Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works; all other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. I'm just playing with them.
Betad by
The Gamer's Guide to Conquest, The Original
Chapter 08: The Black Queen
– Nick Fury –
Things had gone from zero to one hundred immediately; the information that had been sent to him was game-changing. It was also horrifying and explained far too much as he frowned.
He had thought the 'Serpent Society' was simply a small branch of Hydra, one of their many slimy tentacles that seemed to be wrapped around everything, but that was clearly wrong.
Judging from the information their leader had sent him, S.H.I.E.L.D. were more Hydra than the Serpent Society. It didn't take him long to work out that Sin was the daughter of the Red Skull, and she didn't give him this information out of the kindness of her heart.
He knew what Sin was doing. Hydra was trying to kill her, and she was using him and his people as attack dogs, setting them on Hydra to buy herself time. He loathed being used like that, especially by a villain, but this wasn't information he could simply sit on.
It was utterly overstepping his 'boundaries', but he immediately ordered the capture of the World Security Council; the fact that most, if not all of them, were Hydra explained a lot, but even if some of them were innocent in this mess? He was talking S.H.I.E.L.D. off the leash. This proved that S.H.I.E.L.D. could not have oversight like the Council; they were liabilities and easily corrupted or infiltrated.
The data that Sin had sent him highlighted which of his agents were truly his and which were Hydra goons. He had a lot of work to do; he'd be gutting Shield to cut out the rot Hydra had infected it with and starting anew.
This was bad, but it was also an opportunity for something great if he played his cards right. A S.H.I.E.L.D. that was controlled by him and him alone, without a Council stymying him at every turn. It was clear he couldn't let people like the World Security Council order them around, not with their rampant corruption and Hydra influence.
He'd make a new S.H.I.E.L.D., one not held back by orders and rules. He'd have to spill a river of blood to achieve it, but that was just business as usual. He had enough dirt to bribe, blackmail, and threaten anyone who wasn't Hydra and force them to back off after he was done with Hydra.
Looking at the report on Kuro, he scowled. He needed to focus on Hydra for now, but he could assign a single agent to recruit the boy now that he'd left the safety of Xavier's; infiltrating Midtown High School would be so much easier after all.
He had a feeling Kuro would be a game-changer, one way or another. Besides, if Hydra had his files, they would have known of his interest in Kuro, which didn't bode well. Kuro's nullification was a powerful tool in a world of superpowers, even if he hadn't been able to confirm that they worked on non-mutants yet.
Looking up, he stared at the two people standing in his office emotionlessly.
"Are you sure you're up for this, Captain?" Fury asked, looking into the determined eyes of the living legend in the flesh.
"I am. If Hydra is still around, I still have a war to fight." Steve replied, making him smirk. He wasn't surprised that torture hadn't come close to breaking the man.
"Good. Rachel, we'll be talking in depth about your idea of 'loyalty' later, but for now, consider your punishment on hold. I need all hands fighting Hydra, and as baffling as it seems, I can at least count on you not to be Hydra," Fury growled, taking a measure of satisfaction as she flinched violently.
A Serpent Society spy, right in the ranks of S.H.I.E.L.D. Her rescuing Captain America from the Serpent Society was a boon; having the Legend himself on their side would help massively, and it would let him start his Avengers Initiative with its potential leader already on hand.
The only reason he wasn't putting a bullet in her head was because Captain America seemed somewhat protective of her; she'd gotten his trust by saving him, and he was too noble not to try to protect his saviour. He would keep a very close eye on her, but for now, she was another method of keeping the Captain on his side.
If she stepped out of line, he'd deal with her immediately. He could think of a dozen ways to get rid of her, but he couldn't underestimate Steve Roger's intelligence, and she wasn't worth angering him over.
Besides, she was genuinely terrified of Sin. She knew she had a death mark on her head from her former employer due to her decision to save Captain America. Hydra hated the Serpent Society, and now the Serpent Society wanted Diamondback dead as well. She had nowhere to go.
He had a lot of work to do. A few World Security Council members to kill, a Nazi Secret Society to eliminate.
Just another day in the office, really.
– Kuro Tepes –
"I- wait, what? Did you kidnap me just to surrender to me? Start from the beginning and explain what the fuck is going on?" I ask, trying to work out what the hell is happening.
"I am simply joining the winning side, my Lord. Death cannot be defeated, only delayed. She cannot be killed, cannot be stopped, and as her agent, it is only a matter of time before you grow strong enough to slay me. I cannot kill you, not without enraging her, so I have chosen the path that allows me to survive," Selene admits with a slight scowl on her lips. "Even if I stopped you and somehow survived Death's reprisal, she would simply recruit another, and all I would have done was delay my end. I find this an unacceptable outcome. I have brought a gift for you to prove my worth and fealty," Selene continues quickly, rising from the ground slowly, looking an awful lot like prey, trying not to anger a drooling, hungry predator.
I'd be proud if I didn't know she was scared of Death, not me. I can feel her presence filling the room, making the air cold and heavy.
Watching her move to the door to the side of the room, she returns quickly with- wait, what? Looking at the small package she's carrying, I scratch my chin with a confused look.
This day is going so weird.
"Is that a baby?" I ask as she carries the child into the room, stopping in front of me as I look at the baby; I doubt it's even a year old. Focusing my eyes, I observe the child with a frown.
Burke, the Immortal
Race: Human (Homo Superior/External Subspecies)
Faction – The Externals
Unique Skill – Immortality, Reincarnation, Precognition
"I see, that's how you people stay alive. When you die, you just get reborn," I say, trailing off as I stroke my chin. He's on Death's List, but he's a baby? I've never killed a baby before; I like to think I have some standards. Well, is he a baby? He's an immortal who's been reborn as a baby. Does that still count?
"That is correct, my Lord. I've gathered most of my fellow Externals to be reaped by you; only three escaped me. En Sabah Nur is too powerful for me to challenge, as much as it pains me to admit. Gideon caught on to my plot and fled. He will be problematic to track down, and Candra is in hiding. The others have been imprisoned here, weakened by my magic," Selene explains, making me raise an eyebrow.
En Sabah Nur? If she told me she had Apocalypse locked up here, I'd portal my way right the fuck out of here. I'm not going near him for a long, long time. He scares me. The X-Men can deal with that mess.
Candra, I know nothing about it other than the fact that I think Storm stole something from her in the past. As for Gideon?
Who the fuck is Gideon?
"Well, I almost like her," Death adds a tone that I can almost call amusement.
"You've made Death, well, I won't say happy but at least slightly less murderous," I say, watching a flicker of utter relief pass Selene's face before she crushes it.
"Then perhaps we should send my less intelligent Externals to join her, to give her something other than me to look at," Selene responds, not entirely hiding her nerves. I suppose having Death's complete attention would be rather terrifying, no matter how strong you are.
