Out of a job?
What did that mean?
For a brief moment, Nick Fury's expression went blank.
It took him a second to process the phrase, as if his mind rejected it outright.
"What kind of joke is this?"
Fury's composure cracked, just for an instant.
Then he forced himself to calm down.
"I am the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nolan Locke. No matter what you intend to do, you should remember your place."
"I'm willing to speak with you peacefully. That doesn't mean you can act without restraint."
It was not only Nolan who frowned. Tony Stark and the others looked equally displeased.
Your place?
What place?
Their relationship with Fury extended no further than being members of the Avengers, and the Avengers were never under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authority.
What did he mean by "willing" to speak peacefully?
What if he wasn't willing?
Fury sensed the shift in the room immediately. His heart skipped, and he opened his mouth to recover the situation.
But Steve Rogers spoke first.
"I'm sorry," Steve said calmly, "but like Nolan said, you're no longer the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Steve had not planned to step in, but Fury's words struck a nerve.
He had fought in a world war to oppose authoritarianism, to defend freedom and equality.
Now Nick Fury wanted to stand above him?
That was absurd.
Steve's words shattered Fury's ability to read the room.
Not the Director?
Unease crept in as Fury looked toward Natasha and the others.
Natasha nodded slightly.
"I'm sorry. The Council just announced it. Maria Hill will serve as Acting Director. Director Fury, you've been removed."
Fury's mind went blank.
"That's impossible!"
He was on the verge of losing control.
After the Hydra incident, he had nearly been forced out. He had spent years rebuilding influence, securing new backing, just to keep his position.
And now he was being dismissed like this?
"Hill!"
Fury turned toward his last hope.
"I'm sorry, Fury," Maria Hill said quietly, regret in her eyes.
Nolan let out a short laugh.
"Nick Fury, do you remember what you once said?"
"This is S.H.I.E.L.D. As outsiders, you and I no longer belong here."
"Motherf "
Fury snapped, swearing outright.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had been his life's work for decades.
The Superhuman Registration Act had been his long-term strategy. He intended to weaken superheroes and secure S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dominance through it.
And now he was the one being removed.
Watching Fury stand there, pale and hollow, Nolan felt genuine satisfaction.
He was sick of this man.
Still, Nolan knew Fury would never accept this quietly. Given time, he would try to reclaim his seat.
Nolan smiled at him.
As long as I'm here, don't bother.
He turned to the others.
"Everyone, the matter is settled. If there's nothing else, go home."
"Because of this mess, Locke Industries has accumulated quite a few problems I need to deal with."
Tony Stark sighed.
If the Registration Act had gone through, would the future have been better?
He didn't know.
But for now, it had been stopped.
Before leaving, Nolan glanced at Fury and Maria Hill.
"Nick Fury, don't forget that you're out of office. I hope you don't try to leverage your influence to stir trouble."
"If you do, you'll become the most dangerous criminal in the world."
Fury said nothing.
He understood this was a warning, and he knew better than to respond now.
Damn Nolan Locke.
Fury almost reached for his communicator again, but restrained himself.
He had lost this round, but he believed he would take it back one day.
Later, back home, Jessica Jones walked over.
"You look like you're in a good mood."
"Of course," Nolan replied. "That bill has been dealt with."
"Dealt with?" Jessica raised an eyebrow.
She had always been indifferent to the Act.
She had no family besides Nolan, and her line of work already put her in the same category as superheroes.
At worst, she would just register when traveling.
But she knew how strongly Nolan opposed it.
"Yeah," Nolan said. "It doesn't seem dangerous now, but once enhanced individuals adapt, politicians will push new laws. Step by step, they'll tighten the noose."
Jessica nodded, half understanding.
"Well, either way, that's good news. How about we eat something nice tonight?"
"You cooking?" Nolan teased. "I'll look forward to that."
Jessica froze.
Her cooking?
Absolutely not.
"Wouldn't takeout be easier?"
Nolan rolled his eyes.
"Tonight, I'm cooking."
He sounded unusually excited.
He hadn't cooked in years.
In fact, not once since coming to this world.
Maybe he was still good at it.
He dragged Jessica out shopping.
The pressure had been building for days. Now that it was gone, even grocery shopping felt pleasant.
Back home.
"Oh my God, you can cook Chinese food?"
"What is this?"
"Mapo tofu. Braised ribs. Sweet and sour "
"God, you're the perfect man."
After tasting it.
"Damn it, I regret everything. How did you make food this bad look so good?"
"I swear even I could cook better than this."
