WebNovels

Chapter 15 - Daisy

# Chapter 15: Daisy

Antigo, New Mexico

Agent Phil Coulson stood in the center of the Bifrost impact crater, examining the residual energy patterns with the practiced eye of someone who'd spent years studying anomalies. S.H.I.E.L.D. technicians moved around him, collecting data and taking measurements.

The crater was massive—nearly ten meters across—and the scorch marks suggested an incredible release of energy. At the center, there was a perfectly circular depression where something had been resting before its sudden departure.

"Sir, we're detecting trace energy signatures throughout the area," a agent reported, holding up a handheld scanner. "They're consistent with the energy readings from an hour ago when that mysterious energy descended."

Coulson nodded thoughtfully. "Multiple individuals passed through here recently. At least five distinct energy signatures." He looked at the crater with narrowed eyes. "I have to report back, whatever crisis is unfolded here."

"What about the unknown individual?" another technician asked. "The one who appeared on satellite surveillance briefly before vanishing?"

"Lin Chen," Coulson replied, pulling up a file on his tablet. "Enhanced individual, independent operative, rescued Tony Stark from Afghanistan. Has been operating off-the-grid for the past month. He was present at the incident."

Coulson looked back at the impact crater, processing the tactical situation. "Lin Chen went to New York. He's pursuing his own agenda, separate from S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers Initiative. For now, that's acceptable. But we'll need to monitor his movements."

He turned to his team. "Document everything. I want a complete analysis of what happened here. And contact Director Fury—he needs to know that we have another unknown enhanced individual operating independently in the United States."

---

Lin Chen's Warehouse - Half a Day After Thor's Departure - Afternoon

Daisy sat hunched over her computer array, her fingers dancing across multiple keyboards with practiced precision.

Displays showing around her, each one showing different surveillance feeds from across the globe. The warehouse was quiet except for the soft hum of cooling systems and the occasional click of keys.

She'd been monitoring the situation since Thor disappeared through the Bifrost, leaving behind only residual energy signatures that her sophisticated equipment could detect.

The data streams flowed across her screens—security feeds from major cities, stock market updates, news broadcasts, and her own custom monitoring programs. Everything appeared stable. Normal. Unremarkable.

"Everything appears normal," Daisy muttered to herself, reviewing the feeds one more time. Her brow furrowed slightly with concentration. "No major incidents, no unusual energy signatures, no signs of dimensional instability. It's almost too quiet after everything that happened."

She leaned back in her chair, rubbing tired eyes. She hadn't slept much properly in the past two days, too focused on tracking Thor's disappearance and monitoring for any fallout from his departure.

A soft sound from the entrance made her look up sharply.

Lin Chen stepped through a shimmering portal that materialized in the center of the warehouse. The magical opening sealed itself behind him with a soft shimmer of energy.

"Boss! You're back!" Daisy exclaimed, jumping from her chair with genuine relief. She rushed toward him, then hesitated as she took in his appearance. His combat suit was dusty and worn, and there was an exhaustion in his expression that suggested that day had been demanding.

Uncertainty flickered across her face about the appropriate greeting. Should she hug him? Maintain professional distance?

"I am," Lin Chen replied, managing a slight smile despite his obvious fatigue. His eyes softened when they met hers. "Any issues while I was gone?"

"Nothing major," Daisy said, moving closer but still maintaining some physical distance. "Some gang activity in Hell's Kitchen—nothing we haven't seen before. A few car accidents that turned out to be human error. Standard police incidents. Nothing that required intervention." She paused, her eyes studying him carefully with concern. "Boss, you look exhausted. You should rest."

Lin Chen shook his head slightly, though his body language suggested he was fighting against the weight of fatigue. "I'm fine. Just needed to ensure Thor made it safely to Asgard."

He moved toward the living quarters section. "I'm going to shower and change. Then I'll sleep for a few hours."

"That's a good idea," Daisy agreed, turning back to her workstations. "I'll keep monitoring everything. If anything changes, I'll wake you immediately."

Lin Chen nodded, heading toward the bathroom.

---

Two Hours Later - Evening

Lin Chen emerged from the bathroom, his hair still slightly damp, wearing comfortable casual clothes instead of his combat gear. He looked more relaxed than Daisy had ever seen him, though exhaustion was still evident around his eyes.

He settled onto the couch, intending to rest before sleep claimed him entirely.

But his phone buzzed with a message notification before sleep could take him.

He reached for the phone, noting the time: 7:02 PM.

