Fury's gaze stayed fixed on Matt through the glass as he spoke, his voice dropping low.
"We'll keep his abilities classified. Black file. Only the highest levels will know."
Phil nodded once—relieved, but still tense.
Fury continued without looking at him.
"He'll enter the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy under standard operations. On paper, a normal recruit."
Phil raised an eyebrow. "And off the record?"
Fury finally turned his head, his expression unreadable.
"Off the record, if the kid shows the kind of potential I think he has… I'll consider him for the Avengers Initiative."
Phil blinked. "…That soon?"
"Coulson," Fury said, "objects that rewrite human biology don't just fall into people's hands. We don't get second chances with things like this. We prepare."
He crossed his arms.
"But the real question is—does your nephew actually have powers? Beyond the healing."
Phil sighed, as he thought of blue energy Matt showed him and then healing.
"I don't know," he admitted. "So far we've seen rapid regeneration. Maybe some enhanced physical capabilities based on his data. Nothing definitive."
Fury nodded slightly. "Figures. These things never reveal themselves all at once."
He looked back into the room at Matt, who was lying calmly under the scanner lights.
"What about his stability?" Fury asked. "He holding up?"
Phil followed his gaze. "He is. But he doesn't understand the scale of what's happening to him."
Fury exhaled through his nose.
"He doesn't need to. Not yet."
Phil frowned lightly. "…And when he asks?"
"He'll get the truth," Fury said. "Just not all of it at once."
Phil nodded slowly.
Fury stepped back from the glass.
"We keep this quiet. No files, no chatter, no unnecessary eyes. Until we know what he is—what he can do—we play it slow."
Phil straightened. "Understood."
Fury turned, adjusting his coat.
"When he's ready," he added, "I'll decide where he belongs. Fieldwork. Or something… like Avengers."
Phil didn't comment.
Fury glanced at the monitors one last time.
"Keep him safe, Coulson. If he spirals, if he loses control… it won't be him paying the price. It'll be everyone else."
Phil nodded.
"I won't let that happen."
"Good," Fury said, already walking away. "Let me know the second anything changes."
Phil watched him disappear down the hallway, then turned back toward the glass, his expression weighed down by the responsibility suddenly laid on his shoulders.
Inside, Matt shifted slightly under the scanner lights—completely unaware.
Phil murmured to himself,
"I promised I'd always protect him, keep him away from my life… Sorry I wasn't able to."
He wasn't speaking to anyone in particular—just the empty air, the guilt heavy on his face.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself back into control just as Kora walked toward him.
"How much longer is it gonna take?" she asked looking at him.
"Just a few more checks," Phil said. "Then we can go back home."
She nodded, folding her arms, worry still written across her features.
A moment passed before Coulson spoke again.
"Kora… is it true you were about to commit suicide when Matt found you?"
Kora hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes," she said softly. "My family… we were very secretive. Controlling. I felt like I was living in a prison. I couldn't breathe anymore. It was eating me alive."
She looked down at her hands.
"I felt dead inside already. I just wanted the pain to stop. And then…" a small, shaky breath escaped her, "Matt literally fell from the sky. Crashed right onto me."
Her voice trembled—not from sadness, but from the surreal memory.
"He helped me. Stopped me from going through with it. If he hadn't appeared that day… I don't think I'd be standing here."
Phil exhaled slowly.
He looked back at Matt through the glass—calm, oblivious, lying under the scanner lights.
"Seems like he saved a lot more than just your life," Phil said quietly.
Kora nodded softly.
"And I'm never going to forget that."
Time passed—nearly half the night—before the doctors finally stepped out with their results. The door slid open, and Matt walked out, stretching his shoulders.
"Damn," he muttered, "that took forever."
Phil was still speaking with the doctor, but Matt approached them anyway.
"So," Matt asked, "what did they say?"
Phil turned toward him.
"You're more than fine," he said. "Perfectly fine, actually. Nothing wrong with you at all."
Matt raised an eyebrow."I'm guessing that means there is a 'but' coming."
Phil exhaled.
"Hm. Unfortunately… yes." He tapped the folder in his hand. "Your genetic makeup—it's like it evolved to the next level. You aren't just enhanced. You're a… refined version of a human being."
Matt blinked.
"So basically… Captain America?"
Phil gave a small nod.
"Yeah. You're basically a Captain America-level super-soldier. According to the doctor, your genetic profile matches Steve Rogers' enhancements by almost ninety percent."
Matt stared at him.
"Well," he said slowly, "…that explains why I feel like I could bench-press a car."
Kora stepped up beside him, her expression a mix of awe and worry.
Phil glanced between them.
"Whatever that stone did," he said, "it didn't just heal you. It perfected you. Improved every part of your physiology."
Matt rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"Cool," he muttered. "…I think?"
Kora squeezed his arm gently.
"I still like you the same," she said.
Matt grinned.
"Good. 'Cause I'm still me. Just… upgraded."
Phil sighed.
"Let's get you both home. We've had a long night."
Matt and Kora nodded, and Matt let out a quiet breath of relief.
Finally, it was over.
They climbed into the car, the engine humming softly as Phil started driving. Matt stared out the window for a moment, then turned toward him.
"So… what did your spy organization say about me?" Matt asked.
"About everything that happened?"
Phil kept his eyes on the road.
"Hm. They want you in their ranks," he said plainly. "Especially now that you're… well, like Captain America."
Matt blinked.
"So I'm dropping out of college?"
"No," Phil said immediately. "You've only got six months left. I asked them to postpone your induction until after you graduate."
He continued,
"Once you're done, you can join the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy of Operations. That's where we train agents. I went there myself."
Matt nodded slowly, relieved.
Phil added, "Oh, by the way—while we were waiting, I asked someone to prepare new identification for Kora."
He handed a folder back to her.
"I kept the same first name," he said. "Now you're Kora Johnson. Your file says you immigrated from China and are a student here."
Matt looked at her, surprised.
"She's in my class suddenly?" he asked.
Phil shrugged lightly.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has its ways," he said. "We can make things happen."