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63 Relaxing Consultation
🕑 Added 2025-02-10 18:15:01 +0000 UTCPlaying superhero, consulting for SHIELD, and serving as chairman of Stark Industries all came with their own set of challenges and rewards, but nothing brought Harry more joy than cooking at Lily’s. The morning light streamed through the large windows of the café, bathing the space in a golden glow. The air was filled with the soothing aroma of miso, freshly steamed rice, and the faint smokiness of grilled salmon. Harry stood behind the counter, humming softly along to the mellow jazz playing in the background as he worked.
For today, Harry was preparing a traditional Japanese breakfast for Fury and Coulson. The two SHIELD operatives had spent a significant part of their early partnership career stationed in Japan during the 1970s, hence they had Harry to prepare a Japanese for their weekly consultation.
At their request, Harry had prepared a thoughtful spread. Perfectly steamed rice, fluffy and glistening. A fragrant bowl of miso soup with silken tofu and thinly sliced scallions. Grilled salmon fillets, their skin crisp and the flesh tender. Tamagoyaki, a golden roll of fluffy Japanese omelette, lightly sweetened and perfectly layered. A spinach salad tossed in a nutty sesame dressing, the greens vibrant and fresh. Sweet pickled daikon radish, its bright yellow hue adding a pop of colour. Lastly, Seaweed chips dusted with furikake spice mix for a salty, umami-rich crunch.
Harry worked on filleting the salmon while his magic manipulated the other utensils. Whisks spinning on their own, knives chopping vegetables, and a pot of miso soup stirring itself. It was a quiet dance of culinary craftsmanship, one that Harry found endlessly calming.
The café was otherwise empty, save for the occasional creak of wooden chairs and the distant hum of traffic from the street outside. Harry paused for a moment, tasting a sliver of salmon to check the seasoning. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
The door jingled, and Natasha’s familiar silhouette appeared. She was already dressed in casual wear, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail. “Smells amazing,” she said, leaning against the counter. “You really do spoil them, you know. Not everyone gets handmade tamagoyaki from Harry Potter.”
“Coulson could use some culture. He spends way too much time on greasy diner food.” Harry replied with a grin.
Natasha smirked. “Greasy diner food is an American tradition. Don’t insult Coulson’s apple pie addiction.”
Harry laughed and turned back to his cooking. “Speaking of which, where is he? Isn’t he usually early enough to rearrange the tables so they’re ‘just right’?”
Natasha grabbed a stool and perched herself near the counter. “Probably convincing Fury to let him play DJ again. You know he’s got a playlist for every occasion.”
Natasha watched Harry with a smile as his hands continued filleting a piece of salmon while his magic animated the kitchen tools. “You know, you make this look way too easy,” Natasha teased as she stepped closer, reaching for one of the seaweed chips that had just been seasoned.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Harry chided, catching her hand mid-swipe. “Those are for the guests.”
She grinned, undeterred. “I’m a guest, technically.”
“You’re my fiancée. That makes you an accomplice, not a guest,” he quipped, releasing her hand but keeping a watchful eye on the tray of chips.
“An accomplice with a great sense of timing.” Before he could stop her, she snatched a chip and popped it into her mouth with a satisfied crunch. “Mmm. Needs more furikake.”
Harry shook his head, trying to suppress a smile. “It’s perfectly balanced, thank you very much. Go sit down before you derail my whole operation.”
“Not a chance,” she said, hopping onto a stool at the counter. “I like watching you work. You’re cute when you’re in chef mode.”
Harry glanced over his shoulder, feigning exasperation. “And you’re trouble when you’re in snack-stealing mode.”
She leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm as she watched him. “Admit it, you like having me here. It keeps you on your toes.”
Harry chuckled, finally letting his guard down as he plated the salmon. “You’re not wrong. But if you keep stealing food, I’m going to start charging you.”
“Oh no,” she gasped dramatically, her hand flying to her chest. “Not the fiancée discount! What will I do?”
“Maybe learn some patience?” he teased, sliding a plate of tamagoyaki in her direction. “Here. Consider it a preemptive peace offering.”
