บท 4: Honorhall Orphanage #4
I paused for a moment, contemplating whether I should share the information with Domino. My usual instinct was to be paranoid and keep things close to the chest, but something about her presence and our history together made me decide to be a little more trusting this time.
"I'm heading for Westchester, North Salem," I finally revealed, deciding to confide in her. "A mutant school run by one Charles Xavier, to be more specific."
Domino's frown deepened at my words, clearly concerned about my choice of destination. I knew she understood the gravity of the situation, but I also believed in my ability to navigate through dangerous waters.
"There's always something happening there... it's the perfect place to hide in plain sight and fish in murky waters," I explained, my eyes locking with hers.
She sighed, her expression a mix of amusement and concern, and commented, "You've always had a knack for finding trouble... that hasn't changed apparently."
I couldn't help but grin at her observation. It was true; trouble always seemed to find me, no matter where I went. But I also knew that taking risks was part of the game I had chosen to play in this Marvel Universe.
Domino's face turned more serious, and she warned me with a hint of caution in her voice, "But I'd advise you to stay away from the X-Men... their waters run too deep."
"Even for you," she added in a surprisingly cold tone. I sensed there was more to her warning, something she wasn't willing to elaborate on. It intrigued me, but I respected her boundaries.
I nodded, acknowledging her concern. But I had plans. And I was nothing if not a risk taker. Whatever awaited me there, I'll just face it head-on. "I'll take my chances... take care, Domino," I said with a casual shrug, understanding that she had her reasons for her reservations.
Domino didn't say anything in reply, merely waving her hand as she kept walking. I watched her retreating figure, feeling a mix of gratitude for her concern and determination to follow my own path.
...
On the Helicarrier bridge, Nick Fury stood tall, his eye patch glinting in the dimly lit room. He was in a state of furious agitation, shouting obscenities at his fidgety subordinates, demanding they figure out the identity of the man who had brazenly walked out of the Stark Tower, what he had done inside, and most importantly, what he had carried out with him.
"Why the hell don't we have any information on this guy?!" he bellowed, his voice reverberating through the tense air. "His name, age, affiliation, what he ate for fucking breakfast ten years ago! I want every damn detail about him on my desk yesterday!"
The agents scrambled around the different computers, frantically scouring their databases for any hint of the mysterious man. Fury's temper flared as he saw their hesitation and lack of results.
"What the fuck is taking so long?!" he thundered, glaring at his subordinates with his one good eye. "We should have had eyes on this guy from the moment he stepped foot in that tower!"
One of the agents, sweat beading on his forehead, stammered, "Sir, we didn't have any prior intel on this man... He just appeared out of nowhere..."
"Out of nowhere?!" Fury scoffed, his anger mounting. "In this world, everyone comes from somewhere! There's always a trail, a connection, or something we can find! To find it, goddamn it!"
As the agents intensified their efforts, Fury's frustration only grew. He couldn't stand the thought of not knowing everything and everyone that could pose a threat to his world. His relentless pursuit of information had become an obsession, driving him to demand absolute control and awareness over every situation.
"Black Widow couldn't handle him?! Four of my best agents couldn't handle him?!" he barked, his voice laced with incredulity and irritation. "Explain to me why we weren't prepared for this! Why the fuck didn't I even know about this man's existence?!"
One of the agents spoke up, trying to defend their efforts, "Sir, this man is unlike anything we've encountered before. We were all handpicked by you. You should know what we're capable of...."
"So now It's my fucking for choosing incompetent motherfuckers to protect our country!?" Fury shot back, his face contorting with anger, much to the agent's chagrin. "I want answers, not excuses! If he's that good, then I want to know how and why! I should have known how and why!"
The agents continued to work frantically, their fear of Fury's wrath pushing them to their limits. They knew that failing to uncover the man's identity and intentions would have severe consequences.
As the minutes turned into hours, Fury's impatience reached its peak. He paced back and forth on the bridge, his mind racing with thoughts of all the potential threats that could arise from this unknown figure.
"I want eyes on every damn corner of this universe," he barked. "No one should be able to drop a motherfucking needle without me knowing!"
His determination to know everything, to be one step ahead of any potential danger, fueled his anger and fueled his drive to push his team to their limits.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of searching, one of the agents shouted, "Sir, we've got something!"
Fury's eyes shot toward the screen, his heart pounding with anticipation. The agent revealed a blurry image of the man leaving the Stark Tower, and a trail of connections began to form on the screen.
"He's not in our databases, sir," the agent explained, "but there are traces of his existence scattered throughout various records and incidents."
Fury's jaw clenched, his mind racing to understand the implications of this revelation. "Find out everything you can about him," he commanded, his voice now icy calm. "I don't care how deep you have to dig. I want his life story, his motives, and everything in between."
The agents nodded, knowing that they had to deliver. Their leader's obsession with knowledge and control was relentless, and they had to match his intensity.
As the Helicarrier continued on its mission, Nick Fury's mind remained fixed on the man who had managed to slip through their grasp. He knew that he couldn't rest until he had every piece of information about him, ensuring that he would never be caught off guard again.
And so, the hunt for the mysterious man began—a hunt driven by Fury's unyielding desire to know everything, to be in control, and to protect his world from any and all threats, no matter how hard they try to hide.
...
I stood before the dilapidated building, the sign reading "Honorhall Orphanage" atop its entrance. A bittersweet smile tugged at my lips as I gazed at the familiar name. This was the orphanage where I had grown up, suddenly finding myself in the body of a child. It had been sixteen years since that fateful day when my life took an unexpected turn.
As memories of my past life flashed before me, I couldn't help but recall the significance of the name "Honorhall." In my previous world, it was associated with a notorious orphanage managed by a cruel woman. The irony of the connection was not lost on me, but I pushed the stray thought away. The reality before me was far different from the virtual world I once knew.
The woman in charge of this orphanage was an elderly lady who was nothing like the cruel character from the game. Her kindness had given solace to the children here, including my younger self. A wave of nostalgia washed over me, and for a moment, I felt like that lost child again.
Shaking my head to dispel the thoughts, I took a step forward, placing the second suitcase I had received from Tony Stark at the orphanage's doors. It was a gesture, a way to give back to the place that had sheltered me when I had no one else.
Money and the power of Extremis were of little consequence to me now. I had ways to generate wealth, and my Greed Crystal could have been better utilized to extract a more impressive power. What truly mattered was the favor Tony Stark owed me.
As I walked away from the orphanage, bitterness and sweetness mingled within me. It was a poignant moment, knowing that I had come so far from the person I once was. The past and the present collided, leaving me with a sense of appreciation for the new life I had been given and the opportunities that lay ahead.
The world of Marvel was a crazy one, but it was also my world now...
...
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