The message was from Daisy: "Happy birthday to me! Don't forget my gift, Boss!"

Below that were several emoji hearts and a cake symbol that made Lin Chen's tired mind take a moment to process the information.

Today is my assistant birthday, he realized, sitting up abruptly, his exhaustion temporarily forgotten. How did I not know this? How long has she been working for me without me even knowing when her birthday was?

He felt a sharp pang of guilt mixed with frustration at himself. Daisy had been completely loyal, working tirelessly to support his operations, sacrificing her own time and energy for his cause. And he'd neglected to even track such a basic personal detail about her.

He checked the time again: 7:05 PM. Most stores would still be open, though the window for shopping was narrowing.

Lin Chen grabbed his wallet and keys without hesitation, heading out into the evening without bothering to change into anything more formal.

---

New York City - Tech District

The tech store was bright and gleaming, filled with the latest gadgets and innovations. Sleek displays showcased cutting-edge equipment, and the air hummed with the quiet efficiency of modern retail.

Lin Chen moved through the aisles with clear purpose, his enhanced perception immediately identifying items that matched Daisy's interests based on his observations of her work habits and preferences over the past weeks.

She loved high-performance equipment—devices that pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible. She appreciated elegance in design—form following function but with aesthetic consideration. She valued functionality combined with visual appeal—tools that were beautiful precisely because they were designed so perfectly for their purpose.

He selected a custom-built portable workstation first—a compact but incredibly powerful computer that could run sophisticated hacking programs on the go. The display was crystal clear with vibrant colors and precise pixel density. The processor was state-of-the-art, capable of handling complex calculations and simultaneous data streams. The entire unit was housed in a sleek black case with minimal branding, designed for professionals who understood that the tool's capability mattered more than its appearance.

Next, he found a premium ergonomic keyboard with responsive mechanical keys that provided tactile feedback with every keystroke. The RGB lighting could be customized to different color schemes and patterns. The key switches were designed to reduce fatigue during extended work sessions.

Then came a pair of high-end wireless headphones specifically designed for audio clarity during long work sessions. The noise-cancellation technology would allow Daisy to focus on her work without external distractions. The sound quality was exceptional, capable of capturing nuances in audio that cheaper equipment would miss.

As a final touch, he selected a decorative LED sign that read "DAISY" in stylized letters with adjustable brightness and color options. It would look perfect mounted above her primary workstation, a personal marker of her space.

The total came to approximately $5,800—significant, but a small fraction of his available resources. More importantly, each item had been carefully chosen with her specific preferences and needs in mind.

He paid in cash and had the items packaged in elegant gift bags. The store clerk smiled knowingly as she wrapped the gifts, having seen this pattern before—someone buying gifts for a person who clearly mattered to them.

"Special someone?" she asked as she worked, her tone friendly but professional.

"A valued team member," Lin Chen replied, which was technically accurate but didn't fully capture the complicated mixture of gratitude, responsibility, and something deeper that he was beginning to recognize and accept.

---

Lin Chen's Warehouse - Night

Lin Chen arrived back at the warehouse just as full darkness had settled over the city, replacing the fading twilight.

He found Daisy still at her workstations, though she'd changed out of her working clothes into more casual attire—a soft gray hoodie and comfortable pants. Her dark hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and her face showed the strain of concentration.

She looked up when she heard him enter, her expression shifting from focused intensity to genuine surprise. Her eyes widened when she noticed the shopping bags in his hands.

"Boss, you're awake," she said, her voice carrying a note of concern. "Did you rest okay?" She hesitated, then added more softly, "What are those?"

"Happy birthday," Lin Chen said simply, setting the bags carefully on her desk beside her keyboards.

Daisy stared at the gifts in stunned silence, then looked up at Lin Chen with her mouth falling open slightly. "You... you actually remembered?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "I thought... I mean, I didn't expect you to..."

"You reminded me," Lin Chen replied gently with a slight smile.

"I should have known already without being reminded. I apologize for that oversight."

"No, no, it's not an oversight," Daisy said quickly, her voice carrying an emotion that Lin Chen couldn't quite identify at first—a mixture of relief and deep appreciation. "I just... nobody usually remembers. My birthday is usually just another day." She trailed off, looking down at the gifts.

She carefully opened the first gift bag, revealing the custom portable workstation. Her eyes widened with genuine delight as she ran her hands over the sleek casing, turning it over to examine every detail.

"This is... this is incredible," she breathed, her voice filled with wonder. "Do you know how much this costs? This is professional-grade equipment. I can't accept this. It's too much."

