Phil Coulson adjusted his tie as he stepped out of the sleek black SUV, his sharp eyes scanning the sprawling Malibu mansion before him. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the Pacific Ocean, but Coulson wasn't here to admire the view. He had a job to do—one that required tact, precision, and a keen eye for detail.
Tony Stark's sudden return had sent shockwaves through the world, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was keen to understand the full story. Coulson had been tasked with gathering information, and he wasn't one to leave any stone unturned.
---
Coulson was greeted at the door by Pepper Potts, who led him to the living room where Tony and Ho Yinsen were seated. Tony looked up as Coulson entered, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance.
"Mr. Stark," Coulson began, his tone polite but firm. "I'm Agent Phil Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. We'd like to ask you a few questions about your recent… ordeal."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "S.H.I.E.L.D., huh? Sounds important. What do you want to know?"
Coulson took a seat, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp. "We're trying to piece together what happened in Afghanistan. Specifically, how you managed to return to the U.S. without any record of your entry."
Tony leaned back, his arms crossed. "I'm a resourceful guy. I found a way."
Coulson's eyes narrowed slightly. "Mr. Stark, you were in a remote part of Afghanistan, held captive by a terrorist group. There's no record of you boarding a plane, a ship, or even crossing a border. How did you get here?"
Tony exchanged a glance with Yinsen, who remained silent. "Let's just say I had some help," Tony said vaguely.
Coulson leaned forward, his tone earnest. "Mr. Stark, if someone helped you, we need to know who they are. This could be a matter of national security."
Tony smirked. "Sorry, Agent Coulson. I'm not at liberty to discuss my travel arrangements."
Coulson sighed, realizing he wasn't going to get a straight answer from Tony. He turned to Yinsen. "Dr. Yinsen, perhaps you can shed some light on the situation?"
Yinsen shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't help you, Agent Coulson. My priority was ensuring Mr. Stark's safety. The details of our return are… classified."
Coulson studied them both, his mind racing. There was something they weren't telling him—something big. But he knew pushing further would only make them defensive. He decided to change tactics.
"Alright," Coulson said, standing. "Thank you for your time. If you remember anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us."
Tony gave him a mock salute. "Will do, Agent."
---
Back in the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Coulson briefed Nick Fury on his meeting with Tony and Yinsen. "They're hiding something," Coulson said. "Tony's evasive, and Yinsen's playing the loyal friend. But there's more to this story."
Fury leaned back in his chair, his one eye narrowing. "What's your gut telling you, Coulson?"
"That they didn't get out of Afghanistan on their own," Coulson replied. "Someone helped them. Someone with resources and skills we don't know about."
Fury nodded. "Keep digging. If there's a player out there we don't know about, we need to find them."
Coulson spent the next few days following every lead. He traced the taxi Tony had taken from Long Island, questioning the driver and reviewing security footage. But there was no record of Tony or Yinsen arriving in the area. It was as if they had appeared out of thin air.
Then came the breakthrough. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s financial analysts flagged a suspicious transaction: $100 million transferred from Stark Industries to an Indian bank account. The account belonged to one Paramveer Singh, a 18-year-old Indian national studying in New York City.
Coulson's interest was piqued. He dug deeper, uncovering Paramveer's travel history. The kid had recently visited Afghanistan, but there was no record of him returning to the U.S. And yet, here he was, back in New York, with $100 million in his account.
---
Coulson sat at his desk, staring at the file on Paramveer Singh. The kid's background was clean—too clean. He was a student at Midtown High School, with no criminal record, no known affiliations, and no significant financial history—until now.
But there were red flags. The $100 million transfer. The unexplained trip to Afghanistan. The lack of a return record. And then there was the timing—Paramveer had returned to the U.S. around the same time Tony Stark had miraculously reappeared.
Coulson's instincts told him there was a connection. But what was it? How did a 18-year-old student fit into all of this?
---
Coulson decided to pay Paramveer a visit. He arrived at the small apartment in Queens, knocking on the door with his usual polite demeanor. Paramveer opened the door, his expression calm but guarded.
"Paramveer Singh?" Coulson asked, flashing his S.H.I.E.L.D. badge. "I'm Agent Phil Coulson. I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Paramveer studied him for a moment, then stepped aside. "Come in."
Coulson entered the apartment, his eyes scanning the modest living space. It was clean but sparsely furnished, with a laptop on the coffee table and a few textbooks scattered around.
"What can I do for you, Agent Coulson?" Paramveer asked, taking a seat.
Coulson sat across from him, his tone friendly but probing. "I'm investigating a recent financial transaction involving your bank account. A sum of $100 million was transferred to you from Stark Industries. Can you explain that?"
Paramveer shrugged. "I provided a service to Mr. Stark. He paid me for it."
"What kind of service?" Coulson asked, his gaze sharp.
Paramveer smiled faintly. "That's between me and Mr. Stark."
Coulson leaned forward, his tone earnest. "Mr. Singh, this is a matter of national security. If you're involved in something, we need to know."
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Paramveer's expression remained calm. "I'm just a student, Agent Coulson. I don't know anything about national security."
Coulson studied him, his mind racing. The kid was good—too good. He wasn't giving anything away. But Coulson wasn't ready to give up.
"Alright," Coulson said, standing. "Thank you for your time. If you think of anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us."
Paramveer nodded. "Will do."
As Coulson left the apartment, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. Paramveer Singh was hiding something—something big. And Coulson was determined to find out what it was.