[Tony looked at the tablet in Coulson's hand and said with his characteristic stubbornness, "I don't like people handing things to me!" He kept his hands firmly at his sides, raising his eyebrows expectantly.]
[Pepper immediately smoothed things over, took the tablet from Coulson and handed the champagne flute to him instead: "It's okay! I like people giving me things! Here! This is for you!" Her diplomatic skills on full display as she managed the awkward moment with grace.]
["Thank you!" Coulson replied with a polite nod. She then took the wine glass from Tony's hand with practiced ease, took a small sip, and handed the tablet to him, all while maintaining her professional smile.]
[Tony couldn't help but glare at Coulson after taking the tablet, and then said with feigned resistance: "I only accept consultations from 8 am to 5 pm every Thursday!" His fingers were already working on the device despite his protest.]
["This is not a consultation!" Coulson replied evenly, his expression remaining professional.]
[Smart Pepper immediately guessed something and ventured cautiously: "It's related to the Avengers? I know nothing about it!" She glanced between the two men, recognizing the tension in Coulson's stance.]
[Tony split the tablet into two halves with a flick of his wrists and assembled it into a laptop-like configuration. He joked with a hint of bitterness in his voice: "I thought the Avengers plan was scrapped! And I don't meet the requirements to join!"]
[Pepper said awkwardly, fidgeting slightly with her champagne glass: "I don't know that either!"]
["Because I'm erratic! Extremely self-centered! And I don't fit in with people!" Tony recited what Nick Fury had said about him in his evaluation report, emphasizing each point with a sarcastic lilt.]
[Pepper couldn't help but nod in agreement: "I know that!" A small smile played at the corners of her mouth, softening the blow of her confirmation.]
[Coulson explained seriously, standing a bit straighter: "It has nothing to do with personality now." His tone suggested the gravity of whatever situation had brought him there.]
["It doesn't matter! Miss Pepper, come here!" Tony looked at the message displayed on the screen and waved to Pepper, his expression shifting from annoyance to concern.]
[Pepper smiled at Coulson apologetically: "Wait a moment!" and then trotted over to Tony's side, her heels clicking against the polished floor of the penthouse.]
["You know! I thought we could just live alone!" Tony whispered to her, his voice uncharacteristically vulnerable as he glanced at the information scrolling across the screen.]
[Pepper joked with a light touch on his arm: "We've passed the 12% mark!" Her attempt to lighten the mood only partially successful.]
[Tony was about to speak when Pepper patted him on the back reassuringly: "It looks serious! Phil looks nervous!" She directed his attention back to their visitor, whose stance remained rigid by the elevator.]
[Tony was still struggling with the fact that Pepper was very familiar with Coulson, and couldn't help asking with poorly disguised jealousy: "How do you know he is very... Why do you call him Phil?"]
[Pepper didn't bother to pay attention to the jealous Tony and looked at the screen curiously, leaning in for a better view: "What are these?"]
["This is... Look!" Tony placed his hands on the screen and with a wave of his hands, multiple holographic displays sprang to life, projecting information into the air around them in a blue glow.]
[The projections showed relevant information and video footage of Thor, his hammer Mjölnir crashing down with lightning; Captain America in his vintage uniform from the 1940s, shield raised in battle; Banner in his laboratory before a transformation, followed by the Hulk smashing through military vehicles; and other potential team members including two master assassins in action.]
[Pepper was surprised to see these videos, her eyes widening as she took in the implications. Tony also frowned, the gravity of the situation finally sinking in as he watched the footage of beings with extraordinary abilities.]
["I'm taking a plane to Washington tonight!" Pepper announced, recognizing that Tony needed space to process this information.]
[Hearing this, Tony immediately protested: "Tomorrow!" His hand reached for hers, reluctant to let her go.]
["You have homework to do! It will keep you busy for a while!" Pepper said knowingly. She understood Tony's character and how he would need to immerse himself in this problem completely.]
["Well! What if I don't do it?" Tony coughed lightly and turned to look at Pepper with a mischievous glint in his eyes, clearly trying to negotiate.]
["If you don't do it? You mean wait until you're done with your work! Well! Um... let's talk about it later!" Then she hugged Tony close, her arms wrapping around him comfortingly despite the seriousness of the moment.]
[Coulson at the door felt like he had eaten a mouthful of dog food, witnessing their intimate moment, and couldn't help but turn his head to look to the side, suddenly finding the Manhattan skyline fascinating.]
[After being hugged, Tony's mood obviously improved a lot: "See you then! Have a good trip!" His typical bravado returning to his voice.]
[Pepper smiled and kissed Tony again, lingering for just a moment: "Come on!" Then she turned and walked towards Coulson at the door, smoothing her skirt as she approached.]
["So! Is it on your way to the airport?" she asked casually, her professionalism returning now that business matters had been addressed.]
