-A DAY'S WORTH-
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to their respective owners.
AN: Like I said earlier, I will be shuffling the timeline a bit so if anything happens earlier or later than it did in canon then that is more exercising my powers.
-ADW-
HELL'S KITCHEN, NEW YORK
TEMPLE PENTHOUSE
5TH September 2010
"I'm still uncomfortable with this idea, Harry." Claire sighed as she put the glass of juice on the table in front of him.
"I know but it's not like I have much of a choice."
"Oh please." Claire scoffed. "That girl takes your word as gospel. If you said it was best if she stayed here then she would immediately change her mind."
"You know that's not true." Harry took a long gulp from the juice and smacked his lips. "Not to mention she would throw a tantrum that could topple the entire planet if I told her High school will be in Hell's Kitchen."
Claire laughed and Harry smiled in satisfaction. Ever since Jake's death all that past, the beautiful woman had never recovered to her former bubbly self. She worked herself to the bone at the hospital as if she were a common nurse rather than the director of an international group of hospitals. He rather enjoyed these moments when she relaxed.
"She is a spoiled little brat and both of you are to blame."
"Hey, you spend the whole week with her." Harry frowned.
"And the two days every weekend are enough to undo whatever progress I made with her during the week." Claire shook her head. "I am surprised Jack didn't pick her himself so he could start the spoiling in advance."
"Well, we are dealing with SHIELD's latest spy." Harry sighed. "She is less subtle than Natasha though quite as beautiful as her.
"So he called dibs on this one?" Claire asked with a smirk. "Or maybe you drew straws and you lost."
"We didn't draw straws." Harry huffed. "I think I had my fill of sexy spies with Nat and left those who came after for him."
Claire shook her head.
"You two are a bunch of hormonal teenagers." She laughed at Harry's indignant look. "So, Natasha is still working for Stark then?"
"No, apparently there is no need to spy on him anymore. He is now a SHIELD consultant."
"Wow, she is bloody efficient isn't she?" Claire grinned. "So will you two be getting back together?"
"We were never together, she wanted to get information and I wanted to shed off some stress."
"I think you mean fumble." Jenny announced her presence with a wide grin.
"What have I told you about eavesdropping on people?" Harry frowned at her while she just grinned at him unrepentantly.
"To not be caught and make the most dramatic entrance possible."
"Bloody right. Now come here and give a hug." Jenny practically flew into his arms while Claire rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"This right here is exactly what I have been talking about."
"Oh don't be hard on them." Jenny said as she hugged the older woman. "Not everyone is as awesome as you."
"Just get out of my house before you two infect me with whatever is wrong with you."
The just grinned at him with almost identical grins and flickered out of existence. Claire watched the place where two of her most favorite people in the world had just disappeared and shook her head with a smile. How she managed not to fall in love with him, she could only imagine.
-ADW-
Harry and Jenny teleported and Jenny immediately bounded upstairs to prepare for her weekend trip to Africa with Jack. The man in question was seated on the table reading books about Africa and the best places to visit.
"Hey Jack." Harry greeted his blond haired friend. "I didn't expect you here this early."
"I didn't expect myself here this early." Jack grunted, not looking back.
"Ok what has Sharon done this time?" Harry asked somehow managing to smother the smile threatening to erupt on his lips.
Jack growled but didn't answer.
"Hello, need of sensitive information down here, over."
"Oh shut up you." Jack huffed and Harry snorted this time. "That woman is bloody impossible."
"You know what they say, 'the hard ones to catch are always worth it.'"
"She bloody well better be." Jack said as he leaned back. "Speaking of, Natasha called me asking to meet you."
"Can't she call me herself?"
"I don't know, it's probably because you don't have a bloody phone." Jack snorted.
"Right." Harry grinned. "I like to play hard to catch every now and then, you should try it some time."
"Oh please." Jack drawled. "You really think I can resist any pretty face that crosses me."
"I don't see you running after Claire."