Nolan stared at the table.
He tried it himself.
The taste was average, but not disastrous.
Clearly, this was an uncultured American who couldn't appreciate Chinese cuisine.
Seeing Jessica's complete lack of appetite, Nolan's thoughts shifted.
He set down his chopsticks and said seriously,
"Jessica, since you don't feel like eating, how about something else?"
"Like what?"
Nolan grinned and lifted her effortlessly.
Looks like he had something else in mind.
That night passed quietly.
The next morning, Nolan was woken by a phone call.
"Peter, if you don't have a good reason, I promise you'll regret this."
He glanced at Jessica, still draped across him, clearly annoyed.
"Mr. Locke," Peter Parker said nervously, "I got myself into some trouble and don't know how to handle it."
In Queens, New York's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was on the phone.
Standing across from him was a man in a sleek black suit.
They had fought not long ago.
Peter had mistaken him for a thief.
Only afterward did he learn the truth.
That man was a rising superhero, Black Panther.
Jessica rolled her eyes and slipped into a robe. The way it hung loosely made Nolan's gaze linger.
But he stayed focused.
Black Panther.
He had wanted to meet him for a long time.
T'Challa, prince of Wakanda, soon to be king.
Wakanda, the only nation on Earth with vibranium.
With vibranium, that small nation had become powerful enough to stand against the world.
Nolan's Mjolnir armor had increased dramatically in strength after incorporating vibranium.
Unfortunately, it had been destroyed during his trip to the Spider-Man universe.
He had regretted it ever since.
Now, Wakanda had finally surfaced.
This could be an opportunity.
"Stay put," Nolan said calmly. "I'm on my way."
Peter exhaled in relief.
T'Challa watched Spider-Man, irritation evident.
"It seems you've found help. That won't change anything."
"You insulted me. This can only be resolved through honorable combat."
His tone was cold, but his thoughts were clear.
The conflict with Spider-Man had been accidental. Normally, he wouldn't care.
But Wakanda needed to slowly open to the world.
His father had sent him abroad for that very reason.
This clash was an opportunity.
By elevating the Black Panther's reputation, Wakanda could step into the world stage.
Everything was calculated.
Perfect.
Then a presence approached at terrifying speed.
T'Challa's pupils shrank.
Too fast.
Three hundred kilometers per hour?
No. Faster.
Nolan appeared beside Peter, studying Black Panther with interest.
"Spider-Man explained the situation. He apologized."
"But you refuse to let it go."
Nolan smiled faintly.
"So you're looking for trouble."
T'Challa's heart skipped.
"I'm investigating something. Spider-Man interfered."
"Oh?" Nolan replied calmly. "What kind of investigation?"
"It has nothing to do with you."
Nolan chuckled.
"If you can't explain, how do we know you're not doing something illegal?"
"What started as a misunderstanding should've ended with an apology. But you pushed further."
"That makes your intentions suspicious."
His gaze sharpened.
"You have two choices. Apologize to Spider-Man, or explain your objective."
"Otherwise, I'll assume you're involved in something dangerous."
Peter had been intimidated earlier because he was still just a teenager.
Nolan was not so easily fooled.
T'Challa stiffened.
"Who are you? This doesn't concern you."
"Nolan Locke."
The name landed heavily.
Spider-Man knew Nolan Locke.
T'Challa understood exactly how dangerous that was.
"Let's end this here," T'Challa said, turning to leave.
Facing Spider-Man was acceptable.
Facing Nolan Locke was not.
"End it here?" Nolan's voice turned cold.
"You harassed Spider-Man, then decide to leave because I showed up?"
Peter hesitated.
"Mr. Locke, maybe we should let it go."
Nolan shook his head.
"Spider-Man, people like this are dangerous."
"He was aggressive with you but retreats when he sees me. What if he targets you later?"
"If we let him go now, you might pay the price later."
T'Challa clenched his teeth.
Nolan Locke was exactly as difficult as rumored.
Peter realized Nolan was right.
Nolan turned back to T'Challa.
"State your identity and purpose. Otherwise, I'm calling the police."
T'Challa's mouth twitched.
Calling the police?
Unbelievable.
But as Wakanda's heir, he could not afford that.
After a pause, he spoke.
"I'm tracking a black-market arms dealer. His name is Ulysses Klaue."
"I can't explain why. But this area used to be his territory."
Nolan's expression turned strange.
He knew Klaue.
The vibranium used in his hammer armor had come from Klaue.
What surprised him was that T'Challa still believed Klaue was alive.
After all this time.
…