"Took you long enough," was all Pietro said as Peter and Wanda pulled up in the stolen ATV, and Wanda shook her head as Peter shrugged,
"Yeah, until I met a real mutant, all I had was this dead weight around my neck, constantly complaining and then, guess what, as soon as trouble started they vanished, must be his power or something," and Peter winked at Wanda who was smiling and trying not to laugh at her brother's unamused expression.
Erik stood watching, and as Wanda looked over at her father he just shook his head, frowning.
"Yes, very good. Daughter, glad to see you safe, and you too Mr Parker, your agent Romanov has filled me in, and as soon as you are ready we can leave."
"Uh, leave? But we haven't been to the second site yet, and we don't have a plane"
Eric raised an eyebrow, "well, the grownups talked while you were away and that's all taken care of. Now if you please I would like to get a move on. Wanda, please, if you want to stay here then-" but Wanda stopped him by raising her hand
"I'm coming," and as he looked over at Peter, getting a frown and a raised eyebrow from Erik.
"I see, very well." and with that, he headed back into the farmhouse.
Pietro looked at the pair, "what was that about?" but Wanda smiled and shrugged and headed inside as well.
As Peter moved to head into the house, Pietro put a hand on his chest, "did you, did you boink my sister? And Peter laughed,
"Boink? Seriously? No-one says boink," and shaking his head while laughing to himself, "boink," and he chuckled and pulled Pietro's hand off his chest and walked past him, still laughing, "like a spring," he whispered and Pietro tilted his head
"Wait, what?" and he zipped into the house past him. "No, you did not, did you? Did he?" He asked, zipping between Peter and Wanda, and as neither of them said anything but Wanda looked guilty while shaking her head Pietro assumed. "Oh you are so dead, I told you, hands-off." and as he zipped forwards he swung a punch out, but it was stopped by red energy.
"You told him?" Wanda asked accusingly, "you told him? Is that right Peter?" and he nodded, knowing better than to start anything. "Oh, so you, you of all people. Mr 'oh there's a pretty girl, so let me ditch you for hours' told him that I was off-limits, is that right? Well then, no, we didn't do anything. Unlike you I have standards."
"Hey!" Peter shouted, unamused
"Sorry, I have self-control and Peter was, is a perfect gentleman, so no, we did not and," Wanda pulled Pietro closer, "if you breathe a word to dad that you think I did, I'll make sure that the last thing you ever use for running is your mouth," and lifting him up, opened the door and he shot off outside like a rocket.
Peter smirked and shook his head, reminding himself to never get on her bad side.
"So have fun?" Nat smirked as she grilled Peter, "nice to see you picked up another one," and Erik raised an eyebrow
"Thanks, Nat," Peter said, seeing the look not just on her face, Erik's face but Wanda's as well.
"Right. Well, Erik and I worked out a few details, got our ride sorted and a stopover at the facility. Can you bring me up to speed on what happened?"
Peter looked at Nat and concentrated, letting the memories of the event flow into her, minus the time spent in the mindscape Wanda had attempted to trap him in. Peter figured that while he was observant, Nat was a trained spy and she could see details in his memories that he might have missed, or simply passed over due to lack of knowledge.
"Wow, uh, that's a rush." Nat shook her head as the link dissolved. "So, we have a shadow organisation working within Shield that has access to old Hydra Tech and is working with Ultron. Erik, any chance we can leave ASAP?" and he nodded
"We're waiting on Wanda." who as everyone turned to look at her, looked behind her and smiled.
"Uh, oops," and darted off to her room.
Nat shook her head. "Erik agreed to help us with the facility, and I'm authorised to order its destruction depending on the situation. Well, I think this warrants destruction." Peter had nothing to say to that, even if he had an opinion, on this he had to defer to her authority as a Shield agent as well as his boss. He already figured he would get in trouble over the little stunt at the headquarters and opening his mouth now might land him in worse trouble.
"Eat, get ready, we leave in 10, well, once Wanda packs," and Natasha motioned to Peter, "Can we talk outside?" and he nodded and followed after her.