"Well Claire is off-limits of course to any male in the universe." Jack answered without missing a beat. "It's just that with Natasha you beat me to the punch but I call dibs for the next two super spies we come across."
Harry just shook his head in amusement.
"So about Natasha…"
"Right… apparently there is a dinner for stuffy arrogant reach pompous men and the CEO of J-Corp has been invited."
Harry could imagine a group of Lucius Malfoys sneering at each other for the whole night.
"And how does that concern me exactly?"
"Well, the CEO will be indisposed in Africa so…"
Harry glared at him.
"On the bright side, she has graciously offered to be your date for the night so… you know."
Harry didn't say anything.
"Oh will you stop with the look and say something."
"I will go."
"Really, I mean yay."
Harry rolled his eyes. Jack had not really grasped what it meant to be CEO when the company was just starting and had over the years begged Harry to switch places with him especially when it came to these fancy dinners which were actually pissing contests for the rich pompous fools. Harry had made it clear that he wasn't interested at all and therefore his friend had to endure.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when something landed next to his leg with loud thump. He raised an eyebrow at Jenny who was standing there her face pink and covered with sweat as she took gulps of air.
"I need some water." She gasped out and Jack snorted.
"You need to start hitting the gym."
"I clearly remember enchanting that bag to be thrice as big inside as it normally is." Harry said as he poked it with his foot. "Not to mention feather-light."
"I think little Jenny here has emptied her entire bedroom." The girl in question didn't answer as she was still getting her breathing in control. Jack tried to lift the bag. "Bloody hell, we are going on a camping trip, not a honeymoon! And it's two days!"
"I know, that's why I only brought necessities." The two men eyed the duffle bag disbelievingly. "And a few extras."
Harry tapped the duffle bag that had depictions from game of thrones and it shrunk to the size of a medium backpack. Jenny easily slung it over her back and looked at Jack expectantly.
"Wait, before we go, what are you going to be doing I mean apart from the dinner."
"Well, I have been thinking that we have established ourselves well in New York and that it is about time we moved out more."
"You mean like another branch?"
"Yep"
"Where?"
"Louisiana, or more specifically New Orleans." Harry replied. "So, I will be doing some investigating tomorrow to see the best site to put it."
"Oh, well I guess I will be seeing you on Sunday then. You're ready kid?"
"Don't call me kid."
"I will take that as yes, SPOCKY"
The port-key activated and the pair disappeared to their camping site. Harry had been to Botswana already to set up the magically expanded tent and also to secure the general area with a couple of basic wards so he wasn't worried about their safety. He sat back in his seat, not sure what to do with his time as he hadn't made any real plans for the weekend so now he was bored. Before he could come up with anything, the wards notified him of a port-key requesting for entry.
Only Jack, Jenny and Claire's port-keys rights to free entry. He had modified the port-keys he had given to the inhumans in that they could only be allowed entry through the wards with his permission. So when the wards notified him about a request he knew it would be one of the inhumans.
Harry gave a mental command for the wards to allow entry and Crystal appeared before him. She immediately leaped at him and hugged him tight.
"Hey, you're alright?"
"Yeah, sorry_" she stammered as she released him.
"No its fine." Harry told her as he watched her sink onto the couch. She looked tired, like she hadn't had any sleep since she had left. "You want some tea?"
Crystal nodded and with a gesture, a kettle and two cups floated to the living room, and poured steaming cups of tea. Crystal smiled at the sight of magic.
"I had forgotten how amazing it looks when you use your magic."
"Oh really?" Harry adopted a hurt expression. "You have been gone for five days and you have already forgotten little old me?"
"Of course not, it's just that things have been moving so fast that I feel like I left here months ago."
"You look tired." Harry observed. "And since your family is not with you, and you don't look like you're grieving, I am assuming they are alive."
"Yeah, they are alive." Crystal sighed, taking a sip from the tea. "It's just that Maximus went to great lengths to ensure that he is not killed in case things uhm…"
"Went south?"
"What?"
"Never mind, so he put some kind of self-destruct command so Attilan explodes when he is killed?"
