"I can figure out the current state of the world on my own with enough time," Steve Rogers said. "You offering to help me must come with strings attached. Let's hear them."
Nick Fury smiled slightly, appreciating Steve's direct approach. "I like people who get straight to the point. My request isn't complicated—I want you to join a team I've been assembling: the Avengers."
Fury tossed a file onto the table, landing just a few feet from Steve.
Steve raised an eyebrow at the name and walked over to the table, picking up the file. He started to skim through it. "The Avengers? Earth's mightiest heroes? A team focused on handling supernatural threats?"
"Steve, you've been frozen for decades. The world you knew is gone. The wars that ravaged the globe have ended, and we've achieved a certain level of peace... but only on Earth," Fury explained. "The real threat we face now is from beyond our planet: extraterrestrials."
"Aliens?" Steve chuckled, closing the file. "Are you seriously suggesting that humans have progressed far enough to discover alien life? And what, now we're gearing up for war in space?"
"I'm not joking, Steve. We didn't find them. They found us. They've already been here once, and it's only a matter of time before they come back. Compared to their technology, we're practically cavemen. That's why I need people like you, extraordinary people, to help prepare for what's coming. We can't let them walk all over us when they show up again."
Fury's face was dead serious, and Steve found it hard to believe—but the conviction in Fury's voice gave him pause.
"Fury, even if I bought into this... I don't trust the military or those power-hungry politicians. They don't care about anything beyond their agendas," Steve said bluntly. He had seen too much corruption and selfishness from people in power to believe they'd ever act in the public's best interest.
"You're not wrong to feel that way," Fury nodded. "But SHIELD is different. Its founders included your friend Howard Stark and Peggy Carter. We've always dealt with threats that go beyond what the public and politicians understand. And the Avengers? They take orders from SHIELD, not the military."
Fury's explanation caught Steve off guard. The fact that Peggy and Howard were involved in SHIELD's creation hit home, causing Steve to hesitate.
"And if you join?" Fury continued, sensing Steve's inner conflict. "You won't be dealing with politicians or some army general. Most of your missions will likely involve stopping terrorists before innocent people get caught in the crossfire. And SHIELD will make sure you're taken care of—housing, a steady income, everything you need to live your life."
Steve considered this. The offer was tempting, and there didn't seem to be much downside.
"Who else is in this Avengers Initiative?" Steve finally asked.
"The team's still small for now—just four members, including you. The profiles are in the file." Fury gestured to the folder. "You won't meet them all immediately, but knowing each other's backgrounds and abilities will make future teamwork smoother."
Steve opened the file again, this time reading more carefully. Among the names, he saw Tony Stark—Howard's son, fighting under the name Iron Man, using advanced tech in battle. There were also two highly trained agents known as Hawkeye and Black Widow.
"I'm Nick Fury, the director of SHIELD, and as the founder of the Avengers, I'm glad to welcome you aboard," Fury said, offering his hand with a smile.
Steve shook it firmly but raised one last question. "Who's the leader of this team?"
Fury paused for a moment, thinking. "I'm not here to control your every move. You're all powerful heroes, capable of thinking for yourselves. I'll provide guidance, tech support, and the occasional mission brief, but when it comes to leadership, I want you all to decide among yourselves."
"Fair enough," Steve replied, understanding it had been more of a test question than anything. "You can go now. Send one of your agents to help me get up to speed on the modern world."
"Of course," Fury agreed. "I think you'll find plenty of distractions in today's entertainment scene. Oh, and by the way—Peggy Carter is still alive."
Steve's breath caught for a moment. "What?"
"She's old now, of course, but she's still around. If you want to visit her, here's her address." Fury handed Steve a small piece of paper.
Steve took it, heart pounding. He hadn't even considered that Peggy might still be alive.
"One last thing," Fury said, stepping towards the door. "You've been frozen for decades, Steve. Your body hasn't aged a day. But the world has moved on, and some things have changed—things and people you might not recognize anymore."
With that, Fury gave Steve a reassuring pat on the shoulder and left.