If the academy revealed itself too early, it would end up shackled by treaties and oversight, hunted the moment it refused to kneel. Rowan had no intention of letting that happen. Governments liked to believe they could handle any crisis on their own. Reality kept proving otherwise. Let Iron Front push them to the edge first. Only then would authority understand what real leverage looked like.
"So you're calling us traitors?" Garrett shot to his feet, fury flashing across his face. "People who've fought for SHIELD and the world, who've clawed their way back from death more times than we can count?"
"That's an insult," he snapped.
Logan's claws slid out with a metallic whisper. "Watch your tone when you talk to our headmaster," he growled. "I'm feeling artistic today."
Ward reacted instantly, drawing his pistol and aiming it straight at Logan's chest.
Logan laughed. "Kid, that toy won't even slow me down."
"Enough!" Coulson stood, palms raised. "Grant, lower the gun."
Rowan waved a hand, calm as ever. "Coulson, Natasha, we trust you. That's not the issue. The issue is everyone else. Ask yourselves something simple. How did Iron Front know where the safe house was? Why were Winter Soldiers already waiting?"
Natasha stood. "He's right. We need to be sure."
Clint nodded once in agreement.
She had suspected it herself, even before the ambush. But suspicion meant nothing without proof. And Rowan had proof. So did Professor Xavier.
"That's why I came here," Natasha continued. "If we can't confirm who's clean, we can't move forward. Fury left contingencies behind. They only matter if Iron Front isn't still inside us."
Garrett's expression hardened. "You're joking, right? You know what's in our heads. Classified operations. Black files. And you're asking us to let an outsider read our memories? He can rewrite them. I don't trust him."
The room wavered. Even agents with nothing to hide felt uneasy. A mind laid bare was worse than any physical search.
Garrett turned to Coulson. "What do you say?"
Coulson hesitated, then nodded. "John… Fury's gone. Whatever secrets we had don't matter anymore. I trust Rowan. And I need you to trust him too. This is just verification."
"I'll submit," Natasha said. "So will I," Clint added.
Maria Hill stood as well. "That settles it."
Four senior agents had agreed. The decision was made.
Garrett scoffed. "Not me. I won't let someone dig through my head. I'll deal with Iron Front my way." He glanced around the room. "Anyone who wants to leave, come with me. Then you won't have to worry about imaginary traitors."
"Sir," Ward said immediately, stepping to Garrett's side. "I'm with you."
Another agent followed them.
Coulson moved in front of Garrett, visibly strained. "John, this isn't the time. Please."
Garrett pulled his pistol and placed it in Coulson's hand. "Then shoot me. Or let me walk. I trust you. I don't trust them."
Rowan applauded softly. "A moving performance," he said. "Truly."
Garrett turned. "What did you say?"
"I said," Rowan replied pleasantly, "you're not leaving."
He nodded to Bruce Banner. "Show them."
The wall behind them lit up. Surveillance footage filled the screen. Dozens of armored figures moved along the academy's perimeter, searching, circling, unable to see what was right in front of them.
Winter Soldiers.
Natasha stiffened. "Those are the ones from the safe house."
"They followed us," Hill said sharply.
Thor, leaning against the doorway, snorted. "Or someone led them here."
Silence fell.
Rowan's smile returned, quiet and certain. "So no," he said. "No one is going anywhere."