"You can," Lin Chen interrupted gently, pulling up a chair to sit beside her. "You've been working since we met, often for sixteen-hour days or longer. You deserve tools that match your capabilities. You've earned this."

Daisy opened the second gift—the premium ergonomic keyboard—and let out a small sound of appreciation. The third gift—the high-end wireless headphones—brought a genuine smile to her face as she examined the quality of construction. The final gift—the LED sign with her name—made her eyes actually tear up slightly.

"These are perfect," she said softly, her fingers tracing the letters of her name spelled out in lights. "Thank you, boss. This is... this is the nicest birthday I've had in a long time. Maybe ever."

She suddenly stood and did something unexpected: she hugged him.

It wasn't a casual gesture. It was genuine, full of emotional weight, her small frame pressing against his as her arms wrapped around his neck.

Lin Chen, after a moment of hesitation as he processed her action, carefully returned the embrace, one hand settling on her back in a protective gesture while the other remained at his side.

When she pulled away, her eyes were bright with unshed tears, though her expression was happy and satisfied.

"Come on," she said, taking his hand and gently tugging him toward the kitchen. "Let me cook us dinner. It's the least you deserve after getting me all these amazing gifts."

Daisy moved around the small kitchen with practiced efficiency, pulling fresh ingredients from the refrigerator and beginning preparation for a simple but elegant meal: grilled chicken with herbs, roasted vegetables seasoned carefully, and fresh pasta with a light cream sauce made from scratch.

Lin Chen sat at the small dining table, watching her work with genuine interest.

She hummed softly as she cooked, occasionally dancing a little between tasks—a shimmy while waiting for water to boil, a little spin while transferring something from the stove. Her happiness was evident in every movement, and something in Lin Chen's chest responded to it with an unfamiliar warmth.

"Tell me about yourself," Lin Chen said as she worked, his voice thoughtful. "Before you joined my organization. What was your life like?"

Daisy was quiet for a moment, focusing on dicing vegetables with careful, practiced precision. Her knife work was efficient and practiced, suggesting she'd spent time cooking before. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter than before.

"Not great," she admitted finally. "I grew up bouncing between foster homes. Nobody really wanted a foster kid, especially not one who was always getting into trouble—hacking school systems, breaking into secure networks, just doing whatever I could to prove I was smart, that I mattered."

She paused, her knife stilling for a moment as she looked off into the middle distance. "My birthday usually meant nothing. Maybe a card from a social worker if I was lucky. Usually not even that."

She resumed cutting with more force than necessary, as if channeling emotion into the task.

"I was heading down a dark path," she continued. "I was going to end up in prison or working for criminals. Then you found me in that phone shop, offered me a job, and suddenly everything changed. You treated me like I was valuable. Like my skills actually mattered. Like I mattered." She paused, glancing at him. "You're the first person who's ever really believed in me, boss."

Lin Chen met her gaze, feeling the weight of that statement settle over him. He understood now—Daisy's loyalty wasn't just professional. It came from a place of genuine gratitude for being treated as valuable by someone when she'd been invisible her entire life.

"You're the first person I've relied on since arriving in this world," he replied honestly, his voice steady. "You've made my organization possible. Without you, I would be operating blind—I wouldn't have the intelligence I need to make informed decisions. More than that, you've become someone I trust completely."

"Is that all I am?" Daisy asked quietly, her hands stilling in the middle of preparing vegetables. "Just a tool you use? Just useful intelligence gathering?"

"No," Lin Chen said firmly, and he meant it with complete sincerity. "You're more than that. You're a friend. You're a companion. You're... important to me as a person, not just for what you can do."

Daisy smiled, and there was something vulnerable in that expression—hope mixed with residual fear of rejection.

The dinner was ready a few minutes later, perfectly timed and fragrant. They ate together at the small table, conversation flowing easily between them. They talked about her interests, they talked about Lin Chen's plans for expanding his operations.

They talked about everything except the age difference or the complications that might arise from the growing connection developing between them.

After dinner, they moved to the living area, collapsing onto the comfortable couch. Daisy settled against Lin Chen's side naturally, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders—a gesture that felt right and necessary. The television played softly in the background, some comedy neither of them paid much attention to, but the physical closeness was what mattered.

Her hand rested on his chest. His fingers traced gentle patterns on her arm in a rhythm that felt soothing to both of them. When the movie ended, she looked up at him, her eyes dark with emotion and something deeper—a mixture of longing and vulnerability.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything. For seeing me. For believing in me. For treating me like I matter."

