"Sir."
"Coffee."
After a long and exhausting day, Alexander Charles returned home. The housekeeper stood waiting outside and respectfully took the suit jacket he handed her.
"Fuck…"
Leaning back on the sofa, Charles rubbed his temples wearily. In his mind flashed the image of a man whose face constantly bore an infectiously bright smile. He couldn't help but mutter a quiet curse.
The Insight Program was undeniably lethal against ordinary people. But against certain freaks who could shrug off even a nuclear strike? The threat wasn't nonexistent — it was simply so small it could practically be ignored.
He needed something stronger. Something deadlier. Only then could he guarantee absolute certainty.
"Sir, your coffee."
The housekeeper carefully placed the cup on the coffee table.
"Mm."
Charles took a sip. The caffeine steadied him, easing the tight knot between his brows. He looked toward the housekeeper, who remained quietly nearby.
"Lenate, you can head home early today. I'd like some time alone."
"Yes, sir."
Lenate nodded gratefully, barely able to hide her relief, and hurried off to change into her street clothes.
Just then—
A video call came in.
The caller ID displayed a bald Black man.
Charles' brows furrowed again, but he quickly rearranged his expression into a polite smile before answering.
"Fury."
"Charles. Sorry about this — I've already submitted your name to Leon. He'll probably drop by for tea in the next couple of days. Brace yourself."
"Well, thank you very much for that."
Charles replied with a smile that stiffened for the briefest instant — too brief for Nick Fury to notice through the screen.
"You know what he's like," Fury continued. "I didn't have a choice…"
It felt uncomfortably like reporting a best friend to the teacher out of a misplaced sense of righteousness. Only this wasn't a schoolyard.
Teachers gave detention.
Leon Stark showed up in person.
Fury's "preemptive confession" was the only way he knew to protect Charles.
"I understand," Charles said calmly.
"If you understood, you would've listened to me from the start," Fury replied. "Deploying the military to support New York was one thing. Authorizing a nuclear strike was— it was too much."
"Fury."
Charles' tone hardened slightly.
"We knew almost nothing about those aliens. The technology and power they displayed — was that everything, or just the tip of the iceberg? I couldn't gamble."
"I won't selfishly bind the fate of the entire Earth to the survival of New York and place all hope in your little super team."
"Especially when your captain has a habit of disappearing."
"…"
Fury fell silent.
Both sides had their reasoning.
Charles exhaled slowly, irritation creeping into his voice.
"Is there anything else? If not, I'm hanging up."
"Charles, I want you to call for another vote. Postpone the Insight Program."
"Why?"
Charles frowned deeply.
"After the Battle of New York, I realized the plan has too many flaws. We can't focus solely on Earth. That's narrow-minded — and it'll get us all killed."
"Or," Charles countered, "we use the Insight Program to eliminate destabilizing elements within humanity first. Then we stand united against extraterrestrial threats."
"Charles, I see your point. But I'm still Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I'll take responsibility for my decisions."
"Fine."
"I hope you don't regret it. And you owe me one."
A pause.
"Oh — in a few days it's my niece's birthday. She's a huge fan of Captain Homelander. My pull isn't enough. See if you can invite Leon Stark to her party."
"A birthday party?"
"When?"
"And how old is your niece, Secretary Charles? What does she look like?"
"—?!" ×2
The sudden male voice — casual, teasing — materialized like a ghost in the room, startling both Charles and Fury.
Cold sweat instantly drenched Charles' back.
His hand moved reflexively toward the pistol at his waist.
Halfway there, he stopped.
He already knew who it was.
Suppressing both fear and anger, Charles forced on a politician's practiced smile and turned his head.
Leon sat cross-legged on the sofa, leaning back in an arrogant, almost theatrical pose — like a king surveying his domain. In his arms rested a blue-skinned alien woman, clearly not from Earth.
Supergiant.
"What brings you here, Captain Homelander?"
"That's too distant," Leon said lightly. "Just call me Leon. You're the elder here."
One hand rested casually on Supergiant's waist — a waist strong enough to crush a soda can with ease. His other hand waved dismissively.
"Leon, you—"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Before Fury could continue, Leon snapped his fingers.
Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.
Charles' phone — along with every surveillance-capable electronic device in the villa — exploded simultaneously.
Along with them, so did Charles' fragile sense of security.
"Ah—!"
A scream rang out.
Lenate, now changed and ready to leave, froze in shock.
"Lenate! Didn't I tell you to go straight home?!" Charles roared, seizing the excuse to vent his fear and fury.
"S-Sorry, sir. I was changing…"
She lowered her head, trembling.
"Run along, dear."
Leon waved at her with a gentle smile.
"Th-thank you for your understanding, Mr. Leon!"
With Leon's approval, Lenate felt as though she had been pardoned from execution. She bowed repeatedly toward both men before hurrying out.
Charles had intended to shoot her on the spot.
But an invisible force pinned him in place, rendering him completely immobile.
"Supergiant."
"Yes, Master~"
Leon gave her a light pat — Leon's Grip — and she obediently nodded.
Her amber-gold eyes rolled back, glowing faintly blue.
At that same moment—
Outside the villa's main entrance, Lenate's eyes turned white for an instant.
Then she blinked.
"Huh?"
"What was I about to do?"
…
"No need for such killing intent," Leon said with mock righteousness. "She's worked diligently for you all these years. That's worth something, isn't it?"
"…"
What just happened?!
Charles had no idea what Leon had done — but instinct screamed that this visit was anything but friendly.
And then—
Leon delivered the line that shattered what little composure Charles had left.
He turned, smiling calmly.
And spoke the most infamous words in S.H.I.E.L.D. history.
"Hail Hydra~"
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