Marvel Comics: The Sentinel(Sentry)

"I never bother lying to make people think I'm a good person. Remember how the media used to describe Tony Stark? 'Merchant of Death'..."

Tony reclined in his chair, sipping soda... He was finally free from that godawful chlorophyll drink. He tilted his head back, gazing at the star-studded night sky, the darkness strewn with glittering pearls.

"You knew Howard, so you should know how he did business. Fund one warlord, and more would come buying Stark weapons because they needed more. War is just you hit me, I hit you. Only arms dealers are truly impartial... they don't care why you start wars, or where you're from. Pay enough, and they'll sell you their souls..."

"...Howard was never a good man." Tony spoke his father's name plainly, "Neither was I. I never cared whether the money I spent on sports cars or supermodels was bloodstained, or if the bullets I sold killed terrorists or civilians..."

"...If I had to think about all that, if my moral compass were that rigid, I'd never sleep at night."

Fury was silent. As a seasoned spymaster, he could've spouted lofty rhetoric, but the usually flippant playboy had left him speechless.

"But none of what I did before stops me from trying to be good now."

Tony stretched, the once-irresponsible playboy now exuding unexpected steadiness, "We both know how the world works. I don't know why you took Sean, but it's definitely not because he's 'not a good guy'... That's just child's play... dividing the world into heroes and villains, clear-cut teams."

Nick Fury took a deep breath. Tony's call had given him pause. S.H.I.E.L.D. might disregard the White House and the military, but the World Security Council had direct authority over him... even he couldn't act recklessly.

The bigger issue was that Sean, who had cooperated so calmly, didn't seem like an easy target. He had left no concrete evidence... whether for the mob bosses killed in vendettas, or Colonel Stryker's unfortunate demise... He left only faint traces...

The one-eyed director's initial goal had been to uncover the New York prodigy's true face. But now, it seemed the plan had backfired.

After a moment's thought, Fury sighed. He didn't want tomorrow's papers filled with bad press, and S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't ready for public scrutiny.

"Stay away from him, Stark. Sean Cyphers isn't as simple as you think. I've dealt with countless villains... he's the trickiest kind." Fury warned.

"Relax, I'm not into men..." Tony's tone was breezy, utterly dismissive of Fury's warning, "I just owe him a favor. But let's talk about your super-boy team another time. I'm starting to get curious."

With that, the revitalized Iron Man hung up, touching the glowing arc reactor in his chest, a pleased smile tugging at his lips.

Tony scoffed. If not for owing Sean, he wouldn't have bothered with Fury. Dressing up actions in righteous justifications didn't make them holy.

Since when was the world so black-and-white? What was the difference between the President in the White House and a Hell's Kitchen thug? Just a better-dressed, harder-hitting villain.

He curled his lip, privately mocking the bald director's hypocrisy. If the Bible were right about evildoers going to hell, the place would be overcrowded by now.

Shaking off the thought, Tony pondered how to spend the long night. Maybe he'd find Pepper, share his joy, and squeeze in a romantic date.

The reborn Iron Man made up his mind. Ten minutes later, a streak of fire shot from the mansion into the night sky...

...

"Release him?" Ward frowned, turning to his mentor Garrett, "Then why bring him in? Just for show? S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't the NYPD, we don't let scum waltz in and out!"

Coulson looked uncomfortable. Honestly, Fury's order had surprised him too. In his memory, S.H.I.E.L.D. rarely backed down, even against the White House or the military... unless the President himself intervened.

"Things didn't go as planned. Sean Cyphers has deeper connections than we thought. A public scandal would hurt S.H.I.E.L.D.'s image," Coulson explained, rubbing his temples.

If the young man had only a Pentagon general backing him, S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't flinch. But add an ambitious Vice President, Oscorp, and Stark? That was enough to make them reconsider.

Besides, Fury's goal had only been to probe Sean. Uncovering secrets would've been a bonus, but without leverage or extreme measures, retreat was the smarter move.

It wasn't like S.H.I.E.L.D. would stubbornly detain New York's golden boy over dead mob bosses or a disgraced colonel.

Their motives might be just, but that didn't make them righteous vigilantes enforcing court verdicts.

Coulson patted the young agent's shoulder and stepped into the interrogation room.

Sean was as unruffled as ever, glancing up at Fury's right-hand man. "It seems I'm leaving early. I thought I'd have to wait for the morning news."

He picked up his black trench coat from the chair, smiling, "Appreciate the hospitality."

The mild-mannered Coulson forced a smile, leading the way without a word. The hallway was empty. Stepping out, Sean blinked teasingly at Ward, his lips curling mockingly.

The elevator ride down revealed little. Sean's eyes gleamed... apparently, he'd been kept in a low-clearance public area, nowhere near S.H.I.E.L.D.'s core secrets.

With the gleaming eagle emblem at his back, Sean stood at the entrance. A black car waited outside. Yuriko, poised on the steps, took the coat and draped it over his shoulders.

A chilly autumn wind swept past, carrying icy air. Sean glanced back at the emblem in the lobby, then descended the steps and slid into the car...

...

From his window, Nick Fury watched the tiny figure below...

He had meant to catch a small fish, only to find a razor-toothed shark. For now, the one-eyed director couldn't tell whether Sean was just another ambitious climber or something far more dangerous.

Sean's style reminded him of an old enemy... a shadowy organization fanatical in belief and pervasive in infiltration. It was why S.H.I.E.L.D. had such strict clearance levels: they could never let their guard down.

{Author's Note: I couldn't help laughing while writing this line. Forgive me.}

"Elevate Sean Cyphers' priority. And... recall Natasha," Fury ordered the new deputy director.

Maria Hill, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sharp-witted commander, nodded, "What about Stark Industries?"

"Tony Stark isn't a concern. Sean Cyphers is the focus. If he shows no signs of special abilities, pull Natasha back." Fury's expression was cold.

There was much ahead... anomalous objects in New Mexico required Coulson and Hawkeye's attention, not to mention vigilance against the lurking terror named after the mythical Hydra...

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Read ahead on my P@treon...

[email protected]/MayaMatengele01