Marvel: As Security Guard

"I belong to the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."

"Sorry, the Strategic Homeland what now?"

"The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."

"The Strategic something Logistics Division?"

"The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."

"The Strategic what Logistics Division?"

Agent Coulson gave Shane a long-suffering look. He could tell the guy was messing with him on purpose.

Shane grinned. "Just kidding, don't get mad. Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, huh? That's a real mouthful."

"Yeah, we're actually working on shortening it." Coulson wasn't offended—honestly, even he found the name ridiculous sometimes.

"So, what do you need from me?"

"We understand you were the one who rescued Mr. Stark, so we'd like to ask you a few questions."

Shane nodded. Before Coulson could get started, he decided to save them both some time.

"I was hired privately by Miss Potts to track down possible locations where Mr. Stark might have been held. But I wasn't the one who rescued him. By the time I found him, he had already broken out on his own. We contacted Miss Potts with a satellite phone, and the military took it from there." He told the truth—mostly. Some details were better left out.

"Understood. Thank you, Mr. Hunt."

Coulson compared Shane's story with the intel they had. Everything lined up—except the part about how exactly Stark had managed to escape.

Before he could push further, Pepper walked over, and Coulson shifted his attention to her, leaving Shane alone.

Shane glanced at Tony, who was sitting on the ground, encouraging everyone else to do the same. Then, in true Tony Stark fashion, he dropped an absolute bombshell: he was shutting down Stark Industries' weapons division.

The room erupted. Reporters leapt to their feet, shouting questions, trying to squeeze more headline-worthy quotes out of him.

Obadiah, looking like a man whose entire world had just crumbled, stepped in fast, hustling Tony off the stage before he could say anything else reckless.

Shane decided that was his cue to leave. He turned to make a quiet exit, but Pepper found him first.

"Shane, I need another favor." She looked at him, eyes practically pleading.

He sighed. "Alright, let's hear it. If it's something I can actually do."

After Tony's successful rescue, Pepper's trust in Shane had skyrocketed. And now, after Tony's unexpected announcement, she knew chaos was about to hit. She wanted Shane to stick around and protect Tony for a while.

"…"

'Are you kidding me? After all that, I'm still ending up as a bodyguard? Am I ever gonna start my actual security job at this point?'

Shane looked at her, his face twisted like a man suffering from the world's worst constipation.

'Fine, fine. Considering I accidentally caught a glimpse of you changing earlier while looking at that triangle diagram, let's just call this my paid content.'

Shaking his head, he spread his hand.

"Just make sure to pay me. I still haven't gotten my last payment. And just so we're clear, I'm not taking orders from Happy."

"Got it. I'll handle the payment, and you don't have to worry about Happy," Pepper promised, relieved that Shane had agreed.

After parting ways with her, Shane caught up with Tony, while Happy eyed him like a hawk.

"Here to be my bodyguard? Let me guess—Pepper set this up?" Tony smirked.

'You two really do share a brain, huh…'

Shane rolled his eyes.

At the word "bodyguard," Happy's gaze instantly sharpened. His expression screamed suspicion. It was like he could already see himself getting replaced. He turned to Tony with the look of a betrayed lover, silently asking, Why are you cheating on me?

Tony, still coming down from the high of the press conference, suddenly found himself in a much better mood. He patted Happy's shoulder reassuringly. "Relax, buddy. You'll always be my bodyguard."

Happy beamed, his faith in Tony restored. He ran off to get the car, his initial plan to pull rank on Shane momentarily forgotten. But with reporters still swarming around, he had no choice but to start the car and drive Tony and Shane away from the scene.

Their destination? The Stark Industries factory.

Despite Tony's bold declaration about shutting down the weapons division, it was clear he didn't actually have a plan yet. He wandered inside, staring up at the massive Arc Reactor like it held all the answers.

Meanwhile, outside the factory, Shane leaned against the car, arms crossed, waiting.

Then came the voice.

"Hey! New kid!"

Shane turned to see Happy standing there with a smug grin.

"You talking to me?"

"Being Tony Stark's bodyguard isn't as easy as you think, you know?"

"Oh yeah?" Shane smirked.

"Let me teach you a thing or two. I used to be a professional boxer," Happy bragged. His plan? Use this "lesson" to remind the new guy who was in charge.

Shane gave him a once-over. "Uh… I don't think that's a great idea. What if something happens?"

Happy, completely misreading the concern, laughed. "Hahaha, don't worry! I'll go easy on you. Come on, hit me!"

???

What kind of self-punishment request was this?

Looking at the sheer confidence on Happy's face, Shane really didn't have the heart to tell him that if he actually punched, the guy would probably end up on his knees, begging for mercy.

When Shane still refused to make a move, Happy huffed. "Alright then, I'll attack, and you defend. A good bodyguard needs solid defense, too!"

Without waiting for Shane's agreement, Happy threw a jab straight at his face. In his head, he was already picturing the aftermath—Shane clutching a bloody nose, stumbling back, looking pathetic. And when Tony walked out and saw it? That would just reinforce who the real bodyguard was.

'Huh? Why isn't this kid holding his nose and falling to the ground?'

Something was off. Happy hadn't felt the impact of his punch landing. Looking down, he saw why—Shane had effortlessly caught his wrist in midair.

Happy blinked. Then he tried to yank his arm back.

It didn't budge.

Shane's grip was like an iron clamp, completely unshakable. Happy's face turned red from the effort, but no matter how hard he struggled, his hand remained trapped.

Shane watched Happy's pained expression for a moment, then decided he'd had enough fun. He let go.

Still pulling back with all his strength, Happy suddenly found himself stumbling. Before he could regain his balance—

Thud!

He landed flat on his butt.

Happy scrambled to his feet, ready to say something to salvage his dignity, when Obadiah Stane arrived from the press conference. He barely spared Shane a glance, took a puff of his cigar, and turned straight to Happy. "Is Tony inside?"

Happy, still dusting himself off, nodded.

Obadiah strode into the factory without another word.

Inside the Factory

Tony and Obadiah stood before the Arc Reactor, deep in discussion. Tony assumed Obadiah had already heard about his success in miniaturizing the reactor from either Rhodes or Pepper.

As Obadiah's eyes lingered on the glowing device embedded in Tony's chest, he felt an unexpected sense of relief.

'Well, well. My golden goose has laid another golden egg.'

Switching to his usual fatherly act, Obadiah softened his expression, playing the concerned mentor. He comforted Tony, pretending to support his decision, offering wisdom as if he truly had Tony's best interests at heart. He even advised him to keep a low profile for now, promising to handle the board members personally.

With an affectionate farewell, he sent Tony on his way.

Inside the Car

Tony leaned back in his seat, mulling things over for a moment before speaking. "Congrats. This is probably going to be the easiest job of your career. Obadiah will take care of everything, and I'll be keeping a low profile for now."

"Great. I really didn't want to be stuck in a room with a grown man all day." Sitting in the passenger seat, Shane replied casually, matching Tony's relaxed tone.

Tony immediately turned to him, scandalized. "You have any idea what kind of people I used to spend my nights with?!"