6
Genocide groaned as he slowly woke up. He was sleeping on one of the tables inside Dark Heart's laboratory. To most people, sleeping on table would be all kinds of uncomfortable, but he had dealt with worse.
"Rise and shine!" Suddenly, Jade Rose's voice rang out through the entire lab, causing the Demon slayer to groan. "Come on, wake up sleeping… well, I can't call you beauty, so let's just go with sleeping ugly."
The insult and constant screaming managed to wake up Oscar as he raised himself from the table to see Jade Rose sitting on a chair with his feet up with a mug of coffee in his hands. "What do you want, clown?" the Unofficial Sin of Wrath groaned.
"Really? Clown? How original," the assassin retorted sarcastically, unamused by the nickname that many gave him because of the jester mask.
"F*ck off," Oscar groaned as he got off the table.
Genocide wasn't wearing his armor. Instead, he was wearing a black tank top with brown cargo pants. Around his neck was a chain that held a big, red crystal shaped in a circle that was framed in metal that was covered in runes. As for Jade Rose, he was still wearing his uniform, minus the hat and trench coat.
Looking around, Oscar noticed the absence of someone. "Where's Dark Heart?" he asked.
"He's at the bay. Said he has something to work on," the assassin replied before bringing the mug where his lips are supposed to be… and taking a long sip from it.
The Unofficial Sin of Wrath looked in confusion as the jester masked man kept drinking through his mask which didn't have a mouth-hole. "How are you doing that?" Oscar asked.
Jade Rose stopped drinking and answered, "I have no idea," sounding equally confused.
Oscar decided to not worry about what just happened and asked another question, "Where do I get some food around here?"
"Aiden showed me a storage room that has some food," Jade Rose stood up from his seat with his mug still in his hands. "I can show you where it is before we go see him and ask what he has in store of us today."
The two of them walk out of the lab and into the hallway. They headed towards a hallway in the left instead of going to the hanger. Reaching a metallic pair doors beside each other, Jade Rose pushed a button on the left door, causing it to slide open.
The room inside was a small one, almost the size of a janitor closet. It had a couple of large tanks that were labeled 'water', and shelves that were filled out with ingredients for cooking which were all inside ration bags. The room itself was a little cold, probably to keep the stuff inside from going bad.
Genocide couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. This room looked like it belonged to military emergency rations, especially with the way that things were stored. He wondered how Dark Heart got the ingredients in the first place.
"The other door is a small kitchen, so make yourself something," the assassin said before asking, "You do know how to make something without burning the place, right?" not wanting to be blamed for leaving Genocide alone.
Oscar couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Yes. I know how to make my own food," he replied as he walked into the room and took a few eggs, some bacon, and a little water in a cup.
Walking towards the other door, Genocide opened it to find a room that was the same size as the last one, only filled with cooking utilities. Spoons, knives, frying pans, a stove, and a coffee machine, which explains where Jade Rose got his coffee. There was also a small table with a couple of chairs for dining. Again, this looked like a military base to him.
He simply shrugged it off for now and went to make him something. After a few minutes of cooking, Oscar managed to make himself some eggs and bacon with a simple glass of water.
Beginning his breakfast on the small table, the Unofficial Sin of Wrath noticed that the assassin has taken the other seat on the other side of the table, sipping his mug through his mask again.
Oscar had fought demons, so he'd be lying if he said that this is the first time he saw the laws of physics being broken. "Hey, do you know what this place is?" Genocide asked, hoping to pass time.
"Dark Heart's base, obviously," Jade Rose replied with a chuckle.
"You know what I mean, clown," Oscar glared at the assassin. "I mean, what is this place specifically? And how do you think Dark Heart got it?"
Jade Rose shrugged his shoulders while taking another sip from his drink. "Probably some abandoned secret military base," he replied, also noticing the military structure of the place. "There's plenty of those around with how many people trying to copy Captain America," he added.
The Unofficial Sin of Wrath just shrugged his shoulders, thinking that the assassin might be right. Honestly, with how many people failed to copy the Super-Soldier formula, Oscar can't help but wonder why people try anymore.
After the Demon slayer finished his breakfast and the jester masked man finished his drink, they both left with the latter leading them towards the hanger, where Dark Heart is supposed to be.
