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  They stepped into Coulson’s cssic car, the polished interior refleg the meticulous care that had clearly goo maintaining it. Erwin took note of the car, filing it away for ter. Nero shared a fondness for cssic vehicles, and it could serve as a potential talking point with Coulson—a way to build rapport.

  Coulson started the ehe car humming smoothly to life as they pulled out of the SHIELD facility. "Today’s mission is a bit different," Coulson began, his tone as calm and measured as always. "We’re going to reach out to Tony Stark."

  Erwin turo Coulson, his expression curious. "Is he being recruited as a tech advisor? I thought the initiative was focused on gathering individuals with superhuman abilities."

  Coulso his eyes on the road, a small smile pying at the er of his lips. "You might find this iing, Erwin. The Iron Man that showed up in the skies retly—that’s Tony Stark."

  Erwin feigned surprise, his brows lifting slightly as he processed the information. "The billionaire pyboy? I wouldn’t have pegged him as someone who’d get his hands dirty."

  Coulson chuckled softly, gng at Erwin. "Stark’s full of surprises. He’s not just a genius in the b; he’s created something that could ge the faodern warfare—and not necessarily for the better if left unchecked."

  Erwin leaned back, letting the new information sink in. "So, the suit isn’t just a prototype. It’s funal, and Stark’s the one piloting it."

  "Exactly," Coulson firmed, taking a smooth turn onto the highway. "Stark’s a unique case. He’s got the brains and the resources to back up that suit, but he’s also got ahe size of Manhattan. Fury wants to see if he be brought into the fold—if he py well with others, so to speak."

  Erwin nodded, maintaining a ral expression as Coulson spoke. He was already well aware of the situation with Stark. Nero had been clear about the pn: infiltrate SHIELD’s upper ranks, get close to the key pyers, aually, worm his way into HYDRA’s inner circle. The endgame was to dismantle HYDRA from within and, if possible, repce Fury. But for now, Erwihe role of a diligent, rising agent, just an in the SHIELD mae.

  Being a Level 6 agent in just a couple of years was no small feat, and he owed much of his success to Nero's fht and guidance. When Nero first suggested that Erwin could asd the ranks so quickly, Erwin had beeical. But Nero had been fident, reminding him that merit was still a powerful curren pces like SHIELD. "If time spent is more important than skill as," Nero had said, "then SHIELD is already doomed. And I doubt it’s that kind of pce."

  And Nero had been right. Erwin’s sistent success in the field, his ability to think strategically, and his calm demeanor under pressure had earned him resped reition faster than he could have anticipated.

  As they drove, Coulson tio fill Erwin in on Stark’s situation, but Erwin’s thoughts drifted momentarily to the bigger picture. Getting close to Tony Stark art of the pn, but it wasn’t the only objective. The real mission was HYDRA, hidden deep within SHIELD’s structure, lurking like a parasite. But to eve close, Erwin had to py the part of the loyal agent, all while positioning himself as indispensable.

  Coulson’s voice pulled him back to the present. "Stark’s not going to be easy to vince. He’s used to calling the shots, and he doesn’t take orders well."

  "I imagine," Erwin replied, his tone even. "But if anyone bring him around, it’s you, Agent Coulson. You’ve got a way with people."

  Coulson g Erwin, a small, amused smile tugging at his lips. "Fttery will get you nowhere, Smith. But I appreciate the vote of fidence."

  Erwin allowed himself a faint smile, knowing when to let the versation flow naturally. "Just stating the facts. Stark may be difficult, but he’s not impossible."

  Coulson gave a slight nod. "True. And if we get him on board, it’ll be a game ger for the Initiative. But don’t get too fortable, Smith. This is just the beginning."

  Erwi Coulson’s gaze, his eyes steady. "Uood. I’m ready for whatever es ."

  The rest of the drive passed iive silence, with only the occasional exge between them. Erwi his thoughts focused, mentally preparing for the task ahead. Stark might be arrogant and uable, but Erwin had dealt with worse. The key was to remain patient, observe, and wait for the right moment to push the pn forward.

  As they ark’s location, Coulson broke the silence again, his tone more versational. "You ever dealt with someone like Stark before?"

  "ly," Erwin replied, choosing his words carefully. "But I’ve entered people with strong personalities, those who don’t like being told what to do. It’s about finding on ground and w from there."

  "Well, you’ll get your ce soon enough," Coulson said as he maneuvered the car into a parking space. "Stark’s a unique case, but you seem like someone who adapt."

