----
Steve took a slow, steadying breath.
"He wasn't here to steal Oscorp's corporate secrets," Steve said, voice firm. "Scott was only trying to retrieve something for me."
He pointed at the shield mounted on the wall.
His shield.
Or at least, it used to be.
The familiar star was gone—repainted over with a bold crimson "S."
Nolan followed his gaze and smiled slightly. "That's still company property. Intellectual property related to an ongoing research project. By every legal definition, Captain, that makes it commercial espionage."
Steve clenched his jaw.
He knew Nolan wasn't technically wrong.
Still, Wanda finally spoke up—quiet, but unwavering.
"That shield… it originally belonged to Captain," she said.
Even after everything, she still stood by him.
Nolan's eyes glinted. "Maybe it did. But it's mine now."
He rose from the couch, hands folded casually behind his back.
"As I recall, Captain, you attacked me first."
His voice remained calm, even friendly, but there was iron beneath the words.
"In any court of law, it's called self-defense. The shield was left behind. I picked it up. I didn't steal it."
Nolan's eyes turned to Wanda.
"And tell me: was I wrong? Rogers fought to protect someone tied to HYDRA. The very organization he once fought to destroy."
Wanda froze.
She hadn't known all the details.
She had locked herself away for weeks, lost in guilt and grief. She trusted Steve blindly, believing his cause was righteous.
But now… doubts crept in.
She glanced at Steve, seeking answers.
Steve's expression was strained. He didn't deny it—because Nolan was telling the truth.
He had fought to protect Bucky Barnes.
And Scott Lang had broken into Oscorp under Steve's orders.
Both actions were legally and morally—questionable.
Nolan watched them both, smiling faintly.
He understood Steve perfectly.
The super soldier wasn't wrong for caring.
But his fatal flaw was that he could never truly leave the past behind.
He clung to it—desperately.
He was a relic from another era, still fighting the wars of yesterday.
"You really think," Nolan said, his tone light but mocking, "you can walk into my company, demand the return of stolen property, and retrieve a criminal… all because you say it's the right thing to do?"
Steve's fists clenched at his sides.
He had no defense.
Nolan shook his head and sat down again, taking a slow sip of his tea.
Superheroes were so used to operating above consequence. They didn't even realize how much they expected the world to bend around them.
Steve gritted his teeth. He had no time for pride.
Scott needed him.
"What do you want?" Steve said, voice low. "What will it take to get Scott back?"
Nolan smiled.
At least Rogers wasn't completely naive.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Let's see… you're broke. Your reputation is trashed. Your shield is already mine."
He glanced at Steve, then back at Wanda.
"What could you possibly offer me?"
Rather than answer, he simply threw the question back at Steve.
"You tell me," Nolan said. "What can you trade?"
Steve stood taller.
"Anything I have to offer," he said evenly. "As long as it doesn't involve harming others or breaking the law."
Nolan's smile widened.
Exactly what I wanted to hear.
Because Steve wasn't just an individual.
Behind him were deeper resources.
Old shadows.
S.H.I.E.L.D. still existed—in the cracks, in the dark places. And wherever Nick Fury went, secrets followed.
Nolan leaned back.
"Simple," he said. "I want something from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s vault."
Steve's eyes narrowed.
Nolan began listing, almost lazily:
"The Destroyer's remains. Samples of Hulk's blood. Thor's biological data. Captain Marvel's energy readings. Prototype Infinity Stone derivatives."
He smiled coldly.
"Or maybe genetic samples from your precious mutants and Inhumans."
Each item he named carried enough power to alter the balance of the world.
Each one was locked away deep within S.H.I.E.L.D.'s black sites.
"You bring me one," Nolan said casually, "and you get Scott back."
Steve's face hardened.
"I don't have access to those."
"Then ask Nick Fury."
"But—"
Nolan cut him off sharply.
"That's the deal. Take it or leave it."
He drained the rest of his tea.
"I'm a businessman, Captain. I believe in fair exchange. Everyone gets what they want."
He set the cup down with a faint clink.
"But don't mistake me for one of your idealists. I hate thieves."
He met Steve's gaze evenly.
"If you don't move quickly, Scott will be officially charged with espionage. You think you can break him out of a maximum-security facility before the authorities get to him? By all means—try."
"And tell Fury," Nolan added, voice low and dangerous, "not to get cocky."
"He thinks carrying a pager linked to Captain Marvel makes him untouchable."
Nolan's eyes gleamed.
"But Earth's deeper than even he knows."
---
A click echoed across the room.
A voice crackled to life.
"You shouldn't know that," said Nick Fury.
The voice came from Wanda's shoulder—her coat, more precisely.
Steve stiffened.
Nolan just chuckled.
"I figured," he said. "You're predictable, Fury. Surveillance is your drug of choice."
He smirked at Wanda. "You really should check your wardrobe more often. Micro-drones are so easy to miss these days."
Steve's fists tightened at his sides.
Of course, Fury would tag Wanda. She was too powerful not to monitor.
Fury trusted no one.
Not even Captain America.
----
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