When they entered the hanger, they saw the Winged Phantom working on one of the vehicles that were covered in cloth. A part of the cover was raised with Aiden being under it on his back. The sound of pieces being moved, added, and screwed in can be faintly heard by them.
Jade Rose looked at Genocide over his shoulder and put a finger where his lips are supposed to be. Oscar raised an eyebrow as the assassin started walking slowly towards Dark Heart, not making a sound.
The jester masked man had reached the Winged Phantom, and just as he silently took a deep breath, Aiden spoke. "Don't even think about it."
Jade Rose couldn't help but groan, his shoulders falling as Genocide smirked at his failed attempt at surprising Dark Heart. "How did you know?" the assassin asked.
Aiden pulled himself out from under the cloth. He was wearing his suit minus the cape and helmet. "Paradox is far more subtle in how she shows up and disappears," the Winged Phantom said standing up.
"Speaking of, where is that creepy cat lady?" Genocide asked as he walked towards the two. "I figured she would be here to bother the hell out of you."
"She already did that, but left literally before you two got here," Aiden replied, remembering how the cat-eared woman kept bugging him with questions she undoubtedly had the answers for but just wanted to bother him. "Now enough of that, we got work to do."
The Winged Phantom started walking out of the hanger and towards the lab with his two partners following behind him. He walked into the lab before activating one of the computers.
"So, what will we be doing? Gathering more information?" Oscar asked as the medallion around his neck glowed before he was covered in his armor. That medallion was actually the core of Genocide's armor, and he uses it to store all his stuff, even the armor.
"No, we'll be going to New York for a mission," Aiden replied as he started typing on his computer.
"A mission? In New York?" Jade Rose was quite confused on why they would go to a mission in a time like this, and in New York no less.
"Lex Luther and Wilson Fisk are meeting up at the Empire State building for some 'business'," Aiden replied as he showed them a newspaper that had a picture of two bald men, one larger than the other, shaking hands.
"And what does their business has to do with our situation?" Oscar asked not seeing why this was brought up.
"For the past few weeks, Luther and Fisk have been working together on something that has been covered from all public eyes," Aiden replied as he typed on the computer, making it show a file. "They have been delivering something from across the world while marking it as harmless merchandise. However, this 'merchandise' has been traveling throughout the world to New York. They haven't been moving merchandise, they've been waiting for something to be delivered to them. "
"So, you think that whatever they've been waiting for has something to do with what's happening to us?" Jade Rose concluded.
It wasn't hard to believe. Wilson Fisk is the biggest crime boss in New York. No one dares to mess with his territory. And, as for Lex Luther, he once literally created a league of supervillains called the Legion of Doom.
"Not likely," Aiden said catching them by surprise. "While Luther was involved in world endangering events, he never got involved with the Avengers since that would get S.H.I.E.L.D involved, too. And, even with all his money, Luther wouldn't be able to clear his name if he got on S.H.I.E.L.D's bad side. As for Fisk, he never got involved with anything about the world, he only cares about his business."
"Then why should we care if it isn't our business?" Genocide asked, confused that Aiden brought this up despite not having anything with their situation.
"Whatever they have, it's dangerous enough for them to take every precaution to make sure it is not noticed," Aiden replied as he went towards a table that had his helmet and cape. "I'm not willing to let something like that in their hands, even if the world is after me. Join me only if you like. Otherwise, don't leave here until I come back," he said before putting on his helmet and attaching his cape to his shoulders.
His two partners simply looked at him as he walked out of the lab and headed towards the hanger before they looked at each other. "Well, I have nothing better to do. Do you?" Jade Rose asked.
The Unofficial Sin of Wrath just shrugged his shoulders. The assassin grabbed his hat and coat from another table before they both went to follow the Winged Phantom, who had just reached the plane.
When they walked into the cockpit, Paradox was sitting on the passenger seat. "Can I drive? Can I drive? Can I drive?" she requested childishly.
"No," Aiden shut her down as he took the driver's seat.
Her ears flattened on her head with a disappointed look. "Awe, why not?" she asked.
"I trust you with my jet as much as I trust Genocide with it." Dark Heart replied as he activated the engines.
