepared, all were now stuck in his throat. Fortunately, his dark skin masked the frustration undoubtedly coloring his face.
"That gadget in your chest, it's based on unfinished technology. Your father Howard said it was just a stepping stone to something greater. Back then, he was preparing an energy revolution to leave all competitors in the dust. He'd glimpsed the potential of a super energy source... compared to it, nuclear reactors are just triple-A batteries."
Left with no choice, Fury shifted tactics. If benefits couldn't lure Tony, perhaps emotions could. Playing the nostalgia card, he invoked his history with Tony's father, "Howard told me only you had the resources and intellect to complete his grand vision."
"I don't know how you learned about this, but you clearly misheard. My father never acknowledged my talents. My few memories of him are just... a cold businessman. He never said he loved me, never said he liked me. His happiest day was shipping me off to boarding school!"
Yet Fury's calculation failed again. Tony's relationship with his father wasn't as rosy as imagined... both men were too proud to easily express their feelings.
"Your father was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founding members. I want you to join us. Honestly, Iron Man has caused me plenty of headaches. What you're about to do will create even more. At the very least, I can keep those Department of Defense officers off your back."
With all other options exhausted, the black director played his final card. Even after surviving the Senate hearing, military covetousness toward the Iron Man tech remained.
Had Stark Industries lacked its extensive connections, those generals might have crashed tanks through the gates to "confiscate hazardous weapons"... namely, Tony's armor.
This wasn't hyperbole... many Pentagon officials had proposed exactly that. Yet even so, without the arc reactor's core technology which only Tony could replicate, the suits would be worthless scrap metal.
"I'll think about it." Tony nibbled a donut, utterly noncommittal.
His sole focus now was solving the palladium crisis to resume his superhero life. Joining S.H.I.E.L.D. held zero appeal.
Nick Fury departed with profound disappointment. Having failed with Tony Stark, he'd have to approach the Fantastic Four next. Phase One of his Avengers Initiative was off to a rocky start.
Back in his modified Land Rover, Fury's expression darkened. Turning to his trusted agent Coulson, he ordered coldly, "Pull all files on Sean Cyphers..."
.....
Meanwhile, at Umbrella, Sean learned from Skynet about Fury's renewed investigation...
He chuckled, unconcerned about what might be uncovered. He was no longer the nobody from Queens who needed to fear S.H.I.E.L.D.'s scrutiny.
Now, standing behind the New York genius were rising star Umbrella, Oscorp firmly established in biotech, Stark Industries in strategic partnership, and even General Ross offering covert support...
No longer isolated, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. uncovered clues or Fury detected anomalies, without irrefutable evidence, they could only continue watching silently.
"Sir, I can erase all traces to ensure S.H.I.E.L.D. finds nothing useful," Skynet's dispassionate voice intoned.
Sean shook his head, an inscrutable smile playing on his lips, "Staying behind the scenes is getting boring. It's time for my grand entrance."
Thinking of the Ancient One's warning, his eyes turned cold. He was curious to test the limits of the Sanctum and Kamar-Taj.
"Let's hope Nick Fury helps me stage this spectacular solo performance." Sean smiled faintly.
His aid to Tony hadn't been altruistic. Using Tony Stark to enter S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar, thereby attracting Fury's attention... that was the real objective.
This confrontation was inevitable. It was better to control the narrative...