  Erwin didn’t respond immediately, iaking a moment to assess the area as they exited the vehicle. Stark’s current location was a blend of high security and high fort, exactly what one would expect from a billioh a pent for privacy. The challenge would be getting Stark to see past his own ego and reize the value in what SHIELD—and Erwin—had to offer.

  Coulsohe way, his demeanor professional but not overly formal. "Remember, we’re here to open a dialogue. Stark’s on the fence about the Initiative, but he’s not pletely against it. We o give him a reason to jump down on our side."

  "Got it," Erwin said, following Coulson’s lead. As they approached Stark's residence, Erwially reviewed everything he knew about Tony Stark. His mind drifted to Levi for a moment—a genius in his ht, though in a vastly different field. Levi had been a loner, stubborn and fiercely indepe, but Erwin had found a way to gain his trust and guide him when necessary. Stark might be wealthier and fshier, but the core challenge was simir.

  The door opened, revealing Stark, casually dressed as if he had just woken up, despite the te hour. His eyes flicked over Erwin and Coulson, sizing them up in a heartbeat. "Agents," Stark said, his tone nont as he leaned against the doorframe. "I was w when SHIELD would send someone else to try and talk me into joining the boy band."

  Coulson smiled, unfazed by Stark’s attitude. "o see you too, Mr. Stark. This is Agent Erwin Smith."

  Stark’s eyes shifted to Erwin, who met his gaze evenly. "Smith, huh?" Stark said, pushing off the doorframe. "What’s your story? You a robot too, or just another one of Fury’s chess pieces?"

  Erwin’s expression remained ral. "her, Mr. Stark. Just someone who knows the value of a strong team."

  Stark smirked, clearly amused. "Strong team, huh? You really think you sell me on that after everything that’s happened?"

  "I’m not here to sell you anything," Erwin replied calmly. "But I am here to talk about the bes of w together. Evero minds achieve more when they colborate."

  Stark eyed him for a moment lohen stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. "Fine. e on i’s see what SHIELD’s got this time."

  Erwin followed Coulson into the sleek, modern interior of Stark’s home, his senses on high alert. The pce was as high-tech as he expected, with every er likely wired to respond to Stark’s ands. Stark led them to a spacious living area, where he flopped down onto a couch, motioning for them to take seats.

  "So," Stark began, leaning bad crossing his arms, "what’s the pitch this time? I’m guessing it’s not the usual 'protect the world' speech, since yht the strong, silent type."

  Erwin remaianding, deg to keep his presence less intrusive. "I’m here to listen, Mr. Stark," he said, his voice steady. "You’ve made it clear you have reservations. I’d like to uand them."

  Stark raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the straightforward approach. "You want to uahat’s a first."

  Coulson, sensing the opening, chimed in smoothly. "We’re not here to pressure you, Tony. But SHIELD sees the potential in what you’ve built. We believe that, with the right support, you could do a lot of good."

  "Potential, huh?" Stark said, his tone ced with sarcasm. "You mean they see a guy who build ons of mass destru in his garage and think, 'Hey, let’s recruit him before he gue.'"

  "That’s not it," Erwin interjected, his voice firm but calm. "You’ve already shown that you’re willing to take responsibility for your creations. We’re you a way to do that on a rger scale—on your terms."

  Stark’s gaze flicked back to Erwin, his expression unreadable. "My terms, huh? And what makes you think SHIELD’s ready to py by my rules?"

  "Because they know the alternative," Erwin replied without missing a beat. "You’re not the only o there with the ability to ge the world. The difference is, you’re doing it openly. SHIELD help you make sure that the ges y are the right ones."

  Stark studied Erwin for a long moment, clearly weighing his options. "Yood," he finally said, his tone almost grudging. "But I’m not buying it."

  Erwin didn’t flinch. He had expected Stark’s skepticism—anticipated it, even. Stark was a man who had built his entire empire on challenging expectations, oing the rules. ving him wasn’t going to be a simple task, and Erwin knew better than to push too hard.

  "That’s your call," Erwin replied evenly. "No one’s f you into anything. But sider this—w with SHIELD doesn’t mean giving up trol. It means expanding your reach. You’ve seen firsthand what’s out there. You know how dangerous the world be."

  Stark leaned back, crossing his arms as he studied Erwin with sharp eyes. "And what, you think SHIELD’s going to let me do things my way? I’m ly a team pyer, in case you haven’t noticed."