Lin Chen reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch tender and careful. "Thank you for being here. For supporting me. For trusting me."

What happened next was inevitable in a way that felt completely natural.

She leaned forward slowly, giving him time to pull away if he wanted to. He met her halfway, and their first kiss was gentle and tentative, full of emotional weight and careful consideration.

It deepened gradually as both of them became more confident, becoming more passionate but never losing its tenderness. Lin Chen pulled her closer, one hand threading through her dark hair while the other supported her lower back.

Daisy responded eagerly, her small hands gripping his shoulders with increasing confidence. When they finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, she whispered his name—not "boss," but his actual name—with a tone that carried complete vulnerability and absolute trust.

They moved together toward the bedroom, shedding clothes as they went.

In the darkness of the room, with only the faint glow of city lights filtering through the windows, they came together with a tenderness that spoke to emotional connection beyond physical attraction.

There were soft gasps and whispered words, tender touches and moments of intense passion.

There were moments of playful laughter and moments of serious emotion.

By the time they finally lay still, tangled together in the sheets with the satisfaction of complete connection, the relationship between them had transformed into something neither could deny or diminish.

---

The Next Morning

Lin Chen's eyes opened slowly to soft morning light filtering through the window.

Finally I'm no longer single, that also quite a pain that only single understand.

For a long moment, he simply lay still, his mind processing the night before. The memories were vivid and clear—crystal clear—in a way that even his enhanced mental processing couldn't diminish or rationalize away.

He turned his head slightly to look at her.

Daisy lay beside him, her breathing steady and peaceful in sleep. Her dark hair was spread across the pillow in disarray, and her face was peaceful in a way it rarely was when she was awake and working. But what struck Lin Chen most were the dried tears on her cheeks.

Even in sleep, she'd been crying—but not from sadness or pain. The slight smile on her lips, the relaxed set of her shoulders, the way her hand rested on his chest—all of it spoke of happiness, of satisfaction, of emotional fulfillment and release that went beyond physical pleasure.

Lin Chen felt something shift inside him—a protective barrier he'd constructed around his emotions beginning to crack and crumble away.

He'd been so consumed with power acquisition, with gaining strength and positioning himself advantageously in the Marvel Universe, that he'd almost forgotten what it meant to truly connect with another human being on a profound level.

Daisy had given him that gift. She'd trusted him completely with her vulnerability, had been honest about her fears and insecurities, had opened her heart to him without reservation or protection.

He carefully reached out and wiped away the remaining tear tracks from her cheek with his thumb, his touch infinitely gentle. She stirred slightly at the contact but didn't wake, simply leaning into his touch with a small sound of contentment and belonging.

Lin Chen realized, with genuine surprise and something approaching wonder, that he cared deeply about this young woman. Not just as a team member or as a valuable operational asset, but as a person in her own right. Her happiness mattered to him. Her safety and wellbeing mattered to him. Her trust was something he valued more than any power he'd acquired through his system.

Several hours later, Daisy woke gradually, her eyes fluttering open slowly. For just a moment, she seemed confused about where she was, then memory of the night before returned and her face flushed a deep pink. She looked at Lin Chen with a complex mixture of shyness, satisfaction, and slight uncertainty about how he felt.

"Morning," she said softly, her voice carrying a vulnerability that made her sound younger than her years.

"Morning," Lin Chen replied, his voice warm and certain. He brushed a strand of hair from her face with deliberate tenderness. "How do you feel?"

"Like I'm dreaming," Daisy admitted, a small smile playing at her lips despite her embarrassment. "Like this isn't real and I'm going to wake up and everything will be back to normal and last night was just my imagination running away with me."

"This is real," Lin Chen assured her with absolute certainty, his dark eyes holding hers. "And I don't intend for things to go back to normal. Unless you want them to."

Daisy's expression softened completely, and she leaned forward to kiss him gently.

What followed was slower and more intimate than the previous night's passion, focusing on tenderness rather than urgency—a continuation and deepening of the emotional connection they'd established rather than an expression of primal desire.

Daisy's want to stand up but felt her lower body is still trembling, feeling strange sensation and pain from last night. She look at lin Chen with resentment, He understood what she meant, But he can only display a wry smile.

Later, Lin Chen made breakfast in the small kitchen, moving around with newfound ease and comfort.

They did breakfast together, they occasionally touched—a brush of hands when passing in the confined space, a stealing kiss on the cheek while eating, fingers intertwined while pouring coffee. There was something deeply domestic and comfortable about it, despite the unusual circumstances of their meeting and the unconventional nature of their relationship.