She beamed, grabbing a pair of chopsticks and taking a bite. “See? You do love me.”
Harry smirked, his eyes softening as he paused to look at her. “More than anything.”
By late morning, everything was ready. The café, usually bustling with regulars by this time, remained quiet, its "Closed" sign hanging on the door until noon. Inside, the warm scents of Harry's breakfast filled the air, creating a comforting backdrop for the small, exclusive gathering.
Seated at one of the polished wooden tables were Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff, and Phil Coulson, the only occupants of the café apart from Harry himself. Theses meetings had a dual purpose. Officially, Fury used these moments to consult with Harry on various SHIELD matters. But beyond the business, these meetings had a more personal side. After the work was done, Fury and Coulson would linger over the meal, making small talk and enjoying a rare respite from their otherwise chaotic lives.
As the individual trays of food floated gracefully into the dining area, the enticing aroma filled the café. Fury, Coulson, and Natasha eyed the dishes with barely restrained anticipation. “I have to say,” Coulson began, “there’s something oddly domestic about seeing the freshly elected chairman of Stark Industries whipping up breakfast in a flower apron. Quite the image for the tabloids.”
Harry glanced down at his pale-blue apron adorned with pink sakura blossoms and rolled his eyes. “It’s been over six months since I got elected, Phil,” he retorted. “Forbes already ran a full feature on Pepper and me. And let’s not forget the half-dozen finance sites that plastered photos of me working here all over their social media while questioning my suitability to that position.”
Fury leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth twitching into a rare smirk. “What was the title of that feature again? Something like, ‘An Unorthodox Couple: How Pepper Potts and Harry Potter Are Nurturing the Future of Stark Industries’?”
“Or was it ‘Potter and Potts: The Power Couple Parenting Stark Industries’?” Coulson added, barely keeping a straight face.
Natasha sighed, rubbing her temple. “The first one was Forbes. The second one was Fortune. Honestly, I don’t know why the media can’t stop themselves from fantasizing about Harry and Pepper as some sort of corporate power couple.”
“Oh, I can tell you why,” Coulson said with a sly grin. “It’s because the two of them are so comfortable together. Every gala, every red-carpet event, every high-stakes business meeting—if there’s a camera, they’re there side by side. It’s practically gift-wrapped for a narrative.”
Harry smirked but didn’t comment, busying himself with setting the last of the dishes on the table. Natasha, however, wasn’t letting it go. She crossed her arms, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. “Yeah, well, I don’t think they look that great together,” she muttered.
Fury’s smirk widened, and Coulson’s grin turned outright mischievous. “You know,” Coulson said, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather, “it’s funny how the Lady Avenger Assassin gets all territorial when Harry’s name is mentioned alongside Pepper’s.”
“I’m not territorial,” Natasha shot back, though her defensive tone did little to help her case. “I’m just pointing out the obvious.” Natasha huffed, muttering something under her breath in Russian as Coulson and Fury chuckled. Harry, ever the diplomat, slid a perfectly rolled tamagoyaki onto her plate with an innocent smile.
“Here,” he said. “Food always makes you less murder-y.”
She glared at him. “You’re lucky you’re cute, Potter.”
“And you’re lucky I cook,” he shot back with a wink.
“Before Romanoff here starts drafting plans to erase Ms. Potts from existence,” Fury drawled, his single eye glinting with amusement, “we should probably get back to the reason we’re here today.”
“I thought you were here to eat my food for free,” Harry quipped, glancing around the table with a crooked smile.
The silence that followed was deafening. Natasha raised an eyebrow, Coulson gave him a blank stare, and even Fury’s smirk disappeared into a deadpan expression.
Harry sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up. “Tough crowd.”
Harry leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Alright, Fury,” he said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “What’s up?”
“The World Security Council just approved Project Insight,” Fury began. He let the name hang in the air for a moment, his single eye sweeping across the room, gauging reactions.
When no one interrupted, he continued. “The project involves three next-gen Helicarriers, linked through an advanced satellite network. These carriers would patrol the Earth, providing what the Council calls ‘proactive security.’” Fury’s tone hardened slightly. “With the help of an algorithm, these Helicarriers are designed to eliminate threats before they happen.”