"That we should. You know this would be easier if he weren't a baby; this makes this a bit awkward," I admit as I take Burke from her, looking down at the innocent-looking child in my hands. I've never killed a baby before; I've never killed an immortal who reincarnated as a baby either; it's honestly making me a bit squeamish.
"If it makes you feel better, Burke would be happy to be reaped. He has been looking for a way to truly die for centuries. If you had been born a decade later, he would have thrown himself at your mercy and asked for death. There's no point waiting until his memories return in a few years to end him," Selene says, reaching forward and gripping his arm, her hand glowing a sinister purple as the baby starts to wither, his life force being taken. "He should be weak enough now," Selene adds helpfully.
Well, she has a point. I don't think I would kill a real baby, but he isn't a real baby; he's an immortal who wants to die. I'm doing him a favour.
Using [Reap Soul] for the first time ever, I watch as a black mist starts to leave my hand. It feels cold; my fingers almost feel frostbitten already as I reach towards him, placing my hand on his chest before I pull back, ripping a thick white mist that the black mist quickly engulfs, the white being covered completely before both mists fade, the soul claimed.
I see Selene's eyes widen in a mixture of fascination and horror as she watches Death's power devour the soul. The body quickly rots, at a terrifying rate, as I drop it to the floor with a frown of disgust, watching it become little more than dust as even the bones fall apart; it's like he aged all his years in the blink of an eye.
"Wonderful. The first of the escapees returned to their rightful place; I almost don't want to slay Selene. In fact… that give me an idea," Death adds before the coldness of the room intensifies as a thick black mist rises from the floor, making Selene back away in pure terror as Death takes form once more, standing in the room between us. "Selene Gallio, kneel," Death orders immediately, Selene's knees slamming to the ground immediately. "My Agent, do you wish for her to live?" she asks me, making Selene's eyes lock onto me.
Despite her immense power, I can see the pleading in her gaze as I pause for a moment.
"I do. She's proven that she can be useful already. Sparing her will speed up the capture of your other targets," I say after a moment, making Selene let out a breath of relief.
"So be it, but I will not allow her to run free either. Consider this your first reward, for the first soul about to be sent into my hands," Death says as she holds her hand open, a thick black chain appearing in it before it shoots forward, entering me without resistance.
[The Chains of Death]
Chains forged by Death herself, binding the soul of the target to one of her chosen, enslaving them. Those bound by the chains cannot disobey the binder without forfeiting their soul to Death instantly.
"Summon them, Agent. Bind her to you," Death advises, moving behind me and wrapping her arms around my waist, her head resting on my shoulder. Her touch is cold but not unpleasant, unlike the kiss that nearly ended me.
Holding my hand out, the chain reforms as I grip it tightly, leaving the rest hanging down to the ground before it moves forward, wrapping around Selene's neck and forming a chain collar as she obediently remains still.
After a moment, the chain fades, her collar remaining for a moment longer before the chains fade away. Something has changed, however; Selene's corset does nothing to hide the mark just above her cleavage, a triangle with a circle inside it, a line going down vertically through it. I can feel our bond, the way her immortal soul is now forever chained to my own.
"I chose a mark you would recognise; the Deathly Hollows symbol serves the purpose. Oh, yes, do remind me to have you collect those three abominations that my counterpart made, the fool. I will not let that brat collect them; they need to be destroyed or kept in your hands," Death mutters with a bit of anger before the mark fades. "It will remain hidden, only appearing when the magic infused in it is in use, but I have overstayed my welcome, Agent. The rules are already starting to react, rejecting my presence in this realm; I must leave for now," Death adds, letting go and moving back, almost immediately fading into black mist and sinking into the floor.
"Interesting, it might be gone but I can feel the cold metal against my neck," Selene adds as she touches her neck, not raising from her knees.
"You don't seem too bothered about your new circumstances," I point out, making her smirk.
"It is uncomfortable, but I will adapt. It is certainly more pleasant than whatever Death would have done to me for the rest of eternity," Death adds with certainty. "If I must serve you to earn my continued existence, so be it. Whatever humiliation or pain you could inflict on me is nothing compared to what she would do. Burke may get off lightly; his immortality was unwanted and something he had sought to rid himself of. He even sought out Death's former Agent, though Umar got to him first. I would not be so lucky; I have spent centuries desperately avoiding her. The more you avoid your inevitable end, the worse your punishment will be when she finally gets you," Selene explains.
I suppose between being at my mercy and being at Death's mercy, I'd choose me as well. That's saying something because I know me. I'm a fucking dick, and I'm still the best choice.
Focusing for a moment, I manifest the chain again, giving it a curious look as her collar and brand reappear.
"No matter how far away she is, you will be able to both track her and see through her eyes; even her mind is open to you if you focus. You can summon her to your side with a thought, and she will be unable to refuse any order she is given. She is also unable to harm you; you could reap her soul at any moment, no matter how healthy she is. If you die, you'll drag her soul into the afterlife with you. There will be no escape for her or anyone you bind. It's a masterpiece in truth; I'm quite proud of it," Death adds, almost happily. "I will count any targets bound as reaped so that you won't miss out on any of your rewards."
"A fair point. We should send the others to join her. You said that you had more of your kind here?" I ask as she rises, letting go of the chain and watching it vanish once more.
"We should; the happier Death is, the better it is for everyone," Selene agrees as she leads me into the next room, making my lips twitch at the sight of five men bound in thick chains, large spikes piercing their bodies and pinning them in place.
Garbha-Hsien, an elderly Asian man with a beard and moustache. Absalom, a Malfoy-looking motherfucker with long blonde hair. Nicodemus, a stern-looking bearded man. And finally, Crule, a giant of a man with dark purple skin and a long-ass ponytail with a fucking mace attached to the end. The others look like they could pass me in the street without gaining my attention, but he stands out a lot.
"I have to admit, I'm impressed. They're all-powerful, and you took them all down alone?" I ask, making him smirk cruelly.
"They are powerful, but we Externals have a connection. We can sense the presence of the others and send out a psychic summon. I set a trap and called the others to my side. Nicodemus and Garbha-Hsien all wandered into it, confident of their own powers and too sure they were too smart to be tricked. Absalom and Crule caught on, but Absalom realised the trap too late and Crule is too prideful to back down," Selene boasts. "I did not summon En Sabah Nur for obvious reasons, and Gideon and Cadra suspected something and fled instead, suppressing our psychic link to prevent me from finding them."
"Nice work, and thanks for not dropping the fucking Apocalypse on us by trying to take him on. Let's get this over with. It's time to send them to their final destination; I'm sure Death is eagerly awaiting her guests," I say, moving towards the Purple man, Crule.