"You're different this morning," Daisy observed, watching him prepare eggs with more care and attention than she'd ever seen him give to cooking. Her tone was thoughtful rather than questioning.

"Am I?" Lin Chen asked, though he knew exactly what she meant.

"Yeah. You're... softer. Less guarded and distant." She tilted her head, studying him with genuine affection. "You seem more human, somehow. Less like a calculating machine. I like this version of you."

"I like this version of myself too," Lin Chen admitted.

---

S.H.I.E.L.D. Rehabilitation Ward - New York - Morning

The sound of a baseball game broadcast echoed through a sparse room from an old radio on a nearby table.

The commentary was enthusiastic but somewhat garbled: "The first pitch, very high, fell outside the strike zone. The audience knows that he can create a whole new situation when he swings the bat. On the court, the weather is fine today."

The sound woke a patient in the rehabilitation ward.

The patient opened his eyes slowly and carefully, confusion evident in every aspect of his expression.

The room was unfamiliar to him—clinical white walls, a slowly spinning ceiling fan providing circulation, medical equipment positioned strategically around the bed. He felt disoriented and deeply uncertain about where he was or how he'd arrived here.

The patient looked around blankly, his mind struggling to process information that didn't fit any of his existing memories.

"Good morning," a woman's voice said gently from the doorway. A woman in military uniform walked in, glancing at her watch with professional efficiency. "Or should I say good noon."

"Where am I?" the patient asked, his voice rough and hoarse from disuse, suggesting he hadn't spoken in quite some time.

"Rehabilitation room in New York City," the woman replied, her tone professional but not unkind. She had the measured patience of someone trained in dealing with confused patients. "You're recovering from a medical procedure."

The patient listened to the sound on the radio, and his confusion deepened further. Something about the commentary bothered him—nagged at his memory in a way he couldn't quite articulate.

He asked again: "Where am I exactly? What city? What year?"

"I don't understand what you mean," the woman said, maintaining her patience. "Could you clarify what you're asking?"

The patient sat up slowly with obvious difficulty, his movements suggesting his body was recovering from extended inactivity. His eyes focused on the radio with sudden intensity. "This game was played in May 1941. I know because I was there."

The patient stood up seriously, his movements becoming more coordinated despite his obvious weakness. He walked toward the woman, his eyes searching hers with growing intensity. "Where am I? I'll ask again, and I need the actual truth, not evasions."

"Captain Rogers," the woman said gently, beginning to understand the nature of his concern.

Steve Rogers. The name hung in the air between them, and in that moment, Steve understood that something profound had changed—that he was no longer in the time period he remembered.

"Captain Rogers, wait," the woman said, but Steve was already moving toward the door with determined purpose.

"All agents, alarm," came a voice through the intercoms as two heavily armed soldiers entered the room with weapons ready.

When Steve saw the weapons, his soldier's instincts activated immediately and completely. His body reacted automatically with the muscle memory of someone trained extensively in combat.

He moved with surprising speed and controlled power, kicking both soldiers out of the way with just enough force to disable them without causing permanent injury, and sprinted down the corridor with military efficiency.

What he found beyond the ward was shocking and deeply disturbing.

The "ward" was actually a sophisticated simulation. The walls outside the "room" were actually massive video screens, displaying a realistic cityscape with perfect detail. The environment was entirely artificial—a high-tech test chamber specifically designed to acclimate someone to a new time period gradually.

But Steve Rogers didn't know that yet, and the realization that his environment was artificial filled him with panic.

He ran, his enhanced physique—enhanced by the super soldier serum that had been injected into his veins decades ago—carrying him forward faster than a normal human could run. His breathing became rapid as his military training warred with his growing sense of displacement.

"Captain Rogers, wait," the woman shouted after him from the building entrance, but Steve had already made it outside and beyond hearing range.

He ran onto the street, but his mind couldn't process what he was seeing. The surroundings had changed dramatically and incomprehensibly from the 1940s he remembered. The buildings were taller and constructed of materials he didn't recognize.

The technology was completely incomprehensible. The cars were sleek and futuristic, nothing like the vehicles from his era. The clothing people wore seemed strange and unfamiliar.

Confusion and fear gripped him completely, and for a moment, he thought he was losing his mind.

At that moment, black cars suddenly surrounded him from all directions, cutting off his escape routes with tactical precision.

"Stop for a while, soldier," a voice called out—calm, authoritative, and carrying the weight of someone accustomed to command.

