A Clash of Minds – Stark, Fury, and Ned

"Agent Hill, I'm stepping out for a bit. Hold the fort," Nick Fury said, his words layered with double meaning.

"Understood," Maria Hill replied knowingly, exchanging a meaningful glance with Fury. She had already noticed the subtle undercurrents within S.H.I.E.L.D. lately, and Fury's sudden outing only added to her suspicions.

Meanwhile, Ned waved his hand, conjuring a portal that led directly into Tony Stark's house.

"Oh, crap!" Tony Stark yelped, startled. "Could you please use the front door next time?!"

Still catching his breath, Stark leaned against one of his robotic arms for support, his hands trembling uncontrollably. His lab's Iron Man suits, which had been automatically activated, began to power down. Stark's anxiety had flared up so intensely that he was on the verge of collapsing. Thankfully, J.A.R.V.I.S., ever thoughtful, sent a robotic arm carrying a cup of tea to assist him. Without it, Stark might have ended up on the floor.

"Was it that scary?" Ned quipped casually, though he soon noticed Stark's distress. Summoning the Infinity Gauntlet, he allowed the Mind Stone embedded in it to emit a gentle golden glow, the light slowly seeping into Stark's body.

"Phew…" Stark's breathing immediately steadied, his panic subsiding. He straightened up and remarked curiously, "What is this? I feel… refreshed."

"This is a device made from the gem on Loki's scepter," Ned explained, still holding the gauntlet. "I just used it to calm your mind, but it's a temporary fix. What's really going on with you?"

"Nothing major," Stark deflected, his tone casual but defensive. "I haven't slept much lately, and your dramatic entrance just startled me a bit."

Stark, ever the man of pride, wasn't about to admit to his anxiety disorder or, worse, that Ned had managed to scare him so badly his knees nearly gave out. That would be too humiliating for the great Tony Stark.

But Stark's gaze lingered on the Infinity Gauntlet, particularly the grooves that seemed designed to hold more stones. His curiosity piqued.

"This thing is fascinating. Those slots—planning to add more of those 'things' to it? If so, hand it over. You can always trust Tony Stark's tech."

Leaning forward with an impish grin, he added, "Or better yet, how about lending me that gauntlet for a few days? I'll pay you handsomely."

"No." Ned's response was blunt and immediate, killing Stark's enthusiasm on the spot.

"What?" Stark's eyebrows shot up. "Did you just refuse Tony Stark?"

"Yep," Ned said, sipping a can of soda he had just popped open.

"One million dollars," Stark offered, his tone casual yet determined.

"It's not about the money. Still no."

"Ten million," Stark countered without missing a beat. He added with a sly smile, "Per day."

Ned choked on his soda, coughing violently as he turned to glare at Stark. "Ten million a day?!"

"Take it or leave it," Stark said smugly, reclining on the sofa with a glass of whiskey in hand.

"You… I…!" Ned struggled for words, his chest heaving in frustration. Finally, he said, "I…"

Before he could finish, Nick Fury burst into the room, the door slamming behind him. "Stark!" Fury barked, his voice commanding and sharp.

"Sir, my system has been breached…" J.A.R.V.I.S. reported, cutting through the tension.

"Fury, you bastard!" Stark snapped, clearly irritated. He knew that Fury's sudden appearance had effectively ended his negotiation with Ned. Turning to Ned, he said, "If you change your mind, you know where to find me. The offer stands."

Without waiting for a reply, Stark continued, "So, Fury, you two set up a meeting in my house? Should I grab popcorn, or are we fencing today? Either way, I'll just observe."

Ignoring Stark's sarcasm, Fury turned to Ned, his expression serious. "What's this about a major threat? You mentioned it on the phone."

"Uh…" Ned hesitated, casting a brief glance at Stark before straightening up. "I captured a few men dressed in black who were trafficking underage girls. I thought you might want to oversee the interrogation."

"Excuse me?" Fury's brow furrowed, clearly not expecting this. Even Stark, who had been idly watching, sat up straighter, his curiosity piqued.

While Fury didn't downplay the severity of human trafficking, he couldn't help but wonder why Ned thought this warranted his immediate attention. Stark shared his confusion, thinking to himself that if Ned were after swift action, calling the NYPD might have been a better option.

But neither of them interrupted, both eager to hear what Ned had planned next.

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