[Coulson immediately agreed with a small smile: "I can give you a ride!" He seemed pleased to be able to offer this small courtesy.]
["That's great! Oh! Let's talk about the cellist. Do you guys still have a chance?" Pepper asked as they moved toward the elevator, genuine interest in her voice.]
"She moved back to Portland!" Coulson replied, a momentary flash of regret crossing his features before his professional mask returned.
["What? Oh!" Pepper was very surprised. She thought Coulson would be able to marry the beauty! Her disappointment for him was evident in her sympathetic expression.]
[The two gradually walked into the elevator, the doors closing behind them with a soft chime. Tony remained in the penthouse, now alone with the holographic displays. He looked at the image of the Cosmic Cube on the projection, a glowing blue tesseract of immense power. He reached out, manipulating the hologram to rotate it in his hand, examining it carefully from all angles, his mind already working on the problem.]
"This is the first time the Avengers are formed!" Norman Osborn looked at this scene and understood that this was what happened that led to Tony and his team forming a team for the first time.
After more than two years of imprisonment, Norman finally left the mental hospital under the guarantee of Harry and 1st Gen Spider-man.
Norman's discharge from the hospital caused quite a stir a few months ago.
Jameson also immediately sent a telegram to publish this breaking news, and attached first-hand information about Norman.
At the beginning, the citizens were a little worried about Norman's situation. After all, he killed so many people no matter what. It was only because he had a second personality and the potion given by Sky Screen to destroy the Green Goblin that he was given a reduced sentence.
Now he is released after only two years. Of course some people will be dissatisfied with this, but this is a problem that Harry and Norman should worry about.
Tony was very interested in the 'cellist' that Pepper mentioned, but it was a pity that Coulson was not here, otherwise he would have gossiped about it.
Coulson also noticed that the SHIELD agents were looking at him with curiosity, and he knew what they wanted to know without even thinking about it.
[A quinjet flies rapidly over the sea, its advanced engines leaving a trail in the clouds as it cuts through the sky at impressive speed. Inside the fighter plane, the sleek, high-tech interior showed SHIELD's considerable resources.]
["We will arrive at the headquarters in about 40 minutes!" Coulson reported crisply. He took off his headphones, adjusted his perfectly pressed suit, and walked towards Captain America's position at the back of the aircraft.]
[Captain America, still coming to terms with the modern world, looks at Banner's video footage playing on a small screen: "So Dr. Banner was planning to replicate the serum they used on me?" His voice carried a hint of concern as he watched the footage of Banner's experiment going wrong.]
["Many people think so! You are the first superhero in history! Dr. Banner believes that gamma rays will be the key to unlocking Dr. Erskine's original formula!" Coulson explained, barely containing his excitement at speaking directly to his childhood hero.]
[Watching the Hulk smashing tanks and throwing soldiers like ragdolls in the video, Captain America said calmly: "But he didn't get what he wanted!" His eyes reflected the destruction on screen, a mixture of sympathy and concern in his gaze.]
["You can say that! When he is not transformed, he is almost like Stephen Hawking! He is an absolute genius!" Coulson's admiration for both men evident in his voice as he stood slightly straighter than necessary.]
[After hearing this, Captain America looked up at Coulson in surprise. He didn't expect Banner to be compared with Stephen Hawking, a name he had only recently learned about during his crash course on modern history.]
["To be honest, it's my honor to meet you! It's true! I've actually seen you before! It was when you were still in a coma! I was there when you were taken out of the ice!" Coulson admitted, his professional demeanor slipping to reveal genuine admiration as he stood awkwardly close to the seated super-soldier.]
[Captain America didn't expect that he actually had fans. He stood up a little embarrassedly and walked behind the pilot's seat to look ahead, trying to escape the uncomfortable hero worship.]
[Coulson followed and continued to express his feelings, undeterred: "I didn't expect you to join us this time! I am so honored!" His excitement barely contained as he shifted from foot to foot.]
["I hope I won't let you down!" Captain America said with a hint of resignation, his shoulders carrying the weight of not only his own expectations but now Coulson's as well.]
["Oh! You can do it! You can do it! Uh... we improved your uniform! We added some new elements without affecting the activities!" Coulson blurted out, trying to reassure his hero while changing the subject to something more concrete.]
[Captain America is a little surprised, turning back to face Coulson: "My uniform? Aren't those stars and stripes... a little old-fashioned?" His concern reflected a deeper anxiety about his place in this new world.]
[Coulson smiled gently, understanding the deeper question: "Under the current situation, considering what is about to happen, I think everyone... may need some old-fashioned methods!" His eyes conveyed sincere belief in what Captain America represented.]
[Captain America looked at Coulson without saying anything, wondering what he was thinking. The weight of expectations settled on his shoulders, but there was also a glimmer of purpose, something familiar he could hold onto in this strange new century.]