He's barely alive as it is, dozens of metal spikes piercing his body, each glowing slightly with Selene's magic. He looks up at me with a hateful glare, but the chains flare as he tries to do something, making him groan in pain.
Selene has done my job for me, coating my hand in black mist again; I touch him and pull out his soul as he screams, agony clear in his cry as we watch his body turn to dust. I can't help but notice that the spikes started glowing brighter for just a moment before the glow fades.
Focusing on the connection between our minds, I catch Selene's satisfaction and ambition. She has achieved something by doing this. It's more than just her continued existence; she's won here. There's something else going on. For a moment, she catches my look, and I feel a burst of fear as she sees me watching her, feeling me in her mind.
"Selene, what are you doing?" I growl, giving her a stern look as the chains reform, tightly wrapping around her throat. She hesitates before she sighs in defeat.
"Ensuring we have the power to take down our future opponents. Each of these fools has power that is just going to waste; allowing it to die with them would be a costly mistake, so I'm taking them for myself. We will need them in the coming years, my Lord," Selene says, her tone and posture deferential.
"The chain gives me access to your mind; I can scour your memories at my leisure. I can kill you with a thought at any moment, no matter where you are. If you have any little plans, I suggest you tell me, because I'll find out either way. As it happened, in this case, you're right. We will need all the power we can get," I agree, my tone cold as she nods rapidly. "If you had just told me, I would have happily allowed you to do this, but don't think you can deceive me."
+50 Obedience with Selene Gallio [80/100] for showing her her place.
+5 Affection with Selene Gallio [05/100] for not being a pushover.
"I- of course, My Lord, my apologies. I am not used to asking permission for anything," Selene says. As I look into her mind, I can sense her honesty. She means it this time, but she's spent a millennium manipulating people; it won't be an easy habit to break.
She is obedient to me, but deceit is in her very blood. I'll have to keep an eye on her; scheming is simply part of her nature.
"Good, now let's move on and forget this little misunderstanding," I say after a moment, moving over to Garbha-Hsien and repeating the action, another pile of ash as he dies without ever realising it. Unlike Crule, he wasn't even conscious of whatever Selene had put him through. Nicodemus glares, but one of the thick chains has wrapped around his head, gagging him. I can see the hate in his eyes, but he can't stop this.
Absalom surprises me because he barely seems to care as I approach him. It's not fear or hatred in his eyes but complete apathy. He doesn't scream as he dies, his soul claimed by Death.
Candra, Gideon and Apocalypse himself are all that remains of the Externals. We aren't off to a bad start. I feel my connection with Death's List call to me, summoning it and watching as several names fade.
"Death is pleased with your actions. You're officially off her list," I say, making Selene smile, her body releasing the tension she's had since Death appeared before us. "Just three more of your little group, and that's my first group crossed off."
"With your permission, I shall begin hunting Gideon and Candra. Gideon knows you are hunting Externals now, and he won't stay hidden for long before he goes on the offensive. Gideon has never been a patient man, and he hates being on the defensive. As for Candra? She is many things, but intelligent and patient, she is not. It is only a matter of time until her ego causes her to leave her hiding hole, and when she crawls out, I will snatch her," Selene scoffs with a dark smile on her face. "Finally, En Sabah Nur is still slumbering. He will not be awakened anytime soon; we have time to prepare for the… apocalypse, as you put it. Not an incorrect statement; I'm not so prideful as to not be able to admit that he's the strongest of us all."
"You have a plan for Gideon?" I ask, making her nod.
"I keep an eye on all of them; it's only logical. Until you were chosen, they were the only people who could possibly kill me after all. Gideon has been playing businessman, though I suspect he only does so to kill time. Have you ever heard of a group called A.I.M?" Selene asks, making me pause. M.O.D.O.K is from A.I.M., right?
"Briefly. They're a bunch of possibly mad scientists, right? I ask, making her chuckle at my description.
"Exactly, Gideon has been funding them, but he simply isn't suited for politics or business; he's a warrior at heart," Selene explains. "I plan to use A.I.M. to lure him out. Their leader, Aldrich Killian, is a desperate man who could be easily turned into a tool."
"Do it; I don't want to be on the defensive when Gideon stops hiding and attacks me. What is his power?" I ask, rubbing my chin.
"Mimicry, he can copy the powers of anyone near him, no matter how they got them. Even worse, he can usually use the stolen power better than the original. If I can catch him by surprise, we can beat him, but if not? Things may get complicated," Selene admits. "You may be able to suppress his powers, but I cannot say for certain. Externals are more than just regular mutants; your powers have not stripped me of most of my own abilities."
"Fine, focus on finding and dealing with him; if you have to fight him, don't take risks trying to take him alive. Even if his soul escapes, I can deal with him when he's reborn," I say, making her nod. I'd like to deal with him immediately, but if I have the choice between dealing with baby Gideon or actually fighting Gideon before I know whether I can nullify him, I'll take the baby. He sounds like a reasonably significant threat.
"I will, my Lord. I'll see about tracking Candra. Unlike Gideon, she is rather predictable, and I have a few ideas for how to draw her out. She doesn't seem to realise that she is being hunted, unaware that Death has a new Agent. Her arrogance is as disgusting as always, but she's the lesser threat," Selene explains.
"Agent, your rewards, four more souls are now in my grasp, and Selene is bound to you. As such, five rewards are yours," Death adds calmly. I do so love being rewarded.
[The Black Key]
A large black key which allows the holder to create a portal to a realm of Darkness, one that is all too familiar for you.
[The Shinigami Eyes (Lesser)]
Your eyes have been blessed by Death herself, allowing you to see the current lifespan of anyone you look at. This countdown will show you how long they will live unless your actions change their fates.
[Spectral Transformation (Lesser)]
You have been touched by Death, and it has left its mark upon you. You are able to take on a spectral form, becoming intangible and immune to physical attacks while transformed. You can turn invisible while in your spectre form, but you cannot interact with the world while transformed.
[Death's Embrace (Lesser)]
Your magic has been enhanced by Death, allowing all your damaging necrotic spells to heal you, draining the life force from your foes.
It is a lucky man who meets Death and walks away better for it, and as such, your time with her has boosted your Luck to A.
+5 Affection with Death [25/100] for making progress on her List.
Looking at Selene, I have to chuckle at the sight of her life-span.
Eternal, that's all it tells me.
The Key is curious, but I don't think right now is the time to use it. I'm very interested in what this realm is, and I have my hopes. It could be High School of the Dead, given the wording, but I genuinely hope it is what I think it is.
"Do so. Gideon and Candra are threats for as long as they are out there, and we don't need them coming for us. Now, if that is everything, I would like to go back to Emma sometime tonight," I say slightly scoldingly, making her lips twitch.
