3 A Friend in Business #3

My grin widened as the electric zing ran through me, sparks crackling around like a wild light show. "Not shocking enough, I'm afraid," I chuckled, feeling the jolt of energy but also a rush of excitement. Thanks to Extremis, my body was aking to a live wire, making me resistant to Black Widow's electric gadget.

Seizing the opportunity-- I swiftly twisted my body, getting Black Widow in a standing headlock. I had to act fast before she recovered her senses. Without a second thought-- I poked her neck at a pressure point I learned during my martial arts training.

It was like flipping a switch. Black Widow went limp in my hold, her fighting spirit taking a backseat. I made sure not to hurt her— after all this was just a controlled demo for me, not a real showdown to the death.

Still, I had to give credit where credit is due—Black Widow was an impressive martial artist. She's definitely up there with the best in the world, trained to perfection from years of intense missions. But I've had my own martial arts journey that started as soon as I realized I was in Marvel.

This world I found myself in gave me two choices: super genius or super fighter. And honestly, I'm no genius when it comes to science, so I picked the latter. Having graduated high school four years early, at the age of 14, I went on a quest to find a specific guy who could train me right.

It paid off. Now, with my Extremis powers in the mix, and the element of surprise, taking on Black Widow like this was a breeze. She didn't know anything about me-- that's what gave me the edge.

If we meet again, it wouldn't be an easy win, but I don't plan on meeting her again anytime soon, nor do I intend for our meeting to be on hostile terms, but even if that happened, I'd have some new surprises up my sleeve.

Still, it was not the time to dwell. I still had another guest I needed to attend to. I turned to face the rooftop and called out, "Come on out, I know you're there..." My lips curved into a smile, knowing full well who was lurking in the shadows.

In response, a feminine chuckle accompanied a witty remark, "Still sharp as ever, I see..." The voice carried a teasing tone that was unmistakably hers.

Without delay, a woman gracefully jumped off the edge of the rooftop, her gloved hands gripping the ladder as she effortlessly descended and landed in front of me. Clad in a sleek black spandex suit, she exuded a sense of mystery and danger.

Her long hair cascaded around her, and her unnaturally white skin was accentuated by a distinctive red mark around her left eye, almost resembling a panda. In her hand, she held a metallic, white suitcase.

My grin widened as I addressed her, "It's good to see you, Domino..." My eyes turned to the suitcase. "I hope that's what I think it is..."

She smiled in return, her expression as enigmatic as ever, and replied, "It's good to see you too, but jeez, you look like shit..." Her words were filled with playful humor, but there was genuine concern glimmering in her eyes.

I chuckled at Domino's remark, looking down at my old, tattered clothes and scraggly beard. I couldn't deny the truth—I did look like shit. My long, unkempt hair almost covered my vision, making me wonder if I should consider a haircut soon.

Still, it would have to wait until I was in the clear. My looks, resembling an STD-ridden homeless guy, served a purpose-- a disguise, if you would. Tony Stark's AI might be able to recognize me, but I doubt even Shield's scanners could do the same.

"Well, I'm not here for a bloody tea party... but my looks are no excuse for you to stand there and watch me almost get kidnapped..." I joked, giving her a playful smirk. It was good to have a familiar face around.

Domino scoffed, her demeanor unyielding as always. "Please... these guys couldn't kidnap you even if you let them..." Her words dripped with confidence, and she didn't hesitate to throw a bit of sass my way. She knew my capabilities well, having fought alongside me in the past.

"Besides, you've got Nick Fury on your ass now... I'd rather not be seen with you..." she added with a grin, pointing out the traffic lights nearby where a hidden camera was discreetly observing us. "The streets have eyes, literally..." she quipped, highlighting the constant surveillance in this world filled with superheroes and secret agencies.

I chuckled again, appreciating Domino's sense of humor and her unapologetic personality. She was right. Nick Fury would most likely be on my ass, not to mention the unwanted guests in his organization. I was even willing to wager the 100k in my hands that he was somewhere shouting obscenities at his subordinates and having them dig everything about me.

"I guess I can't blame you for wanting to keep your distance," I replied, giving her a knowing look. I liked Domino. I considered her a friend and hoped she thought the same of me, but we'd both be looking out for number one over anyone else at the end of the day.

My attention turned back to the suitcase in Domino's hand as I said, "But that's enough chit-chat, let's get to business..." Domino nodded in agreement, her expression focused and business-like. With a quick motion, she handed me the suitcase, and I opened it to reveal its intriguing contents.

Inside, a dagger caught my eye, emanating a mysterious purple glow that seemed to dance across its sharp edge. Next to it, a glass injector contained a vibrant green liquid.. And then there was the gun—resembling an Uzi submachine gun, but with a sleek and alien appearance that hinted at its extraordinary capabilities.

A smile crept across my face as I picked up the glass injector and turned to Domino. "Stern?" I asked, referring to a name that held a weight of significance between us. She shrugged, her nonchalant response indicating that the task had been completed as per my instructions.

"Dead, as you instructed," she replied, her eyes meeting mine with a hint of understanding. In this universe filled with secrets and dangerous maniacs, sometimes you had to make tough choices, and Stern was one of them.

I nodded, acknowledging her efforts, and said, "Good." With that, I proceeded to carry out the next step of our plan. Jamming the needle of the injector into my neck, I activated the mechanism, sending the green liquid surging into my circulatory system.

In an instant, I felt a rush of sensations flood through me. The veins on my forehead bulged, and a sudden headache gripped my mind. It was a moment of discomfort, but I knew it was a small price to pay for the power that would soon take hold.

As the pain subsided, I let out a relieved sigh, feeling as if a cloud had been removed from my thoughts. The serum was doing its work, enhancing my mental clarity and sharpening my focus. It was as if a barrier had been lifted, allowing my thoughts to flow more freely.

Domino couldn't help but frown at the sight of the glass injector and its green liquid contents. Her concern was evident as she quickly voiced her doubts, "Are you sure that was a good idea...?"

I smiled warily, and shrugged as I pocketed the alien-looking gun and the glowing dagger into my coat. I stood up, my posture exuding a sense of confidence as I replied, "No... but I have plans, big plans... I need every ounce of strength I could muster to achieve them."

"Suit yourself, I guess," Domino shrugged, her expression showing a mix of uncertainty and resignation. She knew me well enough to understand that once I had set my mind on something, there was little anyone could do to dissuade me.

Changing the subject, I tossed one of the suitcases in my hand toward Domino. "There, the last installment of your payment... getting all these must have cost a lot of time and effort," I remarked, acknowledging her efforts in securing these three items.

Domino deftly caught the suitcase, her agile reflexes a testament to her skills. "Well, it wasn't easy... but you pay well," She glanced at the case briefly but didn't bother to inspect its contents further.

She hesitated for a moment before asking. "So, what's next for you?"

...

Want more chapters? Then consider subscribing to my patr ēon. You can read ahead for as little as $1 and it helps me a lot!

-> (patr ēon..com / wicked132)

You can also always come and say hi on my discord server

-> (disc ord..gg / sEtqmRs5y7)- or hit me up at - Wicked132#5511 - and I'll add you myself)