"Right, now tell me what really happened, there was a gap," and Peter shook his head,
"No, not relevant, and definitely private, nothing was compromised, not her or me. You saw everything you needed to."
"And if I make it an order?" she folded her arms and sighed
"Then I tell you and you lose the one bit of trust you'd built," he shrugged. "It's really not relevant, it was the mindscape Wanda constructed." and Nat smirked
"Private and not relevant huh? Fine, this time, but in future, anything, and I mean anything gets reported." and Peter stared at her, "what you think you're little escapade in the toilet isn't sitting in a report on Fury's desk? Length, girth, duration, everything. Shield takes things like that seriously, especially when an agent uses sex to entrap a possible suspect. Not just you, that's why we don't. You think the paperwork for shooting someone is bad, have sex with them and see how big that headache is." and Peter laughed and shook his head.
Nat sighed, "sorry, but I'm being serious, and I know you're not taking it that way. Peter, this is for your own good this time. Not just you but anyone you sleep with while working will suffer, not just the writing a report on how many times you orgasmed and where but how you feel about the person. Every detail will be dragged out and examined to make sure the agent didn't use their position or authority to coerce the target, it's painful and humiliating. After we had sex, I spent an hour being examined, physically and verbally, and then four hours filling paperwork out to make sure I hadn't been compromised, and then, only then did Fury let me take this case." and Peter extended a hand out to her, now unsure if it was allowed. And she took it and patted the back of it.
"Touching allowed you know,"
"I, uh, just never knew," and she shrugged.
"It's part of the type of agent I am," and she looked down, "maybe one day I'll explain." She took a deep breath "but for now, even if Wanda isn't finished we need to deal with site two and get back to the states, this got a bit more serious than we'd expected."
As Natasha and Peter came back into the house Erik and Pietro were standing with exasperated looks on their faces, Wanda still wasn't packed and was taking her time. Natasha smirked, "woman's touch then," and headed into Wanda's room. A few moments later there was a cry and a red-faced Wanda carrying two suitcases, and a smirking Nat came out. "And done."
"Well then," Erik spoke and with a wave of his hands, the building began to shake. "It's been a while but our ride should still be operational," and the walls of the house tore and crumbled apart, pulled to one side by invisible hands, and the floor began to rise.
"Charles always had more money than he knew what to do with, Beast was always building and so when I left I took a small memento."
The steel plate hidden under the floor continued to rise and eventually, an old-style jet was lifted from the ground.
"Uh, think I can take a memento when I leave Shield?" Peter asked Natasha who snorted and patted him on the arm.
"Not until I get mine,'' she replied and he laughed.
Erik scowled and shook his head. "children," but even Pietro was amazed.
"We had a jet, A jet, under the house, and you wait until now to tell us?" and he zipped off and the back hatch of the plane squealed as he opened it, and could be heard coughing.
"Might want to air it out first," he yelled as a loud of dark brown dust swirled out from the door, Pietro speeding around inside and creating a wind tunnel to clear the air.
Once the giant plume of dust had been blown from the back of the jet, Peter whistled as he entered. While it was obviously from the '70s, the decor was horrendous, the tech itself was sound. The interior was a pale white colour, now a light cream, aged with neglect, and the seats, once a nice tan leather, were cracked and aged. While Pietro had cleared away the dust the faded interior still smelt musty and dirt and grime, needing water to clean, lined the windows.
Nat winked as she brushed past him and entered the cockpit, and as Peter was about to join her Erik put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head,
"Leave Natasha to fly, we can discuss what your intentions for Charles are," and with a fist grip, Peter was guided to a set of four seats, the cleanest grouping in the jet.
"Charles isn't about to sit and let you invade his mansion, and if he's actively using his powers to stop people then you face an uphill battle. While I am unimpressed with your little temper tantrum, Natasha persuaded me not to make an issue of it, and in fact, where we are going will demonstrate that people like myself, and definitely people like Charles, are not to be underestimated."
Natasha's voice came over the PA system, crackling, "Wheels up in 5 minutes, pre-flight is shaky at best, and some systems are dead, good enough to get us home but will be a bit bumpy," and as if to highlight her concern as the system shut down it emitted a high pitched whine and squealed before cutting off completely.
