Morning hit loud. The first basement rattled as 05 introduced 26 and 27 to pain. Down at the range, 03 sanded the edges off 22's reloads. On the mats, 04 bounced 24 while 25 tried to memorize his feet.
A knock cut through the noise—sharp, measured, official. 01 was already at the door.
"Relax," I said. "That's a 'please and thank you' knock. Coulson."
He stepped in, suit crisp, expression unreadable, briefcase in hand. His gaze moved over the veterans, then the rookies. His jaw tightened a millimeter.
"You've been busy," he said.
"What gave it away—the noise, the bodies, or the scorch art out front?"
"Any of those." He set the briefcase on the table but didn't take a seat. "Fury's been patient. After last night, patience isn't on the menu."
"You're welcome," I said. "Fisk will be quiet for a while."
"You turned Midtown into a war zone."
I said, "A safe war zone." None of my people are down. No civilians are hurt. Only Fisk's men are bleeding. That's progress.
"That doesn't make it acceptable."
"It does to the people who didn't get shot."
Boots hit the stairwell—02 with 20 and 21 behind him, sweat-dark and silent. They fell into line without a word.
"You're building an army," Coulson said.
"I'm building a family," I corrected. "Language matters."
He opened the briefcase and slid a file to me. "Fisk isn't finished; he's bringing in specialists—no gangsters, but professionals. If you keep pushing, this will escalate."
"I like escalators. Fewer stairs."
"Fury won't tolerate this much longer."
"Fury hasn't even visited. You're the one who knocks. I respect that."
A silence equivalent to twenty-seven helms weighed heavily on the room. I allowed it to remain.
"Relax," I added. "If I wanted to hide, I wouldn't have picked New York. I'm cleaning house. Fisk's name is on the lease."
"You're going to push too far."
"Probably," I said, and drank. "Future me's problem. Present me has soda, Spartans, and Fisk on the run."
He studied me, then closed the case. "We'll be watching."
"Wouldn't have it any other way. Tell Fury hi. If he sends someone to knock, bring pizza."
He left to the sound of training and steel. Twenty-seven Spartans waited on my word.
"You heard the man," I said. "We keep going."
Veterans nodded. Rookies stood straighter. The fortress hummed.