"I will come with you; I have something to discuss with my… equal," Selene says in disgust, making me smirk.
"You don't like Emma?" I ask, watching Selene sigh.
"I have been the Black Queen since Hellfire's founding. I practically built the organisation, and it owes much of its success to me. I let the Kings lead while I was busy, but then they grew arrogant and forgot just how powerful I am. Emma was Shaw's little sex toy, a useful little tool he used to read the inner thoughts of his rivals, used as a party favour while she called herself a Queen," Selene says with disdain, and through our connection, I see a memory of a younger Emma dancing on a stage for a bunch of older men, slowly stripping for their entertainment.
Selene watches from a booth, a frown on her lip as a man her mind labels as Shaw orders Emma to give one of his friends a lap dance, Emma's face scowling even as she obeys.
"She declared herself my equal; I won't deny that she was useful in dealing with the two Kings, but she has grown arrogant if she truly believes she is my 'equal'. Hellfire is mine; she's practically a secretary with delusions of grandeur," Selene says coldly as she opens a portal with a casual gesture of her hand. "If you are to be my master, then she is far below you; remember that when she tries her games. Call on me if she gets out of line; killing her would be a pleasure, but breaking her would be a privilege."
"I'll keep that in mind. Still, she has her uses," I say, making her nod in agreement.
"If she didn't, they'd have found her withered corpse by now," Selene says casually as we walk through the portal. Emma's eyes immediately lock onto us and widen, her eyes running over me quickly, checking for injuries.
My eyes are drawn elsewhere, spotting the unconscious girl on the floor. Why is Blink comatose in the corner of the room?
"Did you truly have to break my pet, girl?" Selene asks, looking at Blink with a slight scowl.
"After you kidnapped the best hope for the Mutant race? Yes, I did," Emma scowls as she approaches me, her hands running over me, checking that I'm fine.
"It's okay, Emma. I'm fine, better than fine, actually," I say, making her scowl as she glares at Selene.
"What were you playing at, Selene?" Emma growls quickly, making Selene's lips twitch. I like Emma more than Selene, but I know which of these two would come out on top if this became a fight.
"I was simply ensuring my own survival. Perhaps this would be easier if you showed her our new relationship?" Selene asks, making me manifest her chain again, forcing her to kneel with the collar binding her.
"I... what?" Emma mutters, genuine confusion on her face as she watches the immensely powerful immortal legend drop to her knees obediently.
"Kuro is the Agent of Death herself, and now he is my Master. I could not harm him, even if I tried. This is what I need to speak with you about. Kuro needs to be indicted into Hellfire," Selene says bluntly as she rises. "As the Black Queen, I cannot be the slave of some nobody; it would destroy my reputation and destabilise Hellfire entirely. The only natural course of action would be to grant him one of the empty King seats. You will continue to handle the day-to-day operations; I have work to do for my Master. See that it is done. I'll return Blink to you when I fix her mind of the devastation you have inflicted on her," Selene says bluntly as she levitates the unconscious girl. "Good night, my Lord. Frost," Selene says, a slight bow of her head towards me and a dismissive smirk at Emma as she leaves, taking Blink with her and leaving us alone.
"I... no, really, what? Kuro, explain, please," Emma says, sitting on her desk with a confused frown. Taking a glance at her lifespan, I pause, watching it flicker between a few decades and an infinite symbol. Why is it changing?
"She will die permanently in a few decades, along with most mutants, unless you give her immortality, in which case she will remain alive for as long as you do. You would find something similar with many of your lovers. I care not if you keep your lovers alive; I will allow it as a benefit for your station," Death explains. It's good to know I can get away with making my girls immortal without getting them a spot on the list.
"I have a deal with Death to hunt immortal beings that have crossed her. Selene and her fellow Externals were on my list, and Selene swore herself into my service in exchange for being taken off Death's list. She is literally bound by Death to serve me, unable to defy me, and should I die, she dies with me," I admit, making her pause, deep in thought.
At this point, it's easier to just admit it. I might as well get Emma used to the weirdness of my life. She needs to know the nonsense that she's invited into her life by approaching me.
"Follow me, please," Emma says eventually, taking my hand and leading me through the school in silence. She's still wearing her thong and corset, so I have no complaints about following her sexy ass through the building. It's getting late, so very few people are around, but a few students spot us, whispering to themselves.
+10 Reputation with the Massachusetts Academy [30/100], and you haven't even started yet. Clearly, they know how cool you are, Master!
Thanks, Isis. Glad to know I already have a nice rep with my new school.
As she leads me to what must be the staff quarters, we enter an immensely well-decorated bedroom; the furniture problem costs more than an average person could make in their entire life. As she leads me to the bed, she undresses me without a word, removing my shirt and jeans as she lays me down, lying next to me calmly.
"I was Sebastian Shaw's Black Queen before I took the title of White Queen instead. Do you know what the Queens used to be?" Emma asks after a moment, making me look at her; it's rhetorical. I don't know anything more than what she's told me from what she knows and what I saw in Selene's mind before. I could get the answers from Selene's mind, but I don't need to as she starts to speak.
"They were playthings. Selene let other girls take the Black Queen position as she ran things from the shadows, the real Queen, but the public Queens were little more than toys for the Kings and sometimes the rest of the club. It's why they were made to dress like this," Emma says, moving on top of me as she gestures at her outfit. "The position had very little power; the White Queen was the property of the White King, and the Black Queen was the same for the Black King. Hellfire was led by old men who didn't see the female members as their equals despite Selene's ever-present shadow. Usually, the Queens would be sex toys and eye candy for the King, but often, they'd be used as bartering chips, do what the King wanted, and you could have the Queen to yourself for the night. I avoided a lot of the worst of it with my telepathy, making them believe they had had me, remembering whatever I wanted them to, but even I couldn't avoid it all," Emma admits, a disdainful frown on her lips as she shakes off her unpleasant memories.
I don't bother trying to console her; that's not what she wants, and it wouldn't help. She gives me a small smile as I listen to her words.
"It's why I decided to kill the kings, assassinating Shaw and Buckman and leaving the position empty. When I started my plans, Selene revealed herself to me and offered her assistance in the act. The Kings had grown too arrogant for her and dared to defy her on several occasions, so she decided it was time to restructure the club. We slew the Kings, purged countless of the old guard and claimed their fortunes for ourselves as we shifted Hellfire to suit us, making the Queens the true leaders instead of party favours. The King seats have been left empty ever since, and I planned to keep it that way. Now, Selene wants another King to be named, a seat best left empty to be filled. This will complicate things a lot," Emma adds, placing her hands on my chest.
"Is it going to be a problem?" I ask, making her smile.