"Sort of though it is not just when he is killed, he has to cancel the self-destruct every one hour using his finger print."
"Can't you kill him and I don't know, put his hand under stasis or something?"
"Well we could but Black Bolt doesn't want to kill his brother." Harry nodded in understanding. "So he and Medusa got it into their minds to evacuate the whole of Attilan to earth."
Harry raised his eyebrows.
"And where exactly will they be staying?" Harry asked. "A community with super natural abilities tends to attract a lot of attention and usually not the nice kind."
"Well…" the girl blushed. "I didn't get the specifics before I left but when I disagreed with them, they weren't very happy and so I came here."
"Well, you are welcome here for as long as you want." Harry told her and she gave him a grateful smile. He knew there was more to the story but he wasn't going to pry any further, let alone read her mind. He tried to avoid entering people's heads unless it was necessary. Not to mention she was one he considered a friend as friends were off-limits as far as leglimency was concerned.
There was a moment of comfortable silence as Crystal took her tea while Harry thought of the Inhumans situation. As much as he wanted to help, He felt that he had gotten himself in their affairs enough and perhaps it was best to lay low for now. Whatever they planned, it was up to them, so long as they are willing to help him when the time came, then he would keep out of their affairs.
Crystal on the other hand, he had no idea what to do with her. Perhaps he would leave that decision to Jenny as clearly the princes will not be joining her family anytime soon. Next time he looked at her, she had slumped on the couch and was sleeping. The cup had fallen though given that all utensils were charmed to cushion themselves if dropped, he hadn't even heard it slipping from her fingers.
He levitated her to the room she had slept in while she had been here and with a simple gesture, the sheets and covers straightened themselves and covered her when he laid her on the bed.
Checking on the time with a quick Tempus told him it was just after nine and he wasn't very tired now. Knowing it was probably just after mid-day in New Orleans, he decided to get on with checking out the place he wished to establish a branch of J-Corp. Grabbing a light trench coat, Harry flickered and teleported to an alley he had seen on internet. Of course he was cloaked so he wouldn't spook any random people he found.
Harry opened his eyes and took a deep breath to adjust to the change in the air. Living in the middle of a forest for the most part of his life had gotten Harry so used to fresh unpopulated air and therefore he usually had to give himself a couple of seconds to adjust.
A small figure slamming into his invisible form pulled him out of his little ritual. He opened his eyes to see a young girl, probably around ten sitting on the ground as she looked at his position in confusion. She stretched her hand and grabbed at his leg before her eyes widened.
"Whoa!"
Harry stilled as the blonde girl used his leg to stand up. She moved her small hands around his legs, her brown eyes wide in amazement. She circled around and went to his back and Harry sighed in relief having feared what her wondering hands could have touched. His relief lasted until the little girl's hands fell on his wallet in the back pocket. She cocked her head in confusion, as she got a better fill.
"Yeah, definitely a wallet."
After some fumbling, she got her hand into Harry's pocket, giggling as her hand disappeared and reappeared again holding the wallet tightly. She opened it and gasped in happiness at finding fifty dollars before a bright grin split her face and after looking around to make sure no one saw her, she put the wallet in the back of her overly large pants and took off in a sprint.
Harry watched the ten-year old girl disappear around the corner silently. He could have easily kept his wallet to himself but he had caught something from the girl. Something magical, even it wasn't exactly a magical core but it was most definitely magical. He had been forced to take a pick at her mind and had been assaulted with images, way more than his cursory sweep should have brought up.
He had unintentionally gotten a look at her home life, her negligent mother and the challenges of not having a father. He had also seen some confusing images of a wave of light, a dark skinned boy, and a beach. Harry had seen the power brewing within her and it was like nothing he had seen before. It was clear that she was special, as well as the other boy and it all came from that even which had killed her father. Perhaps it was time to dig into the history of New Orleans and maybe he will be able find out the cause of the lingering effects of magic in the atmosphere.
