"Sometimes I really can't wrap my head around it. Where the hell do you Americans get this bone-deep confidence?"
Heisenberg let out a lazy sigh, then knocked back a huge gulp of liquor.
Watching the nonchalant way he drank, Pietro, standing nearby, pursed his lips in admiration.
Ancient One noticed the boy's reaction at once.
"Child, learn from Heisenberg's ease and sense of self, but do not learn his excessive drinking."
Her quiet admonishment made both Pietro and Heisenberg roll their eyes in unison.
Their synchronized eye-rolls met midair, and Wanda burst into laughter.
From that moment on, the twins' affection for Heisenberg began multiplying by the second.
Heisenberg could almost see numbers popping up above their heads.
Affection +1 +1 +1 +10086.
Haha.
The joy radiating from the two kids carried over, and when Heisenberg turned to speak with Hill, the smile still hadn't left his face.
"Hill, and your precious SHIELD, you've never accepted one simple fact, that...
you are truly very weak. You're the side gravely lacking in strength!
The weak attaching themselves to the strong is no disgrace; it's advancing in the right direction.
Try to imagine a world without me. The humans of the future still suffered a calamity beyond measure.
They even had to travel back from that future, and in the end, it was only with my help that they barely managed to scrape together a somewhat decent outcome!
Even those versions of you, so mature, so powerful, still needed to shelter under my power. So why is the broken, fractured present-day you still constantly pushing me away?"
He paused, stealing a subtle glance at Ancient One.
A moment later, Ancient One waved her right hand, and the sea of stars before them transformed into the image of a man.
Rumlow!
"All of you should know him... the infamous Crossbones of SHIELD. Well, he's mine now!
As you can see, he's currently deep undercover inside European Hydra, instigating defections and dismantling their local cells.
While you've long since lost the ability to strike at global Hydra, my people have been hunting them relentlessly, and it was also my people who drove them off American soil.
What, did you think I fucking love your country? Did you think my help came for free?
Of course not. I have my own plans and schemes for the people of this planet.
The reason you refuse to accept me is simply because you sense my ambition toward this country, toward this species!
But if you'd open your eyes a little wider, maybe you'd see what I've brought to the people living under my rule.
I merely tightened the definition of what constitutes a crime and increased the severity of punishment for criminals.
That's all it took. And New York has already become the city with the lowest crime rate in the United States. Isn't the safety of New York's citizens enough for you to see the future I'm offering?
You are SHIELD. You call yourselves the shield of humanity. Yet you are dissatisfied with the peace and order I've given New York. So how can you still be considered a shield?
Just because you want your so-called freedom?"
With that final question, Heisenberg rose abruptly, floating in the air to look down on Hill and Natasha from above.
"You have only two choices right now. And the fact that I'm even offering you a choice is my one act of mercy!
Either, join me!
That way, you'll at least have opportunities from within to correct some of my future actions. You can rack your brains trying to change my way of thinking.
I'm always liberal and forgiving toward my subordinates, and you should know that well!
Or, refuse me!
In that case, you'll have to try and walk out of this room, and then, taking that freedom and independence of yours with you, charge headlong on a suicidal assault against Loki and the Chitauri fleet cruising in the starry void!
Make your choice, Hill!"
As his words fell, Heisenberg wore a smile brimming with pressure and authority as he gazed at the two women.
In just that brief moment, a faint trickle of sweat ran down both their spines.
The tense atmosphere lasted over eight seconds before Hill finally spoke, her tone seemingly indifferent.
"Your Excellency, if I still say no, is there any chance we walk out of this room?"
"Haha, why would you think that? Do you take me for the kind of fool who lets trouble grow unchecked?"
"Very well. We'll join. Pleased to meet you, Boss!"
Hill stood up decisively and bowed her body toward Heisenberg.
Without moving a muscle, Heisenberg caused her body to straighten right back up.
At the same time, Natasha at her side let out a long breath.
"I thought I was about to experience the most thrilling fight of my life. Ha, looks like today isn't the day I die!"
She smiled bitterly as she spoke, rising and extending her right hand up toward Heisenberg.
It wasn't the posture of a handshake, because Heisenberg was levitating far too high.
Her raised hand looked like a reverent attempt to touch God, stretching high above her head.
Her palm faced downward, her slender wrist gracefully bent, her fingers naturally spread. The gesture lent her a holy, saint-like aura.
Seeing the Black Widow like this, Heisenberg couldn't help but shake his head.
No wonder she was the most ridiculously versatile piece of work in Marvel. This woman could grace the hall, dominate the kitchen, be fierce or soft, offensive or defensive.
She might not be able to transform, but with that damned uncanny ability to switch auras, it was perfectly understandable how she could charm the entire Avengers roster.
So Heisenberg reached out and lightly brushed Natasha's fingers.
Then he dropped back to the ground and smiled at Ancient One behind him.
"My objective's been achieved. Let's relocate our meeting to my theater!"
The moment he spoke, a portal materialized.
Hill didn't show much reaction to it; she'd seen one before.
As for Natasha...
Though she appeared very calm, the sudden tension in her muscle fibers told Heisenberg she was actually quite startled.
