The next morning, Blair sat in the office with Tony, who was staring at the TV as Rhodey addressed the media. The screen flickered with images of Stark Industries, now under heavy scrutiny after the events of the previous night.

Rhodey's voice was calm and measured as he spoke. "You've all received the official statement of what occurred at Stark Industries last night. There have been unconfirmed reports that a robotic prototype malfunctioned and caused damage to the arc reactor. Fortunately, a member of Tony Stark's personal security staff was able to neutralize the situation before any lives were lost."

Tony winced as Pepper dabbed concealer on the bruises and cuts on his face. His nose, swollen and bruised, received extra attention. "Iron Man," Tony mused, his tone casual. "That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it. I mean, it's not technically accurate. The suit's a gold-titanium alloy, but it's kind of evocative, the imagery, anyway."

Blair, leaning against the doorway, raised an eyebrow as she handed Tony a folder. "Here's your alibi," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Tony accepted the folder with a quizzical expression. "Okay?"

Agent Coulson, who had just entered the room, spoke up. "You were on your yacht. We have port papers that put you in Avalon all night and sworn statements from 50 of your guests."

Tony's eyes twinkled with mischief. "See, I was thinking maybe we should say it was just Pepper and me alone on the island."

Blair shot him a look, her tone dry. "That's what happened."

"Alright," Tony relented, flipping through the pages. He skimmed the report, but something was missing. "There's nothing about Stane here."

Agent Coulson's expression remained stoic. "That's being handled. He's on vacation. Small aircraft have such a poor safety record."

Tony nodded, though his concern lingered. "But what about the whole cover story that it's a bodyguard? He's my... I mean, is that... That's kind of flimsy, don't you think?"

Coulson gave a slight smirk, his voice calm. "This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you. You've got 90 seconds."

Blair stepped forward, her expression softening as she addressed Coulson. "Agent Coulson? I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your help. And... I'm in."

Tony looked at her, confusion flickering across his face. "In? What do you mean 'in'? What are you getting involved in now?"

Blair gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll explain later, Tony."

Coulson nodded, his tone formal yet kind. "That's what we do. You'll be hearing from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."

Blair's eyes lit up as she made the connection. "Wait, why don't we just call it" she counted the initial of each word and say " S.H.I.E.L.D."

Pepper, having finished with Tony's bruises, clapped her hands together. "Right. Let's get this show on the road."

Tony chuckled, looking at his reflection in the mirror one last time. "You know, it's actually not that bad. Even I don't think I'm Iron Man."

Blair crossed her arms, rolling her eyes at her brother. "You're not Iron Man."

Tony turned to her, feigning offense. "Am so. You're just jealous, sis." He nudged her nose, making her scrunch it.

Blair sighed but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. "Whatever you say, Genius."

As Blair and Coulson moved ahead, leaving Tony and Pepper to handle the press, they found seats at the back of the room. Blair's mind was still racing from the events of the last 24 hours, but she forced herself to focus as Coulson began discussing the details of the initiative.

Coulson explained in a low voice. "Ms Stark, We believe Tony could be a good fit for the team too."

Blair nodded, her thoughts racing. "Tony? Fitting in? A team? Are you under influence, phil. We can always talk when you're back in senses. Hmm?"

Coulson leaned closer, his tone serious. "The board thinks of considering him. Not a personal opinion, Miss."

Blair took a deep breath, the weight of the responsibility settling on her shoulders. "And you think Tony's ready for this?"

"He's unpredictable, but you, Blair... you've been the one keeping him grounded."

Blair was about to respond when Tony's voice cut through the quiet murmur of the press. "Yeah, okay. Yeah. The truth is..."

Blair's attention snapped to the front of the room, her eyes widening as Tony hesitated, then looked directly at the cameras.

"I am Iron Man."

The room erupted into chaos. Journalists shouted over each other, cameras flashed, and microphones were thrust forward as Tony stepped away from the podium. He had a smug look on his face, clearly satisfied with his bombshell announcement.

Blair's mouth hung open in shock. "What did he just do?" she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "He didn't. I didn't hear him correct. He didn't just. Fuck Tony!"

Tony made his way toward the exit, a smug grin plastered on his face as he ignored the frantic questions from the press. Blair quickly got up and followed him, her heels clicking loudly against the marble floors.

As soon as she caught up to him, she grabbed his arm, turning him to face her. "Hey! Big Brother, what the hell was that? You just blew up your cover story! You know how much efforts it took to make it realistic."

Tony looked down at her, still smirking. "Relax, B. I just did what I always do—stayed real to myself."

Blair threw her hands up in frustration. "You are unbelievable! Do you realize what kind of mess you've just created?"

Tony's grin faded slightly, replaced with a look of slight contrition. "Yeah, I do. But honestly, B, I'm tired of hiding. The world deserves to know the truth. And besides," he added with a wink, "how could I resist that moment?"

Blair shook her head, her frustration giving way to a resigned sigh. "You really are impossible, Genius."

