𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 | 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

𝟎𝟐. 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

— 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎 —

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WITHIN THE QUINJET, STEVE ROGERS SAT WATCHING FOOTAGE OF THE HULK'S ATTACK AT CULVER UNIVERSITY. It was impossible to tell whether the awestruck look was from the monstrosity or the technology itself.

"We're about forty minutes out from base, sir," the pilot announced.

Phil Coulson stood from his seat, and cautiously approached the captain, equally awestruck. Nate could tell the other agent was barely keeping it together. However, he was in much of the same book as he glanced over to check on Agent Stark. Her work was an art form. He'd read every file, every dossier, it was humbling to be seated so close.

"So, this Doctor Banner was trying to replicate the serum that was used on me?" Steve asked.

Julie nodded her head. "A lot of people were."

"You were the world's first superhero," Coulson quickly added. "Banner thought gamma radiation might hold the key to unlocking Erskine's original formula."

Steve's jaw set as he watched the Hulk roar with fury before tearing the jeep apart. "Didn't really go his way, did it?"

"Not so much," Coulson agreed. "When he's not that thing though, guy's like a Stephen Hawking."

Steve's brow furrowed with confusion. Nate took the opportunity to speak up, simplifying the comparison of pop culture. "He's like a smart person."

"Think Howard Stark," Julie added. "Same brains, same ego."

"I gotta say, it's an honor to meet you, officially." Coulson beamed as Steve offered him a polite smile. However, the agent's tongue moved quicker than his mind had time to filter. "I sort of met you, I mean, I watched you while you were sleeping. I mean, I was... I was present while you were unconscious from the ice. You know, it's really, it's just a... just a huge honor to have you on board."

By this point Steve had stood, closed the laptop, and moved closer to the pilot to watch the horizon as they approached the helicarrier. "Well, I hope I'm the man for the job."

"Oh, you are." Coulson quickly nodded his head as he followed after Steve. "Absolutely. Uh... we've made some modifications to the uniform. I had a little design input."

"The uniform?" A look of surprise crossed Steve's face. "Aren't the stars and stripes a little... old fashioned?"

A knowing smile flickered across Julie's lips. The captain was certainly in for more than one surprise this afternoon. Hopefully the shock wouldn't kill him.