“I have a question,” Tony asked, hand raised high like an overeager teacher’s pet. “Do you need to be a Captain to be considered for the position of leader? I'm sorry, co-leader. Or is this just a happy accident?” He looked at Steve and Carol in turn. “I’m not trying to impugn anyone’s honor here, especially the man who bleeds red, white and blue, but…”
“I’m pretty sure it’s just red, Tony,” Steve said.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Carol said, smirking.
From the implacable look on Fury’s face it looked like he might do what he so often did when Tony ran his mouth and simply pretended not to hear him. But after a brief pause he shook his head. “No accident. If you're asking why I chose them to lead, I think you can already figure that out yourself, and if you're asking why you weren't considered, Stark, I think you can figure that out too but I would be more than happy to enlighten you.”
“I doubt we have time to hear all the ways I don't measure up,” Tony said genially.
“We definitely don’t,” Clint agreed.
“I would be happy to make time,” Fury suggested. “But if you are willing to put in the work, Stark, I'm sure a leadership position is not completely out of the question.”
“Now that sounds like the kind of crap they feed you at a new employee orientation,” Tony said, grinning. “You too can scale the corporate ladder…”
“Isn't that taken verbatim from the Stark Industries training video?”
Fury looked levelly at him. “Stranger things have happened, Stark.”
“I have to agree,” Natasha muttered and shot both Steve and Carol a secretive, knowing look.
“Would SHIELD support someone so…” He paused, searching for the right word.
“Enlightened?” Clint snarked.
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