-ADW-
6th September 2010
SOMEWHERE IN EAST AFRICA
ONE HUGE, QUIET FOREST.
The three magical torches floated around them illuminating their path as they slowly picked their way in the dark forest. The forest was dark...and too quiet, at least compared to the one she was used to that sarrounded Potter Cottage.
The forest at home was never quiet, while not as alive as it was during the day, the nocturnal creatures that lived there gave their day counterparts a run for their money. It was also never this dark, at least the number of times she had been there with Harry. There were all sorts of light creatures from fireflies to even recently fearies.
"This is a bad idea." Jack huffed and Jenny barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Apparently it was unbecoming of a lady.
"I heard you the first twenty times."
"Ok, just checking to make sure." Jack had been complaining from the moment they had left their camping site though Jenny couldn't see what was wrong with some exploring. "You know, incase Harry asks me why I didn't try to stop you."
"He won't find out. Not if you don't say anything and I will most definitely deny if you do." Jenny informed him even as she tapped on the piece of paper she had tricked Harry into charming for her with this particular mission in mind. "According to the map we should be at the border in a few minutes and this is the most clear path."
The two walking for about thirty seconds of silence before Jack spoke up again. "So, I have been thinking."
"Oh God." Jenny giggled.
"I know, that was my reaction as well when I realized what I had been doing."
"I wasn't even aware you know that the word existed."
"Ok now you are being mean." Jack huffed. "And you bloody sound like Harry."
"Really?"
"It wasn't a complement." Jack rolled his eyes. Apparently there was nothing unbecoming about it when it came to men.
"So you were doing you-know-what..."
"Right. I was thinking that it's about time Harry got himself a wife."
"So you can steal her from him?"
"You make it sound like women are a piece of cake or something."
"Well, I don't hear you denying." Jenny replied with a smile. When Jack didn't answer, she turned to look at him and he was standing still. She immediately knew something was wrong even as he gestured for her to activate her pendant.
The pendant had been enchanted by Harry to cover the wearer with a high level disillusionment and a notice-me-not bubble that made the person near-impossible to locate even while they were moving as it diverted attention from them even from those who already seen them before.
Jenny scampered to the edge of the clearing while Jack just stood still, waiting. Jenny scanned the shadows beyond the light but she couldn't see anything. Whatever Jack had sensed seemed content to stay in the shadows. Jenny's breath suddenly hitched when her eyes looked up the tree where she was squatting.
Within the shadows, she could see two gleaming yellow orbs staring at Jack's back. Before she could do anything to warn her father, the figure suddenly leaped from the tree without making any sound towards Jack's exposed back.
As if sensing the approaching danger, Jack spun around and the figure slammed into Jack's chest and together they fell on the ground with the other figure crouching on top of Jack as it seemed to study him with a curiosity of a cat.
From where she was squatting, Jenny got a clear view at their attacker. It was humanoid and she guessed it was a person wearing a cat themed suit. The helmet or whatever was covering the other person's face was also shapped like the head of a cat, ears and closed maw included. The suit was black, so black that Jenny could see how the figure had managed to seem invisible within the shadows.
Jenny could also see the look on Jack's face. There was no fear there, infact his face was completely devoid of emotion. His eyes however had that look he only got when sparring with Harry. When he is assessing the threat and the best ways to handle it. Harry had once told Jenny that of the three of them, Jack had always been the fastest in assessing a dangerous situation and coming up with hundreds of ways to handle it.
Jack's lips slowly stretched into a grin and the other figure cocked its head in confusion. Jack didn't give it time as he leaned his upper body forward despise his hands being pressed into the ground. He tried to head-butt it but it leaned back out of reach. However, Jack had planned on this and wrapped both his legs around its neck.
Jack used his legs to slam the other man on his back. In the same movement he tried to get on top but the other man used his hind legs and propelled him over his head. Jack landed in a crouch and swept the other man's legs under him. He made to capitalize but the other being hopped back to his feet and swiped his hand in front of him just as Jack reached him.
