Marvel: DNF Invades

The logistics department of S.H.I.E.L.D. was as busy as ants moving house. Agents came and went without touching the ground, their efficiency extremely high.

Someone was launched into space; someone was locked in a sealed cabin; someone was expected to be classified as 084. All kinds of strange and bizarre files were passed around in this spacious office like snowflakes.

"Plum..."

"No!"

"Melinda, please."

"No! Fake off, Coulson."

Agent May sat among a pile of documents, her stern face covered with a layer of frost, looking as if she were keeping strangers away.

She was busy handling paperwork, ignoring Coulson standing in front of her.

"May, I admit it's my fault this time. No one expected that the apostle was just a child," Coulson said helplessly. He had asked Nick Fury to let May be the tutor, but convincing her was proving difficult.

It seemed that being captured alive last time—by a little kid—was a serious blow to May.

Coulson thought.

"May, there are so few abnormal children like this that you can count them on one hand. You know we rarely encounter such incidents. How many times can we come across one in ten years? Once or twice? Believe me, May, it won't happen again."

Coulson promised solemnly.

May rolled her eyes and continued sorting through her folders without saying anything.

"May, S.H.I.E.L.D. needs you." Coulson played his trump card.

Coulson was a cunning old man who knew how to read people like a real strategist. He understood that May's sense of duty was why she remained in S.H.I.E.L.D. instead of choosing to retire. The last time he used this card, it had worked.

May was indeed moved.

She had been brought into S.H.I.E.L.D. by her mentor, Peggy Carter, when she was seven years old. For May, S.H.I.E.L.D. was her home.

May felt like she had nowhere else to go except staying at S.H.I.E.L.D. for the rest of her life.

She had been trained from a young age to take S.H.I.E.L.D.'s interests as her mission and the will of its top brass as her own responsibility. Everything she knew had been taught to her by S.H.I.E.L.D. Without S.H.I.E.L.D., there would be no Melinda May. This was no exaggeration.

Every time she received a call from S.H.I.E.L.D., she never refused.

Coulson decided to push harder. He smiled and said, "May, after this mission is over, I'll buy you a drink. It's been a long time since we sat together for dinner. How about that, Melinda? Consider it compensation for last time."

May rolled her eyes but couldn't help letting a small smile appear on her lips.

---

The two drove over, looking as tragic and majestic as if heading to an execution ground.

Although Coulson had never met Luke directly, he had read the reports from the three agents who had. The image of Luke as a mischievous child had already been cemented in Coulson's mind.

On Sunday morning, Coulson showed up at Luke's adoptive parents' house and rang the doorbell.

Luke's adoptive mother, Karen, opened the door and saw Coulson wearing sunglasses. She asked in confusion, "Excuse me, who are you looking for?"

Coulson took off his sunglasses and smiled kindly. "Good morning, Ms. Nelson. I am Philip J. Coulson, the principal of Dawes Elementary School. The school has been in contact with you."

Karen opened her mouth, hesitating. "I remember the principal being Jim White."

"Jim's family moved to Boston last week. I just took over." Coulson smiled, taking out his principal's certificate, which had just been issued and was still warm. "I came here for Luke."

Karen enthusiastically invited Coulson in. "Please come in, Mr. Coulson." Then she shouted upstairs for Luke to come down.

Luke was getting ready to go out. He was heading to the warehouse to meet Spider-Man.

When he came downstairs and saw Coulson, he rolled his eyes and walked down speechlessly.

"Fudge is out at work. I'll call him right away. Please sit down for a moment. Would you like some coffee or tea?" Karen asked.

"Coffee, thank you." Coulson smiled as he praised, "I'm just here for a routine visit today, so there's no need to disturb his father. Your children are very smart. Luke is the smartest child I've ever met. His grades are excellent."

"Thank you!" Karen smiled, feeling proud. She went to pour coffee for Coulson.

While she was pouring the water, Coulson whispered to Luke, who was sitting in front of him, "Luke, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Yesterday, Luke would have asked, Which one do you want to borrow? What's the serial number? Christina had a massive collection.

Now Luke didn't feel like talking.

Especially not to anyone from S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Who are you?" Luke asked.

Coulson replied quietly, "I'm Agent Coulson. Level 8 Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D.? Never heard of it."

Luke pretended not to know, trying to shake Coulson off.

"Mr. Nelson, I don't think we need to play guessing games. You know about us. And you seem to know us very well. Director Fury has something important to discuss with you regarding your cooperation with S.H.I.E.L.D. and that batch of alloys."

"Okay," Luke said. "Let's talk outside."

At the door, Karen curiously watched as Principal Coulson and Luke talked on the street. The two seemed to know each other, which reassured her. She was even more curious about why the principal of Dawes Elementary School had come to see Luke.

Karen didn't think Luke would get into trouble. Compared to other naughty kids, she thought Luke was too obedient and introverted. She was worried about that.

Usually, Luke only hung out with Peter Parker or locked himself in his room to play.

By the way, Karen liked Peter Parker very much.

She thought they were two kind and honest kids.

Under a roadside tree, Coulson smiled and said, "Should I call you Luke, or 'Apostle'?"

"Either works," Luke shrugged. "Future Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., what do you want from me?"

"Me? Director?"

"I'm optimistic about you."

Coulson was stunned for a moment. "Thank you for your appreciation..." He clearly remembered this was the first time he had met Luke. Yet, Luke spoke as if they were already familiar.

"I came to see you about something serious," Coulson said.

"Nick Fury sent you?"

"Yes. We think you need a tutor."

"A tutor?"

Luke looked confused. What kind of trick was Nick Fury playing? Sending a babysitter?

"You should know why. What you did was a little over the line. You disobeyed orders, caused serious damage, and got too much exposure. We've been keeping an eye on you," Coulson said with a smile.

"I know." Luke nodded.

He had caused trouble precisely to get exposed, but, of course, he wouldn't admit that.

He was thinking: Did Nick Fury send Coulson to take advantage of this incident and persuade me to join the Avengers?

After all, Christina had once found that in Nick Fury's files, Luke's profile was listed alongside Tony and Banner. Clearly, Nick Fury hadn't given up on trying to recruit him.

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