"What the f*ck?!" Oscar yelled, feeling rather insulted that the Winged Phantom basically said he doesn't trust him at all.
"Would you trust yourself with any flying vehicle?" Aiden asked looking at the Demon slayer, who simply looked out the window as they exited the mountain, unwilling to answer.
The Unofficial Sin of Wrath might take good care of his weapons, and he might not do so bad with a ground vehicle. However, he wasn't deluded with the idea that things would be fine if he got his hands on the steering wheel of a flying vehicle.
Jade Rose couldn't help but chuckle at Genocide before looking at Paradox. "Sorry to ask this, but why do you exactly keep bothering Dark Heart?" he asked.
"Because he's fun!" Paradox yelled before glaring at the Winged Phantom. "But now he's being a total jerk by not letting me drive," she whined childishly.
Aiden activated the thrusters, making the jet shoot forward. "I just don't want to find my jet at the bottom of the sea," he replied.
"I would never sink your jet!" Paradox yelled in defense before grinning playfully. "Crash it on a mountain, maybe, but not sink it. That's just barbaric," she added making Dark Heart groan. "Speaking of, are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Paradox started repeating that question over and over again.
Aiden looked at one of the buttons on the controls. It was the ejection button connected to the seat Paradox was in. He was very, VERY, tempted to just push it. However, he knew that she would somehow come back inside the jet, so he decided to save himself replacing the seat and hit full speed hoping to get this trip over with.
…
The jet safely made it to New York without any disturbance thanks to its cloaking system. The only bad thing about the trip was Paradox constantly annoying Dark Heart. Honestly, Aiden believed that if his brain enhancements didn't drive him to insanity, then Paradox would.
Landing on top of an abandoned building, Jade Rose, Genocide, and Dark Heart all exited the jet. "Alright, the meeting is happening within two hours. We should go to the Empire state building," Aiden instructed.
The jester masked assassin looked back at the jet as its door closed. "Are you sure that you should leave Paradox on her own?" he might not know the cat-eared woman like the Winged Phantom does, but he can tell that she should always be supervised.
"She's not even there anymore," Aiden's statement caused them some confusion, but they decided to listen to him.
"What about the local heroes?" Genocide asked as they walked towards the edge of the building. "Aren't they going to be looking for us?"
"They won't be looking for us specifically, but any criminal activity. So we should avoid attention," Dark Heart said before jumping over the edge towards the alleyway near the building.
While falling, Aiden activated his wings causing him to start slowing down before gently landing without a noise. "Nice landing," Paradox suddenly appeared leaning on the brick wall that was in front of him. "You almost looked like an angel falling from heaven."
Whatever Dark Heart was going to say was cut off by Genocide landing beside him with a small quake. Aiden flinched and started looking around, hoping that no one heard the Demon slayer.
After making sure that they haven't been spotted, the Winged Phantom glared at the Sin of Wrath. "Avoiding attention also includes not doing what you just did," he groaned.
The Unofficial Sin of Wrath simply shrugged his shoulders. "Please," he scoffed with a chuckle. "This is New York. With how many villains attack, I don't think anyone would notice."
"Still though," Genocide almost pulled out his shotgun as Jade Rose suddenly appeared behind him. "That's no reason for acting like a brute."
"How did you get here?" Oscar asked, knowing that the assassin didn't jump like he did.
Jade Rose simply shrugged his shoulders. "I have my ways," he chuckled ominously, which earned a growl from the Demon slayer. "So, how are we moving without getting noticed?"
As a response, Dark Heart turned his head downwards, and the others followed his line of sight to see a sewer hatch. "You can't be serious," Genocide said, knowing what the Winged Phantom was thinking.
In response, Aiden simply knelt down and removed the hatch, causing the horrible odor of the sewers to spread around the area. "Oh, glad I have my own ways of moving around," Paradox chuckled as she walked away. "Bye," she waved over her shoulder before vanishing in a rainbow hue.
"Lucky b*tch," Genocide mumbled before he looked back at the sewer hole, just as Dark Heart jumped in. The Unofficial Sin of Wrath sighed before looking at Jade Rose. "Well, let's go," he said before jumping in himself.
The jester masked man sighed heavily. "I just HAD to wear my nice shoes today," he complained before jumping in.