He couldn't be bothered with the inexperienced Natasha. Turning around, he beckoned to Wanda and Pietro.
"Come along. Today, I'll let you two little ones who haven't seen the world truly broaden your horizons!"
Hearing this, Wanda and Pietro looked excitedly at Ancient One.
When Ancient One nodded and the pair cheered, Hill and Natasha flushed in embarrassment.
They understood all too well. The "little ones who haven't seen the world" Heisenberg referred to didn't just mean Wanda and Pietro!
Heisenberg stepped through the portal first, levitating the two kids right beside him into the theater.
Ancient One gestured for Natasha and Hill to follow, and the two had no choice but to walk in after him.
By the time Ancient One herself passed through...
In the theater, Billy spotted the portal that had suddenly appeared in the courtyard during his break.
He shot to his feet and immediately signaled for the special "gifts" he'd prepared for Heisenberg to shut their astonished mouths.
Then he rushed to the portal, and as soon as Heisenberg stepped out, Billy bowed with a grin.
"Boss! Please forgive my presumption. The latest issue of Playboy just dropped, and every single model wanted to add the honor of having interacted with you to their resumes.
So I took the liber... liber... my Lord!!!"
Billy stared, horrified, at the dark expression on Heisenberg's face, the two kids floating beside him taking in the scene with wide eyes, and the figures of Natasha, Hill, and Ancient One following right behind.
The two women fixed Heisenberg's back with indescribable expressions, while Ancient One merely smiled inscrutably.
As for Heisenberg...
He fell silent for a moment, letting his gaze sweep over the twenty-six models present.
Under their startled yet expectant stares, Heisenberg shook his head in apparent pain.
"You really took liberties, didn't you! Fine, go on and keep 'taking liberties' from now on, you bastard!
Get your gift out of my guests' sight!"
He scolded Billy away, all the while watching the retreating models and hoping Billy had grasped the true meaning beneath his words.
This sort of "taking liberties" in the future...
He was sort of looking forward to it.
"Ahem."
On the other hand, Heisenberg cleared his throat twice and turned to face Ancient One and the other two.
"Most of my people are busy, so we'll handle the current situation privately. Follow me, we'll go to the conference room."
As he spoke, Heisenberg manipulated the force field, lifting everyone to float alongside him.
In the blink of an eye, they glided past countless corridors, skimmed over the main theater hall, and arrived at...
"Aaaaah! It's Lord Heisenberg!!!"
"I finally get to see Superman in the flesh!!!"
"Forget that blind guy, look at Superman!"
"I told you staying here to vote meant you'd see Superman, hahaha!"
"Huh? Isn't that Director Hill and Natasha?"
That last comment came from Barbara in the crowd. After Thor mysteriously vanished from the bar, she'd rushed straight to the theater!
Sure enough, she witnessed a shocking scene. The director of SHIELD and one of their top operatives mingling with Superman... didn't that mean what Heisenberg said before was about to come true?
The thought of potentially working under Superman instantly lifted a huge weight off Mockingbird's shoulders.
Becoming part of the same crew meant she'd lost a terrifying, godlike enemy!
Besides, her new boss was that handsome...
While Barbara's mind wandered, inside the main theater, Heisenberg shook his head in mild exasperation.
"Lately, Matt's been campaigning for mayor. There's no better place for him to rally votes than right here, so it's a bit noisy. Let's go through the backstage to a more secluded meeting room!"
Just as Heisenberg was explaining this to his group, Matt from a distance suddenly shot toward him like he'd found his anchor.
Seeing him, Heisenberg paused mid-float to wait.
The first thing Matt whispered to him made both Hill and Natasha frown deeply.
"Boss, the Justice League just received a call from the President's office!
Should we discuss this inside?"
"Of course."
Heisenberg nodded, then floated right over to Matt's crowd of voters and called out.
"Sorry, everyone. I have some important, world-saving business to discuss with your soon-to-be mayor.
So, could I borrow him for a bit?"
Instantly, a tidal wave of cheers erupted.
"We want you for mayor, Lord Superman!"
"You're much more suited than Matt!!!"
"We trust you, you'll make New York even better!"
"We love you..."
Amidst the cheers and Matt's helpless expression, Heisenberg withdrew from the main theater body with a smile. The civilian members of the Nuke Gang took over arrangements for the voters.
No sooner had Heisenberg brought Matt and the others into the conference room than Matt hurriedly said,
"Boss! The President's cabinet just spoke with me. They've confirmed two godlike alien fleets are warring right now outside Earth's atmosphere.
They stated that they're willing to offer the position of Mayor of New York, along with full autonomy for New York City, in exchange for your protection of Earth.
Money, status, whatever you want will be granted. Earth needs your power!
Those were their exact words!"
As soon as Matt finished, Heisenberg let out a cold laugh. He turned to Hill and Natasha, spread his hands, and said mockingly,
"So this is the answer given to me by the Earthlings you hold in such high regard. New York and all its humans are nothing more than their bargaining chips.
Don't you think that even the worst future I bring would still be better than what this lot would bring you?"
/-\
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