Two days quickly passed by without anything noteworthy happening. Hela proved to be quite a difficult person to deal with, and Alex was still not satisfied with his control over her after nearly three years of training her in Gaia. By a conservative estimate, it would take another seven years before he could actually utilize Hela without having to worry about her backstabbing him. Masochistic battle junkie or not, she was far too troublesome to deal with.
That was the initial reason that he'd chosen to form a bond with Jane instead of Hela. Regrettably, that didn't really go according to plan either.
On the other hand, he and Susan treated the planet as a weekend trip, exploring cliché tourist destinations and enjoying each other's company with the occasional kinky escapade.
Eventually, a fleet of satellites arrived at the planet and took positions across the exosphere, forming a comprehensive detection dome that covered the entire planet. The moment the satellites were in place, Alex activated the Infinity Stone detection system on Farm Earth to locate any Infinity Stones that were on the planet. It took no more than a few seconds for the activated satellites to capture all traces of the unique Cosmic Energy signature of Infinity Stones.
"Four..." Alex frowned.
"You seem unhappy with that number..." Susan said while looking at the hologram of the world map in front of them. It had four prominently blinking dots, three in the deepest trenches of the ocean, and the fourth, in Wakanda of all places. "To think we waged that battle so close to an Infinity Stone..."
"There is interference," Alex said. "I can't identify which stone is which."
"Why does that matter?"
"Last time we decided to forego caution, I was almost wiped out of reality itself."
"Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice..."
"It's possible that this was a protection mechanism put in place by Jane. Her powers allow her to manipulate Cosmic Energy to a certain extent."
"But it could also be a trap."
"I won't rule out the possibility."
"So what's the plan?"
"I'm going to throw people at those stones," Alex said.
"You don't mean..." Susan looked uncomfortable.
"Why do you think I'm developing so many forces? The Widows, Witches, Ten Rings-there has to be a synonym for ninjas that starts with W... I should look for similar alliterative names for any future force I develop..."
"Alex, focus."
Alex cleared his throat. "You get my point," he said before creating a mystic arts portal behind them.
"Master Apex!" The sudden exclamations startled Susan for a moment as she saw twelve people step through the portal-four women and eight men. From their long robes and general mysterious vibe, she concluded that they were likely magic users from among the Witches that Alex had just mentioned.
"You all know what to do," Alex said. "If you feel like there is any life-threatening danger, you can immediately retreat. Now go. Make sure to cast shielding spells. The underwater pressure can crush you into human mush in an instant."
The twelve nodded with determined expressions as Alex formed three portals that led directly to the vicinity of the Infinity Stones. Since the portals were underwater, Alex made some modifications to block any environmental pass-through, limiting it to people.
Quickly dividing themselves into three groups, the twelve magicians all disappeared.
"What about the one in Wakanda?" Susan asked.
"That one isn't an Infinity Stone. It's another Cosmic Cube," Alex chuckled. "I wonder if this one also plans to self-destruct and take me down."
"Just now, you were saying you couldn't identify these signals."
"Hela told me about the Cube just now," Alex said. "She's grown quite cooperative over the past four years that she's spent in the Gaia Penitentiary."
"So, are you not planning to collect it?" Susan changed the topic.
"Soon," Alex said.
"Was this whole thing bait?" Susan suddenly asked. "You spent two days after deploying those satellites when I know for a fact that you could have brought them here within moments with portals."
"Too big," Alex said, looking back at Susan with a smile.
"So you can transport a flying fortress to another planet with your portals, but can't do the same to some satellites that aren't bigger than cars?" She asked sarcastically, crossing her arms. Alex had mentioned to her the event where he brought General Dreykov's Red Room fortress from MCU Earth to Earth-Z.
"My Susan's so smart."
"That is demeaning on so many levels," she snorted. "I have a PhD, for fuck's sake. Preparing for a second."
"Oh, you're planning to get another doctorate? That's news to me."
"I'm still considering it..."
"Let me know if you need any help," Alex said. "You have the entire resources of multiple planets at your dispo...sal..."
His brow furrowed when he saw one of the signals disappear from the display.
"That's not supposed to happen, is it?" Susan asked from the side, her tone grave.
"No." Alex shook his head and tried to pull the four-person team that he'd sent back. Four portals appeared behind him and Susan, swirling with an ominous crimson. Not wanting to take the risk of using Mystic Arts portals, Alex went with Chaos Magic ones since they were more robust and less prone to interference. Moments later, the portals delivered four bodies to the ground and fizzled out.
Susan immediately started examining the four dead bodies to identify how they may have died.
"No water in their lungs... No signs of struggle... Did someone suck their souls out?" She asked. A few weeks ago, she would have dismissed anything related to the soul as metaphysical nonsense. Now, however, with the things that Alex had shown her, not to mention his power to do exactly what she'd just mentioned, she had to believe that such metaphysical concepts were real.
"I wouldn't eliminate the possibility," Alex said. "And no, I did no such thing. Why would I kill my own bait?"
"I didn't say anything," she said.
