In the hallway leading from the backstage to the exit, they were stopped by a man.
The man wore a slightly cheap grey suit, had a receding hairline, and sported the smile of an honest man.
"Mr. Stark, Mr. Henry, could I have a few minutes of your time?"
Henry looked at him and raised an eyebrow. He recognized the face, of course—wasn't this the famous Agent Coulson?
The Village Chief of the Newbie Zone! Tsk tsk, he had to admit, his look... Jason Statham, is he your brother?
"Oh, if it isn't the agent from the Department of Homeland Something-Something Strategic Something-Something Offensive and Logistics Agency?"
Henry deliberately garbled the long, awkward name. "What, has your business scope expanded to backstage press conferences? Are you here to sell insurance or investigate us for tax evasion?"
Tony also looked him up and down. His toxic nature immediately led him to join the mockery: "I must say, sir, your suit's taste is as unique as your worrying hairline. Didn't your mother tell you that a man should at least own one decent custom-tailored suit?"
Subjected to the brothers' relentless sarcasm, Coulson maintained his professional smile, seemingly unaffected. However, his heart was pounding. How did they know?! Does the organization have a mole?
"My name is Phil Coulson, from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division." He took a business card from his pocket and offered it to them.
"Our department's name is indeed a bit long. The full name is the Strategic Homeland Attack and Logistics Protection Agency, and we will consider your suggestion for a name change."
Tony took the business card, glanced at it, and disdainfully tossed it to Henry.
"Sounds like an insurance salesman or some cheap security company."
The corner of Coulson's mouth twitched imperceptibly, but he continued to smile: "Mr. Stark, Mr. Henry, we've noted your heroic actions earlier. We can assist you in handling all the trouble caused by the exposure of the Armor, including the media, the government, and the military. We can make it all seem like it never happened."
"Oh? That generous?" Henry smiled.
"And the price?"
"The price is," Coulson's expression became serious, "We hope you will cease this unauthorized use of high-risk equipment in public. And we sincerely invite both of you to join us as consultants."
"Join you? Work for you?" Tony looked like he'd heard the funniest joke of the year.
"Do you know who I am? I'm Tony Stark! You want me to work for a government department whose name I can't even pronounce correctly? Can you afford my salary?"
Henry looked at Tony, then at Coulson, whose face showed an 'I knew this would happen' expression, and suddenly laughed.
The agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. always thought they were above the mundane world, superior to everyone else. Especially the 'Black Nick Fury,' whose motto was to control everything and everyone he couldn't control.
Some might ask, with such a resounding motto, he must be very powerful, right? The kind who could tear the Hulk apart and stomp Thor underfoot.
That would be a huge mistake! This 'Bald Fury' director was not only without superpowers but also an arrogant jerk.
"Hey, Agent Coulson." Henry leaned close to Coulson's ear, speaking in a whisper audible only to the two of them.
"Does that 'Agency' you mentioned have a bald boss who likes to wear a black trench coat and an eyepatch, nicknamed 'The Egghead'? Are you guys running a project called the 'Avengers Initiative'? The one planning to put a grumpy green giant, a muscular hunk from mythology, a fossilized old popsicle dug out of a freezer, and a few agents together to form a superhero circus to fight an alien invasion?"
The professional smile on Coulson's face instantly froze. His pupils constricted sharply, and a fine cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He stared at Henry as if he had seen a ghost, his mind a total blank.
These were S.H.I.E.L.D.'s highest level of classified information! Fewer than five people in the world knew about the Avengers Initiative! How did Henry Stark know?!
Though he didn't know who the 'muscular hunk from mythology' was, it certainly sounded like someone they couldn't reach.
In Coulson's earpiece, an equally shocked but calmer voice spoke: it was Nick Fury. The S.H.I.E.L.D. director was currently using a miniature camera to stare intently at Henry's slightly teasing face.
Tony heard the word 'Avengers' and raised an eyebrow, immediately interrupting: "Avengers? Sounds like a second-rate rock band or some washed-up boy band's name. Seriously, your taste is as questionable as your department's name."
"How I know is none of your business," Henry said, looking at the ashen-faced Coulson and reverting to his casual demeanour.
"You just need to go back and tell your bald boss that we decide our own lives. Don't send anyone else to bother us. If we need help, we'll call you. But most likely, we won't."
Coulson stood frozen, wanting to say something, but Nick Fury's brief command came through his earpiece: "Withdraw."
Coulson took a deep breath, forced a smile, nodded to the two, and then quickly vanished down the corridor.
Pepper was still outside, surrounded by reporters and flustered. Tony and Henry, unfazed, got into the Audi R8 sports car that Happy had driven and parked right at the door amidst the chaos.
The sports car roared and sped away.
On the road, Tony watched the city streets flashing by and remained silent for a long time. Then, he suddenly spoke: "Does Obadiah know about it?"
Henry knew he was referring to the evidence collected by Pepper and Happy. "He doesn't know yet," Henry said, his tone flat as he looked ahead.
"But it doesn't matter. Tomorrow morning, he'll be arrested for multiple business crimes and treason. And then, he'll probably die unexpectedly of a sudden heart attack in jail."
Tony was momentarily stunned. He turned to look at his brother's calm profile, feeling a sense of surprise.
"You don't need me?"
"No need," Henry smiled.
"I can handle this kind of dirty work myself."
Tony was stunned again. He looked at the easy smile on Henry's face, a confidence he had never seen before. He was silent for a moment, then spoke with a serious tone:
"He did watch us grow up, after all. Don't make it too messy."
Henry turned to look at him, his smile still bright.
"Don't worry, brother."
"I won't."