"With me? Of course not; you are too important for me to let my past troubles with the Kings damage our relationship. But with the rest of Hellfire? As a King, you can command any of them; their obedience and loyalty are expected, but people can be irrational. I limited the number of men I allowed into the club, at least into the inner circle, but the small few that managed to gain entry are ambitious. Mayor Osborn has wanted the seat of King since the day he joined, and he's just one of many powerful, ambitious men who will take offence to this. When they see a teenager get their coveted seat, they won't be happy. They are prideful fools who will see your ascension as a personal slight," Emma admits. "It will also open up the possibility of the second King seat being filled once more, encouraging even more people to grow ambitious and seek to take the seat for themselves. I will not allow anyone but you to be King; I didn't remove Shaw to have some other fool think he is my equal, or worse, my better."
"Would they be offended enough to attack me?" I ask, making her sigh before she nods.
"Yes. Perhaps not immediately, they'll play along and suck up to you, but they will see you as someone to challenge. Most of them have powerful companies or criminal empires under their control. For a teenage boy to be given the position, they'll see you as a rival at best, wanting to manipulate you or outright kill you and take your position," Emma explains, making me sigh even as I look over the half-naked woman in my lap. She's been slowly grinding herself against me, so I'm already erect as she rubs her thong-clad crotch against me.
"Annoying. I'm going to take a wild guess that you have an idea about how to deal with this?" I ask, making her smirk and nod.
"You will be King, the Black King, I believe since Selene is already under your control, though do be careful; she isn't to be underestimated; the obvious solution is to arrange for you to have the same level of support. It won't be easy, but we need to give you more than just infamy due to your five minutes of fame; you need a true level of power, a company that you are the CEO of, an organisation with you at the helm. I'll look into it. It won't be easy, but we will have to find a company that we can take over. I will take care of that; I have experience in the business world, after all," Emma says absently, thinking deeply as I pause.
"If I told you that Death had granted me some minor vision of future events, would you believe me?" I ask, making her freeze.
"I would; precognition is a rare ability but not unheard of, and I don't know enough about Death to refute it," Emma agrees calmly. "I take it this is related to what I said and not just a random claim?"
"Tony Stark will return soon, escaping the terrorists that are holding him with a powered suit of armour. When he returns, Stark Industries will stop trading weapons due to Stark being traumatised by a missile with his name on it. Stock prices will plummet, but it'll recover; Stark's too smart for it not to," I say, making her eyes widen.
"If Stark abandons the weapon trade, most of his Shareholders will flee; they're naive fools; after all, buying their shares wouldn't even be hard. You're right; Tony Stark is a true genius; only Reed Richards can beat him. He'll come back stronger than ever if he puts his mind to it. If I buy them in your name, we could easily set you up as a powerful investor. It's not the same as being a CEO, but it's position of power all the same," Emma mutters with a growing smirk. "Stark turned down entry to the Hellfire Club, keeping his Company out of our hands, but it looks like fate itself has decided that we'll be getting our claws into Stark Industries, after all. It's also worth looking into companies that will benefit from Stark leaving the weapons trade; there will be a power vacuum as the biggest weapons manufacturer leaves the trade. Anything else you've seen?" Emma asks, making me smirk.
"Danny Rand will return as well; he isn't dead either; he's off doing martial arts or something like that, weird guy. Obadiah Stane is a traitor; he bribed the terrorists into attacking Stark so he could take over the Company; if nothing changes, it will result in his death and Stark becoming a superhero going by 'Iron Man'," I explain, watching her pause in thought.
"I can deal with Obadiah, even if we change things and he survives. He's never been as smart as he likes to think. Rand Enterprises is fairly small, at least in comparison to mine and Stark's companies, but it has its uses. I'll look into it. I would be a fool not to," Emma says with a growing smirk.
"Be careful; its CEO, Harold Meachum, was resurrected by a cult called the Hand; they're on my list of targets for Death. He made a deal with them to kill the Rands so he could take the company over," I say, getting a frown from her. Using Death as an explanation for my future knowledge is valuable; who can call me out on it? What are they gonna do, die and ask Death if I'm full of shit on their way to the afterlife?
"I'll keep that in mind; you should keep your future sights secret. A lot of people would do almost anything to gain this kind of knowledge. Don't tell anyone who doesn't have an immunity to telepathy at the very least," Emma advises, making me nod. S.H.I.E.L.D. would toss me in a cell and interrogate me till the end of my days for the knowledge I have, and they're the 'good guys'. I don't want to think about what the bad guys would do to get a chance at knowing the future.
"For now. I'll set things into motion for you to take the title. Slowly, of course, but it will happen. When you get the title, I would simply advise you not to abuse your power over the club too much until you have a stronger base and avoid giving the stronger members a reason to want you gone. It's what got your predecessor killed, after all, and we shouldn't have history repeat itself. I'll help you learn who is who and which members you should worry about when you are fully introduced to the club," Emma says as she strokes my chest with a smile.
"Agreed, and I appreciate it. I'll just assume everyone wants to kill me until you tell me otherwise for now." I say, making her giggle.
"You joke, but that's probably a good idea. Hellfire is a hive of predators; if they smell blood, even the nicest member could try for your life," Emma admits, but I just smile; I wasn't joking. "Let's forget about that for now; I'll give you a full rundown of the Club at a later date, but I still need my sample," Emma says, moving her hand lower. "I could retrieve it myself, and I plan to, but I thought I'd take a moment to introduce you to some of your future classmates," Emma says casually as she closes her eyes, sending a telepathic message with a smile on her lips.
Almost immediately, the door opens, and five girls enter the room, each in a see-through white nightie as they smirk an identical smirk at me, five identical faces staring at me as they climb onto the bed, three on the left and two on my right as they silently watch me.
"Girls, meet Kuro. Kuro, I'd like to introduce you to the Cuckoos, sometimes called the Five-In-One. Long story short, a particularly idiotic man decided to clone me in a plot against me. It goes without saying that he is extremely dead, but I brought the surviving clones here. I suppose you could call them my daughters, as unconventional as it may seem. Girls, assist me," Emma says with a sultry smirk as she undoes her corset, tossing it off the bed as her assets bounce free, the large pale breasts each topped with a small pink nipple. As she pulls my boxers down, she grinds her panty-clad crotch along my rock-hard shaft, leaning back with a look of pleasure on her face.
The girls, in perfect unison, grab their own nighties and toss them away with an identical movement, their faces all wearing the same smirk. Five identical bodies are exposed for my enjoyment, and I can see the resemblance to Emma. Their bodies aren't as developed as hers, but their curves are already kicking in; if I had to guess their age, I'd say early teens, but obviously, it's hard to tell with clones. They could only be a couple of years old. Wait, that's a weird thought that goes down a worrying rabbit hole, so let's just put that out of my mind.
