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Nick Fury sighed, rubbing his temples, having the urge to open their brains, and saw what made the two of them pull such a stunt to achieve such a small result.
Fury's expression, which had been a mixture of frustration and exasperation up until now, suddenly shifted.
A slow, calculated smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"What's so funny?" Tony asked, narrowing his eyes.
Fury's gaze, however, wasn't on Tony.
It was locked entirely on Seph.
"You know…" Fury began, his tone smooth but laced with something unsettling. "I've had my best people dig into you."
The lighthearted atmosphere evaporated in an instant.
Seph's casual demeanor didn't change, but his eyes sharpened.
"Is that so?" His voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it.
Fury's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eye. "Yeah. I pulled out every trick in the book. Every database. Every record."
Tony, sensing the shift, leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed. "Fury…?"
"Guess what I found?" Fury continued, his gaze never leaving Seph.
Seph tilted his head slightly, his smirk never fading. "Enlighten me."
Fury's smile grew colder.
"Nothing."
The single word echoed in the small donut shop, making the air feel heavier.
"What?" Tony blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"Nothing," Fury repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of something profound. "He has no birth records, no family history, no aliases. No trace of any existence before the day you walked into Stark's life."
Seph didn't move, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"The man sitting beside you…" Fury finally turned his gaze to Tony, his tone dropping lower, almost conspiratorial. "Has. No. Past."
Tony's eyes widened. "What the hell…?"
But Fury wasn't done.
"I've searched to my best capability, Stark." His voice was calm, but his eye was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. "And I found… absolutely nothing."
The place was filled with silence.
Tony's gaze darted toward Seph, a flicker of uncertainty flashing across his face.
"Seph…?"
But Seph just smiled.
A calm, knowing smile that did nothing to ease the weight in the air.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
Fury's smile faded, his expression hardening as he finally stood up straight, towering over the table.
"I don't like mysteries, Mr. Mercenary." His voice was low, dangerous. "And you? You're one hell of a mystery."
Seph's golden eyes gleamed, his smirk unwavering. "Life would be boring without a little mystery, don't you think?"
Fury's gaze darkened. "We'll see about that."
The tension was palpable, the unspoken challenge hanging thick in the air.
Before Fury could press further, Tony spoke up, his tone surprisingly firm.
"I don't care who he is."
Fury's eye flickered to Tony. "You should."
"No." Tony's gaze was steady, unwavering. "He's saved my life twice."
He gestured toward Seph.
"And if Pepper... the woman I trust most in the world right now brought him into my life… that's good enough for me."
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then, Fury's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're playing a dangerous game, Stark."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Tony smirked, but his eyes carried the weight of his conviction.
Fury finally stepped back, but his gaze lingered on Seph for a moment longer.
"This isn't over."
Seph's smile was enigmatic. "It never is."
With a final glance at Tony, Fury turned and walked out of the shop, Natalia following silently behind him.
As the door swung shut, Tony let out a long sigh, slumping back into his chair.
"Well… that was fun."
Seph chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Admit it. You love the drama."
Tony groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You're a pain in the ass, you know that?"
Seph just grinned. "And yet… you wouldn't have it any other way."
Tony smirked, raising his donut like a toast. "Here's to chaos."
Seph clinked his coffee cup against it. "To chaos."
But as they sat there, a quiet thought echoed in Tony's mind.
Who the hell Seph really is?
Seph caught his actions and chuckled. His smirk deepened as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You're dying to ask, aren't you?"
His voice was a low murmur, filled with unspoken promises.
Tony raised an eyebrow, trying to play it cool, but his eyes betrayed him. "I mean… it's not like I'm losing sleep over it or anything."
"Liar." Seph's grin widened. "I can practically hear the gears turning in that genius brain of yours."
Tony tried to deflect, but Seph wasn't letting him off the hook that easily.
"Alright, fine." Tony leaned back, crossing his arms. "I'll bite. You gonna tell me, or do I need to hack into some intergalactic database?"
"Oh, I'd pay to see you try." Seph chuckled, his tone dripping with amusement.
But then… his expression shifted.
The playful glint in his eyes faded just a little, replaced by something… more serious.
"But…" Seph's voice dropped slightly, his gaze holding Tony's with an intensity that made the billionaire pause. "If you really want to know…"
Tony's smirk faltered. "What's the catch?"
Seph's golden eyes darkened slightly, and his smile took on a more… somber edge.
"The catch," he murmured, his voice softer now, "is that once you know… it'll change things."
Tony's brow furrowed, his playful façade crumbling as he sensed the gravity behind Seph's words.
"Change things how?"
Seph sighed, running a hand through his dark hair, his expression unreadable.
"You'll see me differently." His voice was quiet, a bit different from his usual easy-going tone. "Once you learn the truth… you might not look at me the same way again."
The words hung in the air like a loaded gun.
Tony blinked, his jaw tightening. "Come on, Seph. I'm not that easy to scare."
"It's not about fear, Tony." Seph's gaze was unwavering, piercing through Tony's bravado. "It's about trust."
Tony's throat went dry. "You don't trust me?"
Seph shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"No," he said softly. "I trust you… more than anyone. That's why I'm giving you the choice."
Tony's breath hitched.
"Choice?"
Seph nodded, leaning back again, but the intensity in his eyes never faded.
"The ball's in your court, Tony." His voice was low, almost a whisper. "You can ask… and I'll tell you. Everything."
He paused, his gaze growing softer.
"But once you know… you can't be unknow."
Tony's mind was spinning. He wasn't used to being put in situations where he didn't have the upper hand.
And yet, here was Seph, his best friend, his most trusted ally, offering to lay everything bare.
But at what cost?
Tony's throat was dry as he swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving Seph's.
"And if I choose not to ask?"
Seph's smile was different this time. It was softer and a little sadder.
"Then things stay exactly as they are."
A beat of silence passed between them.
"No secrets," Seph added quietly. "Just… us."
The weight of the decision settled heavily between them, and for the first time in a long time…
Tony Stark didn't know what to do.
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