Chapter Text
The first time Nick Fury meets Tony Stark, Tony is maybe eleven, tiny, smart-mouthed, and sporting the black eye to prove it. He’s a miniature genius, and Nick, still in training, doesn’t like that he likes the sweet kid.
The second time Nick Fury meets Tony Stark, Tony has just begun attending MIT, just got saved from a bunch of kidnappers who wanted Howard’s latest designs, and has almost perfected an iron mask of sarcasm and idiocy to hide the intelligence and softness underneath. Tony doesn’t see Fury, though, now working higher up and supervising from a distance.
The third time Nick Fury meets Tony Stark, it’s as the cellist, and Tony is holding hands with Nick’s best friend and most trusted ally.
Nick isn’t sure how he feels about this. As much as he respects Stark’s intellect, and his typical mask of indifference, the man is a potential threat, and SHIELD is not exactly neutral on the subject. “Nick Fury,” he introduces himself.
“Tony Stark,” Stark replies, voice just barely betraying his nerves as he tries to curtail his usual sarcastic media face. He’s trying to be genuine.
Nick nods. “So you’re dating Cheese, then?” he asks, unnecessarily.
That surprises a snicker out of Stark, and Nick’s pretty pleased by it. “Cheese?”
Phil groans, and Nick smirks back. “Oh yes,” he replies. “Cheese.”
Whatever Nick’s professional feelings on the matter, he and Stark are going to get along just fine.