When they saw how Luke treated the green husky, both Natasha and Coulson's minds almost broke.
This "monster" who had just terrorized a New York military base was being yanked around by the ear and kicked like an unruly toddler.
The sheer brutality of it!
Not even a normal dog would be treated so harshly, let alone this thing, which clearly wasn't your average pet.
The kicker? Luke didn't even try to cover it up convincingly.
Calling it paint? Please.
They were seasoned agents. It didn't take a genius to realize there was no trace of paint on the floor or furniture. That green hue wasn't dye. It was the creature's natural color, or rather, unnatural.
Luke's excuse was so flimsy it was almost insulting.
But the two of them couldn't confront him. Not yet.
After all, they weren't here to interrogate, they were here to observe. Quietly.
If they exposed Luke, they'd risk exposing themselves.
As elite S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, their mission and discretion came first.
So even though Luke's behavior was infuriatingly casual, even though he was clearly toying with them, they had no choice but to endure it.
Still, now that they'd confirmed the husky was the same creature from the New York military disaster, their attitudes shifted.
This wasn't some clueless shopkeeper.
This was someone dangerous.
Someone worth treating carefully.
They had no idea what Luke himself was capable of, but considering his pet had trashed a military base... well, caution seemed wise.
Luke, meanwhile, stood in front of them with an expression so calm it was almost arrogant.
Natasha spoke first, trying to regain control of the conversation.
She was interrupted. Again.
Luke smiled politely, his tone suddenly smooth and almost charming.
"Beautiful Miss Natasha Romanoff, why don't we all sit down first? I'm sorry for keeping you standing so long."
Natasha blinked, caught off guard.
He had just kicked a dog. And now he was playing the gentleman?
This man switched moods faster than she could adapt, just who was the agent here?
Actually… that reminded her of someone.
The emotional swings, the sudden outbursts, the whiplash-inducing changes in tone.
It all made sense now, this is where she got it from.
But wait. Something didn't add up.
How did he know her name?
Natasha froze, frowning.
That wasn't possible.
Her name wasn't something civilians should know. Not even most law enforcement or military personnel had access to her identity.
Her real name was buried behind layers of clearance.
She took a step back, eyes narrowing in sudden alarm.
Behind her, Coulson stiffened too, posture shifting into high alert.
And yet, Luke just stood there, looking completely relaxed.
Or at least, pretending to be.
In truth, he was sweating a little on the inside. He'd never been particularly brave, but in this moment, he had made a decision.
There was no hiding anymore.
His dog had blown his cover to pieces, and he'd already slipped up.
So rather than backpedal, he decided to lean in.
Act like he was someone to be reckoned with.
Because if he couldn't stay hidden... he'd better make sure they thought twice before trying anything.
And honestly, with the system now upgraded to Level 2, he finally had a bit of confidence.
Not to mention a growing understanding of how to survive in this world.
After all, in the Marvel universe, life was like playing on Nightmare difficulty with no respawns.
And if he wanted to level up, gain plot points, and unlock more tools to live comfortably here... well, that meant one thing:
He needed to be around the plot.
They were a goldmine of side characters.
Each one he met earned him plot points. Meeting Phil Coulson alone had already earned him one.
So what if he met ten more? Twenty?
He didn't need to join S.H.I.E.L.D., he just needed to pay them a visit.
Take a tour of their headquarters. Shake a few hands, and collect plot points like Pokémon.
Simple. Act like a mysterious genius.
Make them come to him.
Luke walked over to the shelf, casually pulled out a small wooden stool, and placed it down like he was hosting a neighborhood BBQ.
"Come on, don't be so tense, Miss Romanoff. Have a seat."
He turned to Coulson next, his smile widening.
"You too, Phil. Don't be shy."
The two agents blinked.
He knew both their names.
Now they were rattled.
No aliases, no introductions, he hadn't even asked.
Natasha and Coulson locked eyes.
This young man was absolutely not ordinary.
And now they were more cautious than ever.