"What the_" Jack leaped back holding the side of his face. When he removed his hand it was covered by blood and there were visible claw marks. Jack stiffened as he looked at his bloody hand and Jenny knew whatever was coming next wouldn't be pretty for the other man.
Jack pressed on the ring on his finger and in a blink of an eye he was covered in his Ombra suit. The torches flickered as an oppressing feeling covered the entire clearing. Jenny could feel it pressing on her where she was and could only imagine how intense it was right within the clearing.
Knowing that he stood no chance, the other figure turned to escape but Ombra blurred and grabbed him mid-leap and with one hand slammed him into the ground. The figure scampered away from him but Ombra disappeared and right in front of him. He grabbed him by the neck and punched him in the mask covered face hard, sending him flying across the clearing.
The cat themed figure seemed to recover real fast as clearly the suit was enhancing him somehow. However, Ombra was already waiting. The figure tried going on the offensive, his movements so fast that Jenny was having a hard time following him. However, Ombra had no such trouble, his suit clearly better than the other as he effortlessly dodged the other man's attacks without making any contact.
Suddenly, Ombra grabbed the other figure's right hand and pulled. There was a pop as it was dislocated. He grabbed the other and did the same, next he kicked his knees one after the other soon he was standing behind the figure, his on the front and back of the other figure's head.
"Attacking me is one thing..." Ombra said in a hard voice that seemed to reverberate around the clearing. "Attacking me with the little one though, that... Is... DEATH."
Jenny braced herself for what she knew was coming even though she didn't look away. She waited for the man's neck to be snapped, but Ombra was just standing there holding the man's head. He huffed and suddenly pushed the other figure into the ground, just as he vanished the suit.
"Dammit Harry." Jack huffed even as Jenny could see that the scratches had healed thatnks to the Onbra suit. "Way to spoil my fun."
"I just stopped from making a very big mistake." Harry appeared next to where Jenny had been. "You're alright there kid?"
Jenny swiped her finger across the pendant, deactivating the enchantments and leaped at Harry, squeezing him with all the strength she could master.
"So...what kind of amour is this?" Jack asked as he prodded the unconscious figure. "Looks like metal though no metal should be this light."
"That is Vibranium." Harry answered and Jack whistled in appreciation. "There is only one place anyone could get enough Vibranium to make a full body suit."
"Wakanda." Jenny said from Harry's side. "He must be from Wakanda."
"But why would someone from Wakanda try to kill us?"
"Probably because you were trespassing." Harry replied. "What the hell were you all the way over here anyway?"
"She forced me. Apparently she was very sure of its location she blackmailed me into bringing her here so we could find the country."
Harry looked at Jenny who was looking at Jack like he was insane. She turned to Harry and gave him a look.
"I have no bloody idea what he is talking about." She stated with a completely straight face. "Where are we anyway, this looks nothing like Botswana."
"You little_" Jack tried to grab her but she effortlessly dodged to Harry's other side. Harry shook his head and grabbed the unconscious figure. He concentrated and disappeared only to reappear in the living room of the camping tent.
A second later, Jack and Jenny also appeared having used their original port-key that had brought them here in the first place.
Harry conjured a chair and levitated the man. A snap of his fingers and tape bound his hands behind him. He pulled off the helmet to reveal a young handsome face probably no older than Jack if not younger. He hit the man with a reviving spell and went back to stand on Jenny's side. The family of three stared as the man slowly regained consciousness before his grey eyes landed on them and he stiffened.
"Hello my Prince." Harry greeted with a chilling smile. "We have a lot to talk about."
-ADW-
AN: Hi guys, that's the new chapter. I am still looking for a beta so anyone interested please PM me.
So the little blonde girl we saw in New Orleans will not be appearing any time soon, at least not until her powers become active.
I also plan to include X-Men in the future but I will likely only focus on Jean Grey though not any time soon, right now we can assume that Sophie T is still somewhere playing Queen in the North so we won't be seeing her for some time.
Anyway, thanks for reading.