S.H.I.E.L.D. Director's Office
Natasha was giving her report to Nick Fury.
"…So my suggestion is to maintain communication and avoid unnecessary friction."
Nick Fury, with his trademark deadpan expression, asked coldly, "What if he's just pretending? Using some special ability? What if some fool provokes him one day, and he decides to destroy the world? Or what if something else changes his mind? What then?"
His tone, as cold as his expression, pointed directly to the worst-case scenarios.
"We're sitting on a bomb, pretending it doesn't exist? Or are we just trying to keep the bomb safe, hoping it never goes off?"
Natasha crossed her arms and stared back at Fury, a bit dissatisfied.
"Do we really need to defuse it preemptively? Can we even handle that?"
"At least we can right now," Fury said, slamming down Lynch's file, which detailed the abilities Lynch had displayed since his appearance. "Before his powers grow any stronger."
"Fury, our job is to defend against and monitor threats, not just eliminate them," Natasha said, frowning.
"That's exactly my point, which is why we must always be prepared to deal with him."
"What kind of preparation? Like he said, do you have a button you can press to summon someone who can take him out?" Natasha said skeptically. "But look, even if you do have such a thing, he already knows about it, so why do we think it would work?"
Fury's expression finally changed subtly. Shaking his head, he firmly told Natasha, "I wouldn't use that unless Earth was truly doomed."
The atmosphere became tense, and an awkward silence fell between them.
Fury's face looked like someone owed him a lot of money. After a long pause, he reluctantly said, "If you believe he's not a threat, then he's yours to handle."
Then, in an uncertain tone, he added, "Can you explain to me what Lynch meant by 'higher dimensions'?"
Natasha pursed her lips, giving him a look that silently asked, Do you think I understood that?
"Okay, looks like we need to find a smart person to explain it," Fury said, sounding almost relieved.
"Are you sure this is what Lynch actually said?" Tony, unusually serious, asked in the video call.
Natasha and Fury exchanged a glance before she nodded affirmatively.
"Okay, this is a bit surprising." Tony blinked, silently processing the sudden information.
"So, do you understand?" Fury asked doubtfully.
"Come on, Director," Tony said, puffing out his chest. "Why else would you ask me? Doesn't S.H.I.E.L.D. have experts in this area?"
"Tony, I'm sorry. We only came to you because of the confidentiality," Natasha explained with a smile.
"Okay, I get it, given that we just met…"
Before Tony could start rambling, Natasha coughed, cutting him off. "So, can you explain it to us?"
Tony's sharp eyes glanced at them both before he shook his head.
"You can think of Lynch as someone who…" Tony tilted his head in thought, "…as someone who walked into a theater. He might be very familiar with certain things or people, but there's no doubt he's not all-knowing."
"What? Someone who walked into a theater?" Fury found Tony's metaphor hard to grasp. "Can you be more straightforward?"
Tony didn't respond, but his polite expression clearly showed he was refusing to elaborate.
Fury said nothing either, but he continued to stare at Tony with determination.
"Fine, you asked for it," Tony finally relented. He left the video's view and returned with something in his hand.
He held it up to the camera for them to see.
It was a Superman comic book.
"If one day, you somehow found yourself in Superman's world, what would happen?"
Under Tony's meaningful gaze, the two finally understood.
"You mean…"
"Our world is just a fictional creation in Lynch's world?"
Both of them found it hard to accept this realization.
"From a certain perspective, it's possible," Tony nodded. "But to us, this is real. This is our world."
"You mean…"
"Yes, whether we know it or believe it makes no difference. We can't prove it, and we can't escape it… so just let it be."
"If you have the time, why not go have a drink, especially if this lovely lady Natasha would join me," Tony quickly switched back to his usual playful banter.
Natasha snapped out of her silence and smiled at Tony, saying, "Of course, if you don't mind that my nickname is Black Widow."
Tony smiled awkwardly.
"Alright then, Director, Ms. Black Widow, I'll be going now. I have some matters to attend to."
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Stark, and please keep this matter confidential," Fury said seriously. "You know how shocking this is."
"I will. Goodbye then."
After saying this, Tony prepared to end the call, but then he seemed to remember something. He looked up again and solemnly said to them, "Don't try to get information about the future. Once you know the future, it changes. It could get worse. Like I said before, forget about this."
Natasha's heartbeat quickened slightly, and she didn't respond.
Fury nodded, saying, "I know. I'll act as if I don't know about this."
Satisfied, Tony nodded and ended the call.
Fury turned and fixed his sharp gaze on Natasha.
"Have you… already obtained some information?"
On the other side, after ending the call, Tony didn't go about his business as he said he would. Instead, he slumped into a chair, leaning back with his eyes closed in thought.
My world, just a comic book? An anime? Or some bizarre fairy tale or strange legend in someone else's eyes?
Ridiculous.
And here I was thinking of Lynch as Superman.
So, I'm the one who doesn't exist?
Then, how should I face Lynch now?
He must know a lot about me, right?
Does he even know all my embarrassing moments, clear as day?
Maybe. What if I'm the protagonist of some comedy?
I do have a sense of humor, after all, right?
But probably not.
He recalled their first meeting and the look of surprise and joy in Lynch's eyes.
It was almost like…
Like when I was a kid and saw Superman for the first time.
So, I should be a good guy, a superhero?
Maybe, perhaps, probably…
Could someone like me really be a hero?
…
After thinking for a long time, Tony suddenly stood up.
"Jarvis, I've got an idea. Let's run a simulation…"