Chapter 34
Money and magic. Magic and money. I can't say which is more powerful in the human world. But Suo and I had both. So settling down and legalizing ourselves in a city new to us wasn't particularly difficult. Two days, and we had our own house, documents, and even a car. True, I couldn't explain to my wife why we needed a car. Yes, exactly, wife. Because we registered the documents as the married couple Victor and Suo Lehnsherr (I decided to legalize specifically under this name so as not to have problems receiving profits from Erik's and my long-term projects). This changed practically nothing in our relationship, but legally simplified many issues.
Sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace with a glass of whiskey in my hand, I realized that I was bored.
Suo was absent, busy somewhere with her students, either in Tibet or somewhere else (after the demonstration of the capabilities of the "double ring," I'm no longer sure she's even in our world). And I sat at home alone and swigged whiskey, which had no effect on my body at all. Before it was at least something, now nothing at all. Just water with a nasty taste and smell. I irritably threw the glass into the fireplace. In response, flames flared up for a few seconds. Then they died down too, and I was still bored.
Third day in this city. Only the third day. What will happen next?
I'll go crazy from idleness. That means I need to find something to do. A moment, and I am already approaching Xavier's mansion.
This future bald paralytic nevertheless realized the idea of a school for mutants. And right now he already has about a dozen and a half students.
I can kill a day by running them through physical training together with Logan. Where did Howlett come from at Xavier's? Simple—Logan came to me in Japan three weeks after his rescue. Came to say thank you.
We sat well in one of the local bars. Soulfully. The bartender that evening literally changed nationality (his eyes became completely European), watching two brutal men drink up his ENTIRE stock of alcohol, while playing chess for fillips...
When it was time to say goodbye, I wrote him Xavier's address and advised him to drop by in his spare time. And at the same time bring all the surviving mutants from the "Weapon X" project there, before the government and S.H.I.E.L.D. put them into service as operatives with "special abilities."
Logan promised to think about it.
A year later I dropped in on my brother (gradually I even stopped mentally adding quotation marks to this word when I mentioned Erik) and his wife, who had settled there at Charles's. I found out that Logan not only dropped by, but stayed. Now he has settled there very firmly and literally put down roots. Became a teacher, conducts physical education and hand-to-hand combat for the kids.
I spent half the day at the school. During this time, I managed to think over several ideas on how to spend the evening. And several ideas on what to do in general.
The remaining time until Suo's promised return, I spent on preparation.
"Vic, I'm home!" Suo shouted, stepping out of the wall through a ring of fire.
"Welcome back," I replied, setting the glass of unfinished whiskey on the small table next to the armchair.
"You look... unusual," she froze, examining me. Well, there was something to be surprised about: a clean-shaven face, a neat classic haircut, a classic black tuxedo with a bow tie, black patent leather shoes.
"We are going to the opera," I replied, rising from the armchair.
"To the opera?" she was amazed. Apparently, the words Victor Creed and opera didn't go together in one sentence in her mind at all.
"Yes," I confirmed that she hadn't misheard. "You have thirty minutes to get ready to go out. The dress, shoes, and jewelry are already in your room. The driver will arrive for us at exactly seven."
"Thirty minutes?!" she exclaimed. "You're joking, I hope?!"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" I raised an eyebrow and pointedly looked at my wristwatch. "Twenty-nine minutes."
"Well then, twenty-nine it is," she smiled unpleasantly. Then she touched that very eye-shaped bauble that concluded every "dream" of mine before she left into the ring of fire. A peculiar bracelet of glowing symbols lit up around Suo's arm.
"I'll make it, Honey," her smile became sarcastic. And I suspected some catch, watching how leisurely she was walking up the stairs to the second floor.
Exactly what kind, I only understood by looking at my watch again. The second hand was not moving...
* * *
The hands of the watch were not moving. The sun outside the window either. But no one had yet canceled the dull and trivial method of counting time. Counting seconds.
Even if there was objectively nothing to count, but I think, therefore I can measure even what is not there.
When this mental timer reached the mark of seven thousand two hundred and fifteen seconds, my patience snapped. Along with the glass of another tumbler that flew into the fireplace. I feel like I'll have to order them wholesale soon. Or get rid of the habit of throwing them into the fireplace.
