"Wait, you agreed to something like that without asking?"
"I didn't agree," Steve said firmly. "They're under our complete control and it'll only last a year. We'll see how it goes. If it doesn't work, the Hand is dismantled."
"Yeah, well, that sounds like agreeing to me. And you didn't think about asking your team what they thought about this?" Tony shot back, furious.
"I know the team, they would've agreed."
"Of course they would! Even I would've agreed. But it's not about whether we'd agree or not, it's about the fact that something at that level should've been talked about."
"There's no need to argue over this," Clint cut in.
"You agree with him?" Tony snapped.
"Of course not, but arguing about something that already happened is pointless." Clint looked straight at him. "Still, next time we should talk about things like that. Communication is the foundation of any group."
Instead of apologizing, Steve straightened even more.
"A leader has to make decisions sometimes. It won't happen again, but I stand by my actions and I won't apologize for them."
"Don't cross your limits, Rogers. This is a team."
"Tony, that's enough," Clint said firmly.
"On his side again?"
"No. But fighting among ourselves won't lead anywhere."
"Fine," Tony muttered, leaving the place and the others in silence, unsure how to react.
---
"Ugh, that was hard to watch," Gwen said, dropping onto the couch.
"Yeah," Leonardo replied with a calm smile. "When those two fight, nobody can get between them."
"Let's talk about something else. What have you been painting lately?" Gwen switched topics without hesitation, unwilling to keep talking about fights.
"Nothing special. There was an attack on a science facility in Manhattan."
"That's it? No more alien armies, robot rebellions, or another world crisis?"
"Why do you always think it has to be worldwide? They just dealt with an organization that operated in secret for over a millennium and stretched across the globe. Take a break."
"I guess I've gotten too used to this life." Gwen laughed at the thought. "You know, when things were still normal, the weirdest thing I saw were conspiracy videos about reptilians. Now I've witnessed everything from immortal ninja organizations to Asgardian gods. I suppose a break won't hurt."
"You deserve it," Leonardo answered.
---
"How's the situation?"
"The world was distracted with the Hand for a while, but now that's over, they've shifted focus back to Wakanda," Hill reported.
"What a headache. And to think I thought I was done with them when SHIELD stopped being under government control…" Fury sighed. "Tell me we at least have good news."
"Sort of. After taking down the Hand, public opinion on the Avengers improved, which indirectly benefits Wakanda. But the bad news outweighs it."
"Tell me," Fury said seriously.
"The government is still using tactics to discredit Wakanda. There's even a rumor the Hand originated there."
"And what are our tech experts doing?"
"That's the problem. Whoever's behind it isn't ordinary. We suspect they're in contact with individuals with special abilities."
"Find whoever it is. They're a problem. And the Avengers?"
"About that… the fight between Stark and Rogers looked simple at first, but the tension remains. Mostly because of their stubbornness. However…"
"However?"
"Stark seems to be distancing himself from the team for some reason. We don't have jurisdiction over them, so we don't know why."
"Stark causing trouble again… can this situation get any worse?"
"Sir, urgent news." Coulson walked in with a worried look.
"What is it?" Fury asked, cursing his luck.
Coulson didn't answer. He held up his tablet, showing a Daily Bugle broadcast.
["Aliens Among Us?"]
The headline alone made Fury tense.
In the video, J. Jonah Jameson began to speak in his trademark tone.
["That's right, exactly what the headline says. And I'm not talking about good-looking, noble aliens like the Asgardian god. I'm talking about the kind that infiltrate us for years, pretending to be well-known figures.
Believe me, I wouldn't even believe this myself if it weren't for the proof we have. Take a look at this."]
On screen, the image of Jameson speaking was replaced by various security camera recordings. In all of them, people suddenly revealed green skin, transforming into beings with completely different anatomies.
["That's right, and you may be asking, what are these things pretending to be human? Well, at the Daily Bugle we'll tell you everything you want to know.
These beings are called Skrulls. They've been living on Earth for almost three decades, since the 90s. You may ask, how did they manage to stay hidden for so long? The answer is simple: SHIELD. That great terrorist organization disguised as saviors has been hiding them and even collaborating with them.
Mark my words, these shapeshifting aliens could turn into anything. Maybe your son, your mother, maybe even your dog. Are we going to allow these creatures to set foot on Earth as if it were nothing?
What could these beings want on Earth? But above all, what does SHIELD want by collaborating with them and hiding them?
That's right, ladies and gentlemen, these are the questions you should be asking. Remember: the truth always comes first thanks to the Daily Bugle."]
"This is a summary," Coulson explained. "The full version has more insults, but this is the important part."
He then zoomed in on Jameson, focusing on the paper he was reading from. Though the quality was poor, it was enhanced until it was legible.
"Is that…?" Fury asked suspiciously.
"Yes. A SHIELD file," Coulson confirmed.
"For now, handle the situation." Fury dismissed him and, once he left, turned to Hill.
"Any leaks recently?"
"None. Neither digital nor physical. Whoever got those files had access."
"Start investigating."
Hill nodded and left, leaving Fury alone in the office.
"Damn it," he muttered, sinking into his thoughts.
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+15 chapters in advance on Patreon.
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(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)