Author's Note: Whelp, here's another one. Enjoy? I hope you like it.


THE AVENGERS


CHARACTERS:

DIRECTOR FURY, NICHOLAS J.: director of S.H.I.E.L.D., what he does with that and with his free time is highly classified.

AGENT MARIA HILL: DIRECTOR FURY's right-hand woman, she's 'one of his fingers'.


EXT. AN UNDERGROUND SHIELD BASE – UNDETERMINED LOCATION AND TIME.

S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't just strive on secrets. It thrives on them. Secrets and protection. It is the way it has always been and the way that it always will be; especially if DIRECTOR FURY is in charge. The location of the base is undisclosed, as no one in the civilian population knows its whereabouts, and even then, only a few SHIELD agents. Officially, it doesn't exist.

INT. A SHIELD CONFERENCE ROOM – UNDETERMINED TIME.

A tall man in a long, dark coat with an eyepatch is shuffling something in his hands. 'He' is DIRECTOR NICHOLAS J. FURY of SHIELD.

DIRECTOR FURY

(mutters to himself.)

Had to go and be a hero, didn't you, Coulson?

He sighs and continues to look through the objects he has in his hands. They appear to be some sort of cards, but there's no clear view of them, aside from a dark splatter of blood. He looks up hearing the rhythmic click of a pair of heels proceeding down the hallway. It is AGENT MARIA HILL, his right-hand woman. She's dressed very nicely, a folder in her hand. She holds it up in two fingers.

AGENT HILL

Here you go, sir. The file for the Avengers Initiative. This isn't all of it, though, just the debrief from the Battle of New York and Dr. Banner's notes on the scepter.

He nods and with the cards in one hand, accepts the manila folder. AGENT HILL nods to the cards in his hand as he tucks the file under one arm.

AGENT HILL

Those are his cards? Coulson's?

DIRECTOR FURY sighs with a miniscule nod of his head.

DIRECTOR FURY

Who else's would they be?

AGENT HILL nods.

AGENT HILL

Of course, sir.

(after a brief pause)

May I… ask you something, sir?

DIRECTOR FURY gives a nod of assent for her to continue.

AGENT HILL

(indicates the cards again)

Those aren't his real cards, right?

DIRECTOR FURY dryly chuckles and motions for her to continue her line of questioning.

AGENT HILL

I mean… When he gets back and figures out what you did… He'll be proud about that he helped with bringing the Avengers together, but he'll be pissed about the cards, sir.

DIRECTOR FURY laughs again. It's a mildly unnerving sound.

DIRECTOR FURY

Agent Hill, you should know that I am not a stupid man.

He tosses the cards on the table and they fan out across it. The pictures depicted are fading and the blood is soaking through.

DIRECTOR FURY

Of course I didn't use the real cards. Had 'em copied. These are the fakes. The real ones are safe in my office for him when he gets back.

DIRECTOR FURY begins to gather them up again as AGENT HILL watches him.

DIRECTOR FURY

You know he's one of the only men I trust.

AGENT HILL

You can count the people you do trust on one hand and you're not afraid to cut off fingers.

DIRECTOR FURY

(laughs, nods, and holds up one hand.)

Damn right. And you know which one Coulson is? The middle one. My own little 'F you' to the universe.

AGENT HILL laughs and turns to leave but DIRETOR FURY lowers his hand to grab the last card and speaks again.

DIRECTOR FURY

He's one of the only guys that could actually kill me. If those were the real cards, I'd have to sleep with both eyes open.

AGENT HILL smiles. She waits until DIRECTOR FURY has gathered up the fake cards, before they they leave the room together for [REDACTED FOR SECURITY REASONS].