I got up from the armchair and turned to the stairs with the firm intention of dragging that slowpoke out by the scruff of her neck, no matter what state she was in.
But froze in place. Suo was slowly and majestically descending to me in the black evening dress I had chosen for her.
The sight was mesmerizing. Even my anger subsided, as if it had never existed.
Something changed outside the window. It seems the sun abruptly moved across the sky. Judging by the sound, a car stopped at the house.
"I am ready," she smiled at me enchantingly. "To the minute, Honey," approaching, she lifted my left hand and looked at the watch dial.
I chuckled and, freeing my left hand from her little fingers, offered my right arm for support. She took my bent elbow.
"Shall we go?" she inquired. I nodded, tearing my gaze away from her with difficulty, and we walked out the doors of the house.
In front of the porch stood a black and silver Rolls-Royce. The driver was obligingly holding the back door of the car open for us.
* * *
Perhaps I have done something stupid again. Such a thought visited me at the entrance to the New York Opera building when, upon exiting the car, we were blinded by the flashes of paparazzi cameras. But it was too late to retreat, everything had already happened anyway. All that was left was to play my part in this play with honor.
I helped Suo get out, offered her my arm, and we unhurriedly, with dignity, moved towards the entrance to the building.
A dozen more flashes gleamed, then the reporters ebbed away, realizing that they were clearly not waiting for us. Our transport appeared too suddenly and pretentiously, so they mistook us for some big shot or star planning to grace this event with their presence.
And already in the lobby, I understood exactly who they were waiting for. The millionaire married couple Howard and Maria Stark. "Golden boy" Tony did not yet exist in nature. And judging by Maria's figure, wasn't even planned yet.
And Howard recognized me. As soon as our eyes met, recognition lit up in his. Not only lit up. It literally blazed.
Naturally, they headed towards us.
"Victor?" he addressed me, coming closer. "Is that you? I couldn't be mistaken."
"Hello, Howard," I didn't play "guess who." "You look good. Heard things are looking up for your company."
"Well, after the war I had some problems, but sudden investments from several private individuals from Western Europe allowed me to stay afloat and pick up good speed. So right now things are looking up," he smiled. "But, I heard you died in '43..."
"'The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,' as Mark Twain once noted," I joked. "By the way, one of the 'private individuals' is in front of you right now."
"The lady?" misunderstanding me slightly, he turned to Suo.
"Wrong guess, Howard. This is my wife—Suo Lehnsherr. And the 'private individuals' were my brother and I. He and I each own twenty-six percent of the shares of your company," I "delighted" Howard.
"Twenty-six... Two... Controlling stake..." he muttered in shock. And I understand him. Suddenly finding out that your company is practically not yours at all. He's holding up well.
"It was a bad idea to release more than forty percent of the shares for sale, Howard."
"But I only put out forty-four then! Where did fifty-two come from?!"
"By that time, I ALREADY owned eight percent of your shares," I smirked.
"I had no choice..." he deflated. "Either that, or complete ruin..."
"So don't be so upset, Howard," I patted him on the shoulder. "Erik and I are not going to tell you how to run your company. On the contrary. Always ready to financially support your craziest projects."
"Erik... Lehnsherr... And is that not Dr. Lehnsherr from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology?" Howard suddenly perked up.
"Yes, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Lehnsherr," I confirmed.
"But that fundamentally changes things!" Howard exclaimed. "I've been trying to get a hold of him for a year regarding his work in the field of magnetism and physics of matter! If he is a shareholder of Stark Industries, then there will be no problems with the patent office and I will be able to work with him without any legal difficulties and delays!"
"Wonderful," I chuckled. "Write to him. He is currently spending a lot of time with Professor Xavier and Dr. McCoy in North Salem, New York. Literally a couple of steps from here."
"Dr. McCoy too? This is just some kind of holiday!" Howard simply glowed with enthusiasm.
"Maria, Howard," I bowed, and handed a business card with my address to Stark. "If you have questions or proposals, this is my current address in New York."
"I will definitely contact you, Victor," he shook my hand and put away the business card. All the time of our conversation, the camera flashes nearby did not die down...
The first bell rang, and Suo and I headed to our box. I intended to get the maximum pleasure today from such a recklessly undertaken adventure, since I was already exposed. It's too late for a do-over anyway.
* * *
Read Advanced Chapters on: p@treon/Amiii_
~Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]