“Wait,” Harry interjected, frowning. “Define ‘eliminate.’”
“Exactly what it sounds like,” Fury replied grimly. “The algorithm evaluates an individual’s behavior, past and present, and predicts their likelihood of becoming a threat. Then it takes care of them.”
The room fell silent for a second. “How does it predict this?” Natasha finally asked.
“By factoring in everything,” Fury said, leaning back slightly. “Bank records, voting patterns, medical histories, even standardized test scores. Every decision, every mistake, every success, it all gets crunched into one big data stew. And if the algorithm decides someone’s a threat, well, they don’t get a second chance to prove otherwise.”
Phil, Natasha, and Harry were all stunned by the sheer audacity of the plan Fury had just described. It was so outlandish, so dystopian, that it almost didn’t seem real.
“You can’t be serious about approving this, Director,” Phil objected.
“It’s not my call, Coulson,” Fury replied with irritation. “This isn’t just SHIELD’s project, it’s the World Security Council’s. They’ve been breathing down my neck since the whole alien invasion fiasco. Loki’s stunt didn’t just expose SHIELD’s vulnerabilities; it blew up decades of R&D meant to prepare us for situations like that. The Council’s spooked, and this is their solution.”
Natasha folded her arms. “I get that they’re nervous. Hell, I’d be worried too after Manhattan. But this? This isn’t about protecting the world from alien invasions. It’s about consolidating control, removing anyone they see as inconvenient.”
“It’s not just shortsighted,” Phil added, shaking his head. “It’s dangerous. A system like this? It doesn’t stop with targeting potential threats. It’s a slippery slope to targeting dissidents, whistleblowers, or anyone the Council doesn’t like. You’re handing them a loaded gun with no safety.”
Fury’s gaze was unyielding. “You think I don’t know that? I’ve been fighting to rein them in, but the Council’s united on this. They see Project Insight as the future of global security.”
Meanwhile, Harry had remained silent, his expression inscrutable. He absently tapped his fingers against the counter, his mind clearly racing. Fury glanced at him. “What’s on your mind, Potter?”
“Coulson,” he began, leaning forward slightly, “how well do you trust Sitwell? He was the one responsible for assessing SHIELD for internal threats, wasn’t he?”
Coulson frowned at the question, his brow furrowing. “I’ve worked with Sitwell for years. He’s dependable, smart, and one of those guys who flies under the radar but gets the job done. The typical ‘little guy’ who doesn’t draw too much attention.” He tilted his head, studying Harry. “What are you thinking, Potter?”
Harry crossed his arms and glanced at Natasha, who gave him a small nod. Turning back to the group, he spoke carefully. “I think Natasha’s onto something. SHIELD might be compromised. The report Sitwell prepared on internal threats? It didn’t feel genuine. Between the four of us, I think we need another investigation. This time, someone we can trust implicitly. Someone who isn’t tied to SHIELD or any organization, for that matter.”
Fury exhaled heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Damn it, Potter, I don’t like where this is going. To even consider that the organization I’m leading might be a front for something more sinister...” He trailed off, shaking his head. “But the coincidences are piling up. And the high-level incompetence we’ve seen lately? It’s getting harder to ignore.”
Harry tapped a finger against the table. “Give me a few weeks. I’ll find someone for this. Someone capable, thorough, and guaranteed not to have any hidden loyalties.”
Fury’s single eye locked onto Harry. “This had better not blow up in our faces, Potter. I’ve got enough fires to put out without adding a mutiny to the list.”
“You’ll have your recommendation soon,” Harry said confidently.
The room fell into a contemplative silence as the group finished their breakfast. Fury leaned back in his chair, his eye scanning the others as if gauging their thoughts. Natasha sipped her tea quietly, her expression unreadable, while Coulson toyed with the edge of his napkin, lost in thought.
Breaking the stillness, Harry set his cup down and looked directly at Fury and Coulson, his tone shifting to something more urgent. “I need your help,” he said, getting straight to the point.
Fury’s eyed Harry. “With what?”