The announcement ended their conversation and the four sat in an uncomfortable silence. As Pietro was the only one without some kind of control over his thoughts, Peter could tell he was dying to ask if Wanda and him were actually in a relationship but even Erik must have guessed as he kept giving him strained looks.
Thankfully, in a jet, the journey to the second site was short and the intercom squealed into life once more.
"We're hovering. Erik, do your thing." and slipping a helmet over his greying hair she smiled,
"This young man is where I show you that mutants are not to be trifled with," and undoing the door hatch, he floated out as the tang of ozone filled the air.
Moving over to the other side, he watched as Magneto lifted his arms and a strange whumming noise filled the air. The building below creaked and groaned as the concrete walls cracked and Peter knew he was lifting the steel rebar buried within the concrete.
As he lifted his arms the whole compound lifted and bringing them together, it was crushed by the immense force of Magneto's powers, crushing it all together into one massive ball.
"This is the true power of a mutant young man, and you would be well advised to Stay. Out. Our. Way." Magento hefted the huge ball of crumbling concrete and laid it down outside the compound's wall. Next, several underground steel vaults lifted into the air and once more he ripped them into shreds, the decommissioned armour and weapons inside being crushed into balls of their own.
"Well, this is interesting," and he gestured with a hand, pulling over a bar of silver-grey metal. "A gift, a reminder that you should rethink your plan," and as the bar floated over to Peter, he could feel the strange power coming from it.
As he let his Venom armour slip over his face he saw that the metal was completely inert to his senses, not just invisible but it seemed to be drawing energy into itself. What the hell? He thought as the mask retracted, this is new and he made a note to give this to Liv so they could study it together, maybe she knows what it is?
As Peter watched, Magento crushed and destroyed the entire base with simple gestures of his hands. Peter watched him with lens covered eyes and noted the electromagnetic spectrum going mad as he wielded his powers. He was now aware of beings that could manipulate energy, and one that could manipulate a fundamental force of the universe was unimaginably terrifying, and even Peter admitted to himself that maybe pissing him off was a bad idea.
"Okay, I get it, but that doesn't change the fact that that asshole came in with no warning and took a traumatised girl away. No asking, no talking, just took her. Scary powers or not he needs to make amends for that." and as Erik floated back over to the jet and landed softly back inside he stared at Peter.
"And you think that you are the one to do that?" but Peter nodded as he stared back.
"Using magnetism is dangerous, and using your powers like that is reckless and irresponsible. You're just as fucking bad, so no lectures or you will find out exactly what I'm capable of." and Erik laughed as Peter scolded him.
"It's just magnetism, young man, just magnetism." but Peter shook his head.
"Atoms are held together by electromagnetism, the Earth is protected by a huge electromagnetic shield. So no, it's not 'just magnetism', read a fucking book." and as he sat down and stared at the metal bar Magento had given him he heard the one weapon any man fears,
"Atoms? Is he right? Can you really do that?" Wanda yelled at him and as Peter smirked in his chair, he knew that Erik would never win.
After the massive tongue lashing Wanda had given her father over responsible use of his powers, something Peter felt that he must have given her plenty of times, the rest of the flight was quiet. Erik may have shot Peter several scathing glances but as he examined the metal bar the best he could, Peter just ignored him.
It was several hours later that the intercom squealed again, waking Peter from a small nap he had taken.
"Erik, we're coming to the coordinates you gave us, can you come to the cockpit please," Natasha asked over the PA and Erik, roused from his own sleep, ran a hand over his face, straightened his hair and stretched before heading into the cockpit.
It was only when Nat came back from the cockpit that Peter put the bar down and looked over at her,
"Erik says the island can only be reached by him, and that he'll pilot it from here," she shrugged, "not my problem."
The plane juddered a few times and even as Peter looked concerned at the weather outside he saw that they were coming into land on an island, "My geography must be a bit rusty. I didn't think there was an island here?" and Nat leaned over him and stared out the window,
"There isn't."