…
"I'm telling you, Bruce, the guy is a total killjoy," Tony Stark's voice said.
"Really?" Bruce Wayne asked.
Bruce was currently in his Limousin, talking to Iron Man through a screen that was coming out of the ceiling of the car. Bruce was coming back from a meeting at Wayne Enterprises, and on his way back, he received a call from Tony.
"Which one are you talking about again?" Bruce asked as he looked at the screen, which only showed Tony's face, implying that he was wearing his armor.
"Batman," Tony sighed with a look of annoyance. "Seriously, you're from Gotham, don't you know how to deal with him?"
Bruce couldn't stop himself from smiling as he crossed his arms. "Not really. I mean, other than the commissioner, he doesn't really talk to anyone from what I hear," he said shrugging his shoulders. "Besides, I'm sure it's not that bad."
"Then you obviously never met him," Ironman replied as he seemed to be looking over a few files inside his armor. "He seriously needs to get laid. He has a stick so far up his ass that I can almost see it whenever he opens his mouth."
"Not everyone knows how to party like us, Tony," Bruce commented.
Tony scoffed with a smirk. "Obviously. Have you seen my last Christmas party?"
"How can I not?" Bruce asked, remembering the party that was all over the news… and was followed by a villain attack against Ironman. "Anyway, I have to go. Say hi to Pepper for me."
"Will do, and say hi to Alfred for me," Tony replied before the screen turned black, with the call being cut off.
The window to the driver opened. "It seems that master Stark has quite the lovely opinion of the Dark Knight," Alfred Pennyworth said from the driver seat, looking at Bruce from the mirror.
Bruce couldn't help but chuckle at his butler's words. Between all the people that he knew, Alfred was probably one of the very few that can make him give an honest laugh, even if it's a small one.
Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne were actually pretty close friends. Both being rich orphans who lost their parents at a young age and having their parents' company being put on their shoulders.
At first, they didn't get along so well. They didn't hate each other, but they weren't friends either. That was mainly because Stark Tech used to make weapons before Tony became Ironman. When he started cleaning up his act, he and Bruce started getting along well.
Gaining a serious look, Bruce pushed a couple of buttons on the armrest near his seat. The screen lit up again before it showed 'sound only' after a few moments. "Speak of the devil. I was just talking about you with a friend, Batsy," Tony's voice came through the other end.
"Stark, we need to talk," Bruce started, now using his Batman voice. This time, he was using an encrypted line to contact Ironman.
"You never call for anything else," Tony sighed from the other side of the line. "So, what is it?"
"Lex Luther and Wilson Fisk are having a meeting about some mysterious merchandise that they've been traveling through the world. They'll be meeting at the Empire State building. Whatever they have, I doubt its anything good," Bruce explained as his limo entered Wayne manor.
"Let me guess, you want me to look into it since it's in the Avengers' territory," Tony asked rhetorically. "That's going to be a problem. You see, me and the rest of the Avengers are sort of busy dealing with some kind of Magical evil puppets with Dr. Strange. So, none of us are available," Bruce frowned deeply at that. "But, don't worry, I have that covered."
"You are not sending in Spider-Man, not alone at least," the Dark Knight immediately said, knowing what Ironman was probably thinking.
Batman has already tracked the Spider powered hero and saw his work. Even Bruce had to admit, Spider-Man had the potential to be a great hero, despite what J. Jonah Jamison says. However, he was still inexperienced in Batman's eyes.
"Actually, I was going to see if Reed and the Fantastic Four are available," Tony replied before an explosion was heard on the other side. "Oh great, one of the puppets has a rocket launcher," his voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Look, I'll just get Reed to look into it. Talk to you later, Batsy," and with that, the call ended.
Bruce couldn't help but sigh in frustration. He hated that nickname. Mainly because the first one to use it was the Joker, and that man was not a good first experience at anything, nickname or otherwise.
(A/N: Thank you for reading this.
First, there's not much action in this chapter, but that's mainly because it's a build-up for the next one.
Second, I'm sure you all expected Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne to be friends.
And lastly, as you can see, Dark Heart has some secret projects going on, which will be uncovered soon enough.
Again, thank you for reading this. Please comment, review, and give me your thoughts on my story.)
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