"You're suddenly the expert on child rearing, huh?" Nick snorted and shook his head, feeling defensive now. "I wasn't taking advantage. I didn't do wrong by these kids, Stark. I gave them a home, training, a purpose. I gave them a choice and they made it. Every one of them was asked if they wanted in. No one was forced." Fury crossed his arms and met Stark's gaze, defiant. Tony could believe what he wanted, Fury had done right by those kids. He'd helped them as much as they'd helped him.
"Look at Alex, that little mother fucker is like a son to me. I'm fucking proud of him and look at how upset he is because he thought I was dead-" Nick paused, lowered his voice. "You wanna know why I formed this team? It's because I'm part of a huge bureaucracy with red tape and regulations and a council that doesn't like what I'm doing 90% of the time and most 'em would probably benefit if I were dead. I trust my agents, sure, but only so far. I needed someone completely loyal to me. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are gonna follow orders, they're going to support their Director- as long as he's still their director. The moment something happens, the moment I'm out, I need someone I know will have my back. It was these kids."