With a sharp stop, sending Nat into Peter's hands in a wholly inappropriate way, Erik strode from the cockpit
"If you don't mind, we're here," and as Nat winked at Peter, she extracted herself from his hands
"And where is here exactly?" Peter asked as he undid his seatbelt and stretched, standing and grabbing the bar.
"Genosha, and once you leave you'll forget it existed, so don't worry about security."
Natasha frowned and shrugged, Neither of them had heard of Genosha, and given that she had been piloting and knew they were maybe less than 100 kilometres from the eastern seaboard, there was no island there.
While Peter felt a small buzz in his mind, Nat stared into space. "You're shielded?" and Peter nodded, "oh, then you need to stay here while uh, we get introduced, that's what she said." and Peter sighed,
fucking telepaths, he thought to himself, he at least made sure nobody minded before sending his thought to another.
Peter waited as Pietro, Wanda, Erik and finally, Natasha left the plane. He had expected some kind of trap, that once outside, Erik would crush the plane into a ball, but after waiting for an hour he was greeted by a rather strange looking short man, thick green skin and heavily mutated hands stuck out from beneath a thick fisherman's overcoat as he opened the door to the plane.
"Selene has given permission for you to visit the island, but it comes with a warning Venom, behave or else." and Peter shrugged.
"Don't be a bunch of assholes then," and pushed past him and out into the fresh air.
Taking a deep breath Peter tasted the saltiness of the sea air and the faint hint of wood smoke from somewhere. As he stood at the top of the exit ramp Peter could see several stone cottages in the distance, the smoke rising lazily from chimneys. In stark contrast, there seemed to be a small block of grouped high rises, 5 stories tall and concrete, their light grey walls a blight in the sea of green trees surrounding them.
Peter watched as a single woman approached him, tall, dark brown skin with thick black hair, tied up on a ponytail. She had on a simple tan dress, and she walked with the confidence of someone used to having their orders followed.
As he watched her, he noticed that she was invisible to his telepathic senses, even the small buzzing he got from the others was missing, the telepath, he figured.
"No further Venom, I am here to make sure you are not a threat to my island and its people." She stood before him and he could feel the power radiating from her, even at the top of the ramp he felt it, whoever that was was not someone to be messed with.
"Then why let me off the plane? Or just another power play? You 'mutants' seem to like those. Stand there, letting me know where my place is, letting me know you can crush me, so crush me or get off my back, cause it's tiring and cliche."
Peter walked down the ramp and stood in front of her and she shifted ever so slightly, tensing up for a confrontation,
The woman stood, eyeing him up, staring as if to look through his soul before bursting out laughing.
"My name is Selene Gallio, and may I call you Peter?" and he nodded, she smiled. "I see why Erik likes you, and the others. You know I am over 200 years old, with powers that would make you piss your pants and yet you stand there, unafraid, and as you said 'wait for me to crush you' and yet, I am actually impressed. I can't feel your mind but the power you radiate is amazing." and she walked around him, taking him in. "May I touch you?" and he shrugged, and as her fingers touched his symbskin they were transported to a new mindscape.
"Oh, not this again, what is it with you guys and imaginary dimensions?"
"Well, for one, we may talk freely, even on the island Charles has influence and second, I like handsome young men, and after seeing exactly what you and Wanda did in hers, well," Selene's clothes rippled and she was stood naked before Peter, her toned slim body showing years of training, reminding him of Nats, with just as many scars. Where Natasha was larger in the chest department, Selene was smaller with large dark chocolate nipples, and Peter let his eyes wander over her. She was beautiful, and like most others, she knew exactly what buttons to push to get a rise from him.
"You know it is rude to compare a woman to someone else while she is coming onto you?" and as she smiled and her eyes sparkled Peter shook his head
"Like stripping and offering yourself to someone?"
She shrugged, gave him a seductive smile and ran her hand over his chest. As she moved closer, he could smell a sweet perfume and her hands moved down his chest and he gently gripped them before they reached his zipper.
"I guess you figured this was the best way to get what you want? So just ask, I'm not doing this." Selene had taken what she thought was his weakness, and while she was attractive, the lesson Nat had been pushing onto him was finally starting to stick.