"Hello, Kuro," one of them says as she leans down and kisses my neck, her hands moving along my chest.
"We've been wanting to meet you," another continues the moment she stops, kissing me.
"Mother wouldn't let us visit you; she said it wasn't time yet," the third says before I feel a pair of lips on my chest.
"But that doesn't matter," the fourth adds, taking one of my hands and placing it on her smaller chest, my fingers sinking into the incredibly soft flesh as I cup her perky breast, small enough to fit in my hand perfectly as she gives me a smile.
"You're here now," the fifth adds, taking my other hand and pressing it against her tiny slit, moaning as my middle fingers immediately push into her. As she moans, all four of her sisters moan at the same time.
Okay, that's nice... and somewhat creepy. There's something about the way they talk that puts me on edge, but my [Telepathic Insight] claims their intention is to gain my love. Huh, that's something.
Still, a sevensome. Have I ever had a sevensome before? I definitely not with a set of quintuplets and their clone mother, at any rate, and I do love new experiences.
Pulling her thong aside, Emma lifts herself up and grips my shaft, gently angling it before she starts to lower herself down, the tip beginning to spread her lower lips before it pushes into her completely. She doesn't stop lowering herself until she has taken my shaft into her completely, biting her lip as she stares down at me.
"I thought you couldn't afford to get pregnant?" I ask as I grip her hips, guiding her as she starts to ride me, running a hand through her hair as she gives me a sultry smile.
"I can't so tell me when you're close," Emma requests as she braces herself with her hands on my chest as she speeds up; the girls move slightly as I feel a pair of lips on my balls as one of them moves behind Emma, another one latches her lips onto Emma's bouncing breast.
I've noticed something odd: every time I speed up my fingering of whichever one I'm fingering, all of them moan in unison. It's the same as I tweak the nipple of the one I'm groping the chest of; they can all feel it. Five in One is right; I need to keep these alive; it'd be a downright tragedy to split up such a kinky group.
There's something special about having this many girls satisfying you at once; it's hard keeping track of all of them as I feel countless hands and lips moving over my body, and the sight before me is a feast for the eyes as five identical bodies move around the bed.
At one point, two of them lean over me from each side, heatedly making out as their hands run over the other's body. I can't tell if they're doing it for pleasure or they are simply putting on a show; either way, they definitely placed themselves in a position where I'd have the perfect view of them, being right in front of me, my hands reaching around and playing with their asses as they make out above me.
I don't even mind that they've kinda blocked my view of Emma's bouncing breasts; I can see bouncing breasts whenever I want; identical twins making out is a rarity. Besides, that's what [X-Ray Vision] is for. I can just look through them if I want to.
This proves one thing, however. I need my Eromancy back; in a situation like this, I'm fighting a losing battle with the deck stacked against me; there are too many sources of pleasure, both visual and physical, for me to really last under the onslaught of feelings.
Five sets of hands and lips work to bring me to my climax, in addition to Emma's tight pussy as she rides me. Another leans over to kiss me, my vision blocked by three different nude teenage bodies.
Eromancy could even the odds, but right now, all I can do is lay back and enjoy it, Emma's pussy is almost searingly hot despite her ice queen title, and she's tight as well, plus she knows how to use it as she draws me to the edge, her inner muscles tightening down with each bounce. She's perfect, showing her experience as she quickly works to get the sample she wants.
I have some pride as a man, I don't want my partners to be unsatisfied, and while Emma has been moaning louder as time passes, it's just as much the Cuckoo who has been groping, licking and sucking on her breasts that's causing it, as she cums, taking me to the hilt as she stops moving, her slit clenching down harder than ever, I have to admit the girls did just as much to push her over the edge as I did.
"Emma, if you don't want me finishing inside, you need to move," I grunt out, making her eyes widen as she pulls herself off me with some effort, her arms shaking slightly as she falls down next to me. Apparently, her orgasm was pretty powerful; she has a sheen of sweat, making her skin almost glow as she pants; the girl who was already lathering my balls with attention immediately moved up, wrapping her modest breasts around the shaft, pushing them together as she rubs her chest along my dick, staring up at me as she does.
It doesn't take long before I cum, another girl immediately capturing the spurts of semen in a test tube she grabbed from somewhere. She definitely didn't have it on her, and I'm not sure I want to know where she got it from.
"That was something," I pant out as the girl triumphantly passes the test tube to Emma.
"That it was, being a telepath has its uses, and the feedback from all five of them as certainly 'something'," she admits as the girls sit around us. They're fun, but when they all stare at you silently, it moves towards creepy.
"It was enjoyable," one of the girls adds calmly.
"Kuro did not disappoint," another pipes in, making me look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Did we do well?" one of them asks me, making me laugh.
"Yes, you were all amazing," I say, making them all smile in unison.
"Excellent," they say together.
"We are glad you enjoyed our act. We studied in preparation," one admits. "We will study more."
"We look forward to Friday," another says as they all step off the bed, throwing their nighties back on and leaving the room with little fanfare.
"They seem nice, if a little weird," I say, making Emma sigh with a fond smile.
"They are. Cloning has a strange effect on the virus, infecting all mutants. It messes with their mental growth; their physical growth is unpredictable at best, every cloned mutant is completely infertile, and their powers are often unstable. I had looked into it as a potential way forward for our race before I realised the problems. I've spent years guiding their minds to fix their mental problems, and it hasn't been without issues. They either mistrust people and almost never change their minds, or they get extremely attached immediately. You're the third person they've attached to," Emma admits, making me pause.
"And why have they grown attached? I've never met them before." I say, making her sigh.
"Because they have a habit of slipping into my mind. The constant connection that formed from me fixing their damaged minds accidentally gave them a back door into my head; they can simply bypass my mental defences, and they don't see any problem with entering my mind whenever they please. They saw you in my mind and grew obsessed almost immediately," Emma explains with a frown. "I caught them trying to take control of Blink to use her to deliver them to your room."
How would I have reacted to five naked teenage quintuplets popping up in my room? Hornily, I would have responded hornily. I might not have even questioned it.
"They have a link with the Phoenix, though it is not as strong as Jean Grey's. They are potential hosts, and they can sense what Jean can. Life and Death are two sides of the same coin, after all," Death adds, clearing up some of my confusion and also adding to it a little.
I know the Cuckoos were Phoenix avatars at some point, but shouldn't that have not happened yet? Ugh, timelines.
"Will they be a problem?" I ask, making her laugh.