"Yeah, but you love me anyway," Tony quipped, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the exit. "Little sis."

She couldn't help but smile. "Let's just get home. We've got a lot to figure out now, thanks to you."

Tony pecked her head. "Yes Boss."

Blair walked down the sleek, high-tech corridors of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters in Washington DC. The doors to the conference room slid open silently, revealing Fury seated at the head of a long table, his singular, intense gaze fixed on a tablet. The table was illuminated by soft, overhead lighting, casting a focused glow on the screen embedded in its surface. Blair stepped inside, her presence immediately acknowledged by Fury as he looked up.

"Ms. Stark," Fury greeted, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "Thanks for coming."

"Director Fury," Blair replied with a nod, taking a seat across from him. "It's not every day I get a call from the head of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Fury allowed a small, wry smile to tug at the corner of his mouth. "Well, it's not every day we discuss putting together a team that could save the world."

Blair leaned forward slightly, her eyes sharp. "I've read the manifesto. You're talking about assembling a group of individuals with extraordinary abilities, many of whom have complicated pasts and, let's be honest, questionable temperaments. It's risky."

Fury tapped a few commands on his tablet, and a series of profiles appeared on the table's screen. "You're right. It's risky. But it's also necessary. Let's go through the candidates."

Blair's gaze shifted to the first profile that appeared—Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye. "Barton," she murmured, studying his file. "A marksman of the highest caliber. Expert in hand-to-hand combat, and fiercely loyal."

"He's already on our payroll," Fury noted. "One of our best assets. The man can hit a target from impossible distances, and he's got a clear head under pressure. We'd need someone like him to provide tactical support."

Blair nodded, impressed. "He's reliable. Someone you can trust to watch your back."

The next profile that popped up was Maria Hill. Blair's brow arched slightly. "Hill. She's your right hand, isn't she?"

Fury nodded. "Hill's more than just an agent—she's a strategist. Sharp, methodical, and she doesn't flinch under fire. If anyone's going to keep this initiative on track, it's her. She'll be key in coordinating the team's operations."

Blair glanced up at Fury. "We came keep her in your damage control team. We're talking about on-field experts. Maria must be a good agent but I think she's a better strategist."

Fury nodded, their focus returned to the screen as another profile appeared—Professor Charles Xavier. This one gave her pause. "Xavier. A telepath with immense power. He's also the leader of a group of mutants, if I'm not mistaken."

Fury's expression remained neutral. "Xavier is more than just a telepath—he's a visionary. He's been running his school for mutants for years, trying to build bridges between humans and mutants. His experience with assembling a team of powerful individuals could be invaluable."

Blair considered this. "He's used to working with people who have powers that can be... volatile. But will he be willing to cooperate with S.H.I.E.L.D.? He's not exactly known for playing well with government agencies."

Fury acknowledged the point with a nod. "We'll need to be careful in how we approach him. But if we can get him on board, his insight and his telepathic abilities could give us a serious advantage."

The next profile made Blair's eyes narrow slightly—Emil Blonsky. "Blonsky. Are you serious, Fury? This guy is a walking disaster."

Fury's gaze was steely. "Blonsky's a wildcard, I'll admit. But he's also one of the few people who's gone toe-to-toe with forces beyond normal human capability. If we can control him, his strength could be an asset."

Blair shook her head slightly, skepticism clear on her face. "Or he could turn on us and level a city. He's a high-risk candidate, and controlling him is easier said than done."

"We're not going to put him in a position to do that," Fury assured her. "But it's important to consider all options."

Blair's attention shifted to the next profile, and she couldn't help but smile slightly—Logan, also known as Wolverine. "Logan. A mutant with a healing factor, enhanced senses, and adamantium claws. Not to mention an attitude problem."

Fury allowed a small grin. "He's rough around the edges, but he's a survivor. Logan's been through more than most, and he's still standing. He might not be a team player by nature, but he's got the kind of combat experience we need."

Blair tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "He's not the type to take orders easily. You're going to need someone who can keep him in check."

"That's where Xavier could come in," Fury pointed out. "If anyone can manage Logan, it's him."

The final profile appeared, and Blair's expression softened—Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. "Romanoff. She's already been working with you for a while, hasn't she?"

Fury nodded. "Natasha's one of the best spies in the world. Skilled in combat, fluent in multiple languages, and with a knack for getting in and out of places without being seen. She's also got a past, but she's loyal. I trust her."

Blair leaned back in her chair, her mind racing as she processed the information. "This is an eclectic group, Fury. Each of them brings something unique to the table, but getting them to work together... that's going to be a challenge."

Fury's gaze was unwavering. "The world is changing, Blair. We need people can fight when the time comes."

Blair took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "You're right. The world is changing. And if I and these people are gonna work as a team, we might need a head-strong leader."

"This is where you come in picture. Good add-on to the resume if you ask me." Fury stood up, extending a hand. "So, are you in?"

Blair looked at his hand, then up at his face, and after a moment, she shook it firmly. "I'm in."