Steve looked up to see a tall Black man wearing a black eye patch emerge from one of the vehicles. The man had a distinctive and memorable appearance—completely bald head, one eye covered with a tactical eye patch, an aura of quiet but absolute authority that was unmistakable.

"Sorry, about the previous broadcast," the man said, his tone apologetic but completely controlled. "But we think it's the best approach to this situation. Let me explain, slowly and clearly."

The Black man looked at the confused soldier with understanding and something that might have been sympathy.

"Tell what?" Steve asked, his hand instinctively coming up in a defensive posture despite his lack of a weapon. His training made the stance automatic.

"Captain, you have been asleep, sleeping for nearly 70 years," the man said gently but clearly. His single eye studied Steve's face carefully, watching closely for his reaction and assessing his mental state.

Steve Rogers stared at the man in complete disbelief. He looked around at the strange surroundings—the towering buildings of an unfamiliar architecture, the unrecognizable technology everywhere, the people dressed in clothing styles he didn't recognize.

"Asleep for 70 years?" Steve repeated, his voice hollow and barely above a whisper. "That's not possible. That can't be possible."

"I'm afraid it is, Captain," the man replied with the tone of someone delivering difficult news. "I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. What I'm about to tell you will be difficult to hear, but you have indeed been in suspended animation since 1945."

Steve Rogers felt the world tilt around him in a nauseating way. A mission. A crash into ice. Darkness. And then... waking up in this strange place that made no sense.

A beautiful figure flashed through Steve Rogers' mind—Peggy Carter, the only woman he'd ever truly loved. He had missed a date with her nearly a century ago. He had missed an entire lifetime with her.

Steve Rogers struggled to comprehend the enormity of what he'd just been told, and for the first time since waking, he understood the true meaning of loss.

---

America News Broadcast

"Breaking news tonight: The hero of America, Captain America, has been recovered and revived after more than 70 years in suspended animation. The legendary soldier, thought lost since World War II, awakened earlier today at a medical facility in New York."

The broadcast continued with footage of Steve Rogers in New York streets, looking confused but determined.

---

In this world of unprecedented threats and extraordinary abilities, Captain America is recognized not as the strongest in raw power—not compared to gods or gamma-enhanced beings—but as one of the greatest tactical minds ever to exist.

While ordinary firearms can cause injury to his enhanced physiology, the damage is minimal and comparable to a scratch on normal human skin.

The super soldier serum grants him remarkable healing capabilities, approaching but not quite matching enhanced individuals with actual regenerative factors. His immunity to virtually all Earth-based diseases and toxins makes him exceptionally resilient against environmental threats.

More importantly, Captain America possesses mastery of virtually every military skill known to modern warfare: advanced combat techniques, intelligence gathering, code-breaking, explosives, tactical planning, survival skills, and countless others. His military genius combined with an unwavering moral compass have made him the natural commander of the Avengers Initiative.

This is why teammates follow his orders without question in battle. This is why he is regarded as one of the most valuable assets on Earth, despite not possessing superhuman strength comparable to gods or super soldiers. His mind is his greatest weapon, and his leadership is invaluable.

---

Lin Chen's Warehouse

Lin Chen and Daisy suddenly saw the news broadcast about Captain America's awakening.

"Boss, look at this," she said, "They're announcing that Captain America is awake. The frozen soldier from World War II has been revived after 70 years."

Lin Chen watched the broadcast with genuine interest, his mind already processing the implications of this development. Steve Rogers—Captain America—would be an important player in the events to come. The Avengers needed a leader, a moral compass, someone who could unite people with different agendas and abilities.

"This changes things significantly," Lin Chen said quietly, his tone thoughtful.

"With Captain America awake, S.H.I.E.L.D. will be reorganizing their operations. They'll be forming the Avengers Initiative officially now that they have a proper commander."

"Is that a problem for us?" Daisy asked, her professional concerns asserting themselves despite the intimate connection they'd just established.

"Not necessarily," Lin Chen replied, considering the strategic situation carefully.

His phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. He opened it to find: "Need to meet. New developments. Neutral location. Tomorrow, noon. - Fury"

Lin Chen showed the message to Daisy.

"He wants to meet with you," she observed, her eyes showing concern mixed with understanding. "That could be good or dangerous."

"Both, probably," Lin Chen agreed with a slight smile. "But it's necessary. If Fury's reaching out directly, something significant is happening in the world—something that requires my attention or cooperation."

The night settled over New York City, and Lin Chen held Daisy close.

---

More Chapters