"I wouldn't let them near you if they were; they won't hurt you or anyone you care about. That said, I deeply pity anyone who attacks or insults you if they are nearby. Just give them some affection now and then, and they will behave. Please try to be nice to them, even if they can be a little aggravating at times. They may be clones, but I do see them as my daughters, and I don't want them to get hurt," Emma requests, and I nod easily. I'm not gonna be a dick to the five hot quintuplets who are all interested in me.
[The Stepford Cuckoos: Split Mind] – 50 Affection Reward
You can separate your mind into five, allowing you to easily multitask five separate actions or trains of thought at the same time.
Wait, they're already above 50? Checking, I raise an eyebrow in surprise. Celeste, Esme, Irma, Phoebe, and Sophie. All five of them have the exact same affection and obedience. Sixty affection, seventy obedience.
"Will do, but for now, I think it's time I headed back, as much as I'm tempted to stick around," I say, giving her nude body another long look as she gives me a sultry grin. "It's getting late, and I have school in the morning," I say, making her sit up with a stretch, which makes her breasts do interesting things.
"Do you need a ride? Blink may be down at the moment, but I have plenty of helicopters and planes," Emma offers, making me shake my head.
"I'll sling-ring back. I can only do it to places I've been, but it's still useful," I say, taking a chance and kissing her, making her eyes widen before she leans into it. I'm fairly unsurprised that she has more problems with a kiss than with sex.
Sex was a means to an end, something she's used to doing. She needed me to cum so she could get her sample, so she fucked me as the fastest way to get it. A kiss is more intimate in comparison. There's nothing to gain or any end goal; it's just a display of affection.
Breaking the kiss, I get up and get dressed, pulling out the Sling Ring and opening a portal back to my bedroom.
"I'll see you Friday, Headmistress," I say with a chuckle, admiring her body as she lounges in her bed with a smile.
"That you will, Mr Tepes. I'll let you know if Blink is back by then; it wouldn't do to make you take care of your own transport after all," Emma says, watching from her bed as I wave at her and walk through the portal.
I'm a bit tired, but as Rogue sits up from my bed in just her nightie, I grin. I have a few more rounds in me. Seeing my smirk, Rogue blushes slightly, already seeing my intention.
– Next Day – Thursday –
Wonderful. Yeah, this is precisely what I needed today. This is just fucking perfect.
"My name is Natalie Rushman, and I will be teaching you all English Literature until your teacher recovers from his illness," The fucking Black Widow says as she introduces herself to the class, making me try to hide a frown.
She's dressed professionally, wearing a white shirt almost fully buttoned up and a long black skirt, but the shirt is just a little bit too tight, and the skirt keeps moving up her legs as she moves, exposing her long legs, every movement drawing the attention of the boys in class to her body as she reminds me that Black Widows are masters of seduction.
Maybe she isn't here for me? Peter Parker is sat a few seats away, after all.
As the fucking Black Widow teaches us about Macbeth, I scowl to myself. She's a good teacher, knows her stuff, and is attentive to the class.
Oh, and she's a super-spy who is possibly here for me.
Do I abuse X-Ray vision throughout the class to enjoy the incredible body as she 'accidentally' bends over to pick something up, making the male half of the class groan as her skirt struggles to confine that amazing ass? Yes. Yes, I do. Natasha Romanoff is easily one of the best-looking women in the MCU, and if she's spying on me, I feel no shame in enjoying the show.
As the class starts to reach its end, she brings things to a close, and she happily destroys my delusion that she's spying on Spider-Man.
"That will be all for today; I won't assign any homework for this first class. Oh, Mr Tepes, can you remain behind for a moment, please?" 'Natalie' asks with a kind smile, making her groan as the class ambles out of the room.
Fucking called it. Why can't she be here to make Peter's life harder? Shouldn't his Parker luck draw the hot girls to him but inevitably prevent him from getting anywhere with them?
"Is there something I can do for you?" I ask as I stop next to her desk, the door out of the room behind me. I want an easy out. I doubt she's going to pull out some Black Widow martial arts and beat my ass, but I'm not taking any chances.
She just smiles at me kindly, seemingly unaware of my suspicion, as she leans forward to grab a file from her desk, giving me a deep look at her cleavage (entirely by accident, I'm sure) before she turns her chair to face me.
"While I might be a temporary teacher, I want to make the most of my time here, and I can't help but notice how uninterested you are in class. All your teachers from both here and your old school have said the same thing: you are undeniably a genius, but you have no ambition or drive to succeed," Natasha explains, making me sigh.
"Does this have a point? When classes are this easy, I don't need to be interested to do well," I say, playing the part of the cocky teenager as she gives me a knowing smile. "My grades are always at the top of the class; I could do this in my sleep."
"I know, which explains why you're so bored and easily distracted in class," Natasha says with a slight smirk; of course, she noticed me watching her. "It's all too easy for you, isn't it? Tell me, what do you want to do with your life? With your intelligence and physique, you could excel in just about any career you turned your mind towards, so what do you want to be?" Natasha asks, making my lips twitch.
If I said a 'secret agent', what would she do?
'Oh, I want to be a super-spy. Do you know any coloured rooms that could help me with that?'
"I have no idea; I just make it up as I go along. I like it better that way," I say with a carefree shrug.
"I thought as much. You don't really have a dream or any ambition, so I want to help you find one," Natasha says with a smile. "You're only here twice a week, which is a bit of a strange schedule, but while you're here, I want to help you discover what you want to be," Natasha says calmly, making me sigh. Why do so many people have it out for my free time?
"And how are you planning on doing that?" I ask, making her smile.
"We can spend some time each day working on it, just me and you," Natasha says, crossing her legs, which makes her skirt push up enough to expose her long legs. "I think you have some truly amazing potential. You could do wonderful work, and I'd be honoured to help you to that point," Natasha says, making me pause.
So, she's planning to play to my teenage lust and pride, huh? I have to admit, if I were an ordinary teenage boy, that would work like a charm.
"Sure, why not?" I say, with a shrug, trying to sound casual as I take the bait and give her exposed leg a look.
If I were a typical teenager, I'd do it, and even with them knowing I have powers, I don't want to look like anything but a typical teenager. So I guess I have to spend time with one of the most beautiful women in Marvel, nothing I can do about it.
"Wonderful," Natasha says with a beaming smile that I almost believe even knowing what she is. "I won't keep you today, but next Wednesday, we can start working on it. It'll be fun, I promise." Natasha promises, placing a hand on my chest with a smile.
"I'll take your word for it," I say unenthusiastically. Kuro was an unenthusiastic person, and I've got no doubt that Shield has a record of everything he ever did by now. I have to play the part of the Kuro who spent sixteen years in this world, not the Kuro from another world.
Which is a problem. I barely have even a quarter of his memories, he could have done anything, and I won't know until it comes back and bites me in the ass. Thanks, Shiro.