"You were thinking it."
Alex continued focusing on the other stones and saw the second one disappear similarly within seconds.
"Gaia, check for interference. Any possible leaks we might have missed. Whether cyber or mystical. Run all possibilities," he said before bringing four more dead bodies through Chaos portals. "Work with me to examine these bodies as well."
Alex tossed a small piece of himself at one of the dead bodies and started examining it.
Just as he expected the same thing to happen to the third stone, a mystic arts portal with red sparks appeared in the room, making Alex raise a brow. "Interesting..."
A group of four stumbled out, covered in red protective shields as the portal closed behind them. Without a word, Alex yanked the glowing blue Infinity Stone from the specialized container in the leader's hand as it flew through the air and into his hand.
"Space, huh?" He smiled as the stone immediately got absorbed into his body and shifted to his soul, merging with the existing Space Stone. Gaia had already examined it for him using the authority of the other stones, clearing the stone as completely safe to merge.
<
A faint blue current appeared on Alex's body as he let out a comfortable breath. Susan, beside him, let out a muffled groan as traces of concentrated authority affected her through Alex.
The moment the stone merged into Alex, the four witches dropped to the ground, losing all traces of life.
Susan gasped, her eyes wide as she immediately started walking toward the downed people.
"Don't be a fool, Sue," Alex said, locking her muscles and freezing her in place.
Just as Alex immobilized Susan, his Sixth Sense blared, informing him of an incoming calamity.
So, now you work? Where the fuck were you when that Cosmic Cube tried to wipe me from reality?
-x-X-x-
As Alex and Susan kissed, she slipped her hand down his abdomen and grasped his rapidly hardening shaft. She slowly pumped, moving her hand along its length as a smile crept up her face that Alex felt through the kiss.
"Someone's excited," she said teasingly.
"Let's go out. I'll take you to your house," Alex said, planning to envelop Susan, but her grip suddenly tightened, and her expression turned into a frown.
"You always call it my house..." She said. "Why? If anything, that was originally Victor's apartment."
"..." Alex raised a brow. Susan's expression had taken a turn, but she was still stroking him after loosening her grip.
"I want to stay here," she whispered. "It feels...warm and cozy."
"Why?" Alex asked. "It's dark; the only light here is from the Infinity Stones. I've filled this place with all sorts of trash. Look there, that's my emergency Bioenergy reserve..."
Alex was pointing to two hills of raw meat.
Susan made a gagging face before turning her eyes away.
"You are deliberately trying to disgust me, aren't you?"
"I'm just trying to get my
"You're lying. You have an infinitely large inventory. What's wrong with us having sex in here for a bit?"
"It's not infinitely large. It's just that space and time, as concepts, don't exist here at all. My Inventory> is as large as my mental power can extend."
"Alex..." Susan said, her neck flushing a little as Alex continued fondling her chest, though she continued her reciprocating actions. "Tell me the truth."
"This is a dangerous place," he said. "If I let you get comfortable in here, you won't want to go out."
"That's it?" Susan asked, looking baffled. "I feel comfortable here, yes, but it's nowhere near being that intense..."
"You'd think that," Alex said. "But, one, our bond isn't as deep just yet. Once we reach the Skin Bond, or even the Skeleton Bond, then you'll see how intense the feeling of being in this place is. And two, you haven't even realized, but you already don't want to leave. That's the only reason you've been so insistent on getting to the bottom of things."
"The second point is moot, because I always pry into your thoughts and get to the bottom of things," Susan said. "The moment you try to keep me away from something, it will make me curious."
"We can't stay here long-term," he said.
"I think it's the other way around," Susan said. "With all these Earths and this multiverse bullshit going on... This is the one place that you can actually feel at home in."
"What are you trying to do, Sue?" Alex asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Come here," Susan stepped back, pulling Alex with her since she was still gripping his cock. Using her powers to create an invisible chair, she led him to it. "Sit."
He went along and sat down, looking up at her face as she stood right in front of him.
Giving him a little smile, she unbuckled her belt and started undoing her skirt. Lowering both it and her underwear, she got on top of Alex and straddled him, moaning comfortably as she felt him entering her depths.
"God, I can never get tired of this feeling..." She commented, putting her chin on his shoulder. "I want to stay here..." She whispered.
Alex felt Susan's insides tighten as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as one hand wrapped around her waist and the other cradled the back of her head.
"Why?" Alex asked as Susan started to sway her hips, barely moving from her spot as she did so.
"Mm..." She didn't say anything and hugged him, letting out a comfortable groan right beside his ear.
"This is exactly why I was reluctant about this..." He shifted his hand that was cradling her head and moved it under her hair, grasping her nape before pulling her head back. She didn't particularly resist his actions and looked at him with a lazy smile.
"That place is my ex-boyfriend's apartment," Susan said. "Do you really want me to stay there?"
"You just had to mention that, didn't you?" Alex said, looking annoyed. "We'll move to the White House."
"No, I want to stay here," she said. "I want to make an actual house in here. It can be our special little getaway."