  "Not asking you to be," Erwin tered, keeping his tone calm and unyielding. "But you’re already in the game, whether you like it or not. W with SHIELD gives you access to resources, information—things you ’t get on your own. It’s about leveraging what you’re already doing, making sure you’re not fighting alone."

  Tony smirked, the coess in his demeanor unmistakable. "There’s information I ’t get on my own? That’s new. Jarvis, bring up the profiles of these two gentlemen."

  Erwin didn’t react, maintaining his calm exterior as he exged a brief gh Coulson. He knew what was i, and he wasn’t ed.

  “Sir,” Jarvis responded, his voice smooth and polite, “the files are restricted. I’m uo access them without higher clearance.”

  Tony’s smirk widened. “Hack it.”

  Erwin allowed the fai hint of a smile to touch his lips, waiting for what he knew would be a moment of tension.

  After a brief pause, Jarvis spoke again. “Access granted, sir. Dispying profiles now.”

  Two holographic ss appeared in front of Tony, each showiailed dossiers of Coulson and Erwin. Tony leaned back, sing the information quickly, his expression one of satisfa. "There, wasn’t so hard. SHIELD’s security isn’t all it’s cracked up to be."

  Coulson frowned, his usually calm demeanor breaking slightly. "Did you just hato SHIELD?"

  Tony chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "I just gave you a reason to up your security. You’re wele."

  Erwin remained impassive, though he could sehe subtle shift in Coulson’s posture, a sign of his growing frustration. He khis was Stark’s way of testing them, pushing boundaries to see how far he could go. Erwin had entered simir tactics before—people who believed that their intelligence or resources made them untouchable. He uood the game, and he wasn’t about to let it rattle him.

  "Impressive," Erwin said calmly, meeting Stark’s gaze. "But a breach like that won’t go unnoticed. You’ve just drawn more attention to yourself."

  Stark shrugged, clearly unfazed. "Good. Maybe SHIELD could use a wake-up call. It’s about time they realized how vulnerable they are."

  "Or," Erwin tered, his toill measured, "you’ve just firmed to them that you’re a potential threat if left unchecked. ly the kind of attention you want, is it?"

  Tony’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his smirk didn’t fade. "You’re pying the wrong angle, Smith. SHIELD needs me more than I hem. If they want me on their side, they’re going to have to py by my rules."

  "That may be true," Erwin replied, his voice steady. "But there’s a differeween being an asset and being a liability. Right now, you’re walking a fine line."

  Coulson tensed, gng at Erwin as if ready to step in and steer the versation ba course. Fury had made it clear—Tony Stark o join the Avengers Initiative. But Erwin held up a hand, signaling for Coulson to wait. Erwin uood Stark’s type all too well. Pushing too hard would only make Stark more obstinate, more determio set his own terms.

  Stark, still smirking, leaned ba his couch, clearly enjoying the perceived upper hand. "You seem awfully fident, Smith. But I know SHIELD needs me more than I hem. So why don’t you just cut to the chase?"

  Erwiark’s gaze, his expression calm and unyielding. "I’m not here to sell you anything, Stark. But let’s be clear—this isn’t a game. You have power, and that makes you a target. SHIELD isn’t you prote out of fear; we’re it because you’re valuable. But that value ge, depending on how you py your cards."

  Stark’s smirk faltered slightly, though he quickly recovered. "Is that supposed to be a threat?"

  "Not a threat," Erwin replied evenly. "A reality check. You’re smart, Stark—smart enough to know that the world is bigger than yo. The question is, are you willing to step up and be part of something that goes beyond just you?"

  Stark’s eyes narrowed, the pyful gleam in his gaze dimming as Erwin’s words hit closer to home than he liked to admit. "And what, exactly, does SHIELD expect from me? Obedience? Because that’s not happening."

  "SHIELD doesn’t want obedience," Erwin said, his tone firm. "We want cooperation. There’s a difference. You’d still be making your own decisions, but with the bag of an anization that has the resources to help you make those decisions t."

  Erwin’s voice cut through the tension with a calm certainty, “"Seems like you’re not clear on what your role would be in this initiative. Let me put it this way—you’re in a neighborhood, and a house catches fire. Now, you have two options: grab a bucket of water and try to help, or stand by and watch it burn. But there’s a third option: joining forces with others, pooling your resources to douse the fire before it spreads to the rest of the neighborhood.”