"Oh, don't be like that; you won't regret this, I promise." the super-spy says, giving me an amused smile. I'm going to have to watch everything I say. She's the spy, so she's going to be a pain to deal with. "Are you really saying that it's going to be a pain to spend some one-on-one time with me? I can't say I've ever had that reaction from a man before."
Her tone is flirty, giving me a slow once-over as she giggles slightly.
"Well, I'll look forward to your private guidance then," I say, getting a smirk.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm a very hands-on teacher, and we're going to get to know each other very well," Natasha promises, watching me leave as I say goodbye and extract myself from the Widow's clutches, escaping her spiderweb.
She could probably beat me effortlessly if this turns into a fight. She's enhanced to a certain degree even if she's no Captain America, and she is laughably more talented than me. My magic gives me an edge but I can't expect to catch her off guard with it.
I could definitely take Hawkeye, though, just saying. I like the guy, but he isn't enhanced, and I could probably catch an arrow. Wait, don't his arrows explode? Oh shit, maybe I can't take Hawkeye. That's just embarrassing to admit.
Basically, all the Avengers except maybe Hawkeye could take me down. Just in case I was getting too comfortable here. Honestly, avoiding conflict is the way to go in Marvel. If I don't have to fight them, I won't. That's my strategy. If I do have to fight, I should cheat like a motherfucker.
Is it cowardly? Possibly, but haven't you heard? The Mutant race is relying on me. I need to make sure I survive, no matter what, for the good of the world. Cheating is the honourable thing to do.
Also, god damn it. The bus left without me again. Well, I have nothing better to do, so I'll take a walk; Exploration Mode gets another chance to shine.
– Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) –
Kuro knew she wasn't just a teacher.
She didn't know if she was completely made, but he froze the second he saw her.
So, why was he playing along? She wasn't naive enough to think he was just eager to get close to her because of her flirting. No, her target was scheming something, but she could handle it.
Her role here was simple: she needed to recruit Kuro as a S.H.I.E.L.D. junior agent because his nullification could be very useful in the coming war with Hydra. Kuro was undeniably a genius, but then his X-Gene made his brain function at a higher level than a regular human, so she'd come into this with the knowledge that she was probably going to get exposed.
Everhart learnt a good amount about Kuro in her interview, but it was only a start, and Kuro was surrounded by mystery. Why did he spend two days a week in an all-girl school in Massachusetts? Why was Hellfire so interested in him?
She hadn't lied when she said he had amazing potential; she just had a career path already planned for him. What teenage boy didn't want to be a super-spy, after all? She'd been sent because her Red Room training had given her considerable resistance to telepaths, protecting her secrets from Xavier and Frost.
Fortunately, his weird schedule meant they could send in a body double for the other days when Kuro was elsewhere, though Jean Grey was a problem. Natasha had already felt the uncontrolled telepath brush against her mind, but she didn't seem to find anything out of the ordinary. Whether that would stay the same with the agent who took her place on the other days was another story.
Kuro represented a chance to get a real in with both Xavier and Hellfire; all she had to do was work out what made him tick and lure him onto the right path.
– Kuro Tepes –
Heading through the streets, I ignore the feeling that I'm being watched; S.H.I.E.L.D. is clearly spying on me. Emma, Xavier, and Magneto are probably there as well. Hell, if that's all the groups who are currently spying on me, I'll take it as a win. Oh, it's only Hellfire, S.H.I.E.L.D., the X-Men and the Brotherhood? Is that all?
It doesn't take long before I find something of interest. It's just an advertisement stuck to a pole, but it still draws my eye.
Chikara Dojo?
Do I need to learn Martial Arts? I have the class already and some basic knowledge, but it could be helpful to learn how to really handle myself in a fight, but that's not the point.
This is a Hand front, and it could be my in with them; they're on my list, after all. They use this place to recruit the better fighters at the dojo into their ranks, and with my enhanced body, I'd easily stand out.
Out of all my targets, the Hand are the least dangerous. That's not to say they aren't dangerous, but they simply don't measure up with the likes of Apocalypse, Thanos and Dracula.
Besides, just joining a dojo isn't enough to cause some trouble; I can always back out before I get too deep; this is just a way for me to scout the enemy. Making a note of the address, I set off, a slight smirk on my face.
I don't like fighting, and I don't like danger, but I do like being rewarded for success... and Death pays very well.
"I'm glad you see it that way. Keep this up, and I might even like you," Death drawls into my mind. "I am making an expansion to the list; your success, even if Selene handed it to you, has convinced me that I have made the right decision, I will update your list soon."
Works for me; just because they're on the list doesn't mean I have to go for them immediately. It just opens up my options.
So, it's time to start working on the Hand.
- Bonus Scene – Purple Days -
"Well, aren't you interesting?" Kilgrave said calmly, watching the girl freeze as she turned to him. "Stop, stand still. You two go away, start walking that way and don't stop," he ordered, removing his arms from the two boring models.
They were dull and boring compared to the newest girl to capture his interest.
"Who are you?" she asked quickly, making him smirk.
"Me? My name is Kilgrave, but that doesn't matter right now. Let's talk about you. Here I am, just debating where to eat, and then bam! There you are, performing such amazing feats of heroism. Come here, let me look at you, come on," Kilgrave ordered, smirking as she walked towards him. As she stopped in front of him, he leaned closer and looked over her with an approving nod, taking a moment to run his hand through her hair. "Jesus, you're a vision, the hair and the skin. Appalling sense of fashion, but that can be remedied right now, in fact. Lose the clothes; the grunge look just doesn't suit you," Kilgrave muttered, watching her slowly strip in the middle of the empty street, her eyes widening in terror as her body disobeyed her. "But underneath it, all the power. You're just like me, although not quite as good, of course. If you were, you wouldn't be standing naked as the day you were born in the middle of the street." Kilgrave said with a smug smirk, reaching up and giving her breast a squeeze as he saw the hatred in her eyes. "Follow me; I think this is going to be fun."
– Kuro –
Blinking rapidly, I try to work out what the hell just happened as the vision clears.
"I happened. Your little white lie about me giving you glimpses of the future amused me and gave me an idea. It's something I can easily do, after all, so I thought I'd see if it had any use. That will happen tonight. Do with this information as you wish," Death adds with a bored voice, sounding indifferent to what she made me see.
Jessica Jones, huh?
Old Authors Note: Gonna be honest, I might not get to post again till after New Year's Day. I want to get a chapter of NG+ out before Christmas, but I'm working most days, and I'm going to my parent's house for Christmas itself, so I'll be away from my PC for a couple of days.
If I don't post before Christmas Eve, I won't be until early January. On the bright side, after January 4th, I'm going back to my regular hours, so I'll have more time in general all the way up till next November.