Superman in Marvel: Multiverse Ascendant

Coulson didn't answer immediately. He took a moment to think seriously before speaking. "I don't think it's necessary to suppress Superman."

"Why?" Nick Fury asked, his expression unreadable as he watched the footage of Leon standing unharmed in a sea of fire.

"Superman has only appeared once, and while he destroyed the Eagle military base and ordered a withdrawal, he didn't harm innocent people," Coulson explained. "His objectives are clear. He even goes out of his way to protect vulnerable individuals."

"All the locals who have encountered him speak highly of him and are grateful for his actions."

"So, from a comprehensive evaluation, he seems more like a benefactor or a judge. He adheres to a strict moral code and acts accordingly."

"If we try to suppress him, we risk provoking a strong backlash, creating unnecessary conflict, and losing control of the situation."

Nick Fury nodded slightly. This was a concern he had been contemplating for days. When dealing with a super-powered individual with a defined moral compass, extending goodwill was the best approach. However, what Fury despised most was being unable to control the situation.

Even though he knew the optimal way to handle Superman, he still harbored the desire to either defeat or recruit him—anything to bring him under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s control.

"What if—hypothetically—our strength was enough to defeat him easily? Would your stance change?"

Fury believed that if Captain Marvel intervened, she could neutralize Superman with ease.

Coulson considered this carefully before shaking his head. "I still think we shouldn't act."

"Why?" Fury frowned, his expression tightening.

"We still don't fully understand Superman's abilities, Director. If he's anything like the Superman from comic books—who grows stronger by absorbing solar energy—then engaging him recklessly would be a mistake."

Coulson took a deep breath. "If we confront him and fail to eliminate him completely, we'd be creating an enemy who only gets stronger over time. The long-term consequences would be unpredictable."

Fury stared at the screen, scrutinizing the figure of Superman as if he could see through him.

The room fell into silence for a few moments.

"…I have to admit, you're right, Coulson."

"Your mission is over for now. Continue monitoring Superman's whereabouts and make efforts to establish contact when he reappears."

Fury finally put the pager back into his drawer and issued his orders.

"And ensure public opinion is controlled online! It can't be entirely one-sided, and there shouldn't be excessive negativity that might provoke Superman."

"Yes, Director." Coulson gathered his files and tablet before leaving without complaint. Endless tasks didn't faze him—perhaps this was his true calling.

Once the door closed, Fury leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window. He pulled out a Superman comic, flipped through it idly, then tossed it aside.

"The world… isn't at peace anymore. That plan needs to move forward. And for our agents… a single Level Seven operative isn't enough."

A soft beep sounded.

"Sir, it's time to end your sunbath," Jarvis announced in his usual polite tone.

Leon stretched lazily before pressing a button inside his spaceship, opening the hatch and descending toward Earth.

His strength was growing at an astonishing rate.

Whenever he basked in sunlight, every cell in his body felt like it was on a rocket-powered surge. The sensation was addicting. Unfortunately, for experimental control, he had to limit his exposure each day.

Otherwise, he felt like he could simply live in space forever. Wherever there was sunlight, that would be home.

In a matter of seconds, he was back at the mansion on the Los Angeles coast.

Leon stepped inside and glanced at the digital clock on the wall.

"Only four in the afternoon. Tony probably won't be back until seven or eight."

"I'll finish my strength tests and then have dinner alone."

Muttering to himself, he planned out his next steps. Then, he headed to his room to change into casual clothes.

But after just two steps, he stopped. His right foot hovered in midair.

"Tony? You're back early?"

His ears twitched. He had heard a second heartbeat in the room.

Leon always kept his super hearing suppressed unless necessary, filtering out unimportant sounds. The fact that a heartbeat suddenly intruded upon his senses meant that someone was very close.

Close enough that, even with his senses dulled, he could clearly hear the steady rise and fall of a strong heart.

He waited a few seconds. As expected, there was no response from Tony.

Tony often ignored people when he was absorbed in his experiments, but this situation felt different.

The heartbeat was coming from Tony's room—but it didn't match Tony's usual rhythm.

Leon narrowed his eyes and didn't ask Jarvis for confirmation. Instead, he activated his X-ray vision.

His surroundings turned translucent as he scanned through layers of material, peering into Tony's bedroom.

Under the massive, plush bed, he saw—

"Natasha?" Leon's expression turned odd. "What is she doing here? And why is she hiding under Tony's bed…?"

Beneath Tony's enormous three-meter-wide bed—less than thirty centimeters off the ground—lay a woman with an exceptional physique.

Her burgundy shoulder-length hair hung loosely, still damp. Her eyes were shut, hands resting at her sides, and her breathing was slow and even—like a sleeping beauty.

But considering she was lying flat on her back under the bed, the scene was unsettling. It was as if Tony was growing human-sized vegetables beneath his mattress.

Leon felt an inexplicable discomfort.

Coming home to find the infamous Black Widow hiding under his brother's bed was… suffocating.

Why not hide under his bed instead? That would be… enviable—wait, no, disgusting!

Leon shook off the thought.

Even though Tony had openly revealed his identity as Iron Man, that didn't explain why S.H.I.E.L.D. would resort to stashing Natasha under his bed.

Was this an attempted abduction? Or some bizarre plan to infiltrate Tony's life in the dead of night?

Leon was sure that female S.H.I.E.L.D. agents didn't usually engage in such primitive espionage tactics.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided to consult the mansion's AI.

"Jarvis, has anyone entered the house since I left?"

"No, Master Leon. All access points were secured after your departure."

Leon's expression darkened slightly.

So how exactly did Natasha get in?

...

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