"You know if I do it for you, I'll have to do it for the others as well, right?" Alex said. "Are you really interested in playing the harem game?"
"No... but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Susan said. "I believe you'll continue maintaining this tacit separation and keep your so-called women isolated from each other. Especially the main wives, am I right?"
"If I let you stay here..." Alex said, lowering both hands and squeezing her ass. "You won't want to leave."
"I'm sure-haah," Alex rose Susan higher, while holding her by her hips, interrupting her words with a gasp. "I'm sure you'll...take measures...to ensure that doesn't happen," she said, amidst moans as Alex slowly started fucking her.
"We can make a house on any of the planets," Alex said. "Why here, specifically?"
"Because this is where...I feel...a sense of...belonging..." She suddenly pressed her lips against Alex, moaning into his mouth as she moved as per his guidance, rising and lowering on his cock with increasing speed.
Sense of belonging, you say...
By now, Susan was actively moving by herself and jumping on his cock, freeing Alex's hands from holding her hips. Instead, he brought them to her chest, caressing her pale breasts with a gentle touch as they bounced every time she fell on top of his cock.
His caresses slowly grew rougher as Susan picked up the pace, and he roughly started mauling her breasts as she continued rising and falling on top of his cock.
"Choke me..." She gasped.
"What a slut," Alex said before bringing his hand to her throat and clamping down as Susan's breath hitched. Her legs seemed to lose their strength as Alex supported her movements with his other hand, which he placed on her ass.
She immediately tightened as a weak whimper escaped her throat, making it difficult for Alex to continue in the same position, so he created a bed behind them and picked Susan up, letting go of her throat while making sure that she was still penetrated by his cock.
As she gasped from the returning airflow, a pleasurable moan escaped her throat, and Alex felt her shiver in his arms with a small orgasm.
"How disobedient," he said. "Not even asking for permission before cumming. You need punishment."
Putting her down on the bed, Alex put his hand on her face, blocking both her mouth and her nose as he started thrusting inside her tightness, feeling her inch closer to another orgasm. While ensuring that she couldn't breathe, he lowered himself and took one of her nipples into his mouth, teasing the sensitive nub with his tongue and teeth. His other hand was on her abdomen, gently massaging the area while using his thumb to stimulate her clit.
"Aa..." Susan's red face had a slightly desperate expression as she looked at Alex with a deep intensity, seemingly peering into his soul with her eyes.
"About to cum?" Alex asked, getting his answer from the change in Susan's eyes. He kept fucking her and finally loosened his grip over her face. "Then do it."
He timed it with the moment that air flowed to her lungs, deeply intensifying her orgasm as she squirted all over his abdomen and screamed, barely able to get any air into her lungs. Her legs writhed, and her hands tightly clutched the bedsheets as her torso convulsed under Alex's assault.
A few seconds later, as Susan was still riding her orgasm, Alex once again clasped his hand over her mouth and nose, blocking her from getting any air. He switched to her other breast, using his teeth to stimulate the sensitive nub as she tensed immediately under the breathless sensation.
He didn't stop fucking her, nor let her breathe until he felt her getting closer to another orgasm, at which point, he once again allowed her to breathe at the moment her climax hit.
He was tempted to keep going for a third round, but Susan was already lightheaded and in no state to endure another orgasm of this intensity. So his movements grew gentler as he continued fucking her, inching toward his own orgasm as well.
As Susan inched closer to the third climax, which was much more on the mellow side since Alex was no longer choking her, he also felt like he was about to finish.
The two of them made out while climaxing together as Susan moaned into his mouth as a warm liquid filled her insides.
"I could get used to doing it in here..." Susan mumbled, licking her lip with a greedy look in her eyes. "Another round?"
"How about we finish building your little home first?"
"Right..." Susan's eyes brightened. "I have so many ideas. I don't just want a little house or something. I want a massive mansion. Like huge..."
"How huge exactly?" Alex asked.
"Like the kind of huge you see in old aristocratic estates. Marble flooring, a grand staircase splitting into two at the top, enormous chandeliers, and ceilings so high that your voice echoes if you shout. The whole nine yards. I also want a large garden, like the one over at the White House. With fountains and sculptures, maybe even a hedge maze."
"Right, do you want the automatic self-management of those hedges, or do you want to work on the maintenance yourself?"
"Don't be sarcastic..." Susan pinched his arm. "Let a girl dream, okay?"
"Go on..." Alex sighed, unable to help himself from hugging Susan as she continued speaking as if reading off a list of things.
"A library is definitely needed. And a lab, preferably underground... I like those rooftop pools on top of skyscrapers, but that wouldn't go with the aesthetic... A simple indoor pool works, I guess. A home theatre. Oh, and a dedicated music room as well. I have a small collection of vinyl records that I want to bring here."
"You forgot the sex dungeon," Alex said dryly.
"I didn't forget it. I just know that regardless of my choices, you'll definitely put one of those in."
"Okay, smartass, Alex spanked her ass. "Since you have so many ideas, you might as well help me build the damn place."
-x-X-x-