Selene tutted and her clothes slithered back up her body, "A shame, but no matter. Wanda is my student, I taught her to control her powers, to harness her magic and from her, I saw your little escapade. From Natasha, I saw your file, four women, plus her and then an 'incident' with Wanda. Do I need to lock you up Mr Parker, or are you going to behave while here?"
Peter sighed, "I produce a pheromone, so yeah, in small spaces I can be a danger, and as for reading minds? Nat was pushing it, that's not nice Selene. Unless you give me a reason to be a dick here, then no. What do I care about a group hiding on an island in the ocean? I didn't even know it was here until half an hour ago."
"And Charles Xavier?"
"Why is everyone so intent on protecting him? He's an asshole. He took a girl-" and she nodded but interrupted him.
"I have heard what you told Natasha, and I am not protecting him, I am trying to protect you. Charles Xavier is more powerful than you could-" but she stopped, her voice gone and as she clawed at her throat she saw that Peter was growing.
He towered over her and the anger rolled off him like a storm. As he grew, a thick black oil coated him and the creature called Venom stood before her and the white spider motif on his chest was almost glowing.
"I. DON'T. CARE!" Venom said, unleashing the Mind Stone's power. "I'm through playing these fucking games" and the world shattered around them.
"I'll be on the plane" Peter stated and walked back up the ramp, leaving Selene gasping for breath as she collapsed on the ground.
The green-skinned mutant rushed over and she waved him away, staring intently as Peter walked away from her. "Toad, find refreshments for Mr Parker and if he desires, have him brought to his friends." Toad hesitated but she raised an eyebrow at him and he frowned but nodded, scurrying away before leaping down the path, copying his amphibian namesake.
Selene felt the residual psychic shock flow through her, and as she took its power into herself, she had to restrain a small moan. Her power thrummed as it touched his and as she stood and brushed the dust from her dress. Smiling, she rubbed her throat. Oh yes, he'll do, she thought to herself. He'll do nicely.
Out of sight Toad fumbled in his pocket and took out his phone, dialling a number for a pizza place it clicked twice and then he hung up, dialled again, this time dry cleaning, it was answered,
"Report." was all the voice said,
"Selenes, found a new one, Venom." Toad answered in a hushed voice as he hopped down the road to the settlement. "More powerful than the reports let on, enough to knock Selene on her ass."
"Anything else?"
"No Sir," and the call disconnected.
At the other end, a handsome and very visibly upset man hung up his phone. He grimaced and huffed as he swallowed his anger.
"Sebastion, darling, I can feel that from over here. Do be a dear and calm down," a very beautiful blonde woman said as she flicked through the morning paper.
"Selene has a new pawn, Emma. Venom." Sebastian spat at her and she raised an eyebrow
"The same costumed vigilante that took out Oscorp and then vanished, how fascinating," and as she folded the morning paper she handed it over to Sebastian, "and still a wanted fugitive it seems, she must really be desperate."
The headline was the usual J.J rant. Now focusing on Huntress as well as Venom, he was spewing vitriol about the crime rates in Hell's Kitchen, and while they were lower it was pushing the rates up in the rest of New York.
Sebastian shook his head, "no, he's more than we realised, Toad said he knocked Selene on her ass. I don't like it, not one bit Emma. Open an invite to the Club for him, see if his woman will join too. If not, well, remove them from the board."
"Just me darling? I don't think so," and he sighed and shook his head,
"Then take Azazel and Sabretooth. If you need more then we need to rethink your position as Queen." and Emma tutted,
"My position is more than earned, and you know it. It never hurts to be cautious, especially with one of Selene's toys, and especially if he took on a whole army. You know you can never be too careful." and Shaw had to agree there.
As Emma stood she took out her phone, dialling a number. "Four Seasons? This is Emma Frost, usual suite please, and this time make sure the maid can clean, I found dust on a shelf and that simply won't do"
As Sebastion ignored Emma to focus more on the newspaper he tapped on his computer, calling up earlier articles on this costumed hero. If Selene was interested in him, there would be more than just what was in the reports and as he sent out message after message, a picture of the man and his habits grew, and Sebastian knew he wanted him, and his power.
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