  Tony’s smirk faded slightly as he listened, curiosity overtaking his usual cocky demeanor.

  “In this initiative,” Erwin tinued, “you still have the freedom to choose whether or not to get involved. But you know that if you don’t, that fire might burn dowhing—including your own house. You won’t be a firefighter taking orders, but someone who trusts in the collective effort to save what matters. That’s the differeween ag alone and being part of something rger.”

  Tony leaned back, sidering Erwin’s words. The analogy hit closer to home than he’d expected. He could see the logi it, the idea that w together didn’t mean giving up trol, but rather increasing the ces of success.

  “You’re saying I’d still call the shots, but with backup,” Tony said, the skepticism in his voice repced with a hint of geerest.

  Erwin nodded. “Exactly. You wouldn’t lose your autonomy, but you’d be part of a team that could aplish more together than any of us could alone. We’re not asking for blind obedience—we’re asking for cooperation, for a shared goal. This isn’t about trolling you, Mr. Stark. It’s about making sure the fires don’t burn out of trol.”

  Tony sat quietly for a moment, his mind processing the implications. Erwin watched him carefully, his calm demeanor unged. He kony was weighing his options, sidering the risks and bes. This was a man who didn’t like to be pushed, who valued his independence above all else. But Erwin had given him something to think about—a way to tribute on his own terms, without feeling boxed in.

  Finally, Stark leaned back, his expression still guarded, but with a hint of sideration. "You’re a ving guy, Smith. I’ll give you that. But I’ve got my own way of doing things."

  Erwin nodded, reizing the small shift. "I’m not asking you to ge that. Just sider how much more you could do with the right allies at your side."

  Stark’s gaze flicked over to Coulson, then back to Erwin. "You really think SHIELD’s the right ally?"

  "SHIELD’s not perfect," Erwin admitted, his voice level. "But it’s the best option we have to tackle what’s out there. And with people like you involved, we stand a much better ce."

  The tension in the room eased slightly, though the air remaihick with unspoken possibilities. Stark was still cautious, still wary, but Erwin could tell he was thinking, weighing the options. That was enough for now.

  "Think about it," Erwin said, his tone calm but firm. "You don’t have to decide today, but know that wheime es, we’re ready to work with you—on your terms, as part of a collective effort."

  Stark didn’t respond immediately, his eyes still locked on Erwin, as if trying to decipher something. After a moment, he gave a slight nod, not a itment, but not a refusal either. "I’ll think about it."

  Erwin nodded iurn, reizing the small victory. "That’s all we ask."

  With that, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate further, the atmosphere shifting from one of frontation to cautious sideration. Erwin didn’t push further, knowing that Stark ime to process, to decide on his own terms. It wasn’t a definitive answer, but it was a step in the right dire.

  As the versation wound down, Erwin took a mental note of Stark’s demeanor, his reas, filing it away for future reference. He khey’d be dealing with Stark again soon, and when that time came, it would be crucial to build on this groundwork.

  "Appreciate your time, Stark," Erwin said finally, standing up with a nod. "We’ll be in touch."

  Stark didn’t say anything more, just watched as Erwin and Coulson made their way to the door. As they left, Erwin caught a glimpse of Stark’s expression—thoughtful, not dismissive. It was a good sign.

  Oside, Coulson turo Erwin, his tone light but with an undercurrent of approval. "You hahat well."

  Erwin shrugged slightly. "Just id out the facts. It’s up to him now."

  Coulson smiled, a rare show of warmth. "That’s all we do. Let’s see where it leads."

  Erwin was mildly surprised that Coulson hadn’t reprimanded him for pushing Stark the way he did. He had expected a sharp word or two about nearly causing the billioo kick them out, but instead, Coulson seemed pleased with how the versation had go was a wele surprise, and Erwin found himself respeg the agent’s ability tnize a good strategy, even if it veered slightly off the expected path.

  As they walked back toward Coulson’s cssic car, Erwin g the vehicle, its polished exterior refleg the evening light. He allowed a small smile to form. “Hey, so you’re into cssics?” he asked, nodding toward the car.

  Coulson’s face lit up slightly, the serious demeanor he usually wore easing as he patted the roof of the car affeately. “Yeah, I’ve got a soft spot for them. There’s something about the craftsmanship, the attention to detail that you don’t find in modern cars. It’s like a piece of history you drive.”

  Erwin nodded, genuinely ied. “A friend of mine... has a simir fondness for older models. Says they have more personality, more... soul, I guess..."

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