MEETING OF THE FISTS

Back in the Garden, Wolverine had just arrived back via teleportation pad and stood before a crowd with mixed reactions, cheers from the Avengers fans for his performance, and boos from the Thunderbolts fans for defeating the Samurai.

While Wolverine walked towards the Avengers, the irritable Iron Patriot is seen standing with his arms crossed and motionless, but in reality, he was using a built-in 'cellphone' system in his helmet, talking to a lawyer representing the Yakuza. "Well, with all due respect to your client, Harada is the one who said no to the secret 'add-ins' we prepared for in the match," said the Patriot. "All I can tell you is that he's off the team, and we'll have him be sent to your headquarters so YOU can deal with him! Sayonara!" At that moment, the Patriot used the inner circuitry connected for his forehead via suction cups to command his helmet to end the call mentally, so he can focus his frustration on the tournament, to which he and his team are off to a bad start.

Over in the Avengers corner, Wolverine had some of his teammates congratulate him, but he didn't pay attention. For he felt that the victory he achieved was that of a hollow one. For though he defeated his foe, the Silver Samurai, and helped his team achieve a win in this tournament, the person that he wanted to be with, Mariko Yashida, was still a prisoner of the Samurai, but in the shackles that was their marriage.

For Spidey seeing Wolverine like this sparked worried him. "Okay, something tells me he's using the 'tough guy' act to hide what's really bothering him," thought the Web-Head, and though he didn't feel comfortable doing it, he chose to approach him. "Hey Wolvie, you okay?"

Though Wolverine heard the Wall-Crawler's voice, he did not answer him right away, for he was looking up at saw Mariko and her associates up in the skybox up top, and it appeared that they were leaving.

At one point, Mariko looked down and saw the feral mutant looking up at her, and once their eyes met, the love that they had for one another, as well as the beautiful memories that they share, come rushing back and now more than ever they wanted to be in each other's arms. But sadly, they both knew that that could never be. And so, giving Wolverine a small smile, Mariko turned and walked out of the skybox with her associates, trying her hardest not to cry.

After watching Mariko leave, Wolverine let out a somewhat saddened sigh before giving the Web-Head this reply. "I'll live."

Spidey no there was more then the X-Man was letting on but chose not to drop it. Because one, this was not the time and place, and two, didn't want the feral mutant to turn those claws of his towards him out of frustration.

Cap also approached Wolverine, and while he was worried as to what was bothering him, he chose to respect his old friend's privacy and steered the conversation more to the tournament itself. "Well, you did good, Logan, and how you handled your opponent to win the match was honorable."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Rogers," replied the ever-gruff mutant. "Just focus on your match when it comes up." Moments later, Wolverine looked up and noticed something that brought a smirk on his face. "Well, that's interesting."

Usually, Spidey would be glad to see a troubled friend's spirit pick back up, but in the case of seeing Wolverine smiling, that was not the case. It made the Wall-Crawler nervous, and as he looked up at the screen to see what got the X-Man grinning, it made his eyes grow wide with fright. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

On the large screen showed the tournament brackets, it showed that both Spidey and Wolverine's names have both moved up to the 16th Finals, but it also had them pitted against each other, to which the announcer saw and brought to the crowd's attention. "And already folks, we have our first match-up in the 16th Finals, namely that it will be Spider-Man vs. Wolverine! And judging from how these two warriors fought, I'm sure will be in for a phenomenal match!"

A smirking Wolverine agreed with the announcer as he placed his hand on the bewildered Wall-Crawler's shoulder. "Oh, that's somethin' to look forward to." said the feral mutant, actually eager to see how the Web-Head will measure up to him, as well as relish the thought of having to vent his frustrations out on him for all of the bug's annoying banter he heard while fighting alongside him.

Spidey, on the other hand, seemed to be less than thrilled. "Oh yeah, me too!" he said sarcastically. "A genetically enhanced teenager going up against a clawed mutant with anger issues. Can barely contain myself."

Back on the stage, the announcer returned to moving things along for the 32nd Finals. "But that sure classic of a match will have to wait for 16th Finals folks! For now, let's proceed with our next match-up, one in which you could call a...meeting of the fists! For up next, we have a battle between two of both respected teams' martial arts masters, namely the Avengers' Iron Fist and the Thunderbolts' Batroc the Leaper!"

With the crowd roaring with that announcement, Gwen watched the events from her skybox, still more concerned about Harry than anything else. However, while watching the proceedings of the tournament unfold, she couldn't help but overhear a conversation going on just outside the skybox, with one of the voices being that of a male saying this."So yeah, we got everything set up, just like Mrs. Osborn asked."

Now curious, as well as suspicious, Gwen quietly got out of her seat and tiptoed over to the door, where she leaned in to listen harder on the conversation on the other side.

Sure enough, on the other side of the door and in the hallway, it's revealed to be that of a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in a business suit and Victoria Hand. "Good," Victoria replied with an emotionless expression. "With the way the last two fights have ended, I hope Batroc doesn't screw this up, especially since we have it set to work in his favor."

Naturally, this shocked Gwen right to the core. "Oh my god," she whispered in disbelief, now knowing that Norman Osborn and the Thunderbolts were cheating to win.

Back on the stage, Iron Fist himself let out a calm breath, mentally preparing himself for his match against Batroc. Moments later, he was greeted by his fellow Hero for Hire, Luke Cage, who decided to give his friend and partner some words of encouragement. "Give em hell, Fist!" said Luke. "Show Stark that the Heroes for Hire are worth every penny he's paying us!"

Iron Fist was annoyed by Luke's interest in money while performing heroism, but he still turned and gave Luke a nod. "I'll keep that in mind, Luke."

"Participants!" called the announcer. "To the teleportation pads please!"

As Iron Fist walked towards one of the pads, Batroc himself couldn't resist showing off and thus decided to leap and flip over his teammates and lands on one of the pads, sticking the landing in perfect form and bowing to the audience as if he performed a magic trick. "Voila, New York!" said the French-born Thunderbolt. "You are looking at your zoon to be winner of zis match and living proof zat ze Thunderbolts are superior!" At that moment, he turned and pointed his finger at Iron Fist. "And I shall prove eet by dispozing of zis poor upstart who I'm sure is not even worthy for facing someone of my caliber!"

Usually, Fist would be offended by someone with such arrogance, but he still kept a cool head as he popped his knuckles. "We'll see about that."

A split second later, both Fist and Batroc vanished out of sight and transported to parts unknown.