Harry hesitated for a fraction of a second before continuing. “A junior of mine from the army. He’s gone missing. No trace, no leads. I’ve been digging into his disappearance for a while now, but I’ve hit a dead end. I need SHIELD’s resources to help me figure out what’s going on.”
Coulson immediately straightened, his usual professionalism taking over. “What details can you give us?” he asked.
“His name was James Hall,” Harry began, his voice tinged with concern. “He was a Corporal in the 22nd British SAS regiment. A good soldier. Unfortunately, he was relieved of duty after losing his leg in a mission, it left him unfit for active service.”
Harry paused, his green eyes darkening as he continued. “For a while, he was living with his family, trying to rehabilitate. But as time went on, he started struggling. Feeling useless. Depressed. It wasn’t easy for him to adjust to civilian life, and it seemed like he was losing his sense of purpose.”
“The last anyone heard from him was about three months ago,” Harry said, his tone growing frustrated. “He told his family he’d been recruited by some think tank. They were looking for soldiers in similar situations, amputees and disabled veterans. He said the work sounded promising, even life-changing. But he kept everything else quiet because he’d signed a non-disclosure agreement with the company.”
Harry looked between Coulson and Fury, his gaze firm. “Since then, nothing. No calls, no letters. His family is worried, and frankly, so am I.”
“Did you say think tank?” Fury asked, his single visible eyebrow arching.
“Yes, why?” Harry replied, his curiosity piqued.
“There’s been one on our radar recently,” Fury said. “A small operation that’s been making some big moves. They’ve managed to cozy up to the U.S. military with alarming speed. But with Project Pegasus, the Tesseract, and the whole invasion of New York, they haven’t exactly been at the top of our priority list.”
“It’s called Advanced Idea Mechanics—or AIM,” Coulson added. “They specialize in biotech research and have been branching into military tech. A few years back, they collaborated with Dr. Helen Cho, a South Korean scientist, on the preliminary research on a project called the Regeneration Cradle. It’s a piece of cutting-edge tech designed to regenerate lost limbs and damaged tissue.”
Fury leaned back, the tension in his posture betraying his frustration. “AIM’s been under our radar for a few months now, but they’ve played things smart. No major red flags—at least, none that we can pin down. They’re just a think tank on the surface, but the speed at which they’ve gained traction with the U.S. military? That’s not normal. Contracts like that take years to negotiate, and AIM pulled it off in months.”
Fury nodded, adding, “They’ve got connections to Helen Cho’s work on the Regeneration Cradle, which could explain their interest in amputees. But here’s what bothers me: every other biotech firm working on similar tech is scrambling for funding. AIM? They’re swimming in cash, and no one seems to know where it’s coming from.”
Coulson crossed his arms. “It’s not just the money. AIM’s also been unusually good at avoiding scrutiny. Publicly, they’re clean. Privately, I’ve seen whispers—people who’ve worked with them vanishing off the grid, research data being wiped from servers, and contracts being signed under layers of shell corporations. It stinks, but SHIELD’s been too tied up to dig deeper.”
Fury’s lips pressed into a thin line. “The aftermath of New York has left us scrambling. We’ve been dealing with everything from rebuilding to managing rogue Chitauri tech on the black market. Add in Project Insight, and our resources are stretched thinner than ever. And that’s not counting...” He hesitated, glancing at Harry and Coulson before finishing, “...other internal issues.”
Natasha leaned forward. “If AIM is this clean on the surface, we’re not going to find anything through official channels. They’ll have buried their tracks. We’ll need to look at this from the outside.”
Harry tapped his fingers against the table, his brow furrowed in thought. “Natasha’s right. AIM’s operating like a black-box operation. If SHIELD’s hands are tied, we’ll need to take this off the record. Start with their military connections—figure out who’s pulling the strings there. And someone needs to look into their funding. Follow the money, and we’ll find the rot.”
Coulson leaned forward. “If AIM is the same think tank your friend mentioned, it’s possible they’re using the recruitment of disabled veterans to test a prototype of a regeneration technology.”
Fury’s gaze locked onto Harry. “We don’t have hard evidence tying them to anything yet, but it’s worth checking out. This could be your starting point.”
