"Just get to the point," Luke said, leaning back in his chair. "We've been working all morning. Can't you see we're exhausted?"
Luke and Wanda hadn't had a moment's rest since sunrise. Sure, they'd raked in nearly ten thousand dollars, but not a single cent of it touched Luke's hands.
Wanda had carefully tucked it all away, counting and recounting the bills with childlike delight.
Meanwhile, Luke was drained, not just from the work, but from the glaring injustice of working for free.
Across from him, Wanda still looked like she was floating on air, counting their earnings for the third time like a dragon with her hoard.
Nick Fury gave a long, silent sigh.
Enough games. No more cryptic speeches. He could feel a headache forming behind his one good eye.
This kid already knew too much.
Fine. Time to speak plainly.
"I'm here," Fury said, voice level, "to invite you to join something I call the Avengers Initiative."
He paused, choosing his next words carefully.
"It's a new team, an alliance of exceptional individuals. The purpose is to protect Earth from threats beyond this world. I hope you'll consider joining."
There was no pretense now, no calculated tone, just direct, honest recruitment.
Fury had given up on assessing Luke. Between everything he'd heard and what he'd seen in person, he knew one thing:
If Luke Yale wasn't on their side… things could get very ugly.
Best to get him on the right team. Fast.
Luke, for his part, didn't react at all.
He didn't look surprised. Not even curious.
He'd already seen it coming the moment Natasha and Coulson first appeared.
After all, he wasn't from this world. And if there was one thing every Marvel fan knew, it was that Nick Fury would move heaven and earth to assemble the Avengers.
Luke smiled faintly. "You're a busy man, Director. It can't have been easy coming all the way here in person, so I'll give you a suggestion. Something to think about."
Fury's brow lifted. A suggestion?
'There's a chance,' he thought. 'Good. Maybe he's open to negotiation.'
"Go ahead," he said aloud. "If it's something I can do, I'll make it happen."
Luke nodded, grinning. "I'll join. But not as a soldier. I'm not the type to follow orders. In fact, the more someone tries to control me, the less I listen. So give me a consultant position, akin to an honorary professor or something."
Fury immediately understood.
"You mean… you'll be part of the team, but retain the right to refuse any mission, and we have to recognize your position?"
"Exactly," Luke said. "Oh, and you can use my name to scare people if you want."
He added that last part with exaggerated sincerity, like he was doing Fury a huge favor.
This kid really had the guts to ask for unlimited freedom, zero accountability, and brand leverage on top of that?
If anyone else had said this to him, Fury would've laughed in their face and walked away.
But Luke didn't look like he was joking.
There was no bluff in his voice, no sarcasm. Just calm, unapologetic confidence.
He meant it, truly meant it.
Fury frowned, deep in thought.
A deal was basically useless to S.H.I.E.L.D. Luke could act however he pleased, and S.H.I.E.L.D. would have to clean up the mess afterward, without any control over him.
But then he remembered what he'd told himself earlier:
Get this guy into the fold. No matter what.
Even if Luke was just an "Avengers consultant" in name… at least he'd be an ally.
That alone was worth more than a dozen obedient agents.
Fury looked Luke straight in the eye. Then he nodded.
This time, it was Luke's turn to blink in surprise.
He thought Fury would hesitate, maybe delay things, run background checks, or try to haggle.
He didn't expect the man to be so decisive.
"…You really deserve to be the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Luke said, grinning. "You won't regret this."
His mood was visibly lifted.
Joining the Avengers, even in a hands-off role, was exactly what he wanted. His system required participation in key events to level up, and this identity would unlock opportunities everywhere.
Plot points, resources, influence… all while retaining complete independence.
S.H.I.E.L.D. would be forced to back him up, to wipe his ass clean, whether they liked it or not.
If he wanted to help, great. If not, well, he'd just go take a nap instead.
Fury nodded slowly. "I hope not."
He understood the risk.
Luke Yale was a loose cannon with a limitless fuse, and now, S.H.I.E.L.D. was officially endorsing him.
If he caused trouble, they would be on the hook.
But Fury also knew: refusing this deal could've had worse consequences.
At least now, Luke was on the books.
With the agreement made, Fury and Sharon turned to leave.
But before walking out the door, Fury paused, reached into his coat pocket, and placed a black eye patch on the counter.
"Oh," he said dryly, "I have to pay for this thing."